The Starting Point

In July of this year (2024), I received a call from my alma mater, Weber State University. In this phone call, they informed me that I was to be the recipient of a $3000 award, due to my outstanding academic achievement while in school with them. This news was quite a surprise, and it left me with one question to answer: What was I going to do with the money? The one stipulation of this award, after all, was writing a thank you letter that explained how I planned to use the funds. Luckily, I didn’t have to struggle much before I had my answer. I had always been planning on starting an editing business, and with this money in hand, I no longer had a reason to delay.

Logo Design

The first step in starting my new business was getting a logo design created, which I could then put on my website. Luckily, my web designer referred me to the company that created her logo, ZenBranding on Etsy. Through this company’s detailed survey, I was able to express exactly what I wanted. The company then drew up several logo proposals. I found one immediately that aligned with my brand, including all the colors I had selected beforehand, and I requested a few edits. The finished product followed soon after. Although the process took a bit longer than promised due to unforeseen circumstances, I can’t argue with the results.

Creating the Website

The next step in my process was to set up a business website. Having next to no experience web designing myself, I hired Port Havyn & Co. to design the website for me. The owner of this company is my cousin, so it seemed like a logical choice. Then, the real process began. The first step was writing the copy for every page on my website. This work was rather tedious, but luckily, I had the necessary skills to create it. After brainstorming exactly what I wanted on my site, I wrote up all my copy and sent it along.

The next thing I needed was a large selection of pictures to go on the website. At this point, I didn’t have a ton of money left to spend on professional shots, not to mention the fact that I didn’t have a typewriter, fountain pen, or anything that fit my brand to have a photographer take pictures of. So, stock photos to the rescue! It took quite a bit of time to find photos that fit my aesthetic, but I eventually got there. Then, the work was out of my hands while Port Havyn & Co. designed. During this process, my cousin would send me a web page or two at a time, I’d give notes, and she’d revise. In the end, I had a polished website that I was very pleased with.

Securing the LLC and Business License

The last step I needed to take before launching my business was securing my LLC registration and my county business license. Boy, did this process take forever! I didn’t know anything about forming the paperwork to create an LLC, but luckily, my father had his own LLC company. When I asked him how he wrote his paperwork, he told me that he hired a company to do it online. I’m not going to list the company in this post because I wasn’t exactly pleased with them. Did they eventually get the LLC complete and registered with the state? Yes. Did it cost me $250 for them to write the paperwork, plus another $250 just for them to send it to the state? Also yes. It did need to get done, though, so it is what it is.

Luckily, however, the business license process through my county was remarkably easy. First, I had to print out the application form online and fill it out. Then, I had to sign it in front of a notary. I didn’t know this before, but most banks have notaries for free, and my bank happens to be on the way to the county clerk’s office. So, I had my signature notarized, drove another 10-or-so minutes, had the zoning administrator sign off on the paperwork, and then the county clerk signed off. They handed me my full license right there, without me having to wait the weeks I thought I was going to for it to be sent in the mail. So, finally, with all the technical/legal stuff complete, I officially launched my business on December 3rd, 2024.

Next Steps

My business is public, so what now? Well, I’ve been asking myself that same question a lot lately. Obviously, step one is securing my first client. Without clients, I can’t build a professional portfolio. However, I can’t exactly afford a professional marketer, so where is this client going to come from? I can’t say for certain yet. I’ve signed up for several freelancing websites. I have been posting gigs and submitting proposals for jobs. I’m also in several author/editor Facebook groups that allow you to post an ad every Saturday. From there, I’m starting to work on a concrete marketing plan, incorporating new blog posts, YouTube videos, and social media messaging every week. Additionally, I’m launching a new weekly “free trial” of my services, which I will be calling “Super Saturday.”

Super Saturday

Usually, my 10-page manuscript evaluations cost $25. They take quite a bit of time, after all. On Saturdays, however, I will be editing the first 5 pages of manuscripts (or a full 5-page short story, if you prefer) for free.

Is there a limit to how many potential clients can participate in Super Saturday? Well, yes and no. I don’t have an exact number, but the whole point of Super Saturday is that it takes place on Saturday. So, keeping with this theme, I will be editing these five-page sections until the clock strikes 6 p.m. (MST) on Saturday night. They will be edited in the order they’re received, and if I get more submissions than I can get to, I will still be stopping at 6.

From here, who knows? There are many exciting adventures ahead!

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