If you're thinking about starting a voiceover business, you should think about the difficulties you'll face as well as the potential rewards. The first five of ten suggestions for starting a voiceover business are listed below.

1. Do things you enjoy. When considering starting a business, this is frequently the first thing that comes to mind: here is an opportunity to earn a living doing something I truly enjoy and am passionate about. I'm going to assume that you're passionate about your work as a voiceover artist because it's impossible to succeed in any creative endeavor—voiceover, acting, film directing, musicianship, writing—if you don't love what you do. It will be difficult for you to make any money at all—let alone enough to support yourself and your family—if you don't have a passion for what you do and self-confidence in your abilities. The creative industries are extremely overcrowded and difficult to break into. Also, keep in mind that starting and growing your voiceover business will take a lot of your time and energy, so it's important to know that you really enjoy what you do. Keep this in mind whenever you're going through a rough patch. www.ingridvoiceover.com/

So now that we know you have the passion, get rid of it. Take a step back and think objectively. Is it possible to turn your interest in voice acting into a thriving business? Is it possible to sell your voice? You probably already do this kind of market research without even realizing it because you do voiceover work as a hobby. Even the most unusual and one-of-a-kind voices will be sought after by projects and productions if you look hard enough. Consider whether these projects will be frequent enough and profitable enough to allow you to earn a living. What alternatives do you have if not? Change jobs? or, if you want to make yourself more employable, enroll in voice artist training to improve your range and techniques.

2. The business plan: writing a business plan for your voiceover career can be very helpful. I have to admit that I didn't do it right away, but it's a good way to sharpen your focus, get into a professional mindset, and precisely define what you want to accomplish, how, and when. Also, it's a great time to dream! They're great to have on hand to refer to as your company grows and changes. On the internet, you can find a variety of general business templates, and voices.com offers one that is made especially for voiceover artists. If you need to get a bank loan or an overdraft, for example, a business plan is also essential. Investors want to see exactly what they're investing in in black and white. Financial matters also lead me to my next point... Finance: how much money will you need, for what purpose, and how will you get it? The credit crunch doesn't seem to be going away, so getting money from investors and banks isn't as easy as it used to be. Therefore, you'll need to think about your options. First, tell me why you need the money. In the beginning, you'll need money to pay your bills and eat until your business starts. According to some, a company needs about three years to truly establish itself and begin to earn a respectable income. So having money saved, having a second job, or, in my case, like many others, having a partner or spouse who is understanding and has a steady income!

What else do you require funding for? A home studio is a top priority for the majority of voiceover artists. I won't go into detail here because there are a lot of articles, blogs, and podcasts about home studio equipment and how much it costs. Simply put, when you're just getting started, you really don't need all of the fancy equipment. Start small and build your equipment chain around your growing expertise and experience. I didn't even have a proper microphone when I started working as a voiceover artist! I used software to edit the audio and recorded it into a Sony digital video camera! Although the audio wasn't the best, it helped me land jobs, build my portfolio, and increase my bank balance so I could afford better equipment! Visit harlanhogan.com to see Harlan Hogan's portable studio booth, which costs $129—what more could you ask for?—and his article on how to construct one yourself. Spend wisely and carefully: do you really require ISDN facilities immediately? Therefore, let's examine additional setup costs.

4. Costs associated with setting up include business cards, website design, domain registration, hosting, office supplies, and costs associated with advertising and marketing, among other things. Determine what you really require right now, what you would like to have in the future, and what you really can do without. Also, think about your skills and what you can do yourself to save money. Do you really need a website designer? Can you make a simple website with FrontPage? Or why not buy a cheap web template that you can change to fit your needs? Are there any products or services for which you could offer an exchange in exchange for your voiceover work? Check with your neighborhood printers to see if they will print some free business cards or letterhead in exchange for recording your website's audio or phone greetings. Also, always check around online to find a variety of prices for anything you need. Vistaprint has a great selection of free business cards and cheap postcards for marketing.

5. Professionalism. Start with a professional attitude. People need to see that you are a serious professional in everything you do and how you do business. Get some business cards, a work phone number so you can be heard on the business line voicemail, and a professional email address for your business. And get professional help. It doesn't take long to realize that running a voiceover business requires more than just being a voiceover actor. You now have to manage a wide range of tasks, including the following: administration, sales and marketing, and bookkeeping Hire an accountant if you don't already have one, and if you need to write a contract, why not hire a lawyer? Some of these tasks would really benefit from expert assistance. This is also true for legal and tax issues: Rather than trying to clean up a mess later, it's much simpler and less expensive to get these things in order right away. Whether you register as a sole proprietor or a company will have an impact on the tax you must pay and the VAT you may be required to pay. If you need all the information and forms you need, it's a good idea to get professional help from your local tax office.