Start your own business!

If you have considered becoming a senior move manager, but don't know where to begin, Smooth Transitions® might just have the answer.

There are several options for you to start your own business without the learning curve required by most ventures.

You can become a licensee. It would allow you to use the Smooth Transitions® name, training, logo, artwork, be included on the Website, protected territory, phone consultation, referrals, discounts on the Moving for Seniors Workbook. The one time fee is paid half down and the remainder in monthly installments. The fee is based upon the size of the territory you wish to protect/serve.

Your only additional start up expenses would be for insurance and printing costs. This is assuming you already have the basic computer/internet connections, phone and general office setup.

If you have already established a name/logo you wish to use, but want a jumpstart to the senior moving/household downsizing business you might prefer to purchase only the training component. This can be done in a couple of ways: by purchasing the Training & Operations manual alone or with personal instruction.

Providing services for seniors and their adult children can be a very rewarding, more of a "mission" than just a job. With the ever increasing senior population and the adult children in different cities and/or with full plates of their own, having someone to handle the multitude of details that a move requires is a welcomed relief. If you have patience, organizational skills and the ability to multi-task, then Smooth Transitions® might just be the business for you.

For more information email info@movingforseniors.com, call Barbara H. Morris, President and Founder, (502) 897-9332, or write to 601 Briar Hill Road, Louisville, KY 40206-3011.

Click here for a License and Training Application

"The new Operations & Training Manual is a great resource! It really spells out and illustrates everything I need to have and do to launch and grow Smooth Transitions in Idaho."
Jill Jurvalin
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"To be a senior move manager, ideally you have to love working with seniors and have a true passion for helping them. I LOVE what I'm doing and see a real need for the service. I also did my due diligence when deciding on training. I chose Barbara because I liked her philosophy and her willingness to help her trainees, plus I thought she was very professional. I went for training in June of 2004 and had my first client 10 days later. From her training, my first client thought I was very professional and knew what I was doing. I learned that from Barbara. Also, throughout my 2 years if ever I had any concerns or questions, I never felt awkward speaking with her and she was always open to helping me."
Michele Innenberg
Smooth Transitions Cleveland LLC
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"I am more than happy to recommend Barbara Morris of Smooth Transitions for training. If you are starting a move management company, there is no better source of information or personalized training. Barbara has a special understanding of the population we serve, as well as a particular talent for marketing. While it is my pleasure to answer questions of general information, your "how-to" questions will be answered during training with Barbara. She will provide insights regarding our target market and show you the ways to reach that market.

You will be prepared for interactions with clients, facilities and vendors as soon as you've had training. Nonetheless, your support won't end there--Barbara has set up a very nice email support group, and sends out information to us regularly."
Kim McComas, President
Stress Free Moves, LLC
Virginia

Q & A from someone researching the move managent business:

Barbara Morris at Smooth Transitions gave me your name.  I am in the process of developing a moving management business. I initially considered a franchise and decided against doing that. I found Barbara Morris on the web and bought her consumer book and I liked that a lot.  I have been considering buying her Training Manual. She gave me your name to contact about your perspective on the Training Manual and her training program in general.   I hope you will take a few minutes to share your thoughts with me. .

Tom and I attended Barb's training late last year, and it was just what we needed to jump start our move management business.  Like you, we considered a franchise, but we both have a lot of business experience and used Barb's training to teach us THIS business, without the need to pay residuals.  I cannot recommend her highly enough. See my answers to your questions below.
Patricia Bowen, Partner, Get Ready for Tomorrow,
http://www.getreadyfortomorrow.com/

Did you think the Manual was helpful?
Since we used the manual to take notes in during our training I can't speak to how it would stand alone, and even then I don't know what your business experience is so I can only say I refer to it often.

Did using it help you to move faster on marketing and obtaining your first client?
We used the manual, and the training, and Barb was there for us on the phone and via email for questions and encouragement.

Is the information provided in the manual appreciably different than that in the workbook?
Even though we are "young" in this business, I can tell you it has many nuances that cannot be conveyed in a manual.  Again, I don't know your background, and if you've worked with seniors for a while you may already know the little things that make a difference, and the things that if you don't know can break you.  Barb took us to auctions, to jobs she was working on, to a senior community, all with detailed explanations of how she does things and encouraging questions and comments.

Would you buy it again?
We would buy the training again in a heartbeat.  It has already more than paid for itself in a few months.

What was most helpful?
How-to discussions that went on and on. Establishing priorities.  Ins and outs of the business, many, many. There is nothing like sitting down with someone who has been doing this for over ten years, and who is willing to share all she knows.

What disappointed you?
Not a thing.

Just one final note: this "industry" is catching on, and if you're really serious about being a competitive player in your market, get the training. I don't care how good the manual might be, it's the stories and the support that you'll remember as you're in the trenches.  Invest in yourself and your business.