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.
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