How to Start a Home-Based Writing Business, 4th

by Lucy V. Parker

• ISBN13: 9780762728343
• ISBN10: 0762728345
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-11-01
• Publisher: Globe Pequot

Summary

Earn a living writing advertising copy, producing flyers and brochures, or ghost-writing, without leaving home. This guide explains how to set up a home-based writing business.

Author Biography

Lucy V. Parker is the owner and operator of a highly successful home-based writing and graphic design business in Land O' Lakes, Florida. She also lectures on writing.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction	xvii
Chapter 1 Getting Started as a Home-Based Writer	1	(28)
"Until You Make It, Fake It"	1	(1)
What This Book Offers-and Assumes	2	(2)
How I Got Started as a Home-Based Entrepreneur	4	(2)
Why Work at Home?	6	(2)
What Kinds of Writing Jobs Are We Talking About?	8	(2)
The Case for Combining Writing and Design	10	(2)
Resources for Gaining Skills You Don't Yet Have	12	(4)
Success Worksheet One	15	(1)
Expand your capabilities
What's Your Next Step? Ways to Get Started	16	(3)
Success Worksheet Two	18	(1)
Have a transition plan
Life as a Home-Based Freelancer	19	(2)
Success Worksheet Three	20	(1)
Understand your motivations
Getting Support on the Home Front	21	(2)
Success Worksheet Four	22	(1)
Make sure your players want to be on the team
How to Use the Worksheets to Build Your Business Plan	23	(6)
Profile: Jack Fehr	26	(103)
Escaping to a New Life
Chapter 2 What Will You Do and for Whom?	29	(18)
Building on Your Strengths and Teaming with Other Professionals
Why Define Yourself?	129
My Search for a Business Identity	30	(2)
Finding Your Business Focus	32	(2)
Start with a Reality Check	34	(2)
Success Worksheet Five	35	(1)
Build on your past skills and experience
Setting Up Relationships with Other Suppliers and Associates	36	(11)
Success Worksheet Six	38	(2)
Find reliable associates
Success Worksheet Seven	40	(3)
Increase your business through joint ventures, but guard against potential problems
Success Worksheet Eight	43	(1)
Set up joint work agreements
Profile: Michael Weiber	44	(26)
Escaping the Grind
Chapter 3 Where the Work Is	47	(34)
Key Writing Products and Clients
Writers and the Online Revolution	47	(1)
What is the "Hidden Market"?	48	(1)
Sixty Key Assignments for Home-Based Writers	49	(21)
Zero In on Your Areas of Specialization	70	(2)
Success Worksheet Nine	71	(4)
Define your niche
Who Buys the Meat-and-Potatoes Jobs?	72	(1)
Sixty Key Writing Clients	72	(3)
Writing-Related Agencies	75	(1)
Matching Jobs and Clients	75	(19)
Success Worksheet Ten	76	(1)
Identify your market
Profile: Donna Donovan	77	(18)
Finding Yourself through Your Business
Chapter 4 Making Your Business Legal	81	(20)
The Basics of Setting Up a Business	81	(2)
Sole Proprietorships	83	(2)
Partnerships	85	(3)
Corporations	88	(1)
Naming Your Business	88	(3)
Fictitious Name Statements	91	(1)
Trademarks	92	(1)
Business Licenses and Zoning	92	(2)
Seller's Permits	94	(7)
Success Worksheet Eleven	95	(2)
Set yourself up right
Profile: Alan S. Horowitz	97	(8)
Creating Business Opportunities
Chapter 5 Office Space and Equipment	101	(24)
What Will You Need to Get Started?	101	(1)
Space for Your Home Office	102	(1)
Basic Space Needs	103	(2)
Space Factors to Consider	105	(8)
Success Worksheet Twelve	111	(2)
Plan an office that suits you
Determining Your Equipment Needs	113	(12)
Success Worksheet Thirteen	120	(5)
Buy only the equipment you need Profile: Jan Franck	122	(3)
Positioning for Profit
Chapter 6 Computers, Online Services, and Another Look at Start-up Costs	125	(34)
Selecting Your Computer	125	(4)
Success Worksheet Fourteen	127	(2)
Determine your computing needs
Computer Peripherals and Accessories	129	(15)
Success Worksheet Fifteen	135	(6)
Plan your computer system Software for Writers	138	(3)
Success Worksheet Sixteen	141	(3)
The right software can make you more productive
Computer Shopping	144	(5)
Success Worksheet Seventeen	146	(3)
When buying computer hardware and software, buy smart
Using Online Services	149	(1)
Analyzing Your Start-up Costs	149	(2)
Success Worksheet Eighteen	150	(1)
Conserve cash
Start-up Costs vs. Funds Available	151	(8)
Success Worksheet Nineteen	152	(3)
Balance your needs against your resources
Profile: Stephen Morrill	155	(19)
Diversifying Pays Off
Chapter 7 Marketing Your Services	159	(40)
Marketing Makes the Difference	159	(2)
Marketing Magazine Articles	161	(3)
Marketing and Selling-An Entrepreneurial Example	164	(6)
What Can Marketing Research Do for You?	170	(1)
Where and How to Get Marketing Information	170	(4)
Marketing Strategies and Positioning	174	(1)
Determining and Presenting Your Image	174	(5)
Success Worksheet Twenty	175	(4)
Understand your market and position yourself strategically
Publicizing Yourself and Your Services	179	(5)
Success Worksheet Twenty-One	184	(1)
Build your own publicity toolkit and keep it current
Advertising Your Services	184	(5)
Success Worksheet Twenty-Two	188	(1)
Advertise your services for maximum impact
Marketing Yourself Online	189	(5)
Success Worksheet Twenty-Three	193	(1)
Include online marketing in your plan
Keeping Records to Evaluate and Update Your Marketing Plan	194	(5)
Success Worksheet Twenty-Four	195	(1)
Evaluate your marketing plan regularly
Profile: Ilene A. Schneider	196	(7)
Combining Business and Family
Chapter 8 Selling Your Services	199	(36)
Prospects Are Just People	199	(1)
The Benefits of Selling-and of Sales Training	200	(1)
The Value of a Prospect List	201	(1)
Qualifying Prospects	202	(1)
Sources of Prospects	203	(8)
Prospect Information Form	207	(5)
Success Worksheet Twenty-Five	210	(12)
Keep building your prospect list
Telemarketing, E-mailing, and Mailing	211	(1)
Organizing Your Database and Managing Your Contacts	212	(4)
Success Worksheet Twenty-Six	213	(3)
Make every prospecting contact effective
Follow-up Techniques	216	(8)
Success Worksheet Twenty-Seven	222	(9)
Good follow-up techniques turn prospects into clients
The Steps toward Buying	224	(1)
Making a Sales Presentation	225	(5)
Keeping Your Prospect/Client List Active	230	(1)
Soliciting Additional Business	231	(4)
Profile: Martha Brockenbrough	232	(16)
Building on Experience
Chapter 9 How to Charge and How to Collect	235	(40)
Deciding What to Charge	235	(1)
What Do Others Charge?	235
Deciding How to Price Your Services	234	(12)
How to Arrive at Your Basic Hourly Rate	246	(2)
Finding Your Profit Zone	248	(1)
The Psychology of Setting a Price	248	(5)
Success Worksheet Twenty-Eight	250	(3)
Know what your basic hourly rate must be and earn it five hours a day
The Bidding and Negotiating Process	253	(9)
Estimating Form	258	(4)
Getting Paid	262	(7)
Success Worksheet Twenty-Nine	267	(2)
Estimate accurately, bill promptly, and make sure all your costs are covered
Bartering	269	(6)
Profile: Judith Broadhurst	270	(19)
Succeeding and Moving On ...
Chapter 10 Tips for Managing Your Business (and Yourself) and Writing Your Business Plan	275	(44)
What Else Is Involved in Running Your Business?	275	(1)
Legal Issues	276	(3)
Issues Concerning Employees	279	(2)
Taxes	281	(4)
Cash Flow, Income Projection, and Other Financial Issues	285	(2)
Policies and Procedures	287	(2)
Record Keeping	289	(6)
Job Control form	292	(2)
Master Job Log Form	294	(1)
Purchasing and Inventory Control	295	(1)
Maintenance of Equipment and Facilities	296	(1)
Computer System Administration and Security	297	(5)
Success Worksheet Thirty	299	(6)
Systems solve management problems
Setting Goals and Managing Time within Your Management Style	302	(3)
Your Business and Your Life	305	(7)
Success Worksheet Thirty-One	306	(5)
Identify your management style and work with it for success
Success Worksheet Thirty-Two	311	(1)
Manage yourself
Writing Your Business Plan	312	(7)
Profile: Robert C. Brenner	315	(4)
Riding the Wave of "Change"
Bibliography	319	(18)
Source Directory	337	(12)
Index	349	(10)
About the Author	359