Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

kimbeckers · #1 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008

I have just set up a meeting with a potential client for this Thursday at our local diner.

The gentlemen contacted me after I sent him a post card offering my virtual assistance and bookkeeping services to his business.

He asked me how long I was doing bookkeeping and told me that he thinks we can help each other out because he mangages a lot of accountants in the area and deals with a lot of small business owners. Sounded like a win win to me so I agreed to have the lunch meeting with him.

Now I am wishing that I would have gotten a little more information about the agenda of the meeting as I am not sure what his intentions are and how I should approach this meeting? I am not sure what to bring or talk about. This is only my second lunch meeting with a potential client; the first one was a lot more straightforward as I contacted them thru an ad they had placed looking for outsourced help.

So my questions are how can I tactfily ask this guy what his intentions are, i have his email and was thinking about sending him an email somehting like:

Quote:

Hi Joe,

It was a pleasure speaking with you on the phone this afternoon. I would like to confirm our appointment for Thursday, August 7th for 12noon at the Suffolk Diner.

Also, could you please clarify agenda of the meeting so that I can better prepare myself for our meeting so that I am not wasting either of our time.

I look forward to your reply.

Thank you,

I am just not sure how to handle this and how to find out what is intentions are, I cannot even excalty figure out what this guy does, his website is http://www.innovativeplanning.com

Also, should I be springing for lunch or does he?

I welcome your feedback,

Thank you,
Kim

lanelt · #2 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008

Kim,

From his website it looks to me like he sells investment products. My guess would be that he wants to meet you to have you as a referral for his clients. I have worked with investment people in the past and they like to have a quality bookkeeper that they can refer their clients to.

Personally, I would treat the meeting as a networking type meeting. He will probably want to explain his services to you in the hopes that the two of you can be referral partners. So, be ready to listen to his sales talk. If you are working with small businesses it actually can be very helpful to have an investment person that you know and trust to refer people to so this could be a very good contact to have.

Any lunch meeting I have I go knowing I might pay but I usually go with the flow.

kimbeckers · #3 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008

Thanks Lanel,

That is kinda what I was thinking he wanted from it and I was going to go with the flow of the meeting to feel out if I should pay or not.

I am just not sure what I actually have to offer him right now and what to say at the meeting, I have not actually been to any networking events yet and I am unsure of what to bring with me and how to present myself, and I now find myself getting a bit nervous about what I should say, and wear and bring with me and such.

I wish I could get a little more info from him before the meeting to prepare myself.

Kim

AwesomeAssistant · #4 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008

Kim,

Great news on your meeting. I understand your feeling a bit anxious about it. I like the idea of sending an email to confirm. But instead of saying "Also, could you please clarify agenda of the meeting so that I can better prepare myself for our meeting so that I am not wasting either of our time", I'd go with something more like..."To be better prepared for our meeting, please tell me what you expect the end result of this meeting will be" or something like that.

I would go dressed professionally with your business cards and any other marketing materials you have. Remember, you are interviewing him as much as he is you. You get to decide whether you want to hire him as a client or not. And if it's just for referrals, that can be a very good thing.

I'd also plan on paying, just in case.

Let us know how it works out.

Robin_Holstein · #5 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008

I think I would gather up my marketing materials, a notepad and pen, business cards, lunch money and just go. I wouldn't email back anything other than perhaps a confirmation that I still planned to attend. Maybe in that note I would mention I am bringing some items he can keep and review and I look forward to discussing what he needs and the services I can offer.

He may not know what he needs. If you don't have "marketing materials" put some together, make a nice folder and give it to him during lunch. Review the materials, be prepared to say " I can do that" or "I don't do that."

Don't stress over it. Ride the wave ~~~

kimbeckers · #6 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008

Thanks ladies,

I have a brochure and business cards should I make additional marketing materials for the meeting? or is this good enough?

Thanks,
Kim

Perfect Solutions · #7 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008

I usually send a "pre-consultation questionnaire" before the meeting so it describes exactly what is expected at the meeting. I got the form here and tailored it to the actual client. This way there is no questions as to the agendas of both parties.

Hope this helps,

Administrative Partners · #8 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008

A pre consultation questionnaire will take that guess work out of this. However, I rarely find a potential client that actually fills it out prior to the meeting. But when sending it, I let them know that this will guide our conversation -- this way you are in control. Don't LET HIM set the agenda. What do you want to get out of this meeting?

lanelt · #9 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008

Originally Posted by kimbeckers

I have a brochure and business cards should I make additional marketing materials for the meeting? or is this good enough?

Bring what you already have. I wouldn't bring anything new. Since it sounds like he wants to build a referral relationship be sure to bring lots of business cards for him to keep.

Originally Posted by kimbeckers

I am just not sure what I actually have to offer him right now and what to say at the meeting, I have not actually been to any networking events yet and I am unsure of what to bring with me and how to present myself, and I now find myself getting a bit nervous about what I should say, and wear and bring with me and such.

I wish I could get a little more info from him before the meeting to prepare myself.

Don't worry what you have to offer him in the form of referrals. You initiated the contact with what you have to offer him as a VA and the services you offer. If, in the future, you can offer him referrals (and WANT to) then good for him. Don't worry about that now. Just focus on what you can do for him and, possibly, his clients.

As far as what to wear, dress professionally. You know your area so you would know if you need to wear a business suit or business dress. Dress for where you live and who you're meeting but always dress professionally.

Don't stress about what you don't know, think about what you DO know. He contacted you from something you sent him. So take it from there. Don't read too much into the meeting. Be prepared to present the best business you can and go for it.

Good luck!