Bookstores and libraries around the world supply excellent instructional materials. Riding in the car or commuting on the train, you can learn from experts. The bestseller lists at Amazon are fantastic resources. The lists are updated regularly with current insight about the best books on the market. Have a look at some of the best books on business and money currently on the Amazon list. The Millionaire Next Door Thomas… Read more
Time management skills are increasingly important in a world where people seem to rush headlong from one crisis to another. Add in the effect of social media and addictive computer games that can be accessed from anywhere at any time and it’s no wonder that some people struggle to fit everything into their days. So what can be done about it? How about invoking D to the Power of Four?… Read more
Q. I am finding it tough. Sales are slowing but I can’t figure out exactly why. No-one seems to be unhappy with what we do, and no competitor has entered the market. People seem to be buying less often and in lower numbers. Your existing customers are your most valuable asset. This is because it’s easier and far less expensive to get an existing customer to buy off you again… Read more
If you’ve got the entrepreneurial spirit but aren’t ready to start up your own business, you might want to consider a franchise. A franchised business can offer the best of all worlds: the opportunity to work for yourself, earn a profit quickly, and enjoy a high long term success rate. Read on for 5 more reasons a franchise may be right for you. 1.Cost savings It’s expensive to start up… Read more
Too many businesses fall over because the owner has not established efficient business systems. This typically happens because the business owner is so caught up in the day-to day running of the business that the fundamentals of good business management get forgotten. Often too it must be said that the owner simply doesn’t like bookkeeping or other administrative tasks, so these get put on the back burner. The symptoms are… Read more
Often small business owners worry unnecessarily when it’s time to hire employees. They fear because they can’t offer the same high salaries and impressive benefits of a large company, they won’t be able to attract skilled workers. Fortunately, for many young workers these days, the ideal job doesn’t necessarily come with a big salary. Often it’s the opportunities and experiences a smaller company can offer that will pique their interest… Read more
Your trade secrets are invaluable – after all, your “secret sauce” is your competitive advantage, the thing that makes your business unique and special. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) offers a means to protect valuable company information from being shared with the public or leaked to competitors. An NDA – also known as a confidentiality agreement –specifies that another party cannot share proprietary information without your consent. Some examples of proprietary… Read more
Entrepreneurs want to have their hands on every aspect of their start-up. This is understandable, as many entrepreneurs come into their respective industries from a place of passion. Their passion will drive them to spend long nights at the office, working hard every hour of every day. Unknown to them, this kind of attitude can actually lead to some destructive outcomes. You must avoid these habits, despite the allure of… Read more
When it comes to writing for blogs, not all content is created equal. Many articles are rushed, poorly written, and lack the research to back them up, all of which can drive away traffic and leave visitors with a negative first impression. The good news is that with the right know-how and a bit of effort, virtually anyone can dramatically improve their writing skills. Below are some of the most… Read more
Maintaining positive cash flow can be challenging for small businesses, whether you’re just starting out or have been running your company for years. The difficulty often comes down to waiting for clients to pay their invoices. One or two chronic late payers cost valuable time and money when you have to chase them down; if reliable clients also fall behind one month, the result can be devastating. These tips will… Read more
Whether you are thinking of launching a small, local business or a global enterprise, finding a city that is friendly toward entrepreneurs is important. You want a city that is culturally supportive of business owners, in a region or country that makes things easy for you from a financial perspective. You also want to be in a place where it is easy to attract and retain good talent, and where… Read more
Digital signing, versus the traditional “wet” signature, has become increasingly popular in recent years. More and more countries across the globe have endorsed the legal validity of digital signing, enabling businesses to digitize entire workflows and further optimize management processes. Whether you’re preparing an employee work agreement, finalizing a new client contract, or submitting an invoice, digital signing can prove beneficial in a number of ways. Here are just three… Read more
Being open to new possibilities is a positive trait shared by most entrepreneurs—but saying yes to all the people you meet and opportunities that come your way can get you into trouble. When we overcommit—especially when we take on projects that don’t actually benefit our business—our stress can hit the roof. It’s much hard to be productive when we’re feeling burned out and resentful. One of the most impactful changes… Read more
While major companies create powerful green initiatives, many small businesses use the excuse of “no resources” to do nothing. However, everyone plays an important role in protecting the environment, and small businesses have a unique opportunity to involve their community of employees and customers. The most effective environmental conservation projects need not cost much more than a collective effort. If you own or work in a small business, here are… Read more
In today’s fast-paced world, everyone wants to be more productive. Fortunately, there is an ever-increasing number of tools, many of them available online and across multiple devices, that promise to help us achieve our goals. The challenge then becomes how to know not just which tools will live up to their promise but which tools are right for our business. Choosing the best productivity tools depends on a number of factors,… Read more
If your business hasn’t made it a habit to support a good cause, here’s why you should: giving back does more than make a difference in your community. Participating in charitable activities can have a positive impact on your staff, your customers and your bottom line. Customers want to support companies that demonstrate a commitment to more than earning a profit. A 2010 study by Cone Marketing showed that 85… Read more
The nature of some types of businesses make it challenging to come up with a standard price list. For tradespeople and some freelancers, for instance, what’s required in terms of time, skill, labour, and materials frequently vary from job to job. Offering an estimate or quote provides potential clients with a customized figure for what they can expect to pay, based on what will be required to complete a specific… Read more
Electronic signature software offers small business a number of time and cost-saving benefits. If you’ve considered going paperless but haven’t yet made the plunge, here are 6 excellent reasons to start using digital signatures today. 1.Get paid faster Digital signatures make it easy to close a sale on the spot, turn around contracts faster, and finalize documents that require signatures from multiple parties. Electronic signature software can also streamline the… Read more
One of the most often cited reasons for not embracing innovation is that it is too risky. Prototyping or testing often comes with a high cost. Combined with the cost of the time spent, this can all be rather high for an unknown outcome. There is no way to eliminate the risk in innovation, but there are ways to reduce it. It’s easy to understand the dilemma. A business owner… Read more
As any accountant will advise, it’s important for business owners to keep their personal and business banking separate. Separating your business expenses will make your annual tax preparation much easier, and ensure you claim all your deductions. But it’s also important to protect your personal assets should your business find itself in financial trouble. Another excellent reason to have a business bank account comes down to professionalism. As a small… Read more