Interior Arrangements | The Secret To Creating Perfect Business Forms

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The Secret To Creating Perfect Business Forms

Promoting and displaying your business name, logo, tagline and colors are all an essential part of establishing and reinforcing your brand. Most people associate branding with how they market---such as ads, promotional materials or their website.

Often forgotten when creating a structured and consistent marketing plan are the FORMS of the business. Those documents that help you promote and explain your business, educate and prepare your clients, solidify agreements, outline specifics of a project, and most importantly...clearly explain your payment policy, terms and fees. Forms are critical for not only running an efficient business, they are a crucial part of your brand identity and your professional persona.

Take a good look at the forms you are (or aren't) using in your business and assess them as a client would. Have someone else who can be totally objective, give their opinion too. Do your forms address all aspects of your business and do they reflect your business in a positive and professional way? Or are they vague, confusing and unattractive?

Tip #1 Form Flattering

Every aspect of your business reflects YOU, so pay close attention to each and every item that clients will see.

Ink: Do forms look faded from over duplication?
Font Size: Are forms legible and the size if font easy to read? Is the font professional looking and not quirky?
Format: Is the form laid out evenly with adequate spacing? Is there enough room for signature, initial and date lines?
Brand: Is your business name, logo, tagline and colors consistent with your other marketing materials and your website?
Headers and footers: Do you have your contact information displayed in either your header or footer?
Content: Have you included all the information your client needs to know and/or approve?
Clarity: Is verbiage and terminology concise and easy to understand?

TIP: Use your company letterhead for printing forms for a consistent and branded look.

Tip #2 Functional Forms

Look at every aspect of your business as a recipe, which requires specific ingredients and information that must be followed. Now, consider the forms of your business to be the ingredients that will help ensure a successful final product or project. Forms are a roadmap for you and your clients, outlining expectations and defining your policies and standards.

Client Profile Form - Contact information; client specific data (children's & pets names; hobbies; special interests).

Consultation Form - Multi page form with room-specific sections to take notes; a priority section listing 'must do's'.

Bid Proposal Form - This is used for all projects and should outline the 1) scope of the project--what is being done/what areas are included in the bid 2) Timeframe -- how much time will the project entail---give a range of hours 3) Fee structure - line items for each service and person involved 4) Signature and date lines for client acceptance of terms

Leased Inventory Agreement Form - An itemized checklist detailing items leased from you (description, quantity, price)

Pre-Project Client Checklist & To-Do List - This form is sent to clients prior to a project confirming project details and arrival time; reminding them of items they need to address prior to your arrival; requesting certain information pertinent to the project

Invoice Form - Presented at the end of the project and noting the services rendered, billable time, rate and total due. Add 'Due on Receipt', 'Thank you for your business' and 'Referrals are appreciated' verbiage.

Wish List - A helpful list of purchase suggestions to leave clients (with verbiage that you offer

Thank You card - Can be left with invoice or sent afterwards.

Client Feedback Form - Have sections for client comments on the project, what they liked best, etc., would they recommend you; can you use their comments as testimonial. Include signature and date lines.

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