How To Start A Public Relations Firm From Home
When you want to start a public relations firm in your home office, you can use the five steps listed below to prepare, open your business, and become successful. You may have done agency work in the past, or you might not have any experience in the industry. Using these five steps will help you grow your business, network with other professionals, and keep your clients happy.
1. Create A Legal Corporation
Nancy Behrman Communications recommends that you start by creating a legal corporation. You can fill out the paperwork to start an LLC that will incorporate your business, and you will be protected from legal action as a result. If someone wants to sue your business, they can sue the business instead of you personally.
Also, incorporating allows you to get the business license you need. If you do not have a license, you are not allowed to operate in the area where you live. Plus, incorporating qualifies you for special business services, loans, and grants that you cannot get on your own.
2. Open Business Bank Accounts And Credit Cards
You should open business credit cards and bank accounts to manage all your money. Your public relations firm should be separate from your personal affairs. You want all the money from your business to go into an account that is easy to track.
Also, you can use your business accounts to track expenses. You can deduct many of your expenses at the end of the year when you file your tax return, and you must ensure that your business finances are completely separate from your private finances.
You can pay yourself a salary from your business account, but you cannot take money out of your business account whenever you want.
3. Get Business Insurance
You need business insurance that will protect your PR firm from any lawsuits or allegations. Someone may get hurt at a party that you organized, and your business insurance can help pay for the damages. An insurance company can provide you with the legal services you need, and the insurance policy will help you pay for any losses incurred while servicing a client.
4. Network As Much As Possible
You must network with PR professionals, potential clients, and contacts throughout your community. Go to as many events as you can in the community, host your own events, and schedule meetings with people who can help you.
When you are meeting more people, you will get more referrals. You might meet people who need representation, or you might meet people who own businesses that need representation. Also, you can forward any clients to other professionals if you cannot help them. Your colleagues in the industry will do so in like manner if they have a client that would thrive with your help.
Also, networking gives you the contacts you need to set up interviews, magazine pieces, and media appearances for your clients. You might even meet people from an agency like Nancy Behrman Communications who can share more contacts with you.
5. Communicate Well
You must communicate with your clients consistently. You must be known for replying to emails almost instantly, and you must reach out to people you need to work with at the exact moment you need help. Invest in a business phone system with a special phone number, add a business phone number that can be forwarded to your cell phone, and set up a business email address.
You need to create a website that allows potential clients to check out your services, and you should put a contact page on that site. If people can reach you, you can offer the best services. If you mix your personal business with your PR firm, you will find it difficult to communicate.
Conclusion
Starting a public relations firm in your home requires a bit of planning and research. You can invest in your business by networking, and you should incorporate your business to protect yourself. Use business insurance, credit cards, and bank accounts to protect yourself, and ensure that you are easy to reach. The PR world is all about communication, and you must be available for anyone who needs your help or wants to work with your clients
