First Impressions Count

Create a Professional Image for Your Home Business

Column by Steve Strauss

Like it or not, some people will erroneously conclude that you and your business are less than professional because you run it from your home. While this is unfair and narrow–minded, it is still a fact. When you work from home, it's important to create the right image. Here's how:

1. If tax or other business reasons are steering you towards incorporating, it may be time to incorporate or register your business name. Nothing says "professional" to potential clients as much as a corporate or business name on your letterhead and business cards. Don't worry that anyone can spend ten bucks and register a DBA ("doing business as", which you're required to file if you're not using your legal name as part of your company's name), what counts is that it looks professional.
   
   
2. Next, sign up for an executive suite or serviced office when you meet with clients so you don't have to meet them at your home. These types of offices don't have to cost a lot of money, but they can give your business the prestige a potential client is looking for.
   
   
3. With regard to phones, it might be smart to give your home office number only to existing clients. They already know you are professional and competent and should therefore have no issue with the fact that you work from home. For anyone else, get an answering service and give them that number. The service will answer your calls in your business name and can tell callers that you are in a meeting with another client and take a message. You can then return the call later.
   
   Once a potential client becomes an actual client and you have proved to his satisfaction that you are professional and competent, you can tell him that you have decided to start working out of your home to reduce unnecessary overhead. Then you can give him your direct phone number.
   
   
4. Another thing to consider is the image of your email address. It's worth spending $35 a year on your own domain name just for the professional email address, even if you never intend to create a Web site.
   
   
5. It goes without saying that your stationery, business cards and other promotional materials should reflect a professional image. A company or business name on letterhead and business cards will convey a professional image provided they are professionally printed on quality stationery stock.
   
   
6. There is no point to having quality stationery if you will be using a cheap inkjet printer for your correspondence. You need a laser printer.

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