Make Small Business

Invoice Factoring Basics

2009-03-03T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Marco Terry

Can't afford to wait 30 to 60 days to get paid by your clients? If you are like most business owners, waiting to be paid can be very challenging. In some cases it can mean lost opportunities. It can mean that you don't bid for big sales because you know you won't be able to play the waiting game. At its worst, it can spell disaster. It can mean that you need to delay payroll. It may mean that you don't pay rent or taxes. It may force you to shut down your business.

If you are like most business owners, your first reaction will be to call your banker. Unfortunately, banks will not lend money to businesses that are new, have no hard assets or don't have three years worth of profitable financial statements. At this point, most business owners give up, thinking that they don't have any other options. However, they do.

If your company sells products or services to large credit worthy companies, you could qualify for invoice factoring financing. Invoice factoring reduces the time it takes for you to get your money to one day. How quickly could you grow your business if your invoices were paid in 24 hours?

As opposed to bank loans, factoring companies do not require hard collateral. The only requirement is that you have invoices form credit worthy clients. Factoring companies work differently than banks. A factoring company will provide you with financing based specifically on your invoices. This means that if your invoicing grows, your financing also grows.

Factoring is very simple:

1. You generate invoices for your products or services

2. You submit the invoices to your clients and to the factoring company

3. The factoring company advances you up to 85% of the gross value of your invoices (the remaining is kept as a reserve to offset disputes)

4. Once the invoice is paid by your client, the factoring company releases the 15% reserve and charges their fee

Factoring financing is easy to qualify for and can virtually eliminate the 30 to 60 days it takes for your customers to pay. It provides you with the necessary working capital to grow your company and take new opportunities.

About Commercial Capital LLC

Need to receivables factoring? We can provide you with a factoring, invoice factoring or accounts receivable factoring quote for free. Marco Terry, the president, can be reached at (866) 730 1922

Eight Basic Office Requirements

2009-03-03T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jo Ann Joy

Your business is a success, and you cannot keep up with the work unless you hire at least two more employees. You have probably been very busy and focused on starting up and growing the business. You may not be ready to be your company's human resource manager. The following are a few suggestions that can help you be prepared:

All prospective employees must fill out an Employment Application that includes basic information such as name, address, phone number, social security number, citizenship, past job history, job titles, key responsibilities, salary history, reasons for leaving the previous positions, and education through high school, college, post graduate work, and any special schooling. The application must include a paragraph that states that all statements made by the applicant are true and that the application does not constitute a contract between the applicant and the company. Lastly, the applicant should sign and date the application.

Each applicant should sign a release form that allows you to contact his or her references and former employers, and the release should state that the applicant will not start any legal action concerning any information you obtain while checking references. checks. Mail or fax a copy of the release to any references or former employers, and they will be more likely to give you complete and correct information.

Before you hire any new employees, write an employee handbook that includes information on retirement or pension accounts, insurance benefits, vacation and sick leave days, holiday schedule, performance reviews and pay increases, office conduct and dress code, personal use of email, fax, or other office equipment, and termination procedures. Place a copy of the handbook in a central location and give someone the responsibility of making sure it stays there and is updated whenever necessary.

Your state probably requires you to carry Worker's Compensation Insurance for employees that are injured on the job. Most states have an agency that regulates Worker's Compensation, and in my state it is called the Industrial Commission. Check with you state to find out the requirements and ask for suggestions for an insurance carrier.

Set up a procedure for each new employee and the date on which all elements of the procedure should be completed. For the most part, new employees should complete all of the following paperwork on the first day:

>> Have employees read and sign a receipt indicating that they have read the handbook.

>> Each employee must complete the IRS W-4 Form used to determine tax withholding.

>> Employees should sign up for any benefit programs and provide all necessary information in order to participate in insurance, retirement, or pension plans.

>> Each new employee should sign an agreement stipulating that all proprietary information will remain confidential and that the company owns all inventions or new processes created by the employee while employed by the company.

>> Employees should complete a personal information form that includes their address, phone numbers, names of immediate family, social security number, and emergency contacts' name, phone numbers, and address.

There are also certain posters that must be displayed in a central, prominent location:

>> The poster describing the terms of the minimum wages required by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

>> The poster describing the provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act.

>> The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration poster that explains how workers may file a complaint, report an emergency, or seek OSHA advice.

>> The Equal Employment Opportunity Act poster that provides information concerning the laws and procedures for filing complaints of violations of the laws with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

>> The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act poster that strengthens veterans' reemployment rights.

This list will give you a start, but it is not intended to be all inclusive. It is strongly recommended that you review employment laws with your attorney. You can also find good advice on the internet and in libraries.

Discover the secrets to success.

About the author: Jo Ann Joy is the CEO and owner of Indigo Business Solutions, a legal and business consulting firm that is a "one stop shop" for small businesses. We offer both legal and business services. We provide all professional services that a business requires without being "referred out" to other professionals.

Jo Ann has a law degree, an MBA, and a degree in Economics. She is a strategic business attorney who works closely with businesses to greatly improve their chance of success. Her background includes commercial, corporate, contract and real estate law, accounting, financial planning, mortgages, marketing, product development, banking, and business planning and strategies. She ran a successful business for 10 years and has written and given presentations on many different legal, tax, and business subjects.

Please visit website for free articles and for business, legal, and tax advice. http://www.IndigoBusinessSolutions.net Phone: 602-663-7007; Fax: 602-324-7582

Retailers Are You Struggling To Create Endofseason Displays

2009-03-02T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Melanie McIntosh

I received an email recently that mentioned how difficult it is to create an inspiring display window at the end of a season.

Yes. It is difficult to come continually come up with new and inspiring ideas. Especially when you are not inspired yourself.

You're tired of the merchandise in your store that you have seen it every day for the past several weeks.
You're disappointed that a product you anticipated would be a hot seller, is still sitting on the shelves.
You're frustrated by the dwindling product selection, making it difficult to create a dynamic display.

You're attitude is like a virus. You don't realize it, but your customers will catch it.

You need to be excited by what you sell.

As a retailer, that is what you do. Your job is to present merchandise in a way that inspires and attracts. You need to make each product in your store desirable. You need to infect shoppers with your enthusiasm.

1. Change your perception.

Do you see that product sitting on the shelf as a leftover that no one wanted? Or is it an undiscovered gem that is waiting to be found by the right person?

You need to make that gem shine. You need to find that person who is looking for what you have to offer.

2. Present the product well.

It may be that the merchandise hasn't sold because of the presentation. Create a dazzling display with complimentary merchandise, if you can. Of course, that is part of the problem to begin with. It is hard to find enough merchandise that looks good together when some of it has sold.

Maybe one product, featured on its own, can make a strong display. With great signage and great lighting it could work very well.

Instead of other merchandise, perhaps you can find props that would help tell a story with your product.

There are lots of options - the trick is to get creative. Which brings us to the next point.

3. Get inspired. Look for new ideas.

It's easy to get tired of dealing with the same space and merchandise day in and day out. It can get hard to come up with new ideas.

It's time for YOU to go out shopping. Shopping for ideas. Take a walk at lunch, or after work. Take a look at what other stores are doing. What is new and exciting? What colours are being used?

Browse some magazines. How are products arranged for ads? What trends are you seeing?

It is part of your job to stay in touch with what is happening around you. Really, that is what you are selling - not just a product, but an idea. You're selling a feeling, a mood that your product embodies.

You need to be inspired to inspire your customers.

4. Get something new. Fast.

When I worked in retail stores, I learned that one of the best things you can do to keep customers engaged is to always have something new arriving.

Don't just buy all your merchandise a few times a year. Keep a few new things coming in every few weeks. This is especially true for any kind of fashion merchandise.

5. Move the old stuff out.

You need to turn merchandise quickly. Product that hangs on the rack, or sits on the shelf, is money that could be re-invested in something new.

Put the merchandise in a prominent position. Mark it down. Create a sales contest or special promotion.

Just do whatever you have to do to move the old product out.

The worst thing you can do is to allow yourself to lose motivation at the end of the season. Don't just move the products you are tired of to a corner and forget about them.

Instead, get excited about what you have to offer. Your customers will sense it and feel the same. Better yet - throw a party and invite them to join you!"

Melanie McIntosh is a retail consultant and owner of Inspire Retail Solutions. She helps independent retailers who are struggling to attract customers because they need to improve their merchandising and visual identity.

Is your store appearance actually turning customers away? Find out more here: http://www.inspire.bc.ca

Subscribe FREE to Retail Tips http://www.inspire.bc.ca/RetailTips.html

Enable Growth With Merchant Accounts

2009-03-01T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jack Chevalier

Merchant account helps to become self-efficient in profitable opportunities. A merchant account is the authorization to credit card processing granted by a financial institution. Such financial institution has to be a member and certified by the Visa and MasterCard Associations to provide with the merchant account and all of the services related to merchant account.

MORE SALES
Studies have shown that having a merchant account may increase sales by as much as 50% or more. Many direct marketing businesses produce 90 to 100% of their sales by credit card

BIGGER SALES
The average credit card user spends 2.5 times as much as cash buyers.

CASH FLOW
When clients pays with credit cards or ATM cards, money is received faster than if you had to wait for them to send a check or money order.

IMPULSE BUYERS
With credit cards, buyers feel more freedom to make unplanned purchases.

ENHANCED CREDIBILITY
The ability to accept credit card payments gives you valuable credibility in the eyes of prospective and current clients.

HIGHER PROFIT MARGINS
Credit card customers are typically less conscious of price differences than buyers that pay by check or cash.

COMPETITIVE EDGE
Credit card and ATM card users tend to seek out businesses that accept credit card and ATM card payments over those that do not.

INTERNET STRATEGY
It is clear that credit cards are the predominant and safest method of moving currency over the Internet.Accept them or loose customers.

For more information on merchant services,please visit http://www.paynetsystems.com

Six Sigma In A Small Business

2009-02-28T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Tony Jacowski

As a small business owner, you will eventually sense the need for Six Sigma implementation in your business. Typically, yours is a 3-5 year old company on the threshold of expanding your operations to meet the growing customer expectations but is cornered to optimize your resources on generating more sales than anything else. Small companies in the bracket of 50-100 employees (most of them being non technical) and revenue of $10-15 million find themselves in this fix. The predicament at this stage is one of a person who is caught between a tiger and cliff.

Finding A Way Out Of The Jam

The situation needs to be given a rational thought concerning how many resources can be afforded and whether the time has really come for Six Sigma. The cost of hiring consultants being hardly affordable, you have to explore options like hiring a Black Belt and having some of your employees trained in-house for Green Belt positions.

What you probably don't want to miss out on in hiring an experienced Black Belt, although expensive, are the benefits you get because of her/his domain knowledge and experience. Her proven track record will have the best chances of outweighing the initial cost benefit of grooming in-house Black Belts. An experienced Black Belt helps by bringing the focus immediately into a pressing issue on hand which is crucially important to the organization. Alternately, your best man with brilliant analytical and leadership skills may be trained as a Black Belt, and you may enroll in a Champion Session.

The trouble with this kind of an arrangement is whether you can afford to lose your best person from his current job. Enrolling Black Belts, can be an option for you, but you must realize that it takes some time before the new Black Belts get acclimatized with your scheme of things. At the same time, Green Belts, most often being part-time, don't need to be of high skill. Choosing a few reasonable persons from your organization will suffice. A great Black Belt can take minor shortcomings of Green Belts in stride and things will eventually balance out.

Resolving The Issue Of The Master Black Belt

Even an experienced Black Belt will need the support of a Master Black Belt. The vacuum can be felt typically when the Black Belt finds herself in a logjam. A typical case could be one of technical or organizational reasons. But hiring Master Black Belts is a costly proposal. Secondly, growing and training Master Black Belts in house is also impractical. You will have to hire a consulting Master Black Belt.

But getting a professional is not easy, especially when many of them are more interested in increasing 'their-hours-in-work' than in the task. You can consult your state's 'Manufacturing Extension Programs' or a trusted contact to refer you to a consulting Master Black Belt. In any case, with you at the helm of affairs, you will know when to pull the plug when something is not working out.

Caution Is The Word

Probably you would want to go one project at a time. Assessing your progress at intervals should direct the course of action. Brainstorm with your internal team to decide on activities to go for Six Sigma and which of the activities are measurable. Establishing measurability and metrics beforehand is important.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Learning And Growing

2009-02-27T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Tresaca Hamilton

As you reflect on this year and prepare for next year, what are the lessons you have learned in business and how do you plan to use those lessons to grow your business in the year ahead?

And remember, in every challenge there is opportunity for growth so even if you had a challenging year it can be a stepping stone to success.

I know the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can seem overwhelming when you try to factor in end of year business planning.

So simplify this very important task by focusing on the Top Three Lessons you have learned and how you will apply your newfound wisdom towards improving and growing your business.

If you didn't meet your financial goals this year what lessons have you learned that will help you accomplish that goal next year?

Create more income streams if you relied too heavily on one source of income.

Eliminate the activities that took up a lot of your time and provided little to no return on investment. Increase the activities that provided a good return on investment, and duplicate and increase your success with similar activities.

Select your top three lessons and then ask yourself the following questions:

1. What have I learned from this experience?

2. If it was unpleasant, what can I do to prevent future occurrences?

3. If it was pleasant, what can I do to experience this success on an ongoing basis?

4. How can I use this experience to grow my business?

This is just a start but you only need to take a step to move forward.

Give yourself the gift of time now and reflect upon your lessons learned this year. When this year comes to a close take only the wisdom from those lessons and apply them to your goals for next year.

Leave any bad feelings about any challenges you had this year behind when the curtain falls on this year, and stay focused on the growth of your business and yourself when the curtain rises on the new year.

Remember that every challenge is an opportunity for growth and can be a stepping stone towards success.

So stay focused on your success as you step into the New Year.

Tresaca Hamilton is the CEO of Black Unicorn Communications. Black Unicorn Communications helps Service Businesses attract more clients in less time.

Visit http://www.blackunicorninc.com to receive our free Business Success Toolkit including the free course: 7 Steps To More Clients.

Avoid Costly Mistakes When Starting A Vending Machine Business

2009-02-27T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Max Woody

1. Don't get ripped off when buying your vending machines, I will show you how to find the best companies!

2. Proven techiques for finding the best accounts that generate the biggest profits!

My name is Max Woody and I'm the President of Best Choice Vending, Inc., located in Durham, NC. My company has provided Vending Machine service to this area for over 10 years.

I first started my vending machine business in 1995 with just a few machines and turned it into a full time business within 6 months. I can tell you from experience that lack of knowledge when starting a vending business can be very costly & stessful.

Finding the solid & reputible companies to purchase machines from and getting the high volume accounts are two of the most important steps you will ever make in starting your vending business!

Step 1- Choosing the right company when buying vending equipment!

Many people make the "huge mistake" of purchasing the wrong vending equipment or even worse buying from companies that will rip you off. Purchase your vending machine equipment from solid & reputable manufactures.

Buy from companies with a proven track record. Ask plenty of questions. Check them out with the Better Business Bureau and your Attorney Generals Office.

Deal with companies that have been around for many years.You must be able to depend on these companies, because in the future you may need to order parts for your vending machines.

You must deal with companies that stand behind their equipment. Find out if the company offers technical support.

Most companies offer technical support in case you experience problems with your equipment and need trouble shooting assistance.

Companies that sell vending equipment normally provide a standard 1 year warranty on the equipment. This warranty should cover parts that may go bad on the equipment within the warranty period.

Also, ask if the company provides any type of financing on their machines. Many companies that manufacture vending equipment also provide what they call "in house financing".

Step 2- Finding the high volume accounts!

One the best ways for getting customers is to visit the well established companies in your area first. Ask to speak with the person in charge of the vending service. This is normally a manager or even the owner.

Also, when looking for companies to place your machines with, try finding ones that operate more than one shift. The 24 hour 7 day a week companies provide the best profit potential.

When talking to potential customers, find out the type of problems their experiencing with the current vending service. Explain how your machines or service can provide the solution to that problem.

Many times companies have older machines that just don't work well and take money without giving the item people paid for.

Also, the larger vending companies don't seem to provide the more personal service as a smaller vending company just starting out. As a smaller company you have an advantage over the larger ones with the quality of service you can provide.

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Visit my website to get more time & money saving techinues for starting your vending business! Also, get a free vending mini course! FREE Vending Mini Course:==> http://www.bestvendinginfo.com
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Max Woody is a vending machine business owner that has over 10 years experience in the vending business. Max has developed one of the best systems available for starting and operating a high volume cash profit business!

Fast Merchant Account Services

2009-02-26T23:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Shane Penrod

Fast merchant account services might be the answer to your dreams if you aspire to build a corporate empire. When you check out the various lines of merchant services that can help you do business more efficiently, you are apt to find one that is affordable as well as compatible with your current growth plan.

You need not wait for a long, drawn-out process of applying for a loan or building credentials to improve your professional standing within your community or in the business community. All you have to do is apply for fast merchant account services that can help you upgrade your company's methods of dealing with customers to provide prompt, efficient, accurate responses to inquiries, orders, and payments. Often when you apply, you can get an online or email answer within hours or days. It can depend on how complete your application is, so be sure to have all the required information on hand when your apply for your new merchant account.

When you adopt a fast merchant account, your customers will begin to benefit immediately. As soon as you upgrade to a new credit card processing system or a wireless ordering program, it is likely that you will experience an increase in sales volume and profit margin from your client base. Another potential benefit is that your current clients may tell others about your company's expansion, which may bring others into the facility or at least prompt inquiries about your product or services. Before you know it, your client base may have multiplied into several times its original size.

Although you don't want to make many hasty decisions about your company, applying for a fast merchant account can be a step in the right direction. After browsing several merchant account providers online, you can choose from among the numerous services and products that can help you upgrade your business to the next professional level. In a matter of days your company may be able to boast a brand new Internet Website. Customers from around the world will be able to locate your company, browse your products or services, and order instantly without the need for employee assistance. You can save money in human resources while reaping benefits in your newly expanded global market by signing up for a fast merchant account from a reputable company. You may be able to add a product line to the Website that you currently do not have physical space locally for selling this line of goods.

Your new merchant account can put you leagues ahead of the competition that may not be aware of the advantages that come with merchant account status. Make time to find out more about this exciting opportunity for taking your company to the next level. See what various companies can offer in terms of specific operating or marketing services. Compare prices, installation fees, maintenance terms, and discounts to work out the best deal. Then put your business future into the hands of a competent merchant services provider when you sign up for your personalized fast merchant account.

Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.Merchant-Account-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

Record Keeping For Small Business Advantages And Tips

2009-02-26T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Alexander Gordon

In order to be a success in the business world, you need to keep track of all the sales, proceeds, and turnover of your business. Here we are discussing what you need to know about record keeping for small business: methods, indicators, and advantages.

Advantages of Record Keeping for Small Businesses
There are several advantages to keeping proper records of transactions for your small business.

Financial Statements
Financial records help you prepare financial statements. These records are needed when borrowing from a lending agency or getting audits done.

Business Analysis
Financial Statements help you in business analysis and in checking the health of your small business. You can see which sectors are bringing in more profits and where your business is suffering losses.

Cash Flow
Proper records help you keep track of the cash flow to your small business and of the sources of payment.

Tax Returns
While filing tax returns, a detailed financial record helps you keep track of your expenditures and file for appropriate rebates.

Because record keeping is so crucial to almost all aspects of your small business, what is the optimal way of keeping records? The following section discusses some record keeping tips.

Tips for Record Keeping
Update Daily
Daily updates keep you from being buried under a mountain of paperwork at the end of the month or at the end of the financial year.

File Receipts Under Proper Headings
Keep track of who gave you which receipt, when, and why.

Keep a Record of Expenses
Keep track of all your expenses and where and when you spend money.

Different Businesses If you own more than one small business, keep separate records for each.

Documents Needed for Record Keeping
You need to file certain documents in the proper places if you wish to maintain a proper record of your finances. Purchases, sales, payrolls, and receipts must be preserved safely. Keep a separate folder for these documents. Keep records of bank receipts, cash register bills, and credit card receipts that are proof of your income. Suppliers' receipts document your buying and selling transactions. These receipts should also be filed separately. Keep documents related to business expenses. Small cash payments should also be recorded, and you should have a cash disbursement slip ready. Documents related to assets, both movable and immovable, should be preserved so that it makes auditing and accounting easy. If your small business employs other people, you should keep employee compensation records.

Record keeping is crucial if you want to have a clear idea of your financial transactions and save yourself the trouble of locating misplaced documents when it is time to pay taxes. If you need help with record keeping, you can hire the services of a small business advisor or take appropriate software.

Alexander Gordon is a writer for http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com - The Small Business Consulting Community. Sign-up for the free success steps newsletter and get our booklet valued at $24.95 for free as a special bonus. The newsletter provides daily strategies on starting and significantly growing a business.

Business Owners all across the country are joining "The Community of Small Business Owners" to receive and provide strategies, insight, tips, support and more on starting, managing, growing, and selling their businesses. As a member, you will have access to true Millionaire Business Owners who will provide strategies and tips from their real-life experiences.

Small Business Marketing Tip Ask Employees To Find The Extra Inch

2009-02-25T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Craig Lutz-Priefert

Asking an employee to go the extra mile often seems like so much hype from a boss. But asking them to uncover little ways in which they can almost effortlessly help to make a customer's experience better in your shop can be much less difficult-and even more productive.

Here is a very simple exercise that can pay off huge dividends if it helps differentiate you from your competition. Ask your Bloom Team staff to look outside your business for ways for you to go that extra inch to make the customer experience better.

Successful small business marketing relies on leveraging your brainpower much more than your wallet-power. When you are ready, hand each of your Bloom Team members a small, recipe-card sized piece of paper they can carry with them during the next month that has something similar to this written on it:

(Headline:) Outside Examples of "Going the Extra Inch" for the Customer:

_______________
_______________
_______________

Then just bring up the idea occasionally at staff meetings during "Extra Inch" month. The benefit of having a piece of paper or note card the employee carries is that they will be reminded when they pull it out of their purse or wallet that they should be looking for "extra inch examples" while they are out and about doing their own shopping.

The idea is to secure five or six new "extra inch for the customer" ideas via staff input. If you can implement even one or two of these in your small company's customer interactions then the staff's time in searching these ideas out will be worth it.

Plus, these ideas will have greater acceptance by your employees--since they came up with them in the first place.

Remember: Brand (who you are) + Package (your Face to the Customer) + People (customers and employees) = Marketing Success.

Craig Lutz-Priefert is President of Marketing Hawks, a firm providing essential marketing vision for small business. Marketing Hawks also sponsors the ongoing small business adventures of entrepreneur Crystal Trino at the JourneyToday website.

Preventive Care For Your Business

2009-02-25T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Donna MacMillan

We have all seen the articles, TV ads and listened to our doctor's advice to take preventive measures with our health. We have yearly checkups and tests with our doctor and dentist. We try to eat the right foods and get some exercise all in the effort of keeping ourselves healthy. We also take this way of thinking into the care of our vehicles and homes. Oil changes every 3000 miles or as recommended by the manufacturer, filter changes and tire rotations are just some of the regular tasks we ask our car mechanics to perform to keep us on the road. We call in the heating specialist once a year to service our heating systems, if we have septic systems, we have them pumped before we run into trouble, our driveways are re-surfaced and our lawns and gardens are fed, watered, mowed and weeded. These are all tasks scheduled and done to prevent costly repairs which when they happen are almost always at the most inconvenient time.

And yet in what maybe the most important area for preventive maintenance does not get scheduled. Your business and how efficiently and profitable it is running should be right up there with your car and home. And if you take care of the small issues as they arise, your health will certainly improve with the resulting stress reduction.

You can bring continuing success to your business by giving it a regular checkup by a professional. You may ask Aunt Alice how to deal with a cold, but I certainly would hope you would not rely on her for a diagnosis of pneumonia. Likewise in your business. There are tests to be conducted, questions to be asked and knowledgeable advice to consider. You are busy running your business and taking care of your clients because that is your job. A professional business consultant can look at your business with an eye to the future and provide you with a road map to your company's future success. Good decisions made today will make huge differences in the tomorrows to come. You depend on the pros's to take care of your personal needs, don't you think your business deserves the same considerations?

Take Your Small Business Ideas To The Next Level

2009-02-24T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Ove Nordkvist

More than 70% of the people in a recent survey said that they wanted to turn their small business ideas in to a business of their own. What stops most of them is the lack of business experience.

Here we will examine what's most important, and what type of qualities you'll need to have or gain. Before you enter the road towards realization of your small business ideas.

The biggest asset, and by far the most important in the event of become a successful small business owner, is to have or develop a positive attitude. A wise man once said "your attitude will determine your altitude". When you pursue your dream and reverse it into reality, you'll need a positive attitude. You also must be able to commit and be willing to do what ever it takes to make your dream come true.

Many people start their small business with high motivation. Only to loose all of it at sight of the first obstacle. Don't fall into that trap. Prepare yourself with a big portion of positive attitude. If you do, it will take you through all the humps and temporary setbacks you're bound to face.

A majority of people with small business ideas and dreams of an own business. Are not prepared to face any of the problems they will reach. Therefor they look for an easy way out. They quit. Which also means their dreams are crushed. To avoid this scenario, you need to develop a fierce determination of success. You will increase your chances of achieving your goals. You're literally set yourself up for business.

Of course no one can guarantee that your dreams will come true. But to have the determination to push forward through problems. And to have the good habit of finding solutions. That my friend, is true marks of a winner. These qualities will help you to accomplish what you desire. People without determination and the right attitude will close the door and call it a failure.

Now, to be able to realize your small business ideas. The final thing you'll need is a proved process. You need a step by step plan, that you can follow to accomplish your dreams. You need a map, that others have used, to reach the same destination you want to be at.

It will not help you to have a positive attitude and loads of determination, if you have a plan that's flawed and never had a chance of working in the first place. Look for proof that other people have succeeded, with the system you are considering.

Don't trust the promoter when he claim that the system will work for you. You have to demand results from other users. You need proof that it's possible to accomplish your small business ideas with the considered plan.

The only way you can measure success is by results. If the plan you consider can't show real results by others. Look for another solution. do your homework once again. It's what you have to do, to make sure you get of to a good start.

If you need help with small business ideas, you're welcome to visit Ove Nordkvist's web site. Take advantage of the many free e-books, tools and resources. Go to www.small-biz-ideas.net

Small Business Risk How To Avoid It

2009-02-24T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by David Gass

One of the best ways to separate business and personal financial interests is to have your business become incorporated. This step will immediately reduce personal liabilities for any of the debts and responsibilities of the business from the owners or operators of the business. To become incorporated means to create a wall between these interests so that the business can operate free from personal interests and the person or individuals do not have to bear all of the responsibility for being in business.

To become incorporated also means that there is an agreement to operate the business under a series of specified conditions. They include separating the ambitions and interests of a number of groups who may stand to gain or lose from the operations of the business. Each group is provided rights and bears some of the responsibility for the ultimate success or failure of the corporation.

The owners of a corporation are the shareholders. They can purchase or be granted shares in the corporation and they hold the legal ownership of the corporation as specified in the articles of incorporation. The shareholders in a business that has become incorporated elect a Board of Directors to oversee the corporation and also elect the Officers of the corporation such as the President, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Officers are responsible for the day to day operations of the corporation and the Board of Directors oversees their work. The Board reports on business activities to the shareholders at a general meeting which must be held every year.

The step to become incorporated is a sign of maturity for a business, especially a small business. Many successful businesses also operate as LLCs or limited liability companies, an action that accomplishes many of the same objectives as the move to become incorporated. Others opt for the even simpler processes of registering as a sole proprietor or partnership, both of which cost far less than the somewhat lengthy process to become incorporated, however they lose the liability protection and some tax benefits.

A good business lawyer can help evaluate the decision to become incorporated and a qualified accountant can provide information on the tax advantages and possible downsides of moving in this direction. Once a decision is made to become incorporated then articles of incorporation must be filed with the state in which the business will become incorporated.

That might be the business's home state or the state in which a majority of the Board of Directors reside, or it can be in a state that provides certain advantages and tax breaks if a business chooses to incorporate there.

David Gass is President of Business Credit Services, Inc., founder of http://www.SmallBusinessConsulting.com and co-developer of the Corporate Manager Software which manages the records of a Corporation or LLC. For a Free Trial of the software visit http://www.corporateforms.net

Watch American Idol Or Go Out Of Business

2009-02-23T23:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Jimmy Vee

On the heels of the fifth season of Fox's Americana-mega-monster American Idol, small business owners have a huge opportunity to leverage Fox's fortune into their own and put big bucks into the bank in the process.

We are making a powerful plea to small business owners, Watch American Idol or go out of business.

In order for small business owners to garner maximum pull and penetration with their generally small marketing budgets, it is vitally important to enter into the conversation that is already going on inside your customers' heads.

It is much easier to sell a prospect if you are in sync with what they are already thinking and talking about. Plus, by tapping into their current thoughts and emotions your message will penetrate deeper and make a longer lasting and more powerful impact.

What does American Idol and small business have in common and how does that factor into the conversation that is currently going on?

Fox's blockbuster fifth season of American Idol is slated to reach some 27.5 million viewers. How many of these viewers are your prospects? Chances are a good number of them. Tying into media, news and pop culture events are a secret marketing hammer that small businesses can use for little cost to propel themselves into pseudo-local celebrity status. For instance, you can create ads, events and promotions that relate to your customers' existing thoughts. It's such a powerful tool, yet one that is far under-utilized by small businesses and entrepreneurs.

According to the US Small Business Administration, over 500,000 new small businesses are born each year. But as many as 50% fail in their very first year of life (http://tinyurl.com/cusne). According to Vee and Miller, these daunting figures are a direct consequence of the below-average marketing efforts employed by small businesses across the nation and the fact that most marketing fails to connect with the intended target at a personal, emotional and relevant level.

Our recommendation for the salvation of any small business: The American Idol Phenomenon. By watching American Idol and other reality TV, you can be more in-tune with the pulse of the nation. Even if you don't like the crooning divas yourself, you can gain a marketing education worth millions by paying attention to pop culture.

Studies show that the American Idol audience (and the Reality TV audience in general) is not limited to the teen-age crowd. Members of almost every segment, age and demographic are partaking in the festivities offered by prime-time reality. It's consuming their thoughts and desires.

Paying attention to what your prospects are watching and thinking about is one strategy that small business owners can use for low- to no-cost that can really put substantial sales on the board and dollars in the bank.

Here are three no-cost and simple research tools that small business owners can use to tap into the conversations of their potential prospects in addition to watching reality TV:

1. Use the Google Press Center at http://www.google.com/zeitgeist. This site shows the top searches on google for the past week. These searches give you an immense insight into what is on people's minds right now.

2. Do a search on Amazon.com and see what books are at the top of the best sellers list. These titles may give you clues to hot buttons you can hit with your marketing. Often times book titles can be tweaked and used as potent headlines for your advertisements.

3. Do a search on eBay. eBay is the net's top marketplace with transactions totaling over $48 million dollars per day. Do a quick search. See what the top categories are and the hottest products being purchased. You can learn something from this information and use it to your marketing advantage. Perhaps a contest or give-a-way or a new market to get into.

If you are a small business owner, solo sales representative or marketing professional and are tired of doing the same old boring marketing that gets no results and wastes your precious time, energy and cash then scoot on over to http://www.GravitationalMarketing.com and join the herds of others who devour Jimmy Vee and Travis Miller's Mission Control Marketing Newsletter.

In addition to learning more about The American Idol Phenomenon you will discover other juicy bits of marketing insight that will enable you to naturally attract new customers quickly and effortlessly like gravity pulls objects to earth. Vee and Miller also have a new DVD and e-book that reveal their secret methods of Gravitational Marketing and expose how your business can be sensational and become famous on a limited budget.

If you are a small business owner, solo sales representative or marketing professional and are tired of doing the same old boring marketing that gets no results and wastes your precious time, energy and cash then scoot on over to http://www.GravitationalMarketing.com and join the herds of others who devour Jimmy Vee and Travis Miller's Mission Control Marketing Newsletter.

You will discover other juicy bits of marketing insight that will enable you to naturally attract new customers quickly and effortlessly like gravity pulls objects to earth. Vee and Miller also have a new DVD and e-book that reveal their secret methods of Gravitational Marketing and expose how your business can be sensational and become famous on a limited budget.

The Value Of Web Presence For Small Businesses

2009-02-23T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Natalie Aranda

Undoubtedly, the internet can make the difference between a successful small business and one ignored by customers. Due to the global nature of the Internet surpassing physical frontiers between nations, and even making it unnecessary to use printed business cards when they can easily be hosted online.

Web presence can make small businesses more competitive from any angle, allowing you to understand new trends, as well as discover opportunities and problems without wasting time. A small business with Internet presence improves your opportunity to connect with a number of suppliers and customers that otherwise might not be possible in your local area.

Furthermore, traditional printed business cards including an Internet address, not only opens a new range of possibilities to succeed, but also is a way to increase your communications, showing an appealing professional appearance, no matter how big or small your business or company is actually.

In fact, you will be surprised to see prospective clients seeking what they want through search engines. Others might check for URLs in business cards instead of browsing the printed yellow pages, because a web presence translates is synonym to having a shop or booth in every corner of the world, where every individual or small business can have the same presence as the big enterprises.

Of course, budget, skills, knowledge and other Internet resources determine the performance of every small business online. However, it will always be beneficial to develop your business web presence if you want to get customers from every location around the world or, as a practical alternative, you can create online business cards for you, your partners and employees.

On the Internet, you will find a number of websites offering both services, development of your web presence and creating your online business cards, ranging from low-mid prices to those unaffordable for people who are just starting a new business venture. However, you do not need a big budget to start.

There are a number of free Web hosting services that will gladly give you web space to develop your presence. If you have no idea how to create a website, they usually have facilities called online tools or web site builders, allowing you to create a nice looking page with just a small amount of information regarding your small business, products and services.

If you do not feel comfortable with those tools, there are other options for you. If you want to create only a business card that looks like real printed business cards, you can always get free or cheap web templates, coming in a variety of designs and only requiring your information to be uploaded, which will create your web presence instantly.

Natalie Aranda writes about business, technology and online payment options. On the Internet, you will find a number of websites offering both services, development of your web presence and creating your online business cards, ranging from low-mid prices to those unaffordable for people who are just starting a new business venture. However, you do not need a big budget to start.

What Is Small Business Administration In A Nutshell

2009-02-22T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Bill Darken

Small Business Administration is an organization funded by the American government which provides loans to entrepreneurs and businessmen to set up their small businesses. In addition to that the organization also provides some grants and training for the efficient running of business. Another important feature is that they provide legal and administrative help in establishing a business to entrepreneurs who are likely to get entangled in the web of laws and taxes if they do not have proper guidance along the way.

They conduct various training for different sets of audiences like entrepreneurs, women business ownership and international trade.

The most used and availed service however is one of obtaining loans and grants for doing business. Apart from giving loans out themselves, Small Business Administration will also stand as surety for people and help them get loans from elsewhere. In the case of natural disasters the organization also provides members with grants so that they can 'get going' again and are able to face troubled times.

Small Business Administration also helps businesses in contracting and it ranges from Business Development, HUB Zone and Government contracting to name a few.

The organization also helps businesses to deal with Advocacy and law related matters.

How do I get in touch with the Small Business Administration?

You can get in touch with them by visiting their website and calling up their number and speaking with an associate their. Apart from this the site has also got a local office locater which you can use to track down the office that is closest to you and then call them up, make an appointment and meet them in person.

I need helping in understanding business better?

While Small Business Administration takes care of loans and helps out people who have been turned down at other places for money, they also deal with a whole host of educational material and training programs. These training programs are aimed at people who want to learn more about the different functions of business.

What can I learn using SBA:

You will find resources that will help you to learn about the basics in starting up your business, such as understanding what are the various forms of ownership, checklists, understanding how franchise works and also knowledge about product basics.

Planning is an important aspect and you will be guided on things like writing a business plan, understanding what business you are in and the ways in which you are going to use this plan.

Financing is probably the most important part for without it the business will not take off. You will need to know where to look for capital, how to estimate costs and understand financial statements.

Small Business Administration also deals with education about marketing and the various forms of keeping your customers happy, conducting research and doing competitive analysis.

Employees will make or break your company and any help on finding the right people, what to pay them and what is needed to retain them is welcome.

Legal aspects like licenses and permits and business laws need the understanding of an expert and you would definitely seek some guidance in this area.

Taxes like State Tax, local tax , Sales and Use tax not only form a big part of your cost structure. If not handled carefully, it could get you on the wrong side of the law as well. It is therefore imperative to seek the utmost clarity here.

As is seen above when you are going to do your own business there is a host of things that you need to take care of and Small Business Administration can help you there, over and above getting the money for you to start off. What is important to keep in mind is that most entrepreneurs and business men are most of the times busy just scampering for funds that they lose track of most of the other things that happen and because of that, one thing or the other will go wrong and they will unfortunately have to repent later.

If you are managing a small business chances are that it's a one man show and apart from planning and strategizing you have to do the running around after suppliers and authorities to get the necessary approvals etc. In such cases it is best to leverage on the experience of an organization like the Small Business Administration.

This article has been supplied courtesy of Billy Baxter. Billy often writes and works closely with Small Business Answers who can help with more information on small business administration loans. If the link is not active, you can paste this one into your browser - small-business-answers.com/ This site is dedicated to supplying the latest news and articles on small business to assist people progressing and to help with information and news. You can also look for small business loans information at small business administration grants. If this previous link is not working you can paste this link into your browser, loans-only.com/

Accept Visa Credit Cards

2009-02-22T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Shane Penrod

Should you accept Visa credit card payments? Why not? More and more often, merchants are coming to appreciate the ease with which a credit card payment system can be implemented in their business through a merchant services account. Customers love the convenience of paying by credit, especially when cash flow is low or temporarily restricted. Letting them pay with plastic will allow your clients to enjoy greater flexibility in shopping for goods at your company and paying on their own terms.

If you decide to accept Visa credit card transactions, you will first need to secure a merchant services account. This is not hard to do. Just check with any of several merchant account providers, usually banks or lenders of some sort, to inquire about terms and costs. When you find a plan that suits your business and your customers' needs, you are ready to apply for the account. Most lenders want to be sure that you have a good credit history and are capable of making monthly payments to the account. They typically do not want to deal with a company that is involved with unethical or unsavory business operations.

When you receive a merchant services account, you are ready to accept Visa credit card payments. You will want to implement a system that will best fit your company's system. For example, if you handle a high volume of telephone sales, you may want to install a digital phone ordering system, with or without the support of a customer service representative who will be on call during hours of operation. But if you do a lot of traveling with your business, such as pizza delivery or consulting work, you may be more interested in securing a wireless credit processor that can go with you for point-of-sale credit processing. Perhaps a pager would be a better way to transfer credit transactions. You also may be interested in an e-check or debit processor. The possibilities are exciting, so choose carefully to avoid overextending your business and decreasing profit margins.

Another way to accept Visa credit card transactions is by establishing a Website. You can hire a Web consultant to put up a site for you, or you can learn to do it yourself. Your merchant services account will provide the means of letting the site accept credit card payments from customers anywhere in the world. Customers from any time zone can browse your site at any time, entering credit card payment through your secure Website. Your revenues can increase substantially when you add this credit card option to your marketing strategies. Your Website can include color photos of products, price lists, testimonials, product reviews, and other features that will bring customers back again and again to sample your wares. Then when they are ready to buy, your online credit processor is ready to accommodate them.

Don't wait to implement e-commerce in your business. Start browsing the possibilities today to find out how much they cost with a merchant services account. Before long you can accept Visa credit card transactions that will make your customers happy and your profits jump.

Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. Accept Visa Credit Card Payments

The Caymen Offshore Company

2009-02-21T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Bruce Stander

There are five types of companies that may be registered in the Cayman Islands resident companies, non-resident companies, exempted companies, limited duration companies and foreign companies. They may be incorporated with members' liability limited by shares, guarantee as unlimited companies, or as non-profit organizations.

Exempted Corporation

Exempted companies are identities where the proposed activities of a company are to be carried out mainly outside the Islands. The most appropriate use of offshore transactions is the exempt company which is prohibited from doing business in the Cayman Islands except in pursuance of its offshore business.

Benefits the Exempted Corporation:

An exempted company:

need not keep a register of members, nor file annual returns with the Registrar

need not hold an annual general meeting

Has written guarantee that if taxes ever be introduced in the Islands the company will be exempt for an initial period of 20 years, which period can be increased to 30 years.

May alter its Memorandum and Articles of Association without restriction.

may issue shares with nominal or no par value, and which can be either negotiable
or non-negotiable annual meetings must be held once a year in the islands by the company's board of directors

Annual Returns:

The annual return to the Registrar is a simple matter, requiring only the declaration that:

No changes, other than those notified to the Registrar, have been made in the Memorandum of Association

The provisions of the Companies Law have been observed

The company's operations have been mainly outside the Islands

An exempted company need not include the word "Limited" after its name

The Registrar must give one month's notice before taking action to strike off an exempted company

An exempted company may express its capital in any currency

Incorporation of an Exempted Company Corporate name

A name can be reserved for 30 days.

Any of the following words or abbreviations can not be included:

Chamber of Commerce
Building Society
Royal
Imperial
Empire
Municipal
Chartered
Mutual fund
No name may contain the words "co-operative", "assurance", "bank", "trust", "Insurance or any similar word which in the opinion of the

Registrar connotes any of such activities or any derivative of any of such four words or of such similar words, whether in English or in any other language, or in the opinion of the Registrar suggests or is calculated to suggest any of such activities.

Corporation Registration

They are able to arrange the registration of an exempt company on a same day basis although it will usually take a day or two for the co stating documents to be returned to us.

Resolutions or Amendments

All special resolutions of the company including the change of name of a company or amending the Memorandum or Articles of Association must be filed with the Registrar of Companies within 15 days. A resolution changing directors and officers of the company or changing the registered office of the company must be filed with the Registrar of Companies within 30 days. In addition, an exempt company is required to hold an annual meeting of the directors once a year in the Cayman Islands, and to file an annual return. Alternate directors who approve and file the annual return usually hold the annual meeting. This satisfies the requirement to hold a meeting in the Cayman Islands without actually requiring the directors to come to the Cayman Islands.

Banks, Insurance, and Trust companies Banks, insurance, re-insurance and trust companies may be registered as exempt companies provided they are licensed accordingly.

Capital and Members

The minimum government incorporation fee allows for a share capital of up to US$960,000.00 (US$900,000 for an exempted company) which is, therefore, the authorised share capital most commonly chosen by companies. There are no minimum capitalisation requirements (other than for banks, trust companies and insurance companies).

Cayman Islands companies may issue shares of different classes and designations such as preferred, common or

Confidentiality

The Register of Shareholders of an exempt company is a confidential document, which may be held at the registered office of the company or at any other place within or outside the Cayman Islands.

Directors and Officers

A minimum of two directors is usually appointed (one director can serve as secretary). There are no nationality or residence requirements for directors.

The subscribers of the Memorandum and Articles of Association appoint the first directors of the company. After that, the shareholders or the existing directors appoint directors for such term as determined by the shareholders or the shareholders or the directors. If not, unfilled positions can be filled by a resolution of the shareholders or of a remaining director. The directors generally elect the officers.

Generally the Register Agent require all directors, officers and members of an exempt company to provide them with two business references each to meet our internal due diligence requirements. If the company intends to be licensed by the Cayman Islands Government, the directors, officers and shareholders (who are natural persons) will be required to complete and file with the Monetary Authority a personal questionnaire in which they will be required among other things to demonstrate their relevant experience in the respective business.

The Register of Directors and Officers in not a public documents, although copies of the registers are filed with the Registrar of Companies.

The Articles of Association of a company may be drafted to permit a director or officer of a company to bind the company and directors and officers have ostensible authority to bind the company.

It is normal for the Articles of Association of a company to permit the Resolutions of the directors to be passed by unanimous consent in writing. Similarly this is normally permissible for shareholders resolution as well.

Meetings

Shareholders must assemble at least once a year at a general meeting. The shareholders' meetings can be held anywhere in the world.

The Articles of Association of an exempt company will define the quorum required at a meeting of the shareholders or the Board of Directors.

The use of proxies or of alternate directors who are local residents can meet this requirement. Directors have the right to appoint a company manager. If the Memorandum and Articles so provide, a meeting of members or directors is considered valid if only one person is present.

The Articles of an exempt company will define the notice the notice period required for meetings of the company.

Books and Registers

A simple exempt company, which has no licenses, will not require to file annual accounts.

An exempt company is required to maintain a register of directors, officers and mortgages and charges at its registered office and a register of members at any place within or outside the Cayman Islands.

It is normal for an exempt company to obtain a company seal, which normally kept at the registered office of the company.

Duplicate seals may be authorised by the company and may be kept at a location approved by the directors of the company. A Company is not required to obtain a seal and pursuant to Cayman Islands law all documents, which were required to be sealed may now be executed as deeds and are not required to be sealed.

An exempt company is required to file an Annual Government Return, and to pay an annual fee to maintain its good standing. In addition an exempt company will normally pay an annual registered office fee. There is no taxes payable by an exempt company and the company may apply to the Executive Council of Government for a tax undertaking. When obtained this guarantees to company exemption from taxes for a period of twenty years from the date of issue.

The information that is available to the public is the following:
Company Name
Date of Incorporation
Company type (i.e. exempt, non-resident etc.)
Company Status (i.e. active or inactive)
Name and Address of registered office
Company Number

Bruce Stander is the Director of UK based Worldwide Corporate Services, specialists in offshore company formation.

Small Business Computer Consulting Finding The Right Prospects

2009-02-20T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Joshua Feinberg

If you are starting a small business computer consulting firm, you should know that the small business accounts that have 10 to 50 PC's are going to have at least one branch office.

Prospects of this size are used to using professional technology providers and this isn't the first time they've had to hire a small business computer consulting firm. Organizations like this have a willingness to pay for support.

Does Your Prospect Have In-House IT?

However, if they have in-house IT, you should learn what they need you for. Is it for a very deep specialty or for an extremely unusual case where they want to outsource everything?

Researching Prospective Clients

To find prospects for your small business computer consulting firm you should Google towns in your area, ZIP and postal codes, area code and telephone prefixes. Additionally, these prospects will usually belong to a local or regional chamber of commerce or similar organization.

To meet some of these people and market your small business computer consulting firm, you can join the organizations or attend as a guest.

Know Where to Find Your Prospects

Your prospects will likely have presence at business to business events, so you can also attend these events to market your small business computer consulting firm.

Since your target clients will often be covered in the business section of your local publications, you'll want to subscribe to these or read them at the library.

The Bottom Line about Small Business Computer Consulting

If you want to narrow down your focus to the best small businesses in the area, consider networking at local events and reading up on these businesses in your local publications. You want to pay attention to the criteria above and ensure you can identify your prospects right off the bat.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, PC Support Tips .com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Joshua Feinberg helps small business technology providers get more steady, high-paying PC support clients. Sign-up now to get your free access to Joshua's field-tested, proven secrets for generating more monthly recurring service-contract-revenue with PC Support Tips.

Fleet Washing Expansion Considerations

2009-02-19T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

Many times small businesses want to expand their businesses and are not sure when the best time to do that might be. The key of course is cash flow. Will your current and brand new accounts afford you the cash flow to expand? Let us run thru a scenario with you and just so you know this is good advice, I own the Truck Wash Guys and have been doing this a while. Each time a franchisee wished to expand and ask for advice, I would look at their situation and determine if it was a wise idea. Sometimes it was, but often it was not. So let us look a hypothetical scenario for a moment:

Well let's consider. You have two new fleet accounts, one with twenty buses at let's say $10.00 each from a summer day camp for kids. The other is a rent-a-car company that pays once a month. This is your 50 percent increase in sales. Now, let us add in a graffiti removal contract. The graffiti contract starts in two months. Sales are up and everything looks greatexcept:

The day camp ends after summer (two months left)

The rent-a-car company pays monthly so you will bill them at the end of the month and then they will wait thirty days to pay you plus mail time

The graffiti contract is the same payment schedule and cities are notorious on slow payment

Graffiti can be cleaned at night

Rent-a-cars can be cleaned by starting one and one-half hours earlier on Mondays and thirty minutes earlier other days

Summer camp buses can be cleaned whenever You are not sure yet how often the day camp pays

Still think you want to expand?

NO WAY!

Remember: You can run your pressure washing rig twenty-four hours a day without owning two rigs. You will have a major cash flow problem if you buy another unit because of the billing cycle on big accounts. Your new truck would not be ready for thirty days plus five days to get financing. By that time the summer camp is almost over. Wow. All the indicators point to a second pressure washing rig and new truck or do they?

Sometimes you need to actually open the hood and take a look. Consider putting on your devil's advocate thinking cap and make yourself a mechanic. Ask yourself for help. Let yourself look under the hood. Throw away the ego. Sure it would be nice to own another pressure washing rig and you would be a big business man. But realistically speaking it would all be for show and you would actually be making less money. You can justify the expansion to the leasing company or a bank and get the money all right because sales are up. But that doesn't make it a savvy move. Sometimes race car drivers draft behind the lead car to cut down on drag from the wind. By conserving resources (fuel) they better their chances for winning the race later. In business, the person who gets to keep the most money wins, not the one who has the biggest empire. Think about it before spending the money on expansion.

Lance Winslow

How To Achieve Real Success In Business Five Breezy Tips

2009-02-19T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Kannan Balakrishnan

Achieving real success should be the goal of any good businessman. But what is real success? I believe that it is no just money, or instant growth. In my opinion real success is composed of the following factors. Good growth, good reputation and above all peace of mind. In this short exposure I try to elaborate on five factors pertinent in achieving this real success.

1. Do your homework and planning

Before starting a business you should study the background carefully. Many people ends up as losers only because they starts a business seeing the outside glitter. So talk with people doing similar business, customers and various others who are involved in similar business lines.

2. Be straightforward.

Even thought businessmen are believed to be cunning, a cunning person never gets peace of mind. It is always better to do things in the clean way. This does not mean that you should be foolish or to be cheated by others. You should be intelligent enough to understand others cunningness, but should be straightforward in your dealings.

3. Don't be greedy

Greed in any form is likely to cause peril in the long run. Taking huge profit from an unaware customer base may increase your growth temporarily, but will surely affect you in the long run and may even result in the collapse of a business. History shows that many business empires achieving such abnormal growth tend to terminate quickly. So insist on steady growth even if it is slow.

4. Insist on quality

Delivering a low quality product or service at a lower cost may increase your profitability, but is likely to obliterate to you in the long run. The customers now satisfied will turn against you when low quality shows out. Also remember that bad reputation travels faster and is difficult to remove! So insist on quality products and services even at a higher price.

5. Don't gamble in business.

Remember that Murphy's Law applies in business many times. So indiscriminate gambling may result in the collapse of your business. This doesn't mean that you should not take a calculated risk. But you should be able to survive even when things turn against you.

Kannan Balakrishnan is a faculty in Computer Science from an Indian university. He can be contacted on kannanb@post.com.

How To Start A Cleaning Business For Under 1000

2009-02-18T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Walt Gibson

Although challenging, it is possible to start a cleaning business in two weeks for under $1,000. Be aware that you may need another source of income while your business is growing. If you have customers already waiting for your services you can get started cleaning in a few days, then word of mouth might increase your customer base. Keep in mind that obtaining new customers can be time consuming and costly. In addition, your costs will rise considerably if you purchase liability and worker's compensation insurance. Realistically, you should expect to invest more than $1,000 to keep your business growing once you have obtained the minimal basics. If your goal is to earn a substantial living solely from your house cleaning business, then you must reinvest earnings into the business in order to increase customers and income.

How to start a cleaning business with minimal investment and maximum return.

Read all of the articles at MaidDocs.com to prepare for the adventure. You will find the article "Are You Ready" of particular importance, telling you what to expect during your first year of running your own cleaning business. When you are certain that you want to start your own house cleaning business, then visit all of the websites listed at the end of this article to learn about government regulations, taxes and licensing. You will also find information about how to establish ownership of your cleaning business (corporation, LLC, or sole proprietor.)

Decide on the fee you will charge for your cleaning services. Research the local market to determine what your competitors charge. You must remain within the local standards, and you can undercut your competition slightly; however, if you charge significantly less than the competition you may end up with low profits and a heavy workload -- defeating your business goals. Keep your prices within local standards so that as you add employees you will not need to raise prices and thereby lose customers. If you want to offer significantly lower cleaning fees than your competitors you should advertise time-sensitive discounts (i.e. $50 off a deep cleaning until the end of next month.)

The name and logo for your cleaning business require thought. Your cleaning service business should have a polished and professional image to compete in the marketplace. A professionally designed logo will help to brand your company in the public's mind. Your logo will be printed on business cards, marketing pieces, letterhead, car signs, etc., so carefully consider the image you want to present, and then choose a name and artwork which will best reflect that image. Be certain that the business name you've chosen is not already in use. Visit LogoYes.com to create a logo online for only $99.

Before you start your own cleaning business be prepared with customized, professionally written business forms and letters. You should have: a sales script memorized to perfection whether you do in-home estimates or estimates by phone; cleaning fee estimate calculator; fee estimate letters; follow-up letters for quotes not booked; new customer letters stating hourly fees for cleaning services and payment policies; a customer database and accounting system; information sheets listing vital details for each customer; cleaning service checklist form to leave with customers after each service; and customer survey forms for every new customer to complete and return. At http://www.maiddocs.com/shop you can purchase a cleaning business start up package for $75, or a complete cleaning business system for $1250.

To obtain your first customers you can advertise under "services" in the classified section of your local newspapers. Keep it short and ad your logo if you can afford to. Your ad might read "Quality housecleaning with integrity. Call ###-#### for a free estimate." $25 - $100 should cover running your ad for 2 weeks depending upon your location and size of the ad.

It is of utmost importance that you have a voice-mail system with a professional message which reflects your business image. Also, your phone system should capture incoming numbers as callers may not leave a message, or may forget to leave their phone number. Be certain to return calls within 2 to 3 business hours. Because most people have sufficient home or mobile phone systems the cost of this will not be included in our general start-up estimate.

Marketing pieces may be hand delivered or mailed. Your choices are door hangers, brochures or postcards. We prefer brochures or postcards rather than door hangers because they can be used as handouts and as mailing pieces. You can develop your own brochure or postcard using Microsoft Publisher software, or you can purchase a pre-designed template. The pieces can be printed in-house if you have a high quality printer, or printed at a local print shop or copy center. PIP, Staples and Office Depot all have high speed copiers that will produce professional quality marketing pieces at very reasonable prices. Insist on seeing a sample from the copier before you have the job completed. You MUST deliver high quality marketing pieces in order to make the best impression on your prospects. Flimsy paper with lopsided print, ink rubbing off and jagged edges is not the professional image that will make your prospects eager to call. $100 should cover your costs for 100 brochures, 200 postcards, or 250 door hangers.

Magnetic car signs are a great advertising tool which can be made by a local sign maker for $25 to $50 a set, plus an initial set-up fee of approximately $60. Be certain that your signs fit on both compact and full size cars and that you use no more than three colors. When designing your signs keep in mind that bold lettering and brief wording works best. Remember to include your logo for name branding.

For around $100 you can purchase cleaning supplies at your local discount center, grocery and dollar stores. Either store or brand name household cleaning products will work, however, compare the percentage of active cleaning ingredients. Avoid products containing bleach as it can cause damage to carpets and counters. Our preferred products are: Murphy's Oil Soap; Pine-Sol; Soft Scrub (lemon or orange); Scrub-Free mildew remover; all purpose cleaner; furniture polish; toilet disinfectant/germicide; glass cleaner. Purchase mops with machine washable heads; both large and medium size sturdy buckets with handles; a large sturdy caddy; 40 white cotton washcloths for cleaning; medium and large scrub brushes (use old tooth brushes for detailing around sinks and in grout); toilet brush; teflon scrub pads; lambs wool dusters; extension wand; 13 gallon kitchen trash bags; and a 3-step ladder.

Commercial grade vacuums start at around $250 and are well worth the investment. We have found that Royal brand commercial vacuums, crafted with die-cast aluminum, are the longest lasting and they out clean the competition. Available in several models, Royal commercial vacuums are available through VacLand. Visit VacLand.com for the best prices, reputable salespeople and 2 - 5 day nationwide shipping.

When you're ready to hire employees for your cleaning business be certain to have your employment application, employee policies handbook, cleaning procedures manual, warning certificates and all of the appropriate human resources paperwork. With strict policies and procedures to follow, your employees will know that they are working for a professionally run company, and therefore will be less likely to take advantage of you. Also, you will need to keep employee files containing tax paperwork and employment history including a record of verbal and written warnings. To obtain the appropriate tax documents for employees contact your accountant or local state employment office.

Start-up Costs

$100 - Bonding insurance

50 - Business license

75 - Business start-up package

50 - Classified ad

100 - Logo

110 - Car signs

250 - Commercial grade vacuum

100 - Marketing pieces

100 - Cleaning supplies
$935 - Minimum estimated costs*

*Minimum estimated costs exclude liability insurance, phone expense and marketing piece distribution as these costs are undetermined. Also, costs may vary slightly depending upon location.

Before You Start a Cleaning Business:

Obtain your local & state business licenses; bonding insurance, and liability insurance if needed. Prospective customers will ask if you are licensed and bonded. Bonding insurance can be obtained for about $100 which will cover $1,000 - $3,000 of anti-theft coverage. You business license is an annual expense and will cost approximately $50 - $150 depending upon your location and annual revenue. (When you hire employees you may also need worker's compensation insurance.) The Small Business Administration is a great source of information, start up paperwork, free business plan templates and links to other informative websites. http://sba.gov/starting_business/startup/guide.html

The Internal Revenue Service website offers a wealth of information for small businesses. You'll find start-up guides, information on tax credits and business deductions, advice on record keeping and choosing an accounting method, employee tax issues, and more. The most up-to-date tax information is available through the site, as well as forms, publications and instructions for filing taxes. http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html

State tax information can be found at http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/link/forms.html which provides links to the Department of Revenue for every state.

Other Websites You Should Visit:

Cleaning Business Forms and More: http://www.MaidDocs.com/shop - provides free information for cleaning service businesses, both start-up and established. You can purchase a complete cleaning business system, or an economical start up package which includes a cleaning fee estimate calculator; lists of resources; a full color tri-fold customizable brochure, and over a dozen customizable forms and customer letters. There is also a guide to hiring and managing cleaning business employees, an employee handbook and cleaning procedures manual; performance reviews and warnings; and a payroll template.

Business Law: http://www.businesslaw.gov - Complying with business laws and regulations can be a burden. To help small businesses overcome this, the Small Business Administration (sba.gov) in cooperation with multiple Federal agencies developed BusinessLaw.gov, an online resource designed to provide legal and regulatory information. Topics covered on this site range from choosing a business structure to hiring an attorney. The site also provides links to federal, state and local agencies.

Employment Law: http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/EmpLawGuide - This guide describes the statutes and regulations administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) that affect businesses and workers. The guide is designed mainly for those needing "hands-on" information to develop wage, benefit, safety and health, and nondiscrimination policies for businesses in general industry.

Compliance Laws: http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance - Statutes and regulations administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) that affect businesses and workers.

Walter L. Gibson, Jr. and Gwynneth Sawyer-Berkeley are co-owners of MaidDocs.com and they run a successful cleaning business, Maid in North Carolina, Inc. MaidDocs offers a very affordable, non-franchised, house cleaning business system and a-la-carte documents for residential cleaning businesses. Maid in North Carolina, Inc was established by Walter L. Gibson in 1989. With MaidDocs you can start a house cleaning business and keep it growing. Visit http://www.MaidDocs.com/shop or call 1-877-779-6955 for complete information.

Advantages To Forming A Corporation For Small Business Owners

2009-02-18T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by David Gass

A corporation is a legally created body that serves to separate the operations of a business from its owners. The act of incorporation is a form of business registration that accomplishes that fact and allows the liabilities of a company to be legally registered with the state. When a business is incorporated it also has to have a defined management and organizational structure and must meet certain conditions in order to maintain its corporate status.

In order to become incorporated the officers of a company must file articles of incorporation with the state and pay all applicable filing fees, levies and other registration costs. In most states it is not legally required to have a lawyer in order to incorporate but most businesses use their lawyers and accountants to prepare the articles of incorporation for the business.

There are many advantages for a business to incorporate. They include the separation of liabilities and interests between the company's operators and its owners of shareholders. This allows the business to operate and accumulate debts and responsibilities which are not the total responsibility of the shareholders and directors of the corporations. It is also much easier to raise investment funds for a corporation rather than other forms of business registration.

One disadvantage of having a C corporation business designation is what is called double taxation. That is because any profits that a corporation makes are taxed first as income of the corporation and then again as income to the shareholders of the corporation. Other downsides include the requirement to have a specified management and organizational structure, and the need to have a Board of Directors, annual meetings, and prepare reports to regulatory bodies.

There are a number of forms of corporate registration in the United States. They include standard business or C corporations and S corporations. C corporations have to pay income tax on all income after expenses. S corporations have a special tax status that allows them to avoid having the corporation treated as a separate entity for income tax purposes. To get S corporate status a business has to apply to the Internal Revenue Service a 2553 Form for an exemption and if this is granted then the income is only taxable to the owners or shareholders of the corporation.

The organizational structure of a registered corporation must identify three distinct groups; shareholders, directors, and officers. The officers are normally appointed by the Board of Directors, who is elected by the shareholders. The officers run the company on a day to day basis and report on activities to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors then reports to the shareholders at an annual general meeting of the corporation.

Many corporations also have a Chief Executive Officer who is the public spokesperson of the corporation and ultimately responsible for the direction and operation of the business.

Why Do Most Online Small Businesses Fail

2009-02-17T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Walter Wachs

Search Engines account for almost 90% of all web traffic!

In the Offline world its all about "location, location, location."

Put your business were people crowd around and your set. Have your products ready and benefit the rewards.

Online, small businesses fail to act on the fact that the fundamental reality of how people use the Web is totally different. No one "passes by".

People are searching for information that you know.

To build an Online Business, give them the answere...

Yes, Start where they start...Build Content. Turn your knowledge into revenue.

The biggest mistake people make in life is not making a living at doing what they most enjoy - Malcolm S. Forbes (1919 - 1990)

Traffic is the most important next step that makes or breaks your online business. Keyword - focused content attracts targeted Traffic by Search Engines.

The next step is to Presell interested visitors. Interested visitors become warm, willing-to-buy prospective customers because you overdeliver what they seek...information and solutions.

After the content, traffic and presell you must monetize, only after you achieve these three.

This process, logical, natural, powerful, and based upon the fundamental reality of the way people use the Web, is the foundation no matter what kind of small business you are (or want to start).

So to summarize:

-Create In-Demand Content

-Attract targeted traffic

-Presell those visitors

-Then Monetize presold traffic

Provide information about something you know. Just build content. From that point on everything flows until...resold traffic generates profits. Guaranteed. Yes, this process guarantees success, while most small online businesses fail miserably.

It's so simple. Not 'easy' (real business takes some work)...it's simple.

Want Proof of Process?

Seeing is believing: Learn How Now! -

Walter Wachs

wwachs@sendfree.com

Lake Cowichan, B.C.

Canada

Have You Got Quotitquot For Your Massage Therapy Business

2009-02-17T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Amy Roberts

There is something that I want to share with you about your massage practice. It's something that is not spoken about very much in the industry yet it's an essential thing to your success as a sole practising massage therapist in business for themselves.

You see my friend, not every Massage Therapist will actually make it. A lot of therapists will fail and fall out of the game at an early stage due to this factor. Oh yes, they will blame it on the economy or "bad times" or a "quiet period in business" as the reasons they can't make it work. Heck, some, who have not understood this unspoken factor, will even blame it on competition as the reason why their practises don't take off. But in fact it's something else... Sure these external things can affect business but not in the way you think. Not as much as you would think.

So let me ask you this: Can you speak comfortably with someone you have never met before, as though they were your friend of ten years? Do you love it when the phone rings? Do you always keep your massage room sparkling clean? You see all these factors will make you more appealing to clients who are coming to you for the very first time.

Massage Therapy is completely a relationship business. Your ability to build client relationships and loyalty is your personality. You need to be gentle and listen; you need to be considerate, polite and always keep good energy.

What do I mean by "good energy"? I am referring to a good attitude that spills out onto others so they can't help be affected by your happiness. Not only will they get a good massage, but they will feel good just by being in your presence. Grumpiness has no place in a massage room.

They will feel listened to, care about, valued and respected. Do you think a client who feels like this will tell others about you? You bet they will! Maintaining a good client base is dependant on your ability to communicate well with your clients. Clients will appreciate and value YOU in return. That respect that you show them, along with a good massage that helps them, will give you the right ingredients for getting more client through word of mouth, and keep the ones you've got for years to come.

I'm not saying you have to be "UP" all the time. It's not about being someone you are not. It's a matter of being positive. And letting that positivity shine through and infect your clients.

Because life is far from perfect, what can help you tap into this reserve of happiness within you is to feel your passion for massage therapy. By feeling strongly and passionately about your massage business you will find that many things just come to you more easily then before. Passion ignites happiness and determination to stay on track. So if you are having a bad day, or clients aren't coming, remember your passion to refocus on the direction you need to go in.

And let that happiness out.

Best wishes,

Amy Roberts
www.massagetherapysuccess.com
www.massagetherapymarketingsuccess.com

The Designers Coach

2009-02-16T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Neil P Gordon

The Six Fatal Mistakes of a Typical Design Business.

In my study of the decorating and design business, I have discovered that there are six main reasons that will prevent your ultimate success. If your company is skilled in a few of these six areas, but not all, you could prevent your business from reaching its potential. Therefore, to attain the status of a world-class organization, you must strive to understand and overcome the six fatal mistakes that could potentially destroy your dreams.

1) No Strategic Vision

Does your business operate without a vision of where you want to be in 5 years? Do you function day to day by making decisions that have no strategic basis? As the leader do you measure your own leadership competencies? Are you not willing to make behavioral changes in yourself in order to better the organization. Do you have the qualities to lead and make your team better?

2) Uncooperative Teamwork

Whether your company is a one-person operation or has dozens of people on the payroll, your business must operate as a team. Does your team distrust each another and act to protect one's own interest? Is there constant fighting and name calling? Do your plans and ideas go unfulfilled? Are there individuals who look out for number one and not the team? It is a serious problem when the team works in an unharmonious state.

3) Haphazard Marketing

Many times I have seen money thrown at advertising as if it would magically encourage appointments. This is an ineffective attempt to generate leads through misappropriation of resources. What ends up happening is paying an extraordinary amount for a lead. Additionally, the most valued type of lead, the referral, is basically ignored or taken for granted.

4) Amateur Selling

Selling without a plan or system leaves the designer working in a confused state. At times you may be selling on price, and sometimes on value. The design team has not established a position in the mind of the consumer, and projects no clear value-message. There is also the problem where the sales team is not properly trained, and appears unprofessional.

5) Faulty Client Fulfillment

Once the deposit is received and the order process is underway, so begins the task of fulfilling your promises. This is the critical area where most businesses fail. There is very little room for error in meeting the expectations of your clients. This is because, if the perceived value is not achieved, the client will consider that her expectations have not been met, and then the consequences could be severe.

6) Lack of Pricing Strategy

It all comes down to this, the bottom line. The final measure of success will depend on your margins. This is a complex business, and unless you understand that your business must work on certain margins, you will not succeed. Most businesses will price each job as to the urgency of the cash-flow status and not understand the detrimental effects of a price cut. Additionally, there must be an effective accounting system to track all costs and measure profitability.

Whether you are starting an interior design business, or you have been in the decorating business for many years, you can improve many important aspects of operating and growing your company.

There are 6 coaching modules, each one dedicated to important aspects of creating a successful value based business as well as address the six fatal flaws described above. They are Leadership, Management, Marketing, Selling, Delivery, and Pricing. Within these areas you will find the neccessary tools to succeed in a very challenging business.

The Leadership Coach

This is the first area of business development, all about you. You are the leader, and you must look within and become self aware as to the type of leader you will need to be. In this module, the work we will do will depend solely on you, your attitude, believes, your actions. We will examine your leadership competencies, and your leadership profile. How will you take your strengths and implement your vision for your organization? What will be your Strategic Vision for the future of your company?

The Team Coach

All businesses from a one person company to a larger organization, needs to work within a "team" concept. How will you manage, coach and lead your team? How can you become an effective leader, even if you are a one person operation? In this module you will learn how to create a team-chart, position agreements and how to employ the strategic Steps-to-Success (STS).

The Marketing Coach

The life blood of any business is to generate leads. We must develop a way to have a constant flow of new leads or we cannot survive. In this module we will examine the current state of your lead generation. Through careful analysis you will determine who your target market is. All successful businesses of your type, relies upon referrals. You will create a Referral Marketing Steps-to-Success (STS), and we will analyze your web marketing program.

The Sales Coach

The conversion of a lead to a sale is a strategic part of your business that requires the utmost attention. How do you sell your designs? Have you implemented a selling system? Are you delivering the intended message to your target market? We will develop a Client Management Steps-to-Success (STS) to keep in contact with your clients.

The Satisfaction Coach

Keeping your promise is the best way to grow your business and to encourage referrals. A flawless Client Fulfillment Steps-to-Success (STS) is critical to delivering on your promise to your clients. We will examine how you get things done, and encourage setting up the various STS. Along with this, we will work on making sure that you are exceeding your client's expectations each and every time, with a Client Expectation STS.

The Negotiation Coach

Here we will develop a pricing strategy and estimating strategy. Are you basing what you charge on value you create or costs you incur? Also, in this module you will learn an effective "negotiation defense" against price shoppers and a strategy for developing effective contracts and agreements. Do you have a system to track all costs for each job? Are you communicating your "value-message" that will maintain the margins you need to stay in business?

Neil Gordon, The Designer's Coach is a coach and consultant for Interior Designers. His website, http://www.thedesignerscoach.com offers seminars, articles, newsletters as well as valuable advise for designers willing to improve their business. Please visit the site to sign up for the free newsletter.

Find Out How To Accept Master Card Credit Card

2009-02-16T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Shane Penrod

Isn't it time for you to accept Master Card credit card payments? Think of all the places where you shop and how you, as well as other customers, generally pay for things. Isn't it true that a majority of transactions are made with plastic credit cards? If you do not provide this payment option to your customers, they just may find another vendor who will. E-commerce has advanced into the 21st century. If you don't hurry up, you could be left behind and lose the support of clients who are keeping pace with the technological movement.

Why should you accept MasterCard credit card payments? Because customers expect it. The average consumer owns four credit cards and carries a monthly balance of over $1,000. People enjoy the convenience of paying for gasoline at the pump rather than going inside. They want to pull out a card in the fast food drive-through instead of rooting in their wallets for the correct bills and change. No one enjoys paying monthly ATM user fees or stopping by the bank to withdraw cash before going shopping. It is much easier for most of us to pay with plastic and then write a check for the monthly account statement. As more businesses adopt this payment method for a variety of products and services, you may find that you will lose customers to vendors who provide this service, thereby depleting your client base and shriveling your revenues.

Failing to accept MasterCard credit card payments means that some customers will consider your business obsolete. It also means you could end up losing money trying to manage the added functions of tracking bounced checks and making change for cash-only customers. You will have to keep a cashier on hand to manage payments, which will add to your human resource costs and chip away at profits. Let's face it. Few of us go anywhere without a MasterCard or Visa card these days, even if it's just to the convenience store or video rental shop. Some people prefer to use cash but take along a credit card, "just in case" they decide to make a spontaneous purchase. Isn't that what all vendors live forto see customers make that unplanned purchase and thus drive up the profit margin?

When you open a merchant account to accept MasterCard credit card payments, you are expanding your business exponentially. An on-site credit processor will make your local customers happy, and they probably will end up spending more than if they were restricted to paying by cash. Providing digital or wireless credit payment services increases the ways in which remote destination customers can link to your company and buy with a credit card. Establishing a Web presence and letting customers around the world pay by credit card online removes any limits from your sales capacity.

Don't let your competitors steal your customers when they accept credit card payments ahead of you. Find out how you can open a merchant account and get set up to accept Master Card credit card payments.

Case Study Cleaning Of Rental Car Agencies As A Mobile Carwash Market Niche

2009-02-15T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

Many mobile car wash companies are a little wet behind the ears when they start and they have trouble choosing target clients to propel their business. We have found that there is significant market potential in used car lots. The best used car lots are those of Rent-A-Car Agencies who own used dealership divisions to maximize their profits on selling of their cars.

In previous times the Rent-A-Car Agencies sent the cars to auctions, yet this is not a good idea any longer with used car prices so low. For the first time in 2001 Avis started a used car lot in New Jersey to maximize their profits on sales of cars coming off the rental lines. It used to be considered dumb for a consumer to buy used and abused Rent-A-Cars, but now it is considered frugal, because most Rent-A-Cars have on average fewer than 25,000 miles on them at the time of sale.

Rent-A-Car Agencies usually buy cars for a low fleet price and then sell them after making money on the rental of the same car for nearly what they originally paid for it once it is considered 'run out' or a 'maintenance risk' to keep around. So they then turn the cars before they get too old or too many miles on them to command a high resale price. Most are four door automatics and have gone through all the necessary maintenance checks and even come with limited warranties from the Rent-A-Car Company's Pre-Owned Sales Divisions.

Every mobile car wash company should consider this niche market and also make good on the detailing of these cars going onto the car lots. Rental Car Agencies and their used car lots are great customers and make sense for many reasons to the fast moving high profitable mobile car washing and detail companies. Consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Robert Bonds Franchise Survey Of Women And Minority Franchisor Programs

2009-02-14T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

Few people know that there is a special publication that is solely geared towards special programs in the franchising industry for women and minority owned franchises. There are some even in the franchising business itself who are unaware of this. Robert Bond has written and sold more books on franchising than any other person in the World.

Robert is a personal friend of mind, who I respect for his no BS approach to a reality check in franchising. Each Robert sends out a survey to the franchisors to ask them of their special programs for women and minorities who buy franchises in their franchise systems. Recently I filled out Robert Bond's franchise survey of women and minority programs for the top franchisors. Each franchisor with programs will be ranked. I hope our company will rank high.

Women in franchising is a key component of a successful franchisor, previously having been personal friends with Susan Kezios, Founder of "Women in Franchising" in Chicago, I got to know first hand some of the history of women in franchising and how they were severely under represented. That is not the case today, as the numbers are catching up. I'm sure that she will vouch for those franchisors, which do more than give lip service to the cause and their commitment to women owned franchises.

Having spoken at the Annual Conference of the SBDC, I had also the chance to meet with Ann Dugan and her strong team of women advisors from the SBDC Small Business Development Center, at The University of Pittsburgh. It is good see the commitment of these great folks in the Franchise Industry and how they are protecting and promoting the rights of women in franchising.

I can remember every time we put a "Car Wash Gal" on one of our car wash trucks, we get too much business and that does sometimes create problems. I own The Car Wash Guys and The Car Wash Gals (CarWashGuys.com). In one year I remember our company had put Car Wash Gals franchises in many cities such as Clarkston, ID, Belgrade, MT, Palm Springs, CA, and (3) in Los Angeles, CA.

It is recommended that all Franchisors work hard to promote more women and minority franchisees in their systems. It is good business and it is good for business. You'll be glad you did, take it from me. Think on this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

How To Start A Tshirt Business

2009-02-13T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Darren Young

Selling T-Shirts has become big business and it's a growing industry on the Internet where there are already thousands of shops and websites where you can purchase almost any design or T-Shirt style imaginable. Thanks to the many T-Shirt companies that now print and create the T-Shirts for you, with no risk involved, many people have been able to start their own T-Shirt business without having to invest any money. This however, has turned the T-Shirt business online into a fierce, competitive battle against all T-Shirt shop/website owners.

There are now millions of T-Shirt websites online for customers to choose from and this is why starting your own online T-Shirt business can be stressful, disappointing, and very difficult to attract customers and make the sales that you are expecting. Now, I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm just saying it's going to take a lot of time, effort, and maybe even some money for you to get started and get customers visiting your shop/website.

There are many things you need to consider when starting your own online T-Shirt business. Simply creating a design, putting it on a blank T-Shirt, and expecting it to be a big seller isn't going to do the trick and bring you many sales, unless of course, you are a very lucky person, whom I can assure you, there aren't very many of them around. If you want to start a T-Shirt business just to make easy money fast like many other schemes on the Internet claim, then you're looking at the wrong business. There is no such thing as easily making money fast and you're always going to have to put in the effort to get the results you are looking for, especially for a T-Shirt business.

Now, I'm not trying to scare you from owning your own T-Shirt business, as there are many successful individuals who have started their business in the T-Shirt industry and are doing very well. I just want to give you the facts of reality so that you're not disappointed when your business isn't doing as well as you thought it would. You may succeed at one aspect of the business, but fail in another, or you just might be that person who is successful at all the aspects of the business, which will obviously make your business a success. Either way, you're still going to have to spend the time and work very hard to achieve success.

Below I've listed some of the things you need to consider before you setup or start your own T-Shirt business:

Business Goals
Before you start your own T-Shirt business, you need to think of your business goals. These goals should be realistic and they should point you in the direction you would like your business to go and what you hope to accomplish. An example of a goal would be to have 100 visitors visiting your shop/website a day or to create two new designs a week and put them up on your website. Whatever the goals may be that you have set for yourself, you then need to strive for them and once you have accomplished your goals, then you know you're on the right track.

Passion
You have to have an interest in what you are doing or you're not going to enjoy spending the time and effort your business requires. Everybody has a passion in one thing or another whether it is creating the designs, promoting, or any other aspect of the business, but you should have an interest in it. If you're not passionate about a certain subject, then you need to think of another theme that you would be more interested in doing. Remember, you are going to spend a lot of time on the subject/theme that you choose, so if you aren't passionate about it, then you're going to get bored very fast and it's not going to be enjoyable.

Subject/Theme
This is very important in the T-Shirt industry as some subjects/themes do much better than others and receive more customers, but like all styles, they come and go. It's possible to have a general subject/theme, but it makes it harder for you to market/promote your shop/website. I suggest choosing just one subject/theme to begin with as you can start adding other subjects/themes later when you are established. You should by all means choose a subject/theme that you are knowledgeable about and have a passion for, like I mentioned under the passion paragraph.

Target Audience
Who are you targeting? Will you be targeting a certain age group, occupation, style, general public, etc. Finding out who your primary target audience will be or is, will help you with marketing/promotion. This will also help you with creating and designing your T-Shirts and shop/website to suit your target audience. Once again you can choose to go for a general audience, but this will only make it harder for you to market/promote your shop/website.

Research
You need to always do your research and find out what's new, what's not, what's in style, what kind of designs people are looking for, etc. You also need to keep up-to-date with your subject/theme as some change on a regular basis (Example: Politics). Keeping informed and up-to-date will give you the leading edge over your competitors, bring back customers time after time, and most importantly it will make sales.

Third Party shops Vs. Your Own Website
Should I invest in my own website or use a third party website to host my T-Shirt designs? If you are thinking about doing every aspect of the T-Shirt business yourself (including making the T-Shirts), then I suggest you invest in a website (not a free website hosting service), but first try out a third party website that makes the T-Shirts for you (no risk involved or investment needed) to see if you can make your business a success. Once you're confident in your business, then you can upgrade to making and owning your own website.

There are many online third party websites available on the Internet that you can choose from that will create and ship the T-Shirts to your customers (risk free with no money invested) and therefore, save you the hassle of actually having to deal with the customer aspect of your T-Shirt business. There are as many cons as there are pros when using a third party service. Some of the cons are: You don't get your own website and you are in some way connected to them, you don't make as much profit (you have to pay them to do all the work, like printing the T-Shirts and shipping), and they make all the rules (Example: not providing you with the E-mail address of your customers or refusing any designs that you create). When you sign up with one of these third party services, you are actually working for them and that includes promoting their site. The customers that purchase your T-Shirts are actually their customers meaning they have full control and every time you make a sale, they make a profit. In other words, these third parties depend on your success and if your business goes under, theirs doesn't because there'll always be someone else to take your place.

Marketing/Promoting
This will be your biggest enemy in the T-Shirt business and many businesses fail because of this. I suggest you do your research on the web for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and about how the basic search engines works, as there is a lot of information about them. Do not just resort to search engines as being your source for traffic as there are many other websites that can help bring in quality targeted traffic to your website like T-Shirt ranking sites (Example: www.T-ShirtShowdown.com).

The major search engines (Example: Google) are complicated in how they work and many people have been trying to figure out how they work for years. The search engines change their algorithms on how pages are ranked every once in a while so you're better off not focusing your attention on just getting to the top in the search engines.

If you do manage to make it to the top and are very successful, then your marketing/promotion shouldn't stop there. You have to always be marketing/promoting your site one way or another because it won't take long before someone else over takes you, simply because links can die and you need incoming links from other websites to get traffic.

T-Shirt Ranking Websites
Do ranking sites work? Yes, ranking websites are a great way to market/promote your T-Shirt designs and shops/websites. Many people don't want to waste their time searching all over the web trying to locate websites that sell specific designs that they are looking for. This is where T-Shirt ranking websites come in handy and allow customers to view thousands of different T-Shirt designs and styles from many different websites. Ranking sites are a great way of bringing many unique and different T-Shirt websites/designs together and help to bring the buyers to the sellers. www.T-ShirtShowdown.com is a great example and offers many different categories to choose from including: Animal, Artistic, Attitude, Automobile, Biker, Computer, Floral, Funny, Holiday, Kids, Logo, Misc., Movie, Music, Novelty, Occupation, Offensive, Patriotic, Pets, Political, Religious, Sports, Unusual, Vintage, and Western.

Many T-Shirt business owners think that they can just upload their T-Shirt designs to a ranking website and expect to receive sales. This is a myth and it's not true. Ranking sites, like www.T-ShirtShowdown.com, bring high quality targeted traffic to your website, but it's your T-Shirt designs in the end that have to convince the customer to buy/purchase the product. T-Shirt ranking websites only make it easier for you to market/promote your site/designs and to get the high quality targeted traffic that every business wants.

Below I've included some advice, problems, and solutions from other T-Shirt businesses that they encountered when they were starting their own T-Shirt business.

For MindTrix the hardest part for starting out, besides money, was finding a "nitch". Our first line of T-Shirts was all over the map, so starting your own clothing company can be hard. I had to do and learn everything on my own. I over came this obstacle by going to tradeshows, surfing the Internet, and reading magazines like Sport and Street, etc.

MindTrix has grown beyond just T-Shirts due to the fact that everyone including their moms have a T-Shirt company. When I would go into stores trying to sell my T-Shirts, I would always get feedback, like what makes these any better than the other 90,000 brands we have in here, which most of these other brands people have heard of, and that is why we graduated to cut and sew as well as any higher end T-Shirts.

You have to stay ahead of the pack to survive.

www.myspace.com/mindtrix

Advice for Promotion: Don't be afraid to advertise. Create buttons, stickers, give them out and be sure people remember you. Tell people about it, you'd be surprised how many people would be willing to help you out.

Advice for Designing: When designing A T-Shirt, there are many points to keep in mind, but the following factors are some technical stuff overlooked by companies starting off: The Number of colors used & what material will be used. Most screen printers charge in the $10-$40 range for every different color you use. It can get really expensive for someone (Example: music bands) to get several T-Shirts printed. They then have to sell the fans $36 dollar T-Shirts just to cover the costs and make some profit.

The Material used: Usually each material/brand/size comes with a set of colors that they're printed on. There isn't one that provides you with every single color in existence. It would be a great idea to ask the client what material they can afford and then research it, or familiarize yourself with the more popular brands that are being printed on (Examples: American Apparel, Fruit Of the Loom and Hanes). I've had several problems with this when I began, so don't just go creating something that only looks good on a red background that you can't easily fix, or something that looks good on a T-Shirt color that's almost impossible to find. This will save you so much time and trouble.

Lastly, but most importantly, just be original. Keep the designs more personalized, deeper and more meaningful.

www.myspace.com/deathby_santiago_

1. Vision. You need to know who you are, what you're doing, why, etc. This will define how you market your product, how it looks over all, and all the little details within that you need to do. Yep, so figure that out and then go nuts because you can't go wrong with a big idea, as long as you know what the big idea is.

2. Marketing. It's essential in today's design world. You might have a good product but if its weak on branding, labeling, packaging, shelf appeal, matching coat hangers, etc., it'll look bad. Consistency also needs to be achieved across the spectrum including same font, same style, etc. Designing is totally open to new creations and ideas, so anything goes, but there are some boundaries that you don't want to cross, while others you need to break through.

3. E-commerce. Yes, it's fully possible! It will take some setting up though, but I've recently realized how I can just pick up the phone and order a set of hoodies, wait four days until they're on the doorstep, pay for them a month later online, etc. Also, I can call up the fabric company down the road, or one in wellington, get them to send me samples of denim, call them back and order a set amount of denim to be sent to my garment manufacturer, and then call him and tell him how many of what I want right from my rocking chair at home.

4. Online selling. Totally possible if you use ebay or know how to set up an E-commerce website yourself, but getting the credit card system sorted out is a major cost. Lots of girls shop online now, you just need to know how to market it right and get your products noticed.

5. Promo. Get it out there! Make sure your friends buy your products or you could give out freebies. Put stickers, advertising your shop, wherever you can. Be shameless because designers are really admired (as opposed to being a 'salesperson'), especially if your product is favorable.

6. Don't waste your time on silly details. I'll let you figure out what those are.

7. Get your accounts sorted out now. Segregate your personal and business spending, so you can claim back GST with no problems. Make sure every transaction (sales, purchasing, spending, etc.) goes through your account, so you can see how well you're doing by looking at your bank statement. Use the ATM machine for petty cash; your accountant will love you one day for this.

8. Have fun! It's not the end of the world if it doesn't work out. I was just thinking how involved my life is at the moment with my T-Shirt business. My life revolves around it, which is crazy, but if it all fell apart and closed down tomorrow I'd be the same person and I'd find something else to do! I make sure I take one day off during the week to do what I love that doesn't involve my work. I love doing my work, so I'm very lucky in that aspect, but sometimes it gets boring or tedious so I make sure I stay fresh and focused.

9. Work hard. I still do after three years. I work my butt off and hardly make any money off it, but I know it's worth it in the long run and the things you learn along the way are invaluable.

10. Give away free stuff! People love free T-Shirts and sponsorship goes a long way. It's also your duty, being in business and generating wealth, to share that with society in some way (Example: Old stock goes in recycle clothing bins, etc.).

Check the story out at involved... choice! www.involved.co.nz

If you'd like to copy this article and place it on your website or pass it around, then you are FREE to do so as long as you copy the article in it's entirety, keep the links intact, and don't make any modifications whatsoever.

http://www.T-ShirtShowdown.com - The Ultimate T-Shirt Website On The Internet. You can Rank, Vote, Comment, E-mail, Visit T-Shirt Websites, Auction, Bid, Sell, Buy, Promote/Market T-Shirts and more.

Creating Quotknock Their Socks Offquot First Impressions

2009-02-13T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Leslie Hamp

30 seconds. That's all the time you have to make a first impression whether in person, on the telephone, in print or on the web. Sometimes it's just 10 seconds. Either way, you must always be "on," projecting yourself in as favorable a way as possible, if you want to build your client base.

To increase your odds of making a good first impression that convinces people they'd want to do business with you, use the following two-step model to develop an introduction that will knock their socks off.

Step One: Master the art of describing your business in 10 seconds or less using a dozen words or less. The goal is to create focus and to arouse curiosity. Think of your statement as your personal calling card that can be pulled out when you interact with new contacts. My statement: "I help small business owners blast their business to the next level of success." 99% of the time it gets the response I want: "Really? Tell me more."

Step Two: Once you've engaged a person's interest, describe your business in more detail, using a conversational style. Use words that inspire, and be sure to address the benefits of your service, your competitive advantage and the results your clients achieve from working with you. This is not a sales pitch but an honest communication of how your product or service can help your prospect. For instance, my 30-second intro is a variation of this:

"As a business owner, you know your stuff. You are good at what you do, but you may not be good at getting customers. And a business without customers won't put a single dollar in your bank account - even if you have years of experience, specialized training and a list of diplomas and certificates to your name.

"Well, my partner and I teach small business owners how to create an unmistakable brand identity and marketing plan that pulls customers in like a magnet. We help them experience more success and higher profits. Would you like to know more?"

To increase your odds of making a positive first impression:

1. Make eye contact at least half to two-thirds of the time, and pay attention to your body language. Lean toward others when they speak.

2. Smile and use the other person's name once or twice in the conversation.

3. Speak with enthusiasm and passion about your business or career.

4. Write a clear, concise statement so prospects respond with "Wow! You do that? I want to work with you!"

5. Practice your 30-second introduction til your words are spoken as easily and naturally as when you say your name and introduce yourself. Fine tune your introduction, and get feedback from those you trust.

6. Make your 30-second intro the foundation of all of your marketing and sales materials. Shorten it to a tag line that goes out with the signature line of every email and letter. Include it in proposals. Leverage your 30-second intro to build your business.

Need help creating your 30-second marketing message? Visit http://www.boostyourbottomline.com for answers to your questions, solutions to your problems.

Leslie Hamp, Certified Marketing Coach & PR Whiz, shows small business owners how to blast their business to the next level of success. Find out more at http://www.boostyourbottomline.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Marketing Spitfires Holly George and Leslie Hamp publish "Marketing Blast," a monthly ezine filled with red hot strategies to market your business and boost your bottom line. If you're ready to jump start your marketing, make more money, and stay on the fast track to business success, get your FREE tips now at http://www.boostyourbottomline.com

Pyramid Schemes And Disguised Pyramids

2009-02-12T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Barry Devlin

Here is part of an email I received recently:

Follow the directions below and in two weeks you`ll have at least 2,000 dollarsbecause most people respond due to low investment and high profit potential. Webelieve the return rate is currently as good as 80%! Just donate five dollars ($5.00) to one 1 person! After the first time, you`ll see how EASY it is and it DOES work! Now let me tell you the simple details! *Log into your PayPal account, and send $5.00 to the name in the NEXT DUE slot. *Next, move the PENDING address up into the "NEXT DUE" slot and put your own e-mail address into the"PENDING" slot. After you have retyped the names in the new order, send this e-mail to as many people as possible IMMEDIATELY! (Using a Bulk Email Service will really boost your donations), use blasters, safelists, whatever you have. DO NOT SPAM - it`s against the LAW.

This is a very basic pyramid scheme. Now, does the person who sent me the email know that this scheme is illegal? I don't think so, because he provides his real name and email ID.

What's ironic is that he warns us not to spam, because spamming would be illegal!

He does offer an interesting rationale for joining the scheme:

"Think of it like a lottery ticket. You put in your $5, and you may or may not win."

The lottery-ticket analogy is appealing, but not correct. In a lottery, every ticket holder has an equal chance of winning. In a pyramid scheme, only the early participants are likely to win. That's why such schemes are illegal!

Scammers have also discovered ways to operate what I call "disguised pyramids". These schemes are legal (or quasi-legal), and are much harder to recognize as scams.

Disguised pyramids

There are a number of different ways to disguise a pyramid scheme. On the internet, the most common method is to have a multi-level affiliate program.

In a single-level affiliate program, you receive a commission if a visitor to your site purchases a product that you are promoting. There is no additional incentive for you to sign up other affiliates.

In a two-level affiliate program, you receive commission for signing up other affiliates. There may be an up front reward (when the affiliate signs up), and there may be ongoing incentives. For example, you may receive a small commission of every sale that your downline affiliate makes.

A two-level affiliate program makes sense, because it encourages you to sign up other affiliates. However, you do need to make sure that your market size is large enough to support a large number of affiliates. Otherwise, you end up with too many marketers chasing after too few customers.

A multi-level affiliate scheme with 3 or more levels is really just a pyramid in disguise.

What's wrong with a pyramid in disguise?

My favorite example of this is Global Domains International (GDI). GDI sells you a domain name plus a small web site for $10 a month. This purchase entitles you to build a downline of affiliates, up to 5 levels deep. You receive $1 for every sale by any of your downline affiliates.

Therefore, if you have 5 affiliates, and they each have 5 affiliates (and so on), you have a pyramid 5 levels deep with a total of 3905 affiliates. Every month, you receive a check for $3905.

Wow! This sounds great! What could possibly be wrong with this?

The problem is the shape of the pyramid. It is very narrow at the top, and very wide at the base. In the example above, there are 5 people at level one, and 3125 people at level five!

Now, GDI claims that there will be 500 Million domains active in the next 10 years. Let's accept that at face value, and assume that GDI gets 20% of this market that would be 100 million domains. Even this huge number only supports 30,000 people with five-level pyramids! Meanwhile, at the base of these pyramids, 80 million affiliates will be scrambling around, finding it difficult to sign up even one new affiliate!

Even if these numbers are confusing to you, just remember this: only 1 out of every 5 affiliates are making any money. Only 1 out of every 1000 will make serious money.

So what?

Now at least you know the odds of success. You may still decide to join such a scheme. If you work hard, and work smart, you may rise to the top.

Checklist: How to recognize pyramids in disguise

There are more than 2 levels of commission
Much more focus on recruiting members (or affiliates) rather than selling product
The price of the product is way above typical market price.

Learn more about Pyramids and other tricks in my book "Scams and Deceptions".

You can find out more about the book at the IBiz Zone. You can also order it here.

Consistency With Janitorial And Cleaning Businesses

2009-02-12T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Kevin Carnahan

Consistency is a huge word when operating your business. I believe it is one of the key ingredients to success. You should strive to keep things exactly the same on a daily basis. A quick example, something that upsets me, if I go to McDonald's at 10:30 P.M. a 1/2 hour before they close and ask for a cheeseburger and chocolate shake. What answer do I usually get "sorry the shake machine is closed for cleaning" This to me is not fair I believe the first customer coming through the door, should receive the same service and items as the last person coming through the door. NO EXCEPTIONS!

If you relate this to the janitorial service business which we have chosen, there are many variables, price, service,staff, quality of work. In many cases we perform repeat business such as daily, weekly and bi-weekly service. Remember when you cleaned a residential customers house for the first time? How much attention to detail, and thorough you were? Do you still perform the duties like its your first time cleaning for this customer? I hope so. This my friend is consistency. Customers will choose you for loyal, committed and dedicated service. Sure you will have some errors but if you are consistent your customers will keep you around longer.

I know of some cleaning services who are "on the rebound" continually defending themselves to the customer, "yes we performed that, or we do that ever other week, or we only clean that monthly" You will lose customers this way, unless the customer has a clear understanding of the duties performed in writing they will expect it every time. Keep your business consistent by performing your duties the same every time. If you continue to think to yourselves "this is my first time cleaning for the customer, hopefully it will not be your last time" Make out a list of instructions for yourself and staff. Make one for every service you perform. Title this list

"THINGS THAT ARE DONE DAILY ON ALL JOBS"

for example residential, other than your basic duties. If you always vacuum the furniture for crumbs,check the upholstery for stains or polish all the wood furniture top to bottom.... or if you always clean the soap residue out of the soap dish and wipe down the shampoo bottles in the shower. You would add this to your list to keep it consistent. Once you do have your list compiled of things that are done, separate the things that are special that are not required and advertise them. Using the two examples above you could state in your advertisements, flyer's etc.

"Our residential cleaning program pays strict detail to the extras, some things you can expect by choosing Joe's cleaning service"

1-Did you know? Mold and Mildew can accumulate on shower items, shampoo bottles, soap dishes, etc.. along with disinfecting your shower we pay close attention by fully sanitizing these items for your health and safety

I think you have the idea separate your regular cleaning duties from your special duties, but stay consistent with all of them, your customers will appreciate it, and in turn will keep you around longer.

P.S. Using that top example how about this for cross promotion.

1- We understand that your furniture is a large investment Joe`s cleaning service takes pride in maintaining your furniture on each visit by performing vacuuming of upholstery, minor upholstery stain removal and full cleaning of furniture woodwork with polish. (If our cleaners cannot remove the stain from your upholstery on each cleaning visit, please accept $10.00 off a full upholstery furniture cleaning performed by our trained carpet cleaners)

Kevin Carnahan
Founder (IJCSA) International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association
http://www.IJCSA.com
Owner: http://www.puritycleaning.com

How To Find Success In The Import Export Business

2009-02-11T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Randy Wilson

Take advantage of world politics today and start your own import export business. Are you organized, efficient, and ready to make your future in an opportunity all your own? Import Export Business Opportunities are expanding and there is room for you!

In the early nineteen eighties, one of the most popular things in Soviet Russia was American made blue jeans. Exporters made money hand over fist selling American made products to the East. Now, twenty years later, we have seen the fall of communism in many cold war countries. This has opened the door to the import export business companies to make handsome profits by moving goods from one continent to another.

Blue jeans in the former Soviet Union sell as good now as they did twenty years ago. But now it is not only blue jeans. American cars, computer and electronic devices, even beauty products are becoming a big business all over the eastern continents.

China has shown automobile sales in the last two years that rival the United States. Western culture, a mythical and mystical thing to many eastern countries, is being shipped in everyday. Trade embargoes are loosening and the profit margins are now being recognized all over the world.

Even the European nations are seeing an increase in their exports to the East. There are world economics at play now that were not even dreamed of twenty years ago. Imports and exports are being moved everyday, and you could play a profitable role in it all with your import export business.

Not only is there still the crave for Western Culture in the East, there is the need for lower cost goods here in the West. Importing goods from these same places can be as profitable as exporting to them. Imported products can be sold in a variety of ways from online stores and auctions to a storefront in your hometown.

There are also companies set up online that do importing and exporting and will contract you as a reseller. This can become extremely profitable. Most of the time you are not even required to keep an inventory. There is also a market for buying the imports these companies bring in and reselling them on auction sites and in retail outlets.

You will need to be aware of any taxes involved in both importing and exporting goods. Customs regulations and federal laws on imports and exports will need to be clarified before you start. Make sure that everything you are moving is legal and acceptable between countries.

Also, having a little capital to work with, say around one thousand US dollars; will allow you to get off to a solid start. Exporting goods on the Internet is one of the least expensive ways of getting started and can be done through existing import export companies.

Researching import export businesses can be done effectively online. There are many such small businesses (or at least, they started that way) who are willing to share the secrets of their success. Importing and exporting is not rocket science, nor does it require you to have a Ph.D. in economics.

One of the easiest things about import export businesses is that you are not dealing with direct sales. Most of your sales will be in bulk to distributors on the other end. This means that you will have to have little or no technical information about the products themselves, only whether they are legal or illegal to sell to that location.

Once started, you will be surprised at the income levels that can be achieved. Most importers and exporters say they were shocked that they could turn so much profit in so little time. Investigate your own import export business today!

Randy has dozens more home based business articles at Profitable Home Businesses.

New Vending Machines Where And How To Buy Them

2009-02-10T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Peter Crump

When you purchase new vending machines, you are getting the latest models with all the bells and whistles that make them attractive to customers. However, you do have to look for the cheapest prices so that you can save as much money as possible in the investment of getting started in the vending machine business. This is one of the businesses that is easy to get started with and you can determine the type and number of vending machines you do want to start with. For example, you can start with a gumball vending machine or one that sells sandwiches or other food. A simple online search will give you the names of the distributors that sell new vending machines.

You won't realize how easy it is to start a new vending machine business until you start doing the research. You don't need any business experience and you can determine the size of your business. The locations you choose will determine the types of new vending machines that you want to buy. For example, sandwich vending machines work well in places where there is lots of traffic, but you also have to look at how close these locations are to the nearest restaurant. Food service vending machines work really well in hotels, bus stations, airports, and office buildings, but you would rarely see them in shopping malls.

When you start a new vending machine business, you can start earning money the very first day. A new vending machine selling a unique product, especially something that attracts children, is always a big hit. You realize an immediate cash flow from sandwich vending machines, but you do have to check these machines on a regular basis to ensure that your sandwiches are always fresh. Food service vending machines can sell any type of food, such as fresh fruit, chocolate bars, potato chips or even yogurt. You might choose to sell frozen food from the vending machine that the customer has to heat up in the microwave.

To start a new vending machine business, you can first check out all the distributors of new vending machines in your area. You can also purchase the sandwich vending machines or other food service vending machines from distributors farther away from you, but the shipping costs may be high. Once you decide on the vending machines you want to start with, you also have to look for suppliers of the bulk products and you have to start looking for the most lucrative locations.

New vending machines tend to give you an edge over older machines when you start a new vending machine business. Business owners are more likely to want to partner with you in allowing you to place your sandwich vending machines or other machines in their store when they know the machines are new. This means they won't have complaints from customers about the machine not dispensing the products or with coins getting stuck due to worn out parts. When you buy new vending machines you also need to check that the machines have been tested and you should try them out yourself. They need to be easy for the customers to use.

To find out more about Vending visit Peter's Website Vending Explained and find out about Vending Machine Business and more, including Gumball Machines, Candy Machines and buying Vending Machines.

All About Offshore Shelf Companies

2009-02-09T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Bruce Stander

Offshore shelf companies aren't just for the rich and famous, they are for every one. It is true, at one time only the rich were able to afford these but with today's world anyone can with a great agent. If you are thinking about getting one, you should first learn all about offshore companies. Find out the rules, how to purchase one and what the limitations are.

Offshore shelf companies are companies that are already made and never got a chance of being used. These companies already have an incorporation on them and have been paid for and then enter into an inactive status until someone purchases them. The reason these companies are called "shelf companies" is because the paperwork has more than likely been sitting on a shelf waiting for someone to take it over.

The longer a shelf company sits on the shelf the more expensive it will become due to renewal fees and other charges. If you are wanting a company that you don't have to build from the ground up this is a great place to get started from. Most of these companies already have a bit of history that can help you out since many companies and banks don't want to work with a brand new company.

Some benefits of an offshore shelf company are:
1.no minimum capital
2.most places are tax free or have very minimal taxes
3.instant company that is ready for you to start work in
4.keep business affairs confidential
5.protect investments in other foreign lands
6.no corporate taxes
7.easier to manage

One pitfall for having an offshore shelf company is you will not be permitted to conduct any of your business in tax areas. Another might be that your renewal fee will be due on the date the company was put on the incorporation, not when you purchased it. If you purchased it in January, you could still pay your renewal fee in July, no exceptions.

World Wide Corporate Services specializes in the offshore formation process which will help make everything easier for you. Over the last few years WWCS has incorporated 30,000 companies for you to choose from. We are here to help you and will advise you all about the offshore shelf company you want.

Bruce Stander is the marketing manager of Worldwide Corporate Services. WCS offers affordable offshore company formation.

Genius Time It Matters

2009-02-08T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by David Handler

I frequently give presentations at small business gatherings, providing me the opportunity to have engaging conversations with owners about the challenges they face. Based on their input, the economy continues to plug along, heading in the right direction, and distancing itself from the difficult journey of the past few years. However, the resulting business climate is considerably different than before, with greater competition and higher customer expectations. Success as a small business owner requires maximizing your daily productivity, so you can focus more on the big picture and less on the many things that eat away at your day.

"Genius Time" is what you do that brings the most value to your small business. It is those high-impact activities and just the three or four most important things that lead to your peak performance. For example, Genius Time could be networking, client relations, employee motivation and/or providing continuing education. There are many other things that could make up your Genius Time, but know thisdedicating yourself to Genius Time will lead your entire organization to better results.

Success Handler Action: After you finish reading this e-newsletter, spend 30 minutes thinking about your Genius Time. Here are some questions to help you get started:

~ What do you spend most of your work time doing?

~ What things can you and you alone handle?

~ What are the most important roles you perform in your small business?

~ Which areas of your company are not getting the attention they need?

~ How often do you plan what you want to get done each day? Week? Month?

~ Why do you think things get in the way of executing your priorities?

Many of the small business leaders we work with struggle with their own Genius Time. They live in a world of crisis management trapped by a never-ending stream of tasks that keeps them in a state of "stuck" seldom able to grow beyond their current level. There are many reasons this happens, from lack of awareness about how they actually spend their day, to the never-ending challenges of interruption after interruption. Instead of developing systems and training their employees, which are the keys to creating more time to think proactively, they spend their days reacting to situations and putting out fires.

Success Handler Action: Having determined your Genius Time, keep track during the next week of how you actually spend your working days. Note things like how often you check e-mail, handle incoming telephone calls or work on personal matters. List all of the interruptions that distract you...from employees, to customers, to your cell phone ringing. Be sure to note all of the successful moments you spend on Genius Time.

At the end of the week, follow these five steps to identify where you're placing your priorities:

1. Take out a yellow highlighter and mark all of your Genius Time work

2. Put a red circle around those "time wasters" that cut into your productivity

3. Review all of the other ways you spent time during the week

4. Add up the hours you spent performing Genius Time, "time wasters" and "other" activities

5. Determine what percentage of your working hours you actually spent on Genius Time

One of the interesting people I met recently is a retired Army veteran and new small business owner. On 9/11, he told me he was sitting 100 feet from where the plane hit the Pentagon. He and another member of the military crawled to safety through smoke so thick they weren't sure which direction they were heading.

He said the reason he chose to start his own business is because working the system is the closest thing he could find to the life he lived and loved the past 20 years. "In the military, we spent our days taking the plan and working it, with the goal of maximum productivity and results," he said. "Tell me what the most valuable use of my time is and I'll prioritize that every day." This American Hero pursuing the American Dream truly understands the importance of Genius Time.

The Coach, David Handler, is the founder of Success Handler, (http://www.successhandler.com), and specializes in helping small business leaders find clarity and take action. He understands the challenges of running a business, because he's been there as a small business owner, franchisee, franchisor, corporate leader and trainer. Much like sports coaches, his coaching will show you how to compete on a level playing field in your industry.

How Many Gauges Do You Watch In The Cockpit Of Your Business

2009-02-08T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Greg Chapman

As a business grows, the more moving parts it has. And the more difficult it is to keep an eye on everything that is happening. Then the balls start to drop. Does your business have as many moving parts as a Jumbo Jet? How do 747 pilots manage?

When a business starts-up, because of the risk of failure, the owner has to watch everything. Fortunately, when you start-up, there is not a lot to watch! But it is hard to get out of the habit, which is why so many business owners continue to micromanage the business as it gets larger. Now if you could keep your eye on every ball in the air that might be ok. But at some point it becomes impossible to maintain, with owners focussing on where they feel most comfortable, rather than on what is most important.

Studies have shown that there are limits to how many different things a human being can monitor and react to. This of course, varies from person to person, but everyone has their limit. For example, only the most skilled jugglers can keep more than six balls in the air. The world record is 12. So when we try to keep our eye on everything, we will start dropping balls.

So how does a Jumbo Jet pilot keep an eye on everything? Funnily enough, they have six gauges in the cockpit, representing the key areas of the plane's performance. Or in business speak, the plane's Key Performance Indicators. These are the most vital to keeping the plane in the air. So if the seat 57D does not fully recline, or the airline logo paint is starting to flake on the body of the plane, they do not know about it. They have the flight attendants and the maintenance engineers to worry about such problems. However, these personnel are highly trained to notify the pilots if there is something they should worry about. The pilot trusts these personnel to do their job and follow their procedures, and only let him or her know about things that affect the plane's safety. So the pilots can concentrate on flying the plane.

But what if there is an engine problem. The plane's flight management system is set up so that any problem with a key part in the flight system will be evident on the high level gauges. So if there is a drop in airspeed, the pilot will query the system to determine which of the many causes may be responsible. They are able to drill down from the high level gauge which has moved from the safe area to investigate which of the plane's subsystems may be a fault. In almost all cases, the pilot is able to identify and either correct the problem or take action that will enable the plane to land safety. If they worried about every little non-critical problem on the plane, the chances are they might only notice the big ones when it is too late to do anything about them.

In business, the owner might identify that their cash reserves are declining. (Cash at Hand is one of the biggest Key Performance Indicators for any business.) Having seen this, the owner might ask the accountant to look at their detailed reports to identify the cause. Is it due to slow sales, overdue payments by debtors, cost blow-outs or overinvestment in inventory.

Having identified cost blowouts as the cause, the accountant might ask the operations manager why costs have gone up. She might advise that a maintenance problem has caused the over-run. When the operations manager speaks to the maintenance superintendent, she may discover the problem was caused by poor quality feedstock. In other words, a cash problem was caused by supplier quality control problem. Further analysis is of course, possible. The owner has therefore uncovered a critical supplier problem by interrogating staff after a key performance indicator has moved from the safe zone.

By having a small number of Key Performance Indicators which define the health of a business, and which are linked to other more detailed reports, the owner can fly their business using just few gauges. So, if there is a deeper problem in the business it will become visible. Because an owner with an excellent Business Management System is confident that they will identify problems in a timely fashion, they can focus on flying their business towards their ultimate objective which is their real job.

Dr Greg Chapman assists small to medium sized businesses with business planning, business systems and marketing strategy. To find out how you can Multiply Your Profits & Make Your Business Run without You, and to find out How Good Your Business Really Is with a Free Online Business Medical, go to Empower Business Solutions website at: http://www.empowersolutions.com.au

Small Business Line Of Credit

2009-02-07T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by David Gass

A business line of credit is one of the most popular forms of business loans. For the business owner or operator, particularly for small businesses, a business line of credit can be a lifeline of financing that can allow them to pay their bills, meet their payroll and continue to operate even when times are tough or business is slower than usual. For banks and lending institutions it allows them to hold the business on a short credit lease while they determine their viability in the marketplace.

The good news about a business line of credit is that it usually easy to get, even for businesses that have not been in business for a long time. The bad news is that financial institutions like a bank or credit union often will want personal guarantees or co-signing arrangements before they hand over access to a business line of credit.

A bank or other lending institution usually requires a business to have been in operation for a minimum of two years before granting a business line of credit. That is because the likelihood of a business failing within the first two years is far greater than at any period in its term of operation. Once a business passes this threshold a bank is much more likely to consider a business as a candidate for loans or lines of credit.

A business line of credit can be used for short term cash flow management, to make special or seasonal purchases, to re-stock inventory or supplies or for just about any other reason that can satisfy the banks demand for its usefulness to the business. A business line of credit is not normally made available to pay for salaries or bonuses to the employees of a business or to repay creditors from other banking arrangements.

These funds can be made available to the business in a number of manners under a business line of credit. They are sometimes available in a revolving cash account that can be borrowed against up to a certain amount or even in the form of a credit card that can be used by the company to make purchases for the business as required. Some business lines of credit require minimum payments plus interest every month and others have interest payment only options.

To see if you qualify for a business line of credit it is best to approach a bank or credit union where you already do your business banking. They know you, not just from seeing your face as you make deposits or withdrawals but they also know your personal credit history and this becomes an important factor in granting a business line of credit. Banks are most comfortable lending money to customers that they already know than the off the street business. This will help you not only get the business line of credit that your business may need but also help you get the best possible interest rate for your hard earned business dollar.

David Gass is President of Business Credit Services, Inc. His company publishes a weekly e-newsletter on Starting and Growing a Small Business at http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com You can sign up for their free newsletter by visiting http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com

Why Is The Right To Fail So Important And Why It Is Mostly Unique To America

2009-02-06T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Geoff Ficke

The American economic system of capitalism is unique in the industrialized world. Forms of capitalism exist in many countries, and the one general statement that applies to its usage is that capitalist countries are always more prosperous than non-capitalist states. That being stated, why is American capitalism so advanced, successful, admired and feared?

We all know that America offers the most dynamic advanced economy in the world. Brands such as Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Estee Lauder, IBM, MicroSoft, Kentucky Fried Chicken and hundreds more are badges of the amazing success of the American model in achieving worldwide prominence. Each of these enterprises were born of entrepreneurial roots, grown with care, and gracefully matured into powerful engines of profit. Other countries can proudly point to their own corporate successes (Finland and Nokia, France and Schlumberger, Chanel, Ireland and Waterford, etc.) No country, however, sports the depth and variety of colossal world brands as the United States.

So what accounts for the amazing growth and breadth of successful American enterprises in a very competitive global marketplace? And, what makes the American field of play so different and compelling as a job, profit and opportunity generator? There are many reasons that can explain parts of the template for success. However, an alpha element is that the United States system does not permanently cripple an entrepreneur who has experienced failure, even several failures.

Many successful entrepreneurs, while enjoying the fruits of their successful efforts, have also suffered the agony of failure. The American model does not insure the right to succeed, jut the right to try. This is not true in most other capitalist countries. Failure is not an option. Barriers to entry are high. Taxes, fees, regulations and restrictive covenants are almost universally more difficult than in America.

The opportunity to fail is not something that any entrepreneur initially considers as an asset. However, it must be considered that most new enterprises do not succeed. Business closings and bankruptcy is very high for new enterprises. Many entrepreneurs, having suffered the disappointment of failure, simply move on and look for a regular source of income. Real entrepreneurs will not give up. They have the genetic makeup necessary for any entrepreneur to succeed. They will keep trying.

I can attest to the difficulty of being an entrepreneur in other capitalist countries. I have started businesses in England, France, Sweden and Spain. When seeking to organize in these capitalist (to a varying degree) countries I was amazed at how difficult it was to satisfy the state. Upon reflection, exploring and experiencing the vagaries of these bureaucracies, I discovered a blunt answer for the very high real costs to enter a new business: these states use extreme hurdles to minimize the chance for failure.

Fortunately it is just the opposite here in America. Small business incubators, regional business development centers, university entrepreneurial programs and mentoring organizations encourage the attempt to create opportunity for new enterprises. The result is a wildly vigorous stream of new product, invention, service and enterprise seeking to capitalize on the American economy's vigor and need for constant sources of growth. All of this occurs while the risk of failure remains daunting for new start-ups.

The growth of the American economy can be attributed to the constant stream of small companies supplying ingenuity, new products and rapidly growing sales and income streams. Virtually no new jobs have been added in Europe over the past two decades. In 2005, America generated over two million new jobs alone.

Growth of the United States economy is not being driven by the mature multi-national companies associated with prosperity in the past. IBM, GE, General Motors, Delta, Delphi, and dozens of other formerly powerhouse firms are downsizing, firing employees and trying to re-invigorate their static business models. The growth of thousands of small businesses entering this vibrant marketplace is the real generator of growth, jobs and profits. The reality that many fail and a few succeed is the strength of the system.

The high barriers to entry applied by so many of our capitalist competitors minimizes their ability to be creative, innovate and take appropriate risk/reward decisions in this brutally competitive global market. This attempt to insure success is actually the death knell of real opportunity.

Geoff Ficke has been a serial entrepreneur for almost 50 years. As a small boy, earning his spending money doing odd jobs in the neighborhood, he learned the value of selling himself, offering service and value for money.

After putting himself through the University of Kentucky (B.A. Broadcast Journalism, 1969) and serving in the United States Marine Corp, Mr. Ficke commenced a career in the cosmetic industry. After rising to National Sales Manager for Vidal Sassoon Hair Care at age 28, he then launched a number of ventures, including Rubigo Cosmetics, Parfums Pierre Wulff Paris, Le Bain Couture and Fashion Fragrance.

Mr. Ficke and his consulting firm, Duquesa Marketing, Inc. (http://www.duquesamarketing.com) has assisted businesses large and small, domestic and international, entrepreneurs, inventors and students in new product development, capital formation, licensing, marketing, sales and business plans and successful implementation of his customized strategies. He is a Senior Fellow at the Page Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Business School, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

How Can A Timesheet System Help Your Business

2009-02-06T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Michael Potas

Running a small business is challenging. We are constantly required to perform a wide variety of tasks. For many of us, we could probably define our job descriptions as: do everything! Unfortunately, a portion of the everything that we do doesn't contribute directly to the income of the business. However, sometimes by adding a little extra administration we can actually improve our productivity. In this article we are going to take a brief look at timesheet systems, and determine if and how they may help us improve our cash flow.

If you are reading this, than chances are that you have already seen a need to implement some kind of time tracking system. If you are already using timesheets in your business, you should be aware that some systems are better than others, and it is worth taking the time to investigate whether the system you are using is providing you with the maximum benefit.

Businesses that bill clients for their time will need some method for keeping tabs on the jobs they work on, in many regions this is a legal requirement. While other businesses types may not see any obvious reason to implement a timesheet system, there are a lot of good reasons to consider using one.

If your business employs staff, than a timesheet system presents an excellent way of keeping track of what your human resources actually do. You may be surprised as to how much time staff spend doing work that is not related to your core business objectives. As an example, you may think that by not upgrading your computers and software this year it is going to save you money. However, your timesheets may tell you that your staffs are spending a lot of time dealing with computer-related issues that are not income generating, resulting in lower productivity than one might expect. A timesheet system is an extremely powerful tool for identifying and being able to help you quantify the costs associated with these types of issues.

If you run a project-based business, where you may bid for jobs with fixed-price quotations, implementing a time tracking system in your business can save you money. In today's competitive business climate, there can be a thin line between getting the job or losing it to a competitor. Quote high and your competitor may beat you based on price. Quote low and you may just get the job, but lose a significant amount of money doing it. If you have experienced these types of problems in the past, than it may be time for you to consider a timesheet system. When you are formulating a new quote on a job similar to one that you have completed previously, look to your timesheet system to get an understanding of the actual length of time the job took to complete. You may be surprised to see which sub-projects are taking most of the time.

Let's examine two scenarios; In the first scenario, the manager reports "we feel that project X came in on budget but we need to budget for a little more time to complete project Y in future quotations", which is useful information that you can act upon. However, in our second scenario the business is using a timesheet system, and the manager reports "project X was completed at 23% below budget and project Y came in 279% over budget, resulting in the overall project being 160% over budget". We will inevitably all make mistakes when we estimate the time it takes to complete a project, however the business that uses a timesheet system can quantify their mistakes, learn from them, and produce better quotes in the future.

Few would argue that a timesheet system is not an essential tool for tracking and analyzing business performance and productivity. If you have a small business with one or a few employees, and a few projects or clients, you can certainly use a manual written timesheet system to good effect. Start by creating a list of projects that you wish to categorize your time by. You may wish to further break down your projects into sub-projects, so you can get more detailed information about what has been done. Don't forget to include projects for both internal (i.e. accounting, administration etc) and external (i.e. client job) purposes. Once you have done this, create a timesheet with spaces for putting time against each project, and a space to put the employee name and date, and distribute it to staff.

Once you have more than a few staff, or if your projects start to get more complicated, it is worth taking a look at the software packages that are available to make the process a whole lot easier. Some companies choose to start off using a spreadsheet program such as excel, but my experience with these type of systems is that they can require a lot of work and can be error prone, probably costing many times more than an inexpensive off-the-shelf timesheet software package. Most of the major time tracking software packages will have everything you need, including support for multiple staff and users on the move, central company project and client lists, and detailed reports of the work done by all of your staff. Most will also link to third party applications such as accounting and project management software. As most software applications tend to work differently, sometimes these links can be more of a hindrance than help, although at times they can also be genuinely useful.

One software package also tracks computer based work to help staff fill in their timesheets, see Spherical Technology's timesheet and time management software for more information. In addition to automatically filling in timesheets, this software also links to major accounting and project management packages, has a number of useful reports that provides profit amounts for each and every project worked on, and can be evaluated for 30-days free. In all cases, I recommend that you download a demonstration copy of the time tracking software application that you wish to buy and try all relevant features before committing to it.

Once you have introduced your timesheet system, you will be well on your way to discovering more about your business. Timesheet systems give you information to help you make better business decisions, increase productivity, and can give you an edge over your competition. Best of all, you can make your timesheet system grow with your business, allowing you to continually fine-tune your processes to maximize the financial reward.

Michael Potas is currently employed by a timesheet software company, and often provides advise on management issues for small business. Please take a look at his timesheet and time tracking software for a solution to many time management issues.

Why You May Not Need To Rent An Office To Start Your Business

2009-02-05T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Tayo Solagbade

A Home Office Will Usually Do(At Least For A Start)

In many cases, nothing could be further from the truth than the assertion many people make, that one needs an office to operate from when starting-up. In my early startup days, many times after people had excitedly engaged me in discussion about my work, they would ask me - "Where is your office?". My prepared answer was always "I work from home". A lot of individuals as soon as they heard this, simply got turned off and never got back to me. As far as they were concerned, if I did not have an office, I could not be a serious business person!

From the time I started my business, I had promised myself - based on a detailed analysis of the nature of products and services I aimed to deliver - that I wasn't' going to spend ANY money on an office space - talk less of staff. I believe that my conviction has now proved to be well based. I say this after extensive reflection, over more than four years. It is obvious that it was not my lack of an office that prevented me from doing more business than I have done! People who wanted me called me up, sent me e-mails, came looking for me at my SOHO (Small Office Home Office) - including the Center for Management Development!

What Really Matters Is That You Have A Product/Service That People Want

The fact is that if you have a product or a service that people really want and need, they will find a way to get to you and pay good money to get it! Find the right price for your product or service that you offer, and then make yourself accessible - either by going to the customers or strategically locating yourself where they can get to you.

So this issue of having an office for your business to start-up, as far as I'm concerned, is just a joke. For most types of businesses, having an office will not guarantee that you will get taken any more seriously than if you do not have one. If anything, it would add to your overheads in so many ways, as one additional, related expense or the other would creep in over time.

As a matter of fact, a seasoned entrepreneur and highly successful Independent Consultant Herman Holtz(now late) once wrote - in his book "The Concise Guide To Becoming An Independent Consultant"(John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 1999) - that even his big corporate clients expressed approval of his efforts to keep his overheads low when they visited his home based office!

Having said the foregoing, I must not fail to add that the corporate clients referred to in Holtz's case belong to a culture in which clients predominantly look for professionals who can deliver results and not those who devote needless time and money to creating an excessively impressive appearance. In the environment where I have had to operate as an entrepreneur, the "thinking" of clients or prospects very often is radically different and you will find yourself getting penalised by way of rejection simply because your office does not look "flashy" enough - or worse, you use a home office!

Achievement Of Long Term Success Will Often Depend On A Startup Entrepreneur's Financial Intelligence And Frugality

Despite the foregoing, I still believe people who keep looking for start-up entrepreneurs with flashy cars, tastefully furnished office spaces etc before they patronize them will probably end up engaging incompetent persons who cover their lack of proficiency with lavish expense on office space. Very few REAL and financially intelligent entrepreneurs will go investing that heavily in overheads-generating items before they've been able to make good money to show decent profitability. Many of those who tried to do so in the past, do not have good tales to tell today.

I'll give a quick example. I know someone who started her business by getting an office space, furnishing it tastefully, putting in phones, air-conditioning etc. Then she recruited an assistant, a secretary and an office boy. After everything was set, they began looking for business. Letters were sent out, meetings held, follow-up calls made etc.

Unfortunately, not a single account was secured. Six months passed and this lady had been paying her staff salaries even though no business had been coming in. Power outages repeatedly ate into her rapidly depleting funds as fuel had to be bought for the generator.

Then there was the issue of the personal expenses she was incurring on her side - domestically. She had a housekeeper and a cook who also needed to be paid! To cut the long story short, she got to a point when she could no longer pay her staff on time - both in the office and on the home front. This led to repeat instances of friction between her and them. Some sudden resignations happened, but she (stubbornly) replaced the "deserters' with others (who would accept less pay than those before them). Eventually, she had to give it up.

There's NOTHING Wrong With Starting Humbly - In A Home Office OR On A Kitchen Table!

The lesson here is quite obvious. You need to hold on to as much of your money as you can in those start-up days/months. Most entrepreneurs will find that they can combine many of the jobs for which others choose to recruit staff quite effectively. We have heard the stories of how many successful people started their businesses on their kitchen tables. It only makes good common sense to do this. When you're more able, you can gradually add to your numbers - but at the early stages, start small and conserve your resources as much as possible. You have been warned!

FINAL WORDS: Read my article titled Practical Guiding Philosophies For Entrepreneurial Success , in which I explain (under the subheading "Procrastinate When It Comes To Spending"), why when you want to do any heavy businessrelated spending, you may need to stay off "doing it " for at least another 24 48 hours, or for as long as reasonably possible - till you're convinced it is inevitable.

Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist Tayo Solagbade - works as a Multipreneur, helping individuals/businesses develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals, faster and more profitably.

Visit Tayo's Creative Business Solutions(CB Solutions) mini-site - http://www.cbsolutions.v27.net - to learn how you can get affordable Freelance Writing, Rapid Website Design/CGI Automation, Website Marketing Strategy Development and Custom MS Excel VB Spreadsheet Automation Services.

Paperless Office For Cpa For Under 1000

2009-02-04T23:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Amir Morani

Considering what CPAs are being asked to pay for pre-packaged paperless solutions for their offices, the title of this article is quite radical. Since the title and what is discussed here is based on actual experience of the author, it is alright for it to get some media attention.

Most CPA practices these days have a small office network in place to handle the operations of the business. Rather, it is almost impractical for them to be operating without some kind of a computer network in their offices. Most CPAs and accountants also efile their clients' tax returns and so they need a reliable internet connection in their office. Unbeknownst to them, CPAs have over 90% of what they need to go paperless, at least on the hardware and the software side.

CPAs have almost all the hardware and software needed, in their office, to convert their practice into a paperless practice. Almost means close to 90%. However, they need to build up another asset to be able to go paperless in a very short time. The asset they need has to be built in house and cannot be purchased. They have to first recognize the extreme importance of the need to go paperless and then develop a strong determination to do so within a short time and limited budget.

Recognition of the importance of going paperless is the major hurdle facing the accounting industry at this time. Many CPAs are still waiting on the sidelines to watch how this trend evolves. Generally, that is not a very bad strategy. Not all trends become permanent in any industry and so a lot of times it is good to wait a little before getting on the bandwagon. However, paperless movement has been building momentum over a long period of time. In fact, it probably has been in discussions for over a decade. There have been some early adopters who benefited from it. It has not become a general trend yet in accounting industry, other professional services industry and business in general. But there are signs that it is picking up speed.

It is during the last few years that the capacity of the technology, that is being used in accounting offices, like other businesses, has increased tremendously at very affordable prices. Until a few years ago, going paperless in an accounting office was a major undertaking as it would require upgrading of hardware and software in a significant way. Now, there is no need to upgrade. If the hardware was purchased during the last 2-3 years, it probably has adequate capacity and speed to handle a paperless office without much upgrading.

In that case, a typical small CPA firm just needs to add a couple of scanners at $300 each and a PDF converter software that can be purchased for about a $100 these days. A strong commitment to go paperless and a determination to get it done within a given time frame is short in supply and is not available with any hardware or software vendor.

It is a very strange phenomenon. The technology is available and the need is there and yet most small CPA practices are not paperless, and one would hope that they are at least thinking about going paperless sometime soon. Why shouldn't they go paperless if they could do it within a $1,000 of additional hardware and software?

Amir Morani CPA CMA CFM MBA is the author of 10 Steps to A Paperless CPA Office The Simplest Guide to Make Your Practice Paperless. Visit the blog at http://paperlessofficeforcpa.blogspot.com

Advantages Of Using A Hydrogen Generator

2009-02-04T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Groshan Fabiola

Most of the medical testing labs, pharmaceutical producers and manufacturers, processing facilities,and even hospitals don't accept 'mistakes' like defective valves, bad connections or missed hydrogen deliveries.

So, the best way to keep these things from happening is to acquire some performant hydrogen generators, that can produce a reliable supply of hydrogen with a purity of 99.999%.

One of the inconveniences of not having a hydrogen generator in a test lab is that if the hydrogen supply runs out,the experiment must be repeated, which leads to losses of money, and therefore, the plant production has to suffer. This thing would not happen if the labs would have a continuous source of hydrogen provided by a hydrogen generator.

Also, the costs of purchasing a hydrogen generator will even be atenuated in time, because they produce hydrogen at a fraction of the cost of the cylinder gas, and at higher pressure, which is needed in the cromatography tests. Moreover, the new generation of hydrogen generators that have a palladium membrane to filter the gas, resulting a product with a 99.99..% purity, do not need their cartridges replaced, like the old ones, a thingwhich can also interrupt analysis operations and add some extra costs to the hydrogen generator's maintenance, and in fact they are quite eliminating its maintenance, because this way, the hydrogen generator doesn't need to be offline, or down at all, it can function all the time, you need only too add water.

In conclusion the latest generation of hydrogen generators has a lot of benefits to offer, can run indefinitely (they have been tested by a company, and they have ran for more than one million hours without stopping at all) and they are also very easy to handle and almost do not require maintenance.

This article is written by Grosan Fabiola. Link advertisment by Business Content Dyrectory. If you would like to find more information about Chemical Generators and especially about Hydrogen Generators please follow these links.

Find Some Sample Payroll Check Stubs On The Net For Easy Reference

2009-02-03T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Sara Jenkins

Starting a business? For many people, the bravery to venture out on your own is the ultimate dream, you're your own boss, you make your own time, and your dreams of making it big in the independent business lives on. But don't forget there are many responsibilities. As the business grows so is the need for manpower. This means salaries to pay and records to make and keep. Maintaining a pleasant working condition is imperative, and nothing makes a disgruntled employee than a spotty payroll check stub. Everyone wants fair compensation and as the owner of the company or at least the accountant, you want to make sure that this followed to the T. Salaries may be given depending on the preference of the company or to the nature of the business. Some provide salary schemes as bi-monthly, monthly or quarterly (every week).

There are now many ways to pay the salary of the employees. Some prefer the old fashioned way of procuring checks while some want to electronically deposit the wages to the bank accounts, which is fast becoming the popular medium these days. This is called direct deposit, usually employees are provided direct deposit advices to inform them of the deposit made to their accounts which pertain to their salary and details behind them. This is what can be used as a payroll check stub. They are usually delivered a day before the salary day. So that the employees can get a hold of them on pay day and scrutinize them. Even if you use other method of compensating your employees, it is imperative that you provide them a payroll check stub to clarify everything that leads to their salaries.

Payroll check stubs are the slip of paper provided to the employee on salary day which details all the information about the salary the employee is about to receive. There they will see all the information they will need to know about their wages. Like for example, their rate, their hours worked, their salary rates, the deductions made like taxes, medicare, insurance, loans, social security and all the other deductions made. With a payroll check stub, every thing is cleared eliminating or minimizing the possibility of confusion and complaints.

For some people, making and recording payroll check stubs is an arduous and grueling task, especially if you don't have an experience with it. But for every growing business this is a necessity. Take the time to learn it to keep your company blemish free and your record straight. You don't want to have trouble with the government because of faulty records and flawed tax payments.

The good news is, the internet is a plethora of information which can provide you with sample payroll check stubs. You can analyze the sample paycheck stubs they provide and study it for the benefit of your business. The sample payroll check stubs can be downloaded and copied. With those sample payroll check stubs you can produce and design your own and make your business clear and concise with the records. These sample payroll check stubs will make life easier for you and your business. Providing yourself with a sample payroll check stub will enhance your knowledge about that process, there are also many sample payroll check stubs software available that can help you with your salary accounting. Invest in sample payroll check stubs and you will see the fruits of that action blossom for your business and you.

Online entrepreneur Sara Jenkins, is dedicated to helping others and their needs to succeed in life by offering free payroll tips everyday. To learn more about her free payroll program, and to sign up for her FREE Payroll articles and FREE bonus how-to books and resources, visit http://www.PayrollXpert.com

Its Spring Time For A Compensation Program Tune Up

2009-02-03T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Sharon Terry

Now that winter has passed, the annual ritual of spring cleaning is in full swing. Spring cleaning is more than cleaning the windows and clearing the cobwebs that hid in the corners during the winter. "Spring is a time to take a serious look at your compensation program and begin planning for the next budget cycle. Depending on your organization's fiscal year, it may also be time to determine appropriate market adjustments and pay increases for the coming year," said Michael Maciekowich, National Director, Astron Solutions.

Compensation program spring cleaning is more than looking at the market and determining adjustments. It is a time to step back and determine if the system remained in alignment with organizational and employee needs. Most organizations have long-term strategic plans with short-term objectives to determine progress. A compensation program designed at the beginning of a long-term strategic cycle also needs flexibility to address yearly short-term organizational objectives. As new objectives come to the forefront, or current ones are modified, the compensation plan must also change.

This is a different way of thinking about compensation programs. There are a number of tools and processes to help with this matter. One is a survey of the compensation program's effectiveness for users, including executive management, department management, and employees. The focus of this annual survey is the following:

What aspects of the current compensation program were most effective in the past year?

o What aspects seem to have had a positive impact on employees in terms of retention and morale?

What aspects of the current compensation program were least effective in the past year?

o What issues did human resources seem to spend the most time discussing with employees and managers?

What should be the focus of the compensation program in the coming year? o What are managers' and employees' expectations in terms of compensation determination? What will prevent this from happening?

o To what extent do managers and employees understand current financial issues facing the organization?

With this understanding, human resources must answer the following five questions:

What external market challenges or pressures will be placed on the compensation system in the coming year?

o Has the market shifted? Is there a new strategic need in the organization that will alter our market focus, either by type of job or market definition? Is the organization in a position to remain competitive?

What internal job equity challenges or pressures will be placed on the compensation program in the coming year?

o If a job evaluation system is used, are the factors and factor weights applicable based on current strategic direction? If not, what modifications are required?

What employee equity challenges or pressures will be placed on the compensation program in the coming year?

o Have recent market adjustments and system modifications forgotten the employees? Are we able to attract employees without causing internal pay compression?

What financial challenges will impede the ability of the organization to successfully fund and implement needed compensation program elements?

o Can the organization sustain past financial commitments to the compensation program? If not, how will spending priorities be set?

What changes need to be made as to how employees are recognized and rewarded for their contributions to the organization?

o Do the current recognition and reward mechanisms work to motivate employees to contribute to the organization's strategic direction? With these questions answered, human resource next must develop a strategic response. Take the five questions above and overlay the four question survey responses. This helps to develop a strategic response to each of the five key compensation issues.

Here are basic examples of the thought process for auditing current compensation processes:

External Equity Issues: Most effective. Continue current process.

Internal Equity Issues: Least effective. Additional focus on internal job placement required.

Employee Equity Issues: Least effective. Serious compression issues developed that need further action.

Ability to pay issues: Most effective. Required funding of the program is understood and available.

Reward and Recognition Issues: Most effective. High level of satisfaction with current performance assessment and rewards systems. With this information in hand, the final step is to create a focused strategic response to present to senior management. The result is a fresh look at your compensation program and a focused direction for the year ahead.

Michael Maciekowich is a National Director for Astron Solutions. His areas of expertise include the development, design, and implementation of executive, physician, and employee total cash compensation and performance management systems in all industries. His primary focus is the integration of compensation and human resource strategies with organization-specific missions, visions, values, and strategic operating plans. Michael has twenty-five years of consulting and industry compensation experience. He can be reached at 800-520-3889 or michaelm@astronsolutions.com.

Astron Solutions is a consulting firm dedicated to the delivery of HR consulting services and supportive technology. For more information about giving your compensation program a spring cleaning, please call Astron Solutions at 800-520-3889.

Sharon Terry

If You Dont Know Why Youre In Business Then Get Out

2009-02-02T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Rochelle Dent

"You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight." Jim Rohn

Those of you who have been in business for more than a few months may already know this, but running your own business takes a lot of energy!! And I'm not just talking about the energy it takes to do the long hours. Nor the energy it takes to be the manager, the lackey, the be all and end all, in your business, and then stumble into bed some time past midnight.

I'm also talking about the emotional drain that the ups and downs of your business bring with it. One week you are feeling on top of the world, new clients, some great feedback from a friend, and you just placed that ad you are sure is going to make your business boom. The next week, two of your clients leave, you get a complaint from one of your suppliers and the fantastic ad turns out to be a real fizzle. It's easy to see why we sometimes feel like throwing in the towel and going back to a J.O.B. (Just Over Broke).

This is why I believe our vision is so important. If we don't have a compelling reason why we are spending all this energy, particularly in the early days, we can lose our way. It seems an awful lot easier to just quit than it does to keep going, day in and day out.

So what is a vision?

A vision is your dream. It is your long-term picture of how your business and your personal life are going to look like, sound like and feel like. It gives you your why, your "raison de vivre", your motivation to keep going.

There are many forms a vision can take, and this will depend on what your favourite style is.

* If you are writing it out, it is great to physically write it  not just type it. Add colour to it, underline things, and maybe draw links between things. This gets you physically and intimately in line with your vision.  It stands out for you, and draws you to it.  * You may like to write a letter to a friend you haven't seen for a while and let her know how your business is doing - as though the year is 2010, or 2015.  * You could tell a story as if you are writing your memoirs, and this is how your life is right now. Be sure to write it in the present tense, with as much visual description and feeling in it as you can to make it seem very real.  * It can be pictorial, either your own, or somebody else's. You can represent elements of your vision either with drawings, or through collage.  * It can be auditory - the sounds of applause, the sounds of customers thanking you and passing you referrals, the sounds of the sea for where you envisage your office to be located. Record these sounds, and play them back every day.

The most important thing is to capture your vision in whichever way feels good for you and have fun!!

A vision does not need to be based on your reality right now. If you are on the brink of poverty, your vision can still include a million dollar mansion over looking the sea. If you have no idea about technology, you can still you're your business around reaching people through it. Do not worry about the how while writing your vision. Just see yourself where you will be if you have everything your heart desires.

Once you have your vision recorded in whichever format suits you, you can view or listen to your vision every day. In fact, twice a day makes it even more compelling. The more often you read it the more you will be able to see yourself there. The clearer you can see yourself there, the more likely it is that you will get there.

The next big step is to share your vision. Read it to a trusted friend or your coach. Some one you feel comfortable with, who will take you seriously and support you 100%.

With a vision, you are your biggest limitation. If you have big dreams already, I challenge you to double them! If you are feeling stuck or not sure where to get started then use a coach to help you get moving. Once you are on your way, your coach can hold your vision for you and work with you to reach it and make it more than just a dream. Just remember that a vision isn't written in concrete, and as you grow and change with the work you are doing, particularly on yourself, your vision will grow and change too, and that's OK .

Rochelle Dent partners with Mumpreneurs to increase their profits and decrease their stress. Visit the website http://www.leapsnboundscoaching.com to get your copy of The 3 Biggest Mistakes Mumpreneurs Make in Business (and How to Avoid Them)!

How To Accept Credit Cards

2009-02-01T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Matthew Coers

If you plan to do business online, then your website will need to accept credit cards. For many, the idea of applying for a merchant account sounds like a daunting task, but the truth is that building an online store is incredibly easy these days. The major credit card processing companies have improved and streamlined the process of setting up accounts, and software companies have had several years to improve their software to the point that it is easy for non-technical business owners to create and operate an online store effectively.

3rd Party Processors The inexpensive way to start For the beginning web entrepreneur, the most important issue in credit card processing is how much product you think you can realistically sell in a month. If you are selling less than $1000 per month, then you will want to go with a "third-party processor". PayPal is the most widely known and reputable third party processor, and you can easily set up an account with them.

Unlike traditional merchant accounts, PayPal accounts are free to set up and cost nothing on a monthly basis. You will pay more per transaction with PayPal than you would with a traditional merchant account, but for low-volume start-up businesses making less than $1000 per month, you will gladly choose higher transaction costs over account set-up fees, monthly account fees, minimum charges, interchange fees, gateway fees, and perhaps worst of all, account cancellation fees (just to name a few).

Steps You Need To Take To Set Up A PayPal Account

Bank Account you will need a bank account for PayPal to deposit your funds into.
Apply for a PayPal Account

Traditional Merchant Accounts If your processing volume will be higher than $1000 per month, then you will probably want to go with a traditional merchant account. Credit card processing companies generally charge a minimum monthly fee that is approximately equal to the amount of money you would pay to process $1000 per month. Generally speaking you can expect to pay around $50 per month in minimum charges for a merchant account. As you process more, your costs will go up, but the percentage of your gross sales that you pay for processing should go down.

Steps You Need To Take To Set Up A Traditional Merchant Account It is not difficult to set up a traditional merchant account, but you will need to follow several steps in order to pull it off.

Get a business license
Get a business bank account at your bank
Make sure your web host supports your shopping cart system (you might even be able to get your shopping cart system bundled in with your credit card processing services for free).
Try to determine the amount of business you will generate. Your credit card processing company will want to know how large each transaction will be, and how many transactions you expect to have per month.
Negotiate with merchant account providers and establish your merchant credit card account (see list of merchant account providers).

Following are several merchant account providers you may be interested in contacting:

www.paypal.com PayPal allows you to accept payments instantly without the need to set up special accounts or sign long-term contracts. You will want to strongly consider using this one if you are processing less than $1000 per month.
www.totalmerchantservices.com Total Merchant Services is one of the largest resellers of merchant accounts both on and offline, and are trusted by literally tens of thousands of businesses of all sizes. They use First Data as their back-end processor.
www.merchantexpress.com This is a well-respected processor that services both on and offline businesses.
www.expandyourbusiness.com CardService International provides a very helpful eBook that you can download for free

Some Issues You Want To Consider

Generally speaking you will be more concerned with up-front and recurring fees rather than the discount rate that processing companies will quote most prominently. The hidden fees generally eclipse the discount rates especially for low volume start-up businesses.
Try to accurately estimate your business volume when you fill out your applications. The risk department at your processing company can put a freeze on your account if your volumes move significantly outside the estimates you have provided them.
If you do experience a sudden spike in orders, you should contact the risk department of your processing company to make them aware of the spike BEFORE it hits their system. They may want to have you send them details about the orders and provide proof that the orders are legitimate. As inconvenient as this is, it is far better than getting your account frozen.
Make sure you understand what fees you will be responsible for if you need to cancel your account before the end of your contract. You may find that you need to shut down your account for a variety of reasons, and you don't want to find out about exit fees after you get the bill!

In conclusion, you should start off your search for credit card processing by making a realistic estimate of your processing needs. If you believe you will be processing less than $1000 per month, then you will probably want to work with a third-party processor like PayPal. If you will be processing more than $1000 per month then you will want to work with a traditional credit card processing company (see list of processors above). You should be more concerned with upfront and recurring fees than with the discount rate. Once you have selected a processing company, you will want to make sure you have your business license and business bank account. Finally, you will need to make sure that your shopping cart system supports your processing company.

Mr. Coers specializes in helping entrepreneurs build effective web businesses. His website, http://www.profitchoice.com contains useful articles and "how-to" guides to help organizations build their brands and sell more effectively.

If you still have questions about Merchant Credit Card Accounts, you can access a free in-depth article on the subject here.

Cleaning Grain Silos Towers Containers And Combines

2009-01-31T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

If you run a pressure washing company in a rural market you will need to learn how to wash agricultural industry equipment and infrastructure. In our company The Tractor Wash Guys, we We have several years of experience washing combines. Phil Hasenhoehrl, a wheat farmer in Lewiston Idaho, was raised in the farming business. His family has been farmers for over 100 years. In addition to farming, Phil has worked with us and helped us in learning how best to develop this market sector. He was before joining our team a farmer. He owns a $250,000 John Deere combine that he maintains himself.

Many pressure-washing contractors have no idea what to charge for cleaning such equipment. We recommend that for a blow-off and wash on a large combine like Phil's, that you charge $300.00. If a combine has already had a blow-off, we charge $175.00 for just a straight wash. This is about the going price in most markets. Waxing is an additional $75.00 - $100.00. Washing should include cleaning the cab, gauges, control panel, seat and windows. Most operators will be quite pleased to the see the cockpit of their combine in mint condition.

To protect paint and inhibit rust, we use a polymer wax, recommended by John Deere. You can buy a bottle or two at your local John Deere Dealership. We usually try to set-up a semi-annual preventative maintenance cleaning for larger farmers and corporate farms. You should also consider having programs for rinse off services for new and used farm equipment dealers.

Cleaning Grain and Wheat Silos, Towers, and Containers

You will find good business in cleaning small silos owned by family farm businesses. Whether they store grain, wheat, produce, wood chips, or any other agricultural crop, you can clean the containers, crates, boxes, trailers, silos and towers. There is unlimited amounts of work for someone who is serious about getting out there with a little hustle in their step. You should be knowledgeable in all FDA laws for storage of perishables; this can be done by reading thru sections of the FDA government website. You can clean 10 story cement grain towers, floors, and inside walls. You find this to be an excellent business and unlimited work once the word gets out, you will be getting calls for hundreds of miles away. Because grain dust is highly explosive and considered a fire hazard we recommend cleaning silos, storage containers and towers whenever they are emptied and this is a good selling point to customers.

It also pays to be an expert in cleaning flat or cone shaped floors and inside and exterior perimeters where the tin meets the pavement; where the seal is formed. It is smart to contact farmers as they empty silos before fumigation. Let your customers know that you understand their FDA and EPA obligations and will only use soaps which won't combine with insecticides, or attract rats. The farmer's time is better spent watching mercantile exchanges, commodities markets, agricultural futures and comex. The tax credits for farmers for building silos may never come again, so tell them you can help them protect their investment. As the EPA bans more and more effective pesticides and herbicides due to pressures to clean waterways and due to foreign demands on shipping our agricultural exports, you can help them keep their operations in compliance when inspectors come to harass them. It is extremely important to keep containers free of disease, rates, unwanted micro-organisms and insects and you will be doing the farmers a valuable service indeed. Let all your farmer clients know that you will give them a free estimate on cleaning and containers they have. This will help you and once you prove you can do good work and that you look them in the eyes when you give a firm handshake you will find a whole lot more work where that came from.

Let them know that all of your services are performed with 185 to 210 degree water at 3000 PSI and over 6 gpm and that it will be cleaned correctly, efficiently, cost effectively and on time when they use your services. Think about cleaning farm equipment and infrastructure if you live in a rural area.

Lance Winslow

How Mastering 5 Essential Money Making Ideas Can Lead Your Business To Longterm Cashflow

2009-01-30T23:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Glen Jansen

Essentially there are 5 tremendously powerful methods to make money online. These methods were not always available but have only become available due to the large amount of internet commerce being conducted each and every day online. While it is possible to make money, and lots of it, using other methods, these are in my opinion the best for 3 reasons. First, they are some of the cheapest methods around. Imagine running a business for an entire year where your total cost was less than $1 a day. Secondly, these methods are fast to implement. Some of the methods can have you up and running in hours, if not only a day or two. Lastly, these ideas are simple. When it comes to working online, simpler is better and complex is dead.

The 5 Best Money Making Ideas.

ONE. Making Money the Google Cash Way.
Google Cash is a term coined by Chris Carpenter. In his amazing ebook, he teaches you how to start a profitable advertising business by using Google Adwords to promote products to web searchers on the Google search engine. The strategy is simple. You create ads to attract interested people. When they click on your ad you are charged for that click. The visitor is directed to your site where you can sell them products. The advantage is you get to leverage the Google traffic. You can purchase clicks for as low as 5 cents. Lastly, done properly, you can test dozens of different ads and campaigns allowing you to perfect your selling system.

TWO. Making tons of money selling someone else's stuff.
Affiliate marketing is the manner in which you market a product for someone else, known as the merchant. In return for providing a qualified buyer, the merchant agrees to pay you a commission. The beauty of this type of business is that you can take advantage of hot products, you can easily create a large cash flow by setting up dozens of small income streams promoting hundreds of products. In other words, the business is scalable. Once you learn to make money selling a product for one merchant, you can reproduce that for another. For this to work, the critical step that you need to master is getting traffic. You can use the Google Cash method or start your own site. Getting traffic, either inexpensive or free will be the lifeblood of your business.

THREE. Turn Treasure into Dollars with eBay.
In case this is your first week using the internet, I will briefly explain eBay. They are the world's largest online auction system. People from all over the world, lots of people, using it each and ever day to sell everything from toasters to Hummers. In order to make money on eBay, you research what is selling at the moment, source that product for at great price and then start creating auctions. Of course, that all sounds easy, but the truth is there is a lot of work involved, especially if you have to ship all those products from your house. If you are organized, can research or can use the software to do that research for you, and can negotiate with suppliers than you can really make money with eBay.

FOUR. Drop Ship It.
The thought of storing boxes and boxes of products at your house may have you running away from eBay. Thank goodness there is something called Drop Shipping. A drop shipper is a wholesaler who will sell you their products at near wholesale prices and ship them directly to your customer. World Wide Brands maintains a directory of wholesaler and drop shipping companies giving you access to over 2 million products to sell on eBay. The good news is that once you have access to your own products, you can now use the first three methods to market them. Do you see the power now? Maybe you used the first two methods to market someone else's product. Now you can get a better profit margin by drop shipping your own products using these same methods.

FIVE. Write yourself rich.
The first 4 methods involved selling someone else's products for a commission or profit margin. If you want to make the most money, you have to produce and sell your own products. An exceptional item to sell online is information. In particular, ebooks, software, audio and video products have incredible profit margins. But, you think, you have no writing skills. What are you to do? Easy, hire people to do the work for you. This is an amazing way to leverage the skills of someone else. Pretend you have an idea for a new software program. There are many resource sites where you can hire people to work for you. Depending on your product idea, you can get the software coded for $100, $200, maybe even $300. Then the product is yours to resell. You can keep 100% of the profits. You can do the same thing writing a book. Writing is not that hard. Maybe you produce a newsletter. You could combine your articles into an informational ebook. As with software, you can even hire a ghost writer to do the work for you. Once you have your product, you can enlist the power of a site like Clickbank to help you sell it.

There you have it. The 5 best ways of making money online. It is now up to you to master one or more of these ideas. A great idea is to start with one method and become masterful at it. Next, spread out to another and then another. Next thing you know, you will have streams on income flowing into your business.

Glen Jansen, author of the free ebook "The Best Money Making Ideas" helps internet marketers and budding home business entrepreneurs find 5 of the easiest ways to make money online. Visit http://www.1st-in-earn-extra-income.com for more free information and money earning articles.

Winning The Race To Success The Quotlast Mile Advantagequot

2009-01-30T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Denise Corcoran

Do you know what ***really*** differentiates the winners from the losers in this metaphorical race we call "business success"? Intelligence? Money? Luck? Influence? Is it ...?

These assets can certainly enhance your success. Yet there is still one secret ingredient ... beyond all else ... that can and will determine whether you win or lose in the business world.

Can you guess what it is? You give up?!

The single most powerful ingredient to performance mastery ... the one that above all else separates the Olympic Gold from those who never get to the finish line ... is what I call "The Last Mile Advantage."

===> What is the "Last Mile Advantage?"

It is giving your goal **everything** you got ... and sometimes more ... in that last mile of your race to get to your finish line.

You see it all the time in the Olympics. Hitting the "wall," incurring an injury, falling off track ... yet somehow, somewhere that athlete taps into their inner power to not only finish the race, but to also win it.

As business owners, we are constantly being challenged to find the strength within to get to the finish line at each stage of our business. "The journey of a 1000 miles does begin with the first step," but the true leaps, the true growth, the true breakthroughs happen in the last mile of the race.

Sounds simple yet so few business owners ever really get to the finish line

As a business coach, I have watched literally hundreds of businesses - on the verge of a breakthrough - die, falter or never even get off the ground. They gave up in the last 5% in pursuing their business goals and visions. Getting to the 5 yard line is not good enough in the business world. You must get into the end zone for the touch down.

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COACH'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
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If you want success, you must get brutally honest with yourself. In the last year, what high priority projects, goals or visions you have procrastinated on, put on the back burner or walked away from? If you were to go the "extra mile" ... the last 5% ... to complete one of those goals, how would your business be different?

What step can you take today to get to the finish line?

Denise Corcoran - CEO, The Empowered Business (tm) - assists CEOs, executives and business owners in taking a quantum leap from the ordinary to extraordinary from unrealized dreams to mastering their destiny from slow growth to exponential results. A business & leadership coach, strategic consultant and Master NLP Practioner, Denise's unique "inside out" approach provides deep transformation and lasting change in you, your organization and your results. Her latest e-book: "The Mindset of Greatness: 21 Principles to Becoming an Unstoppable Woman ... Oprah Winfrey Style!" http://www.EmpoweredBusiness.com

Subscribe to her monthly ezine - The Empowered Business (tm) - and learn the legendary secrets of top business achievers. http://www.empoweredbusiness.com/Newsletter_signup.html

Build Your Business Around Your Lifestyle And Increase Your Gross Business Happiness

2009-01-29T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Kevin Riley

Does your business bring you happiness? Is your business built around your lifestyle? Or is your life forced to conform to your business?

Bhutan's King Jigme Singye Wangchuck gained some fame for putting forward the "radical" idea that a country's success should not be measured in terms of its GNP. Instead, he suggested measuring the success of a nation by its GNH -- its Gross National Happiness. He pointed out that if the people are not leading happy, fulfilling lives, it doesn't matter how healthy a country's economy is.

This same notion can easily be applied to your business. If it's not making you happy, it may be time to re-assess the reasons you went into business in the first place.

Why Did You Start Your Business?

Did you start your own business for money or freedom? Did you want to be in full control of your time and your life? What are your priorities?

Maybe you wanted to get away from the rat race of the corporate world. Maybe you pictured yourself free from five days a week in a cramped cubicle, pictured yourself spending more time with your family. You saw yourself choosing your own hours and having time to enjoy your hobbies, travel, sports.

Running a business can either give you that freedom or it can rob you of it. It all depends on how you build your business in the first place. If you set some rules from the beginning, define what you want to do, then build your business around your lifestyle, you will reap a high level of GBH -- Gross Business Happiness.

How To Get Happiness From Your Business

First, decide what you want in your life. Picture your ideal lifestyle. Do you want to spend long vacations in other lands? Do you want to work evenings and have your days free for golf? Do you want to stay at your ski chalet for a month every Spring? Write down exactly what your business will allow you to do ... what kind of lifestyle it will let you lead.

Next, write down what you will or will not do in your business. Do you like meeting customers? Or would you rather keep them on the other side of a computer screen? Do you want to go on business trips? Or are you a happy homebody? Do you want to sell physical products? Or do you want to sell downloadable information products or software ... and avoid the hassles of inventory?

Using a list of rules for your business will also ensure that your business is successful. When your goals for your business reflect the priorities in your life, it is much easier to be disciplined and follow your business plan.

When Your Business Fits Your Lifestyle It Will Flourish

Because your business activities allow for your lifestyle, there is less temptation to sidetrack you from the jobs you need to accomplish. You'll find it much easier to stick to your goals. Since your business doesn't intrude on your life, your life doesn't interfere with your business.

Spend some time building your business around your lifestyle. Build it around your needs and wants, and your business will bring you not only money ... but also happiness.

Kevin Riley is the Mission Leader at Internet Marketing Force (IMF). Build a successful online business that increases your happiness. Apply for your own free Pre-Mission Briefing today, at http://missionmakemoneyonline.com

Tips For Offering Movein Moveout Cleaning Services

2009-01-29T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Steve Hanson

People and businesses are moving from homes, apartments, and offices on a daily basis. As people and businesses move, they either need their old location cleaned or want to make sure their new location is clean before moving in. Your cleaning company can fill this niche by providing what is known as move-in/move-out cleaning. It can be an added service that your cleaning business provides, a way to give employees new skills, and a great way for your company to make more profit!

Move in/out cleaning can be cleaning a building after an old tenant moves out or before a new tenant moves in. The type of clients looking for move in/out cleaning includes residential and commercial property owners and managers. Commercial move in/out cleaning can vary from small, quick jobs of just a few thousand square feet to large office buildings of 15,000 square feet and up.

A good place to start when looking for move in/out cleaning accounts is to contact property management companies. If you happen to be located in a college town there will probably be no shortage of work. If you have been cleaning commercial buildings, your clients will no doubt ask you to provide move in/out cleaning services when they move into a new office or building.

When first starting out with move in/out cleaning it may be necessary to meet with the property manager on-site to give an estimate on the time it will take to clean the apartment, office, or building. Once you establish a relationship with the property manager you may be able to skip doing an estimate and just bill for your time. They will most likely need floor cleaning services too (carpet, tile, wood). These are specialized cleaning services, which you will charge separately for. Offering these specialized services will also add more profitability to your cleaning company since you will charge more for these services.

The prices charged will vary depending on the type of facility you are cleaning, but you should be able to bill $20 - $25 for your services. Apartment buildings tend to be less profitable than commercial buildings because many apartment managers have a budget to adhere to, so they like their cleaning contractors to bill a flat fee because it's easier to stick to their budget. Cleaning contractors need to be cautious about bidding this way. Some apartments take much longer to clean than others so you don't want to lose money because you underestimated your time.

No matter if you are cleaning a residential apartment, home or a commercial building there are several steps you should take to guarantee your success and your customer's satisfaction with your move in/out cleaning services.

· Use teams of 2 to 4 people for apartment cleaning, depending on the size of the apartment. Larger teams may be needed for commercial locations.

Team members should be specialists in the tasks they are performing. For example, in a two person team, one person will be assigned to dusting, windows, and vacuuming. One person will be assigned to bathrooms, kitchens, hard floor vacuuming, and mopping.

The team leader is responsible for making sure that all equipment and supplies are brought to the job site and gathered when the job is complete. Put all tools and chemicals into a plastic tote.

· Before you begin check with the client to make sure the job site has working utilities. You cannot clean without running water and you need electricity to run a vacuum. If it is the middle of the summer, you should make sure the building's air-conditioning is working properly. Cleaning chemicals and drying times can be affected by heat and humidity.

· Begin cleaning by removing all trash. Pick up all trash that is too large to vacuum. You will be able to vacuum more efficiently as you will not have to stop and pick up large objects.

· Use a microfiber flat mop for cleaning ceilings, walls, baseboards, and doors.

· Proper vacuuming is an important step in move in/out cleaning. Using a backpack vacuum with the proper attachments can speed up the tasks at hand and make work easier on the cleaning staff. Remember to vacuum from high to low, including light fixtures, window tracks, blinds, and along the baseboards. It is also much easier to vacuum out cabinets and drawers than wiping them.

Some of these items will need to be wiped down after vacuuming; light fixtures, insides of cabinets and drawers, ceiling vents, heat registers, and blinds.

· Windows and patio doors should be washed with an applicator and squeegee. Use scrapers or #0000 steel wool to remove stickers and bugs. Be sure the window is wet when using these tools or you could scratch the glass. Frames and tracks should be vacuumed and then wiped down.

· After picking up trash and vacuuming, start cleaning the stuck-on grime and dirt. Chemicals to have on hand include: bowl cleaner, fume-free oven cleaner, window cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, degreaser, neutral floor cleaner, stainless steel polish, and furniture polish. Save money by using concentrated chemicals rather than RTU (ready-to-use) chemicals.

Spray spots and make sure you give dwell time so the chemicals have time to work. It is important that you have enough air movement so employees do not breathe in fumes. Make sure that your employees have the correct personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, etc.) when working with chemicals.

· Deep cleaning. If you need to loosen build-up, use the correct cleaning tools - paper towels, terry cloth rags, microfiber cloths, pads, brushes and scrapers. Use caution when using these tools - you don't want to damage surfaces.

. Use paper towels, terry cloth rags, or microfiber cloths for most cleaning tasks. Use a green microfiber cloth for dusting; blue for windows, glass and polished surfaces; red for cleaning restrooms and yellow for countertops, sinks and walls.

. Use hand brushes for scrubbing showers, sinks, stoves, and refrigerators. Use grout brushes for cleaning up grout on countertops and ceramic tile floors. Toothbrushes can be used for detail cleaning around faucets and around the rims in toilet bowls.

. Use white pads for surfaces such as glass, chrome, stainless steel and plastic. This is because white pads are not as abrasive as green pads.

. Green pads are good for greasy areas including cabinets, toilets and scrubbing shower stalls. Be careful when using green pads however, as they can scratch surfaces.

. Use a 2" utility scraper for build-up and adhesives in kitchens and bathrooms.

· Save time by spraying the inside of the refrigerator and showers/tubs with a pump-up sprayer rather than using a spray bottle. When cleaning kitchens, be sure to pull out the stove and refrigerator. Clean the walls, sides of appliances, sides of cabinets, floor, and vacuum the coils. Also clean the oven hood and filters.

· Clean floors last. Use the backpack vacuum to give the floors a final vacuuming, and then mop all hard surface flooring.

Offering move in/out services is one way to start your cleaning business. It also provides a way for an established cleaning company to provide added services to their existing clients while putting extra dollars onto the bottom line.

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com and receive a Free Gift! Read cleaning success stories from owners of cleaning companies at http://www.cleaning-success.com.

Growing Though Emotions

2009-01-28T23:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Casey Gollan

I have found over the years, in my own businesses, and with my clients businesses that there is one big thing that come up and any time to thwart our dreams of successfully growing our business.

Emotions

Yes emotions.

It sounds funny to some people until they are in the situation to experience them.

In Fact, many business owners say to me 'Gee if I could grow my business to make a million a year I'd do it'.

It sounds easy to do.

The reality for most people is - it isn't.

For some reason when you are faced with achieving great success, emotions can come up and disrupt/delay or eliminate your opportunities.

You can have emotions that make you scared of failure.

You can have emotions that make you scared of success.

You can even have emotions that make you both scared of failure and success at the same time.

Let me give you an example of how emotions can disrupt your business growth.

I have worked with many business owners that want to grow their business yet their excuse is 'they're too busy, and that they 'don't have the time'.

They often say to me

Case 'I'd love to grow my business but I'm just too busy. If I had more time, I'd easily grow the business'.

So they start working with me.

We put into place certain things that free up their time so that they can then grow their business.

You know what happens Well, all of a sudden, they can't use the 'I don't have the time' excuse anymore.

And for many business owners it's terrifying.

All of a sudden they have the time, and they know what they HAVE to do to grow their business, but for various reasons they can't bring themselves to do the things they know will grow their business.

So they start creating situations in their business, that will draw them back into the 'day to day' activities of the business and away from 'growing' their business.

They start self-sabotaging their success.

Can you relate to that?

Let me give you some examples

Instead of going out and selling you may look for paperwork to do.

Instead of training your staff you keep yourself busy elsewhere.

Instead of doing your financials you work extra on 'little' things that keep you away from doing your financials.

You may tend to create all different types of diversions

Does this sound familiar?

Well guess what, it's normal and you can swiftly step through it with some help.

I specialize in helping business owners grow through these 'emotions'. I've seen them all before

You see my clients quickly find out that I can help them through this trap I keep them accountable for them doing what it takes for them to grow their business and I don't give in.

Think about it When you're the boss in the business who's there to keep you accountable?

You can put things off and sometimes it can really hurt you.

When you work with me I'm there to help you follow through on growing your business rather than leaving you to sabotaging your growth. It's part of how I've helped many clients add millions to their business in just a few years.

Maybe you could achieve the same results would that be of benefit to you?

Emotions can empower you, or disable you. So being able to grow through your emotions is one of the secrets of business growth.

All the best business owners are able to work their way through these 'emotions'.

And you can too!

It's a key part of growing your business successfully.

In fact just the other day I was talking to one of the best clients I have worked with. He now runs a very, very successful $3 million dollar business. When he came to me, it was just over $1 million.

He said to me "Case now that I look back at all the stupid emotions that I had to deal with when I was growing the business, it amazed me at how much time I wasted.

Wasted on getting through my emotional blocks.

But I realize now that those emotions are what held me back in the first place and that I HAD to work through them to get to where I am now.

I had to become a $3 Million dollar businessman first before I could grow to $3 Million."

And it's true.

Show me a business that is growing, and I bet you a year or so before they experience business growth the business owner went through significant personal growth.

And that's the secret.

All super successful business owners have had exceptional personal growth.

If you are the business owner, for your business to grow. You first must grow.

So focus on growing yourself in areas to enable your business to grow. That's the clue.

Find out what areas you are currently vulnerable in, in terms of both knowledge and skill. Then set about improving them yourself.

And you can do it by yourself, or with the help of other people. Like coaches mentors or even better a business growth specialist.

So today you may want to write yourself a list on the areas in your business that you may be vulnerable in.

For some of you it may be marketing.

For some of you it may be sales

For other it could be understanding financials, recruiting staff, training staff, firing staff, letting go

Whatever it may be for you write down a list.

Then set about improving on these areas so that your skills improve.

Then as your skills improve your fear diminishes.

Simple.

The skill set and the emotions that you have running your business at what ever level it is at right now will be different to the skills and the emotional intelligence you will need to grow your business by another million or a few million.

To control and grow through those emotional blocks some of the things that can help you through are (a) very good self esteem (b) the burning desire to make it through (c) the knowledge and the skill set on how to make it through and (d) the excellent support

When I was at school, the only thing I wanted to do was finish school so that I didn't have to learn or study anymore.

Well as you know and I know now we never stop learning and we never stop studying because if we do we stop growing. And as an achiever I love growing, learning and becoming better

I realize now that the more I learn, the less I know.

So lets look at the best business owners and how they manage their 'emotions' so that they can grow their business.

Great business owners have a tendency to take 'risks'. Well to the person on the street may call it a 'risk' but to the business owner it's more of a 'knowing' an intuitive gamble that what they think will work will work.

So armed with a great self esteem and desire they go about learning how to do it. They study, research the topic and do what it takes to get the job done.

And they make sure they have support.

They surround themselves with great people that enhance their ability to 'know' what to do to grow their business.

Every successful businessman will tell you how important great people are to them. They insist on having excellent staff. If they don't fit the mold, they do work in the company.

They insist on having the best accountants, the best lawyers and the best consultants they can find to help them grow their business.

You see it's crucial to have someone there that can explain exactly what you're going through and most importantly tell you what the next steps are to take so that you can 'make it through' safely and successfully.

Working with an excellent Growth Specialist will help you see the path you have to walk. Because sometimes business owners can get trapped in the business and may not be able to see there way out. A great specialist will help you out.

And they'll help you out quickly and safely.

Much like if you wanted to climb Mt Everest. You'd get a Sherper to help guide you up the mountain, showing you the steps to take.

So by learning how to do it and getting great support you can overcome the emotions of growth.

It's the seventh secret of business growth growing through emotions.

Business Coach, Mentor And Growth Specialist
Casey Gollan, Business Coach, Mentor And Growth Specialist. Grows $1 Million p.a. Small Businesses Into $2 to $5 Million p.a. Businesses Over a 2 to 3 Year Period.

Office Furniture That Changes The Look Of Your Office

2009-01-28T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Maheshinder Singh

Office furniture is used everyday. A successful business makes cautious decisions in business practice. Everything should be selected carefully whether it is office stationery, office furniture or other equipments. Office furniture defines the personality of your business and plays a vital role in its overall functioning. The selection of office furniture is very important decision for its success.

There are numerous suppliers of office furniture that provides a vast variety of well-designed furniture at proper prices. The successful business firms take enough time to choose right office furniture. There are different cabins or rooms in an office and for each and every room some type of furniture is needed.

Each and every business firm should have its needs, budgets and objectives. The type or selection of office furniture will depend upon the type of company. For e.g. a computer center needs rolling chairs, computer tables etc but a business firm may consist of different rooms, cabins and reception. Every room needs different furniture like computer table and rolling chairs for cabins and large sofas, tables for reception.

Don't take such decisions in hurry, especially when you have a wide variety of options to decide from. The main thing is to find the best company that provides different options at the cheapest rates. The company having proper knowledge about your layout and objectives can help you to choose the office furniture that is right for you.

There are numerous companies providing quality discount office furniture. You can also find such companies online that provide their best services on best prices.

Author presents a website on office furniture. This website provides information about importance of office stationery and how to select furniture for your office. You can get more information about discount office furnitures from his site.

Starting A Small Business Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

2009-01-27T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Kevin Dwyer

What motivates anyone to start a small business? You are usually alone, without a lot of start up cash (hardly ever enough), without the full range of skills to make the business work and most often without sufficient knowledge of the market you are about to enter.

Despite all of these barriers to setting off in a small business we set sail, like a ship without adequate navigation, in search of something we want.

It is the nature of what we want that drives our motivation. If the nature of what we want is to earn a little money to supplement our existing income or indeed to provide our only income then most people can start a small business and meet their measure of success.

It is when our want becomes something more, perhaps to provide for our children an education and a chance for a better life than we had that the measure of success becomes more difficult to attain.

When we want to change a small piece of the world to make something better than it was and to earn money by doing so then the stakes on achieving our measures of success are raised a further notch.

In any of the three aspiration examples, starting a small business and being successful at it almost always requires of us to leave our comfort zone.

In large organisations, people are able to pretty much decide whether they want to or do not want to leave their comfort zone. Large organisations usually have enough resources to provide another person to cover for others wanting to stay in their comfort zone. The comfort zone is often technical or personal skills.

Whilst I could argue that this is inefficient in a large organisation, in a small organisation it is often fatal.

Comfort zones come in many guises in small business.

If the motivation for starting a small business is somehow related to our knowledge of a particular industry, technology or methodology we will be starting a business where what people exchange their money for is our personal skills and knowledge. This is most often how small businesses start.

The problem with starting a business this way is that to grow the business we need to create clones of ourselves or work sixteen hours a day or hire someone who has the same skills and knowledge that we do.

My observation of small businesses caught in this trap of wanting to expand their business but having limited availability of the saleable resource i.e. themselves, is that the founder cannot let go.

They do become locked in a comfort zone of control where everything that is done is controlled for quality, timing, quantity and recording by the principal. To actually free up time to grow the business, the principal needs to hire someone to take on a role and manages their performance using coaching techniques instead of micromanagement.

Small businesses set up with a clear view of what will generate income sometimes are disappointed with what customers actually value. It is easy to mistake value in our terms for what customers will really value.

Letting go of what you think will make money immediately takes small business people out of their comfort zone into a new market, a new product and sometimes a point where they are not the source of the skills and knowledge that provide the income opportunity.

Small businesses which rely on marketing to generate sales and do not have the funds to extensively research opportunities or communicate their goods and services will have to learn to network and use electronic means of reaching their prospect base.

Some people find networking easy. They are gregarious by nature and are the centre of attention whenever they enter a room. The rest of us find it a bit of a problem. This may be because small talk is not our thing or because we do not want to be seen to be "selling" all the time.

The desire not to "sell" all the time is natural and is part of the answer to getting out of this comfort zone. Selling is not what it is about. What networking is about is having many conversations with many people about problems, issues and opportunities. The act of having conversations will naturally deliver opportunities. It is not necessary and not advantageous to have a sales pitch ready for every occasion.

Small business owners need to continually focus on what they want to achieve by starting a small business. They must use their social skills, their insight and develop a clear perception of themselves in the community in which they operate to navigate through a sea of self learning to be successful.

Otherwise, their comfort zone will become a safe harbour of underachievement.

Kevin Dwyer is Director of Change Factory. Change Factory helps organisations who do do not like their business outcomes to get better outcomes by changing people's behaviour. Businesses we help have greater clarity of purpose and ability to achieve their desired business outcomes. To learn more visit http://www.changefactory.com.au or email kevin.dwyer@changefactory.com.au

To see more articles visit http://www.changefactory.com.au

Deciding On A Merchant Card Processor

2009-01-26T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Stephanie Chandler

If your business isn't accepting credit cards, there is a good chance that it should be. More and more people are taking advantage of the convenience of ATM and credit cards. The credit card companies continue to find innovative ways to improve convenience such as offering key-chain sized cards, mileage credits and cash back bonuses. As a result, consumers have less incentive to pay with cash or checks.

Some business owners find it difficult to accept the idea of giving away a percentage of each sale, which is what you have to do when you process a sale on a credit card. Each merchant processor has different rates in fees but in general you will have to pay a monthly fee for the processing terminal, along with a fee for each transaction. But these fees equate to the cost of doing business and offering the convenience of paying by credit card can potentially improve your cash flow.

Benefits of Accepting Credit Cards

*In most cases, the merchant processor will automatically deposit money collected directly into your checking account each night which equates to improved cash flow and fewer trips to the bank to make deposits.

*Your average transaction could actually increase since credit cards make it easier for consumers to spend more at checkout. If they aren't carrying enough cash or don't have enough cash in their checking account, a credit card makes it easier to spend.

*If your competitors are accepting credit cards, you could be losing sales if you aren't offering the same service.

*If you are worried that the transaction fees will negatively affect your bottom line, you could increase your prices slightly or offer an incentive discount for those who pay cash.

*Add-on services such as the ability to verify checks or sell gift cards can also improve your business. Offering gift cards can be very lucrative for all kinds of businesses and most processors offer these on their menu of services.

Locating Merchant Card Processors

It seems that everyone is selling merchant card systems these days. I've been processing cards for several years at my bookstore and not a week goes by without a visit from a sales person. Merchant card sales people are compensated not only for getting your initial business, but most are paid commission (a small percentage) for every transaction you process. It's no wonder these sales people are so aggressive!

Locating a reputable processor and finding the best rates can seem overwhelming, but it's worth a little time to investigate your options. Here are some places to look first:

*The bank where you do your business banking. This can be a good option, though not all banks will offer merchant services to brand new businesses. If you have been in business for less than a year, your bank may not be willing to help you until you are more established. Don't take it personally; it's standard practice.

*Trade associations. If you belong to your local Chamber of Commerce or any industry-specific trade association, check to see if they have negotiated rates with a merchant processor.

*Referrals from peers. If you know people in business in your general area, ask them who they use and if they are satisfied with the service.

*Apply for a business license. When you get your business license, you will likely end up on mailing lists and will receive enough offers to make your head spin.

Interviewing Processing Services

It's a good idea to get quotes and compare rates from several companies. Here are some questions you should ask:

*What is the transaction fee and percentage for credit card purchases? Be sure to get specific rates for each kind of card including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. Each may have different rates.

*What is the transaction fee and percentage for debit card purchases?

*What is the monthly lease fee on the equipment?

*What would it cost to purchase the equipment out-right?

*Are there additional monthly fees?

*Can the system be programmed to automatically settle transactions each evening?

*How often will deposits be made into my checking account?

*How long is the contract term? Many will try to lock you in for 3-5 years. This is one point where you can negotiate a shorter term.

*Why would I choose your company as my merchant services provider over the competition?

*How long have you been in business?

*What kind of customer service do you provide and what are your hours of operation?

*Can I process cards manually in the event of a power outage?

*You might also want to ask about gift cards and check processing if this is relative to your business. If you operate a website, also inquire about online processing.

Compare the answers from several providers side by side. The fees for these services can vary greatly so it would be in your best interest to interview a variety of companies before you make a decision. I'm a big believer in gut instinct so if you have any doubt about a company, move on to the next. There are many companies offering merchant services so you should have plenty of options.

Also ask for a sample contract. This gives you the opportunity to review the company's basic policies before you decide to sign on the dotted line. And keep in mind that everything is negotiable. If one company offers you better rates or terms than the next, you can use that as leverage to negotiate a better deal.

The bottom line is that you want to find the best offerone that will improve your business. Don't be bullied by pushy sales people. Be prepared to negotiate and ask tough questions. Soon your sales could be soaring and your only regret could be that you didn't implement card processing sooner.

Stephanie Chandler is the author of "The Business Startup Stephanie Chandler is the author of "The Business Startup Checklist and Planning Guide" (Aventine) and "From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money with Books, E-books and Information Products" (Wiley, Dec. 2006). Visit http://www.BusinessInfoGuide.com to access hundreds of resources for entrepreneurs.

The Secret Of Consistent Communication Systems Processes And Automation

2009-01-26T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Bill Gluth

The # 1 reason your business may not have the sales you would like is because you aren't doing enough business with existing clients. The # 2 reason is you are probably not communicating with prospects in a way they can hear your message.

It's expensive to attract and sell someone new, but it only takes a fraction of that cost to continue doing business with an existing client. Without a balance between existing and new clients however, revenue results will be dismal.

In the best case marketing attracts our ideal client. It can also attract an existing client by helping them understand how they can use our services again to reach a goal or solve a current problem that challenges them.

All it takes is consistent communication. What do you talk about? Communicate your expertise in business. Share a tip, provide a new idea or offer free information. You can easily do this from your web site.

Automation is the key that keeps communication consistent.

Start by sharing your expertise in the form of a PDF report that can be easily downloaded. Then your visitor simply follows simple instructions on your site, saves the file to their desktop and they are on their way to understanding more about your work and business. You've also provided them with a way to share your business with people they know.

Your cost to provide this idea is effort. Cost to the web site visitor, new prospect or existing client; no cost at all, just great value.

Provide your clients and prospects with a convenient way to opt-in to your list for a weekly or monthly communication about your topic. Commit to sending information at least monthly. Of course, more often is desirable.

This is most easily done by auto responder. Companies like AWeber, Constant Contact, Vertical Response and many others provide this service for a very reasonable cost per month.

Automate your communication efforts by using one of these services and you are well on your way to communication efficiency in a minimal amount of time.

Structure your communication for maximum effect.

How do you write about what you know? You need a process to uncover how your knowledge has value to others. Start by writing down four hot issues in your business that your clients care about.

In my business it's marketing efficiency, consistent communication, sales process development and standing out from the crowd in highly competitive markets.

Here's how to start sharing your expertise today.

Write down the four key issues in your business. Make sure these points address a challenge or concern your client cares about.

Pick the most important (from your clients view) and write down 6 to 8 sub points. The sub points will be advice you would give your client if you were talking to them one-to-one.

Now, just add detail to your sub points and you have a communication that addresses an issue your client is concerned about.

Remember to "talk" to your clients (first person) and do not write to them (stiff, formal, proper English) when you're developing your communication.

From there just commit to a timeline, decide on the automation tool you'll use and communicate every week, every other week or monthly at minimum.

This is a vital business building step. If you aren't able to do it on your own, get help.

Bill Gluth is a commercial writer and creative marketing strategist.

He specializes in answering the question that is on the mind of every person in business today, "What is unique about my business and how can I communicate that difference consistently and effectively?"

Bill provides focused words that are designed to sell; enhancing any sales and marketing program. From lead generation to client relationship management, Bill will help your business communicate effectively so that you will stands out from the crowd in any industry.

Find out more about Bill Gluth's Small Commercial Writing and Marketing Strategy Services by visiting http://www.creatingwordsthatsell.com

Starting A Carpet Cleaning Business

2009-01-25T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jason Gluckman

One of the advantages of starting a carpet cleaning business is that you don't need a lot of money to get started. You can rent the carpet cleaning equipment and use the vehicle you own to travel from job to job. You can also buy your cleaning supplies wholesale in bulk supplies. It is safe to say that you will only need around $1,000 to get started.

However, you do have to do a bit of math before you get started so that you don't go overboard renting or buying the equipment and supplies that you will need. Try to estimate the number of jobs you will take on to start your business and estimate the number of carpets you anticipate cleaning. Figure out what you will charge each customer per hour or per room. If you charge by the room, figure on a minimum number of rooms that you will require before you take on the job. Also figure what you anticipate making the first year you are in business. If you anticipate an income of $40, 000, you must budget your expenses accordingly.

You must also consider ways to advertise your business. Obviously, if you are trying to start out on a shoestring budget, you can't spend thousands of dollars of newspaper ads or media promotions. However, you can make flyers and place them around your community in high traffic places like supermarkets, malls and Laundromats. You can also make business cards and hand them out to family and friends who can help you spread the word. It's a known fact that word-of-mouth advertising is very effective and will produce business. You can also look for local papers that place free ads in their classified sections. There are also Internet sites that will allow you to advertise for free (or for a small fee). Before you get started, you must also check on the laws in your community that apply to starting a small business. You may be required to have a license in your area or some kind of permit. You may also need to be bonded in case of any mishaps that might occur. It might be wise to seek legal advice about any requirements you might need to fulfill before starting your business.

Carpet Cleaning provides detailed information on carpet cleaning, carpet cleaning supplies, carpet cleaning machines, carpet cleaning equipment and more. Carpet Cleaning is affiliated with Berber Carpets.

Financing Options For The Trucking Industry

2009-01-24T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Marco Terry

If you own a trucking company, you know that it can be a very profitable business. However, you also know that trucking companies are very cash hungry. You need money to pay for the equipment, to pay your drivers and for fuel. The challenge comes from the fact that freight bills can take up to 60 days to get paid. Unless you have a lot of cash in the bank, this can be a problem.

Speaking of banks, going to your banker for a business loan or line of credit will not help much either. Bankers will only lend money to companies that have a lot of assets, have been in business for three years and can provide audited financial statements. Of course, if you had lots of assets you wouldn't need a banker.

So, what are your options?

Freight bill factoring, also known as freight factoring, can provide you with immediate financing for your slow paying freight bills. So, if you have quite a few invoices that are paying slowly, factoring can help you.

The factoring arrangement is very simple. The factoring company advances a large portion of the money owed for your freight bills the moment you invoice your customer. They wait to get paid while you get immediate use of the money.

As opposed to bank financing, freight bill factoring is easy to qualify for and available to small and large trucking companies alike. Most factoring companies have two main requirements. The first one is that you work with reliable clients and freight brokers. The second one is that your firm has at least two trucks. It's easier than a bank, isn't it?

If you own a trucking company that is growing, be sure to consider freight factoring.

About Commercial Capital LLC We can provide your trucking company with freight bill factoring, freight factoring and business financing. Marco Terry can be reached at (866) 730 1922

Small Business Survival In Business Cycle

2009-01-23T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

Small businesses have it rough in America, as they do not have the huge lobbying monies that large corporations do. When the economy gets tight, large companies reign in credit and slow their out going payments. If you own a small business with corporate accounts this means they string you out as long as possible and you will notice invoices conveniently lost and checks 180 days out? Basically you become a bank for the big corporations, isn't that the silliest underhanded bunch of bull you ever heard? They slow your checks down when you need them the most. More than one small business owner has said to me; "Those Bastards!"

When we are in an up business cycle the corporations suck up all the labor, making it tough to get good help and when the business cycle goes South, all of a sudden the Corporations start laying off all those folks they promised all these great benefits to, that the little guy could not compete with. Interesting that the corporations are now not honoring such promises and reneging on their pension contributions, after preventing you from recruiting the labor you needed in your small business. You know damn well if you did something like that, they would throw you ass in jail. If you are a small business you need to plan for those slow downs in the business cycle to survive. It is a rough world out there and you need to face reality. So, consider all this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

How To Make Your Business Image Stand Out Above The Crowd

2009-01-22T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Abe Cherian

Traditional advertising methods are still being used for almost 90% of businesses today. The number one problem with this, is that all everyone else seems to be following the same old methods.

No matter how expensive, does your advertising look and sound like a lot of other advertising? If you take a look at your business card design, flyer design, brochures, letterheads, web page design and any other methods you are doing, you'll probably find some very familiar pattern to looking like your competition.

Just because "everyone else" believes that the traditional method of image advertising is the way to get business does not mean that it is the only way...or the best way. Thousands of people go out of business, or miss a lot of business, because of "traditional" thinking. Don't fall into the trap of being an advertising look a like.

If you follow everybody else, you'll likely end up being like 90% of the people in business on your way out or, at best, making a medium income. There are two things your marketing should do for your business

1) It gets the response that you want - it gets people to respond to you.

2) It lets you provide good products or services to your customers that you do get, so that you are making an above average income and get enjoyment out of your ongoing successful business. A business that started and runs with marketing that appeals to what people really do want, instead of what you think they should want.

In order for you and your business to become a success, being different is something you're going to have to accept. Sometimes being different means that other business people will not like you, or will think you are not appealing or think other things about you that you don't want them to think. But again, the reality of this is, who are you trying to impress? Are you trying to impress your peers, or are you trying to get and help customers who need your product or service?

Think about this hard, because if you are really scared about being different, this might not be the system for you. But, then again, being different doesn't mean being sleazy, obnoxious, unethical or illegal. It just means different.

Sometimes the old tradition, especially in industries that are tired and steeped in tradition, think being different with being unethical or illegal. That's far from the truth.

We all know that being different simply means different. And hopefully, you'll see this as a part of becoming a success or more successful as time moves on with your business operations.

The reality is that you have no image, and no one thinks about you until they have a reason to. Being worried about what others think is a waste of energy and time. Spend your time worrying about what your prospects who are interested in what you have to offer think.

They're the ones who are going to buy from you and they're the only people you should be concerned with. If your peers or others don't like what you're doing, that's their problem, not yours.

This change of attitude is a challenge, but very necessary especially when focusing on what is important. This type of thinking and rationalizing only matters what your prospects think is important. It doesn't matter what I think, or what your competition thinks. As long as your prospects and customers are happy, then you should be happy!

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as the byline is included and the article is included in it's entirety. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to: support@multiplestreammktg.com

Abe Cherian is the founder of Multiple Stream Media, a leading performance-based Internet advertising company dedicated in helping small businesses create online presence, brand recognition and online automation. Main company web site: http://www.multiplestreammktg.com

Competition Customer Value Success How Can You Use The Theory Of Change

2009-01-21T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Adrian Pepper

When you look in the directory for a plumber, used car outlet or telephone shop, there are lots of them, some doing well and others not so well. Each has similar components in their business but some firms out-compete. Have you wondered why?

Why do customers buy?

The first part of staying in business is knowing how you add value. If you do not offer your customers what they want, they will not buy. If you offer a product or service that takes pain out of their lives or improves their enjoyment of life, they will queue to buy from you.

Why do customers move?

Some customers will always try out a new shop, restaurant or service provider they like trying new experiences. Apart from this "random sampling" behaviour, customers rarely move unless you offer excess value that your competitors cannot copy or erode. Recognising what you do better, quicker and more effectively is the key to advertising yourself to those who have not tried you yet.

How do customers value you?

The third element is to know why customers stay with you loyally. In my experience, the only way to find out is to ask them and listen to their reasons. One house decorator I know is valued because he leaves customers' rooms cleaner after he has finished than they were before. Often when you ask this value question, you can also ask for a referral to friends of your customer who might also value the same aspect of your service or product.

What is your theory of change?

So the theory of change for your business asserts the difference that you make to the lives of your customers and clients. Try sketching out what this might be for your business and test your guesses with your business colleagues, collaborators and partners. Then take time to talk to sample customers and listen to their answers then you will know how to be more successful.

Adrian Pepper coaches people through business and personal difficulties, helping companies figure out what to do, how to move forward and what to get organised. You can contact him through Help4You Ltd, through his website at www.help4you.ltd.uk or by phone +44-7773-380133. At feeds.feedburner.com/help4you, you can listen to his podcast for small businesses.

Make More Money In Your Business Inject Some Fun

2009-01-20T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Wendy Hearn

The word fun doesn't belong in the same sentence as business and money, or does it? Well, although they don't often appear together, they need to, as fun is an important part of a business and therefore the profits produced. Too often, the striving to improve and grow your business, along with increasing the profits or even just making some money, means that fun is left on the backburner. Yet injecting fun into your business is one of the ways to increase profits. Not only does it increase profits, it makes the day-to-day running of your business easier and more enjoyable. We all want that, don't we?

Fun holds a different meaning for each of us as individuals, and in the world of business, I'm not suggesting that it means messing around and being silly so that your unprofessional. It is more about injecting a fun approach, and incorporating this fun and lighthearted approach into everything you do. So, what difference can taking a fun approach make? Well, it makes you more productive and less stressed. The culture and atmosphere of fun makes communication much easier. Take a minute now and think back to a time when your business was fun. I'm sure you found it easier to work, stayed motivated longer, and when problems arose you found it much easier to overcome them.

I've found that more people take a fun and lighthearted approach when they first start their business. But as time goes on, and the humdrum routine tasks need to be carried out and problems arose, the fun disappeared. So, perhaps now is the time, particularly if you're facing a lot of problems or want to grow your business and increase profits, to put some fun back into it.

There are many ways to put fun back into your business and the first step is choosing to be someone who has fun in their business. Once you've made this choice then you're free to discover what doing things in a fun way means for you. Now being fun is different for each of us as individuals, and may include setting outrageous goals that challenge us, adding some fun music or humour to the tasks that can sometimes be boring, and celebrating the successes. Too often when we've worked hard on a project or to achieve a goal, its the celebrating part of it that falls short. Of course there's many more ways to be fun and its your mission to find these. Some ideas are the humorous sticker to go on your computer, reminding you to 'just do it' as Nike says. Or a colourful wall chart with your goals laid out and blocks coloured in as you achieve them. And the smiley face just to remind you to smile when you're talking on the phone.

Often putting the fun back into your business is just the little things and it doesn't have to be the big day out, although they can be beneficial. So, I invite you to have a think about how you can put some fun back into your business. Perhaps brainstorm with friends or business colleagues. Even spend some time finding out from your clients how you can make their interactions with your business more enjoyable. You'll learn a lot from them along they way too. Achieving your goals and increasing your business profits is going to happen when you're more productive, relaxed and enthusiastic. Bringing some fun back into your business gives you this.

Wendy works with business owners to be more effective and successful, achieving a more profitable business in less time. Click through to her site http://www.business-personal-coaching.com and read more of Wendy's articles and about how business coaching can take your business to the next level.

Learn The Secrets To Help You Get Paid For Surveys Right Now

2009-01-19T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Dane J Stanton

Paid Surveys are a hugely popular means to earning a few extra bucks on the side. But how do you get paid for surveys? Well the first step is to get invited into a survey or focus group. Focus groups are a group of people who are invited to take part in a short session to discuss whatever topic is being talked about and they generally pay better than paid surveys. So if you want to get paid for surveys, you have to first find out a way to be invited to take part ahead of all the other applicants. So what can I do to ensure i get invited in so i can start to get paid for surveys?

Free Paid Survey directories

The first option you could take to get paid for surveys, would be searching for all the best free paid surveys listings on the internet. Just do what everyone else does and search on Google or yahoo for "free paid surveys". This should bring up a fair few results and it should take you sometime to apply to each one of these sites. Generally the sites that you find, will already be flooded with applicants, however you want to give yourself a chance to take part in as many paid surveys as possible, so make sure you do this first.

Join a Paid Survey Directory

If you want to give yourself the best chance to get paid for surveys, than joining as a member at one of the many paid survey directories on the internet will do this for you. When you become a member at one of these sites, you will be revealed to a myriad of potential paid survey providers, depending on the amount of listings in their database. Make sure you first check to see the size of their listing before you join up.

These sites also provide information on each of their listings and also rank each site from the best to the worst paid survey site. They are generally quite cheap to join and you are more than likely going to make the cost of your membership up within the first week anyway. The question you have to ask yourself is "do I want to start to get paid for surveys right now?" because if you do than joining one of these sites is going to give you the best opportunity to do so, as well as save you a great deal of time in the process.

If you want to learn more about Paid Surveys including free information, reviews and much more, or you want to join our free weekly newsletter then please visit paid surveys (Recommended) or for more free articles all about paid surveys visit Paid Survey Blog

Without Market Research You Could Find Yourself Fishing In An Empty Pond

2009-01-18T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Tim Knox

I've never been much of a fisherman. Sitting in a small boat for hours watching a red and white bobber float atop the water holds about as much interest for me as watching paint dry. My old man, on the other hand, would have rather fished than breathe. In fact, his favorite Bible quote was: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and he'll sit in the boat and drink beer with you for life." Needless to say, my old man wasn't much of a Bible scholar, but he was one heck of a fisherman.

The few times that I went fishing with him as a young boy (before I was old enough to know better) he'd bait my hook with a worm he'd dug up from our garden and drop it in the water and tell me to watch the bobber until a fish pulled it under the surface. The moment I saw the bobber go under I was to jerk the line and reel the fish in. I can remember staring at that bobber until my eyes crossed and never, not once, did it ever go under the surface. I am probably the only male child ever born in the great state of Alabama who never caught a single fish. It is but one of the disappointments my ancestors have endured on my account, I assure you.

My old man's bobber, on the other hand, would be jerked under the water within minutes of being tossed in. He'd be catching fish left and right and I'd be sitting there like some angler savant just staring at my bobber and wishing I was old enough to cuss out loud.

I discovered a few years later that the reason he caught all the fish was that he baited his hook with live worms while hanging the dead ones on mine. His worm would wiggle seductively to attract every fish within a two mile radius while mine couldn't even get the attention of a starving turtle if it had swam directly into my hook.

I'm sure I suffered some permanent psychological damage as a result of his actions, but we all have our scars to bear. Mine just happens to be in the shape of a hook with a dead worm hanging from it. The memory has been filed away deep in my psyche in a drawer labeled, "Gee, thanks dad." It's a drawer I'm sure we all have, mine is probably just a little fuller than most.

While he could have used a few lessons on child rearing, the old man was an expert in one thing that we entrepreneurs often botch or ignore and that is market research. He didn't call it that, of course. He said, "Son, never fish in a dry hole." Let me translate that tidbit of Forrest Gump advice: don't try to sell a product in a market where there are no buyers. If there are no buyers, there is no market. You can have the greatest product in the world, but if there is no market for your product you might as well pack it up and go dig worms.

Over the years he had surveyed every inch of that lake and as a result knew his market well. Through much research he knew exactly where the best customers, i.e. the hungry fish, were in the lake. And that's where he anchored his boat; smack dab in the middle of his own starving niche market.

Having found his hungry market he tested products to sell into it. He tried crickets, dough balls, lures, worms, and who knows what else, to determine the kind of bait the fish liked best. In the internet marketing business we call it split testing: offering customers variations of a theme to see which one brings the greatest response. In his case worms were the product that his market liked best.

He also knew his customers well. He knew that if they liked the product they'd be quick to bite. He knew without flinching exactly how to react when they nibbled the bait. He didn't jerk the line because he knew that might let his customer get away. He tugged it gently until he had his fish hooked, then he'd reel them in and close the deal.

And being the consummate fisherman cum entrepreneur he always took his best customers to dinner, literally. What the old man knew was that in fishing, as in business, you succeed by giving customers (be they human or be they fish) what THEY are hungry for, what THEY want or need; not by trying to catch them with the bait or sell them products YOU think they should have.

Sometimes we entrepreneurs think we're smarter than our customers (OK, sometimes we are). We think that they will buy whatever we put in front of them if we just do a really good job of selling it. I've actually heard some arrogant entrepreneurs say just that, "They'll buy what I have to sell or they can take their business elsewhere." That line of thinking guarantees that you will spend most of your time watching bobbers that never get pulled under.

It's when we take our customer's wants and needs for granted that we fail as entrepreneurs and our lines sit in the water undisturbed. The problem often comes when entrepreneurs put the cart before the horse. They will create a product or service for which there is no market. They fail to survey the pond for hungry fish. Instead they grab the bait they think will work and off they go. Usually they come back empty handed. It happens to entrepreneurs and fishermen all the time.

What can you do to help ensure that the pond you're considering is full of hungry fish? That's a topic we'll discuss next time. Keep watching that bobber now, you hear.

Here's to your success!

Tim Knox

Tim Knox
Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker
Tim Knox is a nationally-known small business expert who writes and speaks frequently on the topic. For more information or to contact Tim please visit one of his sites below.
http://www.dropshipwholesale.net
http://www.smallbusinessqa.com
http://www.timknox.com

Internships Good For Everyone

2009-01-17T23:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Andrew E. Schwartz

Many job applicants want a job but often do not have the prerequisite experience, experience that they can only have by getting a job. Managers who take the chance and hire them may have to spend considerable time and effort training them, only to find the new recruits unsuitable or unhappy with the jobs and looking for employment elsewhere. One way around this problem for many organizations is an internship program. For professionals in career transition as well as students and recent graduates, such programs provide working experience that otherwise would never be supplied to someone interested in a specific field.

The value of offering student internships, the most common form of internships is broad and varied. From the student's viewpoint an internship offers the opportunity to explore career fields before committing to a major or graduate program and to strengthen skills and abilities. For those students who have a clear view of their future path, an internship provides the vehicle for increasing their possibilities of employment in their chosen field by building professional confidence, making contacts in their eventual field of endeavor, and bridging the resume gap between objectives and realities.

Fortunately for aspiring students, an internship program has real value for the many organizations and educational institutions that carry on internships on a regular basis. Interns contribute their energy, enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity to situations that are often in need of a fresh perspective. Many interns, through hobbies, talents and non-formal training, have bona fide knowledge and technical expertise in an area that they are more than eager to apply in the real world. They are ideally suited to take on special projects that a full time-staffer cannot be spared for, or to implement short-term projects for which it would not be cost-effective to permanently staff.

Copyright AE Schwartz & Associates All rights reserved. For a free site to look for interns seeking internships: Internships4You and for a Free listing as a Trainer, Consultant, Speaker, Vendor/Organization: TrainingConsortium

CEO, A.E. Schwartz & Associates, Boston, MA., a comprehensive organization which offers over 40 skills based management training programs. Mr. Schwartz conducts over 150 programs annually for clients in industry, research, technology, government, Fortune 100/500 companies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. He is often found at conferences as a key note presenter and/or facilitator. His style is fast-paced, participatory, practical, and humorous. He has authored over 65 books and products, and taught/lectured at over a dozen colleges and universities throughout the United States.

No Cio Big Problem

2009-01-17T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Ron Maddox

You run a small business, which you have built with the resources you have garnered over time. Precious capital is leveraged as investment dollars to maintain and upgrade your business processes. And you have IT! IT is usually involved in business processes ranging from finance, payroll, HR, POS systems, inventory control, procurement, and so on The typical small business owner does not have expertise across these domains and usually outsource most. Still, the small business IT department will continue to grow over time. It is a natural phenomena, like hurricanes.

First, desktops are everywhere. Then you own a server! SERVER! As one of my clients remarked, I own a server! He was not sure why, but he owned one. One became three and he needed a computer room. And more importantly, he got stuck with of the total cost of ownership of that growing IT infrastructure with no concept of Return on Investment (ROI) or the true beneficial or negative impact of that IT spend on the overall performance of his business processes.

It is a common story for small and large corporations alike. Fortune 500 companies are struggling to get a business handle on their IT situation and the usual answer is clamping down the IT bleed with strict ROI analysis and central governance control over their growing IT budgets.

Small companies that do not have a legitimate CIO to spearhead these control efforts is at a distinct disadvantage. A CIO first "learns" the specific business processes that are in place. Then he takes a hard look at the hardware and application landscape. Is it operating under a coherent architecture? How does the architecture map to existing business processes? Is there a strategic action plan for the company? Does the architecture roadmap align with the strategic objectives? Next, the really hard part, governance. The CIO should establish governance and controls at the architecture level that will ensure alignment of the IT roadmap with the strategic direction of the company.

Now we get down to the margins, which is reducing the IT spend and the associated growth in yearly IT spend. ROI as a concept is taught to the IT managers. Bleeds of investment capital not directly related to supporting ongoing operations, the IT roadmap or the strategic plan arrives DOA on the CIO's desk.

In truth, not many small organizations with fewer than 500 people actually know what the total spend on IT is and what the ROI on that spend nets out as. The hidden costs of IT are rarely brought together in one spreadsheet and evaluated against business processes.

What can be done? Shop for a CIO that can perform the tasks described above. Give him goals. Step back! A CIO needs to be half business man, and half technocrat. A foot in both worlds! Only then can your precious investment and operations dollars be leveraged effectively and your new focused IT can start to help drive your strategic goal.

View http://www.yorkwebtek.com for more information concerning leveraging IT for your business. http://www.crazytowndeals.com is an example of a complex client facing web site that has more than 4 times the code behind the scenes that supports the site operations.

Forming An Scorporation

2009-01-16T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Joey Thompson

An S corporation is a corporation that has obtained an additional status at the IRS. There are restrictions as to who may file as an S Corporation.

It must be a domestic company
S corporations cannot have more than 100 shareholders
None of the shareholders can be nonresident aliens
Only one class of stock can be issued by the business
The business cannot be any of the following: a bank or thrift institution, insurance company, a domestic international sales corporation, or a possessions corporation
The tax year for the business has a natural business year, and a ownership tax year.
All shareholders must agree to the S Corporation structure formation.
Profits and losses must be allocated to shareholders proportionately to each one's interest in the business.

Advantages to forming S Corporations

Corporations that have obtained S Corporation status can avoid the double taxation (once to the shareholders and again to the corporation) that regular corporations face.

Similar to a C corporation (regular corporation)?

S corporations also provide you with liability protection. Liability protection refers to the separation between yourself and the business, so that you as an individual are not held responsible. For example if the business is sued your personal assets would not be in danger.

However, S corporations are still required to maintain of the same record keeping requirements corporations must follow.

When forming a new business there are many options to choose from, make sure you speak to a professional in regard to finding out what is best for your business.

Form an S Corporation
Learn more about S Corporations

It Consulting Search For Sweet Spot Clients

2009-01-15T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Joshua Feinberg

There are some clues that will tell you if a prospect will make a good sweet spot client for your IT consulting business. In this article, learn some of the tip-offs that a prospect is a good fit.

Does the Company Have a Website?

A prospect's website is important because you can search for it. Go to Google and put in the name of the town where you are, your zip code, your postal code area codes, prefixes and get a list of businesses in your area. Start to look around for potential clients for IT consulting.

Can You Meet The Leaders of the Company?

If you look on their company information or about page, you may decide they are a good prospect for your IT consulting business. Does the company belong to a local or regional Chamber of Commerce organization? You can join the organization to meet with them or go as a guest to some of them.

Make sure, though, you know the right way to get the most out of your time and financial investments for networking expenses. You need to measure and track every minute and you can justify every dollar you spend. You want to get the maximum return on your investment to grow your IT consulting business.

Where Else Can You Find the Company?

Does the company attend local B to B Expos? If so, you can attend expos to network with those sweet spot IT consulting clients.

Does the company get covered in the local newspapers, local papers, business journals, regional business journals, and magazines? You can subscribe to those or read back issues at the library or online.

By studying up on a company, you can find out how much experience they have, how many employees, and their annual revenue. You can also find out if they are about to open another office.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Small Business Computer Consulting .com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Joshua Feinberg has helped thousands of small business computer consulting firms get more steady, high-paying clients. Now you can too. Sign-up now for your free access a one-hour audio training program featuring field-tested, proven Small Business Computer Consulting Secrets.

The Beauty Of Focus And Plan B

2009-01-14T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Peggie Arvidson-Dailey

Did you ever have one of those days or weeks when you said "What in the world am I doing running this business?!"

Yeah. Me too. In fact, last month threw me for such a loop I really was beginning to wonder about my sanity.

I'm sharing this story because I think we business owners tend to think so often in the 'now' that we put-off doing any contingency planning. Then, when a crisis occurs, we find ourselves focusing on the negative things that are causing the crisis. And that, my friend, makes it worse!

Trust me, there were definitely a few hours last month when I couldn't pull my attention away from what seemed to be the train-wreck I was in - - but ultimately, I not only managed to pull my attention away from the frustrations but had the wherewithal to implement Plan B.

Here's an overview of my story:

My computer got a virus and died. (Lesson learned - back up EVERYTHING!)

The new book that I was writing was lost - totally - nothing was salvaged. (This was not the "10 Surprisingly Simple Steps to Sales Success: What Every Pet-Care Business Owner Needs to Know to Build Their Business in a Big Way")

I had to buy a new computer, pronto

I paid Uncle Sam (a lot) for the privilege of running a successful business

All of my financial files in Quick Books(tm) were lost in the computer death; and here's the clincher -

One sitter left (this was expected), the sitter I'd hired to replace her let me know the day before her start date that she'd taken another job, and another sitter alerted me on a Thursday that her last day would be that Friday (these were all midday walkers!)

YIKES!!! So, what did I do? I cried. Okay. More like a huge sob. One. Long. Huge. Sob.

Then I changed my focus. Instead of 'crying over spilt milk' as my Grandma Jule used to say, I bade a mental goodbye to all the sitters who were leaving and opened my mind to the possibility that better sitters were on their way.

Next I pulled out "Plan B" and called in the 'troops.' The troops are the wonderful group of consultants who work with me whenever they can 'on-call' and the troops are also my wonderful caring clients. I asked the on-call folks how much time they could give me in the next few weeks and parceled out the daily walk clients accordingly. I let the clients who were directly affected know that they would be working with a back-up sitter for the next few weeks while we continued to interview for the right fit for them.

What happened next blew my socks off! Clients called and emailed and told me their tough work stories. Some even offered to rearrange their schedules to walk their own dogs at lunch! And the on-call folks worked with their internships, babysitter schedules, temp jobs, and school schedules to pick up as many visits as they could. I nearly wanted to cry again. This time because I realized how lucky I really I am.

What really turned things around? Two things made all the difference. First was my ability to focus on the right things and second was the fact that I had planned ahead for just this type of situation.

Once I stopped focusing on negative and non- productive things I started focusing on how awesome and understanding my clients would be in this situation and how generous and giving the consultants I work with are. By focusing on these things I was able to implement the tasks that would make it happen.

So what's your lesson?

Be AWARE of your focus. Do you spend more of your day keeping track of what went wrong than what went right? Make a proactive effort to change that now. An easy way to implement this change is to keep a list of 'wins' in your day-planner, your personal journal, or on scraps of paper. The important thing is to end each day recounting the things that went right. It will help you change your mindset, so when you really need a positive focus, it will be easy to find!

Create a "Plan B" now while you don't need it. Whether you're a sole proprietor who never gets sick, a large company with tons of employees, or a mid-size company that depends on every client you currently have to stay solvent - -you need a "Plan B." Your Plan B should focus on those things that you take for granted and that could go wrong. What would you do in that situation? Build your plan around it!

The beauty of Plan B is that it will already exist even if you're in a panic over an IRS audit, or rushing to go out of town because of a family emergency. You'll have your moment of panic and then the light bulb will go off and you'll say 'Wowsa! Thank goodness I have a Plan B' and you'll be able to focus on making good things happen.

Watch your focus and create contingency plans - and even if you have a month like mine - you'll still be in great shape!

About The Author: Peggie Arvidson-Dailey, The Pet Care Business Expert, is author of "Surprisingly Simple Sales Steps: What Every Pet-Care Business Owner Needs to Know to Build Their Business in a BIG Way!" To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://www.peggiespets.com

NOTE: You absolutely can use this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the author" info at the end), and you send a copy of your reprint to Peggie@peggiespets.com

Small Business Marketing Secrets Look Like Sizzle Be The Steak

2009-01-13T23:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Monikah J. Ogando

You've heard marketing and advertising gurus quip, "Sell the sizzle, not the steak." Advertising initiatives best reach their target audience with benefits and the "wow" effect, not the value or features of their product or service. This may work well to get customers in the door. But once they're in, you better have some substance. How can you ensure you uphold the integrity of your business and still maintain the "Wow Effect"? It just takes well executed strategic steps for business AND personal development:

1. It's Already Done

Act like the goals you are working so diligently to achieve have already been reached. Walk with that confidence. Treat your leads like customers, your customers like guests in your home, and your staff like family. When you approach goals like a "done deal", you open up creativity reserves to think outside the box, access resources you didn't know you had and create opportunities for success previously unforeseen.

2. Get There From Here

It is not enough to act like you have arrived; you also get to devise a strategy map to get you there. Ask for your customers' input through surveys, polls, feedback forms. Pay customers' a visit, just to see how things are going. Send a birthday card, send flowers, and send an article clip that can prove useful to a client. Never miss an opportunity to create relationship. The best way to ensure you don't miss opportunities is to create a plan.

3. Who Cares?

Ensure that your work is fun and fulfilling for you and those who might work for or with you. Keep your duties aligned with your skills and interests, and invest in your own personal development. Volunteer in the community. Build a house for Habitat for Humanity. Run a marathon or half-marathon. Sponsor a scholarship with your local high school and recommend alliance partners or contractors to be part of the selection committee. It increases your visibility and theirs, and you both get to be a good corporate citizen. All for a good cause. Invest in yourself and in your community. Show you care.

4. Say What You Mean, and Mean What You Say

Address issues as they come up or as soon as appropriately possible. Sometimes we let things slide or leave things unsaid. This devalues what's important to you and insults the intelligence of the other person. Be open in your communication.

5. Create Win-Win Solutions

The belief of "looking out for number one" is so embedded in our collective consciousness that we have forgotten we are ALL #1 because we are all one. When you create win-win solutions, you not only generate good will among peers and supervisors, but you develop a reputation for fairness and professionalism. Everyone collaborates with a collaborator.

6. Acknowledge the Feedback

When customers take the time to write a scathing letter or make an irate phone call about horrific customer service or product quality, they are providing you with a valuable opportunity: Free feedback that you didn't ask for, didn't pay for, didn't market for or followed up on. It just fell on your lap. So thank your customer for being committed enough to your company to give you feedback on how you can improve your service. Give something away or at a steep discount. You have a choice: Swallow your pride, or dwindle your profits.

7. Go Back to Kindergarten

When you take lunch, take a walk to a park, eat leisurely, and come back to the privacy of your office for a quick 20 minute power nap. You'll feel refreshed and replenished. Don't have an office? Take a nap. Make it fun and, most importantly, nourishing.

8. Tie Up Loose Ends

Pay the parking ticket. Write that letter. Clean out your files. Make up with that client. Enroll in school. Back up your computer systems. Run the Clean Sweep Program on yourself, then the company (for more information, email us at monikah@ogandoassociates.com).

9. Give Yourself a Makeover

Lose the 15 pounds. Get that haircut. Buy fresh makeup. Reinvent your wardrobe. Give your car a paint job. Rearrange the furniture in your office or lobby. Give away old clothes. When you get in the habit of installing new practices and letting go of old ones that no longer serve you, you generate and circulate fresh energy.

10. Keep Your Commitments

When you say you are going to do something, do it, or else renegotiate another arrangement. Very few things are as difficult to earn back as your credibility and the trust of those who deal with you.

11. Play a Big Game

When setting your goals, ask yourself if you are stretching. Set your goals high enough to have to stretch for them. Make your growth systematic and strategic. If your goal is to call 20 leads this week, to close one sale, what would you have to do and believe about yourself to make it possible to call 50 and close three sales? If your goal is to go to dinner with your brother, just to reconnect, how about stepping it up and actually saying "I love you?" You know you are playing a big game when your first reaction is a big whine "I can't do that!" Yes, you can. Surprise yourself.

12. Be a Contribution

How can you make your customers' life more livable, your work more enjoyable, and your community more cohesive? Everyone wants to know, what's in it for me? When you focus out, you immediately speak their language and enroll them in playing yours. No one plays with you if they think you are not on their team. So join them. And they will join you.

Monikah Ogando is a highly skilled facilitator and charismatic speaker. She continues to inspire her audience through her expertise in Business Development, leadership effectiveness, individual accountability and the values that guide excellence. She practices what she speaks: an entrepreneur, Monikah leads her own two companies, consulting firm http://www.ogandoassociates.com and Exodus House Publishers and is a Team Member of http://www.solo-e.com

Find more articles like this at http://www.Solo-E.com, the lifestyle-inspired online learning and connection community. Visit now to receive a free copy of our special report, The Four Secrets of Solo Entrepreneur Success, plus a complimentary 30-day membership.

Small Business Newsletter Dilemma Which Day Do I Send

2009-01-13T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Denise O'Berry

If you're just ramping up your small business email newsletter, you might be wondering what day you should send it to your opt-in list. After all, you want it to get opened and read and you know your prospects may be weeding through a ton of email clutter. What to do?

There is no magic bullet to figure out the science behind when your small business prospects will open your email. But you can help yourself along by doing some up front legwork. And the answer is right in front of you.

Don't do what I see so many other small business owners do. They ask their friends and colleagues what day is best and then move forward on that advice. Bzzzzzzzt -- wrong answer. Unless those friends and colleagues fit your target market, you will be wasting a lot of time with this approach.

One of the best ways to determine the day to send your newsletters is to think about the details of your target market. Do you get emails from them on a regular basis? What time of day are their emails written? What day of the week? Do you feel comfortable asking your current subscribers? By assessing the habits of your market, you can figure the best day and time to send.

Test it out though. The decision is yours and it's not cast in concrete. That's the beauty of owning your own business. It's in your control.

Small Business Expert Denise O'Berry helps small business owners take action to grow their business. Find out more at http://www.deniseoberry.com

Small Business In Hawaii

2009-01-11T23:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

There is a lot of potential small businesses one can start in Hawaii. One that has recently come to mind is starting a mobile auto detailing, mobile car wash business or fleet cleaning business. You see due to the salt air vehicles must be cleaned regularly otherwise they will rust out very quickly.

Additionally in Hawaii there is quite a bit of business in cleaning of Rent-a-cars, tour buses and distribution company fleets. In fact there is all sorts of stuff to wash. Perhaps you can start a business for your wife. The customers will like it. I can remember in our company that the clientele always loved the Gals to clean their cars. We have set up lots of Car Wash Gals and they always do well!

Of course if you are out cleaning vehicles you will need to have insurance. For insurance you should look in the Yellow Pages for a nearby company; Insurance Broker or Insurance-Business or Commercial Insurance. You see not all companies like to underwrite these types of mobile businesses.

Once you find an insurance agent be sure to tell them that you will be engaged in auto detailing and suggest Firemen's Fund, American States or Lloyds of London. Be sure to tell the agent that this will be part time at first. You most likely will need 100K-liability insurance. Perhaps you can add such a business policy to your auto insurance policy? Maybe you should consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Implementing An Internship Program

2009-01-11T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Andrew E. Schwartz

CONSIDERING COMPANY NEEDS: In identifying your needs for the internship, you need to examine the chief responsibilities of the position. And the broader they are, the more flexibility you will be giving yourself and the intern. Decide upon how often you will need the intern. Gauge any time factor related to the responsibilities you are assigning. Remember that the intern will not be as experienced as a regular employee would, he or she will need additional time to get acquainted with computer and other systems, your style of office management, and other on-the-job factors. Next figure your ability to offer a stipend. Not only will offering money bring you more qualified applicants, but it will suitably reward the intern. Many managers find it easy to offer a stipend in terms of travel expenses or living expenses, while also supplying miscellaneous costs.

ADVERTISING FOR INTERNS: Most college and university career counseling offices contain internship listings or will post advertised internships. Research the universities and colleges in your area to find out where it would be most appropriate to list your internship. For example, if your internship is computer based, it would be wisest to list it in appropriate technical schools. It is also beneficial to find out what departments and fields of study are available in the educational institutions in your area. Many departments are willing to list internships for students who are majoring in their department or who plan to pursue that field. Be broad-minded in this method of advertising. If your internship involves primarily public relations, consider departments such as psychology, English, advertising, communication, and foreign languages. When listing the internship position, include several aspects which will present the internship in the most attractive, but honest light.

GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE INTERNSHIP: This is a brief general description of the areas the intern will be working in while also describing the organization itself. A typical overview might read: "Assist a broker in researching stocks, performing stock analysis, and networking new clients and contacts in an established stock brokerage firm. Work in a face-paced exciting setting with a goal-oriented approach to success." Also, a title is often the first thing applicants look at so make sure it is concise, attractive, and self-explanatory. "Museum Curator's assistant" tells the applicant that he or she will have direct contact with the curator, will be assisting in curator tasks, and will be working with people in museum administration.

Measuring Success As An It Consultant

2009-01-10T23:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Joshua Feinberg

IT consultants are highly coveted these days, and it is easy for an IT consultant to believe that simply having a great number of profitable jobs will guarantee success. Succeeding as an IT consultant is about more than money, and involves several other categories, including important personal and professional factors. It is these important elements that will determine long-term success.

Financial Accomplishment

Monetary success is a big indicator for most people of how well an individual is doing. In truth, the financial aspect is only a small part of the bigger picture. An IT consultant that only focuses on money will eventually have clients that think he is only interested in money and not in their problems. Investing in customer problems fully instead of focusing on short-term financial gain will help build long-term relationships that will foster financial stability.

Professional Success

This element of IT consultant success is more complicated than the money aspect. It means making a real difference in the lives of professionals and fully embracing the satisfaction that comes with helping another human being. When people in your community respect and rely on the products and services you offer, you know you have achieved professional success. Customers will typically look to you for future projects, and without an attention to this aspect, an IT consultant will never obtain repeat business and will eventually find himself out of a job.

The Personal

Personal success as an IT consultant is obtained when the consultant can balance his personal life with his business life. As an IT consultant with personal success, you will be working reasonable hours and spending adequate time with family and friends. This type of success will greatly decrease your stress levels and allow you to be more productive.

Long-term success can only truly be achieved by an IT consultant that focuses on monetary, professional and personal life categories. By setting goals for each category, you can measure your progress regularly and continue to grow your business.

Copyright MMI-MMVII, Small Business Computer Consulting .com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Joshua Feinberg helps small business computer consulting firms get more steady, high-paying clients. Learn how you can too. Sign-up now for your free access to a one-hour audio training program on Small Business Computer Consulting Tips.

Small Business Tip Dont Throw Away Your Junk Mail

2009-01-10T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Suzette Hinton

Have you ever come across a piece of mail that you almost threw away, but something made you open it up and read it? Then there it was -- sandwiched between the blah blah blah and the bigger- than-life promises - a piece of information that was the very answer you had been searching for.

Skepticism has caused many to automatically label something as junk or useless without even reading it. Instead of seeing the potential, we assume that there's a hitch or it's just another get-rich-quick scheme. Such was my thinking when I received an invitation to attend a cash flow conference in my local area. I had been searching for ways to increase cash flow but had never expected to get an invitation. I must admit, I came so close to throwing it away.

How many of us cancel out opportunities for personal growth or advancement because we fail to see the big picture?

One such opportunity is what I call "getting in the space." Wealth building information sessions generate a great deal of energy. You've got a room full of people who are focused on one thing -- making money. There is a hunger for something more, something different, something that has the potential to bring about the life they envision. It's the chatter of everyone at breaks. People are sharing their hopes. Dreams and aspirations fill the atmosphere and create such a wealth-charged environment in which to network.

As the speakers shared various aspects of business development, my cousin, whom I invited to the conference, doodled a strategy for her Avon business that was both inspired and inspirational. You could see that others were having similar experiences, especially during the brainstorming exercise. Attendees were put in think-tank groups of 3 and 4. It was electric! Postures became more erect, thinking became more acute, and eyes sparkled with illumination.

What a great place to meet others interested in growing their businesses and fostering that much-needed supportive base. I was delighted to see Ms. Vonn once again, the wonderful woman who inspired me to write, "What Makes Your Heart Sing." During break, I met two other women who shared tried-and-true testimonials endorsing a way of making money using the internet. This knowledge would have been missed had I not opened that piece of junk mail and decided to attend the conference.

It was obvious that much research and preparation had gone into the workshop. Effectively marketing your business using the internet was the drawing card. But, I must admit, the structuring of the workshop was itself a stroke of marketing genius. The speakers were marvelous in how they layered their presentation and customized their delivery to appeal to those in attendance. We were given just enough to spark our appetite so we would remain for the entire conference. What a wonderful marketing technique -- keep people anticipating more. The carrot they continued to dangle was how to have your website appear on the first page of a listing.

The ability to sell is critical to the success of any business. Though e-commerce was the main objective, one could hear tip after tip, strategy after strategy to effectively promote any business idea online. What's key is knowing your target population and what it is they are wanting. Such was another tip shared at the conference.

My takeaway was this: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and INFORMATION SELLS. Any knowledge gained to help you promote your business or build your financial base is worthwhile. Not only does information provide the tools required to build a successful business but information sells. People buy information. If you can show them how to do something better or make it convenient for them to acquire your services or buy your product, people will pay you for it.

Yes, I had to sit through hours of sales pitches attempting to persuade me to become a member of their money-making empire, but the benefits far outweighed the temporary discomfort. I am so glad that I didn't throw away this piece of junk mail.

Suzette R. Hinton, SAC-I, Certified Life and Mentor Coach, Counselor and Mother. Graduate of CANA, Inc. (www.CoachingInstituteofNorthAmerica.com) and Founder of Purposeful Connections (www.purposefulconnections.com). Suzette believes that purpose is not only a destination but it is the energy that pushes us toward its fulfillment.

Do You Need An Automated Timekeeping System For Your Cleaning Business

2009-01-08T23:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Steve Hanson

As your cleaning business grows and you add employees, keeping track of time sheets and adding up hours can be a big headache. If you have just one or two employees a paper time sheet where employees "clock in" and "clock out" for each location they clean may be all that you need to track their hours. However, deciphering data and adding up hours from numerous time sheets can take time away from other profit-making activities as you burn up your time doing payroll.

There are options available to your cleaning company other than hiring a full-time bookkeeper. Telephone timekeeping systems are ideal for cleaning companies. They allow employees to call from any location they are working at and "clock in" and "clock out" by using their employee pin number and location pin number.

These timekeeping systems have many time-saving benefits and features:

1. Tracks each employee's time down to the minute.

2. Reassurance that there's no cheating, as there can be with a handwritten time sheet.

3. Tracks travel time between buildings.

4. Caller ID capabilities to ensure employees are calling from the correct location.

5. The ability to leave messages for employees. As soon as they call into the system they receive their messages.

6. Employee scheduling and management.

7. Tracking of no shows or late arrivals. The system alerts supervisors with a call to their cell phone or pager.

8. Supervisors can call into the system to see who is clocked into a building at any given time.

9. The ability to track by job number as well as employee.

10. Easy way to import payroll information. Hours are automatically added up for you, including travel time. Various reports available. Two such automated timekeeping systems are: Express Time from A&B Express Products LLC, http://www.expresstime.net/index.html, and MITC's Telephone Timekeeping Software, http://www.mitcsoftware.com.

MITC's software has a one-time fee. You can buy added blocks of support time from them. Express Time is different in that it has a monthly charge as well as a per call fee. The MITC program does require added hardware and software installed on your computer or you can buy a ready-to-use computer from them.

Express Time has two different systems available: Express Time and Express Time Online. Express Time has a one-time fee, and you can buy added support hours. Express Time Online has a recurring monthly fee as well as a 12 cent per charge for each incoming call. Each system has software that must be downloaded on to your computer. They do not have hardware that is installed on to your computer, but they do have specific computer recommendations for the software to work efficiently. Express Time also states high-speed broadband is needed for technical support.

On either system, employees can call in any time of day, seven days a week, as long as you have the software is running on your computer. The MITC system has different modules that can you can add depending on your specific needs.

Either software, MITC or Express Time, will require a time commitment on your part to learn the system, which may seem overwhelming at first. But after a couple of weeks using the system you will be flying around it like pro.

Adding an automated timekeeping system may be the next step to growing your cleaning business. Any type of automated system you buy will require a financial investment, but it will free up your time from doing the mundane tasks of timekeeping and allow you to spend your time in more productive ways.

Steve Hanson is co-founder of TheJanitorialStore.com, an online community for owners of cleaning companies. Sign up for Trash Talk:Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com. Read success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com.

Speed Kills On The Web

2009-01-08T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lee Traupel

I only have to point to the 555 plus failed .com companies (according to Web Mergers) as the poster children of the "speed at any cost" business mantra that clearly doesn't work. And these were companies who burnt through significant amounts of capital (in the millions, tens of millions or hundreds of millions in many cases) while they were rushing to get to market.

Do you wonder why every time you talk to someone he or she seems to be in such a hurry that they don't really have time to talk with you? But if you want to work with them, you have to try and converse on the phone as a first step, or even worse, setup some type of a face-to-face meeting. What's going on? Why aren't we all slowing the pace down so we can focus on business processes that are based upon viable models? Especially in these economic times where relationships and processes are critical to ongoing success and/or survival!

I think we are experiencing some type of a .com hangover effect. Everyone was in such a hurry during the heady GBF ("get big fast") .com days ... trying to do the "land grab" while "driving an "online brand" that would lead to a quick "exit strategy" ... that they forgot to really define a viable business model that included development of tangible goods and services for real customers.

I still come into contact with many people that act like they've been hard wired to a double espresso. They aren't sure what they are doing or where they are going, but they want to do everything in a hurry! It seems like many are still trying to build a business the same way they did during the last two years, when fundamentals and many niceties of business went out the window, while greed became the order of the day.

We are telling our clients speed can and does kill on the web. It's time to slow down and think strategically about what they want to do and then build marketing campaigns and processes that convey tangible value to their market demographics (read customers!).

Here are some fundamental marketing rules for living life in the slow (but safe) lane:

1. Ensure all marketing collateral (web and offline) are in synch. Invest sufficient time and resources to ensure there are no discrepancies between them to build a cohesive brand that effectively communicates what you do.

2. Take time to really evaluate business opportunities. Don't just blast through relationships, meetings or assessments. Many times you can build viable partnerships by sitting down and taking a hard look at how third parties complement your business and vice versa.

3. Use the web for what's it's really meant for - as a highway for communications and commerce. It's not the "saving grace" its been touted to be by many companies; 87% of Internet users today utilize the web to research goods and services.

4. Make time to look at your competitors, whether they are across the road or on the other side of the world. The web has created a commerce model where a competitor is just a click away. So carefully analyze what your competitors are doing.

5. Communicate with your customers and partners. It doesn't do much good to build a beautiful web site that does not make it easy for people to contact your company. I've seen hundreds of web sites the last year that don't have e-mail contacts or phone numbers listed prominently. Take/make time to build a site that lets people communicate with you.

6. Hire people with some gray hairs. They may not flash the latest PDA at you or wear the latest trendy clothes, but many of them have years of experience building companies slowly and carefully, by paying attention to business fundamentals. I've got nothing against youth, but it seems like many over 40-somethings got left by the wayside in the .com mania and to the detriment of many companies.

7. Think small when you're building a business. The billion dollar days are gone with last year's PR hyperbole. I get no royalties from E.F. Shumacher, but I really think his "Small is Beautiful As if People Mattered" is a wonderful book and the forward is done by Paul Hawken, a brilliant serial entrepreneur, well known for his landmark PBS (Public Broadcasting Service for global readers) series on "Growing a Business" that inspired many of us to take the entrepreneurial plunge.

About The Author

Lee Traupel has 20 plus years of business development and marketing experience - he is the founder of Intelective Communications, Inc., http://www.intelective.com a results-driven marketing services company providing proprietary services to clients encompassing startups to public companies. Lee@intelective.com

Small Business Marketing Solution Is Database Marketing Right For You

2009-01-07T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Craig Lutz-Priefert

Database marketing sounds like something Wal-Mart or Amazon.com is fantastic at. And they are. But so are many small businesses down the street. My local coffee shop has one of the best database marketing systems in the world. Their order processing machines remember my favorite cup of joe and serve it up to me hot, on sight, without my even asking.

Of course, their order processing machines are bipedal, with organic computers known as brains and eyes in lieu of optical scanners. Database marketing essentially seeks to emulate what the baristas at the Coffee House do naturally.

So, how can you know if your company is a good candidate for database marketing? There are three essential questions to ask:

1. Do you have best customers? Do you possess a group of customers that clearly drive more profits--not gross sales, remember, but profitsto your bottom line?

2. Can you identify those customers?

3. Can you reach those customers? Can you communicate with them, individually, and treat them special?

It is extremely valuable to you, then, to answer the above three questionsafter you answer this one:

Are you already a successful database marketer?

Many sole proprietors already are. So are thousands of sales reps. They are familiar with their customers, they understand their preferences. If they have under a hundred customers, maybe even fewer than 500, they know their names and their likes and dislikes and know which ones contribute the most to their pocketbook.

But once a business achieves a certain size it becomes impossible for any one person to know all the customers. This is where the aid of the computer comes in. But, we don't want to discuss tactics in this article. Rather, let's simply focus on whether or not your company is a candidate for a database marketing program. And that means we need to devise some questions that help us answer each of 1, 2 and 3 above.

Payment. Can you capture their individual financial contribution? Does everybody pay with cash or credit card, and then scoot out the door? Or do you invoice your customers?

Communication. Do you know their name and address? Can you acquire their name and address? How about email address? Can you acquire it?

Acquisition Method. Do you know how they heard about your company in the first place? Can you track and quantify how much it cost your to acquire that customer?

Decision Maker. Does the person who actually buys from you control the purchasing decision? If you sell to consumers, the answer is probably yes; but if you sell to businesses it can get a bit more complex. In some industries even finding let alone reaching the true decision maker can be tough but--that's the person you need to market to for you to be effective.

OK, the above are entry-level questions to ask when evaluating if your small business is a candidate for a database marketing program. Again, the key advantage the application of a database marketing program affords as part of a small business marketing program is the ability to target best customers. You find those customers that send the most to your bottom line, and spend more of your advertising dollar on them.

If you can't identify and communicate with a best customer segment, then it is probably best to look at a mass marketing program, where you essentially spend the same marketing promotional dollars on each prospect.

If you can identify these best customers, then you are ready to learn more about specific database marketing techniques.

Remember: Brand (who you are) + Package (your Face to the Customer) + People (customers and employees) = Marketing Success.

Improve Your Collections And Get Paid Faster With Medical Billing Services

2009-01-06T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Kathryn Whittaker

It is tempting, if you are running a medical office, to think that handling billing in house is cheaper. The truth is that it is not for a couple of reasons. First of all, when you handle it in-house you need to pay for employees, training, equipment, software, updates on the software, and postage. There is actually a great deal of postage, in fact. Secondly, you just aren't as likely to get the job done right in-house. You can actually improve your collections and get paid faster with medical billing services.

The first way you improve your collections and get paid faster with medical billing services is because they are experienced in hard to handle claims. Yes, in-house, your people would likely have no trouble handling a standard claim that the insurance company pays off. However, what do you do when the insurance company denies a claim? Professional medical billing services know how to collect the money on such bills. With a good service, no claim goes unpaid. That means your revenue streams remain steady and reliable.

Another way you can improve your collections and get paid faster with medical billing services is that they are highly accurate in their record keeping. Not only can a billing service collect payments efficiently, but also they know the ins and outs of the financial side of your medical business. They can act as collections, accounting, and as advisors for you about the business side of the office.

Overall, because they are trained to be accurate and efficient when working with insurance companies, a medical billing service will get you paid faster. Rare is the time an insurance claim will be sent back to your billing company. They have relationships with the insurance companies and are able to file claims and bills with perfect efficiency. If you tried to do the same thing in-house, you would spend a fortune sending employees to seminars, keeping up on the billing, and still maintaining other duties. The relationships would not be there for years, and in the mean time you would likely miss out on revenue.

Your medical billing service will also attend insurance seminars with the companies. That way, they can report back to the office and help the doctors and managers to understand what is going on in insurance. Through advising and informing, they can help you be as efficient as possible with billing and insurance affiliations. You will always have the "inside scoop." That is important to make sure that you improve your collections and get paid faster with medical billing services.

So you can certainly improve your collections and get paid faster with medical billing services. All you need to do is hire the right one and let them do their job. Because they are trained to get your money, deal with insurance, and keep impeccably organized records, they will more than pay for themselves when it comes time to make sure all claims are collected and on time.

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Health & Beauty related topics. To access more information on medical billing work from home or on medical billing training, please click on the links.

Free Small Business Marketing Tip Promote Your Trade Show 3 Of 3

2009-01-04T23:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Craig Lutz-Priefert

Sending out a pre-show mailing to attract trade show attendees to your booth is a powerful technique for leveraging your marketing promotion budget. Because you are using direct mail or email, you can target your message to reflect your audience.

This last article in our series on trade show pre-promotion focuses on how to attract the referrers to your trade-show booth.

The first step in determining how to segment the referrers is to review that pre-show attendee list. Generally, referrers are more difficult to select by title than decision-makers, but sometimes you can use your industry experience to determine relevant selection criteria. Many of the pre-show lists will have "industry type" or some similar field you can select from; possibly your company has better luck in targeting leads by geography, so you can select in that fashion.

If the pre-show list has very few fields to select from, and you are promoting to a referrer base, then you may want to consider an alternative channel to deliver your offer to your prospects. You might place an ad in the trade show guide attendees receive, or produce a stand-alone insert to be placed inside the bags attendees are given. Or, you might purchase a sponsorship package which includes point-of-show signage.

Once you select your audience, you need to choose your offer. For the referrer, we recommend you utilize the chance to win a physical product via a drawing, rather than the guaranteed gift in exchange for the person's time.

There are many giveaways out there, and about half of them are oriented toward the male-audience; typically golf. Of course, free electronics are perennially popular: a few years ago PDAs were the rage; lately, ipods are a hit.

But, there's one element overlooked by most exhibitors giving away a product to entice people to stop by: Choice.

We don't suggest you present a plethora of products for prospects to pick from; that can actually depress the response to your pre-show mailing. Choice is good; overchoice is overkill.

But what is overlooked at so many trade shows is the importance of women and non-traditional male-buyers. How many times have you seen a salesmanblow off a person stopping by their trade show booth, simply because that person doesn't fit the buyer profile?

But, what about the referral profile? How many times do we focus on that? What is the profile of your referrals at a trade show? Do they have to understand in-depth what your product does? Do they have to repeat verbatim your sales shtick to their boss or to the person at their company who could buy your product?

Hardly. The person needs to:

Like your sales staff. (They did pay attention to her, right?)
Understand your brand's key benefit to their company.
Leave her contact info to enter the drawing.
Know who to pass on the information to in their company. Booth staff should tell her the title of who that might be.

If you want her to refer, then follow-up after the show with a mail piece or an email or possibly a phone-call, if sufficiently pre-qualified at the show. Your sales staff needs to supply your potential referrers with a smile, a soundbite about your company, a warm handshake while repeating the person's name, and just a couple minutes of good-natured, light-conversation.

So, what about that choice in giveaway we mentioned above? We suggest your offer be "Enter to Win Your Choice of Grand prize A or Grand Prize B". Grand prize A might be golf clubs, B might be a complete high-end cookware set. Or A might be a vacation to Vegas, and B to Orlando. The key is to offer two different grand prizes to attract a wider audience.

You can offer a higher-priced grand prize if you target smarter. Pre-mailing actually helps you achieve far more bang from your marketing budget, because you can reduce your promotional costs by smarter, more focused prospect targeting.

Remember: People (customers and employees) + Package (your Face to the Customer) + Brand (who you are) = Marketing Success.

Need A Small Business Loan

2009-01-04T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jill Kane

Small business loans are available from a variety of sources. There are banks, savings and loans and lending companies in the private sector that make loans to small businesses. There are also some public entities that are involved in financing for small businesses. One such source is the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA is an independent federal agency that assists small businesses in various areas. One area of assistance is financial and as such it is a source of loan funds for small businesses. There are three different SBA loan programs geared toward different kinds of small businesses. Each functions in a different way but each provides a means of financial assistance for small businesses.

The first program is the SBA's Business Loan program. SBA has various partners is the community known as Lenders, Community Development Organizations, and Microlending Organizations. The SBA defines the parameters for the loan program and guarantees the loans which are actually made by their community partners, the various lending institutions. The guarantee means that the federal government will repay all or part of the loan in the event of a default by the small business borrower. The small business owner should contact the SBA to learn the terms of this and other programs.

A second program involves the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC). These are public-private businesses that represent an investment partnership between the public and private sector. These business entities can borrow funds for venture capital financing through the federal government at low interest rates. The purpose of these investment companies is profit and to share in the success of the small businesses that they invest in and help grow.

The third component of the SBA's small business financing program is called the Surety Bond Guarantee Program (SBG). This program provides financing by guaranteeing bonds for small contractors to bid on projects that they normally wouldn't be able to bid on. The surety is the SBA's guarantee to cover a portion of the loss if there is a breach of the contract.

These SBA programs help small businesses obtain funds that they might not otherwise obtain without the guarantee by the federal government. The government is assisting them by organizing lending sources and by assuming part or all of the risk of borrower fault. They are, in effect, shifting the risk of default from the lending institution to the federal government. These programs help small businesses grow and give them business opportunities they would not otherwise have had without the guarantee of the federal government.

Small business owners should contact the SBA to see what programs and funds are available. Funding is based on appropriations and may change from year to year.

To read more about small business loans, visit Jill Kane's site at 1st-low-rate-loans.com

How To Handle Rejection When You Start An Office Cleaning Business

2009-01-03T23:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Suzanne Arthur

"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you."

Thank goodness starting an office cleaning business isn't anything like skydiving! If you fall flat on your face, there's no chance that it's going to hurt that bad. Learning to handle the inevitable occurrence of rejection to the best of your ability will help you refine your office cleaning business and your business techniques.

Rejection is simply par for the course when you first start an office cleaning business -- it will happen occasionally. So instead of hoping that it never will, it's good for your business health to come up with some strategies to handle it, learn from it and even grow your office cleaning business with that knowledge. As you start an office cleaning business, aim to minimize your experiences of rejection, while at the same time, be prepared for it.

Reasons for Rejection.

Not "clicking" with your client when you first start an office cleaning business can be cause for rejection somewhere down the line. An initial awkwardness between you may just never go away, and could result in the end of that job. Or you may take on a new client but you feel some anxiety on their part about your fees. They may hire you for one or two sessions, and then tell you they aren't interested in having you back.

When we first started an office cleaning business we had a continual scheduling problem with one office manager, who changed her cleaning date many times during the holiday season. We were as flexible as we could be with her, changing our other clients' scheduled dates around in order to accomodate her several times. But when it came to settling on a regular cleaning date, this person could not be flexible with us. Funny thing was, Ev and I just knew something wasn't right with this particular job from the start. We hadn't ever really "clicked" with her, so the schedule problem became bigger than it should have been.

Be aware that scheduling is one of the most important elements of starting an office cleaning business. Get it right with your clients, and you've got a good opportunity to keep your clients happy. Get it wrong with them, and you may find yourself moving on.

Superficial concerns like personal style, or appearance, can be a cause for rejection. People's perceptions are very important. We're not saying those perceptions are right or wrong, only that they're important. When Evan started to get serious about making good money with his office cleaning business, he cut his shoulder-length hair short. His business picked up.

People do make snap judgments on appearances. It's just a game. If we want the business, we have to play by the rules of the game. We're aware that there are a lot of flaky office cleaners out there who disappoint their clients regularly. You'll succeed by playing against the stereotypes. Dress well (as well as you can considering the nature of this job--you do get dirty on occasion), always be on time, and communicate well with your clients.

What to Say If and When it Happens.

Let's say your new client, Mrs. C, calls you on the day after your birthday. Feeling fine as you pick up the receiver, you assume for a moment that she's calling about your schedule. But her voice is quavering, and she proceeds to tell you that she thinks you are charging too much. Her company no longer wants to do business with you. She's nervous, which makes you suddenly nervous. The conversation is awkward for you both.

You don't know what to say except, "thank you for your call, I appreciate your honesty. It's been a pleasure to work for you. Have a nice day." (Please note: I have actually told people to have a nice day, but seeing it in print makes me cringe. Trust me, you'll think of something better to say.)

While you'll never like losing a client, be honest with yourself. Would you want to clean Mrs. C's office for less? Would it be worth your time and effort?

So, when Mrs. C calls, you decide. If you want the job enough to lower your fee, ask if she would be interested in re-negotiating. But if you realize that you simply can't do that job at a lowered fee, then say a little mental thank you to her. She's opened up your schedule for another, better client to come along. And you can see how important it is to try and set the fees right at the time of the estimate.

Keep up your marketing campaign.

Do not agonize over it, just do it. And be on the alert while talking to the people in your daily life. Let them know what you do. Ask them for referrals. Many people don't realize how extraordinarily helpful your average person can be. So just ask. Sometimes that's all it takes. Don't allow yourself to skate along smugly on the thin ice of your regular schedule. Something out-of-the-blue could always happen.

Marketing consistently is especially important during the first three or four months when you start an office cleaning business. It doesn't take much time to continually sow the fields of your daily bread this way. Then when a client drops into the abyss you can call the people who are patiently waiting for your schedule to loosen up so you can fit them in, and reap the harvest.

Workplace Trends.

This is a good time to mention that in accordance with the latest workplace trends, even employees with seemingly secure jobs are being advised never to get too comfy. "Always be prepared to move on to your next job," is the advice of career counselors, who also recommend that employees be discreet about looking for another job while at work. Companies have no loyalty to their employees, and in the current economy you never know when companies may be forced to downsize.

How does this translate into language for self-employed people like you and me? "Always be prepared to move on to your next job." It's exactly the same advice. Except, unlike employees with other companies, you and I do not have to be covert about it. It's both smart and natural for self-employed people to always keep a keen lookout for new clients. It's all considered intelligent networking.

Shift happens.

As you start an office cleaning business you'll learn that it isn't simply that people are fickle and unpredictable, although they can be both those things. Your clients are working under the same strenuous system as you, and they are as susceptible to job loss, solar flares, family crises, illness and temporary insanity as you are. So be kind to your clients. Even when they can you for no good reason that you can see. Forgive them, forget them, then go on and market some more.

This article was adapted from the newly revised and improved edition of Suzanne Arthur's ebook, Start Your Own Office Cleaning Business. Two of Suzanne's other business ebooks, featuring the Suze & Ev Method, are Start Your Own Window Cleaning Business, and Start Your Own House Cleaning Business. These ebooks, as well as a handy, dandy cleaning tips ebooklet, can be found at http://www.start-cleaning- business.com

Suze & Ev's further adventures in cleaning and beyond are posted on their blog, http://start-a-cleaning-business.blogspot.com