FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Momentum Builds for College-Level Virtual Assistant Training
Margate, FL (November 2006): The momentum for college-level virtual assistant training programs is building across the U.S. and into Canada. With the rise in popularity for becoming a successful virtual assistant, colleges are recognizing the unique value of adding this type of training to their curriculum.
The textbooks of choice for these college training courses are two highly popular books specializing in VA training: Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Sought After VA and Virtual Assistant – The Series: Workbook Edition, written by Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker (Another 8 Hours Publishing). Combined, these books offer a step-by-step approach on how to start a VA business.
Since August 2004 Red Deer College’s VA Certification Program in Canada and other higher level learning organizations and colleges have been using Virtual Assistant – The Series to train their students. With a newly published Workbook Edition, a new dimension is added, allowing students to proceed step by step through the book. The workbook is used with the manual to help students set up their business along the way.
“The students find the workbook invaluable,” says Randi Tucker Hart, instructor at Raymond Walters College at the University of Cincinnati. “The content flows right along with the textbook, making it comprehensive, clear and easy to complete the process.” And several students have said the Business Disaster Plan section alone is worth the price of the Virtual Assistant –The Series bundle which includes the manual and the workbook.
For virtual assistants who have the manual, they find the workbook is an added touch that allows for documenting their business startup as they read through the instruction of the main manual. Together they are a must for the seasoned virtual assistants who want to take their businesses to the next level.
Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Sought After VA 3rd Edition Revised (ISBN #0-9742790-5-6) is available at Amazon, Borders and online bookstores everywhere. The book and workbook are also available direct from the publisher at http://www.VA-TheSeries.com.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Office Ready Virtual Assistant Solution Pack
Contact:
Diana Ennen
diana@virtualwordpublishing.com
http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com
954-941-4025
A Complete Solution for the Busy or Aspiring Virtual Assistant.
WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack
Margate, FL (November, 2006) For years businesses have complained of needing more help around the office to meet the ever-increasing demands of running a successful business. The answer finally arrived when highly skilled Virtual Assistants came on scene offering a global solution to the daily challenges of doing business. As the demand increased for qualified virtual assistants, so did the need for information on how to become a Virtual Assistant (VA). Corel® has stepped up to the plate to meet the demand with the release of their latest, WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack, available at http://www.corel.com.
The WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack enables entrepreneurs to successfully open their doors in no time, easily expanding their client base, and is ideal for those already in business who want to take their business to the next level. The unique combination of its 81-page e-book and coinciding templates enables entrepreneurs to quickly create everything from Corporate Brochures and Newsletters, to Consultation Forms and Marketing Letters. This ability to rapidly create impressive documents, spreadsheets, or presentations, hassle free makes this an exceptionally valuable tool. Also, its ability to work directly with WordPerfect® software provides WordPerfect® users an added tool in their ongoing quest to start a business or become more successful in their current business.
The Solution Pack offers advantages for both those wishing to start a virtual assistant business and word processing businesses alike. Those wishing to use their secretarial skills to start their own business will enjoy the detailed information provided as well as proven methods for success.
Just some of the benefits include:
1. The ability to establish themselves as an expert in the Virtual Assistant and Word Processing Industry.
2. The information to help them prosper in their own niche, such as publicity, medical or legal transcription, web design, bookkeeping, and so many more.
3. The access to all the tools they need to succeed right at their fingertips. No need to reinvent the wheel every time they need an example of an invoice, etc.
The WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Templates were written in conjunction with Corel to assist millions across the globe in the ever-growing virtual assisting industry. The Virtual Assistant Solution Pack was written with great care and precision by Diana Ennen, a VA Industry Leader and president of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com, with valuable contributions from several professional virtual assistants including her co-author of numerous other books, Kelly Poelker.
The OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack immediately gives its users the proper tools to turn their independent small businesses into successful enterprises. So start your business today or grow your existing business by ordering your copy today at the Corel site, http://www.corel.com under the Office Ready products.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Back to School -- Time to Prepare
Back to School Preparation for All Ages
If you have children, late August and September represent more than summer ending, cooler weather and fall foliage. School begins once again for millions of kids across the country. Getting your child prepared, regardless of whether they are in Kindergarten or a senior in high school, is a must. Here are some tips to make the transition from several weeks of summer fun to school days and homework easier.
Children in Kindergarten – 5th grade
1) About a week before school starts, have your children go to bed at the time they will when school begins. Set their alarm or wake them up early. It’s difficult for some kids to adjust to going to bed and getting up earlier after having an entire summer of sleeping in or staying up late. Many young children need to be on a schedule and preparing a week or so earlier will pay off, especially if you have a night owl or late sleeper.
2) If you have a school supply list (many school districts post them on their website or hand them out the last day of school), buy them early. For the child who is not organized, this is a good way to begin the school year off on the right foot. Label everything and get the backpacks ready the night before school starts. Buy some extra supplies to keep at home if your child is one to lose or forget their pencils or markers at school. They will probably need some basic supplies for homework time. Nothing if more frustrating than sitting down to do homework and discovering the basics are missing.
3) If you have a Kindergartener, walk to school two or three days before school begins (or drive if they take a bus or you will be driving them). This helps acquaint them with what they will actually be doing that first day and can work wonders for alleviating the first-day jitters. If your child is especially anxious, ask if you can let them visit their new classroom for five or ten minutes the day before school starts. Many principals will let the Kindergartens come to the campus prior to school starring.
Middle School
1) Many sixth graders will be attending a new school for their middle school years. Oftentimes, the campus is much bigger and can be intimidating. Of course pre-teens may not admit they are nervous, but most parents are! Suggest a bike ride over to the school sometime during August just to look around. Many middle schools conduct orientation anyway a couple of days before school actually begins, but an extra trip without all of their peers might be worthwhile.
2) Just as in elementary school, it is important, if not more so in middle school, to have all the school supplies ready, especially an organizer. Some schools make it mandatory for the students to purchase an organizer directly from the school. Get in the habit from day one of checking it and being sure homework assignments are recorded. Visit the school website and see if homework and grades will be posted on the site. This is an excellent way to stay involved with your child’s progress throughout the year.
3) If your student struggles with the basics; math or language arts, consider hiring a tutor for some review sessions before and during the first semester. It is quite common in middle school for students who are excelling to be moved to Honors classes sometime during the year. Being in an accelerated class is a good way to prepare a student for Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school, which count as college credit.
HIGH SCHOOL
1) Find out when the PSAT and SAT exams will take place. If your student is not a good test taker, consider enrolling them in a test prep class. As colleges become more and more competitive, test scores make a difference. One can take the exam more than once if they are not happy with the score, so plan ahead and register early.
2) Stay tuned in to your student’s school and social schedule. There is a tremendous amount of freedom in high school and even the most academically gifted students can be distracted by all of the things that are associated with the teenage years. Establish a curfew for school nights and limit the amount of time that is spent at a part-time job or involved n sports, especially if time management and study skills are not your child’s forte.
3) If your son or daughter is college-bound, start doing your research and be sure to attend the college nights many high schools sponsor. Know what is expected on college applications. It is no longer a simple process like it was for the baby boomer generation. Test scores, a formal essay, class selection in high school are all important factors. Take advantage of the many companies that exist today solely for the purpose of assisting you and your student select the right college for them.
Regardless of the age and grade of your children, stay involved! Volunteering on any level, whether it be reading stories to your elementary aged child’s second grade class, helping in the computer lab in middle school or being on a committee for peer counseling in high school, it is important to know what is happening at the place your children spend a large part of their week. With so many parents working, many Parent Teacher Associations have their meetings in the evening, so more parents can attend. There are activities that need volunteers that do not involved daytime hours such as calling parents in the evening for a fund raiser or helping with a weekend car wash at high school.
Laurie Hurley is an educational consultant and mentor to small business owners. She was recently featured in Woman’s World magazine as a successful mom who started her own company. She will be also be featured this month in Entrepreneur magazine and several other publications like Redbook and Family Circle this spring. Laurie can be reached at www.hometutoringbusiness.com or 1.888.847.0033.
If you have children, late August and September represent more than summer ending, cooler weather and fall foliage. School begins once again for millions of kids across the country. Getting your child prepared, regardless of whether they are in Kindergarten or a senior in high school, is a must. Here are some tips to make the transition from several weeks of summer fun to school days and homework easier.
Children in Kindergarten – 5th grade
1) About a week before school starts, have your children go to bed at the time they will when school begins. Set their alarm or wake them up early. It’s difficult for some kids to adjust to going to bed and getting up earlier after having an entire summer of sleeping in or staying up late. Many young children need to be on a schedule and preparing a week or so earlier will pay off, especially if you have a night owl or late sleeper.
2) If you have a school supply list (many school districts post them on their website or hand them out the last day of school), buy them early. For the child who is not organized, this is a good way to begin the school year off on the right foot. Label everything and get the backpacks ready the night before school starts. Buy some extra supplies to keep at home if your child is one to lose or forget their pencils or markers at school. They will probably need some basic supplies for homework time. Nothing if more frustrating than sitting down to do homework and discovering the basics are missing.
3) If you have a Kindergartener, walk to school two or three days before school begins (or drive if they take a bus or you will be driving them). This helps acquaint them with what they will actually be doing that first day and can work wonders for alleviating the first-day jitters. If your child is especially anxious, ask if you can let them visit their new classroom for five or ten minutes the day before school starts. Many principals will let the Kindergartens come to the campus prior to school starring.
Middle School
1) Many sixth graders will be attending a new school for their middle school years. Oftentimes, the campus is much bigger and can be intimidating. Of course pre-teens may not admit they are nervous, but most parents are! Suggest a bike ride over to the school sometime during August just to look around. Many middle schools conduct orientation anyway a couple of days before school actually begins, but an extra trip without all of their peers might be worthwhile.
2) Just as in elementary school, it is important, if not more so in middle school, to have all the school supplies ready, especially an organizer. Some schools make it mandatory for the students to purchase an organizer directly from the school. Get in the habit from day one of checking it and being sure homework assignments are recorded. Visit the school website and see if homework and grades will be posted on the site. This is an excellent way to stay involved with your child’s progress throughout the year.
3) If your student struggles with the basics; math or language arts, consider hiring a tutor for some review sessions before and during the first semester. It is quite common in middle school for students who are excelling to be moved to Honors classes sometime during the year. Being in an accelerated class is a good way to prepare a student for Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school, which count as college credit.
HIGH SCHOOL
1) Find out when the PSAT and SAT exams will take place. If your student is not a good test taker, consider enrolling them in a test prep class. As colleges become more and more competitive, test scores make a difference. One can take the exam more than once if they are not happy with the score, so plan ahead and register early.
2) Stay tuned in to your student’s school and social schedule. There is a tremendous amount of freedom in high school and even the most academically gifted students can be distracted by all of the things that are associated with the teenage years. Establish a curfew for school nights and limit the amount of time that is spent at a part-time job or involved n sports, especially if time management and study skills are not your child’s forte.
3) If your son or daughter is college-bound, start doing your research and be sure to attend the college nights many high schools sponsor. Know what is expected on college applications. It is no longer a simple process like it was for the baby boomer generation. Test scores, a formal essay, class selection in high school are all important factors. Take advantage of the many companies that exist today solely for the purpose of assisting you and your student select the right college for them.
Regardless of the age and grade of your children, stay involved! Volunteering on any level, whether it be reading stories to your elementary aged child’s second grade class, helping in the computer lab in middle school or being on a committee for peer counseling in high school, it is important to know what is happening at the place your children spend a large part of their week. With so many parents working, many Parent Teacher Associations have their meetings in the evening, so more parents can attend. There are activities that need volunteers that do not involved daytime hours such as calling parents in the evening for a fund raiser or helping with a weekend car wash at high school.
Laurie Hurley is an educational consultant and mentor to small business owners. She was recently featured in Woman’s World magazine as a successful mom who started her own company. She will be also be featured this month in Entrepreneur magazine and several other publications like Redbook and Family Circle this spring. Laurie can be reached at www.hometutoringbusiness.com or 1.888.847.0033.
Virtual Assistants can Revolutionize Your Business
10 Ways a Virtual Assistant can REVOLUTIONIZE Your Business
For those of you who are still in the dark, a Virtual Assistant, or VA, is an executive level, administrative professional who works from his/her own office to support clients using some of the latest available technology. The Internet has brought many skilled professionals out of the corporate environment and back into their homes, enabling them to create a better work-life balance, while still performing in the roles they love. The VA is one such professional. Working from their home-based offices and making use of the Internet, telephone, fax and email, VAs are able to offer small and medium-sized businesses a quality of administrative support, previously only available to the corporate giants, in a cost-effective manner.
A Virtual Assistant’s service offering may vary, but you are guaranteed to find one out there who is able to perform the exact functions your business needs. You will find that hiring a VA will REVOLUTIONIZE your business.
A VA brings invaluable work experience and training to the table. You may even find that they will teach you a trick or two. Be it software, hardware or grammar, you can be sure that your VA knows his/her stuff!
2. Because VAs run a business themselves, they have a unique understanding of what your needs as a small business owner are. They will be able to assist and advise you on matters pertaining to Marketing, Branding, Web Design and e-Commerce. What avenues of advancement have you not yet explored with your business? Are you sure that you have all your bases covered? Your VA can help.
3. Get organized. If you attend conferences and AGMs I’ll bet you have a ton of business cards cluttering up your desk. Let your VA scan and enter them into a database for you. Future mail campaigns will be a breeze with a ready-made contact list all neatly stored on a CD.
4. Is there a special project boiling over on the back-burner that you’ve been wanting to do? Your VA can help with research, planning and coordination, leaving you free to continue your focus on your core-business function.
5. If you’re too busy to remember important dates, anniversaries and meetings, your VA, with a tailored reminder service, can assist. From ordering flowers for your mother, to sending a thank you note to a client and even arranging gift baskets for investor, they aim to please.
6. Conceptualizing marketing items can be agonizing if you don’t have the know-how, equipment or creative flair. Most VAs have a wide range of software packages at their finger-tips, as well as experience in creating flyers, brochures and business cards for their own company’s. Put your ideas to your VA, they will dazzle you with the results.
7. Planning a much-needed break with your family? Let your VA take care of the details; flights, car hire, accommodation, even a list of “must-see” places of interest. Your VA can handle it all, down to the very last detail.
8. If you’re on the road a lot, chances are your cell-phone is often out of signal range and there is no one in your office to take a message should that all-important client call. With the call answering service provided by many VAs, you can divert your calls and rest assured that your client will receive the personal touch rather than dealing with an annoying automated answering device. Your messages will be passed on to you in order of importance and you won’t need to sort through lengthy messages on voicemail.
9. Conferences and networking functions can take a lot out of a small business owner. It is imperative that you attend and make a dazzling show of it, but in order to do so, you have to neglect existing clients. This will no longer be a problem with a VA. They can handle all your conferencing arrangements; table-hire, banner design and creation, even gift bags for client samples. It’s that easy!
10. If you have a lot of correspondence, and you’re a bit of a “keyboard klutz”, your VA can help. Many VAs offer a fully digitized transcription service. Simply record your memos/letters onto your computer and email them to your VA, s/he will have it neatly typed and ready for mailing in no time! Other VAs may provide dictated typing as a service, so that urgent e-mail is just a phone-call away.
Now that you’ve heard all that a VA can do, where can you find one? That’s easy. VANetworking at http://www.vanetworking.com/ is an invaluable resource when looking to partner with a VA. With over 2,300 professional VA members you are certain to find exactly the service you are looking for. According to Tawnya Sutherland, founder of VAN, and author of the Virtual Assistant Start-Up System states, “Our forum is leading the way in revolutionizing the VA Industry by offering expert advice to VAs on how to be the best VA they can be. That’s why partnering with one of our VAs can help your business grow and operate on a more proficient level.” And Diana Ennen, president of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/ and Publicist for the site states, “Our team of VAs are varied with different skill sets and different visions for their business. That’s why teaming up with a VAN VA can give your business all the support it needs.”
So if you’re looking for a Virtual Assistant or want to start a virtual assistant business, now is the time to stop by VANetworking and see everything they have to offer.
***
Tawnya Sutherland, founder of Virtual Assistant Networking (VAN) (http://www.vanetworking.com/) and author of The VAS System, a Virtual Assistant Startup System, is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist sharing much of her online marketing experience at VAN to help aspiring and successful VAs turn clicks into cash at their websites. Contact her at tawnya@mediamage.com or the Publicity Rep for VAN, Diana Ennen at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com.
.
For those of you who are still in the dark, a Virtual Assistant, or VA, is an executive level, administrative professional who works from his/her own office to support clients using some of the latest available technology. The Internet has brought many skilled professionals out of the corporate environment and back into their homes, enabling them to create a better work-life balance, while still performing in the roles they love. The VA is one such professional. Working from their home-based offices and making use of the Internet, telephone, fax and email, VAs are able to offer small and medium-sized businesses a quality of administrative support, previously only available to the corporate giants, in a cost-effective manner.
A Virtual Assistant’s service offering may vary, but you are guaranteed to find one out there who is able to perform the exact functions your business needs. You will find that hiring a VA will REVOLUTIONIZE your business.
A VA brings invaluable work experience and training to the table. You may even find that they will teach you a trick or two. Be it software, hardware or grammar, you can be sure that your VA knows his/her stuff!
2. Because VAs run a business themselves, they have a unique understanding of what your needs as a small business owner are. They will be able to assist and advise you on matters pertaining to Marketing, Branding, Web Design and e-Commerce. What avenues of advancement have you not yet explored with your business? Are you sure that you have all your bases covered? Your VA can help.
3. Get organized. If you attend conferences and AGMs I’ll bet you have a ton of business cards cluttering up your desk. Let your VA scan and enter them into a database for you. Future mail campaigns will be a breeze with a ready-made contact list all neatly stored on a CD.
4. Is there a special project boiling over on the back-burner that you’ve been wanting to do? Your VA can help with research, planning and coordination, leaving you free to continue your focus on your core-business function.
5. If you’re too busy to remember important dates, anniversaries and meetings, your VA, with a tailored reminder service, can assist. From ordering flowers for your mother, to sending a thank you note to a client and even arranging gift baskets for investor, they aim to please.
6. Conceptualizing marketing items can be agonizing if you don’t have the know-how, equipment or creative flair. Most VAs have a wide range of software packages at their finger-tips, as well as experience in creating flyers, brochures and business cards for their own company’s. Put your ideas to your VA, they will dazzle you with the results.
7. Planning a much-needed break with your family? Let your VA take care of the details; flights, car hire, accommodation, even a list of “must-see” places of interest. Your VA can handle it all, down to the very last detail.
8. If you’re on the road a lot, chances are your cell-phone is often out of signal range and there is no one in your office to take a message should that all-important client call. With the call answering service provided by many VAs, you can divert your calls and rest assured that your client will receive the personal touch rather than dealing with an annoying automated answering device. Your messages will be passed on to you in order of importance and you won’t need to sort through lengthy messages on voicemail.
9. Conferences and networking functions can take a lot out of a small business owner. It is imperative that you attend and make a dazzling show of it, but in order to do so, you have to neglect existing clients. This will no longer be a problem with a VA. They can handle all your conferencing arrangements; table-hire, banner design and creation, even gift bags for client samples. It’s that easy!
10. If you have a lot of correspondence, and you’re a bit of a “keyboard klutz”, your VA can help. Many VAs offer a fully digitized transcription service. Simply record your memos/letters onto your computer and email them to your VA, s/he will have it neatly typed and ready for mailing in no time! Other VAs may provide dictated typing as a service, so that urgent e-mail is just a phone-call away.
Now that you’ve heard all that a VA can do, where can you find one? That’s easy. VANetworking at http://www.vanetworking.com/ is an invaluable resource when looking to partner with a VA. With over 2,300 professional VA members you are certain to find exactly the service you are looking for. According to Tawnya Sutherland, founder of VAN, and author of the Virtual Assistant Start-Up System states, “Our forum is leading the way in revolutionizing the VA Industry by offering expert advice to VAs on how to be the best VA they can be. That’s why partnering with one of our VAs can help your business grow and operate on a more proficient level.” And Diana Ennen, president of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/ and Publicist for the site states, “Our team of VAs are varied with different skill sets and different visions for their business. That’s why teaming up with a VAN VA can give your business all the support it needs.”
So if you’re looking for a Virtual Assistant or want to start a virtual assistant business, now is the time to stop by VANetworking and see everything they have to offer.
***
Tawnya Sutherland, founder of Virtual Assistant Networking (VAN) (http://www.vanetworking.com/) and author of The VAS System, a Virtual Assistant Startup System, is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist sharing much of her online marketing experience at VAN to help aspiring and successful VAs turn clicks into cash at their websites. Contact her at tawnya@mediamage.com or the Publicity Rep for VAN, Diana Ennen at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com.
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Thursday, June 29, 2006
Home Office Organization Tips
HOME OFFICE ORGANIZATION TIPS
By Laurie Hurley
Working at home is great, but has some definite drawbacks if you are not organized. Here are some handy tips to keeping the office neat, clean, and uncluttered.
1) KEEP THE OFFICE, THE OFFICE!
As tempting as it may be to bring non-work related materials into your office, don’t! Have a separate place for mail and paperwork that is not related to your job in a separate area of your home, away from your office. This approach helps to keep your personal life and all its paraphernalia isolated in a different location.
2) DON’T OVER FURNISH THE OFFICE
Most home-based businesses need the obvious – a desk and chair, telephone, filing cabinet, computer, printer, bookshelf, and maybe an extra chair for visitors (if you have them in your office for business meetings). The bare minimum, tastefully furnished is sufficient. Too many plants, extra knick-knacks, excessive art work, etc. only takes up valuable space. Utilize your space efficiently and you will be less apt to lose paperwork or misplace an important document. There will only be one or two places to look!
3) IF POSSIBLE, LOCK YOUR OFFICE WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE
This is especially important if you have children or if your office is in a high-traffic area of your home (not recommended!). It is too tempting for others to walk into your private sanctuary when you are not there and plop down at your desk, “borrow” a pen or paper or use the computer. Before you know it, things get shifted around or your neat desk has an open soda can on it that you did not leave there. If you can’t lock the door, or don’t even have a door to your office, there should be strict rules in the house as to who has your permission to enter when you are not present – and they should be enforced!
4) EMPTY YOUR GARBAGE CAN NIGHTLY
This might sound like a lot of work, but it helps to maintain the cleanliness of your office. Have a wastepaper basket and a recycle box. If you have a shredder, even better. Shred and dispose of everything nightly. Take your small recycle box to the bigger recycle area in your home. If you print a lot of documents for your use only, recycle the paper and use that in your printer. It cuts down on paper costs.
5) END THE DAY WITH A CLEAN DESK
There is nothing worse than coming into your office at the beginning of your work day and facing a messy, disorganized desk. Schedule time every night to put everything away. Do not make exceptions to this rule because before you know it, you will have four days of unkempt papers lining your desktop and things WILL get lost or misplaced, just when you need them the most. Schedule clean up time on your daily calendar or to do list. This is one item that shouldn’t be postponed.
6) MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE ACCESSIBLE FILES
There will always be items you don’t get to finish at the end of your work day. Keep file trays on or near your desk labeled in the following way: (a)To Do Tomorrow, (b) Completed & Need To Be Filed, (c) High Priority – Do First Thing Today. Have one file tray for items that come up during the day that can be put in the (d) Future File that have a date on them. Some people call it a tickler file, but it is important to prioritize what needs your attention and when. Many items are probably stored on your PC, but most every business has paperwork associated with it and the visual filing system is a good one. Sticking things in drawers that you might not open because they are not right in front of you can spell disaster for any business.
Laurie Hurley is an entrepreneur and has worked out of her home for eight years. She runs a tutor referral service in Southern California. She also is President and Founder of Home Tutoring Business, her company that sells complete business packages to individuals who want to learn how to begin a tutor referral service in their community. She generates volumes of paperwork daily, but she goes to bed every night with a clean desk, and she doesn’t have a door to her office!
By Laurie Hurley
Working at home is great, but has some definite drawbacks if you are not organized. Here are some handy tips to keeping the office neat, clean, and uncluttered.
1) KEEP THE OFFICE, THE OFFICE!
As tempting as it may be to bring non-work related materials into your office, don’t! Have a separate place for mail and paperwork that is not related to your job in a separate area of your home, away from your office. This approach helps to keep your personal life and all its paraphernalia isolated in a different location.
2) DON’T OVER FURNISH THE OFFICE
Most home-based businesses need the obvious – a desk and chair, telephone, filing cabinet, computer, printer, bookshelf, and maybe an extra chair for visitors (if you have them in your office for business meetings). The bare minimum, tastefully furnished is sufficient. Too many plants, extra knick-knacks, excessive art work, etc. only takes up valuable space. Utilize your space efficiently and you will be less apt to lose paperwork or misplace an important document. There will only be one or two places to look!
3) IF POSSIBLE, LOCK YOUR OFFICE WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE
This is especially important if you have children or if your office is in a high-traffic area of your home (not recommended!). It is too tempting for others to walk into your private sanctuary when you are not there and plop down at your desk, “borrow” a pen or paper or use the computer. Before you know it, things get shifted around or your neat desk has an open soda can on it that you did not leave there. If you can’t lock the door, or don’t even have a door to your office, there should be strict rules in the house as to who has your permission to enter when you are not present – and they should be enforced!
4) EMPTY YOUR GARBAGE CAN NIGHTLY
This might sound like a lot of work, but it helps to maintain the cleanliness of your office. Have a wastepaper basket and a recycle box. If you have a shredder, even better. Shred and dispose of everything nightly. Take your small recycle box to the bigger recycle area in your home. If you print a lot of documents for your use only, recycle the paper and use that in your printer. It cuts down on paper costs.
5) END THE DAY WITH A CLEAN DESK
There is nothing worse than coming into your office at the beginning of your work day and facing a messy, disorganized desk. Schedule time every night to put everything away. Do not make exceptions to this rule because before you know it, you will have four days of unkempt papers lining your desktop and things WILL get lost or misplaced, just when you need them the most. Schedule clean up time on your daily calendar or to do list. This is one item that shouldn’t be postponed.
6) MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE ACCESSIBLE FILES
There will always be items you don’t get to finish at the end of your work day. Keep file trays on or near your desk labeled in the following way: (a)To Do Tomorrow, (b) Completed & Need To Be Filed, (c) High Priority – Do First Thing Today. Have one file tray for items that come up during the day that can be put in the (d) Future File that have a date on them. Some people call it a tickler file, but it is important to prioritize what needs your attention and when. Many items are probably stored on your PC, but most every business has paperwork associated with it and the visual filing system is a good one. Sticking things in drawers that you might not open because they are not right in front of you can spell disaster for any business.
Laurie Hurley is an entrepreneur and has worked out of her home for eight years. She runs a tutor referral service in Southern California. She also is President and Founder of Home Tutoring Business, her company that sells complete business packages to individuals who want to learn how to begin a tutor referral service in their community. She generates volumes of paperwork daily, but she goes to bed every night with a clean desk, and she doesn’t have a door to her office!
Our client - Laurie Hurley with Home Tutoring Business
WHY IS HOME TUTORING BUSINESS AN EXCELLENT ALTERNATIVE TO BUYING A FRANCHISE?
Home Tutoring Business offers you the opportunity to establish a home-based tutor referral service in your community. A detailed business plan is already written for you. Your blueprint to success is thorough enough for you to be up and running quickly, while allowing you to add your own personal touches based on your business experience.
Home Tutoring Business
1) Low purchase price – packages are between $3995-$6495 with additional start up costs of approximately $1500-$3500.
2) Your revenue is not shared with HTB – no monthly fees of any kind – EVER!
3) There is no need to sign any contracts with us, thus no renewal fees or transfer fees if you sell your business.
4) We don’t ask you to prove your cash liquidity or net worth.
5) Grow your business – no geographical limits.
6) On-going support built in to each package price via email or phone.
7) Optional visit to our home office for training is provided but not required.
8) Personalized website is offered, not a corporate website.
9) Custom Accounting Software offered- written specifically for HTB.
10) Merchant Account provided – begin taking credit cards immediately.
11) Ad copy designed and provided for you, not only at the start-up phase, but throughout your tenure owning your business.
12) A comprehensive step-by-step manual is your guide, documenting exactly how to begin, maintain and grow your tutoring referral service.
13) Fulfill a niche in the tutoring industry by providing one-on-one in-home tutoring from the schools’ curriculum.
14)Work from home – you did not need an outside office or store-front which keeps your overhead low.
VS.
Franchise
1) Franchise prices begin at approximately $19K and can be as high as $100K. Additional start up costs are usually between $20K-$60K or more.
2) Franchises take a monthly percentage of your revenue. Some also take a percentage of revenue for national advertising which may or may not benefit you, depending on the market you service.
3) The typical franchise agreement is for a period of ten (10) years with a renewal fee due at the end of that period if you plan to continue operating your franchise.
4) Franchises want to know your personal financial situation. They often ask for proof of your liquid assets. If you don’t meet their requirements, you may be turned down for a franchise.
5) Franchises allow you to “buy” a protected territory. If you want more than one territory, usually defined by population, your franchise fee will be higher.
6) Support is usually promised when you sign your contract. When you are dealing with a large franchise corporation, it is infrequent that you will speak directly to the President or owner.
7) Many franchises require you to visit their corporate office for two-three days of training. You pay your own expenses.
8) A corporate website is powerful, however, not personalized to your business. Most franchises will provide your contact information and you receive any inquiries via an email.
9) Some franchises have Accounting Software programs and some don’t.
10) Merchant Accounts are rarely provided. If you want to take credit cards (which will substantially increase your revenues), you are on your own to find a vendor.
11) Depending on the franchise, you might be able to have ads designed for you specifically, especially at the beginning of your ownership. On-going ads are cookie-cutter because they apply to every franchisee.
12) Franchises usually provide a training manual, written by the training department, not the owner.
13) There are very few one-on-one in-home tutoring franchises in the marketplace. Most tutoring franchises are learning centers, which involves a huge capital investment.
14) Learning centers are obviously just that – a center – and that is where your office will be located. You will be responsible for rent, insurance, employees and everything else that goes along with owning a business outside of your home.
For many people, a franchise is the way to go. As an ex-franchisee for three years, I was very disappointed in my experience, and I was a top producer for the company. I owned one of the only major in-home tutoring franchises in existence eight years ago. There are a few others on the market now, but they are small and usually owned by a teacher or educator, not a business person.
Financially, HTB is offering more to the buyer – we are offering an opportunity to be a true entrepreneur backed by my knowledge, support and experience actually working in the field for eight years. HTB will help you establish your own company name and identity in the geographical areas you decide to service.
Personal experience, backed by individualized attention and knowledge of how to begin a lucrative tutoring referral service that is in high demand in almost every part of the country can be yours – without the steep financial investment.
Laurie Hurley is the Founder & President of Home Tutoring Business. based in Southern California. If you are looking to begin a tutor referral service in your community without the high cost of buying a franchise, contact Home Tutoring Business, http://www.hometutoringbusiness.com, at 1.805.376.0033.
Home Tutoring Business offers you the opportunity to establish a home-based tutor referral service in your community. A detailed business plan is already written for you. Your blueprint to success is thorough enough for you to be up and running quickly, while allowing you to add your own personal touches based on your business experience.
Home Tutoring Business
1) Low purchase price – packages are between $3995-$6495 with additional start up costs of approximately $1500-$3500.
2) Your revenue is not shared with HTB – no monthly fees of any kind – EVER!
3) There is no need to sign any contracts with us, thus no renewal fees or transfer fees if you sell your business.
4) We don’t ask you to prove your cash liquidity or net worth.
5) Grow your business – no geographical limits.
6) On-going support built in to each package price via email or phone.
7) Optional visit to our home office for training is provided but not required.
8) Personalized website is offered, not a corporate website.
9) Custom Accounting Software offered- written specifically for HTB.
10) Merchant Account provided – begin taking credit cards immediately.
11) Ad copy designed and provided for you, not only at the start-up phase, but throughout your tenure owning your business.
12) A comprehensive step-by-step manual is your guide, documenting exactly how to begin, maintain and grow your tutoring referral service.
13) Fulfill a niche in the tutoring industry by providing one-on-one in-home tutoring from the schools’ curriculum.
14)Work from home – you did not need an outside office or store-front which keeps your overhead low.
VS.
Franchise
1) Franchise prices begin at approximately $19K and can be as high as $100K. Additional start up costs are usually between $20K-$60K or more.
2) Franchises take a monthly percentage of your revenue. Some also take a percentage of revenue for national advertising which may or may not benefit you, depending on the market you service.
3) The typical franchise agreement is for a period of ten (10) years with a renewal fee due at the end of that period if you plan to continue operating your franchise.
4) Franchises want to know your personal financial situation. They often ask for proof of your liquid assets. If you don’t meet their requirements, you may be turned down for a franchise.
5) Franchises allow you to “buy” a protected territory. If you want more than one territory, usually defined by population, your franchise fee will be higher.
6) Support is usually promised when you sign your contract. When you are dealing with a large franchise corporation, it is infrequent that you will speak directly to the President or owner.
7) Many franchises require you to visit their corporate office for two-three days of training. You pay your own expenses.
8) A corporate website is powerful, however, not personalized to your business. Most franchises will provide your contact information and you receive any inquiries via an email.
9) Some franchises have Accounting Software programs and some don’t.
10) Merchant Accounts are rarely provided. If you want to take credit cards (which will substantially increase your revenues), you are on your own to find a vendor.
11) Depending on the franchise, you might be able to have ads designed for you specifically, especially at the beginning of your ownership. On-going ads are cookie-cutter because they apply to every franchisee.
12) Franchises usually provide a training manual, written by the training department, not the owner.
13) There are very few one-on-one in-home tutoring franchises in the marketplace. Most tutoring franchises are learning centers, which involves a huge capital investment.
14) Learning centers are obviously just that – a center – and that is where your office will be located. You will be responsible for rent, insurance, employees and everything else that goes along with owning a business outside of your home.
For many people, a franchise is the way to go. As an ex-franchisee for three years, I was very disappointed in my experience, and I was a top producer for the company. I owned one of the only major in-home tutoring franchises in existence eight years ago. There are a few others on the market now, but they are small and usually owned by a teacher or educator, not a business person.
Financially, HTB is offering more to the buyer – we are offering an opportunity to be a true entrepreneur backed by my knowledge, support and experience actually working in the field for eight years. HTB will help you establish your own company name and identity in the geographical areas you decide to service.
Personal experience, backed by individualized attention and knowledge of how to begin a lucrative tutoring referral service that is in high demand in almost every part of the country can be yours – without the steep financial investment.
Laurie Hurley is the Founder & President of Home Tutoring Business. based in Southern California. If you are looking to begin a tutor referral service in your community without the high cost of buying a franchise, contact Home Tutoring Business, http://www.hometutoringbusiness.com, at 1.805.376.0033.
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