How to Make Money by Telephone

Turn a gift for gab into cash by making money over the phone.

You can make money by telephone in a variety of ways. While some telephone-based businesses are labor-intensive and require expensive equipment to accommodate daily operations, such as starting a telephone answering service, others can be done from home or a small office. When making money by telephone, it's best to set up a dedicated business line so new and existing customers can reach you without difficulty.

Things You'll Need

• Receipt book
• Record-keeping book

Instructions

1. Become an independent contractor for a direct sales company such as Avon or Mary Kay. As an independent contractor, you can work from home using the telephone to reach new and existing customers.

2. Set up in-house product demonstrations or arrange meetings with potential buyers. Contact a potential buyer to schedule the demonstration, and answer any preliminary questions, such as what to expect during the demonstration and how orders are placed.

3. Print business cards and other marketing materials once profitability is high. Business cards and other marketing materials allow you to spread the word about your products to potential customers. Include contact information and hours of operation to avoid unwanted early-morning and late-night calls.

4. Follow up on all completed orders. Establish a rapport with your consumer base with good follow-up. Ask each customer to rate his level of customer satisfaction, and ask if you can follow up in the future with special promotions. Explain that all communication will take place over the phone and that there is no commitment to buy.

5. Ask customers to provide specific instructions for how follow-up communication is to be conducted. For example, one customer may request follow-up communication by phone within one month after the purchase date, while another may request no follow-up communication at all.

6. Replenish your inventory. Contact your distributor to place a phone order for new inventory. Consider your current rate of profit before placing a new order.

Tips & Warnings

• As with many businesses, you may have start-up costs, so set money aside to pay for these expenses.

References

• Avon: How to Sell Avon
• Mary Kay: Getting Started
• Start an Answering Service: Frequently Asked Questions