Setting Up A Word Processing Business In Your Home

Prepare final documents from typed, hand-written or taped drafts, such as student term papers, business letters, legal briefs, manuscripts, resume's and institution reports.

The basic requirements for a word processing business are a computer with a word processing program, a letter quality printer and a dedicated working area.

The computer should be IBM compatible -- the particular brand is not important, so long as it is 100% IBM compatible and you can get a decent service and assistance locally.

The word processing program can be very simple one, but we recommend an up-to-date version or a well known, industry compatible program such as WordPerfect® or Word for Windows.®

Your printer can be a daisy wheel if you do not need graphics (illustrations) or much type or style variety. It can be a 24 pin dot matrix for high quality printing AND graphics. An inexpensive 9 pin dot matrix will suffice for minor jobs, but not for major contract work, where "letter quality" is desired.

The top of the line printer, a laser jet would be nice -- but they are quite expensive.

Your working area is very important, especially if there are any type of interruptions (children head this list). You need a place that is dedicated to your business -- where nothing else takes place except business.

Ideally, it should be a separate room (soundproof?), with a locking door and an outside entrance, which will allow clients to enter your office without going through the house on the way to your office.

Word processors normally earn from $1 to $3 per double spaced standard sized page or $10 to $20 per hour, depending on the location (part of the country, city size), job complexity, typing speed and local demand.

Note that this business was conducted with typewriters a few years ago, but the most expensive typewriters cannot compare with even low priced word processors of today. With a word processor, you type the data, check it on the screen, then file (save) it on a disk (forget about cassettes!).

Whenever you want to see (or edit) the text, you simply recall (load) it back onto the screen, review or revise it, and re- save the revised version back on the same disk.

Or, press a couple of buttons and print it -- in a choice of print styles, margin settings and spacing.

At any time, a printed version (draft or final) can be obtained without affecting the stored version. If your margins are set at 1" and you suddenly realize they should be 1/2", you pull your hair out if you are typing.. But on a word processor, you simply press a button, re-set the margins ( a second or two) and the entire document can be repositioned in a flash and reprinted with the new settings by pressing another button.

Major word processors include many features that would make a typist's head "swim": automatic word separation (hyphenation) at the ends of lines, spelling correctors (correct a word a second), the ability to inset illustrations and print in columns (from "normal" input).

For those who might be "petrified" of the word "computer," let us just say that it should take an ordinary high school graduate no more than one week to learn to prepare this report on an IBM compatible computer with WordPerfect® or WordStar® or Word for Windows.®

A good typist should be able to learn to produce a professional looking business letter in a few hours. There are a lot of new terms, buttons, etc., but you only need to learn a few of them to get by -- and learn more steps and techniques as you need to!

Many professionals never use more than just some of the average word processing program can do. It is like learning to ride a motorcycle or cook a gourmet meal -- how "impossible" these seem to those who don't know how (yet).

But, of course, you don't start with a powerful motorcycle or pheasant under glass -- you start on a two-wheeler bike with training wheels or Kraft dinner, both of which may take a little practice. And, you can learn them both, one step at a time!

The reason your computer must be IBM compatible is twofold:

First, your program should be standard so you can produce the standard products, and second because the things you prepare and "save" on disk can be processed by other computers.

If you use a (cheaper and) smaller, lesser known program, it won't do some things that "standard" programs do.

For example, the major programs have 100,000 word spell correctors, while some of the smaller ones have 40,000 or so.

When your prospective client asks what computer you use, he/she will recognize IBM compatible as the current word standard; when you tell them you use Word-Perfect® or Word for Windows®, they will know you have the "very latest" and can do their work professionally.

Most computer programs also have version numbers, which indicate how new or old that particular program is. Once you have a word processing program, however, updates are fairly inexpensive.

With a standard, professional word processing program, you can not only prepare final documents, you can prepare manuscripts for publication.

If you give your client a disk with his final draft, he can forward that to a publisher who will run THE SAME DISK on his computer to typeset the entire manuscript. Or, the disk can be run by a "Desktop printer" to produce a magazine, complete with photographs.

And, that's not all: with an added device (called a MODEM) costing $100 or so, you can send the contents of that disk over the telephone to the publisher in just a few seconds!

Needless to say, if you used a non-standard system or program , your options would be severely limited. The effort to learn a standard or non-standard program is about the same, so don't waste your time learning something that is not considered industry standard!

The best advice you will get about your first computer is to JOIN A USER'S CLUB! Some people join before they get a computer -- so they can take advantage of advice they might receive from other members.

In most user clubs you will find "experts galore" who will be happy to advise and assist you in every way.

You will learn which programs are considered best-- and why: the pro's and con's of different kinds and brands of equipment, as well as where many of the members buy their supplies.

Most user clubs have instruction classes or meetings for beginners, for specialist, and for groups with certain interests -- word processing being one of the major interests.

Accuracy and neatness are critical in a typing/word processing service. There should be no discernible strikeovers or erasures, and every page must adhere to the prescribed format.

Accuracy can be a serious problem with a typewriter because you can see only a few (if any) words before they are printed on paper.

If you miss something, the whole page may have to be re- typed. Even a simple word processing program will allow you to correct mistakes at any time. There are also client changes and "revisions" -- those things they never think of until they see your "finished" version!

With your word processor, you simply enter the changes on the screen, re-save the new version over the old, and PRESTO, the document is revised. You can print it then, or whenever you choose.

The entire document is stored on a disk that costs from 20 cents to about a dollar and a standard (360K) disk will hold some 100 pages! When that job is finished, the disk can be erased and used again -- just like a tape.

Used personal computers (PC's) start at about $300 -- or about the same as a good standard typewriter. Or, you can rent one for about $50 per month until you decide, what you want. You pay a good deal more this way, but you can get by for low, monthly payments until you can buy one.

Most major newspapers have advertisement sections for COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE. The reason computers are being sold usually because they are outdated, not because they are worn out.

Companies and individuals that operate a computer for a year or so frequently discover how much more they could accomplish with a new model, so they sell the "old one" -- which may be just what you need!

Once you have acquired and learned to operate your PC, the services you offer will be bound only by the equipment limitations and programs you have.

For example, if your word processor includes mailing lists (most do), you can easily compile and print mailing lists or gummed labels at your leisure.

If not, there are plenty of good mail list programs available,many at no cost (public domain) or low cost (shareware).

When you join a user's club, you will get catalogs for these types of programs automatically, or you can get copies at the club meetings.

One thing that scares many of us about computers is "all that programming." A computer operator is NOT a programmer -- or an engineer. You don't have to speak Chinese (or even use chopsticks) to enjoy Chinese food, and you don't have to know programming to use a computer!

If you typing needs help, get a typing program and brush up -- you will learn 3 or 4 times as fast as the "old fashioned" way.

It is not unusual to learn to type on a computer -- skills can be mastered amazingly fast because they are taught by more than one method (practice, on-the-spot tests and games).

There are programs for almost everything: taxes, forms, games, bookkeeping, wills -- even crossword puzzle generation.

As your business grows, you can increase your capability by adding another terminal (monitor and keyboard), that can be connected to your computer's "brain" and/or the same printer.

Be sure to get compatible equipment, so programs you have will work on both, and the machines don't " argue."

When you have the equipment and have learned to operate it, you are ready to advertise and contact prospective clients.

A good starting place is to send a letter (your service!) or a brochure to each member of the Chamber of Commerce and other businesses in the phone book.

Use quality business cards and letterhead (your image is theirs) to help convey the impression of your quality work.

If you are near a college, place ads where students will see theme (for theme papers).

Don't forget to send brochures to lawyers and local stationery stores (they might recommend you). It would be especially helpful to become a member of the Chamber of Commerce and to be "visible" in community activities.

Take part in local charity auctions, for example, by offering a free (or discounted) word processing service.

Your place of business should be well planned and professional looking. Clients who are surrounded by children in your living room sometimes feel they can get cheaper rates from a "housewife" situation.

You do not get paid for long conservations with clients, so keep them as straightforward and free from distractions as possible. As mentioned above, the best solution is to have a dedicated room with an outside entrance for clients.

Professional writers who work from their homes not only have separate working areas, but do not allow interruptions during certain hours, when they are "at work."

It is best to have someone look after little children during normal business hours, so you can concentrate on the business. Computer forms, letterhead and business cards are available from NEBS (see Sources); Sam's Club (Wal-Mart affiliate) has boxes of 3500 sheets of computer paper for just under $20.

Note that WRITER'S DIGEST has over 100 advertisements for manuscript preparation nationwide -- many states have only one service advertised.