Startup Consultation, System Selection, and Information Gathering | Various Preparations for Opening a Business
[Table of Contents]
① Had my second startup consultation (at the city office)
② Regarding the selection of a core system for a labor and social security attorney office (in progress)
③ Regarding information gathering (in progress)
④ A story about how I realized that time spent hesitating is not wasted
① Had my second startup consultation (at the city office)
This time, rather than a new consultation, I asked several questions
about the finer points of practical work.
What accounting software do you use?
How do you manage business bank accounts?
Do you use an IC recorder? And so on.
I asked frankly aboutexamples from other professionals around me and how the teacher themselves actually handles thingsAmong these, what was particularly helpful was
about using an IC recorderThe teacher told me:
In professional work, recording is very common.
Listening accurately and keeping records is essential for maintaining trust.
If you ask for permission beforehand, clients will naturally accept it.
I learned points like these.
It was also very helpful to learn that they routinely use data recorded on an IC recorder to create meeting minutes using
a transcription tool called nottaand that they even demonstrated the process on their PC screen using notta. While receiving the startup consultation, I also had
an unexpected major learning experienceThat was about the importance of "how to listen." I realized firsthand how much it supports one's feelings to be heard until the end without being interrupted, especially when you have something you want to talk about. This experience served as a very helpfulimportant mindset
for when I am in the position of listening to clients after opening my business.
・First, try to listen to everything the other person wants to say without interrupting.
・I want to value empathizing with the speaker's feelings above all else.
It became a
valuable simulationthat made me think that way.
② Regarding the selection of a core system for a labor and social security attorney office (in progress)
As I proceed with preparations for opening my business, one of the things I want to decide soon is
the "core system"for my office. It is an essential system for running daily operations, such as payroll calculation, social insurance and labor insurance procedures, and electronic applications. Since it is a part that greatly affects office operations and cannot be easily changed, I am considering it carefully. Currently, I am narrowing it down to the two major software options,
Sharoumu
and
Office Station Pro
and am deliberating on which one to choose. Sharoumu provides peace of mind because it can manage the entire office's operations, from payroll calculation to procedures and customer management, in an integrated manner. However, since the lower-tier plans have few usable features, I feel that I would end up needing to choose a mid-tier plan. It felt like it was aimed at medium to large offices with several or more staff members. On the other hand, Office Station Pro felt like it had settings that are easy to use even for a newly opened one-person office. I also felt it was good that the support is thorough and that it is ahead in terms of API integration with other software. When I requested materials from both companies online,
I received phone calls from both companies the next day.
Following that, I received an explanation about Office Station Pro via Zoom today. It was also a gain to be able to hear about the "various preparations before opening" from professionals who actually contracted with Office Station Pro and opened their businesses.
Both are systems with a proven track record used by many labor and social security attorney offices. Each has its strengths, but I am thinking about which one fits
the scale of my office and how I will proceed with my work from now on
I want to deepen my understanding from that perspective and make a decision I am satisfied with.
③ Regarding information gathering (in progress)
As I proceed with preparations for opening my business, another thing I am struggling with is
how to gather informationSince I don't have anyone nearby I can consult directly when opening my business, I started by relying on the internet and books to trace the experiences of those who have actually opened their businesses. In the process, I learned about services such as
PSR Network
, HRbasePRO, and SJS (Nihon Horei). Honestly, I also had anxiety that my own knowledge and experience were not yet sufficient, so at first, I felt like "I want to sign up for everything I can use." This is because I felt that a lack of information was the biggest risk. However, on the other hand, I felt that if I spread myself too thin without sufficient organization, I would lose sight of what I really need right now. Looking back at my past self, there is a tendency I should reflect on regarding information gathering. It is the memory of being driven by anxiety to collect a lot of information, being satisfied with having collected it, or getting tired and being unable to take almost any action. So, I had ChatGPT organize the content and positioning of each service and think about thepriorities
for me. Being able to get an overview and organize the information made me feel much calmer. As a result, I decided to first join
PSR Network
. After joining, I have started to utilize it little by little, such as by downloading materials from the site and customizing them for myself, and listening to free seminars. I have a sense of security that "information that can be used immediately after opening the business is available."
HRbasePRO is not a collection of templates, but a Q&A and practical database, and I have determined it to be a
"tool for reinforcing explanatory power and decision-making criteria."
Initially, I thought about incorporating it before opening to use for study, but
through my dialogue with ChatGPT, I decided to reconsider its introduction
once I have 3 to 5 clients and my consulting work increases.
SJS (Nihon Horei) is something I have recently purchased "Business Guide" and "SR (Specialized Magazine for New Labor and Social Security Attorneys)" from bookstores, so I thought that
properly organizing the information I currently have on hand is the priority. I think I will join SJS (Nihon Horei) in a few months. It is not limited to information gathering, but
choosing what fits my current stage and mastering it
is important, I tell myself. My information gathering regarding Labor and Social Security Attorney work has only just begun, but I intend to absorb it without rushing, changing it into a form that suits me one by one.
④ In Conclusion (A story about how I came to feel that time spent hesitating is not wasted)
If you do nothing, no information will come in from anywhere.
On the other hand, if you take a little action, you are exposed to a flood of information,
and there were times when I felt like stopping out of anxiety, wondering if I wasn't doing anything or if I lacked knowledge.
At such times, by throwing questions to ChatGPT one by one and organizing my thoughts,
the order of "what I should do now" and "what I can put off"
gradually became visible.
It was a big change to be able to think that it is okay to proceed at my own pace without rushing.
As I asked many questions,
I feel that the outline of what kind of Labor and Social Security Attorney office I am aiming for
has also gradually become clearer.
Each small action takes time, but
I feel that I am definitely moving forward now.