Short answer: No. We need to carefully manage your job to ensure that it meets our quality standards and our committment to you (such as meeting a schedule). We are more efficient and stay on top of the job if we perform all work in-house. Also, if we job it out, the advantages of our project-team approach are very limited. We would not be able to assign specialists onto different aspects, be able to closely monitor progress, or be able to shift responsibility to maximize your results. We like to micro-manage.

We don't intend to demean contractors in any way; obviously, many are extremely professional and capable. It simply does not fit our philosophy to take on a distributor function or be a job center for contract writers. This is not to say that we never use outside services. On some projects (typically large ones) an outside specialist might be part of the team. But project management, quality control, and project "assembly" are always important in-house tasks.

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No project is too small for us. We are delighted to help you with small tasks such as writing or polishing up a letter, or correcting the grammar and overall coherence of a first or second draft of a document. Or perhaps you need an outsider's view of the effectiveness of the document, and some suggestions of how to improve it.

On the other end of the scale, some projects may be too big for us to do efficiently. First we need to understand the size of your project. Then we will be frank about if we can do it, and how long it will take. However, any project of less than a dozen pages is well within our current capabilities. And remember, we specialize in proposals, so we are not afraid of difficult jobs.

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In some cases we can turn a document around within an hour. When you fill out our form, simply request speedy service. Our goal is to be as efficient as a dedicated writer in your own office. But realistically, we might be swamped at times. We will respond with our quotation within 30 minutes after we receive your request. If we cannot perform the task within the time you have requested then we will inform you in that quotation of the schedule that we can meet.

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We are strict about maintaining the confidentiality of documents, names and other private information. Our computer systems are secure, and our staff are professionals. (They have been "vetted", and have signed confidentiality agreements). You can be assured that your work is safe. You should look at our policies.

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Yes. We have some examples of letters that you can use. We also describe how to structure a proposal and how we write a proposal. In those sections we also discuss some techniques for effective business writing, such as using the active voice.

One of the best tools you can have is a good "handbook of grammar", (as well as a good dictionary). The "handbook" can be purchased in most larger bookstores, and certainly in any college or university bookstore.

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We know a lot, due to our collective experience. For example, we know what a venture capital organization usually expects. We know what government agencies usually expect. Likewise for bankers, educational institutions, and so on.

Of course we need your input, because you likely know the most about the reader. You also know the most about the objectives of the particular document you are writing. So it is very important that you help us by providing that information, when you submit a document to us. We will ask you in our quotation (or earlier) for additional information if we require it.

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Absolutely. We have helped many Asian writers in particular. You want to make a good impression, and you want to be sure that you have made the statements you intended. We can usually quickly correct your letter or other document. Because we have taught English grammar, we know many details that even experienced English-speaking professionals don't know.

Recently, we corrected a word usage for a lawyer we know. He had been using "it's" incorrectly ever since starting his practice seven years ago. It was a very obvious error, but nobody had pointed it out, despite the many legal documents he had written.

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No. We are not prepared to try and interpret and "type up" hand-written notes or drafts. If you are not able to key it in, then a local copy shop will probably do it for you. Then send the file in to us (on the website service form).

We will accept faxed materials that you think are important for us to see, so we can prepare a good business document. For example, a company brochure would certainly help us prepare a proposal-type document. In fact, when we can see the need, we would naturally request that you send such items.

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Yes. We have prepared many business plans, of many different types.

Some business plans are simply internal-type reports, while others are a type of proposal (eg. to a potential investor). The distinguishing feature of a business plan is the forecasted financial data (proforma). Other than the challenges of working with that financial data, the communication task is quite similar to that of any other business proposal.

Over 20 years we have written business plan (proposals) to banks, venture capital groups, and potential partnering corporations. A majority have been successful!

Interestingly, there has been an "evolution" in what people expect, accept, and respect. Sometimes the most carefully constructed traditional proposal is required and successful, but increasingly, a highly "creative" proposal wins out, particularly when there are lots of competing proposals. The bottom line is that an effective communication is one that gets the desired results.

If you want us to work on a business plan, it will require our careful evaluation, and thorough communication between us. Of course a 'review" or "repair" of one you have ready might not take long.

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Yes and no. As we state in our ethics policy, we won't write them for you, and we are careful to avoid working directly on your project. So essentially, we are willing to review and mark your work, with comments and notations (but no grades!).

Of course we may not know much about your topic, but we can see if the paper communicates effectively and meets academic standards. We know how to do this because we've marked (and written) a lot of college papers.

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We guarantee your satisfaction. We want your repeat business, and the business of your friends and associates.

If you tell us you are unhappy then we will try to satisfy you by fixing or redoing the job. For a small project, such as a letter, the short time for a fix is usually not an issue.

During a large project we will be in touch with you at various stages, so any disagreement about expected standards will come to light early on.

On occasion there is ultimately a difference of opinion on the success of a project. In those cases we compromise on our fee, because we are reasonable and pofessional. We hope you're reasonable about this too.

However, if you are finally and genuinely disatisfied, we will issue you a full refund of any amount you have already paid. Be sure to read our guarantee policy. You might also want to read our terms of quotations and our limit of liability policy.

You will see from these policies that after you have received the finished document from us, you must review it right away; then our job is over. In all cases, the effect it has on your business (or life) is not our concern. The resulting benefits or problems are yours, not ours.

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