Many people out there love genealogy. Some people love genealogy so much that they would be happier if they could do more of it. There is a way to incorporate more genealogy into your life – you can work full time or part time as a professional genealogist. Yes, it’s true. Genealogy can be much more than a hobby. It can provide a satisfying part-time or full time career.
How, exactly, does a person go about setting up a genealogy business? At the most basic level, begin by assessing your genealogy skills. How many years have you spent doing serious genealogy research? Are you familiar with the proper procedures for citing the many various types of records and sources that you find in your research? Do you know about the genealogical standards of proof? What about formal education, training, or other ways that you may have learned about genealogy? Are you good at writing research reports? An honest self-assessment is essential to determine whether you will be able to provide professional genealogy services right away, or whether you would benefit from further education and training. If your self-evaluation reveals that you need more education that is not necessarily a bad thing. If you love genealogy, learning more about it could actually be quite fun and interesting.
Next, explore the possibility of starting a genealogy business the same way that you would prepare to establish any other type of business by writing up a business plan. As you go through the process of writing a business plan, you will get an idea of what your genealogy business will look like. Will it be full time or part time? What resources will you need to get started? What services will you provide? Who are your potential clients, and how will you attract business? These are just a few of the many questions that you will think about throughout the process of writing your business plan.
As with any other business venture, starting a genealogy business is not without its risks. However, if you thoroughly research and plan your entry into the genealogy services market before you begin, you could soon find yourself helping others discover their roots while earning some money.