Phone: 703-980-1114
As you read the Extra You website did you find yourself thinking, “I could run this type of business!” or, “Helping other people sounds like a fun way to earn a living!!”
If you are a self-motivated, ambitious, determined, and patient person, then you have some of the characteristics required of running your own personal concierge or life management business.
At Extra You we are happy to answer your questions about starting your own personal concierge service. You are welcome to contact us to discuss your business interests. We have also included helpful tips below that should answer some of your preliminary questions about what it takes to start your own personal concierge and life management business.
1. First and foremost- do your own, free research! A few good websites include Entrepreneur.com, EHow.com, Fabjob.com, and of course you can Google the keyphrase “Start Your Own Concierge Business” to read various articles and blogger suggestions.
2.Buy a “How To” manual. Extra You offers valuable information on starting a concierge business through sale of our book chapters.
3.Determine your business focus. Every personal concierge business needs to decide their focus, limitations, region, and business hours. You can create your personal concierge business to be as full-serviced or focused as you desire.
4.Create a pricing structure. Determining your fee structure is an important first step in evaluating how financially successful your business may be. Most people find they cannot afford to quit their day or night job while starting their personal concierge and life management business. Another couple tips: Don’t forget the importance of charging for mileage- particularly with increasing fuel costs and the wear and tear running errands will place on your personal vehicle. Another important aspect of creating your pricing structure is learning how you can accept credit cards as payment.
5.Ensure you have basic supplies. Personal concierge businesses are becoming increasingly popular because they require little start up investment. Also for this reason, however, many people jump into creating personal concierge businesses that fail within their first two years. To ensure you have minimum start up requirements, you should have:
Computer with Internet access
Website
Car or some form of transportation
Cellphone
Voicemail
Office supplies and stationary
Fax
Telephone with two or three lines
Color printer
Business cards
6.Licensing and government requirements. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce or government website for information about what is required to establish a business in your area. You will likely need an LLC or to incorporate (check with your CPA which is best for your scenario) also, which will require establishing a bank account and credit cards separate from your personal finances.
7.Join professional associations. To continue your professional learning and networking opportunities, Extra You recommends joining the International Concierge and Lifestyle Management Association (ICLMA) or the National Concierge Association.
8.Design your business logo. This is often a client’s first impression of you and your business, so you want it to be memorable. Branding is key to your business.
9.Devise a marketing plan. You may want to hire a consultant, ask friends who work in the marketing industry, or even hire Extra You to help you devise a marketing plan and move forward. Even in the personal concierge and life management industry the best advertising is word of mouth recommendation, so the key is marketing to an initial client base that will compound your marketing efforts.
10. Create important business forms. You will need to generate everything from client contracts to business letterhead, and you will need these materials on the shelf and ready to use when your first client or partnership develops. Extra You sells "forms" (see the list of what we offer).
11. Invest in a website. This can be one of your major start-up costs, so we recommend doing your homework and choosing a web designer wisely. Extra You has experience in the website development arena through both positive and negative learning experiences, and we can both advise and guide you through this important selection process.
12. Hit the streets! Literally or figuratively, you will need to hit the streets and publicize news of your new business. Extra You has experience advertising through radio, in magazines, through Chambers of Commerce, local businesses, and friends and family.
13. Contact Us at Extra You. We would be honored to share our lessons learned and help you develop a seamless, effective, and lucrative personal concierge business. Don’t hesitate to contact us *(Contact Us) for more information about how we can assist you.
To your success,
Rebekah Phelps
Phone: 703-980-1114
