4 Steps to Start a Remote Service Business in 2024

There is a ton of opportunity in the digital marketplace. Everyone knows (or assumes) that this type of business offers flexibility, scalability, and the potential to tap into a global market.

However, not many understand that not every business can be remote.

Why?

Because of the effort it takes to manage one.

Dan Brownsher, CEO of ChannelKey, proudly shares in the Management Blueprint Podcast interview 4 steps he learned from starting his own remote business.

1.Build a Trusting Culture

First off, find an ecosystem that supports a non-project based offering like Amazon. This doesn’t require trucks or a warehouse but it needs ongoing maintenance, management, strategy, and execution. What does that mean? A remote business model is reliant on people, contracts, and technology. This is where the emphasis on people, culture, and the team comes in because they serve as the foundation for the entirety of the business. Without the people and the culture at the heart of the ecosystem, it is hard to create a scalable remote business. So, invest time and resources in building a nurturing environment that promotes growth, learning, and mutual respect.

Remember, a successful business ecosystem isn’t just about leveraging technology and data. It’s about valuing and empowering the people who bring your vision to life.

2. Design a Customized Offering

The second thing to consider when building a remote recurrent service business is designing a customized offering that speaks value to your target audience.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Who do I want to do business with? Why?
• What is my ideal client profile?

Understand that when you are just starting out, you will have no choice but to accept anyone because you want to take every revenue you can get. However, once you get established in the market, you have to identify who your ideal client profile is. Knowing who your target market is is important to provide clarity to your business. Once you have your ideal client profile, question yourself what do they want or need.You need to learn how to listen and open your eyes or ears to them. Because if you are willing to listen and see, they will tell you exactly what they are willing to buy from you.

Now that you know that, create a package or service around that and trust me when I say, you’re in!

3. Create Repeatable Outcomes

Those are the ground rules but what happens next? As Dan says: “You’ve got to execute. Part of the right way to execute is creating or attempting to create repeatable outcomes.” Just a heads up: It’s really, really hard especially in a people or service business. People are just different. The more people you add, the more clients you add, the more complex the business gets because your service offering grows as well. The key for a successful business is operating it to a system and via processes that are documented.  In order to scale a business like this, you have to have your operating principles in check. This will make sure that your business is creating repeatable outcomes.

4. Select the Right Tech

The last thing you need to take note of when you start your remote service business is selecting the right technology. Dan says, “Part of what you need to do is hire the best people, but you need to identify that you can’t necessarily scale your entire business only with people.”

So, what do you do?

Add technology to create better outcomes for your clients, grow your scalable process, and leverage for your people. So you want your team focusing on the most strategic elements that are driving the best outcomes for your clients and let technology do a lot of the manual repeatable type work. Technology is very critical for any remote service business.

Conclusion

Creating a successful remote service business in 2024 is as much about the people at its core as it is about its processes and technology. It’s about fostering a culture of trust, respect, and mutual growth. Moreover, it also involves understanding your target audience and curating a unique offering that resonates with them. 

Remember, your customer will guide you to what they need if you’re willing to listen and observe. Additionally, consistency is key. Strive for repeatable outcomes by systemizing your operations. While this might pose a challenge initially, especially in a service-based business, it’s a crucial step towards scalability. 

And lastly, make smart use of technology. Let it handle the manual, repetitive tasks so your team can focus on strategic, outcome-driving activities.

Building a remote service business may seem daunting, but with these four principles in mind—building a trusting culture, designing a customized offering, creating repeatable outcomes, and selecting the right tech, you are well on your way to establishing a thriving, sustainable business in the digital age. 

Always keep in mind that it’s not just about surviving in the remote economy; it’s about thriving and making a difference.