October 6, 2010 ( PowerHomeBiz.com )
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Are you are looking for a home business idea? If so, why not start a
handwritten mail business? In the digital age, real handwriting is more
special than ever. As it becomes increasingly rare, the opportunity for
people with nice handwriting grows. I’m not referring to calligraphy, just
neat handwriting.
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The market is huge, not only for handwriting personal
invitations, thank you cards, and holiday greetings, but for
business mail as well. Direct mail is a $12 billion
industry. And, organizations have discovered that the best
way to get their mail opened and read is to hand address the
envelopes. Hence, many of them are looking to outsource the
handwriting of their business mail to someone. That someone
could be you.
Handwritten mail makes a great home-based business for three big reasons.
First, handwriting can be done anywhere and at anytime. You work when and
where you choose. Second, the start-up costs are low. This is a service
business that doesn’t require an investment in inventory or technology.
Third, it’s totally scalable. You can keep your home business small or grow
as large as you like – it’s up to you.
To start your own home-based handwritten mail business, simply follow
these 10.5 steps:
- Learn the industry – Familiarize yourself with your potential
customers and competitors. Be sure to find out the industry standards
for extending credit, project turnaround time, and pricing.
- Choose a niche – Identify, as specifically as possible, the type of
customer that you are planning to serve. Carving out a niche market is
absolutely vital to a small company. This is the key to differentiating
yourself from your larger competitors.
- Name your home business – Good business names are market-based and
original. In other words, when your customers hear or see the name of
your business, you want them to think about how your handwritten direct
mail will help them.
- Select a legal structure – Choosing the right legal structure for
your business might seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. If you
strip away all of the legalese, the core factors become the number of
owners permitted, the tax treatment of gains or losses, and the owners’
personal liability for claims made against the company.
- Form your company – Register your home-based business and apply for
the necessary licenses and permits. You can do this yourself by
contacting the office of your state’s Secretary of State. But, if you
are uncertain of the best structure to choose or how to go about setting
it up, you should consult with your legal and tax advisors.
- Obtain an EIN – An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is instantly
available from the IRS at www.irs.gov. Many banks require an EIN to open
a business checking account, so get one even if you don’t plan to have
employees.
- Organize your finances – Find a local bank that caters to small
businesses and open a checking account. It’s also a good idea to have a
business credit card. Keeping your business finances separate from your
personal finances is an important requirement for maintaining the
limited liability protection of corporations and limited liability
companies.
- Set up your home office – Allocate space in your home for writing,
as well as storing the materials. Make sure you’ll be able to protect
the job materials from the damage that children, pets, liquids, and
smoke can cause.
- Define your processes – Try to systematize as much of your home
business as possible. Begin by outlining how you intend to find new
customers, manage projects, and collect invoices. This will allow you to
establish and maintain a degree of efficiency, and predictability of
results.
- Start marketing – Register a domain name, launch a website, join
networking groups, and order printed marketing materials. Then, design
and rollout marketing campaigns that promote your strengths to your
niche market.
- 10.5 Receive payment for your first project – Congratulations!
Home businesses are a great way to accomplish both your personal and
financial goals. The rising demand for handwritten mail has made it possible
for people to make money at home, addressing envelopes. It can be done
anywhere, at anytime, has low start-up costs, and is totally scalable. By
following these 10.5 steps, you can tap into the $12 billion direct mail
industry with your own handwritten mail business.
Ray Hrach is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of Write On
Results, a marketing firm that specializes in real handwritten direct mail.
He is also the author of the book Handwrite for Cash: Firsthand Advice from
Write On Results. For more information on how to start your own handwritten
mail business,
please visit
http://www.writeonresults.com/?page_id=73
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Ray Hrach
Author, Handwrite for CASH
Partner, Kairos Venture Group Co-founder,
Write On Results 201 E. Patrick Street, Suite 3701 Frederick, MD 21705
Phone: 301-880-4656
