Your Home Business Offering Writing Services Fast-Start – 5 Tips

Want to make a great income from your writing? Start a writing services business. There are many services you can offer, including copywriting, Web writing, and creating resumes and bios.

The more experience you have, the more you can charge for your services. If you’re completely inexperienced, your first priority is to get some writing jobs so you can create your portfolio.

When you run a writing services business you’ll initially write from home, and this can present some challenges. Ensure that you have the agreement of family members before you start, and set up your home office in a room with a door you can close.

So let’s look at five tips for success.

1. You’re a Seller – Find the Buyers

As a writing services provider, you’re a seller, and you need buyers. As your business grows, you’ll collect a stable of regular buyers, who will have you on a retainer. These are your “anchor” clients – see Tip #4.

You can find clients anywhere. Start local. Businesses, associations and clubs in your city will occasionally need your services, so send out some letters, and post a classified ad. You won’t get responses immediately, so follow up on your letters, and post your ad for at least three months.

People need to see your name several times before they contact you.

Can you advertise online? Yes, you can. However, if you’re a completely new writer, without a portfolio, then it’s harder to get clients in the online environment than in your local area.

2. Create a Business Plan

Your next step is to create a business plan. This is a forecast of: your clients, the types of services you provide, your marketing (advertising), your costs, and your income goals.

Your business plan gives you direction. It can be very short – keep it to a single page. Then create projects and tasks which will help you to achieve your income goals.

3. Set Deadlines for Each Stage

Set goals and deadlines for the number of clients you want to get and the income you want to make in six months, one year, and three years. Yes, this is all guess-work. However, it serves as a road map. You’ll find that you always achieve your goals much more quickly than you expect IF you set them first… so do set goals and deadlines.

4. Get Anchor Clients

Your anchor clients – those clients which buy your services regularly – keep you in business. Aim for around six to ten anchor clients.

If you have just one anchor client, this is dangerous. Businesses hit hard times, change their procedures, and go out of business. So ensure that you have at least six anchor clients at any one time. This protects you and your income.

5. Find a Mentor

You need a mentor – someone who is doing what you want to do, and has been doing it successfully for at least three years.

You may find a mentor in your local business community.

Your mentor’s primary function is to act as a sounding board, and to inspire you and give you ideas.

6. Bonus tip: get an accountant to help you with your finances. Once you get busy, you’ll be glad of the help.

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