How to Start a Mailing Business From Your Home
A mailing or mail-order business is among the most popular to start because it can be run from home, while having the potential market reach of the entire United States and Canada. To start a mail-order business, select a product or products to market. Then, find a supplier who can do all of the shipping. Running a successful mail-order business will require constant advertising to attract customers and a demand for the products. The business can expand once it becomes profitable.
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Things You'll Need
- Products supplier
- Vendor's license
- Toll-free number
- Website
- Camera
- Sales letter
- Brochure
- Envelopes
- Stamps
- Computer
- Mailing labels
- Phone
Instructions
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Starting A Mailing Business
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1
Set up an office and work area at home. Establish a unique name for the business. Register the business name with the state as a DBA (Doing Business As). Purchase a vendor's license for collecting the state sales tax.
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2
Choose a product that can be sold easily by mail, such as vitamins, computer software, informational products or health and fitness items.
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3
Find a wholesaler or supplier for the product. It's best to use one that will develop the business's website as well as ship products.
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4
Obtain a toll-free number for potential customers to call. Include the toll-free number and website on all promotional materials.
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5
Create a brochure about the business's top products, or, if available, order brochures from the chosen wholesaler. When creating a brochure, include photos of the products.
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6
Create a convincing sales letter that describes the unique products. Have envelopes printed bearing the company name.
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7
Place cost-effective classified ads in a number of small newspapers across the country, like the Penny Saver. Use an attractive angle to get readers to respond, such as offering something free with a purchase.
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8
Mail the sales letter and brochure to readers who respond to the classified ad. Use a computer-printed mailing label on the envelope. Once orders are received, mail them to the supplier along with a check for the wholesale cost. Include each customer's shipping name and address.
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9
Keep a list of current customers. Create or purchase catalogs with the business name, address and website. Mail these catalogs to customers several times a year.
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Tips & Warnings
Use drop shipping in which the supplier ships orders to the customer. This allows your business to avoid spending money on inventory.
Keep track of the ads that are pulling the most customers by keying them. Keying consists of putting a unique code in the business address found in the ad. Drop ads that are not pulling, and add other ones.
Wholesalers that ship products will usually send a commission check for the business's website orders.
Never overextend financially in a mail-order business. Start with what you can afford. Many mail-order dealers start out with $50 to $200 in advertising and expand as their profits increase.
