3 Tips for Taking Your Small Business to the Next Level

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Small Business |3 Tips for Taking Your Small Business to the Next LevelSmall businesses today have a lot of obstacles that they need to be able to overcome. The world of business has always been ruthless and punishing to those that aren’t prepared for it. However, even the smallest of businesses have the potential to grow into titans, as long as they play the game correctly. Making the right moves isn’t easy, and even if you do everything right, it doesn’t mean you will necessarily achieve your goals.

However, there are a number of things you can do to give your business the best chance possible of surviving in the long term. Here are just some of the ways that you can take your business to the next level and ensure that you are able to keep growing it long into the future.

Have a Plan

When you first launch your business, you will hopefully have a business plan. This plan will lay out exactly what you plan to do with your business, as well as how it will operate in general. Business plans also contain lots of projections for the future.

As time goes on, you will learn whether those projections turn out to be accurate or not. You should update your business plan regularly and ensure that your plans for the future take into account everything that has come before.

Keep Your Expenses Down

Every business has expenses; they are often unavoidable and there’s not a lot you can do about them. However, while you will find it impossible to eliminate many of your expenses, there are plenty of things you can do to keep those expenses as low as you possibly can. Saving even small amounts of money can ultimately amount to some very considerable savings in the long run.

Any products or services that your business uses on a regular basis can potentially be targeted for savings. In some cases, making savings in key areas is associated with a dramatic boost to your overall efficiency. For example, switching to a different payment processor can reduce the cost of each transaction, a small increase on each transaction can be a significant boost over the year.

Make sure to check for online reviews of any processor you consider, stick to reviews that go into some detail about the processor you are considering. This review of BlueSnap by Merchant Maverick is a good example.

Put the Customer First

It doesn’t matter what your job is, what industry you work in or what your long-term goals are. You will have your best chance of success when you are putting special focus on the customer experience. In today’s world, customers always have other options; you need to make them choose your business because you are offering something that your competitors aren’t.

You don’t need a huge business with fully-staffed departments to improve your customer experience. You just need to make sure that you are getting the right feedback from your customers.

If you are at the helm of a small business, you will no doubt have your eyes set on higher goals. Learning to prioritize the right aspects of your business is the key to reaching those higher goals.

When to Use Off-the-Shelf or SaaS vs Bespoke Software Solutions in Your Business

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |SaaS vs Bespoke Software|When to Use Off-the-Shelf or SaaS vs Bespoke Software Solutions in Your BusinessWhen growing a business, dealing with software can be a headache. You need certain tasks to be completed, and off-the-shelf software often doesn’t quite hit the mark. One package might have some useful features but exclude others that are required. Or the interface is not very user-friendly creating lost time for staff as they battle to get the most out of a cumbersome design.

For small businesses especially, it’s difficult to figure out what to do. In this article, we cover some key points on the decision-making process between buying off-the-shelf, using a SaaS or ordering bespoke software solutions.

Off-the-Shelf Software

As a business owner, you’re most likely familiar with buying software off-the-shelf. Whilst some is no longer sold from retail stores because it’s now downloaded digitally, this is essentially still the same thing.

These are software packages made for the masses. It could be Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop or another application for a PC or Mac. It’s affordable because the development cost is spread over the revenue generated from millions of unit sales. For a low cost, companies can purchase a suite of apps that are highly useable and work in a familiar way that many people in the workforce already have experience using.

The downside with off-the-shelf software is that it’s usually not customisable to a great degree. It’s possible to hire a company to tweak it a little here and there, but not extensively.

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

Software-as-a-Service is a software solution that’s based online. Usually entirely so. Therefore, it’s a website developed as a virtual application that any staff member can sign up for and use. Usually, a company will purchase an enterprise or small business account that allows a certain number of staff members to use the software at one time.

The online software isn’t directly customisable, but it is sometimes possible to access some feature modules while skipping others that aren’t needed. For instance, an accounting package might separate out the sales ledger, bought ledger and payroll functions with companies able to include or exclude these modules, as needed.

Bespoke Software Solutions

Bespoke software is designed especially for a single business. It’s created as a custom solution to provide a perfect answer to address one or more business problems. It is the costliest of the three options because it’s a one-off solution.

When considering going the bespoke route, it’s usually a good idea to seek out a local provider because you’ll need to meet them in person and run through your requirements. So, for instance, in Australia one of the best providers for bespoke solutions is www.cosource.com.au.

CoSource, at www.CoSource.com.au, provide upgrades or modifications to existing software, or create entirely new software built to order. Additionally, they can design a new database for the specific digital needs of your business. Also, if you wish to beef up the e-commerce capabilities on your website, they have been developing online solutions for 15 years and know how to drive sales.

Most companies have software solutions of all three flavours. There’s no one right answer here. Each business situation is unique.

5 Reasons Why You Should Be Cleaning The Cubicle Walls in Your Office

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Office Cleaning|5 Reasons Why You Should Be Cleaning The Cubicle Walls in Your OfficeWhen was the last time the cubicle walls in your office cleaned? Unless the cubicle walls have food or drink splattered on the fabric, most office personnel don’t think about the allergens and germs that hide within the fabric. Cubicle walls should be cleaned on a regular basis to keep an office smelling clean and fresh.

Allergens

Indoor air quality is a problem in many buildings. The air quality involves more than the ventilation system. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, ten percent of the population is sensitive to dust mites and are dust mites are responsible for 90 percent of the allergic asthma cases.

Mold

Mold can be found anywhere there’s moisture. Mold will grow in any type of organic material and trigger asthma symptoms in people with allergic asthma. Not only will mold cause asthma, but it can also result in serious health issues if you’re exposed to it for a long period. Smart Commercial Cleaning Brisbane has years of experience keeping offices free of allergens and bacteria that can make employees sick.

Bacteria

Cough! Sneeze! Where do these germs go into the office? Into the fabric on the cubicle walls for the next person to touch. A sneeze or cough is not the only thing that causes bacteria on the cubicle walls. When was the last time a coworker washed their hands? Did they wash them long enough and use soap? Bacteria can be rubbed into the fabric on a cubicle wall from unsanitary practices of your coworkers.

They Are Expensive

Have you priced the amount of a cubicle wall recently? The cost of cubicle walls has drastically increased over the last ten years. It’s definitely a lot cheaper to have the cubicle walls cleaned in the office instead of replacing them. Regular cleaning will help to extend the life of the walls and reduce that added expense to the budget.

Face Lift

Let’s face it, as things age, they look old. Things that are kept clean and fresh last a lot longer and look a lot better. Cleaning cubicle walls will extend the life of the walls and provide the office with the added facelift it needs. Employees tend to keep their workplace cleaner when the surrounding space is properly maintained.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, over 50 million Americans alone suffer from various types of allergies and they are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness. Do you really want to be sick or suffering from asthma or allergies because of dirty cubicle walls?

A cleaning company or maid service should be ISO 9001 certified, and their employees should have a background check performed. Customers should never be concerned about their safety. The customers should also expect high cleaning standards and great customer service. Chemicals are often a concern of customers because of health and breathing issues. These concerns should always be discussed with the cleaning company before the job begins. Healthy work environments are easy when regular maintenance like cubicle wall cleaning is performed on a regular basis by a reputable company. Stop breathing the dust and germs in daily when you can breathe healthy and clean air instead.

LED Lighting And The Advantages For Making The Switch In Your Business Premises

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |LED Lighting|LED Lighting And The Advantages For Making The Switch In Your Business PremisesWhen it comes to our business locations, there is now more of a focus for us to be eco friendly with our approach to how we run things. Our business, the technology we use daily and also the way we handle our business dealings. However, when it comes to implementing these changes as a business, what can you do?

There are thankfully a lot of things that you can do to ensure that your business is greener. You can focus on recycling elements, where you make some changes to how you recycle things like old technology. Or at least making it easy for employees to recycle certain materials such as plastics and paper. You can make it a focus in terms of incentives for staff to use public transport or even a ride or walk to work scheme. However, there is one simp[le thing that you can do that will have a lasting difference, and that is changing the light bulbs to LED alternatives. But are there other benefits for doing this? Let’s discuss this point in more detail.

They are energy efficient

Did you know that LED lights are up to 85% more efficient than standard bulbs that you may be using or buying in your local DIY store? It is true that LED bulbs are much more efficient in terms of the amount of energy that they use. In comparison, you may need to purchase a higher wattage fluorescent bulb initially, but an LED equivalent will have a lower wattage, but will still give off the same light. Enabling your business to glow but using less power and energy to do it. Making it a more pleasant and well lit working environment.

Non toxic

Many of the flourescent bulbs that you can buy today will have toxic elements to them, that includes noxious elements such as mercury. LED bulbs contain no toxic elements at all. An older bulb that does have toxic parts can cause issues when they are thrown out and no longer needing to be used. Heading to landfill they can contaminate the environment. Disposal should be done through a dedicated company that can dispose of the toxic elements efficiently, but this is less likely to happen day to day, especially when you have other things to focus on in your business. With an LED bulb, you don’t need to think about these things.

Less lighting in your home needed

As an LED bulb is powerful even at a lower wattage than a standard bulb, this can mean that you need less lighting overall. People tend to try and make more informed choices, and so while purchasing a standard bulb may choose a lower wattage, but this can mean sacrificing on the strength and then doubling up on the amount of light you need. An LED bulb will be strong enough to give you the light you need.

Easy to get hold of

It used to be that needing to get hold of LED bulb alternatives was harder, and so people would choose a standard bulb that could be purchased in their local hardware store, but now LED bulbs are far more readily available. A quick look online to find an LED Lighting Store will help you to find a local supplier to even be able to purchase them online for even more ease. Make it easier means that you can now make a more informed choice with the bulbs you use to light up your business premises.

Longer life span

LED bulbs can often be seen as a more expensive purchase than a normal standard bulb, but while you may not be too happy with the initial cost, LED bulbs are seen as more of an investment. But in terms of the life span, an LED bulb will far outlive a standard bulb, which means that overall you emit lower carbon emissions. Some LED lights can last up to six times longer than a standard bulb and light, which means less replacements. In terms of looking at the bigger picture, less bulbs needed means less constraints when it comes to manufacturing and processing, which can also have a positive impact on the environment.

An investment and saving in the long term

Finally, we have already mentioned that there is an initial investment to make, as LED bulbs and lights can be seen as a little more expensive. But with them lasting up to six times longer than standard bulbs, the investment can offer a huge savings in the long term. Spending more now will give you the peace of mind that you are doing your bit for the environment, and making your business more eco-friendly by just a switch of a bulb.

Let’s hope this has made you more aware of the advantages to LED lights in your business and encouraged you to invest.

How To Improve Your Business Operations

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article|Business operations|How To Improve Your Business OperationsEffective business operations are key to the short and long-term success of any institution. That is why this article is here to shed some light on what you can do, as a business owner and entrepreneur, in order to improve these operations in the first place.

First and foremost, you will need to set certain goals and follow through with them. What are you working towards as an organization? In addition to this, make sure that you always hire the best possible employees, use automated software programs, talk to business consultants, and, of course, remain transparent.

Set goals and follow them

One of the most important things that you could do is to set business goals and follow through with them. What do you hope to achieve in both the short and long term? How much profit do you want to make? These are the types of questions that you should be asking yourself, but make sure that you are also very realistic about them.

Hire the best possible employees

Yet another consideration to keep in mind that will help improve your business operations is the type of employees that you will be hiring. At the end of the day, work gets done as a result of the numerous people that work for that company.

That is why you need to hire individuals that are not only knowledgeable in their field, but also fit well into the larger company culture. Is everyone able to effectively work together in a team, for instance?

Use automated software programs

With advancements in technology, there are now also a number of different automated operations that you can adopt in your organization. For instance, certain tasks that would take a few hours to complete now only require a few minutes thanks to these automated programs. One such example could be HR programs that help organize and file employee information, and so on.

Talking to a consultant

There are business consultants available for a reason, and they can always help you work through any struggles that you might be facing throughout your company’s lifespan. There may be moments where you feel overwhelmed, and you simply don’t know what the next step to take is.

It is exactly during these moments that you should seek the advice from a well- established small business coach.

Remain transparent

As a company, if you want people to trust you, you will need to remain transparent. No matter what stage of the operation this is at, keep in mind that if you are making any promises or large-scale statements about your products, you must also be able to deliver on those.

Keep in mind that improving business operations is always a process, and it takes awhile until you might notice the results that you are hoping for. Still, that is exactly why perseverance is key to any business venture. Above this, don’t forget to be strategic about the course of your operations on a daily basis. When you notice that something is not working out, as you initially planned, never underestimate just how much of an impact changing directions can make.