Small Business Success 2014

Kamis, 16 Oktober 2014

Time To Start Your Business

Working 40 or more hours a week can leave you wanting more fun and relaxation. The natural inclination maybe to sit in front of the TV or computer completely zoned out. When the weekend gets here, we spend a good amount of the time doing errands and housework that didn't get done during the week. Starting a business would mean extra cash to pay our bills, save for vacation, and pay for your child's music lesson or even college. Whatever the reason, we are faced with the daunting task of finding the time to do so. So how do we find extra time?

1. Driving

What are we doing when we drive? Chances are you are thinking about the list of tasks you have to get accomplished. In most cases, your brain is on auto-pilot when the radio is playing. Why not listen to an audio book on starting your business or one on motivation to get your creative wheels turning? Here is an opportunity to learn more about starting your business or to get pumped up about it. Chances are you can purchase it on audible or borrow it from your local library for free.

2. Television

Television includes cable and online shows on Hulu, Netflix, etc. There is plenty of entertainment on cable or online. They vary according to your interests. Some people might even say they only watch the news or sports. For one week, set a timer to see how much television you are watching. What are you watching? Are you learning, being entertained or mandated? Chances are you could probably find an extra hour or two to start your business.

3. Social Media

Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, just to name a few, take up so much of our time. Do you really need to look at pictures of your old college roommate's new apartment or wedding photos? We understand that social media is a great tool to stay abreast of what goes on in peoples' lives, but do you talk regularly or share many commonalities? I love social media and know it is a powerful tool to stay abreast people. However, how much time are you wasting looking around? Time spent on social media could be spent on your business. For example, you could learn to market or see what your potential clients want. If that seems like work just spend a week counting how many times you are on social media. You will be amazed how quickly time adds up.

4. Internet

The internet is a vastly infinite resource for everything and anything. It is amazing that we have all of this information at our fingertips when twenty years ago the average household didn't even have a computer. However, this useful tool can be a distraction to starting our business. Like television and social media we can get distracted. Today, the internet is filled with so much information and ads competing for our attention. Subscribing to newsletters gives what you need in your inbox without being bombarded with more ads.

5. Preparations

Everyone has things to do to ensure the smooth running of our daily lives. Yet, sometimes we fail to plan the bulk of our tasks to save time and money. Take for example going to the grocery store, dry cleaners, hair salon, hardware store and picking up that birthday present for your aunt. All these can be done in one day. If you know you have all these things to accomplish in a week do it in a day. You are already going to do groceries why not pick up the present from across the street. Business locations are usually in the same general vicinity and will save you time and money. How about your phone calls? Grouping them together will be great for your time saving and keep your momentum going. Try these suggestions for a month and reap the extra time to start your business.

Before you can begin your business, you had to have thought of it. Thinking is great, but without any action there is no business. Taking action requires paying attention to where your time and energy are currently being spent. Maybe you are already efficient and still cannot find the time. It simply means starting your business is not a priority. Until making your business idea a priority, you will never find the time. The question becomes are you committed to starting your business or are you interested?

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Choosing a Vending Machine Company

If you have decided to set up a vending machine in your office, then choosing a good vending machine company is the next important step. When it comes to vending machines companies; you won't have a problem in finding one. Each one of them, at first glance, seems to be better than the others. So, it can be bit confusing for you to select the best. Through this article we can help you with some tips that can help you in deciding the best vending companies.

The first step is to check how technologically advanced the machines are that the supplier is offering. Always look for the most up-to date models. Do your homework so as not to fall into any sales trap of a company offering out-dated and inoperative scrap items under the label of top-notch products. Even if the exterior of the machine seems brand new and appealing, though the technology inside might not be.

Next important thing is to check what services the company is willing to offer. There is nothing worse than having your machine break down a few days after your buy it and then having to wait for someone to come and fix it. Reliable companies offer to perform scheduled maintenance checks on your machine to make sure it is operating smoothly. If some problems do arise, they are supposed to deal with the problem in hours. A qualified member of their team will ensure that the problem is solved.

Another important thing to know is the range of products for the machine the vending company can offer. It may turn out that half of the items listed are not available and your business ends up with a very limited range of options. Make certain that the service provider has the products in stock for your vending machine.

Always, remember to know about the optimal placement of vending machines. A good vending company will recommend the best location for your machines that goes with your office setting and also helps reduce the time it takes for your employees to get the hot cup of coffee or a snack that they need.

Last but not least, maintenance and repairs should be professional and should be done regularly as this is important for any business. In addition, they should resolve issues within 4 hours; else you risk upsetting your staff and looking unprofessional in the eyes of visitors who may well be your clients! Choosing the best supplier is vital as well. So, start your search for the best vending company for your office right away!

It is not very hard to find vending companies in Los Angeles. Find out where you can find reliable firms which have the best vending options for your establishment.

How To Make A Successful Cafe Startup

Fifty-four percent of Americans over the age of 18 drink coffee. Coffee is also one of the favourite system-booster of many students and workers. Thus, more and more entrepreneurs are venturing in the trade trying their luck in the caffeine-indulging endeavour.

If you'll look over the net you'll easily find a list of coffee shop for sale or coffee vans for sale. This makes you think though. If a cafe is a good potential business then why are people selling theirs? There are indeed some cafe start-ups that didn't fare well. But remember that not only cafe business are experiencing this sort of demise. More often than not, business starters often fail at first attempt regardless of the industry they're in. It takes a lot of willpower, knowhow, experience and strategies to make a business work.

Here are a few things you can start with so to stay afloat when you open your coffee shop.

Before you purchase any existing coffee shop for sale or mobile coffee van, ask the previous owner why he or she is selling it. Some maybe because they are migrating to other place, or planning another venture. Maybe the coffee trade isn't just really working for them.

It will cost you a big amount to enter a new venture so ask yourself ten times if this is really the kind of business you want to explore. First consider the resources that you'll need: equipment, manpower, and a reliable supplier. Even if you've found the perfect coffee shop with the latest equipment in tow, success still boils down to one thing - exceptional coffee. Make sure you have the best coffee beans you can find and the most passionate baristas to serve your future customers.

Check every corner of the place to see if it needs necessary repair or renovation. The cafe workstation and layout should be prioritized. Make sure that the baristas have enough space to move around. This will avoid any accidents or spills especially when the cafe starts to get busy and will give them room to perfect that cup of coffee.

Whether it's a coffee vans for sale or coffee shops that you're targeting to purchase, you'd have to consider the products that you'll offer. Coffee may be the main item of your cafe but make sure to offer as well coffee accompaniments such as cookies, pastry, and muffins. Multiple options means multiple chances of earning more profit.

Joseph works at Cafe2u, a mobile coffee franchise company. The company provides franchise opportunities for anyone looking for coffee vans for sale. He enjoys writing blogs giving tips and advice on how to go about starting your coffee van.

Qualifying for SBA Loans

For many business owners qualifying for a loan with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can be quite a challenge. Although the SBA does not lend directly to small business owners, the loans are backed by the SBA. A number of factors are used to determine if a business qualifies for a small business loan. The SBA does encourage lenders to be flexible when lending to small business owners. Although the lender has some degree of flexibility, the applicant must still convince the lender of its possible success in repaying the loan.

The most important factors in qualifying are:

1) Business Plan. Small businesses that apply for SBA loans without a business plan are more likely to be denied. A lender must feel comfortable that the business has the potential to repay the loan. In addition, the business owner must be able to justify the loan and give detailed information on what the borrowed funds will be used for.

2) Cash Flow. The business must show financial stability. Business owners are required to submit credit histories, income tax returns, and financial statements. Some lenders may even use personal credit to determine the business's credit worthiness. Therefore, any mistakes or discrepancies that exist on personal credit should be corrected prior to applying.

When submitting financial records, it should contain the business's cash flow, accounts receivable, accounts payable, balance sheet, and income statement. Businesses are also required to disclose all debt and existing creditors. A minimum of one full year of operating history is generally required.

It is very important for small businesses to display an adequate amount of cash flow relative to the amount requested. If the cash flow is too high, it may be perceived that the loan is not necessary. If the cash flow is to low, it may alter your chances of qualifying for the loan.

3) Repayment History. Lenders seek to help borrowers who they feel will make an honest effort in repaying the loan. A business owner that has demonstrated commitment in repaying prior loans has a very good chance at qualifying. Prior late payments or collection issues could affect the approval of a SBA loan.

4) Collateral. Not all SBA lenders require collateral. Sometimes collateral can play a very important part in the lending process. The greater the risk, the greater the possibility that the lender will request collateral. Some lenders may substitute collateral with a well prepared business plan and a good financial statement. It can also determine how quickly the lender will process the application and the actual loan amount. For example, if you are requesting a SBA loan of $100,000 and you are using $50,000 of equipment as collateral, a lender will be more likely to assist you with acquiring the desired loan. On the other hand, if the collateral exceeds the loan amount, there is a high probability you will be awarded the loan.

You should evaluate these factors prior to submitting an application. You should also seek out and compare multiple lenders, because each lender has different requirements. Businesses with a solid financial history along with good cash flow usually have great success in acquiring a SBA loan.

Mom Blogs: What Are the Benefits?

The emergence of mommy bloggers is a direct result of women's desire to work online from home and build a community of like-minded friends. These blogs differ in content from other types of blogs by focusing mainly on topics revolving around the home, family matters, spiritual issues or work at home topics. While on the surface these mom blogs may seem like a way to pass the time, there are actually many other real benefits to running one.

Provides a Creative Outlet
For many bloggers, the ability to simply express their thoughts creatively is reward enough. While getting your works published through traditional means can be quite challenging, publishing on a blog takes literally seconds. Whether you seek to write news-worthy pieces or simply maintain an online diary of your life, the blog is a perfect outlet for your creative talents. Don't limit yourself to just writing text on your blog, as they are also wonderful ways to showcase your photography as well.

Launch a Writing Career
For those who are serious about wanting to work online from home, a blog is the prefect starting point to building a professional writing career. In essence, a blog is your portfolio and demonstrates your ability to capture the reader's attention and communicate through the written word. While it may take time to grab the attention of higher-ups, your blog is a great springboard toward paid professional writing assignments at larger websites or blogs.

Monetary Gain
While most blogs don't start out making much money, they have the potential to turn into a viable way for a single working mom to earn extra money. By building up your readership and focusing on the right way to monetize the blog, you can at least earn a very lucrative side income. Traditional forms of monetizing blogs include displaying advertising on the side rails or even in the context of the post themselves.

Find Like-Minded Friends
Another important benefit of running a mom blog is that you will gain readers who quite often become lifelong friends. This is particularly important if you're blogging about topics such a health issues or if you are a single working mom who simply needs to build a support network. Many of these friends will also have their own blogs and can help you build your readership by linking to yours. Bloggers also hold meet-ups in various locations where blog followers can meet in person to grab lunch, converse and get to know each other better.

Make an Impact
Finally, mom blogs have the ability to make a real impact on your community, the lives of others and even on state or federal policy. If you feel strongly about certain issues, blogging about them can help you gain increased support for them. Today's viral blog posts are often picked up by local and national news outlets who expand on the stories by interviewing the blog writers. This is a wonderful way to bring attention to your cause by simply spending a little time at your computer keyboard.

Why Small Business Funding Can Be the Answer to Your Problems

If you run a small business what is the first impression that you create for your customers? What is their initial experience of your business, how professional do you appear? A first impression may not even include any personal interaction with you.

For example, what is your out-of-hours customer experience like? Potential customers may not know your opening hours, may call in person or on your landline and expect to find details of your website, your mobile phone number, be able to leave a voice mail. Is the first impression your business gives positive and professional or does it turn people away?

Practice being your own customer, put the boot on the other foot and check out your own first impression of your business. What first impression does your business give?

I work from home, see my clients there and regularly stop outside upon my return home to double-check how the front of my house looks, the first impression I get as I pull up outside. I want to reaffirm that it's still okay to invite customers there, that the neighbourhood is smart, tidy and looks acceptable to the type of customers I want to attract. Does the garden look tidy and welcoming, are the windows clean; all important, subtle things that clients will pick up on, often without realising.

When I walk through the front door I'll usually pause to take in the first impression the room presents, how it looks, smells, feels. These things are all important, especially to a first time customer or client. Do clients or their companions have somewhere to sit and wait if necessary and is that place comfortable?

I recently called at the advertised shop premises of a driveway laying business. I was considering spending quite a lot of money on a new driveway and wanted to see examples of their work, the different options available for colours and styles, but every time I called their shop was closed. I tried at different times, all within the usual office hours. Daytime, Saturday afternoon; the business was styled as a shop but had no receptionist or staff present and no information explaining why. It was an exasperating experience which conveyed a rather indifferent attitude towards potential new business.

They could argue that they're saving on overheads, are able to offer a more economical service as a consequence but when a new customer is trying to make contact it's important that they're able to do so. Why have a shop in the middle of a row of shops if it's unmanned? What first impression does that create?

Competition is fierce in the world of business and as a small business or sole trader it's important to offer that special something extra to customers and clients. Yes, pricing is always going to be an important consideration but it's by no means the only one.

Quality customer service, professionalism and reliability are often almost more important than the price and can certainly put you ahead of the competition. Creating a good first impression helps you to get your foot through the door and reinforces potential customers belief in your ability to deliver well on your promises.

A good first impression helps you to look professional, conveys the message that you take a pride in your work and in your reputation and that your business is important to you.

Susan Leigh is a Counsellor and Hypnotherapist who works with stressed individuals to promote confidence and self belief, with couples experiencing relationship difficulties to improve communications and understanding and with business clients to support the health and motivation levels of individuals and teams.