How to Write a Website Design Proposal

By Lanee’ Blunt

Website proposal example--
Image by IngerM.

A website proposal is important for any small business's success. You need to write a proposal for working with most clients, and for answering a RFP (request for proposal).  Your success will depend on your ability to win contracts and proposal writing is part of the process.  Your clients want to know if you are interested in working for them and that you understand their design requirements and how long it will take you to build it.

Executive Summary

Tell the client why they should choose your company to design their website. Include the winning themes and selling points.  Use an outline to create your selling points in the first draft using bullet points. Explain how your company is going to accomplish the work, include the features of the website and what it will be able to do.

Goals and Objectives

Answer everything in the RFP sentence by sentence so that you won't leave anything unanswered.  Tell them how you are going to build the site. Include how many pages you are going to build. Website proposals should include the hosting plan. What method of maintenance is your small business going to provide the client.

Timeline for Completion

Your website proposal needs to have a detailed set of deadlines for each section and how long each phase of the project will take.  Include what you will need from the client in order to write content for example, company photos, and company information. Include the time period that clients should have this information to you.

Cost Estimate

The project cost estimate is the estimated costs directly related to the proposed project. If you charge the client a flat fee over $1000 you need to include a breakdown as to what this fee includes.  If you charge an hourly rate include and estimation of how many hours the project should take you.

Reference:

Fedmarket: Solving the Proposal Writing Dilemma

Onvia: First Steps to a Winning Proposal

About: How to Write a Web Design Proposal, Write a Proposal that Gets You the Job; Jennifer Kyrnin

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Benefits of Contact Management Software for Small Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Advantages of CRM--
Image by Darrendean

There are many benefits of using contact management software that will help you market your small business. Entrepreneurs want to access up-to-date information and market to people to gain more business. Contact management software is a solution that lets you track, record and organize interactions for sales and marketing purposes.

Lead Building

An advantage of contact management software is that it builds quality leads. CRM software provides list that show you leads and potential clients that you have contacted once, twice or more. It can show you what type of marketing you have sent to the prospect, and give timed and automated responses of when to send another piece.  After the prospect has been turned into a customer CRM moves them to another area in the system.

Categorize Your Contacts

Prospects can be grouped by priority or interest. Your customers and vendors will be stored into the system on how to reach them, phone, email, address, your interactions with them, sales volume, and miscellaneous details.  You will have all the information that you need in one place that will be accessible and current.

CRM can be integrated with email marketing software to help you send out a better targeted campaign.

CRM is Affordable

CRM software will help you attract new customers and help you better service your current customers. It can help reduce cost by providing time efficient tools. It is affordable and some software packages offer a one month free trial offer.

Reference:

Business Link: Business Benefits of CRM

Top Ten Reviews: Top 10 Benefits of Using Contact Management Software; Jennifer Jarrett

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Setup Your Small Business Office

By Lanee’ Blunt

Setup your office space--
andrewatla

There are many steps to setting up a small business including locating your business space, purchasing furniture, buying office equipment, computers, software and supplies.  Your business will be more proficient if it has what you need to work efficiently and comfortably.

Office Space

Your decision whether to lease or buy office space will depend on your finances, tax, and overhead costs. Do your homework.

Office Furniture

Choose furniture that makes your space comfortable and efficient, and for its functional and storage solutions. Discount online stores enable you to save money. Online furniture retailers have lower overhead and are able to offer better discounts.

Business Equipment

Decide the type of office equipment that you will need to run your business. Purchase computer hardware, software, fax machine, printer, and a scanner. An all-in-one printer may save you money because it has printer, scanner, copier, and fax together so decide your options. A small business office needs basic supplies like paper, pens, and paper clips.

Get an 800 Toll Free phone number to route all your calls to a landline or cellphone. Get an internet provider.

Buy small business and financial software to track your income and expense. Get Microsoft office and desktop publishing, so you can create letterhead stationery and brochures.

Save $70, HP 23” LED Monitor, only $159.99 at officemax.com

5% to 15% off select orders at Everything Office Furniture

Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi

Reference:

Business.com: Small Office Home Office Setup

Start Up a Small Business: Setting Up an Office for Your Small Business

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How to Write a Cleaning Business Proposal

By Lanee’ Blunt

You will need to develop a winning proposal in order to compete for new business. . If you have never written a proposal before it can seem a little intimidating. There is a difference in a cleaning proposal and a cleaning bid. A cleaning proposal is a written document that may be between six to thirty pages and it describes your company in detail. On the other hand, a bid can consist of a one page document or a form sheet.

Before you write the proposal write an outline of the cleaning specifications. Take this sentence-by-sentence for the client. Analyze the specifications and explain all important sentences and important clauses in the statement of work. Understanding exactly what is in the statement of work so that you will leave nothing out of the proposal.

Executive Summary

This is an important part of the proposal because this is a summary of the need of your company. This is also called a statement of need. You will write about what your company has to offer and think of this as a sales document and is designed to convince the client to hire you. You need to stick to the facts and not write any fluffy language. You don’t need a history about your business or the president of the company.

Project Detail

Explain what service you will provide the client. Summarize the client’s needs by explaining in detail and give a description of the work your cleaning business is going to do, and how your company intends to accomplish the work. For example, “Large debris will be removed from the site and placed in waste dumpsters; service provides complete detailed cleaning of office complex.” Give a description of what you propose to do by stating what your plans are and how you will achieve your goal.

Cleaning Bid or Total Cost

This section of the cleaning business proposal gives an itemized price summary to the client. Itemize all fixed cost for structure cleaning. Write down the details of the rooms, hallway and corridors, types of rooms and specific explanatory cleaning notes. Itemize the cost by square footage and what you charge for each service you provide, for example, power scrub, extracting carpet, and polishing hardwood floors. Write how the pricing will be applied for each service that you offer. How long will it take you to complete, or how often will you clean and give a time estimate. The cleaning business proposal must convince the evaluator that you are familiar with their requirements and your small business will complete the work by the deadline.

Organization Information

Write information about your company, this can be company history, about us, and capabilities. In this section don’t brag about your small business, but try to convince evaluator that you can be trusted to get the job done.

Tips

Proofread and check for all typos.

Prepare a cover page

See also

• How to Advertise a Small Business Free Online
• How to Write Janitorial Service Proposal
• How to Open an Office Cleaning Business
• Creating a Small Business Website

Reference:

Fedmarket: Proposal Writing: The Devil is in the Detail

A Cleaning Bid: Construction Site Clean Up Projects

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Advantages of an Ecommerce Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

An ecommerce business offers many advantages to the entrepreneur. An ecommerce consist of buying and selling merchandise and services, and transferring funds through digital communications.  Customers can log on to their computers and complete business transaction at any point in time day or night and purchase or sell with a click of the mouse.

Ecommerce is Cost Effective

The overhead of an internet business is much cheaper than having a traditional store or business. The startup cost is low, so the budget you will need to start up is relatively smaller. It reduces labor cost in supervision expenses, mail preparation, credit card machines, and overtime.

Ecommerce Marketing

The benefits of marketing online are numerous. You have a variety of methods to use in which you can market your ecommerce business. You have the option of using email, newsletters, blogging, social media, newsletters, audio, and videos to promote your business. You can track your marketing efforts and if you don’t like the results you can change them instantly.

Ecommerce Conducted 24/7

Shopping online is fast and you offer the convenience to your customers of shopping from their home or office. Your customers will be able to buy from you every day of the year without the barriers of time or distance. You can give your customers a quick response to their orders.

Reference:

Ecommerce Education: Benefits of Ecommerce

Ecommerce Optimization: Main Pros & Cons of an Online Retail Business

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How to Attract Customers to Your Product

By Lanee’ Blunt

Encourage referrals--
Cherrychil

Advertising your product to a targeted market will help you get more customers. Focus on satisfying your current customers and focus on encouraging referrals and attracting new business. What is your unique selling point? What does your product offer that is different from your competitors?

Benefits

Identify the benefits of using your product. People usually buy a product for the benefit of what they are going to get from using it.  Most small businesses articulate the features of the product to their customers. That's fine to talk about your features but people usually want to know what is in it for them. A benefit is "something that promotes well-being, an advantage," according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. On the other hand, a feature is "a distinctive or characteristic part of a thing." You must understand the distinction between the features and benefits of using your product. When you write an ad, brochure, or create your website always lead with the benefits of using your product.

Referrals

Referrals are very important. Encourage referrals from your customers because it is the best way to get new customers to buy your product. If you have satisfied customers ask them for a referral. Think of a referral system where you can offer a special discount if your customer gives you the names, and phone numbers of three of their friends.

Quality

Make sure that you offer your customers quality products. They must feel that they are getting a great value and high quality. Provide high quality and customer service. Treat your customers with the highest respect.

Reference:

Business Link: Marketing on a Tight Budget

The Prosperous Healer; How to Attract Clients by Expressing the Benefits of Your Offerings; Admin; 2012

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How to Start a Seminar Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Seminar business is in demand

The demand for seminars is not just limited to corporate seminars. People are attending seminars for a lot of different reasons and there is a demand for seminars by small businesses, organizations, and consumers. Seminars are being created almost for every possible subject and there is an audience waiting to attend and willing to pay to you.

Start Up

You can start up a seminar business with a low start-up cost. The biggest finance will be equipment. You must have your own equipment to run a seminar or you can rent your equipment. You will need a computer with modem and printer, fax machine, and internet service. Create a website and print up brochures. You will need an electronic credit card processor, bulk mail permit, and shipping and packaging supplies.  You will also want to create a residual product that you can sell after the seminar.

Determine Legal Ownership

You must set up your business as a legal entity. Decide which form of ownership is best for your particular business: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation, or S corporation.

Determine a course of action for financing 
The financing may come from your commercial bank, so write a business plan.

Seminar professionals generate money by giving seminars and speeches, and selling peripheral goods such as audiotapes,  DVDs, and books.  What will you charge for your seminar? First calculate how much each seminar will cost you, by how many people are going to attend, and divide your cost by the people you expect to attend. You will get a ticket price.

Marketing
Market your business by advertising; send direct mail, personal contacts and word-of-mouth. Direct mail is a good choice of advertising for your seminar business. Create a sales letter and brochure and send it to a qualified mailing list.

See also

• Starting a Sole Proprietorship
• How to Build Referral Program
• How to Create a Company Logo
• How to Write a Small Business Proposal

Reference:

Entrepreneur; How to Start a Seminar Production Business

Home Income Opportunities; Start a Seminar Production Business
[Image of Seminar] (n.d.). Retrieved from  http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/41414

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How to Start a Staffing Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

A staffing company sets up temporary workers with employers.  Staffing companies will supply clients with short term workers to fill positions of absent employees or to help supplement existing staff. It can be a profitable business and started with a reasonable initial investment. Most entrepreneurs that want to start their own companies have some experience in the staffing industry, as workers for other agencies, managers, recruiters or sales backgrounds.

Determine Legal Ownership

You must set up your business as a legal entity. Decide which form of ownership is best for your particular business: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation, or S corporation.

Business Plan

Write a business plan that will define your goals, include how you will finance your company, where you will be located, and how you plan to market your business. Your company will pay your employees and then get paid from the business customers that you have provided the employees for. You will need contracts written for your company between you and your clients. You will also need the business plan if you are looking to get a business loan.

Talk to an insurance agency. The minimum insurance that you will need will be for general liability, workers’ comp., and profession liability insurance.  Contact your state's Insurance Fund for your Workers Comp. policy.

Advertise

Cold call corporations, small businesses, and other industries if you are starting your business without referrals. Send direct mail to a qualified mailing list. Join social network sites such as Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook and Google+. Spend every day recruiting, interviewing, and cataloging individuals looking for temporary work.

All the supplies you need for the office, school and home at officemax.com Reference:

Business Ideas: How to Start a Staffing Business; Clay Collins

Venture Street: 10 Tips for Starting a Successful Staffing Agency; Dale Busbee

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Benefits of Direct Mail Advertising

By Lanee’ Blunt

Advantages of Direct Mail--
jcroatto

There are many benefits of using direct mail that will help you market your small business. Advertising is a challenge and you can do it without spending a lot of money. Here are a few advantages of using direct mail.

Build Quality Leads

An advantage of direct mail is that it builds quality leads. Direct mail allows you to build a house list of loyal customers. Your house list is the best list for you to have and to work from.

Direct mail is good at keeping your name in front of prospects so when they are ready to buy they might call your company.  It is effective in helping to keep in touch with former customers.  You can obtain better qualified leads and when someone sends you a reply form back they will be expecting you to call them.

You can test your direct mail before you invest a lot of money in the sales campaign. 

Response Rate

You can determine the result of your direct mail after you send out the package.  According to C.A. Nolan and R.F. Warmke’s book, Marketing Sales Promotion and Advertising, “Large business organizations make every attempt to predetermine the market before a sales letter campaign is started.” After you have tested the sample your response rate should be the same every time you send the direct mail. Lead generating direct get results. Each time you send it out you can expect the package to pull in the same amount of leads.

Reference:

C.A. Nolan and R.F. Warmke; Marketing Sales Promotion and Advertising; South-Western

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How to Start Up a Vending Machine Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Starting a vending machine business is a cash-only recession proof business because people love snacks, candies, and drinks in colorful attractive packs and they are hard to walk past when they want a snack. Have a plan in place when you begin your vending machine business and know your goals and what you need to do to achieve them.

Analyze the type of machine that you want to set up because if you are going to sell food you will be required to have Food Service license.  A sales tax license is required to collect sales taxes.  A vendor and peddler license is required to set up a vending machine for sales on most products in the machine. The requirements may be different, so you must check with your own local licensing department.

What You'll Need

Vending machine or machines you can buy or lease them. Choose a good location that will give you the highest amount of profit. Check out places that have a high amount of traffic and approach business owners that you are affiliated with. Popular locations for your vending machine may include malls, car dealerships, repair shops, banks, schools, and hospitals.

Marketing

Spend some time marketing your services to potential clients. Keep your vending machines stocked and working properly. Once you have your locations in place, purchase the machines, and get them running. You may want to start with a few machines with a minimal upfront investment. Get a reputable supplier of commercial quality vending machines.  Approach store owners let them know about your new business. Set them up and start making money.

In some places you may have to offer the store owner a percentage of your vending sales.

Reference:

Gumballs: How to Start a Vending Machine Business or Route

Business Ideas: How to Start a Vending Machine Business

[image of vending machine] (n.d). retrieved from  http://www.oregonvendingmachines.com/

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Advantages of Internet Marketing

By Lanee’ Blunt

Stretch your marketing budget--
ba1969

The internet is an effective way to reach your customers. Many small businesses advertise the traditional way but are looking to expand and explore online marketing. Marketing online helps to stretch your marketing budget. Internet marketing is a form of marketing that uses different forms of online marketing such as pay-per-click, search engine optimization campaigns, email marketing campaigns and banner advertising.

Lower operation Cost

An advantage of online marketing is that you can contact your customers more than you normally would and more affordably than other methods, sending mail, printing brochures, and paying for postal rates. For example, an email message is more cost effective than sending thousands of direct mail pieces with savings in postage, paper and printing. You can advertise cheaper than with more traditional methods of advertising such as television, full page ads in the newspaper, and directories. For example, you can get a free listing in many business online directories.

Demographic Information

The use of email marketing allows you to collect demographic information. The demographic information will help you better market your small business. When prospects come to your website ask them to fill out a few questions when signing up for your email. You can discover exactly who your customers are, their age and what their interest are all this information helps you to mold your services to suit your customer. Don’t ask too many questions because each question you ask may reduce the number of customers to sign up for your email. Give your customers the option of skipping the questionnaire and make sure that they have opt-in to get information from you.

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Business Plan Example for a New Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

What information should you include
in your plan--Mihow

Having a business plan in place when you are starting a new company is very important. A business plan can be used to seek funding and also can be used for a plan-as-you-go for running your new business. You should spend some time doing your homework for example, gathering the information that you will need to create your plan.

Executive Summary

Tell the reader what you want in the summary. You will provide a synopsis of your business plan. The elements here will include the business concept, financial feature, financial requirements, current business position, and major achievements. This section is a snapshot of your plan but touches on your goals and company profile.

Market Analysis

This section you will write about your market, how you will reach them. What are the needs of your customers and how you will position your business to service them? Write about the industry grown and estimate the market share for the period the plan covers.

Company Description

What do you do in your business? What makes you different from the competition? What are your start-up plans?

Product or Service

Describe your business. Describe what you are selling.

Strategy and Implementation

What are the responsibilities of management include dates and budgets. Describe your business and its organization structure, regardless of its size.

Funding Request

If you are seeking funding for your new business find out all of the information that you need to include in your plan.

Financial Projections

Provide financial projections that will back up your request.  Include a projected Profit and Loss and Cash Flow tables.

Reference:

SBA: Essential Elements of a Good Business Plan

Entrepreneur: Elements of a Business Plan

Bplans: A Standard Business Plan Outline; Tim Berry

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How to Write a Collection Letter for Consultant Services

By Lanee’ Blunt

Write a collection letter--
mihow

Consultants shy away from using collection letters. When someone owes you money for your service business and doesn’t want to pay in response of your regular billing, then you may begin writing letters of notification. The first stage in the collection process for your service business is a letter of notification. In most cases, a client will give you no trouble in making a payment, but occasionally they won’t pay and you should send a collection letter.

Collection letters are not just for large corporations, if it is written correctly, it will be to your advantage to use. Send copies of past bills. You can start in the early stages of the process by sending repeated bills to the client.  On the bills stamp reminder to indicate that you are giving them the opportunity to pay you. Write a polite letter urging the recipient to make payment on the outstanding bill.

Start the collection letter with a double space under the salutation.  In this paragraph list the overdue balance that is owed to you, the date, and invoice number. Write that you have not received payment for services that you performed. The most common request is that the client has lost the invoice.

Start your second paragraph double space in between the first paragraph informing the client in a respectful tone assuming there has been some mistake resulting from lack of payment. For example, “I felt sure that your payment would be here by now. Please send the payment by mail so that you can continue to receive the consulting services you’ve been receiving.” The letter should not sound too harsh because there is another stage of “severity of letters” that follows the notification letter.

Close the letter. With a friendly but firm tone that the payment should be mailed before you can continue any future work for the client. If the payment has already been mailed please ignore the letter.

Reference:

Accounting Best Practices; Steven M. Bragg, 2010

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How to Start a Courier Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Courier service transport documents
 and pakages for organizations.
Anshustock

Starting a courier service is a rewarding and lucrative business. You may find that you are in competition with the big companies. Couriers will transport documents and packages for individuals, businesses, intuitions, and government agencies some companies will prefer working with a small courier business. Your courier service can offer clients in your community convenient delivery or pick-up services.

Start with a business plan

A business plan will be required if you are going to request financing. It can help you by getting you a business loan and -investors. Include in the plan the name of your company, what your business hours will be, and the types of vehicles your company will use for transporting goods.

Business License

Acquire a “Doing Business As,” DBA. Register a legal name for your business if you are going to use a name other than your own name. Apply for the DBA with a registration form with your state and local government.

Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the US Internal Revenue Service if you have hired employees. Take the test for your commercial driver’s license.

Advertise your Business

You can start your business with a small investment and a vehicle. Send direct mail and postcards to dry cleaners, spirits, fast food, medications, event tickets, grocery stores, and pet food stores. 

Reference:

Entrepreneur: Business Idea Center; Community Delivery Service

Business Ideas: How to Start a Courier Business Today

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Couriers and Messengers

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