Some people, who may have a slight interest, think that because it is a toll free number they don't have anything to lose, so they make call. It doesn't cost them anything, so why not. These are your "tire kickers", are usually not serious prospects, and are wasting your resources.

How do you avoid these types of problems? Simple, don't have an 800 number. If a person has to spend their "nickel" for call, they have already pre-qualified themselves as a serious prospect. You know that time spent with them will be productive. Now small entrepreneur must have a separate phone line for this. If you are involved in several businesses, you should have a line for each one. That way, when phone rings, depending on number called, you can answer phone in a businesslike manner.

We used 800 numbers with our businesses. As an experiment, we took 800 number off our website, and put in a non-toll free number. Two things happened and they were both good. First, number of calls received decreased by almost 80 percent. This of course concerned us at first. Secondly however, we saw our sales dramatically increase. Why? Because prospects were pre-qualifying themselves, and we were not wasting our time, or losing calls due to lines being busy.

Do 800 numbers have a place in your business plan? Sure! If you are product oriented, a toll free order line is essential. People may hesitate to pay a toll for a product they wish to order. If you are service oriented, it is a must for technical support. With long waiting times for help, it would be a real turn off if one wasn't available.

5. Set up a paper processing system. A step file system holds about 7 files. Make files: Do, Read, Awaiting Answer, Consider, Refer, Ideas. Sort your paper as it arrives.

6. Take time to set up a proper filing system. This means that you can find information you want when you want it.

7. Learn to use your computer. Find out how you can take full advantage of it. Invest in classes or at least purchase how-to books for each program in your system.

8. Spend some "creative" time just thinking and reading about ideas that could improve your business. Even 15 minutes per day spent listening to motivational tapes in your car can result in some effective strategies.

Organize your office as well as your time. Use lists to keep yourself focused and on track. Remember that being organized is a process at which you must continually work. Spending a few hours organizing yourself today will save you hundreds of hours in future.