The resume writing service serves an important role in the economy. Many qualified candidates have a difficult time marketing themselves to employers and turn to a professional writing service for assistance. A successful resume is more than just a job history. As an experienced resume writer, you can provide the exposure needed for a job seeker to land an interview.

Specializing as an executive resume writing service can bring greater income for both you and your clients. One perfect resume is easily worth hundreds of dollars to an executive seeking a five- or six-figure increase of salary. The drawback, of course, is that fewer people are seeking such resumes.

Start Up Costs and Financing Sources:

Under $500

Starting a professional writing service can be virtually free. The major expense is advertising. Personal savings, credit cards, friends, or family members are probably your best resources for financing. Bank or venture capital investments are unlikely in this volatile industry.

Pricing Guidelines for Service:

$50 to $300+ per resume Prices vary according to the market and the experience of the provider. An executive resume writing service with a good reputation can command much higher prices.

Advertising and Marketing:

Advertise in the help wanted sections of local newspapers.

Work with local colleges and technical schools. Their endorsements could mean big business for you. Also look near campuses for bulletin boards where you can place free advertisements. Laundromats, grocery stores, and banks are good sources of such bulletin boards.

Your web site will probably be the largest source of customer orders. A professional web site that is easy to use will be immensely helpful.

Essential Equipment:

The most basic piece of equipment is a computer with a word processing software package installed. An Internet connection and high-quality printer will also be useful. While today's widespread Internet makes it possible to run a purely digital resume writing service, it is still customary to provide quality hard copies printed on elegant paper.

Income Potential:

$5,000 to $50,000

Working part time can produce a few thousand per year of extra income with virtually no overhead. A full-time venture can bring a very sizeable income.

Target Market:

Some of the situations you might encounter are:

• People entering the job market for the first time
• People who are re-entering the job market after an absense (maternity, etc.)
• Professionals seeking an executive resume writing service to move upward within the company

Tips for Success:

Offer free advice on your web site. Rather than "giving away" advice, you are establishing yourself as an expert who has even more to offer.

A resume writing service is not the type of business that has many repeat customers. (Actually, a repeat customer in this business is kind of a bad thing.) Don't expect a lot of repeat customers, but do make it easy for your customers to refer their job-seeking friends and family members. Your business depends on word of mouth.

Training, Skills or Experience Needed:

A professional writing service is driven more by results and marketing than a particular college degree. Becoming certified by the Professional Association of Resume Writers (PARW) or the National Resume Writers Association (NRWA) can help establish your credentials.

Educate yourself by studying the resumes of current and past job seekers. Search the web; they're easy to find. Look for examples of the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly. This will be some of the biggest help in preparing you to produce resumes from scratch.

There are many books and online tutorials dedicated to what the authors consider to be the best advice for writing a resume. Read them all, connect the dots, and you will come away with a realistic understanding of what employers seek in a resume.