How to Become a Contractor for Qwest
Qwest provides customers with high-speed Internet, Verizon phones and plans, and Direct-TV bundled services. Most telecommunications companies like Qwest often use independent contractors or consultants to perform many services for which they don't have staff. Qwest uses the term "consultant" when it refers to its independent contractors and requires you to register your business with them for consideration as a consultant. Before you begin that process, however, it's critical to have a few key things in place first.
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Things You'll Need
- Insurance carrier
- Business cards
- Marketing packet
- Special certificates or licenses
- Telecom experience
Instructions
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1
Obtain a business license from your local municipality -- this could be the city, county or state, depending on the jurisdiction. These fees generally run, at the time of publication, from $25 and up.
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2
Fill out and file the appropriate papers with the state if you elect status as a limited liability company or a corporation. This step requires articles and includes information on any partners you may have.
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3
File your fictitious business name with the jurisdiction and place the appropriate ad in the local newspaper of general circulation. The newspaper must have a certified "general circulation" status and be recognized by the local jurisdiction for the public notice advertisement in the classified sections.
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4
Pull together any special certifications or licenses that you may have. Make copies.
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5
Purchase general liability insurance from a local insurance agent. Ask for certificates of insurance. Fees for this start at around $250 per year at the time of publication and may go higher, depending on the coverages requested and the type of work your business performs.
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6
Put together a marketing packet for your business. Highlight your experience, but don't create it as a resume. Keep this handy for later use.
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Create business cards to include with the marketing kit.
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8
Navigate to their website. At the bottom of the screen, click on the link for "Consultants."
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Register with them online by filling out the appropriate fields. Fill the fields out completely, answering all their questions thoroughly. How you respond here determines whether they contact you or not.
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Fill in the personal information, such as your name, address, telephone, email and website.
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Select the description that best describes your business type. Choose one of the following five: independent telecom consultant, market analyst, telecom expense management consultant, telecom bill auditor consultant or reseller, or system integrator.
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12
Provide the percentage of your business income that comes from Enterprises and small-to-medium businesses or SMBs. Qwest deems single businesses that provide you with a minimum of $25,000 a month income as an Enterprise and under that amount as an SMB. They solicit this number to understand your experience in working with large and small-to-medium businesses.
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13
Indicate the priority listing of seven vertical markets in which you most actively consult. Pick them in order of importance to your business, 1 through 7: health care, government, construction, education, banking, manufacturing or other.
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14
Answer the question as to which percent of your Enterprise and SMB client engagements use network services. Qwest provides five options to answer this question: 0 to 20 percent, 20 to 40 percent, 40 to 60 percent, 60 to 80 percent and 80 to 100 percent.
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Let them know how many clients you provide with network services solutions recommendations. Five options are available, as listed in Step 14.
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Select from seven choices the network providers you most often recommend. The seven choices include: AT&T, Verizon, Qwest, XO Communications, Global Crossing, Comcast or others. If you designate others, put the name of the company in the box provided. Be honest.
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Answer the question about how many of your clients are current Qwest customers. Choose 0, 1 to 4, 4 to 6 or 6 and over.
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Push the submit button.
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Respond to any requests for additional information.
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20
Send them copies of your certificates of insurance, as requested, and marketing material.
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Tips & Warnings
Telecom companies usually take a while to respond to requests to become consultants for them. Wait approximately two to three weeks, if you've heard nothing back by that time, contact the accounting department and ask to speak to the person who qualifies or approves new consultants or vendors.
Have all your business paperwork lined up in advance before signing on to the Qwest website and filling out the form. If they are in current need of your services, they could be contacting you shortly.
