Cheap Ways to Start a Business !!!

Many people dream of starting their own small business. The lure of being your own boss, setting your own schedule and being the beneficiary of your own hard work can be a powerful force. Establishing your small business does not have to be an expensive proposition. By using technology and outsourced services, you can have your small business up and running with minimal cost.

Office

Many small business owners start by working from a home office. Depending on your business model, you may only need a desk, computer, phone and Internet connection. With a minimal monthly investment, you can add a virtual fax machine to your Internet account, allowing you to send and receive faxes online. If you need to meet clients face-to-face, many small business owners turn to executive suites. These suites can be rented by the day or month and provide owners with a physical office, access to meeting rooms and other office services, many times including a support staff. Executive suites are also a great way to transition from a home office to a more permanent location as your company grows.

Outsourced Services

In today's connected world, it is easy to operate a virtual business with very little up-front investment or the need to hire additional staff. A computer with Internet access can send files to a print shop, which will print, collate and bind your document. Your business phone number can be tied to a service that will answer incoming calls using your company name, creating the illusion that you are a larger organization. Word processing services will type and format your proposals and reports for you, letting you focus on sales. Bookkeeping and accounting services can also be outsourced, allowing you to drop all your financial information into an envelope that they retrieve once a week, keeping your finances in order.

Shared Sales Support

Many small business owners struggle with balancing new business sales efforts with the day-to-day management of the company and fulfillment of orders. To help solve this dilemma, companies that offer contracted sales resources have appeared. These companies offer a network of salespeople who sell an entire portfolio of goods or services. A small business owner that specializes in copy writing for websites can hire the company to approach prospects and create warm leads for the entrepreneur. In some cases, the sales organization is paid a retainer for their efforts. In other cases, they are paid a commission on the sale value. The entrepreneur wins by gaining a sales force without the need to hire employees.