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?

Social media is rapidly changing how small businesses connect with customers—from food truck owners updating multiple truck locations ... Introducing 12 small businesses who found social media success ... Related Articles ... Aug 18, 2014.Members want to see the business successful for reasons beyond their personal gain. ... October 16, 2014 • Hiring the best employees for your small business is critical to your success. Here are 4 ways ...

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.

Social media is rapidly changing how small businesses connect with customers—from food truck owners updating multiple truck locations ... Introducing 12 small businesses who found social media success ... Related Articles ... Aug 18, 2014.Members want to see the business successful for reasons beyond their personal gain. ... October 16, 2014 • Hiring the best employees for your small business is critical to your success. Here are 4 ways ...

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.

Social media is rapidly changing how small businesses connect with customers—from food truck owners updating multiple truck locations ... Introducing 12 small businesses who found social media success ... Related Articles ... Aug 18, 2014.Members want to see the business successful for reasons beyond their personal gain. ... October 16, 2014 • Hiring the best employees for your small business is critical to your success. Here are 4 ways ...

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.

What First Impression Does Your Business Give?

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.

Booklet Tips - Shelf Life Vs. Online

Does it matter to you or your quantity buyers how long your tips booklet content stays in front of people? Or is it more important to get that information out as quickly and inexpensively as possible before moving on and generating more information? Maybe a combination of both functions is really what matters.

There are pluses and minuses to delivering your tips booklet content online and offline, with certain variables dictating how you proceed. While it may cost very little in time or money to deliver a PDF of your tips booklet to a lot of people as a site download or as an email attachment, the value of its content or the presence of the sender can be quickly lost. That PDF may get hastily deleted or automatically stored on the recipients' hard drive, without even looking carefully at what the product is, much less deciding if it's valuable in any way.

Imagine receiving a printed copy of that same tips booklet, with "A gift from XYZ Company at the PDQ Conference" on the bottom of the booklet cover. And the booklet is distributed at a live multi-day educational event. How likely are you to ignore, discard, or automatically store that printed booklet? You see the title and sponsorship on the cover, determine that the booklet size is very approachable, and consider that the production quality is impressive. You make a more conscious decision to at least put it aside within view and revisit it when you've got a moment.

Even if the downloadable version was sponsored by a reputable participant in your industry, was well produced, and took up space calculated only in pixels, how do you balance the extent of impact that PDF is likely to have compared to a printed tips booklet? Yes, the printed booklet may cost more to create, yet it has a good chance of not only resurfacing on someone's radar; it also has a good chance of prompting larger sales for the sponsoring company and for the author's company.

That printed tips booklet lives on way beyond the live multi-day educational event where the booklet was distributed. In fact, it gives the event producer, the booklet sponsor, and the booklet author a very long shelf life and presence way beyond the event itself. Yes, a PDF could pop up on a search of something else on a person's hard drive, likely with much less value at that point.

ACTION - Think about where you want your tips booklet to go to help the most people for the longest period of time. Helping is defined by how the content improves someone's life and also by how the booklet can generate revenue.You can always make your booklet available as both a download and a tangible print version once you get clear about who can best use what you've got and how you want to go about letting those people know it's available. Expanding the shelf life of your booklet extends your reach and your bottom line.

"Turn Your Tips Into Products, Your Tips Products Into Moneymakers.TM"

© 2014

The Benefits of Having Management Accounts Prepared for a Small Business

Small business owners should prepare management accounts alongside financial accounts. Management accounts are important for tracking, recording and reporting financial information for management purposes. There are no set standards for preparing managerial accounts and any business can design their own style according to their operation and business needs. There are several benefits associated with these accounts. Not only can small business owners enjoy the benefits of creating a competitive advantage but can also leverage the way they do business in their markets.

Reduce Expenses

Management accounts can help a small business to lower its operating costs. The information from these accounts will help the business owner to review the economic resources and other business operations. It helps them to understand the cost of doing business in their current situation. They will know the costs of producing goods and services and find out if cheaper raw materials will affect the quality of the final products and how consumers will respond. This will help them to source for cheaper factors of production and reduce the cost of doing business.

Improve Cash Flow

Management accounts involve a review of the budget in comparison with the actual expenditure. This is a good way for small businesses to understand their roadmap to the future. Management accounts will go through the company's financial history and come up with a master budget for the entire business. The owners will then know when to spend money and which items are either necessary or unnecessary.

Business Decision

Management accounts also help the small business owner to make appropriate decisions based on financial facts. Without these accounts, many managers make decisions based on qualitative analysis - this can be dangerous in the long run. Management accounts provide quantitative analysis for several decision making opportunities. Small business managers will be able to have a clear understanding of the implications they expect when they make their business decisions.

Increase Financial Returns

Small businesses can increase their financial returns using managerial accounts. This is because the accountant can prepare a financial forecast showing consumer trends, potential sales and the effects of pricing strategies in the economic marketplace. The small business owner will be in a better position to know the amount of products to produce in the current market prices in an anticipation to beat the competition in any future price changes.

Determining Production Quantities

A company's intention is to produce more than one product or service using the same resources. For example, a baker will produce cookies and bread using the same resources. A good accounting firm will make use of the workers to perform both auditing and preparation of management accounts. This will help business owners to understand which products to produce most and which ones to reduce. This is a complex process that involves market demand analysis, capacity verifications, and costs of production and financial ratios that can be achieved through management accounts.

How Far To Process Products

Small business owners are often unable to clearly tell whether to process a product further or sell it in whatever form. Some think it would be more profitable to add value to the product while others prefer to sell it raw. Management accounts will help a small business owner to understand how far a product or service should be processed to maximize profits. The accounts show what happens when factors of production are increased even by one unit.

Tips on How to Reduce Freight Cost

In general, freight is the cost for transporting merchandise from point A to point B. Freight includes the move's entire cost, from documentation, packaging, insurance costs, carriage costs, and pallet or container costs. The more your business establishment depends on the moving of goods, the more your business will benefit from lowering the overall freight cost. Being aware of the need to reduce freight costs is one important thing. The challenging part is finding a way to actually reduce freight cost.

Below are some helpful tips on how to reduce freight cost.

Shop Around
The very first and obvious step to reduce freight cost is to look around for the best rates. There are a lot of different carriers (local, national, or international) available today. You may be tempted to use the same delivery method or carrier company to avoid hassles, but this could cost you more. You'll have to prioritize the most important prior to shopping for and comparing freight rates. Different carrier companies have different strengths and could be able to give lower rates.

Use Express Delivery Only When Needed
If a certain cargo is absolutely needed immediately, use express delivery and ship others which are not really time sensitive. Different carrier companies also have various pricing range, so express delivery might cost more with one carrier compared to another. Also, you can save by a significant amount of money by making sure that all carriers that you use could accept shipments with dimension surcharges or additional oversize without additional charges.

Loyalty and Reward Programs
Use rewards cards as often as possible. Some freight forwarding firms offer loyalty programs that enable their clients to save. You could also earn cash or miles. Some freight forwarders offer more rewards when shipments are processed electronically. Also, ask for volume or group special discounts through memberships with professional associations and leading freight forwarding companies.

Billing Accuracy and Freight Forwarding Brokers
To shop for freight forwarding broker systems, you can browse the internet. This way, you can find the best shipping deals online. Online freight brokers can also help in finding freight supplies sold at a lower cost. This is especially helpful when you are moving goods in bulk.

Billing Accuracy
Another way to reduce freight cost is simply by watching for errors in your billing. Keep in mind that everyone commits mistakes, and such errors could cost you if they're not noticed and corrected. Regularly audit your invoices for accuracy.

Booklet Tips - Absolutely Not

Using absolutes in your tips booklet can sometimes put a truly impossible burden on your reader. Think about the absolutes you might be inclined to use - words like always, all, forever, never - and consider how realistic it is to suggest such things, much less even possible to accomplish in certain circumstances.

Recommending to your reader to always do something a certain way leaves no room for error, creativity, exploration, or uniqueness. You may be using those words more for emphasis than meaning it literally. Your reader might not know that or be able to make that distinction. Your audience may be new to your area of expertise and not be equipped to determine nuances or any distinctions yet. And, after all, you are seen as an expert, and because of that, the assumption is you know what you're talking about and the reader may believe that what you're saying needs to be followed as thoroughly and accurately as possible.

Speaking of possible, telling the reader to look at all the possibilities for solving something is actually impossible. How does anyone know what all the possibilities are, much less if they have identified them? Yes, that is definitely different than referring to all the people in a well-defined group.

Advising the reader to always do something is another potentially impossible piece of advice, if not a great burden. Imagine how they may feel if they miss a beat and don't do something consistently every single time they do it.

"Should" is one of those personal pet peeves, especially when expressed as "you should." It begs the question of "how do you know what I should do?" and can be seen as authoritarian in the extreme, in some situations.

This conversation in this article is more than a matter of semantics. Even if your reader is not conscious of the distinctions noted here when they are reading your tips booklet or particularly sensitive to the concept of absolutes, there is an underlying tone that moves you from being helpful and supportive to something else. That something is less desirable and probably the opposite of what you have in mind in sharing your knowledge and expertise.

ACTION - Review your tips booklet manuscript and everything else you are writing to see if you have included any words that are absolutes - any of those words like always, all, forever, never, or even most. You need to know the entire amount to know if it's accurate to reference most. While you're at it, take a moment to consider how you feel when you encounter an absolute coming at you. It may bother you or not. It could be something that was under the surface that is now easily identified because of what you discovered here. Providing well-guided possibilities is a great gift you have in your power to give. Putting limitations on it is a gift that is less than a full measure. You'll see that the idea of "give them everything you've got" is missing from the suggestion. After all, do you or anyone else know how much you really do have to give? Absolutely not.

"Turn Your Tips Into Products, Your Tips Products Into Moneymakers.TM"

© 2014

The Benefits of Good Credit Control Procedures in a Small Business

Credit control is important in a business especially for small businesses. This means that every small business should ensure that it collects its outstanding invoices. Some small businesses let their uncollected invoices accumulate which ultimately affects their cash flow and also the performance of the general business. This problem can be attributed to poor credit control and lack of knowledge on the benefits of good credit control procedures in a small business.

One of the primary benefits of good credit procedures in a small business is that there will be sufficient funds to ensure that the business runs smoothly. The outstanding uncollected invoices mean that the business has some money which is deemed to be available but cannot be used in the operations of the business. This is especially a major issue in a small business which might not have enough funds to run the various operations without collecting the outstanding invoices as required. This makes it paramount for a business to ensure that it has set down good procedures of credit control so as to ensure the business runs smoothly with sufficient funds available.

Having good procedures is also important since it enables the business to know its reliable and trustworthy clients. This is because having good procedures in place will enable the business to explain to its various clients when and how the invoices will be collected. The reliable clients will keep to the payment terms and will ensure that the invoices are ready by the time stipulated by the credit control procedure. Through this the business can identify the clients that keep to their payment terms and therefore it becomes easier to extend credit to such clients since they keep their word.

Another major benefit of having a good credit control procedure in place is that the businesses are able to plan properly. This is because a small business with good control procedures will be able to know the money it has and the money to expect. As a result, the business will be able to budget even on the uncollected invoices since the laid down procedure will ensure that the outstanding invoices are collected on time.

A business can even get outsourced providers of credit control services who will ensure that all the outstanding invoices are collected on time. Having outsourced providers will give the business time to concentrate on other issues regarding the growth of the business. Furthermore, some outsourced providers even pay for the uncollected invoices and then go ahead to collect the invoices after the stipulated dates. This gives the small business the assurance that funds will be available on time to run the various operations of the business.

Good credit control procedures that enhance collection of a businesses outstanding invoices are also beneficial because it allows a business to control credit limits. Small businesses should have a limit of the credit to be extended. This means that these businesses should have a limit of the outstanding invoices. When the outstanding invoices surpass the set limit, the business might not be able to extend credit to other clients.

But with good credit control procedures the small businesses will be able to set limits and therefore be able to extend credit to other customers and also to those whose outstanding invoices have been collected. Therefore, it is paramount for a small business to have good credit control procedures in place which will enhance their collection of outstanding invoices.

Small Businesses Need a Start

As we appear to be living in a period of uncertainty with regards to the economy, employment and European community membership etc., the emphasis is on businesses to generate jobs, wealth and prosperity which is fine although I fail to see how new business ventures are supposed to get started.

We need people to start businesses otherwise there are no employment prospects for tomorrow - we can't just rely on the enterprises existing today. The problem is that if somebody wants to start up and as in most cases has limited funds to pour into their ventures where do they start?

The first thing most will need is a business home - somewhere to trade from and this is where the first obstacle becomes evident. If you're living in rented accommodation more often than not you aren't allowed to use the address for business purposes - this is the case for private landlords as well as council properties - so you need to get business premises which often means a lease or at least longer term commitment. Without a business track record that won't be easy, you'll also need to pay in many instances money 'up front' as a token of goodwill.

Banks despite their advertising campaigns are not very enthusiastic when it comes to new businesses, so money is tight - if possible at all. This leaves our potential job creators of tomorrow with very few options - we're not exactly encouraging them are we? If we're going to encourage people to start businesses, which appears to be inevitable, then it's got to be made easier. I'm not suggesting for a second that running a business is easy, but does the journey have to be quite so obstacle ridden?

With the failings of many 'big businesses' and with public sector jobs being discarded the only option for many will be to run their own enterprise, perhaps not out of choice, but need. Self employment in all its forms can be very rewarding financially and satisfying - although rarely 'plain sailing' - there is much to learn and in the majority of cases a new mind-set to be adopted.

Having been self-employed for 20 years I do understand the pitfalls, and that leads me to the conclusion we're just not helping tomorrow's creators today. This is a massive shame and very short sighted; people who have a 20/30/40 year working life in front of them need a 'leg up' now to start creating the prosperity and opportunities for tomorrow - after all us 40 plus folk will be reliant on the next generation soon, let's make sure they've got a chance.

James Kent,

Flexy office offers a business home, telephone answering, web site construction & full staff team, in fact a complete office infrastructure housed in London's Canary Wharf.

For businesses wishing to get started from as little as £10 per week, no long term commitment or onerous hoops to jump through, starting your own enterprise just got easier, contact us to learn more.

We're supporting tomorrows successes today, after all, our future is in their hands.

Is It Your Time To Be An Independent Business Owner?

Life in general is full of decisions, especially financial ones. We all have issues to deal with and we all have the same opportunity to become an independent business owner. If you are in an unstable job and are worried about your future, now may be the time to consider becoming an independent business owner.

There are four great reasons to take the plunge so to speak.

1. You cannot get fired or laid off. How many times have you heard that someone has worked their whole life for a company and at the end they either get laid off or lose their job because they make too much money? This is becoming a bigger problem today because of the economy and corporate greed.

2. You have no boss that you have to deal with. Being an independent business owner will change your outlook and attitude about going to work. Being your own boss is like being reborn again in the job world. No asking for time off, no punching a time clock and you get to pick what hours that you want to work without the worry of being bumped by someone with more seniority.

3. You can control what income that you make. Let's face it, in the corporate world there is only so much that you can make with a company before you hit what they call the ceiling. As an independent business owner, you get to pick your own salary and you can get a raise whenever you need one. This simply does not happen when you work for someone else. There is no ceiling to the amount of income that you can make as well.

4. The most attractive thing is that you can become rich. Now you have to understand that most independent business owners don't become rich but at least there is a chance. If you are working for someone or some big company, you have no chance of getting rich because that is their goal so they keep all the big money. They are only going to give you enough to survive on a weekly basis also known as working from "paycheck to paycheck".

It take a lot of courage and sometimes risk to become an independent business owner, but there are a lot of businesses that take very little risk and spend very little money in starting up. You can research on line for those opportunities or you can find someone who has done it and is willing to help you do the same.

Choosing The Best Air System For Starting A Paintball Field

Which air system you choose for your paintball field will have a huge impact on the outcome of your business. Which equipment you choose for your initial inventory will have a direct effect on the size of the initial loan you acquire. Obviously, starting out with a large monthly bill will put considerably more stress on your business, so it makes sense to be as conservative as possible with spending at first. Besides the initial start up costs, you also have to consider other factors like how durable the equipment is/how long it will last and the overall convenience of it. A higher initial cost for better supplies to start out with may be worth it if it saves you money, hassle and time later. Even if the air system was cheap to begin with, it may end up costing you more in the long run with ongoing costs of air refills, maintenance and replacements of paintball guns and cheap air tanks.

A CO2 tank refill system is the cheapest way to go initially however comes with a few headaches. Your system will consist of a bulk size CO2 tank, refill equipment (hoses, gauges & scale), and portable CO2 tanks that attach to the rental paintball guns. Before air can be transferred from the bulk tank to the portable tanks, bulk CO2 tanks must be filled by a commercial gas company and you will be reliant on this source as long as you use them. This means your paintball field must be located within a driving distance away from a commercial gas company. If you're going to use CO2 at your field, it would be wise to check for a location of a commercial gas company before even starting your business. If there is a no source to fill your air tanks, your paintball guns will not work and you do not have a business. Fortunately, companies that refill bulk CO2 cylinders are not hard to find in most cities however if you live in a rural area, sources may be too far away and CO2 would not be the best choice for your business. Refilling your bulk tanks will be an on-going expense, tedious task and of the reasons to consider using a different air source other than CO2. Some gas companies offer a convenient trade-in program like they do for propane tanks and this can help save money.

Another important point to consider when deciding on CO2 as your field's air source is how hard this gas is on your other most expensive and important initial start up cost - the paintball guns. When CO2 is trapped in the bottle under high pressure, it's stored as a liquid. As it's released into the air (or a paintball marker), it converts to a gas. When it does this very rapidly (like when a paintball gun is fired repeatedly), it's temperature drops and can cause the air tank + the inside of the marker to freeze. This causes the gun to sputter, malfunction and misfire until it warms back up again making for a dangerous lapse in action on the field. Besides being less fun, freezing the inside of a paintball gun over and over again causes o-rings to break and many maintenance issues that will soon to lead to replacement. If you're dead set on using a CO2 air tank refill system at your field, you should consider purchasing regulators for your paintball guns. A regulator is an accessory part that will 'regulate' the air temperature and warm it up before it goes into the gun, preventing freezing. These cost $10-$30 a piece and do not come stock on most rental paintball markers.

With all of this trouble, it seems few would venture into a CO2 air tank refill system for their business. However comparatively, the initial prices are what makes them the most popular. For a bulk size CO2 tank, expect to pay $1-$2K. Depending on the air tank refill kit you choose and how sophisticated you want to get, prices will range from $200-$900. Most fields start off with at least 10 paintball guns, meaning you will also need at least 10 portable CO2 tanks. These will cost $20-$30 each depending on the size of the tank you choose. This makes the total cost of a CO2 air refill system roughly $1500-$3500. While this may seem like a lot, it's very small comparing to a compressed air system, the other choice besides CO2.

Choosing a compressed air system as the refill source for your paintball field may cost more up front however will save you much money and trouble in the future. This kit will consist of a bulk size compressed air tank, commercial size air compressor to fill it with, refill equipment, and portable high pressure air tanks that attach to the rental paintball markers. Of this amount of gear, the air compressor houses the largest cost, however will make you independent of any outside sources. High pressure air is also the easiest on paintball guns. It maintains the same temperature and does not wreak the same kind of havoc on markers that CO2 does. This means your paintball guns will last longer and have less maintenance issues when you run compressed air. The constant temperature of compressed air also allows paintball gun better consistency and more accurate shooting for an easier (and more fun) time on the field.

For a high pressure air tank refill system, a bulk scuba tank or something larger can be used to cost around $3-$400. The commercial air compressor will cost $4-7000 depending on the size and type. Sometimes you can find cheaper prices by looking for a used one, however beware of the quality. The most cost effective hpa portable tanks are aluminum (not carbon fiber) and will cost $50-$75 each. For a field renting out 10 paintball guns, a compressed air refill system will cost roughly $5-$8000, significantly more than a CO2 system. While it may cost more up front, the most efficient air systems for paintball fields remain to be compressed air, yet more fields tend to opt for the cheaper, more troublesome CO2.

I'm Dan Levesque, owner of Choicepaintballguns.com online paintball equipment store. We are a retail shop selling directly to the public and not a wholesale outlet (even most of our prices are as low as the outlets!). However we also sell paintball field supplies including complete set-ups for commercial businesses. For more information about starting a paintball field and the equipment you will need, check out our website. Contact us and we are glad to give you a quote for a discount on your initial volume purchase so you can save the most money. If you are unsure of what equipment you will need, visit our website or email us and we will help you develop a list of everything you need and for a cheap price.