TURN YOUR PC INTO A PROFIT CENTER

TURN YOUR PC INTO A PROFIT CENTER

Even though personal computers have been around for several

years, the market is still growing in many areas. With some

imagination and initiative, you can join the thousands of

entrepreneurs who are using computers to make money in such

businesses as word processing, bookkeeping, desktop publishing,

and computer training or sales.

Don't despair if you don't have a computer, or even if you

don't know much about them. Today's computer equipment is

relatively inexpensive, making computer-related businesses

among the least expensive to start.

The software you can use as the basis of a business is generally

easy to learn and use. With some software, you can go from novice

to expert in just a few weeks, if you make an effort to learn and

spend time practicing.

Here are eight ways you can profit from computers. Don't be

afraid to adapt each idea to fit your preferences and the needs

of the people in your area. In particular, you may want to

incorporate several of these services into one business, possibly

increasing your profit potential.

WORD PROCESSING

Typing reports, papers, dissertations, letters, and other

documents for students, writers, and businesses is a common way

to make money with a computer. Indeed, word processing is just a

high-tech version of the old-fashioned typing service.

The difference is that word processing allows you to turn better-

looking documents in less time than a typewriter. Further good

word processing programs let you include headlines, footnotes,

and special symbols in documents with little hassle. This

flexibility increases the value of your service to potential

clients.

College campuses are always good places to get customers for a

word processing business. If you live near one, prepare attractive

flyers to post on bulletin boards around campus. It may also pay

to take out a small ad in the campus paper. Stress fast service,

since students are notorious for waiting until the last minute to

finish assigned papers.

If there is not a college nearby, try advertising in the classified

section of the newspaper and mailing flyers to businesses. Small

companies may be particularly good customers for word processing

service because they may not have secretaries on staff. Larger

companies may use you for overflow work or for long projects in

which the finished copy must be perfect.

Rates vary depending on where you live; check with other typists

to see what they charge. It should be no problem in most places to

get $1 per double-spaced page. Be sure to charge extra for

footnotes, headlines, or other special formats, since these take

more time to type.

DESKTOP PUBLISHING

Because its capabilities are so amazing and useful, this new

technology promises to grow by leaps and bounds within the next

several years. With desktop publishing software, and a laser printer

to produce flyers, brochures, booklets, books and nearly any other

material that needs to be designed and typeset. The documents that

you produce are "camera-ready," meaning that they are ready to be

printed up with no additional typesetting, layout or paste-up.

As a desktop publisher, you can offer both graphic design and

typesetting services at a very competitive price (much lower than

customers would pay for a separate graphic designer and typesetter).

Even better, if you are a writer ( or can associate with one) you

can produce complete documents, from idea to finished piece.

Desktop publishing is one of the more expensive computer

businesses to start. A good laser printer may run $2,000 or more, and

desktop publishing software, including a full range of graphics and

typestyles, may cost up to $1,000. If you're starting on a tight

budget, you can probably put off buying the laser printer. Just

work out an arrangement with a print shop or some other business

that has a laser printer in which you may print out your finished

documents.

Because desktop publishing is more involved than word processing,

it's more difficult to set prices. The best way is to charge by the

job, basing your fee on an hourly rate. When a potential client

comes to you, estimate how many hours the work will take, and then

quote a package price for the job. (Most customers prefer a package

price to paying you an hourly rate, since they can budget in advance

how much the project will cost.)

Businesses, charitable organizations, professional, and anyone else

who needs high-quality printed pieces are potential customers for a

desktop publishing business. Print shops don't offer graphic design

and typesetting may be willing to steer clients who need these

services to you. Direct mail solicitations also may be effective

in promoting your services, especially if you include some

impressive samples of what you do.

BOOKKEPING, TAX PREPARATION

Many business people love running their businesses but hate the

financial record keeping necessary for smooth day-to-day operation.

But failure to keep careful records can cause problems at tax time

and whenever else a clear financial picture of the business is

needed. If you have experience in bookkeeping or accounting,

helping business people to keep their books can be an excellent way

to make money with your computer.

With spread sheet software like Symphony or Lotus 1-2-3, you can

keep detailed records of clients books, take care of billing,

prepare balance sheets and financial reports, and keep the client

aware of his or her financial standing. (Clients will really be

impressed if you use graphic software like Harvard Graphics to

prepare charts and graphs that show the financial status of their

business.)

Base fees on the size of the business and the amount of time you

need each month working with the client's books. You may want to

charge additional fees for extra services such as preparing tax

forms, financial statements, and balance sheets.

Small businesses--especially retail stores, with their need to

keep inventory--are prime markets for a computerized bookkeeping

service. The soft-sell approach works best when promoting this

type of business. Clients want to feel that their finances are

in the hands of someone who is conservative and trustworthy, not

a pushy promoter.

COMPUTER CONSULTING

Most businesses can benefit from having one or more personal

computers, but very few managers have the time to research fully

the hardware and software available when making choices. If you

know computers, you can provide a valuable service as a consultant,

helping clients avoid costly and frustrating mistakes.

Consultants begin by taking the time to learn about a client's

business. Thoroughly interview the manager or owner to find out

what he or she expects a computer system to do. Observe employees

to see what they do and how they might benefit from specific types

of equipment or software.

When you've arrived at a recommendation, write a report and meet

with your client to discuss it. After changes have been made to

suit your customers, you can assist further by recommending low-

cost sources of equipment, and setting up equipment once it is

purchased.

Consultants typically charge per day. Even if this fee is over

$100, emphasize to potential clients that your good advice can

be worth many times what it costs, since you can suggest cost

saving and efficiency-improving purchases.

COMPUTER TRAINING

Computer trainers teach people how to use specific types of

equipment and software. For examples, when a company begins

using a new word processing system, its employees must be

taught to use it. A computer trainer conducts these training

sessions, either one-on-one or with an entire group.

The most effective trainers are good listeners as well as

talkers. Before training employees, ask them about other

software packages they've used and what they intend to do

with the new package. After all, there's no point in spending

two hours telling someone how to do "mail-merge" with a word

processor if they never have need for that feature.

Begin by specializing in only a few popular software packages

that you know well. Prepare a mailer listing your areas of

expertise.

END OF ARTICLE PC INTO PROFIT CENTER