Gift Rep Sandy

Thinking like an Entrepreneur!

Once you make your decision to start an independent sales rep firm, even if it does not involve employees, you are taking on the role of an independent entrepreneur.  You will be the one who is responsible with every facet and venue of your business.  Since you will have no boss to answer to, you will need to have the discipline to push yourself.  Some facets of the business you will not like, but you will need to complete them anyway!

Systems for Your Business

As a new entrepreneur, I suggest you take a look at some basic structured systems to implement in your business. Starting and growing a business is really about developing systems within your business.  Most tasks, even sales tasks, can be systemized to make a smoother working operation to catch oversights and errors more efficiently.  Systems are a set of methods and procedures, sometimes policies, to follow for each repetitive aspect of your enterprise.

There are several different types of systems to help you with your business — some of these systems, for example, may include the following:

• The systems you set up to keep track of commission receivable will ultimately determine your success in managing critical cash flow, so you can pay your bills on time, and collect delinquent accounts.

• The systems you set up to turn prospects into customers, and turn customers into repeat customers, will determine the long term health and vigor of your sales rep business.

• The systems you set up for writing and processing orders, including follow-up on orders, will expedite your ability to continue generating sales.

• The systems you set up to monitor your sales goals will keep you on target with the growth of your business

Choices about these systems, including development of policies and procedures, constitute the management level you wish to attain in your business.  Even after you set up initial systems, tweaking those systems, and creating new systems to address recurring problems, lost opportunities, and growth is really your most important work. As the principle operator or owner of a company, setting up systems which are effective and efficient take more work up front, but lead to a streamlined operation over time saving you time to make money!

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