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There are several areas to consider when choosing to work with a call answering company.

It’s not only cost.  Although that’s always going to be a consideration.

If you understand what it is what you want to achieve, then it will make the choice easier.  I will run through a few different options below for you to consider.

Basic message taking Even with basic message taking there are things to consider.

If a lot of background noise isn’t a problem for you, then a large call centre may work for you.

Calls will be scripted and even if one of your friends calls and says, ‘they know me’, they may still be asked for their full name as the scripting system won’t allow any flexibility.

It will be one of possibly over 100 people answering your call.  They will have very little knowledge of your business.

It will be basic.  Name, telephone number and brief message.  Possibly an email address too.

Large call centres base their business model on high volume.  Calls will be hurried and without any of the niceties and small talk.  The call will probably be under a minute.

The lowest price we’ve seen is 77p a call.  Generally, this type of operation will charge between £1 – £1.50 per call plus VAT.  If an SMS is included, it would normally be at an additional rate.

Some companies will have a monthly standing fee in addition to the per call fee.

Bespoke call answering Bespoke call answering companies are generally either smaller, or a larger company split into smaller groups.

The people answering the calls will understand you and your callers and will have more time to spend on a call.  It will be very customer focussed.

There will be time for the ‘niceties’.  Asking about their health if they’ve been poorly.  Interest in the caller.

They will be able to deal with much more complex calls.  For example, booking appointments into a podiatry clinic and have a basic knowledge of the service.  Sending out additional documentation such as consent forms.  Booking blood tests at a laboratory.  Making a hotel or restaurant reservation.

This service will be priced individually to suit specific needs.  It’s unlikely to be scripted and the company will have high training standards.

Calls are likely to be considerably longer, and the price will reflect that.

It may be a per call rate of £3 – £5, or a per minute rate from £1.50 a minute.

Pricing This is a complex area.  The headline price may not be what you will pay.

All call answering companies work on a similar model – time.  The more complex the call, the more time it will take which attracts a higher rate.

There may be a fixed monthly fee on top of the call rate.  A one-off set-up fee added to the first bill.

Additional fees for sending an SMS, setting up an out of hours voicemail.  Another fee for Saturdays and evenings. 

Every company is different.

Let’s face it, the ideal job for many is one that means you can work from home. You get more flexibility in your hours, can wear whatever you like and don’t have to do a lengthy commute in all weathers of the year. There are many jobs out there that allow you to work from home, it’s up to you to think about your skills and what you can do to earn the cash from the comfort of your own living room.

You need to think about where your talents lie – whether you are a natural writer, crafter or have great customer service and people skills. You could try reading up and researching what skills certain roles need and hone in on these before applying for jobs. You will also need to be prepared that work from home office jobs can require long and sometimes unsocial work hours, so you need to think of the role that is right for you. Here are some of our top ideas for home office jobs to get the ball rolling…

Online support agent

One stay at home office job you could do is to be an online support agent such as for bingo or sports betting sites. One of the most important roles in online gaming is this customer service role. You’d need to be quick to reply, knowledgeable and quick to learn and friendly too. You would be responsible for acting as a liaison for customers who come to the site and assist with different aspects such as complaints, questions, errors, signing up, cancellations, billing and any other queries they might have.

Freelance writer

A freelance writer is another great office job you can do from home. You can start with a few low-level jobs before building up to bigger ones. There are many sites you can use to get these jobs, such as People Per Hour, Fiverr and more. You can use many different resources such as Linkedin or Facebook to get advice and tips, and, of course, read the many blogs and sites out there with top tips to earn money from your writing. To be a freelance writer you need to be able to turn content round within a good time frame and have good research skills for when topics need more in-depth information.

A virtual assistant

A virtual assistant provides administrative support to either an individual or a team while working remotely. Your tasks will normally include a range of administrative tasks such as answering emails, scheduling meetings, making travel arrangements and any other tasks they put your way. It’s important to have strong communication and a good internet connection for this. Most keep in touch via instant messaging such as Skype or Slack. This is a role that will require you to be organized and efficient so you can stay on top of the different tasks assigned to you. We suggest ensuring you have a good filing and recording system to keep track of everything.

An online tutor

Another way you can put your skills to use and have an at-home office job is to become an online tutor. An online tutor may work with anyone from young children to teens and adult learners. All you need is a computer, a strong internet connection and a quiet spot where you can interact with the student and help them with their learning. For many tutoring jobs, you will need a degree, however, some will accept or require an educational background in a specific subject or additional qualifications. You will normally either interact through Skype or a similar program so it’s important you have a webcam and a good microphone to communicate with.

Sell home-made craft items

If you are a bit crafty and creative on the site, you could set up your own online store. People work from home selling all sorts of things they make, including jewelry, greeting cards, trinket boxes and much more. It’s a great way to make some extra money on the side while also doing something you love every day. You could have your own website selling your items or piggy-back on sites such as eBay, Amazon, and Etsy.

Many think that the key to entrepreneurial success is having funding and a great product. While both of these are essential components, they are only part of a much larger picture. Finding success requires a variety of skills and abilities outside the desire to sell a product or service. Here are seven skills entrepreneurs must-have in business to be successful.

Confidence Enough to Be Assertive

It is not enough to have confidence in a product; one must have enough confidence to be assertive in their beliefs and speak their opinions on the matter. If your ideas never find a voice, they will never reach the level needed for success. Being assertive does not mean bulldozing over everyone else and ignoring their views. It means learning to say no when it is necessary and standing behind your opinion and ideas while accepting the relevant ideas of others along the way.

Courage to Take a Risk and Adaptability to Change

The business world is constantly changing, and to be on the path to success, you need to be able to change with it. It might help to compare this to blackjack, for although the game might seem simple or straightforward, it has evolved a lot in a short period of time. It now comes in a host of versions beyond the classic version like Deal or No Deal, Pontoon, Blackjack Switch, and Spanish 21. They all have different rules too, and what works for one game might not work for another. To be able to play the game, just like in business, you need to learn the new rules – and retain that information – and then adapt the various strategies you learned as you go. In business, this means you not only need to be open to change, but you need to be able to think on your feet and make good decisions based on the information you have.

Ability to Listen to What Isn’t Being Said

Listening is not merely hearing the words that others vocalize. Success requires that an entrepreneur hones the skill of listening to the words that they’re not saying. Learning to interpret that investors silence as a lack of trust in the product that needs addressing means the difference between finding the required backing and losing out before getting started. 

Ambition to Succeed

Entrepreneurship is a daunting venture which requires enough ambition to push past the hurdles that are in the path of success. While it would be easier to give up when things seem impossible, an ambitious person will see these hurdles as stairs to their ultimate goal, victory. Finding the right balance between ambition and perseverance makes the difference between the halfway point and the finish line. 

Desire to Learn

Learning is a skill most wish to leave upon graduation from their university. A great entrepreneur has the willingness to learn continuously. This desire to learn is needed as new advancements arise in technology, business processes, and clientele. To achieve growth, every company must learn what their consumers want, what their competitors have, and how to make something that is better. This skill means learning from those who have come before and creating something for 

Communication and Networking Capabilities

Communication in the business world has come a long way. With social media, websites, and email becoming the preferred method of communication for both venders and consumers alike, the ability to communicate has never been more critical. Entrepreneurs in today’s society must be able to utilize networking skills and communicate on the levels their clients are demanding. If any venture is to succeed with millennials on the pulse of commerce, entrepreneurs must learn to communicate virtually, what their predecessors had had the luxury of doing face to face.

Ability to Think Creatively

The final skill that is vital for a successful entrepreneur is creativity. The ability to think outside the proverbial box and find new and inventive ways to wow consumers with products that have been mass-produced for years is what makes the difference between a successful business and one that falls just short of the end goal. 

Pulling it all Together

While having a product that consumers want is a crucial part of finding success in any business venture, these seven skills are the keys that unlock the gates to finding entrepreneurial achievement in a world where hundreds of new businesses start daily. They are the essentials needed to reach the finish line in the business world. 

What’s the best thing to do for your business at the beginning of any new year?

Dust off your Business Plan of course.

I can hear the sighs of boredom form here. And I can imagine the “Business Plan. What Business Plan? I don’t need a Business Plan” shrug of the shoulders. Maybe you feel you haven’t got time (or the will) to refresh your Business Plan – or even put one together in the first place. You just want to get on with marketing your products and services so that you can sell more.

Gosh, I hate to be the one to rain on your parade, but a successful business starts with BUSINESS PLANNING NOT MARKETING.

Before you get started on your marketing planning this January, I would like you to think a little bit about Business Planning because, believe me, your marketing won’t work if you don’t know what you are marketing and who you are marketing it to – that’s Business Planning.

You Have to Plan Your Business If You Want a Business

As someone with a micro business or a side hustle, you have to plan your businesses if you are going to have a business at all.

You may think it’s hard, that you have to produce a massive analytical document, that you will get bogged down in detail, or you think it takes time and it’s boring. You just want to get on and do your ‘thing’.

However, your business plan is vital because it holds the key to selling your ‘offer’ to your target market – MARKETING. Your business plan is your detailed route map from PASSION to PROFIT.

The Missing Link Between Passion and Profit Is Planning

I have worked with so many business owners who are struggling to make that leap from their passion for their products or services through to a profitable micro or side hustle business. They want to stay small but be big – it’s just not happening.

My task as their Business Mentor is to work with them to create systems, processes and automations that will allow them to grow and develop. Invariably, the biggest thing standing in the way of this happening is a lack of clarity on what to do when to ensure the biggest impact.

They need a plan for their business – not necessarily a Business Plan. If you’re not sure of the key difference, take a look at this blog

The One Page Business Plan

When I first approached the problem my clients were experiencing, I looked around for something that would help.

I found lots of examples of so-called ‘simple’ business plans – some of them were even on one page (with very, very small text!). But I didn’t find anything that specifically worked for those ultra-small, often artisan, micro or side hustle businesses.

For me, one of the biggest failings in these examples was their inability to:

• place the business owner at the heart – the ‘why me’, ‘why this business’ aspects
• recognise the proximity of the business owner to their customers – in a micro business, it’s the business owner who answers the phone
• understand that the business owner does everything!

If you have a micro business or a side hustle your planning doesn’t have to be difficult, and the plan for your business doesn’t have to be complicated, it can be done on one page – I know, because I have created one just for you.

If you want a copy and start to take your business from passion to profit, you can get your copy here.

Once you have downloaded your copy of the One Page Business Plan, don’t forget to let me know how you get on.