Assess your readiness to start a customer service business using the Small Business Administration Assessment Tool. The Small Business Training Network provides web-based courses in business planning, starting a business and business management.
Step 2
Write a business plan. For example, use a business planning template website tool to construct your customer service business plan or develop your own format. Define business objectives and describe how you intend to fulfill customer service needs for your clients. Describe the industry outlook for providing customer support in your industry. List the critical needs you perceive exist. Show a profile of targeted clients and why they require your services.
Related Reading: The Impact of Good Customer Service in Small Business
Step 3
Select help desk software to manage interactions with customers or get training on how to use the customer relationship management system used by your clients. For example, using the free Comm100 open source and free hosted customer service software, your company can deploy and track live chat usage, emails sent, forum participation and newsletter usage.
Step 4
Establish operational performance goals. For example, common call center metrics include customer satisfaction, cost per call, issues resolved on the first call and revenue generated by sales made associated with the call.
Step 5
Train your staff to support your client’s needs. For example, the International Customer Service Association provides access to web-based training and certification for customer support professionals. Training topics typically include emphasis on why customer service matters to the client’s business, using active listening skills to learn what customers really want, using problem solving skills to handle complaints and difficult situations and using customer service as a way to sell more products and services for the client.
Step 6
Create a website to advertise your customer service business. Establish a mechanism for receiving payment for your services, such as credit cards or PayPal. Use the resources provided by the Business.gov and the SCORE websites to structure your business, pay your taxes and ensure you adhere to federal, state and local regulations that apply to your industry.