Instructions
Get Set Up
1
Buy a fast computer, or multiple computers. You'll be dealing with large graphics files as you scan each page. This can quickly overload the capabilities of older or slower machines.
2
Subscribe to high speed internet. You'll want to be able to email files back to your clients. As with your computer, the size of these files can make slower connections sluggish and limiting.
3
Buy a commercial quality scanner capable of multiple document feeding. This means you can put a stack of docs into a hopper and press one button to scan them all.
4
Get trained on any components you're not certain how to use. This can mean taking a course, calling customer service or reading a book.
Find Customers
5
Get in touch with all of your friends, family members and acquaintances. Let them know what you're doing and ask them to tell their friends. Somebody, somewhere is going to be needing what you offer.
6
Use social networking websites to get your business face out on the web.
7
Contact local accountants, bookkeepers and law firms. These businesses advise clients on how to store records every day. If you establish a good relationship, they'll start advising them to have you scan those records.
8
Stop by local scrapbooking shops and photography stores. Both businesses have clients who routinely end up with large archives they'll want to either back up or convert completely to digital files. In many cases, they'll need to do this again and again. See if they'll let you leave a flier or brochure for their customers.
9
Do a job or two pro bono for a church, school or other nonprofit organization. Choose one that has lots of members and do the work in exchange for mentioning you to their supporters.