If you are anything like the thousands of frustrated and laid-off ejectees from the corporate and commerical sector, you know that now is as good a time as any to consider opening your own small business. Actually, now is better than ever. Why? Well, many people are sitting at home sending out hundreds of resumes a week and engaging in any number of hobby activities while they bide their time and hope the lights don't get turned off. So... what does an enterprising individual do when life gives him lemons? He opens his own lemonade stand, of course!
The key to any small business enterprise is to be passionate about what you decide to do. And passion, like anything else, is fueled by PURPOSE. Don't do anything solely because you think the money will help you get out of debt. Do it because it feels right. And that "feeling right" will propel you to take every risk to keep it going over the years.
Be organized, develop a business plan which allows you to strategically anticipate every phase of your project. Get the help of a consultant with great writing samples who is willing to work for you at an affordable price. Make sure you stay true to yourself, don't pay for something you don't need or commit to more than you can handle.
You can weather the storms of a collapsing economy. If you don't have the budget to pay the high-priced consultants to work on your plan with you, then, think about giving it your best shot and taking your plan to the local small business development center. Your inability to pay high prices for a high priced plan does not have to be a barrier to your entry into the market. Instead, be creative and think of what kinds of deals you can work out with a reasonably priced consultant to get the work done.
Alternatively, start thinking like a small business. Every family member or friend you know is a potential partner, investor or resource. Get the help of a family member or friend and do the business plan yourselves.
After your business plan, you'll be ready to tackle the fun part, FUNDING!
Need help with your small biz's business plan or strategic development strategy?
Better-Biz Consulting Services would love to help! Check out the website at http://www.betterbizservices.com/ AND email us at betterbizservices@yahoo.com
for free quotes.
2.03.2009
Good Customer Service Pays Off
Have you ever experienced the punch in the gut that is bad customer service? Customers have long memories and it only takes one bad experience to turn them against your business forever.
You don't have to be a small business to feel the pinch of a sour reccommendation or thumbs-down from an angry customer. People talk to family members, coworkers, church members and strangers about the experiences they have had with bad customer service. The horrific stories of how your employees handle customers gets passed on and on...this negative publicity could haunt your business for years to come.
Jill Homer of http://www.customerservicepoint.com/ makes a sad point: bad customer service has become all to normal in our society. One could speculate as to why this might be. I suppose there are a number of viable reasons: cities are large, unfriendly, and impersonal places; the values that encourage patience and kindness have been lost amid a sea of performance objectives, sales quotas and a number of other marketplace ideals; and people aren't trained properly to perform adequate customer service tasks. Whatever the reason may be, poor customer service is enough to damage any small business.
Here are three great ways to provide good customer service:
1. Take pride in your product/service and let that pride stand out!
Any customer can tell when an employee that hates their job. They will sabbotage a sale by being rude or unenthusiastic; they will fail to adequately address customer concerns, or worse, complain about the company's defective products or unreliable service - bad staff costs small business thousands of dollars a year.
Screen incoming employees to make sure that their customer service skills are more than just adequate. Company loyalty and pride is worth investing in: instill company values in workers and break down the mission statement and why it is vital to job success.
Teach workers that customer service is a company priority and that bad customer service will not be tolerated. Personnel that are proud of their company's values, products and services will do a better job of conveying those values to any customer.
2. Be open to negotiation.
Customers hate by-the-book companies and the people who represent them. Every situation is not alike. If you have a restaurant, be open to substitutions. If you have a repair shop, offer a discount to repeat customers. Show customers that you appreciate their business by treating them as individuals and dealing with them on a case-by-case basis.
3. Be on time all the time!
Customer perception can be irreperably damaged if they perceive that your business does not stand by its word. Customers rely on businesses to provide services in a timely and efficient manner, anything less is unprofessional.
Don't let your customers down by missing deadlines and showing up late.
Need help with your small biz's customer service or business development strategy? Better-Biz Consulting Services would love to help.
Check out the website at http://www.betterbizservices.com/ AND email us at betterbizservices@yahoo.com for free quotes.
You don't have to be a small business to feel the pinch of a sour reccommendation or thumbs-down from an angry customer. People talk to family members, coworkers, church members and strangers about the experiences they have had with bad customer service. The horrific stories of how your employees handle customers gets passed on and on...this negative publicity could haunt your business for years to come.
Jill Homer of http://www.customerservicepoint.com/ makes a sad point: bad customer service has become all to normal in our society. One could speculate as to why this might be. I suppose there are a number of viable reasons: cities are large, unfriendly, and impersonal places; the values that encourage patience and kindness have been lost amid a sea of performance objectives, sales quotas and a number of other marketplace ideals; and people aren't trained properly to perform adequate customer service tasks. Whatever the reason may be, poor customer service is enough to damage any small business.
Here are three great ways to provide good customer service:
1. Take pride in your product/service and let that pride stand out!
Any customer can tell when an employee that hates their job. They will sabbotage a sale by being rude or unenthusiastic; they will fail to adequately address customer concerns, or worse, complain about the company's defective products or unreliable service - bad staff costs small business thousands of dollars a year.
Screen incoming employees to make sure that their customer service skills are more than just adequate. Company loyalty and pride is worth investing in: instill company values in workers and break down the mission statement and why it is vital to job success.
Teach workers that customer service is a company priority and that bad customer service will not be tolerated. Personnel that are proud of their company's values, products and services will do a better job of conveying those values to any customer.
2. Be open to negotiation.
Customers hate by-the-book companies and the people who represent them. Every situation is not alike. If you have a restaurant, be open to substitutions. If you have a repair shop, offer a discount to repeat customers. Show customers that you appreciate their business by treating them as individuals and dealing with them on a case-by-case basis.
3. Be on time all the time!
Customer perception can be irreperably damaged if they perceive that your business does not stand by its word. Customers rely on businesses to provide services in a timely and efficient manner, anything less is unprofessional.
Don't let your customers down by missing deadlines and showing up late.
Need help with your small biz's customer service or business development strategy? Better-Biz Consulting Services would love to help.
Check out the website at http://www.betterbizservices.com/ AND email us at betterbizservices@yahoo.com for free quotes.
3.06.2008
Using Guerilla Marketing to Bring in More Biz
Are you trying to generate a buzz around your small business on a limited amount of money? Well, your TIME and IMAGINATION are two very valuable resources! That is the main premise behind "guerilla marketing" (also known as "viral" or "buzz" marketing).
Having a small work force and limited resources doesn't have to be a disadvantage if you can learn to use your time and resources to build relationships that can help build your business.
Start in the trenches-join online communities, make contacts, make calls, post in blogs, join groups, and be creative with your options as you get your logo out there. Make sure that your products and services are vital to those in t he communities that you become a part of and get people talking about topics that can get them thinking about the services you offer.
Jay Conrad Levinson wrote a great book about it in 1984 called "Guerilla Marketing." Since then, this is the most popular marketing strategy and has generated a HUGE following.
If you want help with your small biz's guerilla marketing strategy, Better-Biz Consulting Services can create a dynamic tailor-fitted viral marketing strategy that is guaranteed to increase your company's contacts/profit by 60 percent in 60 days.
Check out the website at http://www.betterbizservices.com/ AND check back here for more free tips on how to make your small business better OR email us at betterbizservices@yahoo.com!
Having a small work force and limited resources doesn't have to be a disadvantage if you can learn to use your time and resources to build relationships that can help build your business.
Start in the trenches-join online communities, make contacts, make calls, post in blogs, join groups, and be creative with your options as you get your logo out there. Make sure that your products and services are vital to those in t he communities that you become a part of and get people talking about topics that can get them thinking about the services you offer.
Jay Conrad Levinson wrote a great book about it in 1984 called "Guerilla Marketing." Since then, this is the most popular marketing strategy and has generated a HUGE following.
If you want help with your small biz's guerilla marketing strategy, Better-Biz Consulting Services can create a dynamic tailor-fitted viral marketing strategy that is guaranteed to increase your company's contacts/profit by 60 percent in 60 days.
Check out the website at http://www.betterbizservices.com/ AND check back here for more free tips on how to make your small business better OR email us at betterbizservices@yahoo.com!
12.16.2007
Minimum Wage, Maximum Results
The great challenge as an entrepreneur is to maximize your dollar and stretch it as far as it can possibly go. Most of all, you want to get the best workers for as little as you can. Robert K. McIntosh's book, Minimum Wage, Maximum Results discusses this dynamic and offers readers tips on how to manage their minimum wage workforce:
At the root of having an effective workforce is understanding what motivates them. If a worker is only getting paid minimum wage, employers will certainly have to find other means of inspiring him to work at his peak. McIntosh calls this the "hot button concept."
As an entrepreneur, you must determine early on in the game just what you're playing for. What are your goals? What are your expectations? And, how can you communicate your expectations clearly to your workforce?
The ancient chinese art of architectural placement, also known as feng shui, is the arrangement of space to achieve harmony with the environment. The ancient chinese understood the importance of the physical space in acheiving spiritual and emotional balance in one's life. the same is true in the office space. The employer who takes the time to create a positive environment, creates an environment where employees want to excel.
And most importantly, good performance should be rewarded. This is not to say that workers should be given rewards for every little task completed satisfactorily, rather, reinforce desirable behavior by using both tangible (money, bonuses, and prizes) and intangible (congratulations and praise) rewards to encourage behavior.
There are 101 more exciting ways to help your business cut costs. Interested in learning more? Please email us at betterbizservices@yahoo.com or visit the website at http://www.betterbizservices.com/ to review our list of services.
Happy Holidays!!
At the root of having an effective workforce is understanding what motivates them. If a worker is only getting paid minimum wage, employers will certainly have to find other means of inspiring him to work at his peak. McIntosh calls this the "hot button concept."
As an entrepreneur, you must determine early on in the game just what you're playing for. What are your goals? What are your expectations? And, how can you communicate your expectations clearly to your workforce?
The ancient chinese art of architectural placement, also known as feng shui, is the arrangement of space to achieve harmony with the environment. The ancient chinese understood the importance of the physical space in acheiving spiritual and emotional balance in one's life. the same is true in the office space. The employer who takes the time to create a positive environment, creates an environment where employees want to excel.
And most importantly, good performance should be rewarded. This is not to say that workers should be given rewards for every little task completed satisfactorily, rather, reinforce desirable behavior by using both tangible (money, bonuses, and prizes) and intangible (congratulations and praise) rewards to encourage behavior.
There are 101 more exciting ways to help your business cut costs. Interested in learning more? Please email us at betterbizservices@yahoo.com or visit the website at http://www.betterbizservices.com/ to review our list of services.
Happy Holidays!!
12.07.2007
Building "Relationship Capital" is a Key to Success
All businesses deal with people-from the biggest Fortune 500s to the smallest mom and pop enterprises. Thus, it is integral that business owners and employees become excellent managers of interpersonal relationships in every way-from communication to problem solving. But, clients are not the only ones who benefit from a positive interpersonal connections with the owners and executives of the businesses they encounter. Your dedicated staff can either help usher your company into success or be a key to your company's failures and it's all based upon how well you manage relationships with those under your employ. This is called "relationship capital." The more relationship capital you have-the more security you have. As allbusiness.com notes: "It takes everyone involved to make a business successful, and as the lead operator in your business, you're responsible for ensuring that each employee understands his or her importance to your business's success."
Here are 4 tips to help you build and maintain strong and positive relationships with your employees:
1. Be an open communicator. Maintain two-way communication between you and your staff. Keep a locked box in the break room where employees can leave comments and concerns anonymously and then make a concerted effort to discuss some of them at monthly employee meetings. Set aside one Friday a month to hang out with your staff after work. Take them to dinner or go out for casual drinks and just listen. Get to know your staff's wants, needs and anxieties and you will be one step closer to bettering the work environment and alleviating problems and concerns. Remember that keeping your staff happy is a priority to your business's success.
2. Keep your promises. Let your staff know that they matter to you by remembering what you promised to do. Whether you promised to give a day off or a big raise-it is your responsibility and obligation to give it to them when they ask for it. Failing to keep your word will not only damage the trust between you and those under your employ, but, it will eventually cause you to lose employees you can count upon.
3. Don't be afraid to admit your weaknesses. Employees will respect you more if you are candid. A good leader is not better for pretending to be perfect and free of error. When you admit your failures, you capitalize upon the opportunity to expose your human side and relate to your employees. Also, you communicate to your employees that you don't expect absolute perfection from them.
4. Always say thank you. Failure to show appreciation for the hard work, extra hours and unfailing dedication of your staff is one of the worst mistakes you can make. You may not always reward good work with bonuses, but, saying thank you will go a long way towards keeping up the busy worker's morale. Be specific in your praise, zero in on something they did with a particular client or job assignment. Take the holidays as an opportunity to give your employees gifts and bonuses to show how much you appreciate their hard work.
For more wonderful tips on how to make your business better, please email betterbizservices@yahoo.com OR visit our website: http://www.betterbizservices.com and review our list of products and services.
Here are 4 tips to help you build and maintain strong and positive relationships with your employees:
1. Be an open communicator. Maintain two-way communication between you and your staff. Keep a locked box in the break room where employees can leave comments and concerns anonymously and then make a concerted effort to discuss some of them at monthly employee meetings. Set aside one Friday a month to hang out with your staff after work. Take them to dinner or go out for casual drinks and just listen. Get to know your staff's wants, needs and anxieties and you will be one step closer to bettering the work environment and alleviating problems and concerns. Remember that keeping your staff happy is a priority to your business's success.
2. Keep your promises. Let your staff know that they matter to you by remembering what you promised to do. Whether you promised to give a day off or a big raise-it is your responsibility and obligation to give it to them when they ask for it. Failing to keep your word will not only damage the trust between you and those under your employ, but, it will eventually cause you to lose employees you can count upon.
3. Don't be afraid to admit your weaknesses. Employees will respect you more if you are candid. A good leader is not better for pretending to be perfect and free of error. When you admit your failures, you capitalize upon the opportunity to expose your human side and relate to your employees. Also, you communicate to your employees that you don't expect absolute perfection from them.
4. Always say thank you. Failure to show appreciation for the hard work, extra hours and unfailing dedication of your staff is one of the worst mistakes you can make. You may not always reward good work with bonuses, but, saying thank you will go a long way towards keeping up the busy worker's morale. Be specific in your praise, zero in on something they did with a particular client or job assignment. Take the holidays as an opportunity to give your employees gifts and bonuses to show how much you appreciate their hard work.
For more wonderful tips on how to make your business better, please email betterbizservices@yahoo.com OR visit our website: http://www.betterbizservices.com and review our list of products and services.
11.26.2007
The Psychology of Marketing
What does psychology have to do with marketing, you may wonder. The best marketing and sales professionals have a basic understanding of psychology. Ask yourself: what is it that people truly want. What are their desires and motivations? What truly drives them? Once you have found the answers to these questions and more-you are ready to be a successful marketer. Knowing what your customers are thinking is one sure-fire way to position yourself to provide it to them.
Thus, your product is not at the center of your marketing campaign, but, your customer is. Your product is merely a backdrop to the central object-so, treat it as such. Position your marketing so that you realize how your product can make their lives easier, healthier, more romantic-and in general, more complete.
You are not selling just a comfy couch but you are selling the idea of luxury and elegance...this particular couch is one item upon which your customer's life will revolve for a long time to come. Whether it's in the living room or the family room- it is undoubtedly one of the first items anyone will notice. Paint a picture of that luxury and elegance that your customer has been seeking. The car shopper interested in purchasing the SUV is not so much interested in purchasing 4-wheel drive as she is interested in purchasing the idea of convienience and amenities. The good marketer will always have the ideals of the consumer foremost in mind. Therefore, always make sure to keep broad motivations in mind when planning your marketing campaign.
Just as there are good things to do in a marketing campaign, there are also several traps to avoid. Here are three big ones!
1. Failure to market to a defined group is a big no-no. Always make sure to find your target audience and direct your marketing efforts to that specific audience. Trying to appeal to everyone at all times typically does not work. As the age old saying goes-no one wants a "jack of all trades" who has "mastered none."
2. Also, having consistency in your marketing efforts is a good way to boost profits. You need to have the same look and feel across all of your ads, promotions, and overall marketing plan. If you're sending out any mail (even if it's to the telephone company)-make sure to take every effort to get your slogan and logo out there. Get specially made envelopes and make sure that every piece of paper that goes out from your company is equipped with your company's letterhead. This is just one cost-effective way to promote your business. Also, Hook up with some promotional advertising companies and come up with a way to make your direct mail campaigns really work for you. Get t-shirts and mugs with your logo ready for the holidays. Send out flashy pens with your next mailer to the big companies you hope to attract with your service. Add to that a follow up call and you're sure to be remembered.
BUT, make sure that you NEVER go overboard! If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. And too much hype will only turn a potential customer away. Do not insult your audience's intelligence with flowery gimmecks and puffed up language. Let your company stand out by building credibility with reliable service and great customer relationship-building. Make a lasting impression by paying attention to the small things that really count: quality, professionalism and efficiency.
Fore more tips on how to make your business better for much less, please email betterbizservices@yahoo.com OR check out the website to review our wonderful list of products and services at http://www.betterbizservices.com/.
Good luck!
Thus, your product is not at the center of your marketing campaign, but, your customer is. Your product is merely a backdrop to the central object-so, treat it as such. Position your marketing so that you realize how your product can make their lives easier, healthier, more romantic-and in general, more complete.
You are not selling just a comfy couch but you are selling the idea of luxury and elegance...this particular couch is one item upon which your customer's life will revolve for a long time to come. Whether it's in the living room or the family room- it is undoubtedly one of the first items anyone will notice. Paint a picture of that luxury and elegance that your customer has been seeking. The car shopper interested in purchasing the SUV is not so much interested in purchasing 4-wheel drive as she is interested in purchasing the idea of convienience and amenities. The good marketer will always have the ideals of the consumer foremost in mind. Therefore, always make sure to keep broad motivations in mind when planning your marketing campaign.
Just as there are good things to do in a marketing campaign, there are also several traps to avoid. Here are three big ones!
1. Failure to market to a defined group is a big no-no. Always make sure to find your target audience and direct your marketing efforts to that specific audience. Trying to appeal to everyone at all times typically does not work. As the age old saying goes-no one wants a "jack of all trades" who has "mastered none."
2. Also, having consistency in your marketing efforts is a good way to boost profits. You need to have the same look and feel across all of your ads, promotions, and overall marketing plan. If you're sending out any mail (even if it's to the telephone company)-make sure to take every effort to get your slogan and logo out there. Get specially made envelopes and make sure that every piece of paper that goes out from your company is equipped with your company's letterhead. This is just one cost-effective way to promote your business. Also, Hook up with some promotional advertising companies and come up with a way to make your direct mail campaigns really work for you. Get t-shirts and mugs with your logo ready for the holidays. Send out flashy pens with your next mailer to the big companies you hope to attract with your service. Add to that a follow up call and you're sure to be remembered.
BUT, make sure that you NEVER go overboard! If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. And too much hype will only turn a potential customer away. Do not insult your audience's intelligence with flowery gimmecks and puffed up language. Let your company stand out by building credibility with reliable service and great customer relationship-building. Make a lasting impression by paying attention to the small things that really count: quality, professionalism and efficiency.
Fore more tips on how to make your business better for much less, please email betterbizservices@yahoo.com OR check out the website to review our wonderful list of products and services at http://www.betterbizservices.com/.
Good luck!
11.20.2007
Building the BIG Brand on a Small-Biz Budget
Part of running a successful enterprise is the ability to build a recognizable and unforgetable brand. Large corporations pay millions of dollars a year to maintain their brand. However, as a small business person, you are fully capable of doing some of the same things for far less. In fact, you probably already do and some of these things and don't even know it.
But, what is a brand? Your compnay's brand is its name and basically anything and everything your company's reputation rests upon. Know what your consumer values and create a mission statement that centers upon their values and belief structure. Further, you have to truly believe in what you say because anything disingenious will lack sincerity and easily be noticed by your audience. So, do not insult your audience's intelligence-put youself in their shoes and market to them the way you would want to be marketed to. Evolve with them so that your communication never fails to asuage their deepest needs, wants, concerns and desires.
According to allbusiness.com, a small business owner can sharpen his brand without incurring fees from a full-fledged branding company. At a minimum, business cards, letterhead, signage, and other existing corporate identity should all display a consistent usage of the company name, logo, and tag line information. If this isn't the case, an overhaul is in order. Make decisions about the color of all of your business cards — letterhead as well as the ink. It takes some discipline, but it's important to your brand to stick to those decisions for years to come.
Before you go much further in starting your startup business-consider your brand. What do you have to offer? What makes you unique? And what are your business's core values? All of these things will play an integral role in helping you position your company within a market potentially flooded with other companies just like yours. You want to STAND OUT and make your company's presence memorable, and most importantly...unforgetable. And you CAN do this on a smaller budget...just be clear about your wants and needs and be creative as you go to attain them.
Good luck!
For more small biz advice or other business strategy questions, please email betterbizservices@yahoo.com OR visit our website at http://www.betterbizservices.com/.
But, what is a brand? Your compnay's brand is its name and basically anything and everything your company's reputation rests upon. Know what your consumer values and create a mission statement that centers upon their values and belief structure. Further, you have to truly believe in what you say because anything disingenious will lack sincerity and easily be noticed by your audience. So, do not insult your audience's intelligence-put youself in their shoes and market to them the way you would want to be marketed to. Evolve with them so that your communication never fails to asuage their deepest needs, wants, concerns and desires.
According to allbusiness.com, a small business owner can sharpen his brand without incurring fees from a full-fledged branding company. At a minimum, business cards, letterhead, signage, and other existing corporate identity should all display a consistent usage of the company name, logo, and tag line information. If this isn't the case, an overhaul is in order. Make decisions about the color of all of your business cards — letterhead as well as the ink. It takes some discipline, but it's important to your brand to stick to those decisions for years to come.
Before you go much further in starting your startup business-consider your brand. What do you have to offer? What makes you unique? And what are your business's core values? All of these things will play an integral role in helping you position your company within a market potentially flooded with other companies just like yours. You want to STAND OUT and make your company's presence memorable, and most importantly...unforgetable. And you CAN do this on a smaller budget...just be clear about your wants and needs and be creative as you go to attain them.
Good luck!
For more small biz advice or other business strategy questions, please email betterbizservices@yahoo.com OR visit our website at http://www.betterbizservices.com/.
11.19.2007
Setting Up an Effective Home-Office
In today's fast-paced, convienience-first, technologically-saavy society: working from home has become the new norm. Telecommuting is the money-making method for everyone from stay-at-home mom's to wall street executives. However, as my favorite business and financial advisor (Jean Chatzky) notes: "If you want to work effectively from home, you need to put some serious thought into how to best set up that home office." Here are three quick tips to get you started.
Set up shop in a spare room
If you want to maximize productivity in your home office, working out of the dining room amy not be your best bet. Your best alternative from both a productivity and tax perspective is to use an alternate room. Do you have a finished basement, a bedroom (with closet for supply storage), or even a private den? Make these spaces work for you! Be careful about the zoning restrictions and other regulations in your area. Double check before setting your home office up.
Go online to compare products, services and prices
You will need many things in order to have a succesful at-home business. One of these is a fast computer with lots of storage space-shop around and you can probably find one at Walmart, Amazon OR Overstock for about $500. Paul Edwards, career strategy coach and co-author of "Working From Home," (Tarcher, 1999) suggests consolidation whenever possible -- you may need a scanner, fax machine, printer and copier, but "you can get a perfectly good, multi-functional device that serves as your printer, fax machine, copy machine and scanner, for a couple hundred dollars," he says.
Services can also be bundled, so you pay one (usually discounted) bill for Internet, phone and voice-mail. Outsource tasks that you don't have the time or equipment for and be sure to keep receipts and canceled checks for all of the above.
Adhere to Uncle Sam's standards
This step is more simple that some might think. If you want to be able to claim a deduction for your home office, the room must be used exclusively and regularly as your principal place of business.
Lisa Kanarek, home office expert and author of "Home Office Solutions: Creating a Space That Works for You" (Quarry Books, 2004) says: "It has to be a separate space -- it cannot be part of a guest room or a spare bedroom that is occasionally used for overnight guests. And even if it's in a separate room, but the closet within that room has personal items, you cannot use that for a deduction." There is one out: If your home office isn't your primary work space, but you regularly use it to meet with clients, it's still eligible -- but again, only if it the space is used exclusively for business. Also, keep in mind that your business' gross income must be greater than your deductions.
Keep good records. If your home office qualifies for a write-off, you can deduct expenses directly related to your office -- such as the business phone line and Internet connection. According to Chatzky, "for costs that are indirectly related, like utilities, you have to figure out your deduction by comparing the room's measurements to the size of your entire home. The resulting percentage -- say your office is a 10th of your house -- is the portion of your home's expenses, such as mortgage or rent, electric, insurance and the security system, that you can deduct."
Working from home can be incredibly profitable and convienient if you do your research and utilize the right tools. Be incredibly vigilant and seek out every opportunity for a tax write-off, as well as every opportunity to save time and money.
For more helpful hints on setting up your home office, email betterbizservices@yahoo.com or check out our website http://www.betterbizservices.com for a list of services.
Good Luck!
Set up shop in a spare room
If you want to maximize productivity in your home office, working out of the dining room amy not be your best bet. Your best alternative from both a productivity and tax perspective is to use an alternate room. Do you have a finished basement, a bedroom (with closet for supply storage), or even a private den? Make these spaces work for you! Be careful about the zoning restrictions and other regulations in your area. Double check before setting your home office up.
Go online to compare products, services and prices
You will need many things in order to have a succesful at-home business. One of these is a fast computer with lots of storage space-shop around and you can probably find one at Walmart, Amazon OR Overstock for about $500. Paul Edwards, career strategy coach and co-author of "Working From Home," (Tarcher, 1999) suggests consolidation whenever possible -- you may need a scanner, fax machine, printer and copier, but "you can get a perfectly good, multi-functional device that serves as your printer, fax machine, copy machine and scanner, for a couple hundred dollars," he says.
Services can also be bundled, so you pay one (usually discounted) bill for Internet, phone and voice-mail. Outsource tasks that you don't have the time or equipment for and be sure to keep receipts and canceled checks for all of the above.
Adhere to Uncle Sam's standards
This step is more simple that some might think. If you want to be able to claim a deduction for your home office, the room must be used exclusively and regularly as your principal place of business.
Lisa Kanarek, home office expert and author of "Home Office Solutions: Creating a Space That Works for You" (Quarry Books, 2004) says: "It has to be a separate space -- it cannot be part of a guest room or a spare bedroom that is occasionally used for overnight guests. And even if it's in a separate room, but the closet within that room has personal items, you cannot use that for a deduction." There is one out: If your home office isn't your primary work space, but you regularly use it to meet with clients, it's still eligible -- but again, only if it the space is used exclusively for business. Also, keep in mind that your business' gross income must be greater than your deductions.
Keep good records. If your home office qualifies for a write-off, you can deduct expenses directly related to your office -- such as the business phone line and Internet connection. According to Chatzky, "for costs that are indirectly related, like utilities, you have to figure out your deduction by comparing the room's measurements to the size of your entire home. The resulting percentage -- say your office is a 10th of your house -- is the portion of your home's expenses, such as mortgage or rent, electric, insurance and the security system, that you can deduct."
Working from home can be incredibly profitable and convienient if you do your research and utilize the right tools. Be incredibly vigilant and seek out every opportunity for a tax write-off, as well as every opportunity to save time and money.
For more helpful hints on setting up your home office, email betterbizservices@yahoo.com or check out our website http://www.betterbizservices.com for a list of services.
Good Luck!
11.13.2007
Build Success Step By Step-Time Management
Sometimes, making the most of your business is simply a matter of getting organized. Try a new routine.
Professional coach, Casey Giovinco, says that it is important to assess your day each morning. Jot down a list of priorities, then, think about how long you would like to work on each task. Stay organized and don't try to take on too many tasks at once. Leave yourself some breathing time, and don't hesitate to take a break to refocus your energies on the next task.
Jean Chatzky, a motivational speaker, urges us to try the four D's of time management.
1. DELETE. Focus on what is necessary and delete the excess to make room for priorities.
2. DELAY. Give yourself permission to put things off another day. Don't procastinate, but, schedule another time that is more appropriate to complete the task.
3. DIMINISH. Is there an account that you feel you just have to close by the end of the day OR ELSE? If you find yourself getting more and more anxious as the day draws to a close, break the work down into smaller parts, complete what you can and save the rest for the next day. This way, you've lightened your workload, relieved some anxiety, and you can go on and close the deal later.
4. DELEGATE. You can't take on everything by yourself, so don't try to. Ask for help. And to be absolutely certain that you get what you need, be clear about what you want. Have the end goal in mind but visualize all of the little steps that it may take to get there so that you can receive a satisfactory result.
And remember, time is of the ESSENCE so don't let it go to waste!
For more tips on how to run a better, more efficient, biz: email betterbizservices@yahoo.com or check out our website http://www.betterbizservices.com.
Professional coach, Casey Giovinco, says that it is important to assess your day each morning. Jot down a list of priorities, then, think about how long you would like to work on each task. Stay organized and don't try to take on too many tasks at once. Leave yourself some breathing time, and don't hesitate to take a break to refocus your energies on the next task.
Jean Chatzky, a motivational speaker, urges us to try the four D's of time management.
1. DELETE. Focus on what is necessary and delete the excess to make room for priorities.
2. DELAY. Give yourself permission to put things off another day. Don't procastinate, but, schedule another time that is more appropriate to complete the task.
3. DIMINISH. Is there an account that you feel you just have to close by the end of the day OR ELSE? If you find yourself getting more and more anxious as the day draws to a close, break the work down into smaller parts, complete what you can and save the rest for the next day. This way, you've lightened your workload, relieved some anxiety, and you can go on and close the deal later.
4. DELEGATE. You can't take on everything by yourself, so don't try to. Ask for help. And to be absolutely certain that you get what you need, be clear about what you want. Have the end goal in mind but visualize all of the little steps that it may take to get there so that you can receive a satisfactory result.
And remember, time is of the ESSENCE so don't let it go to waste!
For more tips on how to run a better, more efficient, biz: email betterbizservices@yahoo.com or check out our website http://www.betterbizservices.com.
11.10.2007
6 Ways YOUR Business Can Avoid Spending Money Unnecessarily...
Startups and small business owners know how crucial money management can be to the success of their operations. So, we often cut corners and end up cutting out some pretty necessary things to make up for unnecessary expenditures. I would like to offer a solution to this spending trap which could inevitably spell the end of your business...avoid spending money unnecessarily with 6 simple tips.
1. Develop a comprehensive budget for each department. And make sure to enforce it strictly and adjust it anually for growth and other changes in the market and within your company.
2. Develop a list of what employees are allowed to purchase. Check actual purchases against the list and adjust future lists for items that are unnecessary.
3. Ask every vendor for advice on how to save money on products you purchase from them.
4. Put out a bounty on internal savings by rewarding employees with 10 percent of whatever money they can save the company.
5. Have one person responsible for the supply closet; any person who wants a supply item must sign for it. This will give you valuable information on usage.
6. Outsource...keep your staff at a minimum and use a specialist for highly skilled tasks such as business development, strategic planning, lead generation, cold calling, research, and other tasks that sometimes require several departments or employees to manage. Use lead generation services like Hoover's and Euro-Profile OR social networking sites like Linked-In, Facebook, or Zing to prospect for new business.
For other helpful money saving tips, please feel free to email me at jeannelson@betterbizservices.com or visit my website at www.betterbizservices.com.
Enjoy your day!!
1. Develop a comprehensive budget for each department. And make sure to enforce it strictly and adjust it anually for growth and other changes in the market and within your company.
2. Develop a list of what employees are allowed to purchase. Check actual purchases against the list and adjust future lists for items that are unnecessary.
3. Ask every vendor for advice on how to save money on products you purchase from them.
4. Put out a bounty on internal savings by rewarding employees with 10 percent of whatever money they can save the company.
5. Have one person responsible for the supply closet; any person who wants a supply item must sign for it. This will give you valuable information on usage.
6. Outsource...keep your staff at a minimum and use a specialist for highly skilled tasks such as business development, strategic planning, lead generation, cold calling, research, and other tasks that sometimes require several departments or employees to manage. Use lead generation services like Hoover's and Euro-Profile OR social networking sites like Linked-In, Facebook, or Zing to prospect for new business.
For other helpful money saving tips, please feel free to email me at jeannelson@betterbizservices.com or visit my website at www.betterbizservices.com.
Enjoy your day!!
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