| A Simple
Phone Reminder Service Business Plan |
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| A lot of
people tend to forget appointments, holidays,
anniverseries and birthdays. Elderly people and
shut ins often need and may appreciate someone
calling to check in and maybe chat for a few
minutes. If you are somwhat organized and can
follow a calendar/reminder program this might be
for you. |
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This could be a part time
venture to start. |
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As a business necessity
and expense your laptop or desktop, internet
connection, phone and Magic Jack should be tax
deductible. |
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The
potential is a business you might sell in a few
years. |
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| What
you'll need: |
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You'll
need a high speed Internet connection - DSL or
Cable |
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A Laptop PC running
Windows. |
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A MagicJack™ USB
phone adapter. |
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A Good table or desk top
telephone |
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A Reminder Calendar with
Alarm program such as Remind-Me. |
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| Optionally
you might want: |
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Business cards |
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A Telephone headset for
your laptop |
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A Telephone headset
adapter for your phone. |
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A Website |
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Bookeeping
software |
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Start off
by offer a simple phone reminder service for a
few customers. You might charge by the number of
reminders over a month time. Say, "up to 30
reminders over 30 days for $16.95", and
double the reminders "up to 60 reminders for
30 days for $24.95". |
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Most reminders will be
wake up calls and appointments. After a time
you'll also get requests for remembering
birthdays, and anniverseries. You might also help
by recommending places to dine or shop as you get
to know your customers better. |
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People can
buy calendars and all kinds of devices to help
them with reminders. You're offering a more
immediate "call to action" in a
personal way. Be slightly chatty. If the weather
might effect the reminder event you might suggest
appropriate apparel, precautions, etc. |
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As you go
along you might find clients who would like you
to check in with their elderly or shut-in
relative on a certain basis. You might offer to
do this starting at twice or three times a week
(during slow times for you) where you might then
call and chat for a few minutes. |
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| Response Issues: |
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If you call and don't get
a answer you'll call back in 20 mins. or notify
the requesting client who then will decide the
next course of action. |
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| Bookkeeping and record
keeping: |
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You'll
want a spreadsheet or a paper pad to track your
expenses and income for each site. |
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You'll need to backup
your computer data everytime you make a change to
you reminder data base. |
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| An
Additional Idea: |
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You might send out
advertising calendars to your clients at the end
of each year. These could be computer generated
calendars with pictures you've taken over the
previous year and personalized with your clients
events included. |
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To be Continued: |
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