How To Start And Operate A Dating And Escort Agency

Starting and operating a successful Dating and Escort Service can

bring in $20,000 or more per year for the sharp, aggressive,

imaginative business person.

The secret to success with a business of this kind is advertising

that presents your services with a "show business" flair - while

still maintaining good taste.

Most successful Escort Services are natural expansions of

businesses begun originally as Introduction and Dating Services.

To get started, you need an impressive looking application form.

Research into a number of successful operations seems to indicate

that a four-page application works well.

This should be typeset with an attractive letterhead or company

masthead on A4 paper, folded in half to give the impression of a

'personnel file'.

Your best paper colours are either pale blue or ivory.

The better paper stock you can afford, the more impressive your

application will be, giving a greater aura of credibility to your

business, and thus to prospective clients.

In addition to the usual questions such as name, address,

telephone number, marital status, place of employment, hobbies,

likes and dislikes, your application should contain:

A short personality test which can be obtained with a bit of

research at your public library.

For ideas, samples, and even tests you can use intact, be sure to

check some of the women's magazines.

And don't discount the idea of registering at an already

established business of this type; or possibly you can see their

application form without actually involving yourself any further.

Or inquire among friends and acquaintances who have registered

with a dating or escort service.

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Near the end of the application, you should include a short

paragraph pointing out the fact that your organisation, in

addition to bringing people together as a dating service, also

provides an escort service for out of town visitors and local

non-members.

You then pose the question: "Would you be interested in these

kinds of dates, which would include all expenses, and a minimum

fee of $25 for what usually amounts to a very delightful time with

an interesting person.  Your only obligation ever is to be your

usual charming self and enjoy".

Just before or above the blank for your applicant's signature,

include a legal disclaimer to any responsibilities or promises

implied and/or not specifically stated within the application.

The building in which you locate: for this one, you'll need a

store-front office, and it should be in a better part of the area.

Try to select a site that is upbeat and attractive without being

"jivey" - one that would appeal to the more conservative or mature

as well as the younger generation.

Many of your clients are going to be mature, and be reminded, the

mature, intelligent sector of our society is "getting younger" and

more vigorous, "still interested in life" more than in years past.

In other words, the section where you locate should reflect a

modern attitude, but with solid values.

The reception area of your office should be large and comfortable,

with as expensive a look as you can manage.

Your receptionist is very important.

She should be attractive, with a vivacious and outgoing

personality.

She should be able to quickly put your prospective clients at

ease, and generally make them feel that belonging to your group is

going to be the beginning of happier times, fun, and lasting

friendships.

You should have at least two expensive looking picture scrapbooks

on the coffee table in your reception room.

These you can fill with portrait or candid shots of your members

and clients.

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These pictures can pose a problem for you while you are in the

beginning stages, so don't hesitate to gather pictures of various

relatives, friends who are not necessarily located in your area -

or even visit a nearby college and ask if you can take some

photos.

You will need to get a release signed by each one, and you simply

explain that you are putting together a picture display book of

people in the area for the promotion of your business, and their

names and any other information will not be publicised or

released.

After your prospective client has filled out the application, the

next step is a personal interview.

Your office should be cosy and comfortable, but business like, and

you should arrange for uninterrupted time in complete privacy with

each person.

You should use this interview as the basis of your estimate of the

kind of person most likely to match this client.

Be empathetic with your clients; you are going to meet people who

are tired of the "dating game" as it is usually played out in

singles bars and unproductive groups they had joined before.

You might get added help in the interviewing by writing for

advertising material and brochures from similar services in other

areas, adapting any techniques you like to your own interviewing

process.

Most escort services we looked into publish a monthly newsletter

with tidbits of information.

Who's doing what, job changing, who's travelling, plus a listing

of upcoming events and activities.

Some of these newsletters feature 'girl and guy of the month',

with lots of pictures, involved in hobbies at home, and candid

shots of everyday life.

Usually, the escort service itself will sponsor an "all

membership" party about once every three months to introduce other

members and project a sense of "family" and belonging.

As we said earlier, advertising is the key to your success with

this project.

A small classified ad, run about for a week in the "Personal

Column" of your area newspaper should start the ball rolling.

Some ideas for pulling enquiries from men might read like this:

'Career woman, new to area, seeking dates with honest, fun loving

guys.  Call Barbara, 12345'.

or

'Young recent divorcee ready to start dating again.  Call Linda on

12345'.

And for attracting enquiries from women:

'Young business executive wants to meet eligible ladies.  Call Ron

at 12345'.

or

'Active and ambitious young man wants to meet wholesome kind of

girl.  Call Brian on 12345'.

At the time you have an ad of this type running, you'll want to

have bulletin board ads and notices everywhere, in a many company

newspapers as you can get into, and wherever people are most

likely to take notice.

This ad should be a straight advertisement inviting people to "get

out of the rate race" of the singles game by joining your

organisation.

You'll of course emphasize confidentially, respectability, and the

fact you only deal with people who are really serious about

meeting new friends and forming lasting relationships.

Your ads soliciting new members should tell readers you'll help

them meet new friends and enjoy dates with people, especially

matched to their own likes and dislikes.

A sense of fun and excitement should be conveyed, but at the same

time, honesty, respectability and trust.

You cannot use flashy headlines or pictures of models that give a

connotation of an invitation into the bedroom.

Write your ads from the point of view of the people you want to

sell to - build from what you believe to be their special wants,

and visualise their thinking.

Put yourself in the place of a prospective new member, and

understand that it takes a great deal of nerve, we might even call

it courage, to make that move to ask for help in dating - it is

generally easier to just let things slide along - stay in that

same old "rut" than to ask for help - and risk disappointment.

You'll have to have a "planned explanation" when people call in to

answer to your ads.

Quickly get the name and phone number, ask a few questions, and

set up an appointment for him or her to come into your office.

When you are in the interview, be bright, inviting, but factual

and brief, and don't lose control of the conversation.

Best to have your questions and answers written out in the order

that works best to pull the prospect into your office, and then

follow it to the letter.

When you're ready to expand with Escort Services, get the word out

to all the likely places where people wanting these services will

see your ads or hear about you in friend-to-friend conversation.

Have some interesting posters made up inviting people to call

asking about your charming escorts for every occasion - dinner

dates, banquets, parties, theatre dates, dancing and special

occasions.

Try to get one of these up on the wall at the airport, train and

bus stations, and in the better hotel lobbies in your area -

anywhere where travellers are likely to notice them.

Run a regular ad in your Thursday and Friday papers, and also in

the Yellow Pages.

Pass out business cards to all the car rental agencies and the

restaurants near the travel centres and to anyone and everyone

having anything to do with convention or tourist arrangements in

your area.

You will have to experiment and test to determine the right fee to

charge for providing an escort, but with most escort services, the

minimum is $50 plus all expenses.

This is a business that will provide pleasure and profit to a

person who is outgoing, fun-loving, gregarious, but who is

sensitive to the needs of others, and enjoys seeing people 'get a

new start', or seeing more reserved ones 'come out of their

shells'.