Start a Service Business

Before you start

1. The service industry is rapidly developing. Do you use any of the services? Which of these services do you often / rarely / never use?

1) Laundry 2) Hairdresser’s 3) Dry cleaner’s 4) Photographer’s studio 5) Shoe repair 6) Tailor’s

7) Post office 8) Car repair 9) Currency exchange 10) Internet café 11) Library

Reading

Read the article about different types of selling your service effectively and answer the questions below

Who can sell a service? The answer is simple – anyone and everyone. Everyone is qualified because each of us has skills, knowledge or experience that other people are willing to pay for in the form of a service; or they're willing to pay you to teach them your specific skill or knowledge.

So, the first option is to start off selling your services on a part-time basis, which is a good idea because it enables you to eliminate risk by limiting your financial investment.

You can also jump in with both feet and start your new business selling services full-time. This option would appeal to people without a current job or people who are confident about being the boss and operating a business.

Another option is to start a seasonal business selling services, which can be operated with a full- or part-time effort. But most are run full time to maximize revenues and profits over a normally short time span. Examples of seasonal businesses selling services would include snow removal in winter, yard maintenance in summer in northern climates, income tax preparation service in spring, and serving as a vacation property rental agent.

Ultimately, financial compatibility is important when starting a business and deciding what services to sell. If you cannot afford to start the business and don't have the financial resources to pay operating expenses and your wages until the business can break even, you'll probably have to look at alternative options, such as starting part time, choosing a different business to start, or waiting until you have acquired the money needed to get started.

1. Why can anyone sell a service?

2. Which types of selling services have you noticed in the article? What is the difference between them?

3. What will you need to start your service business effectively?

Vocabulary

Match the highlighted words in the text with the definitions (1-6).

1) The amount of money that you spend on something _____________________________

2) A particular type of help or work that is provided by a business to customers ______________________________________

3) Money you earn that is paid according to the number of hours, days or weeks that you work ______________________________________

4) The financial ability to exist or be used together without causing problems ______________________________________

5) The use of money to get a profit or to make a business activity successful ______________________________________

6) Control the way a business, department, program, etc., functions ______________________________

Speaking

Some people are always in a hurry. They go to different places and get things done. Other people prefer to take their time and live at a slower pace. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

Bobro Masha