As a business owner, you put a lot of energy, time, and money into your business. At the end of the year what can your business give back to you? As a sole proprietor or LLC, there are a number of tax deductions you can claim. Whether you use a home office or rent office space, keeping track of what…
Social Media is so important to businesses today. Businesses post continually to FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google + in hopes of attracting new customers. The problem is with all the posting businesses do, they do not actively start or continue existing discussions. Without the interactive aspect of Social Media, they just have, well, media. Though Social Media is similar to other…
Have you ever had a customer place an order and cancel it because they could get it faster elsewhere? I had this happen to one of my clients. The customer placed the order on Tuesday and arranged delivery for Saturday. On Wednesday, the customer cancelled his order. This customer admitted to calling other companies after he had placed his order; even…
Having a ton of tasks scheduled everyday, I find I am more productive in the morning and afternoon. The later in the day, the less drive I have to start on something new or even complete what I am working on. I have more focus and better concentration early morning or mid-day. What about you? Do you get more tasks…
When running a business office, you’re not only managing people but managing the equipment and supplies your employees work with. Maintenance of office equipment and keeping supplies in stock is important. Yes, as important as maintaining good relationships with your employees and customers. Have you ever printed a document only to find the ink or paper had run out. Hopefully,…
I have hired a number of employees and even fired a few. Both decisions are difficult to make, especially after being burned by a bad employee. Bad employees affect everyone from you, the employees they work with, and the customers they interact with. You can lose business because of terrible customer service or lose a valued employee if you don’t fire…
Some of the biggest mistakes a manager can make involve how they interact with their staff. Most people believe a manager is responsible only for their department’s workload. This is not true. Managers are also responsible for their staff’s knowledge and well-being. Managing the workload may come as second nature to most managers however, managing people takes skill, perseverance, and…
One of the most important aspects of running your business is keeping track of finances. You want to know who is paying you and who you owe money to. A good accounting program will help you stay on top of the money that is flowing through your business. Being aware of your financial picture helps you make informed decisions about…