How To Protect Your Small Business and Give Yourself Security for the Future

Protect Your Small Business

As the owner of a small business, are you constantly worried about the high cost of a single mistake? One lawsuit could take away everything that you have spent years working toward, sinking your company and plunging you into debt. High government taxes could make it impossible for you to turn a profit, even when you are putting in extra hours and doing everything in your power to succeed. There are many issues out there facing people just like you, making the world an unstable and unreliable place, but you will be glad to know that there are ways to protect small business owners and keep their companies growing. 

First of all, incorporating your company can help to save you from the possibly devastating impact of a lawsuit. As an LLC, you will be given some protection that you could not possibly have on your own. However, becoming an LLC is not something that you want to undertake entirely by yourself. You need a registering agent who can go through the process with you, making the transformation legal and efficient. It is not as hard as you may assume to get this type of a safety net in any industry. 

Another issue that any small business has to face is the payment of taxes. The government is always changing the tax laws, so you need a professional to help you see how this alters things for you. Do you feel like the taxes are more invasive every single year, making it incredibly costly just to make a living? Rather than just paying the amount that they ask you for, you have to look at the intricacies of the law that could help you save tremendous amounts every tax season. There are many things that can be written off and benefits to reduce your tax burden, as long as you know what they are. 

Finally, you just need to consider all of the things that make your small business unique and protect yourself against anything that could strip you of that. Identity theft happens in the business world just like it does with people's personal identities. You could also face copyright infringement, trademark infringement, or the theft of your intellectual property if you do not have the right trademarks and copyrights. Getting all of the legal paperwork in place is more and more crucial as your business grows and attracts more attention.  

InCorp has been working to protect small business owners for more than 40 years. They have all of the experience necessary to take on your case, help you incorporate your business, give you assistance with taxes to the full extent of the law, and remove the massive amount of risk and doubt that are hanging over your business right now. Do not let the issues that have damaged so many other businesses impact you, as well. Get in touch with InCorp today to find out just how easy it is to get the protection and assistance that you need. 

Everything You Need To Know About Outsourcing in a Small Business

Outsourcing in a Small Business

Small businesses today face numerous challenges as they compete in their relative marketplace. Regardless of the nature of your business, you must find a cost-effective solution to compete and level the playing field. Outsourcing in a small business work environment may be easier than you think. With a closer look at the benefits associated with small business outsourcing, you may discover that this is the ideal solution for your company.

How Outsourcing Works

A small business such as yours often must complete various tasks on a regular basis to stay operational. For example, you may be required to set up an IT network for your computer systems, be knowledgeable in government tax changes and more. In some companies, the business owner does tackle these tasks on his or her own. However, becoming knowledgeable and even striving to become an expert in these and other related areas can be time-consuming and challenging. Your main goal should be focused on helping your business grow rather than consuming yourself with the day to day operations for your company. Small business outsourcing is a cost-effective solution because you pay only for the services you use.

Freelancers and Outsourcing Firms

Outsourcing in a small business is actually easier and more cost-effective than some business owners may think. For example, with outsourced services, you will not pay overhead related to providing additional employees with office space and office supplies, and you will not be responsible for their benefits or employer-related taxes. You can choose between working with a private freelancer or an outsourcing firm. The rates charged by these different options can vary, and the skills, level of experience and expertise in niche areas of the field can also vary.

Finding the Right Outsource Services

Because the options for small business outsourcing can vary so significantly from one option to the next, it is imperative that business owners first identify what their specific needs are. For example, do you need to work with a professional who has significant experience in a niche area, or is it better to work with a professional with broad but more generalized experience in a specific field? You may consider obtaining referrals and recommendations from other companies. Certainly, comparing the prices of different outsourcing firms is a necessity, but it is more important to find a company or freelancer who offers the services you need first before comparison shopping to find the lowest rate.

If you run a small business today, you understand how challenging it can be to retain your competitive edge. When you are forced to wear multiple hats and to become a veritable specialist in numerous different niche areas to keep your business running, your attention is diverted away from helping your company to thrive. Instead, your attention is focused on helping it to stay afloat on a daily basis. By outsourcing your various niche tasks to professionals who specialize in these areas, you will be able to concentrate more of your time and energy on growing your business. 

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4 Awesome Tips For How to Brand Your Small Business Effectively

How to brand your small business

Do you know how to brand your small business?  Branding a small business can be a challenge.  Two of those challenges are know-how and lack of money.  Below are some great ways to brand a small business successfully.

Identify Your “Pivot Point” – Most business owners never think through the true value proposition of their small business.  They tend to confuse what they do with why they are doing it.  The secret is that no one wants to buy your service or product – they want to buy what the service or product does for them.  Are you selling expensive cars or status and exclusivity?  Are you selling homes or giving the sense of independence?  Find the “it” behind your business.  What is the reason for your company’s being?  To know how to build your business, take the time to think about the key attributes of your small business and then you can build brand identity.

Brainstorm Ideas – Once you know the true benefit of your business, you can begin generating ideas.  Begin by thinking of phrases and names that will give you a business theme.  The name doesn’t have to be descriptive, but it should be engaging, capture the core of the brand’s key attribute and have the consumer begging to know more.  Feel free to use made up names, metaphors, positive connotation words and more.  Buy magazines that fit in with your own brand message and look for headlines, phrases and words that might spark ideas.  Always keep the company pivot point as the main focus.

Narrow Your List – Let all these ideas simmer in your mind overnight.  The next day or so, start gleaming on your list.  Keep only the ideas that allow your company lots of room to grow.  Experiment a bit with matching tag lines.  When you pair a company name with a tag line, it might sound great when you hear it.  Look around for some matching domain names, and see if any competitors are using something similar.  Here are more tips for choosing a business name and creating a small business website.

Select a Winner – If you found a name that sounds good and the domain is available, it’s probably a winner.  It’s always wise to hire a trademark attorney to make sure you don’t have problems.  Next, you want to move on to the logo design.  There are plenty of good logo designers out there that will do a good job for you.

Finally, you are ready to launch the new brand.  Start spreading the message about your brand by being consistent.  Have the same look and feel on your blog, website, and social media accounts.  By consistently giving the same look, you will own your own place in the business industry.

Now, you can say that you know how to brand your small business.  When you dedicate time, attention and commitment to branding your company, you will build a small business that keeps your customers coming back for more.  

Did you find these tips helpful?  If so, please leave a comment and share this article.

How To Create A Small Business Logo Your Customers Will Love

How do you create a logo for your small business? For many small business owners, this is an early question. If you have ever asked this question, you may also be wondering why should you have a logo, how can you create one, and how can you create a great logo on a modest budget. 

Why You Should I Have a Logo? 

Any small business should have a logo. It shows that your business is a serious venture and not a fly-by-night small business that will cave in a matter of months or days. A great small business logo effectively conveys a sense of what your business is about. Part of owning a small business is the feeling you get when you go to your website and see your logo. The pride you feel when you hand your first business card to someone and it has your logo on it.

How Can I Create a Logo?

Creating a logo for your small business is much easier than you might think. There are several ways to create your logo. When you're looking to design small business logo, graphic designers are one option. The other option is to create the logo entirely by yourself. This might be helpful if you have experience and interest in either doing artwork or working on Photoshop. 

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A logo, by definition, could technically even be painted if you wished. Really a lot depends on what you want from your logo. Some companies specifically want a logo that exudes style, while other companies want a logo that is more practical--choosing functionality over form, so to speak. You might have a friend who does graphic design--or know someone on one of your social media networks that either is an artist or may know someone that would create your logo for a reduced price. The Internet is teeming with young artists who will gladly do artwork at a discount just to secure some business. So, for someone looking for a good logo design, there are many options available. 

How Can I Create a Great Logo on a Modest Budget? 

When looking at design, small business logo graphic designers might be your best option, especially if you or someone close to you can't make the design. You might consider holding a contest at 99 Designs, a website where you hold a contest to choose the best design among several artists who will enter the contest on a freelance basis. You definitely have to have some kind of a budget in order to hold a contest, but it might be worth your while if you're having a hard time trying to find someone to design your logo for a reduced price or free. 

Hopefully now you understand why your business should have a logo, how you can create a great logo, and how you can create a super logo on a modest budget that won't break your piggy bank!

What did you think of these suggestions?  Do you have any other ideas for how to create logos while saving money?

How to Create a Website for Your Small Business

How to create a website for your small business

When a small business owner starts out, he or she must buy a domain and create a website with interesting and unique content. Many people build a website but do not take the necessary steps to build it up, and the business will miss out on an excellent chance at finding new clients. With that being said, here is a quick guide on how to create a website for your small business.

Domain and hosting: A company should have a domain name related to the product or business name. This will help as customers will remember the website and they will find it with ease. As far as hosting, an entrepreneur should choose one that offers plenty of customization options. Furthermore, a person should choose a host offering solid customer service 24/7. With a memorable domain name and reliable hosting, a business owner will be on their way to attaining success with their website.

Content: A website must have well-written content that users enjoy; the website content should compel visitors to spend money and keep returning. Luckily, one can write attractive and interesting web pages by keeping it simple, to the point, and informative. At the same time, the writer must understand search engine optimization metrics. Simply put, when creating content that Google and the leading search engines love, one can see their website rise to the top of the first page for many organic search terms. Without a doubt, many ignore content, and they suffer as they see clients flock to a competitor.

Design: Users should have no trouble navigating a website on all devices. Ideally, the visitor should have access to all the important pages from any page. With header and footer links, a site owner can accomplish this and make sure that visitors do not leave when they cannot find a page. Furthermore, after building the website, one must test it in various browsers, tablets and smartphones to make sure the pages load properly and efficiently.

Change: Now, some business owners make a serious mistake as they never make changes to their existing content or pages. This can cause problems since a business must always change to meet the market demands. To understand what works and what does not work on a small business website, one should use analytic software such as Google Analytics to track visitors.  This will allow you to see where they come from as well as what page they leave from. With this simple tracking code, a company can understand what works and what fails. When a small business can follow customer metrics and understand how to fix an ineffective page, the website can thrive as an entrepreneur will know what he or she needs to do to improve the website and marketing plan.

When understanding how to create a website for your small business, one will gain success with their business venture. Without a doubt, a small business website can help the organization bring in new customers and make more money.

Choosing a Small Business Location

Choosing a small business location

Choosing a small business location is a great deal more complicated than simply picking the cheapest building or office suite you can find.  A small business has to be easy to find for its customers, and you have to be in a place where you are free to make it known that your business lives there without being encumbered by surrounding businesses or vacant offices.

A small business location has to accomplish three things.  The place where you are has to look good.  You can't survive in a community that doesn't look good, because no matter how hard you try, you can't be the one thing that shines in a nasty complex.

A small business location also has to give you options for expansion.  The worst thing you can do to yourself is choose a space you'll outgrow in six months.  This will mean a move that might turn off your customers.  While they may be happy for you, they are not going to want to learn a new location every time you need to expand your operations.

Finally, choosing a small business location should allow for your customers to easily find you.  Yes, there are a myriad of office complexes that are easy to find, but is your office easy to find in the muck that surrounds it?  When you are in a place that is hard for people to find, you will have a very hard time convincing customers that coming out to see you is a good idea.

The best small business location is a place that is so easy to get to that you have customers dropping by just because it was on their way home or to the office.  This is the best way to cultivate face-to-face relationships with your customers.  You give them a place to go that they like and they'll keep coming back.

A business has to feel free to live in a space where it can thrive and grow, and you cannot thrive and grow in a poor location.  You may feel that you have no other options, but the reality is much better.  There are tons of office spaces and storefronts that are easy to find, look good, and give you the chance to expanding without moving every few months.

You don't just put your small business somewhere where you can put up your sign quickly.  No, you put your small business in a place where people want to go.  The most loyal customers will bring their friends by, and the customer base will grow from there if you carve out a niche for yourself that no one else has.  Don't relegate yourself to some back alley.  Choose a location that is perfect for your business today.

Create Social Media Accounts for Your Business

Create Social Media Accounts

Create social media accounts for your business not just because social media sites are fun to use but because everyone is using them.  Nearly all of your potential customers are on social media sites, and they can be easily drawn to your business if you have a presence.  Every small business would benefit from social media because it is a free testimonial page for your business that can spread the news about you like wildfire.

Small business social media accounts are not a new thing in today's economy, and your website users  understand that companies have to do their best to bring in customers.  Setting up an account for your small business is just the first step to using social media properly.

When you start using social media to promote your small business, you cannot just promote your business.  It's actually much better if you are using the site, as the owner of the business, as if it were your own social media page.  Therefore, you post things that are of interest to the business as a whole.  You repost things you find that relate to your business and make you seem human.  Nobody online wants to read ads from someone who sounds like a bot, but people who see posts that are fun and interesting reposted to your page are more likely to follow your business and become patrons.

Some social media websites are the best place to reach friends and family because they can, in turn, recommend your business to their friends and family.  This is the best way to build a customer base in your community because many of the people on sites like Facebook have friends who live near them.

Create social media accounts for your business on every website that you think will help add to your customer base.  It is a good idea to be on the site, but you have to enjoy using the site.  The more you enjoy it, the more your followers can see it.  When you put those two things together, you end up with more excited followers of your business' page.

Small business social media accounts do not have to be a place where you endlessly promote your business as if you are a bot that's just pumping out messages.  Social media sites are a place where you can interact with current and potential customers in a non-business environment.  People who enjoy you are more likely to frequent your business in the future.

If you think that social media is only a cheap way to gain customers, you are missing out.  You can gain a great following on social media, and all for the price of some time in front of the computer.

Choosing a Great Small Business Name

Choosing a small business name requires delicate balancing of various factors to ensure that it does not only stand out but also stays on the right side of the law. Getting the right name for a small business has got trickier with today’s tools for marketing both online and offline. Changing a business name can have serious consequences. Here is an example.

A business website should ideally feature the name of the business. Changing the name requires changing the website name and logo. While making the change may not be complicated, it creates its own complications. Search engine rankings will suffer, and the brand already associated with the business in various places, including blogs, forums and social sites will lose relevance.

Coming up with the right small business name requires time and effort. The following tips cover the important angles to consider.

Relevance

Many small businesses start out as solo or freelance operations, and the owners often choose their own names. Unfortunately, such names do not usually portray a professional image required to build brand awareness. The name must be able to scale with the growing business without becoming irrelevant.

Points to consider when choosing a small business name include:

• Appearance – on an advertisement, a logo, business card, social site and the Web at large
• Uniqueness – a name that resembles the name of an existing business will not only confuse customers but also risk charges of trademark infringement
• Sound – the chosen name must be easy to pronounce
• Clear – the name must not have potentially offensive undertones or have embarrassing spellings
• Connotations – the name must appeal to target market and reflect business philosophy

Web Readiness 

The name must include important keywords for the small business and be available. A simple search of domain names will determine whether the name has already been taken.

Trademarks

The cost associated with trademark infringement can easily break a business. Trademark search tools help to find out whether the selected name or its variations have already been registered.

If a business is to be incorporated, it can still operate under the proposed name even if another business is already using it so long as they are in different regions or offer different goods or services. However, the name must still comply with relevant state naming requirements.

When making searches, it is important to include misspelled versions of the small business name, similar sounding names and synonyms.

Domain Registration

If the desired domain name is available, it must be claimed without delay. Procrastination is risky considering the fast rate at which domain names are claimed. It is also important to claim social media identity.

Trademark Protection

Filing for a trademark helps in protecting the business name, including logos and symbols associated with it.

People often confuse this with registering a business name. Businesses operating under personal names do not have to be registered, and the registration does not offer trademark protection. The necessary steps for registering “Doing Business As (DBA)” names differ from one state to another. 

4 Key Lessons For Starting a Small Business Step-by-Step

The pull to become an entrepreneur and take your future into your own hands is strong for a large percentage of the population currently struggling to find fulfillment in a 9-to-5 job. Many want to learn how to start a small business and succeed with it so they can do what they really want with their life. It is important to know the steps to take to make sure the business is a profitable and manageable one once you decide what business to start. The first step is, however, deciding what type of work best suits you.

Start a small business by choosing one that suits your personality, capabilities and also offers the potential for real earnings and growth. The general rule of thumb, whether you want a brick and mortar establishment or an online company, is to find some products or services to sell that are in demand and do not have tons of competition already. If there is a lot of competition, you must be able to offer something truly unique, such as extra options, cheaper price or the best customer service anywhere. Popular options include retail or e-commerce of everything from clothing to craft supplies, service industries from auto detailing to freelance web design and businesses that provide help to people who need it.

Once you figure out what type of company to start, you need to know how to start a small business step by step.

One: Set Up Your Business Entity

Start a small business by registering for a fictitious name at your local government offices if you are doing business under another name. Get any applicable licenses and resellers permits that coincide with your state's sales tax laws if you are selling tangible goods or services. Decide on an accounting method and get business bank accounts.

Two: Get a Location: Real or Virtual

Whether it's office space, a retail shop or only internet space, every company needs a location. In fact, even real world locations should have a website as well, since most people shop and search online these days. Pick a location with good traffic and without too many competing businesses nearby. Have a website professionally designed.

Three: Acquire Products or Determine Services That Will Sell

You should already have some idea of the products or services you will offer before you get to this point. Make relationships with wholesalers or distributors of the product lines you wish to use, or get involved with affiliate programs for existing shops online. Affiliate marketing remains one of the most lucrative online businesses around.

Four: Marketing & Advertising

Up to this point, you've learned how to start a small business, but this is the main step in building a business that is profitable long term. Marketing, both online and offline, is the long term practice that will determine if you will still be around years from now or if your company will fail. 

The Best Small Business to Start

The Best Small Business to Start

Many people are deciding to go into business for themselves.  The grind of working in an office and taking orders from a boss is not appealing, so people are deciding to start their own small business. When people make this decision, they often don't know what to do.  What is the best small business to start? With so many to choose from, this decision can often be overwhelming.  Obviously, you will want to choose something that you are good at and you have a passion for.  Here are some of the small businesses that have seen the most growth over the past decade:

1. Day care

This is one of the best small business ideas because the demand for it will always be there.  However, it is not the type of business that you can instantly get up and running.  You will need the proper licensing and training.  Running a professional daycare business is not like babysitting for your neighbor. However, the earning potential for a daycare business is very solid.  Because of the tough economy, many couples have full-time jobs.  Since both the mother and father are working all day, they need someone to watch their child.  Since there is not always a relative available, day care services will always be needed.

2. Photography

Even though every smartphone has a camera in it, people will always need experienced photographers to take photos at weddings, company functions or staff photos that will be included on website profiles of various employees.  It does not take a huge investment to get started in this business.  All you need is a few thousand dollars to by a top of the line camera and you can begin.

3. Computer and smartphone training

Are you experienced at using all of the latest apps and features of Macs, PCs and smartphones?  If you are, why not put your knowledge to use and make some money off of it?  We are living in a world of technology.  This is widely considered to be the best small business to start because of the explosion in popularity of smartphones in recent years.  Many older people are who are not familiar with technology are getting smartphones for the first time.  They need someone to show them how to operate their new gadget.  Why can't that person be you?

4. Moving company

This is another one of those businesses that there will always be a demand for.  This is one of the best small business ideas because there will always be people moving into new houses or apartments.  There will always be students moving into dorms.  These people will need help lifting their heavy items, so that is where you come in.  When you start this type of business, you need to make sure you are properly licensed and that you have liability insurance in case you break some valuable items during the moving process.  Needless to say, you or the people you hire will need to be in great physical shape with no back problems for this type of work.

If you are looking for the best small business to start, these are all great examples.  You can duplicate other business plans or if you have an idea to add a new twist to these businesses, I'm sure you will achieve success.  Most important part is that you are not afraid to try.

Growing Your Small Business

Growing your Small Business

Most entrepreneurs dream of building their company and making a lot of money in the process. Sadly, many business owners work hard but fail to realize their dreams because they did not develop a solid plan. Here are five tips on how to grow a business.

Plan:  When dreaming of an idea, most people want to get started immediately. When starting rapidly, an entrepreneur feels that he or she can start making money and building a solid customer base. Instead, one should create a solid and workable business strategy. One must include financials, marketing strategies and a basic idea on how the company will turn a profit. Remember, to grow a business, one needs a plan. Of course, when creating the plan, one should not go overboard or stress. It is just a simple outline of the company and its long-term plans.

Adequate funding:  Many companies never gain traction in their market. This happens for a lot of reasons with one of them being that the company does not have enough money. When the business cannot afford to pay top-notch employees or buy products, it will have a hard time making money. Simply put, when trying to grow a small business, one must have enough money. To get capital, one should apply for a credit card and build their profile. Then, after some time, one can apply for a loan at a bank or lending institution.

Employees:  In trying to cut costs, some opt to pay employees or contractors a low wage. Now, in the short-term, one will save money by using this method. However, in the long run, one must invest in their employees and contractors. When paying a decent wage, the organization can attract the brightest talent who gets results. Without a doubt, one cannot grow a small business without some solid and dependable employees.

No salary:  When turning a profit, some entrepreneurs want to live it up and draw a large salary. This mistake can lead to serious problems when the company faces leaner times. Ideally, a CEO should not draw a wage. Of course, this is not always practical; a company owner, should, at the least, draw a small salary, so he or she does not take away money from the organization. Without a doubt, to grow a business, one must make this sacrifice.

Bookkeeping:  Some companies neglect to set up a solid and long-term bookkeeping plan. Instead, many busy entrepreneurs opt to throw receipts into a box or drawer. One should not do this as it can lead to serious and difficult problems. Instead, a company should hire a professional bookkeeper and keep copious records and notes of all transactions. In the long run,  this will pay off since the organization will have an easy time obtaining loans and doing taxes when they have organized books.

Most people do not know how to grow a small company. Luckily, when following these five simple tips, an entrepreneur will know how to grow a business and rise to the top.

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Time management is very important for small business owners and entrepreneurs. In fact, one of the biggest problems is when the owner is working 90 hours a week on a consistent basis. Many business owners can't figure out how to manage their time properly. That is why they are overworked and miserable. Here are some time management tools that can help you manage your time better.

Salesforce.com

This is one of the best CRM (customer relationship management) systems out there. Now, I understand that many business owners may not need it because they are not customer-facing themselves. But most business owners interact with customers on a daily and hourly basis. In fact, if you're not interacting with customers a lot, then it means your business may not be going well. In any case, Salesforce.com is a great tool that will allow you to save a ton of time. It will also enhance your customer relationships. It will enable you to load in contact information, create opportunities for your sales and deal pipeline and will allow you to set tasks so you know when and how to follow up. It's much better and easier to work with then keeping all of your customers in an excel spreadsheet or some other static database.

Synced Computer, Tablet, and Smartphone

I've noticed that the business owners who are the most efficient leverage the technology they have. Most sync their computer, tablet, and smartphones together. That way, they can manage their schedules and their projects on the go or when they're out of the office. It can be a bit of a pain to set it up so you can sync everything together. Outlook is a good standard schedule, email and project management tool. The great thing about it is that you can easily sync it with any tablet or smartphone.  If you own Apple products, may apps auto-sync such as Notes, Reminders, and Calendar...all helpful in time management.

Dragon Dictation App

One of the biggest time wasters is when you have a brilliant thought, you forget it, or have to spend hours figuring out the details. You could use the Dragon Dictation App. The basic app is free and very easy to use. You can speak into is and it'll dictate into text everything you say. That means you can take notes on the fly when you're out or on the road.

Basecamp

If you do a lot of project management, you really need to use Basecamp. It's a very useful tool that will support the management of projects. It's also great for teams to collaborate on projects. It collects all of the communications and schedules in one place.  You can try it FREE for 2 months to decide if it's beneficial for your business.

It's important for small business owners to manage their time properly. These are just some time management tools that can help you do that and maximize your productivity.


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The common thinking when it comes to business is "time is money."  In order for a business to be successful, it has to be well-organized and efficient with its time.  Proper time management in business is often the key to being successful with both customers and employees, and putting time management strategies to use can have an immediate impact on a business.  If a business is having trouble managing time efficiently, the following time management tips may help.

When analyzing time management in business, one of the first steps is to decide what has the highest priority at that moment and for the upcoming week.  One of the best time management tips for this is to develop an Action Plan for the upcoming week.  This plan should be thought about at the end of each week, and developed in time to be implemented the next week.  Friday is often a good day to develop the next week's Action Plan.  A staff meeting can be held to find out what got done, what didn't get done and what is the most pressing assignment still awaiting completion.  Employees and management can work together to develop an Action Plan, listing the top three items that need to be completed the next week, what day they will be done and who will be in charge of seeing them be completed.

After settling on an Action Plan, the next of the time management strategies is to prioritize.  Take a close look at the items on the Action Plan, and see which of these is most urgent.  Ask yourself how each task will impact the business, and will it have a negative impact if put off too long?  Do the same with the second and third items, and soon the Action Plan will not only have what items need to be accomplished, but in what order as well.  Learning to correctly prioritize for a business is much like triage for a hospital, where the most serious problems get done first and so on until everything is finished.

The next and perhaps most important step in time management for business is learning how to stay focused on the task at hand.  No matter what type of business a person is involved in, there are always distractions trying to intervene.  Some of the biggest problems with distractions come from people who are self-employed and working from home.  With family and friends always wanting to stop and talk for a few minutes, it's much too easy to let the day slip by without getting much work done.  The best way to handle this is to have a regular work schedule, such as 8-5 Monday through Friday when you are officially working.  While hard to initially implement, it can work wonders once followed.  By staying disciplined and keeping distractions to a minimum, much more work can be completed and much more money made.  By using these time management tips, an individual or organization can find themselves being much more productive.

Five Benefits of a Small Business Website

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Despite the nearly universal opinion that internet marketing boosts the income and profits of businesses of all sizes, a disturbingly large number of businesses out there don't actually have a website. The following list includes several vital reasons why a small business should create a small business website. It's important to note that this list represents only a sampling of why it's great for all companies to create websites and that it doesn't take a degree in web design to get a terrific website launched.

1. Advertising is quick and easy

When a company that lacks an internet presence needs to advertise a sale or new product, a lot of time must be put into the marketing strategy for things like billboard advertisements, radio spots, and even television commercials. This is a pricey endeavor for a small business. A small business website offers a much less expensive way to let everyone know about something new and is particularly effective when paired with a social media campaign.

2. Website creation is not expensive or time consuming

There are several resources that will help a small business to create a beautiful website, and whether a web design professional is hired for the job or whether the process is handled internally, utilizing web-based tools for creation requires almost zero technical expertise. Although it is beneficial to have a website specifically designed to be unique for a small business, it's fine to launch the initial website with a simple template approach and automated website design software.

3. Web presence makes customer service easier

Placing a focus on customer service helps all companies, but small companies might have to spend a lot of time on the phone answering questions that could be handled less expensively online. Not only will a website offer a "Frequently Asked Questions" display to take care of most basic customer inquiries, but many customers these days prefer handling their customer service through the internet because it doesn’t require time spent on hold on the phone.

4. Improves company image inexpensively

Refurbishing a brick and mortar location takes a lot of time and money and can't be done particularly often. Making a professional and updated small business website, however, is a much easier process. Today's customers will very often have their first experience with a company through the internet, and so that first impression from the company's website represents a prime opportunity to show the professionalism and polished appearance of the company brand.

5. Increases selling power

The effort put into creating a website and proper web presence that includes things like social media and branding opportunities provides a significant opportunity to increase sales. A website may increase sales through online purchases, or it might allow a company to hit that elusive sales goal that was decided upon at the beginning of the year.

The internet exists as a significant equalizer in making it appear that a business is actually larger than it is, and this means that even the smallest companies can use the internet to create brand growth, increased sales, and higher customer engagement. Creating a website offers far too many benefits to pass up.



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The Importance of Bookkeeping for Your Small Business

Small Business Bookkeeping

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Bookkeeping refers to keeping the financial records of a business operation. A bookkeeper, business owner, or family member usually performs this function. An accountant may be needed to interpret and adjust these financial records, prepare financial statements, and file tax returns.

Importance of bookkeeping 

You need financial information to help you run a business, even a small business. Cash is the life-blood of any business operation. Without cash, or the ability to get cash, your business probably will fail. Financial information tells you the sources and uses of cash. This information can serve as an early warning that you will run out of cash unless you make some changes in your business operation. This same information can help you minimize unnecessary uses of cash. It also can help you develop additional sources of cash. The financial information for your business activities should be kept separate from your personal activities. The best way to do this is to have a separate business checking account.

Do-it-yourself bookkeeping 

In this type of small business bookkeeping, the business owner or family member keeps the financial records. This may be done using hand-written records, or it may be done on your computer using an accounting program. The person who performs the bookkeeping may need to read a book on bookkeeping or accounting to know what to do. This type of book can be found at a local library, a local bookstore, or an online bookstore.

Hired bookkeeper 

You may want to hire a bookkeeper or an outside bookkeeping firm to maintain your financial records. This person or firm should have the qualifications and experience needed to perform this service. You should have confidence in this hired bookkeeper. You must be willing to share your financial information and discuss financial matters with this bookkeeper.

Online software 

Another way to maintain your small business bookkeeping records is to use online software. The Outright website is recommended for this purpose.  To begin using their services, you give them links to your various online business accounts. Then they can access the information from these online accounts and feed this information into your accounting system. Outright maintains your accounts using IRS-approved tax categories. This simplifies the preparation of your income tax return.

You can review your Outright financial information from any computer with Internet access. They even provide an iPhone app for this purpose. Besides the information that they automatically download from your online accounts, they allow you to enter other information such as your business mileage. Outright provides many types of useful reports to help you run your business operation. These reports include your profit and loss, your sources of income, your best customers, your biggest vendors, and your sales by state.

Final thoughts 

The financial information provided by your small business bookkeeping or accounting system helps you with both day-to-day business decisions and long-term business planning. You can't run your business without it.


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Small Business 101: Build a Foundation With Small Business Courses

Small Business Courses

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Successful business owners are knowledgeable, educated, and experienced in the field they pursue.  Managing, operating, and starting a business begins with knowledge.  It's apparent that education on the purpose, mission, and dynamics of a business' culture can affect a small business' place in the marketplace. Anyone can start a business, but according to the statistics of the Small Business Administration, everyone cannot thrive.

So, what is the first step in starting a business in today's society?  An education of course to begin familiarizing yourself with the concepts of business ownership.  If you have wanted to explore the different possibilities available in your field, you can engage in small business courses, obtain a business management degree, or take random business management courses to figure out your starting point in the market.

Choose the Best Courses

Small business courses give you the upfront, no-holds-barred information you need to create a business plan, conduct research, and learn how to manage your business successfully.  After completing initial projects during your course, you develop all of the materials necessary to present your ideas to investors and bankers for funding.  On the other hand, you only see one aspect of business management through a single course.

There are offers available to pursue multiple business management courses or a business management degree at your local community college, universities, and/or online universities serving your area.  A small business course will increase your appetite for success; consider taking an array of business management courses to take on the world with confidence.

Learn About Business Management

Business management involves thinking, directing, training, and preparing yourself as well as your staff for the volatility of the marketplace. Many small business owners undertake business courses designed for 'how-to' directives instead of hands-on applications. Consider the benefits of using elite business management skills to prepare for your new venture:

1. You learn new skill sets necessary for managing a company.
2. You have confidence in your abilities to conduct a successful company in today's economy.
3. You receive recognition for participating in industry-wide programs in your field.

Consider a Business Management Degree

Are you ready to prove yourself to your industry? A degree in business management is the real starting point for opening a business. You will learn the details of financial planning, calculating risk for business decisions, accounting applications, and marketing strategies. A degree in business management will teach you everything you need to step into the marketplace ready to execute plans and achieve your dreams.

If you pursue a two- and four-year degree in business management, you will have to invest time into learning the basics and apply the knowledge to your planning. Never underestimate the possibilities behind learning the ins and outs of business management through the right organization. Once you learn the basics, you can continue to incorporate more courses as your career flourishes. 

Business Strategy

Business Strategy

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Are you planning to start a small business? Before you finally take the steps to do so, you should first determine and adopt a good business strategy that will guide your enterprise. It may not be enough to focus on your products or services. There has to be a guiding principle that can lead your venture to the path of success.

Here are three effective strategies that your small business should observe. Each business strategy is simple, yet logical and effective. Interestingly, you don’t need to spend more to implement these. Your small startup business can gain the edge especially when your competitors obviously fail to follow and adopt these practical business strategies.

Focus on customer service

Your small business would be on a similar playing field as major companies and a plethora of other small to medium sized businesses. There could be intense competition. But you may have the big advantage over all of those. As the owner and manager, you make your own business decisions on your own and instantly. Your small business can easily and quickly make and implement strategies without going through a long and tedious approval process.

To stand out, woo your prospective customers by providing excellent customer service. That is one area where you could be on the same ground with even the biggest competitors. Deal with clients personally and give them the best value for their money. Your customers would certainly appreciate it.

Bite off just what your business can chew

Don’t fall to the usual mistake of small businesses. It could really be tempting to take larger job orders that are beyond your current capacity. Aspiring too much to compete with other businesses may be enticing but it can invite more risks. Remember to make all your business aspirations correspond to present capabilities.

Try not to take more than your small business can actually handle. If you still decide to do so, you might lose not only time but effort and money. The business’ reputation would also be in danger especially when your business fails to deliver. Thus, it is a good business strategy to work only within your limitations. This way, you can do your best and keep your customers happy.

Be a good example

Your small business may rely on the output of your small team. It is an ideal business strategy to motivate your staff well so they could be more productive. Because you would be working with a very small group, try to set a good example. As a leader, you need to give guidance and be a role model to your employees.

Work hard so your team will follow suit. You may not command respect and credibility by slacking off. Make your staff feel that you are really part of the team. If your business needs to achieve goals, be the leader to do so. And of course, don’t forget to always treat your staff well. It’s always better when you earn their trust and loyalty.

These are just a few examples of business strategy that you can apply.  Remember, always keep learning and searching for new strategies to ensure your business is successful.