Hi everyone! I want to start a small home business and I need your help! The business I am wanting to start would be typing/data entry. My services could be used to type up resumes, reports/essays, memos, fliers, etc. and I might also do spreadsheets, charts and graphs. I am not soliciting services!!! I am just trying to receive some input! I would greatly appreciate if you could answer some questions to help me get started on the right track! I am a firm believer in the customer knows best.

First, would you chose to ever use this service? If so, what service would you use and how often? Would it be for business or personal? How much would you be willing to pay and how (credit card, check, cash, etc.)? What, in your opinion, would be the best way to advertise?

Please, take a few minutes to help me. Any additional comments or suggestions you might have will be appreciated! Thank You!!!

:)

It seems to me that you would be chasing the ever diminishing group of customers who do not have and use their computers. People who write documents out long hand, and then want them typed are a vanishing breed. Almost everyone writes their documents on a computer these days, and typing a paper copy means selecting "print" from the menu.
Data entry is also subject to the same problem, much of the data is initially entered into a computer. Once there it is manipulated, and graphs made in various programs very easily.
My advice to you would be to think of another business to get into, because I think you will have a great deal of trouble making this one work.

You should consider going into medical transcription. That is what you are describing. I don't think normal everyday folk are going to need a typist that often. However, you have seen doctors handwriting, they can't read that stuff either. I work in a pharmacy, I know, I've seen it. You shouldn't have any problem finding information on the subject.

Originally posted by appickle
Hi everyone! I want to start a small home business and I need your help! The business I am wanting to start would be typing/data entry. My services could be used to type up resumes, reports/essays, memos, fliers, etc. and I might also do spreadsheets, charts and graphs. [B]I am not soliciting services!!! I am just trying to receive some input! I would greatly appreciate if you could answer some questions to help me get started on the right track! I am a firm believer in the customer knows best.

First, would you chose to ever use this service? If so, what service would you use and how often? Would it be for business or personal? How much would you be willing to pay and how (credit card, check, cash, etc.)? What, in your opinion, would be the best way to advertise?




When you start a busniness, you have to look at how much of a demand there is for what you are marketing, how much competition you have and how much it would cost to start your business. Considering that your starting a home based business, it would cost that much to start, and I couldn't see you needing to many things other than paper and ink, however, there probably wuldn't be too much demand either. It would hard to find customers since people nowadays have computers and do it themselves. Even many that don't have a computer themselves, would go to a friend or family member that does to get these things done themselves.

Have you ever considered babysitting?

There's a huge market for reliable, caring people who offer this service, and the market will only get bigger as more and more mothers enter the workforce.

You could only watch a few kids at a time, if you wanted, and choose whether you wanted infants or older kids. You'd have to make a small investment in toys, cribs, etc, and get state-certified. And of course, only do this if you truly enjoy being around children.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to stay home and work, because there is simply such a huge demand for it.:)

I'm a stay at home mother of two. Trust me, babysitting would not be a good idea for me!!!

i agree that maybe you should think more toward medical then your current idea. the idea that now most ppl do have computers or access to ones. you might have a couple ppl that would need your assistance. but it would soon vanish.

I have pretty much give up on the idea of a typing business, but I am still trying to think of something to do from home.

The medical thing would be good, but there is not a high demand for it in my area.

Please, keep your ideas coming. I greatly appreciate it!!! :)

Perhaps you could do proofreading or preparing term papers for local high school or college kids. There's a market for this and you have to have a good command of grammar and punctuation, and it might not be steady work, but it'd be something.

Also newspapers look for freelance writers. You might want to contact them for piece by piece submittals.

How about a business preparing home cooked meals which working mothers could pick up on the way home. It could be a useful service, and there might be considerable demand for it. Of course you would have to charge enough to make it worth your time.