Small Businesses

6 Easy-to-use Tools that Boost Small Business Success

July 21, 2013 By Administrator

Office workers spend about 28 percent of their time on the job checking email, according to a 2012 McKinsey Global Institute report. People often refer back to find contact information, check schedules, chat with co-workers or see the status on a particular project. In a large office setting, there may be enough labor hours available to accommodate that much screen time, but for a startup, it represents time spent away from creative planning and customer outreach.

According to Allie Siarto of Loudpixel, a central Kanban board — essentially a white board — divided into four sections: “to-do, doing, done and do later,” can save time spent in the search window. Below are five more small business tools that improve productivity and foster growth. Here are a few more suggestions for tools that can boost your small business success.

A BlackBerry

In the past, it was a rare thing if you didn’t see a budding entrepreneur with a BlackBerry cell phone. That has changed with the introduction of other smartphones, but Blackberry will always be a phone that caters to business owners. You can check and respond to emails, view presentations and in newer models even share screens and participate in video conferencing. Entrepreneurs often have to travel, work from home or work non-conventional hours — a business-oriented phone makes a mobile office a reality.

An E-Book Library

Small business owners must be their own bosses and MBA professors. To stay on top of business trends and management techniques, keep a few resources on your phone or reader. You can start with the classics like “The Four-Hour Workweek” and “The Dilbert Principle.” Both speak to inefficiencies in the traditional office setting. Scan business blogs and articles for more current additions.

Cloud Storage

Keeping all important business information on a single PC suggests great trust in that hardware and your own abilities. In the likely event of your computer eventually crashing, it’s practical to store information online. Storage is secure and inexpensive. Cubby, OpenDrive and Mozy are all options besides the commonly used starter system Dropbox.

Evernote

The digitally expanded version of the physical Kanban board, Evernote is a free indexing program that will collect and sort information online into folders. Use it to upload audio, PDFs and images for brainstorming, travel planning and client profiles. Use one notebook for tracking competitors and another to research new markets. More creative types may also want to create a professional Pinterest page. The website works on a similar format but has a social media aspect that allows people to see the things you like and “pin” for later. Get inspiration for new photography settings or grab and share catering recipes.

Harvest and Formstack

Marketing and research may get people in the door, but small businesses depend on reliable payments and the ensuing paperwork. Hourly contractors such as designers or consultants can use Harvest to track their time and show concrete data in their invoices. Use Formstack when collecting both initial prospect information and final payments. By leaving logistics to a specifically designed, cost-effective computer program, you can free up time and energy for the tasks that require creativity and individual talent.

Guest post by Megan Peterson, an Internet consultant from Chandler, AZ.

How to Improve Accuracy to Increase Workplace Efficiency

May 29, 2013 By Administrator

For many American workers today, too much time is being wasted. According to a new survey by Inc.com, the average worker admits to wasting away 2.09 hours per 8 hour workday, this isn’t including lunch and scheduled break time. Taking measures to improve the efficiency of employees and accuracy of marketing and production, it’s possible to see a greater amount of profit over the course of the year.

Keep Track of Errors

A commitment to quality means that you’re willing to identify when an error has occurred and then make changes, so the problem isn’t repeated. Depending on your business structure and the products or services you provide, the best way to discover and change mistakes will vary.

When you provide a product or service to your customers, a simple way to keep track of the problems is by asking. Ask your customers to fill out a survey to ensure the data is accurate.

If you provide a service instead of a product, then you can also use a suggestion box, which will allow your customers to give anonymous feedback or suggestions that can improve the quality of your business and their satisfaction rates.

Keep a record of mistakes that have occurred in the past. By keeping track of the errors, you can train new employees to avoid those problems and keep more experienced employees updated with changes that are necessary.

Work on Marketing Accuracy

A key way to improve the productivity of your business is by focusing on accurate marketing. Check to make sure the information in your company database is accurate and use address standardization to simplify processing. By making a standard address and verifying data, you will reduce wasted advertising efforts.

According to Marketingsherpa.com, incorrect data that are in your directory is usually the result of outdated information or inaccurately submitted data; Update the data regularly to avoid losing track of your customers and double check the information submitted is accurate.

Organize a set of standards that simplifies the process of verifying data or submitting information. Keep it as simple as possible so that the risk of inaccurate submissions will reduce.

Train Workers

The best way to avoid mistakes and improve accuracy is by providing real training. Set time aside to train new employees in the company systems, process of using different technologies that are required for work and management of different situations that might arise.

Training is a powerful tool because it allows you to teach your employees what they can and cannot do when working with customers. It also provides a set standard that every employee is expected to follow.

You want to have a training program that teaches and allows your employees time to practice the new skills. Practice is key to good accuracy because it prevents mistakes before your customers meet your employees. It also allows you or your training professionals to catch problems before it can get out of control.

Embrace Strengths

Empower and encourage your employees by allowing them to focus on their strengths and abilities. Don’t ask an employee to work on a task that leads to boredom because that will cause the employee to walk away from the task. Focus on the strengths of the individual to get the best results.

Improving the accuracy and efficiency of your employees isn’t as difficult as it might seem. You can make improvements by providing the right tools and standards to cut back on mistakes and time wasted.

Guest Post by Britney Anderson, a sales manager who loves closing deals.

What the Internet Sales Tax Means for Small Business Owners, Consumers

May 15, 2013 By Administrator

Guest Post by Kyle Sanford]

Consumers in the 45 U.S. states that levy a sales tax may find themselves putting a bit more on their American Express cards when they start their holiday shopping this fall. The Marketplace Fairness Act (MFA), which would create an Internet sales tax, was overwhelmingly passed by the Senate on May 6. If the bill gets through the House of Representatives and land on President Obama’s desk, it would become law just in time for the holidays.

Marketplace Fairness Act (MFA)

The MFA will require online businesses who have $1 million in out-of-state sales to collect sales tax on every order. Currently the only online retailers that collect sales tax for online purchases are those who have a physical presence — i.e. an office, brick-and-mortar store, warehouse or showroom — in the state the sale is made. States lost about $11 billion in revenue in 2012 due to online purchases that went untaxed, according to CNBC.

Impact on Businesses

Small and medium-sized businesses will be the ones most impacted by this. They will have to implement new software and procedures into their online shopping carts. Since the MFA only targets businesses that do more than $1 million in annual out-of-state sales, it isn’t likely to affect the smallest companies that are run by families and entrepreneurs. Many brick-and-mortar-only businesses are in support of this bill since it will help to even the playing field with online retailers. The bill is also meant to curtail “showrooming,” the practice in which customers go to a store to physically look at an item, then buy it online for a cheaper price.

Most corporations will be unaffected since they already have physical locations in most states. Paul Misener, the VP of global public policy at Amazon, told Wolters Kluwer Law & Business he supports MFA because most state taxes are unconstitutional per the 1992 Supreme Court ruling in Quill v. North Dakota. The decision outlawed “use taxes,” which North Dakota tried to impose on Quill Corporation, even though it had no physical presence in the state.

Impact on Consumers

Current legislation in many states requires consumers to pay taxes on online purchases when they file their tax returns at the end of the year. PC World estimates that 90 percent of consumers are not aware of the laws, or just simply ignore current regulations. Thus proponents of MFA say the bill isn’t a new tax, but a way of enforcing an existing one. The MFA will lessen the price advantages for online retailers, especially when shipping and handling is factored in.

Bottom Line

The MFA still has a ways to go before being enacted. CNN estimates that the earliest it could go into effect is October 2013. If the bill becomes law, states will be required to create and distribute software to companies who are impacted in order for the collection process to go smoothly.

It’s not too late for business owners and consumers to contact their Congressman and voice their opinions.

Kyle Sanford
As a financial advisor and business writer, Kyle shares finance news and strategies that help small businesses improve operations.

Stop Flying Under the Radar! Get Noticed for the Right Reasons

January 28, 2013 By Administrator

Guest post by Tom Youso

Getting ready to apply for a promotion or ask for a raise? As you prepare yourself, do you find you don’t feel confident that people know who you are and what you do? If you’re doing quality work there’s no reason you should be flying under the radar. Make sure that when it comes time to hand out bonuses your name is at the top of the list, and if layoffs are on the table, you’re considered too valuable to let go.

Of course, no two offices or corporate cultures are alike, so take that into consideration before embarking on this journey and use your best judgment. Be ready to take a good look at what your company is all about and what you’re doing to help them succeed. Once you’ve got that all figured out, you can start working on gaining traction as a valuable asset worth keeping, promoting and compensating appropriately.

Get Linked In

Firstly, if you’re not on LinkedIn, a social and professional networking website, you need to fix that. You can even stop reading, open a new tab in your browser, sign up and come back to finish this article. It’s that important. The object of LinkedIn is to grow a network of people you’ve worked with, whether as co-workers or just doing business. As you grow that network, you want to stay visible to keep yourself on people’s minds as a valuable employee and resource. To that end, stay in the newsfeed by sharing articles and stories relevant to your network and by keeping your profile up to date.

Apply the same principles offline. Share industry updates via email, over by the water cooler and in meetings. Be sure that the content you’re sharing is relevant and useful so you’re a blessing rather than a burden. Make an effort to be sociable and get to know who works in your office and what they do.

Become a Sponge

How did Mark Weinberger, chief executive-elect of Ernst & Young, become the next CEO of such a major corporation? According to the Washington Post, in his own words he said, “I became a sponge. I had a thirst for knowledge and would talk with many members of Congress.” You see, business leader Weinberger had gotten a job in a Senator’s office that he didn’t expect to get. When he got to Washington he learned everything he could and talked to everyone he could. He learned and he networked. From there he continued to grow his career.

Demonstrate Agility

Technology and competition have forced businesses to be increasingly agile to respond to new trends and needs in order to stay successful in their industries. When a business changes, so do the daily duties of employees. If your company is evolving, don’t be the squeaky wheel who needs constant coddling. Be a leader and problem solver. When you offer to help with a project be sure, first, that it’s a good use of your time and will contribute to the overall success of the company. Make the most of opportunities to help educate others and improve your team, rather than just looking out for yourself.

Tom Youso is an accountant and a huge fan of cloud computing solutions that help SMBs simplify their bookkeeping and CSM operations.