Meet Suzanne, the ultimate multi-tasker. She’s doing a million things to pay the bills, but not making enough to hire someone to help her. She doesn’t have a plan and she’s exhausted. Sound familiar?
She is a proud member of the Community for Quickbooks Self-Employed and when she asked for help, here’s the advice I gave her. Perhaps it can help you too.
Dear Suzanne, I would bet real money that you’re spending the majority of your time offering the services that pay you the least per hour.
You Need to Get A Better Return for An Hour of Your Time.
Your constraint feels like it’s money, but it’s not, it’s time. You only have 24 hours in the day like most humans.
In your post you listed four very different services: computer support, senior companion, organizational help and Ebay support.
Whew! I’m exhausted just reading that list. Which of these four satisfy two criteria; makes you the most per hour/ you like doing the best? Think hard.
Now put a stake in the ground.
Choose Your Niche
Let’s say it’s organizing. Why not build a partnership with a moving company or a relocation company to offer your services to help people get unpacked and moved in faster with less stress?
Help baby boomers clean out the homes of aging parents? If you’re organizing someone’s home, be sure to take before and after pictures and get a release so you can publish them.
The “after” shot demonstrates how great you are at what you do.
Find the problems you like solving best PLUS the service that pays you the most and focus there.
Build A Simple Website For Free
If you don’t have a website, all you need is three pages published online.
Page One- About You- Tell web visitors who you are, something interesting about you and why you’re qualified to do this work
Page Two- Describe what you offer, why it’s wonderful, who you serve, how you serve others and be sure to include testimonials from existing clients.
Page Three- Provide full Contact information. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to dig for a phone number, email or zip code.
You can do this free on a Tumblr or a blogspot blog format.
Do A Market Test- Then Build The Business Plan
Don’t worry too much about the business plan. Focus on what you love, what you’re good at and what pays the bills. See how the market responds.
Right now, you have a market test, not a real business. That will come if you focus and don’t try to do too many things at once.
This will help your small business cash flow.
I have a zillion more ideas about your other options, but these key ideas will get you off the treadmill.
Just remember, if you need more ideas, pre-order my book, Accounting for the Numberphobic; A Survival Guide for Small Business Owners on Amazon.com, and you’ll receive my Crash Course free for life.
Send me confirmation and I’ll send you the coupon code.
