Business Move Checklist

Before You Move

Contact STC members in your new location

Ask questions about the technical communication market.

Be sure to contact the jobs, membership, and CIC SIG managers.

Set up meetings to get acquainted with key members when you visit your new location.

Find a position in the chapter that needs filling and volunteer to fill it.

Try to get phone books for your new location from the phone company, a friend in the area, or an STC contact.

Contact your new state's small business assistance organization.

Request information about registering your trade name, if appropriate.

Request other state business information and regulations.

Contact the department in your current state about changing or canceling your trade name registration.

Notify your current clients about your upcoming move.

Plan how you will work with current clients from your new location.

Decide if the moving company will move your computer hardware or if you can take it yourself.

Regardless of what you decide, make at least one complete backup of your entire hard drive that travels in a different vehicle.

Decide whether you need a new Internet service provider (ISP).

If you do, ask your networking contacts in the new location for recommendations.

Plan how to handle the address change on your letterhead, envelopes, business cards, and any other materials you have.

Send your changes of address.

Ask your local phone company about the intercept message for your old phone number

How long will the message be available?

Can you extend that time?

For how long and at what cost?

After the Move

Find new professionals and service providers.

Register your trade name in your new state.

Obey other state regulations based on the form of your business.

Volunteer for your new STC chapter or other organizations.

Stay in touch with networking contacts from your old location.

Network, network, network.

Address Changes

Associations

Bank

Credit cards

Current clients

Current networking contacts

Frequent flyer accounts

Insurance agents and carriers

Health

Business

Other

Networking contacts in the new location

Past clients

Post office - include your business name on your change of address form

Publications

Software and hardware registrations

Find New

Attorney

Bank

Computer vendor

Copying service

CPA/accountant

Graphic artist

Internet service provider

Insurance agent

Laser printer cartridge recycler

Library

Printing company