Home based startups seem to be popping up everywhere due to technology making it easier than ever to start a business by just having a computer and internet connection. Certain companies might be hesitant to work with a small home based company due to the fact they might not have the manpower a larger company does.
The stigma against these businesses in certain niches often times has nothing to do with the quality of work the smaller company provides. For this reason, it is important to make a home based business look as legitimate as possible so a prospective client cannot tell whether it is a 3 person company or 120 person corporation. The following are ways that you can make your home based startup look as legitimate as possible.
Having a website
All businesses regardless of size need to have a website as this drives leads, legitimizes the company, and provides contact information. Invest in a designer that will build a professional looking website as a website thrown together with poor grammar in the website copy can make a company look like they do not care about their image. The website is the first impression of a business that a client will have to make it a good one!
Office space for meetings
Virtual offices or rental offices that you can rent out for the day or a few hours are incredibly useful. Face to face meetings in a person’s garage does not scream professionalism but in an office setting, it does. Do not pitch a massive client in your home but rather utilize virtual offices as they have everything from small offices to large conference rooms. Depending on the length of the stay of your client as sometimes pitching certain things and negotiating contracts can take a few days, this office space can be a lifesaver.
A corporate address instead of residential
Using a mail forwarding address is important as certain residential addresses look like that of a residential address. Combining this with the fact that you might not want your clients knowing your personal address this is a good investment. This can also be done when expanding internationally so customers think that there is a physical office location in their country. Companies that offer this service often times also have meeting space as mentioned above.
A solid digital marketing strategy
The right digital marketing campaign can help a company climb up the search engine rankings. This can also develop a brand image and voice as well as help establish the company as a thought leader in certain situations.
As a small company, it might be wise to outsource this work as it can turn into a full-time job for those small startups with a handful of employees. Do not pick the first company that you find to outsource to but rather try a few small test campaigns with various companies. This will help paint a clear picture of what the company delivers the best ROI for your startup.