I have my own business, Brandy Ellen’s Business Solutions, that was registered as a DBA in March 2009. Although I have been providing most of the services I list on my website as a sub-contractor or independent contractor for well near three years, I wanted to take my services up a notch by creating a real business name. When I registered my business and started providing services I found I was charging different rates for different services and I was really quite honestly unorganized in the way of contracts, forms and fee schedules.  This doesn’t mean I was unorganized with my clients, because I had everything I needed for them filed neatly in my binder and my home business sever, however, I was not organized in that I didn’t have a “rhythm” about how I was providing services, proposals and contracts to prospects and clients.

Since I had to learn the hard way on how to get organized and what should be done prior to supplying services I wanted to share some tips with you so that maybe you can start your business right!

Getting Started

So you have your own business, congratulations! Now this is what you should do first:

• Sign up for a forum in your specialty. Use Google to search for a business forum that specializes in networking with other professionals in whatever service you provide.
• Create all forms necessary for your business such as Contracts, Fee Schedules, late payment terms, acceptable payments, maybe even a press release.
• Create a business folder on your computer or server so that you have a place to file all contracts and necessary forms listed above. This allows you to quickly find any form or contract you may need.

Get The Word Out

Start telling everyone you know about your business. Family, friends, co-workers, Internet friends and anyone else you may talk to on a day to day basis. Those are the people who will help you on a more personal level that may be able to vouch for your outgoing personality and professional nature. Add your business URL to everything – address labels, business cards, envelopes, letters to your child’s school, etc etc!

Marketing

Now this is where I am currently at – Marketing. Although I have put the word out about my business in my current social groups such as Twitter, Facebook and Ning groups, you need to market to a wider audience. One piece of advice would be to use @jessicaknows 15 Days of Marketing. It’s fast, and it is FREE. I am currently reading this e-book and will post an update when I done reading it, but welcome your feedback as well.

Wishing you much success and luck in your business ventures. I will continue these tips at a later date so be sure to come back often!