Keep reading to learn about the best certifications to obtain as a professional business coach.

What is the best coaching qualification to have?

If you want to grow your coaching business, it’s best to get your hands on a reputable business coach certification. Certified coaches charge three times more on average than coaches without certification. Plus, 85% of coaching clients think it’s important that their coach holds some kind of certification or credential.

Here are the top business coaching certifications to have in 2023. 

#1 International Coaching Federation

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is considered the gold standard in business coaching credentials: The ICF offers its own coaching programs as well as accredits other coaching programs. So, you can earn an ICF business coach certification by taking an ICF-approved training program. 

ICF credentials are grounded in their core competencies that determine what makes a superior business coach. These include:

• Demonstrates ethical practices
• Embodies a coaching mindset
• Establishes and maintains agreements
• Cultivates trust and safety
• Maintains presence
• Listens actively
• Evokes awareness
• Facilitates clients growth 

There are three credentials you can earn from the ICF:

1. Associate Certified Coach (ACC): To earn this credential, you must complete at least 60 hours of coach training and 100 hours of practical client experience. 
2. Professional Certified Coach (PCC): To receive your PCC credential, you must complete 125 hours of coaching education or training along with 500 hours spent coaching actual clients. 
3. Master Certified Coach (MCC): You will need to earn a PCC before receding this credential. Plus, you must complete 200 hours of education and 2,500 hours of client coaching. 

ICF credentials are recognized worldwide. They’re a great option for independent coaches who want to boost the credibility of their coaching business. 

#2 Worldwide Association of Business Coaches 

The Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC) is a global leader in coaching programs for individuals and companies. Their programs are designed for professionals with diverse backgrounds and at any stage of their coaching journey. 

The WABC believes coaching should be grounded in real-world experience, whether you’re a full-time dedicated coach for a company or a team leader looking to add coaching to their toolbox.  

The WABC offers four business coach certification levels:

4. Registered Corporate Coach (RCC): The RCC arms you with specialized business coaching skills, boosting your credibility over your competition. It’s designed for professionals with little to no business coaching experience or training. It’s a good option if you’re just starting out in your coaching career journey. 
5. WABC Certified Business Coach (CBC): The CBC offers more advanced business coaching skills with a particular emphasis on professionals who want to enhance their client service skills. It’s a good option if you already have experience as a senior manager or internal business coach.
6. WABC Certified Master Business Coach (CMBC): The CMBC is designed to position you as a leader in your field, capable of handling complex solutions. Just know that you’ll need a minimum of five years of business coaching experience to take on this credential. 
7. Chartered Business Coach (ChBC): The ChBC marks as you as one the most qualified coaches in your industry with senior experience and proof of producing long-term results.

These business coach certifications are a great option for independent coaches who want to see steady growth in their coaching business.

#3 International Association of Coaching

For 20+ years, The International Association of Coaching (IAC) has been a leading body for coaching professionals. Unlike other coaching certifications, they don’t prioritize a certain number of training or hours. Instead, the IAC places more emphasis on skills like:

• Communication
• Awareness of cultural differences,
• Ability to shift perspectives
• Creating sustainable plans
• Producing meaningful results

The IAC offers two business coaching certifications i.e., the Certified Coach (IAC-CC) and Master Coach (IAC-MC). 

You can receive an IAC business coach certification in two steps. First, you complete an online test, and then you submit a recorded coaching demonstration between you and a client. IAC coaching certifications should be renewed every five years. 

#4 The Center for Executive Coaching

The Center for Executive Coaching offers an ICF-approved training program. It’s specially designed for those who want to coach leaders, executives, and solo entrepreneurs in different industries. Their program focuses on the hands-on, results-driven aspect of coaching rather than theory. 

Unlike other certification programs, the center offers personalized training and 1:1 support.  You’ll leave with the confidence and competence to help business leaders achieve their goals.

#5 Coactive Training Institute

Co-Active is said to be one of the most rigorous and sought-after training programs in the industry. With 130k+ coaches trained, this established organization offers an excellent program. 

Their training program is flexible and proven to prudence top-tier, some of whom work for Fortune 100 companies. Coactive claims that over 50% of budding professional coaches are trained by CTI. So, you’ll be in good company and be able to market a recognizable certification to clients.

To complete the program and earn a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) designation, you must go through their fundamental and coaching mastery training.

Get Certified

A business coach certification is key to growing your coaching business. Just make sure you choose a well-respected credential that meets your needs. You’ll attract more clients and earn more money.

PocketSuite can help with all the rest. We’re an all-in-one tool to grow a successful coaching business. You can schedule appointments, send contracts, and solicit Google reviews straight from your phone.

We get it. There are already so many platforms to keep up with, and it can be overwhelming to figure out which ones are worth your time and effort. But Threads is a new social media platform that could be a great fit for service-based businesses.

We’ll explore what Threads is, its specific advantages for service-based business owners, and whether it’s worth incorporating into your digital marketing plan.

We’ll also provide valuable insights to help you navigate this new platform and determine if it aligns with your marketing goals. By understanding the unique features and benefits of Threads, you can make an informed choice about its potential impact on your business.

So, if you’re ready to say goodbye to the confusion and start making strategic decisions about Threads in your digital marketing approach, keep reading!

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• What is Threads?
• Why is Threads a good fit for service-based businesses?
• How to use Threads to connect with your customers
• The pros and cons of using Threads
• Whether or not Threads is right for your business

What is Threads?

Threads is a new conversation-based app from Meta that allows businesses to connect with their audience in a more personal way. The app is similar to Twitter, but it focuses on short snippets of text, along with the ability to share photos and videos up to five minutes long.

Threads is a great way for businesses to share behind-the-scenes content, announce new products or services, and answer customer questions. It is also a great way to build relationships with other businesses in your industry.

Within hours of its launch, Threads had already gained 10 million users, posing a serious threat to Twitter. Zuckerberg himself has engaged with users on the platform, answering questions and sharing updates on his plan for Threads. As the app continues to grow, Zuckerberg emphasized the importance of making the product work well before considering monetization.

Signing up for Threads

Signing up for Threads is easy as pie, and it seamlessly connects with your existing Instagram account. To get started, just download the Threads app from your device’s app store. Once installed, you’ll be prompted to log in using your Instagram credentials. If you don’t have an Instagram account, you can create one during the sign-up process.

The integration with Instagram

One of the biggest advantages of Threads is its integration with Instagram. This means that your settings and preferences will sync up directly, saving you the hassle of starting from scratch. You can also effortlessly bring over your followers, following, and even blocked accounts from Instagram to Threads. This means you can easily find and connect with your friends and favorite accounts without any additional effort.

Dive right in

With Threads, you can dive right into the conversation and engage with your existing Instagram network while enjoying the unique features and experience this new platform offers. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with your audience and be part of the Threads community.

Is Threads Right for Your Service-Based Business?

Threads is a new social media platform that could be a great fit for service-based businesses. Here are some of the key features that make Threads a valuable platform for businesses like yours:

Seamless content sharing: Threads seamlessly integrates with Instagram, so you can easily share your visual content with your followers. This integration ensures that your customers and clients never miss out on your latest updates and offerings.

Networking opportunities: Joining Threads opens up networking opportunities with like-minded businesses and professionals. By connecting with industry peers, you can share insights, collaborate on projects, and stay updated on the latest trends. Expanding your network through Threads can lead to valuable partnerships, potential collaborations, and even new business opportunities.

Real-time updates and engaging conversations: Threads enables businesses to share real-time updates with their customers. For example, you can share behind-the-scenes videos, current booking availability, and stunning before-and-after photos with your audience. 

Additionally, you can join public conversations on topics that interest you, similar to Twitter. Participating in conversations about industry news, trends, and hot topics allows you to build your brand and connect with your target audience.

Monetization potential: While Threads doesn’t yet offer native monetization features, it’s possible to make money on the platform by promoting your products or services through paid advertising or affiliate marketing.

So, how do you know if Threads is right for your service-based business? Consider the following factors:

Your business goals: What are your overall business goals? Are you looking to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or drive sales?

Your target audience: Who are your target customers? Where do they spend their time online?

Your resources: How much time and effort are you willing to commit to using Threads?

If seamless content sharing, networking opportunities, real-time updates, engaging conversations, and the potential for monetization resonate with your marketing strategy, Threads could be a valuable addition to your service-based business.

How to use Threads to connect with your customers

Threads, as the fastest-growing social media platform ever, presents a unique opportunity to connect with your customers in a personal way. Unlike other platforms, Threads is not focused on promotions or ads but rather on fostering conversations and building connections. As a business owner, you can leverage Threads to establish a deeper relationship with your audience, allowing them to see both your professional expertise and your human side. This aspect is especially valuable for service-based businesses.

By connecting with your target audience on Threads, you can inspire them to book your services. The platform provides a personal touch that helps you establish authenticity and trust, which are crucial for building long-term relationships with your customers. Being an early adopter of Threads can significantly boost your business and increase brand awareness.

To make the most of Threads and grow your business, we recommend sharing your unique personality, highlighting your products or services, and embracing behind-the-scenes content. This approach helps in creating brand awareness and fostering a sense of connection with your audience.

Here are some of the ways that you can use Threads to connect with your customers:

Share your unique personality. Threads is a great platform for letting your personality shine through. Share photos and videos that show your interests, your sense of humor, and your unique perspective on the world. This will help your customers connect with you on a personal level.

Highlight your products or services. Threads is also a great platform for showcasing your products or services. Share photos and videos of your work, and tell stories about how your products or services have helped people. This will help your customers understand the value of what you offer.

Embrace behind-the-scenes content. People love to see behind-the-scenes content, and Threads is a great platform for sharing it. Share photos and videos of your team at work, your process for creating your products or services, and your insights into your industry. This will help your customers feel like they are getting to know you and your business better.

Overall, Threads is a valuable tool for businesses that want to connect with their customers in a more personal and meaningful way. 

Pros and Cons of Using Threads

Threads isn’t for everybody or every business, so here are some of the main Pros and Cons of Threads to help you decide if you should join and add this platform to your digital marketing routine.

Here are some of the pros of using Threads:

Increased brand awareness: Threads can help you reach a wider audience and raise awareness of your brand.

Better customer service: Threads can be a great way to connect with customers and answer their questions.

Connect with Customers: Utilizing Threads allows you to engage with your customers in a more personal and conversational manner, fostering stronger connections and loyalty.

Brand Awareness: Threads provides an opportunity to increase brand awareness by connecting with a new audience on a rapidly growing social media platform.

Share Your Personality: Threads encourages showcasing your unique personality, helping you stand out and differentiate your brand from competitors.

Early adoption advantage: Being an early adopter of Threads positions you at the forefront of a new social media platform, potentially leading to rapid growth and increased visibility.

Here are some of the cons of using Threads:

Platform evolution: As with any new platform, Threads will evolve over time, introducing new features and potentially changing its dynamics. This may require you to adapt your strategies accordingly.

Time commitment: Incorporating a new social media platform like Threads into your existing schedule can be time-consuming. It’s essential to consider whether you have the capacity to dedicate sufficient time and resources to effectively manage your presence on Threads.

Lack of direct messaging: Threads currently does not offer a direct messaging feature, limiting the ability to have private conversations with customers. All conversations are public, which may not align with your communication preferences.

Global audience: Threads predominantly caters to a global audience, which may not align with the localized nature of some service-based businesses. This could impact the relevance and effectiveness of your marketing efforts on the platform.

Overall, Threads is a valuable tool for businesses that want to connect with their customers in a more personal and meaningful way. However, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding if Threads is right for your business.

If you’re still not sure whether or not Threads is right for you, I recommend trying it out for a few weeks and seeing how it works for your business.

Whether or not Threads is right for your business

Threads is a new social media platform that offers small businesses a new opportunity to connect with their audience in a more personal and meaningful way. By leveraging Threads, you can increase brand awareness, foster deeper connections with customers, and showcase your unique personality.

However, it’s important to consider whether Threads aligns with your specific business needs and objectives. If you value personal connections, want to showcase your brand’s personality, and are prepared to invest the time and resources into managing another social media platform, Threads may be a great fit for your business.

Being an early adopter of Threads can provide you with a competitive advantage and the potential for rapid growth. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that Threads is a new platform that will evolve over time. As with any social media platform, it’s important to stay adaptable and adjust your strategies as necessary. Additionally, the global audience focus of Threads may not be ideal for all service-based businesses, particularly those with a local or regional clientele.

PocketSuite: Your Partner in Success

As you explore the possibilities with Threads, remember that PocketSuite is here to support small businesses in their growth and success. With our all-in-one app, we are dedicated to streamlining your business processes, providing educational resources, and keeping you informed with trending business news and industry-specific information. We are committed to helping small business owners thrive in their entrepreneurial journey.

Whether or not Threads is the right fit for your business, PocketSuite is here to empower you with the tools and knowledge you need to succeed. We invite you to explore our app and discover how we can support your business’s growth and prosperity.

The Decision is Yours

Remember, the decision to join a new social media platform like Threads is ultimately yours, and it’s important to choose the platforms that align with your business goals, target audience, and available resources.

With PocketSuite by your side, you have the tools and knowledge you need to make the best decision for your business. We are here to support you every step of the way.

Together, Dominique and Sharelle have combined their expertise and experiences to establish the Houston Notary Academy, a place where notaries can learn, network, and receive invaluable mentorship. The academy’s comprehensive educational programs, workshops, and coaching sessions cater to both newcomers and experienced notaries, empowering them to navigate the industry with confidence and success.

As PocketSuite affiliates, Dominique and Sharelle have embraced the power of technology to transform their businesses. With PocketSuite’s robust business management app, they effortlessly handle scheduling, client communication, and payment processing, allowing them to focus on delivering exceptional service and fostering growth. Their seamless integration of technology has not only elevated their own businesses but also serves as a testament to the Academy’s commitment to equipping notaries with the tools needed to thrive in the digital age.

Dominique Reid and Sharelle Evans are visionary leaders in the mobile notary industry, dedicated educators, and esteemed PocketSuite affiliates. Their commitment to empowering others, coupled with their outstanding success in business and education, has positioned them as influential figures within the industry. Through the Houston Notary Academy, they continue to shape the future of mobile notary services, offering mentorship and support to aspiring notaries and promoting excellence and innovation.

In the following interview, Dominique and Sharelle share their insights on the mobile notary industry, the importance of education and mentorship, and how to use technology to succeed in business. Read on to learn more about their journey and how they are empowering others to achieve their dreams.

How to Become a Successful Mobile Notary: A Conversation with Dominique Reid and Sharelle Evans

Q: Can you tell us about your journey of starting and growing your own mobile notary business?

A: Our journey of starting and growing our own mobile notary businesses, Signed by Dominique and Lovelee Notary, and then creating Houston Notary Academy together has been incredibly rewarding. We both had a strong desire to create a business that not only provided exceptional notary services but also empowered others in the industry.

We started by establishing a solid foundation of knowledge and expertise in notarial procedures, which allowed us to gain the trust of our clients and build a strong reputation. Over time, we expanded our services, invested in marketing and networking, and focused on delivering outstanding customer service. It took dedication, hard work, and a commitment to continuous improvement, but seeing our business grow and thrive has been a truly fulfilling experience.

Q. What inspired you to enter this field?

Dominique:

I needed a career that provided flexibility to accommodate my children’s appointments, therapies, and advocacy work. Becoming a mobile notary allowed me to have control over my schedule and create a business that worked around my family’s needs. Additionally, I was inspired by the opportunity to be a part of significant life moments for people, such as wedding ceremonies, real estate transactions, and legal document signings. The ability to provide a valuable service while making a positive impact on others’ lives was a driving force in entering this field.

Sharrell:

My inspiration to enter the field of mobile notary work came from a combination of my background in healthcare and my passion for entrepreneurship. I saw the potential to combine my skills in providing care and support with the opportunity to build a successful business. The flexibility of being a mobile notary allowed me to juggle my responsibilities as a wife, mother, and business owner effectively. Witnessing the impact that notaries can have on people’s lives, whether through facilitating important legal processes or offering guidance during significant life events, inspired me to enter this field and make a difference in the lives of others.

Q. How did the Houston Notary Academy come into existence?

A. The Houston Notary Academy came into existence as a natural progression of our passion for education and mentorship. We realized that there was a need for a comprehensive notary education platform that not only taught the technical aspects of being a notary but also focused on personal and professional development. We wanted to create a space where notaries could come together, learn from experienced professionals, network, and support each other. Thus, the Houston Notary Academy was born with the goal of providing the necessary tools and resources to help notaries excel in their careers and achieve their full potential.

Q. What motivated you to start training others in the mobile notary business?

A. We were motivated to start training others in the mobile notary business by the desire to share our knowledge and expertise with aspiring notaries. We firmly believe in the power of education and its ability to transform lives. By offering training programs, workshops, and coaching, we can help others avoid common pitfalls, learn the best practices, and fast-track their success in the industry. Seeing our students thrive and accomplish their goals brings us immense joy and satisfaction.

Q: What are some key tips or advice you would give to someone who wants to start their own mobile notary business? 

A: One key tip for someone who wants to start their own mobile notary business is to invest in their education and continuously improve their skills. Notary laws and procedures can vary from state to state, so it’s crucial to have a solid understanding of the specific requirements in your area. Additionally, building a strong network and establishing relationships with professionals in related fields, such as real estate agents and attorneys, can help you generate referrals and grow your client base. Lastly, providing exceptional customer service and going above and beyond for your clients will set you apart and contribute to the long-term success of your business.

Q: As a successful mobile notary business owner, what strategies or techniques have you found most effective for growing your business through social media and marketing? 

A: One strategy that has been highly effective in growing our business through social media and marketing is creating valuable content. We regularly share educational posts, tips, and insights related to the notary industry on our social media platforms. By providing valuable information and positioning ourselves as experts, we attract a following of engaged individuals who are interested in our services and offerings. Additionally, leveraging platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok has allowed us to reach a wider audience and establish ourselves as thought leaders in the industry.

Q: Could you share some insights on leveraging social media platforms to attract clients and promote a mobile notary business effectively? 

A: When it comes to leveraging social media platforms to attract clients and promote a mobile notary business effectively, consistency is key. Regularly posting relevant content, engaging with your audience, and showcasing your expertise will help you build credibility and attract potential clients. Utilize hashtags, join industry-related groups, and collaborate with other professionals to expand your reach. Engage in conversations, answer questions, and provide value to your audience. Social media is a powerful tool for building brand awareness, establishing relationships, and ultimately driving business growth.

Q: As a PocketSuite affiliate, what are some of your favorite features of the app, and how do they contribute to running your business smoothly? 

A: As a PocketSuite affiliate, one of my favorite features of the app is the ability to schedule appointments and send automated reminders to clients. It saves us time and ensures that our clients are well informed and prepared for their notary appointments. The invoicing and payment processing features are also incredibly convenient, allowing us to track and manage our finances easily. Additionally, the ability to store client information securely and access it on the go has been a game-changer for our mobile notary business.

Q: How did you set up PocketSuite to suit the specific needs of your mobile notary business? 

A: Setting up PocketSuite to suit the specific needs of our mobile notary business was a relatively straightforward process. We customized our appointment settings, integrated our branding elements, and established our pricing structure within the app. We also utilized the contract templates and forms available in PocketSuite to streamline our administrative processes. It’s important to take the time to set up the app according to your unique business requirements, ensuring that it aligns with your workflows and enhances your efficiency.

Q: Any tips or recommendations for other notaries who want to optimize their use of the app?

A: My tip for optimizing the use of PocketSuite is to explore all the features available and experiment with different settings to find what works best for your business. Take advantage of the scheduling tools, reminders, and notifications to keep your clients informed and organized. Set up automatic follow-up messages to nurture client relationships and encourage repeat business. And don’t forget to utilize the reporting and analytics features to track your performance and make data-driven decisions to grow your business further.

Q: For notaries who are considering using PocketSuite to manage their business, what benefits or advantages do you believe it offers in terms of contracts, notes, forms, and handling deposits?

A: For notaries who are considering using PocketSuite to manage their business, the benefits and advantages it offers in terms of contracts, notes, forms, and handling deposits are immense. The ability to create professional contracts and forms quickly and easily saves us time and ensures that our business transactions are properly documented. The note-taking feature allows us to keep track of important client details and preferences, enhancing our level of personalized service. And the ability to handle deposits securely within the app gives our clients peace of mind while streamlining our financial processes.

Q: In your experience, how crucial are contracts, notes, forms, and deposits for mobile notaries?

A: Contracts, notes, forms, and deposits are crucial elements for mobile notaries. Contracts help establish clear expectations and protect the interests of both the notary and the client. Taking detailed notes during appointments ensures that we can provide a personalized experience and deliver exceptional service to our clients. Forms, such as acknowledgment forms and jurat certificates, are essential for complying with notary laws and properly documenting transactions. Finally, handling deposits securely is crucial for maintaining trust and professionalism in our business.

Q: How have these elements enhanced your professionalism and protected your business interests?

A: These elements have greatly enhanced our professionalism and protected our business interests. Having well-drafted contracts in place ensures that there is no ambiguity regarding the terms of our services, which helps prevent misunderstandings and disputes. Detailed notes allow us to provide a personalized touch and cater to the specific needs of our clients, leading to higher satisfaction and repeat business. And handling deposits securely gives our clients confidence in our reliability and integrity as professionals.

Q: Lastly, what are your future plans for the Houston Notary Academy, and how do you envision your continued partnership with PocketSuite benefiting both your training program and the mobile notary community?

A: Our future plans for the Houston Notary Academy involve expanding our course offerings and reaching an even broader audience. We want to continue providing high-quality education, coaching, and resources to notaries across the country and beyond. By utilizing the app’s features and incorporating them into our training programs, we can equip our students with the necessary tools to run successful mobile notary businesses. The continued partnership will benefit both our training program and the mobile notary community by promoting efficiency, professionalism, and growth.

Conclusion: Dominique Reid and Sharelle Evans: Visionary Leaders in the Notary Industry

Dominique Reid and Sharelle Evans are not just successful businesswomen; they are visionary leaders who are revolutionizing the notary landscape. Through their relentless pursuit of excellence, commitment to education, and innovative use of technology, they have not only achieved remarkable success themselves but are also paving the way for others to thrive.

Through their respective businesses, Signed by Dominique and Lovelee Notary, Dominique and Sharelle have not only established themselves as trusted mobile notary service providers but have also leveraged their success to uplift others. The Houston Notary Academy stands as a testament to their commitment to sharing knowledge and fostering growth within the industry.

As PocketSuite affiliates, Dominique and Sharelle have embraced cutting-edge technology to streamline their operations and drive business success. Their integration of PocketSuite’s powerful tools and features has allowed them to focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional service and helping others flourish.

The Houston Notary Academy, under their leadership, has become a beacon of inspiration and education for aspiring notaries. By offering comprehensive educational programs, workshops, and coaching sessions, Dominique and Sharelle are empowering individuals to carve their own paths in the mobile notary industry.

If you are interested in starting your own mobile notary business, I encourage you to check out the Houston Notary Academy. Dominique and Sharelle are experts in the field, and they can help you get started on the right foot. With hard work and dedication, you can achieve your dreams of becoming a successful mobile notary.

That’s where PocketSuite comes in. PocketSuite is the ultimate Etsy alternative for creative entrepreneurs. With PocketSuite, you can:

• Build a personalized brand: With PocketSuite, you can create your own storefront to highlight your unique brand. 
• Establish strong client relationships: With PocketSuite, you can collect client phone numbers and email addresses. This allows you to stay in touch with your clients and nurture relationships.

• Grow your business without breaking the bank: PocketSuite offers a low, all-in-one monthly price. This means you don’t have to worry about hidden fees or surprise charges.

Marketplace vs. Customer-first: Choosing the Right Business Model for Your Handmade Business

When it comes to selling your handmade products online, there are two main business models to consider: marketplaces and customer-first.

Marketplaces are a great option for getting your products in front of a large audience quickly. However, they come with a number of drawbacks, including high fees, limited control over your brand, and fierce competition.

Customer-first businesses offer a number of advantages over marketplaces, including:

• Higher profit margins: Since you are not paying marketplace fees, you can keep more of the profits from each sale.
• More control over your brand: When you sell on your own store, you have complete control. This means you can create a unique experience for your customers that reflects your brand’s personality.
• Less competition: Since you are not competing with other sellers on a marketplace, it’s all about you!
• More customer engagement: When you sell on your own store, you can build stronger relationships with your customers by providing excellent customer service, offering loyalty programs, and sending out regular newsletters.

Hybrid Model

A hybrid model is a combination of a marketplace and a customer-first business. You can do both! This means that you sell your products on both a marketplace and your own website. When you find a new client on social media, craft market, or anywhere else, you send them to your own website where you will enjoy better rates and customer engagement perks to make them repeat customers.

Build a Lasting Relationship with Your Clients

One of the key advantages that PocketSuite offers over Etsy is the ability to build a lasting relationship with your clients. In the competitive world of e-commerce, establishing a strong connection with your customers is crucial for long-term success. 

Let’s explore how PocketSuite empowers you to foster client relationships and create a brand presence that extends beyond the confines of Etsy.

The Importance of Building a Relationship with Your Clients

In any business, building a relationship with your clients is paramount. It goes beyond the transactional nature of a sale and creates a sense of trust and loyalty. With PocketSuite, you have the tools to cultivate these relationships and keep your customers engaged.

• Collect contact information. PocketSuite allows you to collect the phone numbers and email addresses of your clients, giving you the ability to stay in touch and nurture those connections. By capturing this valuable contact information, you can engage in future marketing campaigns, such as sending out seasonal specials, updates on new products or services, and personalized recommendations.

• Offer add-on services. Consider offering add-on services to your customers, such as gift wrapping or virtual consultations for custom orders. This can add value to your customers’ experience and encourage them to return to your shop for future purchases. PocketSuite makes this easy as well with its built-in suite of tools to help you make the most of your business.

Establishing Return Clients with PocketSuite

In the crowded e-commerce space, it’s essential to differentiate yourself and create a memorable experience for your clients. Building rapport and providing exceptional service are critical factors that encourage customers to return.

• Offer personalized recommendations. Use PocketSuite’s product add-on features to recommend products or services to your customers that they are likely to be interested in based on what they are already purchasing. This shows that you are paying attention to their needs and that you care about their experience.

• Host loyalty programs. Consider hosting loyalty programs to reward your repeat customers. This could include offering discounts, free shipping, or exclusive access to new products or services.

The Significance of Clients Remembering Your Brand over Etsy

In the competitive world of e-commerce, brand recognition plays a pivotal role in building customer loyalty, driving repeat purchases, and generating valuable word-of-mouth referrals. PocketSuite understands the importance of brand presence and empowers you to establish a reputation that extends beyond the Etsy marketplace.

• Create a unique brand identity. Develop a unique brand identity that sets you apart from the competition. Share what makes you unique and highlight your personality with what you offer to your clients. 
• Be consistent with your branding. Use your brand identity across all of your marketing materials, including your website, social media, and email marketing. This will help to create a cohesive brand experience for your customers.
• Get involved in the community. Get involved in the online community and build relationships with other businesses and individuals. This will help you to raise awareness of your brand and increase visibility. You can put a QR code that links to your PocketSuite shop on your business card and hand them out at craft fairs. This allows you to build in-person connections while still collecting their contact information for future marketing.

By following these tips, you can use PocketSuite to build lasting relationships with your clients and create a brand that stands out from the competition.

Powerful Marketing Tools for Success

In addition to helping you build relationships with your clients, PocketSuite equips you with powerful marketing tools that can elevate your business to new heights. Let’s explore how PocketSuite’s marketing features outshine Etsy’s limitations and empower you to reach and engage your target audience effectively.

The SMS Marketing Advantage

PocketSuite revolutionizes your marketing efforts by allowing you to collect client phone numbers, giving you a direct line of communication with your audience. With this valuable contact information at your disposal, you can leverage SMS marketing to its full potential.

Benefits of SMS Marketing

• Higher open rates: Text messages have higher open rates than email, ensuring that your messages are seen by a larger percentage of your audience.

• Higher engagement rates: Studies show that text messages are typically read within minutes of being received. This immediacy allows you to capture your customers’ attention and drive prompt action.

How to Use SMS Marketing

With PocketSuite, you can leverage SMS marketing to its fullest extent, sending targeted campaigns, seasonal specials, and updates on new products or services directly to your clients’ phones. By harnessing the power of SMS marketing, you can stay top-of-mind, increase customer engagement, and drive conversions like never before.

Sending Sales and Special Offers to Previous Buyers

One of the key advantages of PocketSuite’s client contact list is the ability to send personalized promotions and exclusive discounts directly to previous buyers. This feature enables you to nurture existing customer relationships and incentivize repeat purchases, fostering customer loyalty and driving long-term business growth.

By leveraging your client contact list, you can create tailored marketing campaigns that resonate with your audience.

Contrasting Etsy’s Limitations on Collecting Buyer Emails

In contrast to PocketSuite’s robust marketing capabilities, Etsy imposes limitations on sellers when it comes to collecting buyer emails. Etsy does not provide sellers with access to buyer emails or phone numbers, severely restricting marketing opportunities and hindering the ability to cultivate customer relationships beyond individual transactions.

How PocketSuite Empowers You

By choosing PocketSuite as your Etsy alternative, you break free from these limitations. PocketSuite empowers you to collect and utilize client phone numbers, offering a direct means of communication and marketing to your audience. With this advantage, you can stay connected with your clients, nurture relationships, and drive repeat business.

Affordable Pricing Structure

When it comes to choosing an online marketplace, the cost of doing business is a critical factor for creative entrepreneurs. Etsy’s high seller fees and processing fees can significantly impact profit margins, making it crucial to explore alternative platforms that offer a more affordable pricing structure. Enter PocketSuite, the solution that prioritizes your financial success.

Etsy’s High Seller Fees and Processing Fees

Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee on all sales plus a 20 cent listing fee per item. Additionally, Etsy charges a 3% + 25 cents processing fee for all credit card payments. These fees can add up quickly, especially for businesses that sell a high volume of products.

For example, if you sell a product for $100, Etsy will take a 6.5% transaction fee, which is $6.50. Additionally, Etsy will charge a 20-cent listing fee, which is $0.20. Finally, Etsy will charge a 3% + 25 cent processing fee, which is $3.25. In total, Etsy will take $9.95 from your sale. 

That doesn’t even include the forced marketing fees and other hidden fees they include to make more money off of their sellers. You can see a full breakdown of the Etsy fees here for yourself and see how clearly they show that the numbers don’t work in favor of the seller. 

PocketSuite’s Cost-Effective Solution

PocketSuite stands out as an affordable alternative to Etsy, with a pricing structure designed to support small businesses. With PocketSuite, you can enjoy a low monthly price and industry-low processing fees, enabling you to maximize your profits and keep more money in your pocket.

PocketSuite offers a low monthly price of $24.99 per month. This price includes unlimited listings and products, as well as industry-low processing fees of 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction. This means that PocketSuite can save businesses hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year in fees.

For example, if you sell a product for $100, PocketSuite will only take a 2.9% + 30 cents processing fee, which is $2.93. This is significantly less than the fees charged by Etsy.

No Limits on Products and Services, No Charge per Service

In addition to its affordable pricing, PocketSuite distinguishes itself by offering the freedom and flexibility to list unlimited products and services without additional charges. Unlike Etsy and other competitors, where you may encounter limitations or per-service fees, PocketSuite empowers you to showcase your entire range of offerings without restriction.

This unlimited listing capability allows you to scale your business and explore new opportunities without the fear of incurring additional costs. Whether you offer custom products, virtual consultations, or a combination of services, PocketSuite provides the platform to accommodate your unique needs. As your business grows, you can expand your product and service offerings seamlessly, adapting to changing market demands and capturing new revenue streams.

Outstanding Customer Service

At PocketSuite, we understand the importance of exceptional customer service in ensuring your success as a creative entrepreneur. We pride ourselves on providing 11-star real-person support at every step of the way, going above and beyond to assist you in maximizing the potential of your business.

Here are some of the ways that PocketSuite provides outstanding customer service:

Our dedicated customer service team is here to help you effortlessly migrate your existing client, product, and service lists to your PocketSuite account. Simply provide us with a CSV file containing your data, including clients, services, products, forms, or contracts, and our imports team will take care of the rest. This streamlined process saves you time, minimizes stress, and ensures that you can start leveraging the power of PocketSuite without any unnecessary hassle or additional work.

Free Training and Resources: As part of our commitment to your success, we offer the PocketSuite Academy. When you sign up, you gain access to free training classes conducted by members of our customer service team. These classes guide you through the process of effectively setting up your PocketSuite account to work seamlessly for your specific business. We offer different levels of training, as well as one-on-one office hours and service calls, ensuring that you have the resources and guidance to make the most out of your business.

We believe that outstanding customer service is essential for the success of any business. That’s why we’re committed to providing you with the support you need to grow your business and reach your goals.

The Threat of Dropshippers on Etsy

As the landscape of online marketplaces evolves, a concerning trend has emerged on Etsy – the rise of dropshippers. This influx of cheaply made products offered by dropshippers has had a significant impact on custom creators and handmade sellers, posing challenges to their pricing, market competitiveness, and overall success.

Impact of Dropshippers on Custom Creators

Etsy was originally created to be a haven for custom creators and artisans, providing a marketplace to showcase their unique products and connect with customers who appreciate their craftsmanship. However, the growing presence of dropshippers has diluted the essence of Etsy’s original vision.

Dropshippers often flood the marketplace with mass-produced, low-quality items at rock-bottom prices. This flood of cheap alternatives undercuts the value and pricing set by custom creators, making it difficult for them to compete on a level playing field. The result is a dilution of the market, diminishing the visibility and sales potential for genuine handmade and custom products.

For example, let’s say you’re a custom jewelry maker who sells a handmade necklace for $50. A drop-shipper could easily sell a similar necklace for $20, even though it’s made of lower-quality materials. This would make it difficult for you to compete, as customers would be more likely to choose the cheaper option.

The Need for a Platform that Protects and Supports Custom Creators

In the face of this threat, there is a growing need for a platform that not only recognizes the importance of custom creators but also champions their originality, craftsmanship, and artistic vision. This is where PocketSuite steps in as the solution that protects and supports the creative entrepreneur.

PocketSuite is dedicated to empowering custom creators and handmade sellers, providing them with a platform that preserves the original intent of Etsy. With PocketSuite, you can showcase your unique products and connect directly with your target audience without the noise and competition in a marketplace with cheaply made dropshipped items.

By choosing PocketSuite as your Etsy alternative, you can reclaim control over your pricing, maintain the integrity of your brand, and differentiate yourself in the market. PocketSuite offers a space where custom creators can thrive, connecting with customers who value the authenticity and quality of their handmade products.

Invitation to Try PocketSuite for Free

We know that as a creative entrepreneur, you are always looking for ways to improve your business. That’s why we offer a 30-day free trial of PocketSuite. During your free trial, you can try out all of our features and see how they can help you take your business to the next level, and you don’t even have to enter a credit card to do it!

Here are just a few of the things you can do with PocketSuite:

• Create a beautiful site that showcases your products or services.
• Manage your inventory and track sales.
• Accept payments online or in person.
• Connect with customers through sms.
• Grow your business with a powerful suite of marketing tools.

Sign up for your free trial today and see how PocketSuite can help you achieve your business goals.

Need more? Here are some more of the benefits of using PocketSuite:

• Streamline your operations: PocketSuite can help you streamline your operations by providing you with a centralized platform to manage your inventory, bookings, and payments.
• Elevate your customer relationships: PocketSuite can help you elevate your customer relationships by providing you with tools to communicate with your customers, track their orders, and provide them with excellent customer service.
• Drive growth for your business: PocketSuite can help you drive growth for your business by providing you with marketing tools and 11-star customer support to help you reach new customers and increase sales.

We are confident that you will love using PocketSuite. Sign up for your free trial today and see for yourself how PocketSuite can help you take your business to the next level.

Ditch the Etsy Fees and Join PocketSuite: The Affordable Alternative for Artisans

If you’re a creative entrepreneur who wants to sell your goods online, you’ve probably heard of Etsy. But as a marketplace, Etsy has its limitations. High fees, limited branding opportunities, and a saturated market can make it difficult for sellers to succeed.

That’s where PocketSuite comes in. PocketSuite is a platform designed specifically for creative entrepreneurs and small business owners. It offers a number of advantages over Etsy, including:

• Affordable pricing: PocketSuite charges a low monthly fee with no listing fees.
• Powerful marketing tools: PocketSuite offers a variety of marketing tools to help you reach new customers and grow your business. These tools include SMS marketing and upsell ad on options for customers.
• Exceptional customer service: PocketSuite offers 24/7 11-star customer support to help you with any questions or problems you may have.

If you’re looking for an alternative to Etsy that offers more affordable pricing from a company that cares and wants to see you succeed, then PocketSuite is the perfect platform for you. Sign up for a free trial today and see for yourself how PocketSuite can help you grow your business.

Booked Solid Podcast Episode 6 with Steve Beagelman

Steve Beagelman started in the franchise industry when his family franchised their family business. He started working on his family franchise from his college dorm room and fell in love with the business model. Now in 2023 franchises are a huge trend in businesses that book clients and Steve has some ideas why. In this episode you will learn why franchising can be a great model for this sector.  

Listen on:

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Forbes.com Contributions

Full Interview Transcript:

PocketSuite:

Thank you again for joining us on the Booked Solid Podcast, the place for anyone with clients, and we have a fantastic episode planned for you today. A very special guest, Steve Beagelman. He is the founder of SMB Franchise Advisors. He writes for Forbes. He does a lot of speaking and what he speaks about is how small businesses turn into big franchises and really live the American dream. And if this is an area where I think a lot of people in service-based businesses are curious about, or at least that’s what we’ve been hearing. So we’re excited to have you on today Steve. Thank you for joining us.

Steve Beagelman:

Hi Hansa, how are you today?

PocketSuite:

Really, really good. I was wondering if I could just, if we could start at the very, very beginning. What is a franchise exactly? It’s something that I feel like, I know McDonald’s is a franchise, but I feel like it’s actually, it’s something that’s a lot bigger than that in a lot of ways.

Steve Beagelman:

It is. Franchising’s a huge industry and people don’t realize that. I mean, there’s over 800,000 franchises out there in 400 plus industries, so people don’t realize that. People think that it’s just like you said, McDonald’s or Dunkin’ Donuts, but it’s way more than that. And franchising really is an opportunity for you as a business owner to share your product or service with a much wider audience. Right. And it allows you to utilize other people’s capital to grow your business, to take your little business that you’ve opened and operated in one location or one geographic territory as a home services business and really expanded to other people in other markets and have people who are passionate about the business operate that business in local communities across the country.

And franchising really is a huge industry. I mean, the International Franchise Association is a very large organization that kind of helps the industry grow. And I’ve been in the industry now for over 35 years. And like I said, I mean there’s over 800,000 different franchise locations out there across the country and over 400 different industries. Not brands but industries. I mean there are thousands of franchise brands.

PocketSuite:

How did you get your start in the franchise world?

Steve Beagelman:

Well, I got started in the industry over 35 years ago, Hansa. My family got me into this business. So my parents started a little packaging and shipping store in 1986 in Long Island, New York. And just as we were kind of talking about, one day somebody walked in and said, wow, this is a really neat idea. Have you ever thought of franchising? And my dad said, I don’t really know anything about franchising. I think McDonald’s is a franchise. And the person said, you’re right. They are a franchise and they have 10,000 stores. And my dad said, okay, who are you? And the person said, I’m a franchise attorney and I can teach you about franchising and one day you can have 5, 10, 50, 100 of these. And my dad said, so I’m listening, tell me a little bit more. And he said, well, people pay you an upfront franchise fee to use the rights to your name, your system, your process and your training, and then they pay you an ongoing royalty on their gross sales typically.

And my dad said, you mean on their profit, right? And he said, no, you typically receive it on their gross sales. You don’t necessarily know what the profit’s going to be. Some people have three cars on the business and a boat and other people run it lean and mean. So you typically get paid on the gross sales of the business. So it sounded very intriguing. Other people operate the business in their local communities. You don’t have to build the location, you don’t have to staff it, you don’t have to run it. And one thing led to another, and we did franchise the business. And I was a kid back then and I decided I was very interested in business at a young age. So I asked my dad if I could intern for the vice president of franchise sales that he had hired to sell franchises.

And as a junior and senior in high school, I did that. I went from high school in a pair of khakis and a polo shirt like I’m wearing now. And I would go to the corporate office after high school and I would sit next to the vice president of sales and watch him meet potential franchisees and learn everything about franchising. And I just thought it was the coolest thing. So when I graduated high school, I said to my dad, I know what I want to do. And he said, great, what’s that? And I said, I want to sell franchisees. And he said, you’re 18 years old, you can’t do that. And I said, sure I can. I’m 18, but I look 23, which when you’re 18, you look 23. It’s really good. It’s tough when you get older and you look older. But anyway, I said I could do this, and I convinced them to let me do it.

And as an 18, 19 year old kid while going to college, I spend the weekends doing franchise shows across the country and go back to my college dorm room with 100 or 200 leads of potential franchisees. And I would call them from my dorm room at night, which you couldn’t do today because of caller ID, but they didn’t have it back then. And I sold franchises. I was selling one or two franchises every month and I loved it. I thought franchising was a great business. So in 1991, I decided to start my own business. So I created what you know as today is the food delivery industry. So you made,

PocketSuite:

Hold on, back up one second. What does selling a franchise mean exactly?

Steve Beagelman:

Yeah, so awarding a franchise, bringing a new person into the business to open the business in their community. Right. So somebody who’s,

PocketSuite:

Basically you’re selling the idea of buying into someone’s franchise concept.

Steve Beagelman:

Correct. Correct. So I was the franchise salesperson for my parents’ business at the time, and I would talk to people who are interested in owning their own business in that community of their concept, so opening their own packaging and shipping store of our brand in that community.

PocketSuite:

So give me the pitch. Why would I, as someone thinking about starting my own business, want to buy your franchise?

Steve Beagelman:

Yeah. So whatever the franchise is, typically a franchise is a proven concept. Right. It’s a proven business model. And most people that want to open their own business or become franchisees, they want to follow a proven business model. They’re not looking to invent their own concept. So whether it’s when I was a part of Rita’s Italian Ice or my food delivery concept that I started in the early 90s, or any of the 450 plus brands that we’ve launched into franchising with our consulting business, people want to follow that proven business model. They’re looking to be entrepreneurs but not on their own. Right. I mean, if they wanted to go create their own concept, they would try and do that on their own. But most people don’t know how. How do I perfect the ordering system? How do I perfect the staffing? How do I perfect the marketing? How do I perfect the customer service?

And people become franchisees in businesses because they want to follow a proven business model. And whether that’s for an emerging brand or a existing brand, that’s a large, large brand that’s been around for decades. We’ve done work for companies like Lawn Doctrine, Bath Fitter and companies like that, that are great service brands that have been around for decades and decades that people want to be a part of. So you could be part of an emerging brand or you could be part of a legacy brand that’s been around a long, long time if you want to be a franchisee.

PocketSuite:

Right. So you get, basically the pitch is, I would get all the benefits of being the boss, having my own business, but I don’t have to go through the chaos and the frustration of figuring out what works and what doesn’t by myself.

Steve Beagelman:

That’s exactly right. That’s exactly right. So you’re following that proven business model because you want to be an entrepreneur, you’ve decided for whatever reason, you’re tired of being in corporate America. You’ve been a stay at home parent for a while and now you want to go back into the workforce but don’t want to go work. You want to own your own business in a community that you know and love, but you don’t want to create it, whether it’s a subs sandwich shop, whether it’s a full service restaurant, whether it’s a home service business, any of those brands. It could be a pet business, childcare, whatever it is, but you don’t want to go create it because you may not know it.

So that’s kind of what a franchise really is. It’s following that proven system and getting the opportunity to have that support staff at the corporate office where you pick up the phone and you can make a phone call and they’re going to guide you through it. They’re going to help you with the suppliers, they’re going to help you with the products, they’re going to help you with staffing issues, they’re going to guide you every step of the way. They’re not running the business for you. That’s your job locally in your community as a franchisee, but they’re going to be there for you as a support staff. And that’s what franchising is.

PocketSuite:

And what do you give up to be in a franchise? Obviously some of the profits, maybe you can say a little bit about, typically about what that is. And do you have a big brother looking over your shoulder all the time? How does that part work?

Steve Beagelman:

Yeah, people ask that question a lot. So you are going to pay what’s called an upfront franchise fee for the rights to use the name, the system, the process and the training as I mentioned earlier. And then you’re going to pay an ongoing royalty. Typically, that is on gross sales. Sometimes it’s a flat fee, but typically it’s on gross sales on the business. So you are going to give something up for that ongoing support. But I will tell you Hansa, that in a lot of cases people get passionate about a particular brand that they want to be a part of, and they may be passionate about that industry, but they don’t know how to operate the business, they don’t know how to set it up. So we have businesses like some of the businesses we have in the pet care industry, there’s no way that the franchise owners would’ve known how to set up a luxury dog hotel on their own, just no way without joining the system that they did of canine resorts, or luxury pet hotel.

So they gave them the tools to become successful and set up that facility that they wouldn’t be able to do on their own. And early on, especially the first year or two, that’s when you’re going to need the franchisor the most for support because you’re getting your business off the ground and you’re still learning the business yourself. So even though you’re going to go through a training program with the franchisor, you’re not going to know everything inside and out by the end of training. So you are going to have questions along the way. Now when you’re in your seventh year and your eighth year and your 10th year, you’re not going to have as many questions as you do in the first couple years, but that’s what franchise is.

PocketSuite:

So basically, when you were in your dorm room selling franchises, you weren’t necessarily looking for people who are experts in packaged stores already. You were saying, Hey, you want to start a business? I got this lead, I have a great business. We’ll show you the ropes. You don’t have to be an expert in order to open up the next family package store of yours.

Steve Beagelman:

Yeah, exactly. Whether it’s my parents’ packaging business or any of the brands that we’ve been a part of, people get passionate about, I want to own my own business, I’m excited, but I don’t know what I want to do. And they could research on the internet, they can go to a franchise trade show like I used to do years ago, and there still are some of those franchise trade shows throughout the country in certain markets throughout the year. And they could walk the floors and say, I’m not sure what I want to do. I think I want to own Dunkin’ Donuts. But then they walk through the franchise show and they’re like, you know what? I really like this sub shop, or I really like this home service brand. I don’t need brick and mortar.

So a lot of people don’t know what they want and they want to learn, and that’s what they can do by again, searching on the internet, going to trade shows, working with what’s called franchise brokers out there. There’s lots of different ways that they can kind of research. What are you looking for? Are you looking for a part-time business, a full-time business? Are you looking to do something absentee, semi absentee? There’s all these different opportunities in franchising now that people can look at if they want to become a franchisee.

PocketSuite:

Really cool. And let’s look at it from the other angle now. Obviously we have a lot of people in the service industry and all kinds of different places of people with clients who have come up with winning concepts, maybe have a first location that’s doing great and have opened up a second location. Why go the franchise road rather than own all your stores, control everything that goes on, just have a multi-location business? What’s your pitch to that successful business owner who has a proven concept to look into franchises rather than some of the other roads to growth?

Steve Beagelman:

Yeah, I think that when you’re a small business owner and you’ve built your business, whether it’s a $500,000 business, million dollar business, $2 million business, there’s nothing wrong with taking that business and continuing to grow it organically yourself. So if you’re servicing a market in Greater Philadelphia where you and I are based and you want to grow and you take it into the suburbs and you grow it maybe from the suburbs in around Philadelphia and you grow it out to Lehigh Valley, that’s great. You can keep growing your business organically and that’s terrific. There’s nothing wrong with that strategy, but if you want your brand to become much bigger and you want to see your brand in Boston and you want to see your brand in Long Island, New York, and you want to see your brand in Miami, Florida and you want to see your brand in Houston, Texas, you just can’t do it fast enough on your own.

It’s just so hard to grow organically yourself at a national level at a big, big scale. And again, do you want to build a business from a million dollars to two or three million? That’s amazing. But if you want to build it from a million dollars to a 50 or $100 million company, it’s just too hard to do on your own. And you need lots and lots of capital, you need lots and lots of staffing, you need a corporate infrastructure that’s pretty significant and management team to be able to manage that. And it just becomes challenging for people. So again, there’s nothing wrong with taking your half a million or million dollar business and continuing to grow it yourself. That’s awesome. And if you’re satisfied with that, that’s a great plan. But if you want to take something and build something into a major company, and we’ve had clients of ours that have grown from one location, literally a home service business in his parents’ dining room table to now 300 markets across the country.

He could never have done that himself organically. Franchising allowed him to do that, where now he’s in Denver, Colorado and Houston, Texas and LA when he started in Long Island, New York. A brand that fixes exercise equipment, we helped franchise in Greater Philadelphia and Don had a really nice business but wanted to expand it. Well, today, Don’s in over 100 markets across the country. Could never have done that organically himself, certainly not in the same time period that he was able to do it with franchising. Franchising allows you to grow much faster than you can typically on your own, typically, not always but typically.

PocketSuite:

What did you say this fitness business name was again?

Steve Beagelman:

Fitness Machine Technicians. They repair exercise equipment. So when your treadmill breaks at home, who do you call?

PocketSuite:

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Steve Beagelman:

My treadmill sat in my basement as a dust collector for a few years until I met Don at Fitness Machine Technicians. He said, that’s what we do, Steve. And they came in, they fix my treadmill. $150 later, I was using it again. They also go into the Courtyard Marriott and fix the treadmill. They also go into Temple University, they also go into the gyms, Planet Fitness and they fix the ellipticals and all those things. And today the brand is over 100 markets across the country and actually did a private equity transaction last June. So super exciting and Don will tell you, the founder, Don Powers, that he was able to fulfill his American dream by expanding his business across the country, which he never could have done on his own. Was it hard work? You bet it was. Absolutely.

PocketSuite:

Yeah.

Steve Beagelman:

Franchising is not easy.

PocketSuite:

We have appliance and machine repair people on PocketSuite. It’s a great business because you have to really specialize in a particular kind of repair and when people need you, they need you.

Steve Beagelman:

Yeah.

PocketSuite:

So what it sounds like is opening a shop in Philly and then maybe Delaware, Bucks County, you can grow a good business, but there’s just another amount of leverage when people in other states maybe like Texas are buying in. Like you don’t have to put out the money to open a new location, hire staff yourself because the person who’s buying into your franchise is doing all that. So you can just get this leverage of scale so much faster than you could ever hope to do on your own investing that much in all these locations.

Steve Beagelman:

Exactly. And again, there’s nothing wrong with either strategy, it’s just what’s right for you. Some people find that franchising isn’t the right strategy because they want to control everything. So that is the other aspect that’s important Hansa, is you will give up an element of control when you do franchise your business. So franchisees have to follow your proven strategy, but you have to understand that the employees work for the franchisee, they don’t work for you. So you can’t walk into a franchise location and start telling all the employees what to do. Okay. If there’s something that’s not being operated correctly when you go check up on the operation because you have the right to do that as the franchisor you get to tell the franchisee, listen, these things aren’t up to the standard. This needs to be adjusted, et cetera, et cetera. But you can’t start directing the employees what to do. The employees work for the franchisee. So there is that,

PocketSuite:

Hopefully,

Steve Beagelman:

Element of control.

PocketSuite:

We want to see you succeed and really think you should make these shifts in order to stay true to the proven concept,

Steve Beagelman:

Absolutely.

PocketSuite:

Rather than a contiguous power struggle.

Steve Beagelman:

Franchising is all about them becoming successful Hansa. There’s no doubt about it. You need your franchisees to make money. That’s what franchising’s all about.

PocketSuite:

It sounds like a real relationship business. If you’re good at partnering with people, this is a great way to go.

Steve Beagelman:

The tagline of my company, Hansa, is it’s all about the relationship and that is what franchising is all about. You’re absolutely right.

PocketSuite:

That’s really cool. You wrote an article in Forbes kind of wrapping up the year 2022, and you said that some big growth areas in franchises are not what you typically think of as like the McDonald’s and the fast casual restaurants, but in places like home improvement concepts, personal services, pet related businesses, education, these are all kind of service-based businesses. And I was wondering if you had any highlights from any of those areas that you could talk about?

Steve Beagelman:

Sure. I talked about two of them just now in the fitness area, GYMGUYZ, which is a mobile personal trainer that goes to your home. I mean, Josh started it in his parents’ dining room table and now is in 300 plus markets across the country and they go to your house and do personal training. So when you say to, oh, it’s snowing outside, I’m not going to go to the gym today. Well don’t worry, they’re coming to you and they have all the equipment in their vehicle. It’s a pretty neat concept. Or fitness machine technicians where they go and repair the equipment. Absolutely. Home improvement, great category. We have a concept called renovation sales. They literally go into your home and renovate your kitchen or your bathroom prior to sale. So a realtor or say to you, Hansa, listen, I think your house is worth $500,000 when you’re going to sell your house.

However, if you redo that kitchen, I can get you 650 and it’s going to cost you $25,000 to renew it or to renovate it. So this company will come in and do the renovations of that kitchen for you and then the realtor can sell it for the $650,000 for it. So they’re growing in leaps and bounds. I think they’re well over 50 franchise territories in the past year plus of franchising. They’re growing very rapidly. Handyman services, anything that goes into your house and fixes things and comes in, especially the last couple years during COVID, people are doing so much work at home.

So Ace Handyman and so many other handyman services, businesses are just growing in leaps and bounds. The closet industry and renovations of your garages, things of that nature are growing like crazy. So all of these businesses and then pets, pets are off the chart, whether it’s dog walking or coming into your backyard and picking up the dosa scoops and picking up your yard. All of those businesses growing very, very rapidly. So home services, businesses where you don’t need brick and mortar, those types of concepts are growing very, very fast in the franchise community and we don’t see any reason to see that they’re going to slow down.

PocketSuite:

And why do you think that is? Why are these service-based businesses suddenly really discovering the franchise way when it wasn’t as big in these areas before?

Steve Beagelman:

I think part of it is cost. So you can get into these businesses for less money than it’s going to cost typically for a brick and mortar business. That’s one. Second reason is you can get into the business much faster. So if you need to go buy a brick and mortar business, whatever it is, whether it’s a Subway or a Jersey Mike’s or a big business like a childcare facility, it takes time. It takes time to find the location, get it zoned right, get the architectural drawings done, get it built, and then open the business. Whereas a home services business, you typically will sign a franchise agreement with a franchise concept and then you could be trained that next month and open the month after that.

So it happens very quickly that you then are in business. So a lot of people like that, and I think a lot of people also like the fact that they don’t have to sign a big lease, they don’t have to commit themselves to 10 or 20 years on a lease with a big personal guarantee. They may be able to do this home service business from their home, or they might need a small little flex office part-time where they need employees or have some of their vehicles parked or something along those lines. So I think those are some of the reasons that those businesses have really, really expanded. The junk industry, we’ve done a business called Junkluggers and several others in that category that have really exploded in franchising as well.

PocketSuite:

Right. Right. I kind of get it. If you are wanting to buy into a fast casual concept or something like that, you’ve got to pay for real estate and a place where people are, which is very expensive, probably hundreds of thousands if not investment to get the real estate under your name. But if you have a mobile detailer franchise, they need maybe a really nice branded van and some supplies and you’ve bought in. So you can target a lot more people who don’t necessarily have as much in the bank set aside for starting their next business. You can really partner with people who are up and coming rather than already made it.

Steve Beagelman:

Absolutely. I mean, we have concepts that are roofing concepts, tree service concepts. Monster Tree Service was one of our brands, although they need some vehicles, they’re not going and renting a physical retail location so they can be up and running pretty quick once they get their vehicles. Redbox plus, I mean, those are brands that we’ve done that have been very, very successful in the franchise sector. I mean, Redbox Plus started in Minnesota with one or two locations, grew to hundreds after it was acquired by Josh Skolnick from Monster Tree Service, and they grew and then they sold to private equity, they sold to BELFOR.

So Monster Tree Service now owned by Authority Brands. So after they grew to hundreds of locations. These are great success stories, but there is a lot of work from the beginning to there. I mean, I want all your listeners to know that. Franchising is hard work, but it is rewarding and it is exciting. A lot of our clients say they’re very excited about the opportunity to work much more on their business versus in their business. They still love their brands, but they want to see it become bigger. And that’s where franchising comes into play. And we get to help people expand their businesses through that model.

PocketSuite:

Yeah. And it’s I’ll say it is a trend we’ve been seeing in our business at PocketSuite as well, not just in Forbes Magazine. We’ve been in business for a number of years and franchises really weren’t something we were paying attention to, but over the last year or two, there’s just a ton of service based franchises now running on PocketSuite in the pet care industry or some of these other areas. So it’s been kind of exciting to get to know about these customers and the sort of very exciting growth road that some of them are on.

Steve Beagelman:

Absolutely. The trajectory for home service brands is really incredible, and it’s probably the fastest sector that we see growth in. While we certainly still see fast casual restaurants growing and we see childcare growing and lots of other concepts that are growing and franchising, there is no doubt leaps and bounds home service brands are one of the fastest sectors we have.

PocketSuite:

So let’s say I’m listening at home or at my office and I’ve got a service-based business and it’s doing great, what is the checklist that I would want to know that I have in place of whether franchising my business is right for me?

Steve Beagelman:

Typically, we’ll have several conversations with someone to get to know them, get to know their business, and ask them some pretty detailed questions to understand whether franchising is the right vehicle for them. First of all, is their business franchisable? That’s number one. Some concepts just aren’t. Some are just great in a specific region and just really can’t be duplicatable or replicatable, and that’s okay, that happens, but we’re going to spend a lot of time getting to know the brand and getting to know the people. And then we’re also going to get to know whether they’re right for becoming a franchisor, because as I said, you’re going to have to give up some control. There is a lot of work involved, there’s a huge time commitment involved. And some people will say, listen, I’m just not interested in working that hard. I don’t want to do that at this stage in my life or whatever reason. I have a great quality of life. I’m making a lot of money. Life is good. I don’t think I want that effort.

So we spent a lot of time talking to people and making sure it is the right direction for them, and it’s the right direction for us to help them take their business to the next level through franchising. So if they were sitting at home and listening to this and trying to get an idea, I would tell them, think about internally with yourself. Hey, am I willing to give up some control? Do I want to see this brand really become bigger, whether that’s regionally or nationally? Right. So I was part of Rita’s Water Ice. We grew that brand to 350 locations at one point, so before we sold it to private equity. So it’s really up to you what you want to see your brand become. And if you decide you want it to become bigger and you are up for the challenge of working more on your business than just in your business, then franchising may be a good direction for you. And then it’s worth having a conversation with a member of our team. And then we’ll kind of guide you through the process of whether we think it makes sense or not.

PocketSuite:

Cool. And what kinds of businesses are you most excited about partnering with on the sort of franchise journey right now? Any sort of wishlist ideas or things like that?

Steve Beagelman:

There’s so many that I love so hard to say Hansa. I love anything with pets. I love anything with kids. I love anything with parents. So senior care, great industry. There’s nothing we won’t do for our parents. I was just talking earlier with a friend of mine and just had a place his parent in a home and finding the right place is so, so critical. We’re launching a brand that helps people place their parents in the right facilities. That’s such a stressful thing for people to go through or senior care where they’re coming into the home and helping take care of an elder family member. So those are great businesses.

Kids are great. Anything with kids, we’ve done Soccer Shots, which is a mobile soccer concept, grew to hundreds of franchises, also did a private equity transaction last year. So anything with children, sports, fitness and pets as I said. I’m a dog lover. I have two goldendoodles myself. I’m actually an equity investor in a few franchise brands in the pet industry. I love pets. So I think the pet space is growing in leaps and bounds too. So there’s a lot of great industries out there. And clearly everything in home services is great as well. So I have a lot that I’m passionate about, that’s for sure.

PocketSuite:

All right. So I am a business owner. I’m curious about this, but it sounds like you really need to talk to an expert in order to figure out if this is the right path to you. So where do I go? What do I do to get started on exploring this idea?

Steve Beagelman:

Yeah, I mean if somebody wants to learn more, they can certainly visit us at our website, smbfranchising.com. So it’s literally my initials, smbfranchising.com, and they can inquire on our website. They can also email me directly if they want, and it’s Steve S-T-E-V-E@smbfranchising.com. And I’d be happy to set up an introductory call with them and get to know them a little bit better and answer their questions and learn more about their business and discuss franchising. But another way they can learn more is just go to the IFA, International Franchise Association has a great website, that’ll educate you a little bit about franchising. But a lot of times people want to talk to somebody to really get to know more about the industry, but also discuss their particular business. And in those cases, it’s best if they just reach out to us and we’re happy to have a call with them, either myself or a member of our team.

PocketSuite:

Cool. Cool. And I will add that we do have some special services at PocketSuite for franchises and multi-location businesses. So if you are going that route, reach out to us too. We’ll get you hooked up with some extra support that you might want. And on the other side of it, let’s say I am an entrepreneur. I’ve been going the hard road for a while, and I’m totally frustrated with maybe a concept that hasn’t gotten proven yet and I want to ditch it and buy into a proven concept doing something else. I love being my own boss, but I’m tired of it being as hard as it often is out there. Where do I go to find out what franchises I could buy into, what might be interesting to me, sort of shop around for a concept I want to be part of?

Steve Beagelman:

Yeah, that’s a great question. Obviously find, I tell people you want to find something you’re passionate about. Right. I like, I’m not a car guy. Well, I like I driving a car that I like, but I don’t know anything about cars. Right. So you could tell me, I can make a ton of money in the car business, but I’m just not passionate about it. Right. So I wouldn’t want to be in that industry because it’s just not the right fit for me. So I want to do something that I’m passionate about. I tell people all the time, if you love pets, look into the pet industry. There’s so many different opportunities. If you love kids, look into the childcare industry, look into kids’ sports. There’s so many, kids’ education, there’s so many different businesses out there. Do stuff that you’re passionate about. But you could research owning your own franchise.

There’s so many different websites out there. You can Google it, you can go to any of the search engines and say, looking to own a franchise. You can go to some franchise trade shows. So there’s some great regional franchise trade shows that are out there. So you can just Google franchise trade shows in my area and then go to a couple of them. I would highly recommend it. If somebody wants, they could email us directly too and we can kind of guide them or direct them to the right place. And I would read some books on becoming a franchisee and just learn, you want to learn everything you can. But I would also say another opportunity is to contact a franchise broker. So these brokers will help educate you about different franchise opportunities that you may not have ever thought of. So you’re thinking you want to own a Dunkin’ Donuts, like I said, or a McDonald’s, you may not even be financially qualified or they may be sold out in your area.

So what else can I look at? I have no idea. These brokers will help guide you and say, well Hansa, what are your interests? And you’ll say, well, I really love home services. Well, I want to work from home. I don’t want to work weekends. I love working with kids, whatever it is. And they’ll narrow down the search and then they’ll make introductions to brands that you may not have even heard of or had thought of, and they get typically compensated on the other end. So you don’t have to worry about that on your side. So it really is just an educational process that you need to go through, whether it’s with a broker or on your own. You need to research, you really do. And get to know the franchise company, attend their what they call discovery day to learn about the brand. Doesn’t cost you anything to do that except your time. But you want to know everything about that company before you then write a franchise fee check and invest in the brand to open that concept in your community.

PocketSuite:

Okay, awesome. Well, thank you so much, Steve for joining us today. I feel like I learned so much, and I’m sure many in our audience did too, because this is a world that you feel like it’s a familiar world, but it’s a whole rabbit hole of information that I simply is new to me. And thank you everyone once again for joining us on the Booked Solid Podcast. Of course, the best way to support this podcast is to run your business on PocketSuite, but we also appreciate those five star reviews on wherever you’re listening to this podcast, as well as recommending it to friends.

Steve Beagelman:

Thanks, Hansa.

PocketSuite:

All right, thank you.

How? 

Keep reading! We teach you how to prevent identity theft and safeguard your business.

How To Protect Your Business from Identity Theft

Identity theft can hurt your business reputation and cause you to lose clients. It also makes your team members vulnerable. That’s why data security should be a number one priority for your business.

You can take steps to protect yourself and your business from the fallout of identity theft. Here’s how. 

#1 Follow Cybersecurity Best Practices

We’re used to sharing our personal info online without a second thought. Don’t make the same mistake with your business. 

Use reputable antivirus software across all of your business devices, including phones, laptops, tablets, etc.  And protect your network with a firewall and a VPN. Also, only give personal data to secure websites (i.e., they begin with https). Even then, limit the number of sites that provide your data. 

Remember, your business information should be on a need-to-know basis. Limit access as much as possible, even from your employees and family members. They may be more vulnerable to identity theft because they haven’t invested in business-level security. 

#2 Use Strong Passwords

A strong password is the first line of defense between you and identity theft. So, avoid weak, commonly used passwords at all costs. 

Ideal passwords are long, unique, and somewhat random. Don’t use words that can be linked back to your name or business. Most platforms will let you know if your password is too weak. In general, your password should be:

• Be at least eight characters, but longer is safer
• Be a passphrase instead of a password, e.g., “leashesarecool45” over “leashes45”
• Be different for each of your accounts.
• Include a mix of numbers, lowercase and uppercase letters, and special characters.

If you’re sharing a password with your team, try password manager tools like LastPass. Password managers block unauthorized entries and keep your accounts safe.

The most important password you need to keep safe is the password to your primary email. Anyone who gets access to that can say they lost their password to get access to all kinds of other accounts that you have.

Bonus Tip: Turn on Two-Factor Identification 

Whenever it is available, turn on two-factor identification. It only takes an additional moment, and it’s a lot easier for a thief to get access to a password than to steal both your password and your phone. Sure, it may be a hassle, but it protects you more effectively than almost anything else.

#3 Use an EIN

If you are a sole proprietor, you can use your Social Security number for your business, but that doesn’t mean you should. Having this sensitive number in a lot more places increases your risk, while an EIN adds another layer of protection. You can get an EIN number between 7 AM and 10 PM Monday through Friday by visiting the website. And you will get your EIN in just a few minutes.

#4 Protect Yourself from Phishing 

If you have ever seen a friend start to post spam on social media, they are a likely victim of phishing. Phishing is when scammers send a link by email or social media and pretend to be someone else to get you to click the link.  Once you do, they will either ask you to enter sensitive information posing as another website or use malware to try and capture that information. 

Here are some signs that it may be a phishing attempt.

• They ask for your login credentials
• They ask you to validate payment information
• They make time-sensitive demands
• They include attachments
• The company name and email address do not match

#5 Clean Up Your Files

It’s important to keep your files organized and up to date. Documents pile up, and identity thieves can sneak through the clutter.

Know what info is stored on your digital and physical documents. And only keep what’s absolutely necessary to run your business. Throw away or delete what you don’t need. Properly dispose of, or even destroy, old hard drives and printers that may have sensitive data. 

If you keep paper records, make sure they’re secured and organized in a locked filing cabinet. Keep the key or code in a safe position and limit the number of people who have access. 

As you’re cleaning up files, it’s important to make backups in case the identity thief wipes your information. Your backups should be just as secure as your regular data if not more! 

#6 Check Your Credit Reports

To get ahead of identity theft, consistently monitor your bank accounts and credit reports for unusual or suspicious activity. This way, if someone steals your identity, you can catch it before it becomes unmanageable or leaves you on the hook for unauthorized charges. 

Major credit reporting agencies, like Experian, have free tools and resources to help you avoid and manage business identity theft.

#7 Go As Paperless As Possible

Sure, the world has gone digital. But paper documents still hold sensitive information and may be more vulnerable than the info you store online.

For example, mail theft is alive and well. Thieves can get access to credit card accounts, insurance documents, and invoices from your mail and use them to hurt your business. You can avoid this by going paperless. 

Not every business has the option to go completely paperless. And your clients might prefer a paper invoice or contract. That’s okay, switch to digital statements and communication where you can. It saves you time and money, and you get the peace of mind that your business is a bit more secure.

And remember to throw your mail through a shredder before tossing it!

#8 Get Your Team On Board 

Identity theft doesn’t happen in a bubble. So, it’s important that your team members know how to protect their personal information, especially if they have access to business accounts. 

As the owner, it’s your job to keep them up to date on best practices for data protection. To help your team avoid identity theft:

• Alert them of common email phishing scams before they become a victim. 
• Ask them to password-protect sensitive documents that they email or edit online. 
• Ask them not to download attachments before verifying the email address, even if it’s an inquiry from a potential client.
• Provide them with a business email address so they’re not handling sensitive information on a personal account.
• Set a standard for strong passwords, and require them to enable two-factor authentication on business accounts. 

It’s a good idea to make identity protection training a part of the onboarding process.

#9 Have an Identity Theft Protection Plan

Identity security is all about preparation. Make sure you have a plan in place, both to prevent identity theft and handle the fallout if it occurs. Your plan will include following cybersecurity best practices with updated antivirus software and strong passwords.

So, you’ll need a response plan. If your identity is stolen, you should alert the IRS and file an FTC identity theft report.

As your business grows, security should be factored into every decision, whether you’re hiring new employees or switching booking platforms.

Protect Your Business

Identity theft leads to long-term issues for your business and your clients. You can avoid identity theft by creating a prevention plan and following data security best practices. And make sure your team is secure. A well-protected business equals happy clients. 

PocketSuite can help keep your clients happy. We have all the tools you need to run your business, including booking, payments, and contracts. 

As a business owner, you need to be doubly careful. After all, you need to protect your own information and the information of your clients. Business owners do not enjoy having to explain to their customers that they were hacked and their clients’ information was put at risk as a result.

Business Owners Should Beware of Fake Venmo Money

Every business owner knows the importance of protecting their income. You work hard to generate an income, and you should feel comfortable knowing that your funds are secured. Well, if you are currently using Venmo to accept payments for your small business, you could be in danger of losing money due to a popular Venmo scam going around right now. 

According to the Better Business Bureau, there is a new Venmo scam where fraudsters are “accidentally” sending money to accounts and then requesting that you please send those funds back to them. 

It may seem innocent at first, I mean how can you lose out when you are just sending money back to the person who sent it to you in the first place? Unfortunately, these scammers know what they are doing. The money they are sending to your Venmo account is coming from stolen credit cards. If you send this “accidental” money back, the scammer will replace the stolen card with their own so that money can be withdrawn into their own personal bank account.  Eventually, this money will then be removed once again from YOUR Venmo account in order to pay back the original card holder. 

With this new scheme scammers are using unsuspecting business Venmo accounts to launder stolen credit money and leave honest business owners with the bill.  Because of how this scam is conducted, neither credit card companies nor Venmo will protect you or reimburse you. 

How to Protect Yourself from Digital Wallet Scams Like This One

While this scam is focusing specifically on Venmo, this type of scam is possible with all digital wallets such as PayPal, Zelle, Cash App, and even Apple Pay. While we know that these digital wallets have their place, like sharing dinner with friends or sending birthday money to your niece who lives across the country, running a business is not one of those places. 

Many business owners accept payment through Venmo and other digital wallets, and by doing so, are putting their money at an unnecessary risk.  These apps have no real protection for you as a business owner. If you are hit by one of these scams, they will not have proper fraud protection and resolutions for you. You’ll simply be out of money while they say “ oh well sorry about your luck”. 

If you do accept money through a digital wallet like Venmo, you can protect yourself from this scam by never sending money “back” to an account that has “accidentally” sent you money. That’s how the scam works. Unfortunately, as a business owner, you will be targeted for this scam precisely because it’s harder for you not to comply with this scam. Scammers will threaten negative reviews that complain about “stealing money” that could hurt your business on a popular review site like Google or Yelp. Scammers increase their chances of making their scam work by threatening your integrity as a business owner if you don’t comply right away.

When you are a business owner, it is important that you have every level of protection against fraud, because this is your livelihood at stake! The only way to truly protect your business is to get out of using digital wallets like Venmo for your business altogether. 

The Best Way to Accept Payments for Your Small Business

In order to protect yourself from scams like this one, it is important to have a payment processor for your small business that is actually meant for businesses. This will ensure that you have things in place such as fraud protection in case something were to happen to your account. 

Here at PocketSuite, we help small businesses succeed by streamlining and automating their booking process, have risk free payment processing with built in fraud protection, and so much more. Basically, when you take Credit Cards, no one can easily send you fraudulent payments and you have protections from the Credit Card companies.

With our payment processing, you won’t have to worry about accepting payments through digital wallets like Venmo and Cash app ever again. You will get instant payouts deposited into your account, a fast checkout process for your clients, and of course, built in fraud protection. 

Our team works hard to make sure our pros are protected. We look into fraudulent transactions and chargebacks and there is always a real human available to discuss any and all issues directly with our pros. 

So if you want to take your small service based business to the next level and make sure your funds are always protected, then give PocketSuite a try with our risk free 30 day free trial ( you don’t even need to enter a credit card to get all the benefits). We would love to help you grow your business!

Occasion: Quick way to charge a client’s card if they hand it to you or simply tell you the card details over the phone.

Benefits: Fast! Also you can store the client’s card for future charging at will.

How: Tap the CHARGE button on your home screen of PocketSuite, enter client CC info, charge any $ amount.

Save on processing fees at 2.9% + 30¢ per payment, compared to Square or PayPal.

2) Invoicing

Occasion: Sending a traditional (and professional) invoice to clients for services.

Benefits: Allows clients to pay any invoice amount online (from their smartphone or computer) with convenience.

How: Tap the INVOICE button on your home screen of PocketSuite. Deliver any invoice via text or email, and clients will have the option to pay online.

3) Appointment Deposit Upfront

Occasion: If you want to collect payment on an appointment upfront when scheduling a client to your calendar.

Benefits: In one-fell swoop, confirm a client appointment on your calendar while receiving a full or partial $ deposit upfront.

How: When scheduling an appointment in PocketSuite, set a “$ Deposit” amount on the appointment and require your client to confirm said appointment with a credit card when you send it to them.

4) Payment once an Appointment/Job is Complete

Occasion: When you want to accept payment immediately after an appointment is complete.

Benefits: Uber-like experience to charge a client’s card that is linked to an appointment on your calendar.

How: Tap the CHARGE button on any appointment on your calendar that has been reserved with a client’s credit card. You can charge any $ amount and even hand the phone over to your client to add a tip (if desired).

5) Online Payments

Occasion: If you want to have clients book/pay you online – you can accept payment through your website, Facebook page and Instagram profile.

Benefits: Allows you to turn anyone visiting your website or social media pages into an instantly booking and paying client.

How: Enable ‘Online Booking’ in PocketSuite, and integrate your booking widget onto your website. Then paste your booking links on your social media profile.

6) Selling Packages

Occasion: If you want to sell upfront to a client a group or package of services/classes for future use.

Benefits: Collecting payment upfront, and then having a simple way to track all the sessions/credits used by each client.

How: Set up / save any standard package or program you sell, then send it off to your client (via text or email) to review and then purchase online. Credits are auto-added to the client’s account and you can start tracking those sessions!

7) Recurring Payments

Occasion: When you need to automatically charge clients each week, month, etc. – for ongoing memberships or recurring billing.

Benefits: Literally get paid while you sleep. No work on your end to have to invoice/charge clients, and no work on the client’s end to have to remember to pay an ongoing bill.

How: Enable ‘Subscriptions’ in PocketSuite, and send any type of subscription plan you’d like to a client (with a set $ amount and payment schedule). Your client confirms that plan just ONCE with a credit card only and voila!

8) Class Deposits

Occasion: When you want clients to sign up for a class and pay a drop-in fee ahead of a class.

Benefits: Double whammy: fills up your class roster allowing clients to sign up for a class ahead of time, and ensures you get PAID for the class ahead of time.

How: Enable ‘Classes’ in PocketSuite, then set up your class schedule (class name, $ drop-in, schedule, location, etc.). You can sign clients up yourself or post your class schedule online (see ‘Online Booking’ above) for clients to sign up & pay online.

9) via SMS Shortcode

Occasion: When you are requesting payment from a client via SMS text (i.e., sending an invoice via text, a package via text, requesting a job deposit via text, etc.), clients can literally just reply “1” to pay.

Benefits: Literally the easiest way around for a client to make a payment.

How: If you send any payment request to a client via text message, then your client will be given the option in the text thread to “Reply 1” to pay whatever is due (assuming your client already has entered a CC on file before).

10) Cancellation Fee

Occasion: If your client ever cancels an appointment falling inside your cancellation window.

Benefits: Gives you the ability to charge a cancellation fee — so you can be compensated for clients who fail to show up or cancel on you last minute.

How: When a client taps on their appointment link and hits the CANCEL button, they will be shown that by cancelling, their card (on file) will be charged your cancellation fee (as set by you under Settings > Business > Cancellations).

Bonus: GIVE YOUR CLIENTS THEIR OWN APP…

11) Client-side app

Occasion: If your client wants more control over sending you one-off payments not tied to any particular transaction.

Benefits: Gives your clients more flexibility and an organized record of all payments they send to you as the business.

How: Clients can download PocketSuite to their smartphones as well – they create a ‘client’ account instead of a ‘business’ account. They can add your business details under their PocketSuite contacts and send you payment at will via credit card, debit card and even ACH transfer.

12) Gift Certificates

Occasion: For holidays, special occasions, or just because…

Benefits: Gives you the ability to sell anyone an e-gift card that can be assigned to anyone as a gift and used to pay for any of your services. It’s a great way to pull your income forward during slow periods.

How: When a client taps on your booking link to buy any of your gift card items, they can purchase it for themselves or assign it before checking out of your booking site by entering the name, number, and a brief message to anyone.

13) Payment Button

Occasion: Whenever from whomever

Benefits: Gives you the ability to securely get paid any amount by anyone from your website or social media page (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).

How: Just like Venmo and PayPal. when a client taps on the payment button or link on your website or social media, they can enter the amount that they want to pay and a quick note and send. You’ll be notified of the funds immediately and you can cash out in minutes.

That is, if they even answer (leaving a voicemail about it is even more awkward).

If you’ve been self employed for any amount of time, you know that as soon as your appointment is over, clients are way less likely to be responsive. It’s not that they are dodging you. It’s just that you are immediately lower on their priority list. You may not be at the very bottom, but you are far from the top, especially if they know you haven’t secured payment from them yet.

Weirdly, you become a little like a “creepy” debt collector.

Your time is spent calling past clients who suddenly are always busy and unable to take your call. You desperately need to get paid for a backlog of past appointments.

You may even lose out on income by not being able to reach that client – they’ve effectively ‘ghosted’ your business, and after getting such great service from you. They literally fall off the face of the earth and are nowhere to be found.

Relax, I feel your pain. That’s why here at PocketSuite we developed a tool called ‘Complete-and-Charge,’ and it’s revolutionized the way solo businesses and freelancers like you charge clients and run your business.

Not only does it minimize bad debt income by allowing you to charge your client’s card as soon as you complete the appointment, but it also stores your client’s card securely so you can charge them again and again after every future appointment, without ever having to call them for their payment information again.

That’s right – you can store your client’s card details using PocketSuite while remaining fully PCI compliant.

No more shameful, sheepish conversations asking your clients for payment.

Let’s unpack how Complete and Charge has changed the game for businesses and freelancers using PocketSuite. It can do the same for you.

HOW ‘COMPLETE-AND-CHARGE’ IS CHANGING THE GAME 

More and more, consumers prefer to pay for everything these days with credit and debit cards.

In fact, a 2017 study by payment processor TSYS found that “fifty-four percent chose debit cards, while 26 percent selected credit cards, and only 14 percent specified a preference for using cash.”

Doing some back-of-the-napkin calculations, that means that a full 80% of consumers (out of a sample size of over 1000) preferred paying with plastic.

That being said, how could you ignore such an important trend by not accepting credit or debit cards for your business? Four out of every five of your potential clients prefer it!

Not only that, but the same study also found that clients are becoming increasingly comfortable with in-app mobile payments – this should further solidify the idea that folks are getting used to paying for things within an app:

Another study done by the SCPC in conjunction with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found that…

• “In 2017, 12 percent of consumers reported that they did not pay with cash, even once, during the year.” 
• “In 2017, one-third of all consumers made a mobile payment, compared with just one-fourth in 2015.”
• “Fewer than 80 percent of consumers who had paper checks on hand reported using them even once in 2017.”

I hope by now you’re sold on the idea that you need to accept credit cards. Fantastic.

Now let’s get down to business…

If you’ve recently come to this conclusion, you’re probably faced with a dilemma – what’s the best way to process these transactions?

In fact, we wrote an entire article on this topic, but today we’ll just be covering how to complete and charge repeat appointments.

The fact of the matter is, for the longest time, small business owners were forced to get in touch with clients after every appointment to book the next appointment and collect payment details for the last appointment.

This, of course, came with a set of challenges – clients wouldn’t answer the phone, business owners would get stressed out, and the vicious cycle would repeat itself over and over again.

However, PocketSuite has made a big contribution to breaking this unhealthy cycle by creating a method of payment called ‘Complete-and-Charge.’

For freelancers and business owners using PocketSuite, long gone are the days of calling pesky clients who can’t seem to have a minute to pick up the phone once you’ve delivered the service to them.

You will no longer feel that dread creeping up on you as the workday approaches its end and you still haven’t called the clients for that day to collect payment.

From now on, all you need to do is to with one tap complete the appointments on your calendar for that day.

As soon as an appointment is complete, you select the appointment on your calendar and tap ‘Charge,’ which brings up a screen that allows you to modify the total; select the client’s preferred credit card (if they have one on file); and even hand your phone over to them so they can add gratuity (a tip).

This brings an Uber-like convenience to your transactions and eliminates all of the pain and frustration of having to chase down clients for payment.

It’s no wonder that over 50% of payments that occur on PocketSuite are of the ‘Complete-and-Charge’ type.

This is a massively useful and popular feature for a reason.

Say goodbye to outstanding invoices and unpaid bills – you don’t have to be the pushy salesperson that’s calling again and again because you need to get paid to pay your bills.

In fact, you only have to collect your client’s card once and never again.

From then on, the card details are securely stored and fully encrypted within PocketSuite, which means you can keep charging their card after every appointment without having to chase them down or harass them with multiple phone calls.

Better yet, using PocketSuite’s handy online booking form (which by the way, you can put on your website, Facebook, Instagram, and email signature) you can have them add their credit card details into your booking link, and eliminate the need for asking for their card details over the phone entirely!

So how exactly does this work on your end?

Once you tap on the appointment (unpaid job) you’d like to charge, it will bring up a screen where you can tap on ‘CHARGE’.

From there, you can add your client’s credit card, accept gratuity (if you like), and process payment.

Check out this video for additional details on how a client experiences booking an appointment with you through PocketSuite.

As a freelancer or business owner, your time is precious, and you should be spending it on the most valuable activities – delighting your clients.

Instead of spending hours chasing down clients, why not invest that time in your Facebook/Instagram marketing, getting more clients, and growing your business?

Let PocketSuite do the heavy lifting by using ‘Complete-and-Charge’ today.

One tiny improvement, all from 1 app, can change the game for you, forever.

There’s even a free plan to get you started, so you have no excuse not to start charging your clients directly after every appointment.

Get ahead of the game and take this advice today. Your future self and healthy business will thank you.

Like this article? You’ll love these articles:

• PocketSuite Appointments
• PocketSuite: 10 ways to accept payments
• Our guide on how to generate leads for service businesses in 2022
• Our Frustrations with Square article