Starting up - getting testimonials, references etc

[Max Turbo]

Hello,

I am looking into starting up a business. As a result, I have no previous testimonials or references for the work I wish to do.

So what is the general approach to answering questions like "Can I see any of your previous work"?

I have a few friends/contacts in various businesses who I will try to approach with introductory offers (ie no cut for us) so that we can get some business under our belt, but are there any other ways that I have missed?

Chicken and egg situation, so any guidance from the more experienced "big fish" to help out a new guy would be much appreciated

Max

[m4tt]

Is it a product that you could offer discounts/freebies to people in exchange for their services as a reference/ testimonial?

[paoloh]

Max Turbo said:

Hello,

I am looking into starting up a business. As a result, I have no previous testimonials or references for the work I wish to do.

So what is the general approach to answering questions like "Can I see any of your previous work"?

I have a few friends/contacts in various businesses who I will try to approach with introductory offers (ie no cut for us) so that we can get some business under our belt, but are there any other ways that I have missed?

Chicken and egg situation, so any guidance from the more experienced "big fish" to help out a new guy would be much appreciated

Max

When I first started a service company, I got some business friends to stand reference for me....

[Baxter 69]

Hello,

I am also looking to start my own Business but not for a few years yet. Bit off topic but I have decided to get a job in an industry I want to get into and learn the trade, then start my own business up on what I have learnt.

But defining what industry to get into is the hard bit

Any advice?

[V8mate]

Baxter 69 said:

Hello,

I am also looking to start my own Business but not for a few years yet. Bit off topic but I have decided to get a job in an industry I want to get into and learn the trade, then start my own business up on what I have learnt.

But defining what industry to get into is the hard bit

Any advice?

Something that interests you and to which you have some skill persuasion?

[Mattt]

Baxter 69 said:

Hello,

I am also looking to start my own Business but not for a few years yet. Bit off topic but I have decided to get a job in an industry I want to get into and learn the trade, then start my own business up on what I have learnt.

But defining what industry to get into is the hard bit

Any advice?

Bit of a thread hijack there - more polite to start your own thread, and leave this for the OP.

[Baxter 69]

Mattt said:

Baxter 69 said:

Hello,

I am also looking to start my own Business but not for a few years yet. Bit off topic but I have decided to get a job in an industry I want to get into and learn the trade, then start my own business up on what I have learnt.

But defining what industry to get into is the hard bit

Any advice?

Bit of a thread hijack there - more polite to start your own thread, and leave this for the OP.

Apoligies to the OP. No harm meant.

[nick_j007]

Max Turbo said:

Hello,

I am looking into starting up a business. As a result, I have no previous testimonials or references for the work I wish to do.

So what is the general approach to answering questions like "Can I see any of your previous work"?

I have a few friends/contacts in various businesses who I will try to approach with introductory offers (ie no cut for us) so that we can get some business under our belt, but are there any other ways that I have missed?

Chicken and egg situation, so any guidance from the more experienced "big fish" to help out a new guy would be much appreciated

Max

I'm hardly a 'big fish' but run a successful one man band. Have a look here at my testimonials page.

Amazingly, not many people ask me outright for references, but I have taken a lot of time in gaining them to be used on my web site: http://www.alphadogbehaviour.co.uk/1.html

PM me and I can send you a word doc. I used to give to completed jobs for them to complete and return. In the beginning I was hot on it as I wanted plenty to use, I hardly ask now as I have more than enough to make a workable base. I do still care however on my standards etc

Most important thing is to ASK! Asking politely gets you a long way I can tell you.

HTH,

Nick