I've decided to start my own business

[Getback]

After 2+ years of being unemployed it seems the only way. Further I'm looking forward to it and I'm excited to do so. My family and friends, including some online, have encouraged me to do so. What I would like is a suggestion on where to get business cards and for those more savvy suggestions for a letter of introduction.


Thanks all in advanced.

[DMGOD]

well it just so happens that I too have just started my own company. I make Business Cards

[Shuffler]

After 2+ years of being unemployed it seems the only way. Further I'm looking forward to it and I'm excited to do so. My family and friends, including some online, have encouraged me to do so. What I would like is a suggestion on where to get business cards and for those more savvy suggestions for a letter of introduction.


Thanks all in advanced.

Business cards can be professionally made at any print shop. They usually have minimums like 250 or 500. In a pinch you can print some on a printer using card stock from some place like Office Depot.

As for a letter of introduction, that depends heavily on what type of business you are going to start.


Good luck!!

[Simaril]

And when it comes down to it - you shouldn't need to cut corners, minimize costs on business cards. I get hundreds for (last time I checked) under $20 per box.

DO take the time to plan what yours will look like, and think about the information you want on it. (Nowadays, include email and if you have it a website addy). Make it look good! You can get ideas from supply catalogs, many of which have templates and generic logos.

DON'T print your own from a computer!!!


EDIT: Just did a quick google, and found a number of companies that have design your own card templates - which can be handled over the internet entirely. And scanning the prices, its like 500 for $10 with starting options.



I started from scratch, didn't join an existing office. Best advice I can give is to watch your expenses carefully especially at the start. Don't know what business you're in - some cost way more to run than others.

[oakranger]

I make my own cards.  really easy.  What business are you starting?

[Getback]

I'm not going to print from my computer for sure. I don't have a website...........yet. I fear the cost of that though I know it is somewhat reasonable from what I have heard.

I need to setup a new email for my business.

[Getback]

I make my own cards.  really easy.  What business are you starting?

Accounting, leaning towards project accountant. My CPA license is pending. Passed that in September.

[Nilsen]

Good luck starting your own. I have been involved with the startup of 74 businesses and at the last count 43 of them are still around just over 10 years later

Take any advice you can get, make sure you have enough capital to not take out wages the first year and dont be too proud to ask others for help. Keep your costs down and stay away from the usual traps of fancy company cars and office supplies/computers etc that you really dont need. The only people you will impress with fancy businesscards and gadgets are the people you buy them from.... not your customers.

[Dichotomy]

Getback

For your website and domain name I recommend Hostgator.  They're very reasonable.

Also I am fairly decent at tinkering in photoshop so if you have a concept on the card I'd be happy to try to put it together for you. 

[NormH3]

I'm not going to print from my computer for sure. I don't have a website...........yet. I fear the cost of that though I know it is somewhat reasonable from what I have heard.

I need to setup a new email for my business.

Get yourself a domain name. It shouldnt cost more than $20 a year at the high end. Most registrars also have the capability to host your email for a small additional fee. The website doesnt have to be complicated. You might even be able to find a graphics student that can help with that at a reasonable cost. Good luck!!

[gpwurzel]

For business cards I'd recommend vistaprint - cheap, easy to use, you can use their templates or upload your own (pdf format).

Website, use a decent hosting service (I'm using limewebs.com cos its free and I'm cheap) see www.gpwit.limewebs.com if you want to take a peep at it.

Good luck Getback, just started mine in december and its slow going at the moment, but getting better.

Wurzel

[Golfer]

After 2+ years of being unemployed it seems the only way. Further I'm looking forward to it and I'm excited to do so. My family and friends, including some online, have encouraged me to do so. What I would like is a suggestion on where to get business cards and for those more savvy suggestions for a letter of introduction.


Thanks all in advanced.

I make and order the business cards for my flight department from vistaprint.com

Easy to do.  "Free" ones have a cheesy vistaprint logo on the back (free advertising for them) and the premium ones are blank back or however you want them to be.  When I had my own business I would print small calendars or flight plan forms on the back of them so the individual was more likely to hang on to it since it may prove a handy tool.

Food for thought.

Good luck!

[LLogann]

or www.overnightprints.com..........  Any other place might give you the same quality but take a little longer.  Prices are good at both. 

I make and order the business cards for my flight department from vistaprint.com

[Babalonian]

After 2+ years of being unemployed it seems the only way. Further I'm looking forward to it and I'm excited to do so. My family and friends, including some online, have encouraged me to do so. What I would like is a suggestion on where to get business cards and for those more savvy suggestions for a letter of introduction.


Thanks all in advanced.

Buisness card wise - I've had great results from websites that offer good selections and a lot of choices but that also charge a reasonable and nominal fee for the service and product.  Online companys that offer to do them for free or for a deal that's too good to be true ("10,000 cards, any way you want them, for only $1!") at best end with me getting a responce from them that they never recieved my order, despite confirmation emails I recieved months ago when the order was placed.

[Simaril]

I'm not going to print from my computer for sure. I don't have a website...........yet. I fear the cost of that though I know it is somewhat reasonable from what I have heard.

I need to setup a new email for my business.

Hosting is NOT expensive, and if you look online you can find website templates for under $100. Once you get a domain, you have a built in email - and with how cheap these steps are, I'd really recommend going for the professional feel they would give.

My business is also in the professions, and like I said I started mine from scratch. I'm not an accountant, but I find myself wondering if you could even go without the costs of an office at first - play up the personalized, customized service you give and the fact that you give "house calls" at their places of business.

But I have no idea how that would go over, and I don't know if that'd make things feel more fly-by-night. I do know that in my line of work, there are a few doctors whose entire practice is based on house calls - and what they lose in volume they make up for in lower overhead.