How to look like a big businesses when you're not

There’s nothing wrong with being a small business as much of the UK economy’s business and employment is from SMEs.  Added to that small businesses are able to respond quickly to changes in the market place.  You will also, usually, have a relatively low cost base. 

However, to give your customers confidence in your company, and to give yourself a better chance of winning business over your competitors, there are several very easy things you can do to give the impression you are a much bigger business than you really are:

Publish more than one email address

You don’t necessarily need to make up names for non-existent staff, but you can have different departments, such as sales@, admin@, enquiries@, info@.  Who will know that all the messages go to one mailbox?
See www.startupstore.co.uk for email hosting and web hosting packages that are ideal for SMEs and micro businesses.

Have a 'real' office address

If you work from home, but don’t want your customers to know that you do, having a business address from a Virtual Office service gives a great impression of your business at a fraction of the cost of a physical office.  You'll also usually get call and mail handling services as well, all of which leaves you free to focus on your business. With a virtual office, you get all the benefits of a fully serviced workplace – without having to actually rent one.

A prestigious office addresses also looks great on business cards, your website and other business stationery.

Get a London virtual office address for only £25 per month!

Get someone else to answer your phone

If you work from home you don't  need a dedicated business phone number, but remember there is nothing worse than your family taking your business calls.  They won't know it's a business call so won't answer it in a business-like way, and in any case, they'll probably be unable to help. 

Use a telephone answering service and you'll get a virtual telephone number which you can divert to another number when you're available to take calls and go to an answering service when you're not.  The answering service will greet the caller using your company name, much like a receptionist would (if you had one!).  Some telephone answering services offer an out of hours voice mail service and some even offer a full 24 hour answering service.
 
We work with Jam who offer a choice between a full inbound call handling service including diary booking, emergency call outs, product ordering, first line support, advanced message taking or a pay as you go telephone answering service where the call is answered in your company name and a contact name, number and accurate message is taken and then immediately forwarded to you by email or text message.

Get an non-geographic (08xxxx) telephone number

These are widely available – see our article on business_telephone_numbers
or Order your business telephone number online and enter code 1014
or call 0333 200 2539 for more information 

Voluntarily register for VAT

There’s no need to submit yourself to the on-going administration involved in being a Limited Company unless there are particular benefits in becoming Limited.  However, you can impress your suppliers, clients and prospects and give the impression of being a large and established company by voluntarily registering for VAT.  You can do this even if your turnover is not over the threshold.  You will have to charge VAT on all your sales, but it will mean that you can off-set some of the VAT you pay on your own supplies.  You’ll also have to do a quarterly VAT return but as long as you keep your records and all receipts as you go along it’s not too much of a burden.  See our article VAT basics  for more information.

Use proper contracts and other legal documents

You don’t need to pay extortionate solicitor’s fees to get properly worded contracts and other legal documents unless your requirements are very specialised.  There are many suppliers who offer standard contracts, terms and conditions (for documents and web sites), confidentiality clauses and a whole range of other business legal documents online.  You simply purchase and download, add your company name and any other relevant details and you then have a complete document that will not only properly specify the agreement, but will create a great impression with suppliers, customers, and staff.

Be consistent

. . . .with your use of colour and logos on all your communications (print or electronic).  You don’t necessarily need to have a specially designed logo but you should set and agree a colour scheme and style for your business and use it everywhere!  Consistent use of colour, font style and size, and to some extent layout, of your letterhead, website, business cards, email signatures, invoices, delivery notes, statements and so on will make you look like a serious business.

How to look like a big businesses when you're not

There’s nothing wrong with being a small business as much of the UK economy’s business and employment is from SMEs.  Added to that small businesses are able to respond quickly to changes in the market place.  You will also, usually, have a relatively low cost base. 

However, to give your customers confidence in your company, and to give yourself a better chance of winning business over your competitors, there are several very easy things you can do to give the impression you are a much bigger business than you really are:

Publish more than one email address

You don’t necessarily need to make up names for non-existent staff, but you can have different departments, such as sales@, admin@, enquiries@, info@.  Who will know that all the messages go to one mailbox?
See www.startupstore.co.uk for email hosting and web hosting packages that are ideal for SMEs and micro businesses.

Have a 'real' office address

If you work from home, but don’t want your customers to know that you do, having a business address from a Virtual Office service gives a great impression of your business at a fraction of the cost of a physical office.  You'll also usually get call and mail handling services as well, all of which leaves you free to focus on your business. With a virtual office, you get all the benefits of a fully serviced workplace – without having to actually rent one.

A prestigious office addresses also looks great on business cards, your website and other business stationery.

Get a London virtual office address for only £25 per month!

Get someone else to answer your phone

If you work from home you don't  need a dedicated business phone number, but remember there is nothing worse than your family taking your business calls.  They won't know it's a business call so won't answer it in a business-like way, and in any case, they'll probably be unable to help. 

Use a telephone answering service and you'll get a virtual telephone number which you can divert to another number when you're available to take calls and go to an answering service when you're not.  The answering service will greet the caller using your company name, much like a receptionist would (if you had one!).  Some telephone answering services offer an out of hours voice mail service and some even offer a full 24 hour answering service.
 
We work with Jam who offer a choice between a full inbound call handling service including diary booking, emergency call outs, product ordering, first line support, advanced message taking or a pay as you go telephone answering service where the call is answered in your company name and a contact name, number and accurate message is taken and then immediately forwarded to you by email or text message.

Get an non-geographic (08xxxx) telephone number

These are widely available – see our article on business_telephone_numbers
or Order your business telephone number online and enter code 1014
or call 0333 200 2539 for more information 

Voluntarily register for VAT

There’s no need to submit yourself to the on-going administration involved in being a Limited Company unless there are particular benefits in becoming Limited.  However, you can impress your suppliers, clients and prospects and give the impression of being a large and established company by voluntarily registering for VAT.  You can do this even if your turnover is not over the threshold.  You will have to charge VAT on all your sales, but it will mean that you can off-set some of the VAT you pay on your own supplies.  You’ll also have to do a quarterly VAT return but as long as you keep your records and all receipts as you go along it’s not too much of a burden.  See our article VAT basics  for more information.

Use proper contracts and other legal documents

You don’t need to pay extortionate solicitor’s fees to get properly worded contracts and other legal documents unless your requirements are very specialised.  There are many suppliers who offer standard contracts, terms and conditions (for documents and web sites), confidentiality clauses and a whole range of other business legal documents online.  You simply purchase and download, add your company name and any other relevant details and you then have a complete document that will not only properly specify the agreement, but will create a great impression with suppliers, customers, and staff.

Be consistent

. . . .with your use of colour and logos on all your communications (print or electronic).  You don’t necessarily need to have a specially designed logo but you should set and agree a colour scheme and style for your business and use it everywhere!  Consistent use of colour, font style and size, and to some extent layout, of your letterhead, website, business cards, email signatures, invoices, delivery notes, statements and so on will make you look like a serious business.