Intro

So, you want to start an answering service?

If you are reading this, you likely fall into one of three categories:

• You heard that an answering service is a good business to get into.

• You are an unhappy client at an answering service and want to do it better.

• You are an employee at an answering service and want to go out on your own.

Consider carefully before you launch a telephone answering service. It is a labor intensive business, which never closes. As you start your business – and until your reach break-even (which may take several years) – you can find yourself working 60 to 80 hours a week, plus end up sleeping in the call center to answer those few over-night calls. This will take its toll on you, perhaps quickly, often times gradually. Starting an answering service is not something for the faint-hearted or those unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices and investment of time. While running an answering service, like running any business is challenging, starting an answering service can be daunting.

On the other hand, owning an answering service can be a rewarding and fulfilling endeavor. First, great satisfaction can be derived from helping others, which is what you will be doing all day long. Second, an established answering service generates fairly steady and predictable cash flow. Although clients come and go, most continue to use their answering service month after month, year after year. Next, a properly run and sufficiently large answering service can generate a substantial profit. Lastly, an answering service is a business that can be easily and effectively passed on to your children or other family members.

If you want to proceed, be sure to review our list of “Frequently Asked Questions” to address other common misconceptions and establish reasonable expectations for your answering service.

Your first step in staring a telephone answering service is to have an action plan, but before you do that, read our articles.