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Advice on running a business and having a 9-6 job..need help

by him77
8 replies
Hello,

I've been up and running for a while now with my business offline. My biggest problem is meeting with businesses on a regular basis. I have no problems seting up the appointments, but sometimes my work hours make it really hard. I was wondering if anyone else was going through the same or had some tips on overcoming such a situation?

My current solution:
I may set appointments during the week and meet with business on the weekend (not sure how small business owners would feel about meeting on a sunday)

Meet with owners early in the morning since a lot of them are early risers.


Can anyone add to this?
#advice #business #jobneed #running
  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    Although you have to work within their hours, they may have hours that include the weekend as a norm. Maybe they are the businesses to focus on
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  • Profile picture of the author him77
    What I'm considering is setting up appointments M-F for Sat-Sun. I may try that for the rest of the week and see how it goes.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    If a business owner will meet with you outside of normal hours, that is a really good sign. They take you seriously if they're going out of their way to meet you.
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  • Profile picture of the author him77
    I may just try to close them over my lunch breaks...but a better idea may be setting up appointments during the week for the weekend.
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  • Profile picture of the author Goxbee App
    How about after business hours like 7pm to 9pm??? That also works wonders for owners and the same with early hours....
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  • Profile picture of the author amulektwo
    Having a business and having a normal working hour job is a WOW in multi-tasking. But what I can advise you is, have the business matters be done during lunch breaks, or from 8am-9am, and 6pm onwards.
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    • Profile picture of the author David Miller
      I don't know what you're selling, but there are not many things (at least relative to the services in this forum) that cannot be sold on the phone. When you are working with those kind of time restraints (9-6), using the phone to get things off the ground will not only help you now, but once you're on your own fully, you'll have the added benefit of phone closing experience.

      I know quite a few people who have a thriving business and they started it by making calls on their cell during lunch breaks.

      If you're hesitant about selling on the phone, turn it into a multi-step process. First call is to set an appointment for the second call.

      Between the first call and the second call, you can send a confirming email with just enough information to make them interested in getting your next call. Keep doing that and you'll be building a pipeline of prospects.

      Right now you're in the best possible position any salesperson could be in. You have a job so you're not strapped to make every call count. You can look at every call as practice. Not only will you get better with every call, you'll have that unspoken, etherial element of not being tied to the end result.

      In your case, there is no end result that could be bad. Hearing a NO means you've had some practice, and hearing YES means you've got some practice at doing it right.
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      • Profile picture of the author him77
        Originally Posted by David Miller View Post

        I don't know what you're selling, but there are not many things (at least relative to the services in this forum) that cannot be sold on the phone. When you are working with those kind of time restraints (9-6), using the phone to get things off the ground will not only help you now, but once you're on your own fully, you'll have the added benefit of phone closing experience.

        I know quite a few people who have a thriving business and they started it by making calls on their cell during lunch breaks.

        If you're hesitant about selling on the phone, turn it into a multi-step process. First call is to set an appointment for the second call.

        Between the first call and the second call, you can send a confirming email with just enough information to make them interested in getting your next call. Keep doing that and you'll be building a pipeline of prospects.

        Right now you're in the best possible position any salesperson could be in. You have a job so you're not strapped to make every call count. You can look at every call as practice. Not only will you get better with every call, you'll have that unspoken, etherial element of not being tied to the end result.

        In your case, there is no end result that could be bad. Hearing a NO means you've had some practice, and hearing YES means you've got some practice at doing it right.

        I work in sales now and have for the last five or six years. I think I will try to do some of it over the phone and the rest face to face on the weekend. I was also thinking of doing it like this:

        - This will take place every other week
        - I will make calls from Monday to Wednsday
        - I will set appointments up for that Thursday, Saturday, and if possible Sunday
        - Once I set the appointment I will send my presentation to them (only 25% of the presentation to kind of get them excited for more and note bore them)
        - I will also offer app between 7am to 8am before I get to work. I'll keep my lunch breaks for making calls.

        I will do this every other week which should allow me to do sales one week and set-up, design, and other operations work the next week.


        I feel so much better now. I think this will work. Thanks for all the help and I hope this helps someone else. If anyone can add please do!
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