A member of the Cobra family, the asp hides in dark places, waiting for the moment to strike a venomous, possibly fatal, blow to the intruder. What you probably don't know is that every business has its own asp lurking in the shadows -- the ASP (Appointments, Supplies, Paperwork) of the multi-tasker. If you don't keep your asp under control, it will strike a deadly blow to your business before it ever gets off the ground.

While it is possible to find this snake in big business, our asp seems to be all too common in small-business. New companies are begun without a full knowledge of what is required beyond the physical services offered to customers.

Keeping Appointments Is Primary

It should go without saying that, when you make an appointment with your customer, you show up on time or just a little earlier. Nothing creates a loss of trust so much as waiting for someone who doesn't show up. In today's world, a mobile phone is a necessity. If for any reason you are not able to meet a client on time, notify them, immediately.

Once you have scheduled an actual service time, short of a death in the family, keep that time available for that client, and be there! In life, there can be delays, but they should be the rare occurrence not the norm.

If you make it a practice of not showing up, as scheduled, or not calling your client to explain a delay, then you have a serious professional problem. Calendars are available, everywhere. There is no excuse for not being in charge of your schedule.

Controlling Supplies Controls Your Income

Have your tools ready for the day's work, in addition to any parts needed to complete the work. You're losing money if you wait until the morning of the job to locate them.

We all know people, including ourselves, who can show you more than one tool because it wasn't on hand when we needed it, so we just went out and bought a new one. While this behavior won't bankrupt the average Joe doing a little handyman work around the house, it will quickly drain the already stretched budget of a new business.

Needing a new tool or upgrading an old one should be a scheduled business choice, so that the best price for them can be obtained. Having to rush out and buy a new tool because you can't find your own puts you at the mercy of the supplier. And, the same goes for parts. Checklists are the bane of an already overworked entrepreneur and the backbone of his profit. Clean, repair, and put tools away at night and order your parts and supplies in a timely fashion, if you want to make a living.

Paperwork on Business Stationery Means You're Committed

Anyone with a computer is capable of creating the most basic stationery for their business. Use letterhead for proposals and correspondence. Check out the local office supply section of almost any drugstore, superstore (such as Wal-Mart), or mini-mart, for generic purchase orders, cash receipts, and sales booklets.

Have a rubber stamp made with your company name, address, and contact numbers. Use the odd hour here and there to stamp every page of the booklets. As profits increase, you can have the whole shebang done professionally.

A quick search online will bring up countless vendors who can make business cards for a very reasonable price. And, don't forget to Google for those willing to do them for FREE. Of course, they will have a small advertisement discretely placed somewhere on your card; but, you simply cannot do without business cards.

Set up price lists for all offered services. Customer negotiations need to be in writing, somewhere, even if it is just on a worksheet for your own instructions. And, of course, write out a receipt for any funds collected from your client. Even though you may be doing work for a friend, having everything in writing will keep misunderstandings to a minimum and help your friend realize that you are running a business.

Happy Customers Build a Strong Client Base

Be honest in your estimates. Know how long each service will take to get done. Replace or repair anything altered at your customer's site, unless other arrangements have been made, prior to your leaving the job site.

Most clients expect a deposit to cover required materials. Keep an itemized list available of what you have, in fact, purchased, and have a clear understanding of who gets the unused items. It is fraud to use one customer's funds for someone else's job.

Avoid, at all costs, asking for any final payment, as well. You are telling everyone involved that you are trying to cover costs for another job and that your business may not be around much longer. If you have collected all payment up front, for whatever reason, follow through with completing the work in the agreed-upon time.

Happy customers return, again and again, and will tell others how satisfied they are with your services. Control your ASP for a successful future.