Keep it cheap
Filed in archive Entrepreneurship on May 21, 2007
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST
Finally, Harry Golburg again carps about a chintzy plan not to blow money on a business phone immediately, arguing that this and other decisions motivated by thrift may damage a company's credibility.
Responding more to Dane's suggestion than to mine, Harry complains:
Once again, what is this gentleman thinking? Don't have a business phone or address? Maybe ten years ago, the thought of having a second phone line installed and the price of long distance being what it once was, I can see why it would be expensive and impractical. But in today's day and age, where teenagers have cell phones and unlimited minutes exist, what does it cost to have a second cell phone nowadays...one that could be used as a business phone? Peanuts...it's peanuts and having a business line is critical. I don't care who you are, if you're calling someone whether it's to do business with them, hire them, buy something from them, etc. ...hearing "You've reached the office of..." at the other end of the line always sounds like you're in better hands than hearing "Hello?"...or even worse, having your kid answer the line.
Conceding for the moment that super cheap options merging the best of both worlds already exist, when it comes to worrying what others may think of your dinky little startup, I often recall a comment from a Venture Capital investor whose business it is to evaluate startups for acquisition.
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Permalink: Keep it cheap
Tags: small business startup advice bootstrapper keep+cheap paypal+visa visa+part
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Vote for Keep it cheap:
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Rating: 2.45 out of 11 vote(s) cast.
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Response from:
Harry Goldberg
(05/21/07 11:30am)
I have NO idea what point you are trying to even make here. So are you saying I'm wrong? What exactly are you recalling that debates my point? Again, Mr. Hessinger. I run a successful software business in Philadelphia that was once a start-up. You have presented me with not a single stitch of information on what exactly you have accomplished or where your suggestions stem from. Can you honestly say that in today's day and age, when most people have both a homeline and a cellphone, that turning one of them into a business phone where customers can hear a professional voice as opposed to "Hi, It's Doug and Bettie, leave a message!" is a wrong decision? At this point, I don't want you to even debate me on this unless you can present to me some evidence that you've EVER run a business successfully in your life.
Response from:
Shawn A. Hessinger
(05/21/07 6:28pm)
Actually, Harry, I'm agreeing with you for once. At least in principle. Though in my years of running ventures ranging from a family owned fruit selling business to a mobile DJing service, I never needed one. In my current job in the newspaper business, I recently called a press agent to set up an interview with his client and ended up talking to his "secretary", his young daughter, who picked up the phone. It was a business line by the way, and his kid still picked it up! I don't recall being put off and I was certainly not going to refuse to talk to his client because I perceived him as unprofessional. I know of many mom and pop plumbers, farm produce companies, home heating oil companies and the like that still don't have a separate business line. I think it comes down to the kind of business you have and whether having one is necessary. If it is, spend the money. If it isn't, don't.
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