Here are 5 rules that I have learned really do help business improve as simple as they may see.
1. Return phone calls and emails: Customers can be impatient. Failure to respond right away is akin to passing business on to the next person.
2. Don't take on more than you can handle. It is better to pass on business to a qualified professional than get a reputation of doing a bad job.
3. Maintain separate finances. Don't mix business and personal money. More money gets sucked into personal expenses than you would expect and wind up causing you business issues.
4. No surpises. Give your customer what they ask for and resist the tempation to give them more. What you perceive as extras, especially in creative services may end up dissatisfying the customer.
5. Diversify. In tight economic times, it might serve you well to move away from your niche business and diversify in order to stay in business. This does not mean that you should sell makeup if your business is writing. It does mean however that you may want to add proof reading and editing to your list of services. If you sell makeup, you may want to add special occasion makeovers to your services (such as weddings and prom).
