Benefits of Association

Do you belong to an Association of Professional Process Servers? If not, why not? There are several possibilities: NAPPS (National Association of Professional Process Servers) provides a directory of 11 chartered state associations and 10 non chartered state associations on their NAPPS website. You may also wish to join (IPSA) International Process Servers Association and/or the United States Process Servers Association (USPSA). Research the association(s) of interest to see which one will best serve your needs and to ascertain your eligibility requirements.

We belong to the National Association of Professional Process Servers, a national association.  It is an excellent conduit for obtaining assignments from other process servers and law firms, especially from those outside your city or state.  There are many excellent benefits of membership. The NAPPS is very affordable to join, provided you are eligible, and the return on your investment is sometimes ten to twenty times what you put into it. 

The state associations operate similar to NAPPS in terms of representing the interests of their members; some of them work hard to lobby their interests with the state legislature or county governments, and educate members on how to serve process or pass along important information about changes or events within the industry.  Just like NAPPS, the local association can be a good way to network with other servers in other parts of your state so that if they have a court document that needs to be served in your city, they may call you to serve it for them rather than drive across the state to serve it themselves, as you may do for them likewise. 

Business Tool Recommendations for the Process Server

Every business requires the use of tools; process service is no different. It would be difficult to find a businessperson today that does not have at a minimum a cell phone, and most likely a smartphone. Today’s wireless society allows the process server, who most often spends hours on the road, the convenience of a mobile office. A portable (i.e., not desktop) computer or tablet, a mobile wireless printer, and a smartphone are a good beginning set of basic technology tools for the process server. You receive a call on your smartphone from a client who already has the court documents in their office or they have sent you an email requesting service. All the client has to do is scan and email the documents; once received you simply print them from your computer, tablet or phone and serve them.

Okay, so that is a basic beginning set of technology tools. What should I add to establish a fully functioning business?

While nice, it is not necessary or sometimes practical to have everything when first starting out. We began with a single desktop computer, printer, fax machine, cell phone, traditional phone and a functioning automobile. Even with limited funds, as long as you have a telephone and a vehicle for getting around, you can begin a process service business. Yes, even if you cannot afford a computer, you could operate a process serving business … at least in the beginning.  It would be difficult and you would not be very competitive, but you could get moving and start obtaining clients, start serving papers, and start making money.  So, there are no excuses. I wouldn’t recommend it, but it can be done.

As your revenue increases, assess your needs and increase your business tools. Determine your system needs (such as management software) as well as your equipment needs. Technology changes rapidly so it is wise to budget upgrades.

Provided you have some funds, here is what I suggest as bare minimum equipment to have if you want to have a business in process serving that will bring in clients, look professional, operate competitively, and complete assignments efficiently:

Any computer with internet access

A printer (A black and white laser is preferable, plus will cost less to operate. Check out all-in-one laser printers that afford you the opportunity to print, copy, fax and scan all from one machine; you may save money in the long run)

Fax machine
Cell phone
Desktop copier
A functioning, preferably fuel-efficient, vehicle
Basic office supplies – paper, envelopes, staples/stapler, paperclips, pens, printer/copier ink 

Once you really get going and want to run with, or ahead of, the pack, here is the equipment I recommend:

Wifi – to receive assignments or contact by email while you are on the road
Portable printers – to print assignments in your car as you go 
Cell phone - iPhones/Blackberry/smart phone
Copier
A functioning, very fuel efficient, vehicle
Conventional phone line or even an internet phone
A seriously big desk space
Fax machine
Postage meter
Business Cards
Office supplies - paper, envelopes, paperclips, staples, staplers, toner, folders, pens, mailing labels, whiteout, adhesive tape, etc.
High speed scanner
Forms to use for various office tasks – faxing, correspondence, field sheets, maps
Field equipment – binoculars, flashlight, clipboard, pens, note pad, water bottle, contact cards, vehicle phone charger

There are many other articles and items of equipment and supplies that you might need at one time or another. The above lists are certainly not all-inclusive, but should be enough to get you up and running, keep you profitable and competitive, and start you on the road to running a respectable process serving company.