Dear Professor Bruce: I am starting a small business and I need to keep my expenses down. I understand that it can get pricey to do invoicing, e-mail marketing and payment processing. Is there a way to simplify the process?
Answer: According to Steve Roderick, co-founder of GoToBilling Inc., there are several ways to keep costs down while easily managing your core marketing and financial responsibilities.
Just as cable companies combine television, Internet and phone services for a smaller fee, there are online software businesses that bundle services for credit-card processing, invoicing, billing, marketing, etc. This gives you a one-stop resource to handle all of your small-business services to save time and money.
Look for simple and user-friendly software programs that you can access online any time and start using right away. If a new service is confusing, hard to use and takes too long to learn, you'll lose more money than you save in time and effort.
Try to find a bundled solution service that offers excellent customer service when it's convenient for you. By being able to speak directly to a trained, easy-to-understand human being, you'll get your questions answered quickly and save yourself a lot of time and hassle.
Check for credibility. Before using a new software service to handle your marketing and financial needs, look for reputable references, testimonials, safety procedures and a good rating from the Better Business Bureau. You want to ensure that your private information, and that of your customers, stays confidential.
Look for freelancers and boutique marketing services. With the economic downturn, there are many highly skilled publicists, copywriters, marketers and computer experts working on a freelance basis. With the appropriate research, you can find experienced people to help you get results without spending a fortune on a big agency.
Ask about a guarantee. There is a lot of competition out there for your business. With this in mind, ask about work guarantees and what happens if you are not satisfied with a new product or service. The company should give you an avenue to easily and fairly resolve any conflicts, such as the Better Business Bureau or online mediation and/or conflict resolution. If a company does not stand behind its promises upfront, look for another provider.
Renegotiate your office lease. Even if you are in a long-term lease, many landlords will reduce your monthly rent to help keep you in business. They don't make money from vacant units.
For further information, please visit www.GoToBilling.com.
Bruce Freeman is president of ProLine Communications, a marketing and public relations firm in Livingston, N.J., and co-author of "Birthing the Elephant" (Ten Speed Press). E-mail questions to Bruce(at)SmallBusinessProf.com.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
Ask the Small Business Professor
Post new comment