Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Web Hosting Lounge : Your views on starting a business.

[Carp]

Hey there!

I am thinking about starting an outsourced support business. Later this week when an order comes in, my office will be capable of having four employee's working at one time. Each station has it's own computer and phone with an extension from the PBX. Each station is capable of printing to a network printer, and there is an office fax with a dedicated number.

What are your view's on this? Do hosting companies use outsourced support? What are companies paying for outsourced support?

Any advice, information, or thoughts are greatly welcome!

Thanks!

[trau]

Step one, develop a business plan, a 4 line pbx, 4 pc's, and a fax is not much of a plan.

[Carp]

I'm not ready for a business plan. Right now I am trying to get views from other people. I was just telling you what my office is capable of.

Thanks for the response.

[trau]

Originally Posted by Carp

I'm not ready for a business plan. Right now I am trying to get views from other people. I was just telling you what my office is capable of.

Thanks for the response.

If you want to be able to succeed and more importantly provide a service that people want, you do need a plan. Perhaps try narrowing things down a bit. What type of support do you want to offer? What skill levels will your employee's need? What kind of integration will you need with your clients systems (if any)? How many trunk lines will you need (what if all four phones are in use, how many people can be queued on hold)? What kind of reporting will you need (after all you'll need to show your clients what they are getting for the $$$). And the list goes on. These are all important things that need to be thought out, hence my suggestion of a business plan.

[Carp]

Thanks a lot for the response again.

See, this is why I am doing this, for advice, etc....I haven't thought of CDR's, but you're right, that is something that will be needed. Integration with other companies software isn't another thing I haven't thought of.



Also, my phone system is easily expandable so that really isn't an issue.


Thanks again.

[hekwu]

Originally Posted by Carp

I'm not ready for a business plan. Right now I am trying to get views from other people. I was just telling you what my office is capable of.

Thanks for the response.

Start the business plan...

Take advice with a grain of salt.

10 years ago, people who I asked about the business I wanted to start (and did start, and still doing) told me I was crazy. They wanted to have nothing to do with it. No one would help... they turned their proverbial nose up at me.

Or the other time when I released something that "everyone" said was needed... it sold slowly. Around the same time I also released something that "everyone" said was not needed and I could not keep it on the shelf.

Could be I don't explain things well, or I'm asking he wrong people... but I listen to myself more than others... although, good advice in certain areas, I'll take.

[Carp]

Thanks for the tip!

I guess it would be beneficial if I at least started a business plan.

Thanks again!

[Chase Evans]

Well any type of business can be hard to start. As well depending on the type of business it can take months before you are stable with the income.

1. How long have you been wanting to do this business?
2. When are you planning on starting the business plan?
3. Are these employees or friends? Did you get contracts, and other forms to have them as employees?