Business Guides

5 Methods to Save Money as a Small Business

Owning a newly established small business can be difficult. If you are someone that owns a small business, then you will know just how hard it can be to cover all of your general costs while also trying to run a successful business.

Though you may not want your business to be all about money, it is hard to deny that money isn’t an important factor when it comes to running a business. As a business, you depend on your financial income and you have to make sure that your incoming and outgoing costs are balanced, which can be difficult to do. Saving money should be the priority of every small business and here are 5 methods that you can use to save your small business money.

 

Don’t hire too many staff

A very common mistake that brand new businesses often make is hiring too many staff. Staff is a key part of ensuring that your business operates smoothly, but when you are a small business you don’t really need that many staff.  If you have staff, then they will expect to work at least sixteen hours a week and if you have a lot of staff, the wage cost will be quite expensive.

Our recommendation is to start off with minimal staff and if you believe you need more help, then hire someone else. This means that you can manage your money better and pay your current staff a reasonable wage.

Hunt for deals

Many people think that business owners have to stick by wholesale prices, but this really isn’t the case. If you can get your products for a very cheap price, then you can sell them for a little more and turn a very good profit.

There are many ways that you can save money on your products. For example, if you buy a bulk order of a product then you can get it much cheaper.  Also be sure to look out for any coupons that you can use,  be sure to check out top1 coupons and deals to see if there is anything that may benefit your business.

Go online

If you are a small business and you are struggling with the costs of operating a store, we recommend that you move your business online. Moving online cuts out a lot of the costs that come with owning a business. Rent and utility costs can take a large chunk of your profits, which means that you may not start to see any returns for quite a while because of this. A lot of people prefer online shopping these days, so you may even notice an increase in sales if you do decide to move online.

Do your own advertising

Another big cost that comes with owning a small business is advertising. A great way to cut these costs is by working on your own advertising. A great way to advertise your business is actually with the bags that you give to your customers. If you have a vibrant logo and a customer walks around with your bag for the rest of your shopping trip, then other people may notice this and they may feel the need to check out your shop themselves.

Look for good utility deals

Gas and electricity can be very expensive and so it is important that you don’t settle on the first deal that you come across. Something that you may not know is that you can actually haggle with a lot of utility providers in order to get a good deal, so take the time to shop around and find the best possible deal.

Studying Business: Techniques to Help Survive Your Exam

The importance of your business exams cannot be stressed enough if you are planning on graduating and getting your final industry qualification, the exams are notorious for their length and intensity with many saying that they are the hardest exams that they have ever done before. I don’t mean to stress you out with the harshness but it would be unwise to downplay the situation from what it is. Taking your business exam is a crucial part of your career and a bit of stress could provide you with the motivation that you need to be successful.  

 

If you are looking for ways that you can help revise what you need to know in order to ensure that you are fully prepared for this intense exam then you will be glad to know that there are a number of things that you can do. A lot of what makes up effective revisions is ensuring that the sources you are using are reliable and clear in what they are trying to say, with something as complex as a business in particular it can be easy to lose the information in what is generally a lot of unnecessary jargon. 

 

Study Guides

When it comes to studying for any exam it is always going to be a good idea for you to invest in the relevant study guide that is provided by your independent examination board, doing this means that you have access to all of the relevant information and topics that you are going to be tested on. Rather than wasting time looking over things that are not going to come up you can simply check the study guide and expand upon the given topics if you wish to get some extra points for context on the subject.  

 

If you are entering your first year within your business study then you will definitely need the cfa level 1 study guide which is filled with all of the relevant examination board topics that will be covered during this study period. They may be expensive but if they can help get you onto the road to success in both your educational and professional lives I would argue the price is worth it, but if you are looking to find study guides at a more affordable price point why not try buying secondhand from an online retailer as many people give them away when they no longer need them or have finished the course.  

 

FlashCards

 A great way to ensure that you remember all of the information that you need when it comes to your exam revision would be to split things up into categories and put small segments of the information onto individual flashcards. Using a single word prompt on one side to help you remember what is on the other side you can very quickly memorize large amounts of information in a very effective way, flashcards are portable too so that you can continue revising on the go and no matter where you are.  

 

Audio Books

A great way to ensure you are doing effective revision for your business exam would be to switch up the way you are taking in the information, by listening to relevant audiobooks and having the information spoken to you rather than reading it yourself is actually very effective for many people. If you do not have access to any audiobooks why not record yourself or a friend reading out your notes so that you have another extremely portable and effective form of revision that can also be quite a relaxing way of doing things.  

 

The 5 Hottest Businesses in San Antonio

San Antonio is a busy place with a large population. For this reason, there is always a demand for new businesses to meet the needs of the people of San Antonio. As well as being an extremely populated place, San Antonio is also extremely trendy.  San Antonio has gained a reputation as a hub for all that is cool and in right now and in order to be successful, local businesses have to abide by this look closely. Luckily for these businesses, many of them have thrived and have managed to stay current and popular with the people of San Antonio, even businesses that aren’t considered to be too glamorous. Here are the 5 hottest businesses in San Antonio.  

At Home Party 

There is nothing that the people of San Antonio love more than a good party. The clubs of San Antonio are fantastic, but getting into a club can be extremely difficult and the entry cost can be extremely expensive. For this reason, more and more people are choosing to have parties at home. The people of San Antonio don’t just throw your standard parties and for that reason they need party planners, which is where the At Home Party company comes to help. They completely plan your party and simply request for you to cover the costs, which saves people a lot of time. 

At The Cleaners 

With all the parties that are constantly happening, there is bound to be a lot of mess. At The Cleaners has been tidying up the homes of busy San Antonio citizens for the last 4 years and they offer guaranteed customer satisfaction when i0t comes to the quality of their cleaning. If you are someone that is expecting the visit of home inspection services in San Antonio, then you will want to make sure that your home is as clean as possible.  

Business Mentors UCR 

As previously stated, there are lots of businesses in San Antonio and for that reason, it can take a lot of work in order to have a successful business among all of the congestion. Business Mentors UCR is a business that offers advice to businesses that are just starting up, as well as offering them business connections to allow them to network with people who can allow their business to gain success.  

The Bar 

We couldn’t write a top five of San Antonio’s hottest businesses without mentioning one of the many bars that they have. The Bar is one of the most popular bars in San Antonio and it is said that every party goer finishes their night at the Bar for some inexpensive drinks and fantastic music that gets everyone re-energized and back into the party mood after a long night. Something that The Bar offers that everyone loves is free toast at 6 am, which is extremely useful for anyone that has been too busy partying instead of eating. This shows just how much the business cares about its customers as they do all they can to try and help them avoid hangovers.  

The Know-How 

If you are someone that loves trendy clothes but doesn’t have a clue where to start, then you are going to love The Know-How. This business offers a personal shopping experience that promises to find you clothes that cater to your personal tastes but do not break the bank. You simply send the company reference pictures of the clothes you like the style of, along with your sizes and color preferences. They then use this information to completely restock your wardrobe and rejuvenate your look.  

Why do a lot of Business People play Golf?

Whilst isn’t exclusively business people who enjoy a leisurely game of golf, a lot of businesspeople visit the golf course much more often than the average person. Every time you visit the course you’ll always see groups of suited-up business people in the middle of a game, it also is commonly featured in films because it does happen so often. So if you’ve ever wondered why so many business people play golf then keep reading because we’ve found all the reasons golfing is good for business people.

Networking

One of the main reasons that you’ll always see business people on a golf course is because it presents some fantastic networking opportunities. To be successful in business you need to forge as many relationships and friendships as possible as it’s a very interpersonal industry.

Everyone has heard the saying ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ and the golf course is a great place to expand your circles and meet people who may be able to help you. As golf is a long game it gives you several hours of quality time to impress whoever you’re playing golf with whether it’s an interviewer for a new job or if you’re delivering a pitch to a potential investor, it’s a great environment and has a relaxed atmosphere so it’s no surprise that so many business deals are completed on the golf course. It’s also a good way to get some extra time with people, first impressions are important when forging a relationship but you can’t establish a relationship with one meeting and they’ll be more likely to say yes to playing a game of golf than they will a meeting in a formal setting. Once you’ve secured a game of golf then remember that you’ll be with the other players for hours and you’re there to enjoy yourselves and have a fun game of golf as well as to discuss business so don’t jump right in with the business talk, you’ll know when the time is right to bring it up. If you’re playing a game of golf with people that you’re trying to impress then you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the basics of the game down even if you aren’t great, I used to struggle but I vastly improved at golf with an indoor home golf simulator which I can’t recommend enough if you don’t have time to get to the course to practice.

Character Building

Golf is one of the most challenging and frustrating sports to play, you can practice and practice and start to see some improvement but sometimes even though you don’t do anything differently you can have an awful day where everything goes wrong. As frustrating as this is at the time it builds character as you’ll be able to learn from the bad game and next time you perform poorly you’ll be in a better position to deal with it. This skill is transferrable to business as you’ll have a lot of unsuccessful meetings and you need to know how to pick yourself back up after a bad one and keep going.

Health Reasons

Many business people spend hours a day every day sat at a desk looking at a computer.  This isn’t good for their health to be sat down all day, a golf course however has to be big and a game of golf on average involves 4 miles of walking. Even a weekly game of golf for a business person can massively add to improving their health. It also has a great impact on mental health as well as physical health, the fresh air, the social interaction, and the nice surroundings are shown to improve mood which many business people need after a 60 hour week A business person has a very stressful job and playing golf is also linked to lowering stress levels and can even boost confidence which is an important quality in a business person. The health benefits of golf are so good that a study showed that golfers live 5 years longer than non-golfers because of these benefits.

The Ins and Outs of Getting Settled in Australia

Immigrating to Australia is an exciting time in anyone’s life. If you decided to take the plunge and move to the land of sunshine, you have a great adventure ahead of you. Filled with sunny beach days, incredible BBQs, and a lot of exotic animals.

But moving to Australia also comes with its own set of challenges that are less fun to navigate. And often, for those unprepared, a lot of these issues can blindside you. So we have put together a helpful guide that will walk you through the Ins and Outs of getting settled in the beautiful land of Australia.

 

The Heat

This is the biggest issue you will face as it is also the most unavoidable one. Australia is hot. It is easy to look at the sunny views presented in the media and fall in love. But we often forget how hot it actually is.

Australians are acclimatized to the heat, due to years of exposure. And after a while, your body will also start to acclimatize to it as well. But for the first few months, or maybe a year, you will be struggling. So you need to find ways to beat the heat.

Firstly, stay hydrated. You will need to drink a lot more water than you normally do, at least until your body stops sweating so much. Secondly, try to stick to the shade as much as possible. The temptation to build up a tan is going to be there, but trust us you want to be kind to your skin.

 

Legal Help

A different country means different laws. And not just the day to day laws but the more intricate issues such as inheritance, permits, and smaller legal details like that. You don’t want to make an innocent mistake that ends up costing you a small fortune in legal fees.

To that end, you will want to find a good legal firm that can quickly go over all the finer details with you. You will need to reorganize your will and inheritance forms to adhere to Australian laws and make sure your visa and working permits are all up to scratch. You can find a good list of legal firms here.

 

Insects

Australia is famous for its wildlife. In particular its insect life. You cant mention the country without someone making a joke about poison spiders sneaking into your shoes or snakes coming out of your pipes.

But these jokes are sadly based on truth. These things can happen. The snake one is a lot less likely, but chances are you will start finding spiders or bugs everywhere. You will want to check the list of native wildlife that will be present in the area you have decided to move to.

You will then need to take the necessary precautions to deal with them. You won’t be allowed to go around destroying habitats or ecosystems. That is a big no. But you can secure your home with a variety of anti-bug gadgets and stock up on bug spray. You will want to invest in bug screens and keep your shoes safe in a box to make sure no insects take refuge in them. And also make sure to check them before you put them on, just in case.

 

We hope this has helped you figure out your first move when you arrive in Australia. It is a beautiful country filled with natural wonders, friendly people, and rich in history and culture.

 

 

How to Stay Business Competitive in Post Lock-down America

The world has been forever changed by the COVID pandemic. We have seen a significant shift in, not only the way we interact with each other on a daily basis but how our businesses are able to function. Moving forward, there have to be dramatic shifts in safety procedures, staff contracting and rights, and customer interactions.

And a lot of businesses aren’t going to survive. That is the rough and sad truth of it. The American economy is struggling and some places just aren’t fit to cope in this new landscape.

But there is hope. Humanity is, if nothing else, adaptable. We can change our society and practices to work around whatever the latest threat is. And the same is true of the business world. It, and those that want to succeed within it, need to be adaptable.

So we are going to go through some tips to help you stay business competitive in the new world of Post Lockdown America.

 

Care for Your Staff

A business is only as good as its weakest staff member. And this is especially true while COVID is still about. You need to make sure your staff is provided all the necessary equipment and you install all the needed safety precautions to make sure they are safe and also that they feel comfortable.

But you also want to make sure they have job security. There is no point cutting staff down to save money, only for your business to fail due to lack of staff. So even if it means taking a pay cut yourself or getting a loan, make sure you are able to look after your staff.

 

Keep It Clean

Now more than ever customers are going to be acutely aware of dirty or unsanitary environments. The pest control services from pinnaclepest estimate that almost 4 million rodents were displaced due to the sudden closure of restaurants and bars. And when they re-open there will be massive rodent issues.

So you need to make sure your cleaning equipment and practices are up to snuff. You need to make sure your facilities are rodent proof. You need to install hand sanitizers and make sure everywhere is sparkling clean every day. Even if this means hiring more janitorial staff, you need to be on top of this.

 

Marketing

Your post lockdown marketing is important. You need to let your customers know that you are still in business and, more importantly, that you value them and their safety.

To that end, you might want to start thinking about ways to pass savings onto the customers. Offering deals might seem like a bad idea during a recession. But if you can get customers in the door because of discount prices, you will make more money overall. If you don’t offer enticing deals, you will most likely get no customers.

You also want to make sure you are being clear with your new restrictions and rules regarding customer and staff safety. What is your mask policy? Can customers come inside the store? Will they be able to stay two-feet apart from each other? You want to avoid any unpleasant situations caused by misinformation, so make sure you are perfectly clear on all these fronts.

 

The biggest thing to remember in all this is the community. Everyone has been struggling. But it is only together than we can pull through. So make sure you keep that mentality going forward as we are not out of the woods yet by any means.

 

Essential Services: What Classifies A Business As Essential?

Essential Services. This is a term that has been thrown around a lot this past year. As the world has undergone one of the most drastic pandemics in recent history, Essential Workers have stepped up and provided us all with the help and support we needed. But what does the word ‘Essential’ actually mean in this context?

Of course, in the very base definition, it means a service that is needed more than any other. That much is obvious. Essential Services are ones we cannot do without. Firefighters, Doctors, and Nurses, water and power facilities. But it goes deeper than that. We are going to briefly explain what it is to be an Essential Service. The perks that come with it. And a few reasons why you don’t actually want your own business to be an essential service.

 

Security

The biggest advantage of an essential service is, of course, the security that comes with it. Essential services are regulated and maintained by legislation. This is handled at the governmental level, either for a specific country or from a collective body such as the UN.

This means the services are needed and will not shut down during turbulent times, as we have seen during this pandemic. It means those working in these sectors will still be earning a living wage and won’t be sitting idle. This is also a huge benefit to those relying on these services.

 

What Is Essential

Aside from the most obvious answers, there are a few other sectors of the business world that you might be surprised to learn are classified as essential services. An example is Pest Control. In America, very recently, pest control was deemed an essential service. This means companies like permakillexterminating or ampest are now essential.

This is fantastic, as the vast majority of these firms are privately owned and, as such, provide massive benefits to them and the local economy as well.

Supply chains are also considered essential, meaning fleets of delivery drivers, factory floor workers, and other management areas are going to be kept in work. This provides a further support channel to keep the economy afloat.

Construction is a field most people wouldn’t realize is classified as essential. Due to the vast numbers of people employed in this field, and the constant need for their services, it would be impossible for it not to receive Essential status.

Reading this, you might be wondering how being an essential service could ever be seen as negative for a business. Allow us to explain.

 

Restrictions

The legislation put upon these services works both ways. It provides security for those working, and those benefitting from the services. The biggest security point being a lot of these labor forces are not allowed to strike. This might sound extreme, but that is the price that is paid for being essential. A strike would be devastating to everyone involved.

These services are also forced to adhere to strict regulations and rules. There is no room for innovation or compromise. The red-tape is out in full force.

All of this works together to create an environment that does not benefit a lot of businesses.  It really is reserved for those aspects of society that we cannot do without.

But don’t dismay. The benefits of being a non-essential, or what is called a minimum service, are fantastic. You are supported by a lot more labor laws and the freedom to strike. You aren’t hampered by strict government regulations and have a lot more freedom and control over your business.

Why Video Marketing is Essential for Businesses in 2020

The digital age has come in full force. It is impossible to avoid it. The internet has become a hotbed of activity and consumerism. And you would be a fool not to utilize it. Video marketing is one of the most powerful and essential tools for any business. No matter what it is you sell, you will be losing out if you aren’t utilizing video marketing.
By this point, you should know who your target demographic is and have done plenty of market research. All of this is vital to creating a successful video advertisement. Below I will be listing the reason why video marketing vital and also a few tips on how to get the most out of your marketing.

YouTube

YouTube is a behemoth. The biggest and most viewed video platform on the planet. Everyone is on there and that means adverts on YouTube can reach everywhere. A company without a YouTube presence is already at a disadvantage. But it can be daunting stepping into the world of YouTube. Starting from zero views and working up is not easy. But there are ways around it. For YouTube views on my videos, I simply use themarketingheaven.com. Simply put they will provide you views for your video and give you that boost you need to get your marketing into the public eye. While YouTube is the primary video platform, do not be afraid to branch out into other video platforms as well such as Vimeo or Dailymotion.

Relatability

A key to successful advertisements is relatability. Your audience needs to be able to view your marketing and find something within it that they want or can relate to. Otherwise, they are simply going to ignore it. Print media is fine, but people can relate better with things they can see and hear. Videos are perfect for this. Showing scenarios that highlight your product that also allow your viewers to relate to the video will boost your sales enormously. To that end, you will also be able to relate to your target demographic by hiring actors or presenters that fit into that demographic and are relatable to your audience. This is also a great opportunity to stretch your creative muscles.

Print is Dead

Print advertising used to be a powerhouse. But these days people rarely buy print media. Newspapers and magazines sell less and less and often only to specific demographics. If you are a niche organization then maybe print media will be enough. But for the vast majority, you cannot rely on it. Digital marketing is the way forward. But to a greater extent, you can’t rely on simply static digital marketing either. If it isn’t a video, then people are often going to ignore it or even bypass it with an ad-blocker. Whereas having your own channel with your own videos means people will be gripped and able to view your content whenever.

5 Key Skills Needed to run a Successful Digital Business

Hundreds of people try their hand at starting up and running a digital business. And a vast majority of them fail. Some through fault of their own, others due to bad luck. But what ever the cause, there are a few things that separate those that succeed from those that fail. These 5 skills will help give you an edge when running your digital business.

Know your Audience

This is one of the simplest, yet effective things you have to be aware of when running a digital business. Unlike a normal high-street store, you won’t have the luxury of seeing who is buying your product up close. You will have to look through the data and do market research. But it is worth it. Being aware of your target demographic is priceless when it comes to success.

Branding

Despite your business being digital, your branding needs to be everywhere. Online marketing is a powerful tool, but there is something to be said for physical marketing as well. Getting your business brand onto as many different things as possible will help immensely. Pamphlets and leaflets. Pens and bottles. Wristbands with a message. All of these things are great examples of tools you can use to get your brand out there.

Dedication

This is more a personal skill you need to develop rather than a business aspect. Those who aren’t dedicated to their business are doomed to fail. Dedication is a skill you can instil in your self and it will become invaluable to you. Train your self to stick to a set schedule and allot time to work on your business. It is easy to fall into bad habits when you only have yourself to answer to.

Money Management

This is a vital skill for any business. And it goes beyond simply knowing how to spend your money. You need to be able to keep track of your income and expenditure. Keep on top of taxes and making sure you are filing them correctly.

It is also about knowing what to spend the money on. What do you invest in and will that investment work for you and your business or is it superfluous? Keeping yourself grounded and focused is the key to this skill.

Confidence

The world of business is often cut-throat and harsh. You will face rejection and failure on a regular basis. Not every day will be a winner and there will come hard times. It is important to keep your head high and focus on the little victories and know, with hard work and dedication, there are better times ahead.

More than that, being confident will reflect in your business and marketing, which in turn will attract more customers and increase your profits. People are naturally attracted to confidence and it inspires something within them. Remind your self that you can do this and that you are worthy of success and it will come to you.

How Companies Use Instagram to Turn a Profit

Big companies will utilize any tool at their disposal to turn a profit. It is the nature of capitalism that profit turns the world. And as much as you may or may not agree with it, it is the world we live in.

The best weapon you have at your disposal is knowledge. How you use that knowledge is up to you. But today we want to level the playing field by helping you learn about professional instagram accounts and how companies use them accounts to turn a profit.

The Power of Knowledge

You might be wondering why you would ever need to know any of this. If you are approaching this article as a business owner, then the information provided will give you an insight into how powerful a marketing tool Instagram can be. When used correctly, you can boost your business and turn a profit easily.

From the consumer side, it is important to understand what tactics businesses use to market themselves to you. This helps you better spend your money and allows you to notice things that might not seem like an advert at first, but on closer inspection, you might see it actually is.

Direct Marketing

Most big companies these days will have a number of social media accounts associated with their brand. Coca-Cola has a Twitter. Mcdonalds has a Facebook page. And all of them will make use of Instagram.

The most obvious advantage of Instagram for these companies is the ability to visually market their products. Nothing helps sell a product better than seeing it with your own two eyes. Especially with food-related products. In the past companies would use billboards and posters to achieve this. But this required physically being near the marketing to experience it. With Instagram, they can reach millions of people for free.

By adding to their stories they can actively engage with their customers as well. This doubles down as it tricks people into engaging with them, without realizing they are being marketed to.

 

Indirect Marketing

The more sneaky ways of marketing are what you need to be aware of. It is through these methods a company is able to secure a lot more profit and spread their influence.

The main way of doing this is with product placement. Companies will pay popular Instagram accounts to sneak their products into their live streams or photos. In the same sense of doing this with a TV show, it lets their product be seen without drawing direct attention to it. Studies have shown that this form of advertising affects us subconsciously.

Companies will pay out hundreds upon thousands of dollars to influencers to have them talk about their products. But they manage to mask this by having the influencer talk about the product as if they aren’t being sponsored. This practice is slowly dying out as Instagram is putting safeguards to make sure users are informing people if their content is being sponsored and by whom.

Another sneaky advertising method comes in the form of comedy. Companies like Wendy’s have seen massive success by using their Twitter account to roast people and tell jokes, rather than advertising their products. But this has the knock-on effect of making people associate happiness and laughter with the product in question. These unconscious associations are worth more to a company than any direct advertising. Once a brand is in your unconscious mind, it has secured profit from you.