In a reply, PJ PERDUE wrote to FRANCO RIOS:
 PP> Too true.  I started a full-time home-based resume and
 PP> job-search consulting business 6 months ago, and I found
 PP> that I filled a niche here in Vancouver:  other services
 PP> either charge $250 and up (corporations that are "career
 PP> consultants") or they charge $15 (a sideline by someone who
 PP> works full time elsewhere, and wants to pick up extra money).
 PP> Checking into the cheapies, I found that you really get what
 PP> you pay for: in their case, not much.  Since most job-hunters
 PP> are unemployed, they can't afford hundreds of dollars, yet they
 PP> do know they need a quality product.  You can start with your
 PP> rates a bit low and raise them somewhat next year, if necessary.
  Thank you for your reply, PJ.
  Congratulations on your start up.  My wife teaches a course in
starting a word processing business and we produce a newsletter for word
processing services.  One of things most people want to discuss is
pricing!
  It is possible to reach the top of the price range if one starts in
the middle.  It is impossible to reach the top if one starts at the
bottom.  The service will not make enough profit to fuel its journey the
bottom to the top.
  Other interesting thing about servicing the bottom of the market --
The cheap clients are more likely to be a "no-show" for appointments.
Making that market even less profitable!
  Definitely the middle ground is the place to shoot for.
  We stopped worrying about the $15 competitors.  They take the cheap
clients out of our hair and they produce new clients for us!  We get the
people who hate the way the $15 resume came out. (grin)
  If a person feels the mission to help the underpriveliged job seeker,
one could always apply a "hardship" discount to their regular rate on a
case by case basis.  My wife disagrees with discounting this way so
don't mention you heard it from me! (g)
  Or as an alternative, volunteer to write resumes for whatever social
assistance organization of your choice sending the referrals to you
(Church, Salvation Army, etc.).  Be sure you set a limit on how many
referrals you can handle per month or week.
  BTW, not all job seekers are un-employed.  Many are wanting to get a
better postion somewhere else and will pay for a good resume if it
improves their chances.
  Not all un-employed persons are low on funds.  Some are living on
savings until the right job comes along. Then they will be willing to
spend the big bucks for a good resume.
  (PJ, you know that already, I mention it for the benefit of our
readers and lurkers in the conference.)
  Be seeing ya!
  -Franco Rios
--- FLAME v1.1
---------------