Business is becoming more complex everyday, and the tools needed to run today's companies are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Add to that the need to cut overhead and save money, and that spells a tremendous opportunity for entrepreneurs in the business support industry.

Choose the type of business support service you want to start. You can specialize in one or two services or offer a wide range of services from basic word processing to database management to desktop publishing. You can earn a comfortable income working from home as a solo operator, or you can set up in a commercial location with employees. You can work successfully with a basic computer and printer, or you can invest in an array of high-tech equipment.

Regardless of the type of business you want to start, this book tells you how to do it. We start with an overview of the industry, look at the services you can offer, and then go through the step-by-step process of setting up and running your new venture.

Order this guide and discover how to use the skills you already have to break into this growing market.

Chapter 1

The secretary of yesteryear needed to know how to take shorthand, type and answer the phone. Today’s secretary deals with dictation using a tape recorder and transcription equipment; instead of simply typing, she inputs data into a small but powerful computer; and the office telephone she uses is actually a complex communications center.