Document/Photograph Scanning Business
drl1989 started this topic @ 07:13 on 14/09/2012
Hi fellow startups,
Now, while I know these sorts of companies exist already, I was thinking of starting up a photograph and or document scanning business from home, offering my services to the local area.
The plan is I'd buy a commercial scanner capable of high end performance, a high spec computer and basically offer individuals and various businesses in my area to put their mountains of paperwork onto secure CD's or other forms of storage devices. The commercial scanner I've got my eyes on is capable of scanning up to 50 pages a minute.
I would offer extra services such as shredding of large volumes of confidential information and software to help them locate specific data on their new storage CDs. Encrypted as well I might add.
Now a couple of Q's:
If I wish to work with people's sensitive information, what sort of certification would I need to prove I'm not going to take their identity and whatnot?
Is my head in the clouds or is this a nice little idea?
Thanks!
Interesting or important topic? Please click "vote topic higher" if you think so.
RE: Document/Photograph Scanning Business
Hi drl
Interesting idea, yes you are right, there are these sorts of companies already. That's ok, that just tells you there is a market out there for such a service. You have to be better or cheaper or nicer or faster than the competition. Some of these companies are large and can compete with you on price to stop you gaining market share and prevent you from getting established. They will offer their customers discounts to stop them moving to you until you go out of business so your focus would probably have to be on delivering a better service, ie turn up when you say you will. Some of these firms may have more work than they can handle so are unreliable and don't always turn up when they say they will. This market also requires a significant outlay just to get started, eg scanner, shredder, truck, promotion, etc.
My initial thoughts are you would have to offer 3 services;
1 shredding - most of your income would come from this initially
2 storage - if businesses are tight for space in their offices they will look for storage
3 scanning - your growth area, if businesses see it is a lot cheaper to scan than store then they will start to use this service
Many businesses of all kinds are generating lots of paperwork that needs to be dealt with one way or another. Does your local area have a lot of firms that would need these services? eg professional firms, universities, etc.
Not sure about certification, you would have to try the likes of www.businesslink.gov.uk for details.
Why not get a job with one of these document handling firms and see at first hand how it works?
Not head in the clouds but you do need to do your homework / research.
Good luck
Gordon
RE: Document/Photograph Scanning Business
accounting-help | 16/10/2012 03:47 PM
Gordon has giving you some sound advice. In regards to certification would suggest that you sign up for the Information Commisioners Office (ICO) Data Protection Act as you will be handling sensitive data if you go ahead with proposed ideas. It cost about £35 annual. Not sure if there is any other certification that you can sign up for.
------------------------
(Accounting Help)
www.accounting-help.co.uk
RE: Document/Photograph Scanning Business
drl1989 | 16/10/2012 09:18 PM
What fantastic advice.
Thank you both very much!