How to Open a Dating Service Business

Dating is a part of human mating process whereby two people meet socially for companionship, beyond the level of friendship, or with the aim of each assessing the other's suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or marriage. It can be a form of courtship consisting of social activities done by the couple. While the term has several meanings, it usually refers to the act of meeting and engaging in some mutually agreed upon social activity in public, together, as a couple. The protocols and practices of dating, and the terms used to describe it, vary considerably from country to country and over time. The most common idea is two people trying out a relationship and exploring whether they are compatible by going out together in public as a couple who may or may not yet be having sexual relations. This period of courtship is sometimes seen as a precursor to engagement or marriage. Finding a partner helps many peoples' lives feel complete. Sometimes finding the perfect date means seeking assistance from an experienced matchmaker or relationship expert. If you find that either one of those situations rings true for people you know, consider starting a dating services business that helps people meet potential life partners. You can open and operate this low-cost start-up business from home, if you have a private home office where you can meet with potential clients to discuss their dating needs and preferences.

Things Needed

Matchmaking systems and services

Video dating systems of the 1980s and 1990s especially, where customers gave a performance on (typically VHS) video, which was viewable by other customers, usually in private, in the same facility. Some services would record and play back videos for men and women on alternate days to minimize the chance that customers would meet each other on the street.

Phone dating systems of about the same vintage, where customers call a common voice mail or phone-chat server at a common local phone number, and are connected with other (reputed) singles, and typically charged by the minute as if it were a long-distance call (often a very expensive one). A key problem of such systems was that they were hard to differentiate from a phone porn service or "phone sex" where female operators are paid to arouse male customers and have no intention of ever dating them.

Online dating services are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide. They charge a fee to enable a user to post a profile of himself or herself, perhaps using video or still images as well as descriptive data and personal preferences for dating, such as age range, hobbies, and so forth. Online dating is a $2 billion per year business, as of 2014, with an annual growth rate of 5%. The industry is dominated by a few large companies, such as EHarmony, Zoosk and InterActiveCorp, or IAC, which owns several brands including Match.com and OKCupid. However new entrants continue to emerge

Dating Service Business Instruction:

Step 1

Research the dating industry to get an idea of the types of services and products these businesses offer to people who are navigating the dating scene. Discover why people date, whether it’s to have fun, enjoy new experiences, make friends, find love or get married.

Step 2

Figure out what your target market is and whether you’ll focus on a specific niche within the dating services industry. You may elect to help recent college graduates find dates with other recent graduates, your business could help women over 50 find dates or you may set up a dating service that targets professional men who own their own businesses. By selecting a niche, or clearly identifying your market, you’ll be able to better target your advertising efforts to recruit clients.

Step 3

Research your local market to see if there are other dating services that target a similar market. Find out what services they offer, where they advertise and their approach to attracting clients. Come up with ways to differentiate yourself, whether through pricing, offering varied services or creating an exciting personality for your dating services business.

Step 4

Come up with a list of services you plan to offer. You might offer matchmaking, provide date night ideas, give coaching on what do and what not do on a first date, assist clients with selecting body-appropriate wardrobes or host speed dating events. Assign a cost to each service you provide; whether you charge per hour or per service, having pricing guidelines is essential.

Step 5

Use your research to come up with a clever, attention-grabbing name for your dating services business. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce to find out if there are special licenses or permits you need before you open your dating services business. Find out how to register your business as a legal entity in your state and get your company registered.

Step 6

Purchase general liability business insurance to protect your company from potential litigation. Every date you set up may not go as planned, and not every client may feel that he got the services he paid for.

Step 7

Set up your private home office in an area of your home that’s away from distraction. If possible, opt for a location that has a private entrance separate from the rest of your home. If you don’t have a home office, lease space in the area you plan to target.

Step 8

Hire a web designer and a graphic design to create marketing pieces for your dating services business. You need a logo, business card template, brochures, a website and a blog, all appropriate to your business. Go for a light-hearted design scheme rather than something ultra-serious.

Step 9

Promote your dating services business to your target market through online and offline advertising. Attend events that your target customers frequent, whether business and networking meetings, the library or coffee shops. Pitch dating stories that include tips and advice to local print publications and blogs to begin positioning yourself as a dating expert.

Tips

Make a list of additional dating offerings to up sell clients, and choose several to incorporate into your dating business for additional fees. These might include one-on-one consultations, wardrobe analysis, etiquette classes or date planning.

Remember to be empathetic with clients, who may be fresh from disastrous relationships or exhausted from the dating scene. Be ready to listen and offer encouragement.

If working in an office, have a wall of photographs of your clients. This helps you see who you are working for and also helps when others looking for love come to you. The visual aid of pictures can help them narrow down the type of person they are searching for.

Make it clear to your clients that you are a dating service committed to helping people find love, not just for sexual encounters.

Warnings

Because many potential clients will first learn about your dating business from the company website, this is no place to cut corners. Purchase the best technology and design talent that you can afford. Customers will use the website to gauge your company’s quality and authenticity, so broken links or shoddy graphics will send them running to a more professional website.

Some clients will be wary about the safety of dating someone they've met online or through a dating service. Consider offering the guarantee that all clients have been screened for criminal records or marital status, and follow through.

The dating business market is already very crowded with highly competitive industry heavyweights pitching to a broad market, according to Dating Site Builder. Online Dating Magazine recommends building your dating business around a niche market.

Do not forget to screen your clients. Make sure you check background records for criminal activity.

Only 1% of dating services survive, so have a clear business plan in place.

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Monday, March 2, 2015