A great resume can help someone get a better job, or even a promotion at their current job. Many people have trouble writing resumes, and if you have or can develop a knack for it, you could make a pretty good living opening a resume writing business. Below is a beginning list of what you need to start a resume business.

Tools:

A computer with internet access and word processing capability is a must. A quality printer and good paper are also necessary.

You will also want business cards and some sample resumes that you have written in a nice presentation folder or portfolio. (You can practice on friends and family to build your portfolio.)

Skills:

First and foremost, you need great writing skills. Resumes that have typos or misspelled words or incorrect grammar are not acceptable. You also need to be able to interview your client to help them determine their objectives and relevant skills. This can take some time and effort on your part. It's not just typing it up and making it look pretty; you have to help them define clearly what job they want and how they are qualified for that job. You will also need to know about various resume formats, and when to use each one.

Resources:

Read sample resumes of similar positions (you can find them online. Try Monster.com and other similar career sites.

You will need reference books such as The Resume.com Guide to Writing Unbeatable Resumes and a good dictionary, like Random House Webster’s College Dictionary with CD-ROM.


Finding Clients:

To begin, start with friends and family. Do some “freebies” or discounted resumes so that you can both build your portfolio of samples, and so that you can begin the “buzz” that leads to referrals.

College job placement offices are another possibility for referrals. College graduates need resumes well before they graduate.

You might also see about putting your cards and perhaps flyers at local employment services offices.


What to Charge:

The more experience you have, and the more success at writing resumes that get people the jobs they want, the more you can charge. At first, check with other local resume services and see what they are charging. This could range from a bargain price of $25 up to several hundred dollars per resume. You will probably want to establish a pricing chart based on both the length and complexity of the resume.

Other ways to Make Money:

Cover letters are difficult for most people, too, and most resumes need cover letters. You could offer to write these as well for your clients, for an additional fee.

Online resumes: Web-based resumes are a little different than the normal paper-based ones. If you do online resumes, you will want to make sure they are properly formatted (some sites accept plain text only), and that you have included pertinent the “keywords” in the resume. You could offer a package deal for clients who need both. (Most will need both if they plan on searching and applying online—they still need a paper resume to take to the interview.)

You could also extend your services by doing research for open positions. With the vast numbers of jobs posted online, just searching for matches is time-consuming and tedious for job-hunters. You can do this for them, compiling a list of jobs in their area, salary range, experience and industry. You would charge either an hourly rate or a flat fee for this service.