Business Guides

How to Set up The Perfect Office When Working From Home

If you are one of the lucky few, then you have continued to work from home since rules started to change around whether or not you could go to work. For the last couple of years, people were asked to stay at home to work in order to protect the general public from the spread of covid.

However, in the last couple of months, people that are able to have been returning back to work. The majority of people that work in manual labor or similar practices have now returned to work, but people that can work in an office or do computer work have been given the option to work from home.

A lot of people prefer going into the office, as it gives them a chance to get out of the house and communicate with people that live outside their household. However, some people have got used to working from home and it works around their lifestyle better than going into the office.

If you were working from home during the pandemic, then it is likely that you were guilty of working from your bed. Not only does working from your bed have a negative impact on your physical health, but it can also get in the way of your productivity.

In order to be able to work from home successfully, you need to have your own at-home office. This may mean converting a bedroom or a spare room. If you have never made your own office before, you may not know what you need to include or what you need. Here is how to set up the perfect office when working from home.

Large Desk

A big mistake that a lot of people make when they are setting up their home office is buying a small desk. When you are setting up your office, it can be tempting to get a small desk that does not take up too much room. As humans, it is a normal habit for us to focus on aesthetics before practicality.

You may think that you only need a desk for your laptop or computer, but once you start actually working, you realize that a lot of other items take up space too. Though businesses operate mainly online these days, it is likely that you will have to deal with some paperwork or files, which you will need to be able to access when you are on your computer.

If you do not have space for your computer and other materials, then you will likely get frustrated or start to lose things. For this reason, it is worth getting a large desk to work from. I would recommend an L shape desk. This way you will be able to work on your computer on one side of the desk and then do paperwork on the other side without any confusion.

Good Desk Chair

When you spend a lot of your working hours sitting down, something that you will notice is that you start to experience back pains and long-term issues. One of the main reasons why this is the case is because of poor back support caused by a poor chair.

Think about it this way, you are going to be spending hours and hours sitting down to work, so you may as well be comfortable while you are sitting down. If you are not sure what kind of computer chair you should get, you should go with what people that have years of experience in office work use. From my experience, employees prefer task chairs because of their versatility and comfort. They are also incredibly compact, which makes them easy to tuck away, meaning that they do not take up too much space.

If you are not sure about using task chairs, I would shop around until you find something that fits your style. Do be sure to check for back support when you are searching.

Filing Cabinet

When you are working from home, it is likely that you will have a lot of paperwork sent to you from the office. This paperwork is crucial to the success of your business and so you have to take care of it. It can be easy to safely stack a few files to the side, but when the files start to build up, you will need a better filing system.

The files that you take home are very important for your business and so you should do everything that you can to make sure that the files are as safe as possible. When you think of a filing cabinet, you probably imagine big unattractive metal cabinets with a very little style. However, this is not what all filing cabinets look like.

You can find some incredibly stylish cabinets that come at a more than reasonable price. You want to make sure that you can keep track of what files you have, so be sure to have room on the door where you can put labels that say what is inside every drawer.

Though filing cabinets do take up a lot of space, they are well worth buying. Without them, you will quickly notice that your files will become confused and mixed up, which will make your work life much harder than it needs to be.

Always remember to keep digital copies of your files, as they could be compromised and you don’t want to lose all of your hard work.

Protective Measures You Have to Think About as a Business Owner

In an ideal world, no one would ever have to worry about anything. People would be kind to one another all the time. There would be no crime. No poverty. No misfortune. Sadly we do not live in an ideal world. In fact, you could say we live in an often less than ideal world. Once sadly riddled with crime. And as a business owner, you are more susceptible to crime than most others.

And it isn’t just criminals that will be gunning to get a slice of your business. Competitors as well will constantly try to undercut you or steal clients away from you. Disgruntled former customers or employees can make your life hell as well. But there is a lot that can be done to mitigate all of these risks. So we are going to take a look at the various protective measures you should be thinking about as a business owner.

Physical Security Measures

If you are running a traditional business with a publicly open storefront then you will firstly need to invest in some serious physical security measures. Australia might have lower crime rates than some other countries, but it still has a lot of crime. So it is prudent to invest in security as much as possible.

A top-notch alarm system is a must-have. You will want to find a security firm that offers 24/7 security monitoring. If someone breaks in you want the police notified asap and someone monitoring the system from afar. You’ll also want to invest in some heavy-duty roller shutters. These will make it far more difficult for someone to break into your property from the front. Global Roller Shutters has plenty of shutters available in Melbourne while Industry Shutters is the go-to for anyone operating out of Sydney. We cannot stress enough how important it is to not skimp on these two security measures.

You will also want to invest in a sturdy, secure safe. Even if you keep no money on the premises overnight, you will want a safe on-site to store extra cash and important documents during the working day. It isn’t just at night that criminals operate. Some are bold and rash enough to strike during the day. So you will want to have that extra layer of security on site.

Digital Security

Thirty years ago most businesses wouldn’t even need to consider any sort of digital security. Technology wasn’t as advanced and the internet wasn’t around. Companies were blissfully unaware of how complicated things would become. Nowadays, cyber threats are sometimes more serious than a thief robbing your store at night.

Hackers. Identity thieves. Scammers. All of them have made the internet their battleground. And if your business doesn’t have ample security, chances are it will be attacked and you could lose everything. So you need to invest in good cyber-security.

We recommend hiring a cyber-security company to fit all your networks and systems with advanced firewalls. These companies usually offer 24/7 security, meaning someone will be ready to handle any threats that might pop up. You would also do well to make use of a VPN. A virtual private network is a great security tool that adds an extra layer of security between you and potential hackers. And it can keep your business location safe. Especially useful if you are operating out of your home.

For an online business, you will need more advanced cybersecurity. If a hacker gets into your website they could take everything. So you will want layers upon layers of protection around your website and servers.

Employee Confidentiality

Not every threat to your business is in the form of criminal activity. Sometimes it is just old-fashioned business competition that can ruin you. And any business is only as strong as its weakest link. Many businesses have been toppled by careless employees saying something they weren’t meant to or selling off information to a rival.

This is why you need a proper employee contract with many security clauses in it. You should ensure that all your staff knows that they cannot breach confidentiality without serious repercussions. This includes selling off client tips to your opposition. You should thoroughly vet all your employees before hiring them to ensure you aren’t hiring someone with a history of this behavior.

Insurance

Speaking of non-criminal threats to your business, we need to talk about insurance. Unexpected financial costs can devastate a company. And more often than not it is impossible to prepare for the situation that leads to the hefty fees. This is why you need to invest in top-tier business insurance.

Business insurance is designed to protect you against claims from disgruntled customers. Everyone makes mistakes. But some customers aren’t content with letting bygones be bygones and will try to get some money out of you. Without proper insurance, you could end up losing a lot of your money.

Employee insurance is also a necessary addition to your business. If a member of staff hurts themself while on shift, you are liable if they decide to sue. Especially if the accident was due to negligence of another member of staff or due to a safety issue on site. Employee insurance, again, protects you against having to pay out of pocket for a settlement if they decide to take legal action against the company.

Easy Ways to Keep Your Office Clean

You’re surrounded by a million germs (maybe even more) as you sit at your computer, type on your keyboard, and sip from your coffee cup.

Your workplace surfaces are, in fact, one of the top bacteria hotspots that you come in contact with every day.

According to a survey, desks and keyboards can be breeding grounds for bacteria, but these surfaces are rarely cleaned.

One-third of respondents said they clean their keyboard and mouse about once a month; about three-quarters said they clean their desk about once a month.

These bad habits can lead to a germ-filled office, potentially making you sick and affecting work.

So, learning to keep your office clean is vital to ensure a healthy and comfortable working space.

How to keep your office clean?

Here are proven ways to keep your office clean:

• Clear the space. Take everything off the desk, drawers, and shelves. Having cleared your desk, drawers, and shelves, now is the perfect time to wipe and clean off every surface. Clean off all surfaces and dust your computer equipment too.
• Check every item on the desk. It may surprise you to find out how many pens, paper folders, sticky notes, and other supplies you’ve had all this time! Take time to assess every item and get rid of those you don’t need. The aim is to get a spacious and more comfortable working desk!
• Rearrange your space. To make it easier for you to access items that you use regularly, keep them close at hand. If it seems like your space still gets messy a few minutes after decluttering, it’s time to consider redesigning your layout.
• Clean regularly. Clean your office regularly. Make sure to keep your things in their designated places after using them.
• Disinfect! Sanitize your desk with a disinfectant wipe at the end of the day to prevent germs from spreading and to keep the space immaculately clean.

What are the benefits of having a clean office?

Apart from having a comfortable working space, here are the other benefits of having a clean office:

• Increased productivity. Clean, organized offices are less distracting since there are no cluttered objects to look at. This improves concentration, resulting in better work. As a result, you become more productive!
• Better work environment. There is nothing more disturbing than walking into an office that looks like it’s been destroyed by a tornado or burglarized. A clean office promotes better relationships between workers, employers, and the company. Everyone should be inspired to work if their workspace environment is clean and tidy.
• Gives a good impression. An organized and clean office demonstrates your company’s loyalty and professionalism. You want to impress your prospective client or customer by having a clean and organized office the moment they walk through the door.

Final Words

There are many tactics that you can apply to keep your office clean. These include decluttering and learning to value every space in your office.

Keep the things you really need and get rid of stuff that’s wasting too much space in your office. Also, be sure to keep things in their designated places after using them.

One of the best maid services I found recommended applying the Marie Kondo way of organizing things to achieve a tidy and clean office. Basically, dispose of things that have no value.

Keeping your workspace clean and tidy presents various benefits such as increased productivity, better work performance, and a good impression on the company.

So, keep your office clean and be ready to seize the day!

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.

How to Improve Traffic to Your Business Website

If you are a business owner, something that you have likely done is create a business website. In this day and age, it is impossible for businesses to survive without an online presence, as we live in a very internet-orientated world.

If you have had a website made, you may be shocked that it is not getting the initial traffic that you thought it may. A very common mistake that a lot of business owners make is believing that people will just stumble across their business site. However, something that you have to keep in mind is that there are billions of different websites on the internet and people tend to only click on the first page of websites that pop up after a quick google search.

If you are getting very little traffic to your website, you may be thinking that the work you put into creating your website is useless. However, there is absolutely no need to give up, as there are many ways that you can increase the popularity of your website. Here is how to improve the traffic to your business website.

• Think About SEO

If you are someone that is not familiar with SEO, you will be glad to know that it is quite a straightforward process. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and it is a technique that is used all over the internet to improve the popularity of websites. Its intentions are within its name and these intentions are to make your website appear higher up in the google search engine.

This is done by creating posts on several websites that link to your business page. The more that your page is mentioned on the internet and the more that people click the link to your page, the more likely it is to appear higher in search engines.

There are plenty of businesses that can help you achieve online success and if you want a company with a lot of experience, you can employ the link building services at Outreach Monks, as they have years of experience when it comes to link building.

• Use Social Media

Another great way that you can improve the traffic to your business website is by using social media. Social media is a great way to reach out to potential customers and the best part about it is that it is completely free.

Right now there are a number of different social media platforms that you can use. If you want to use something that has proven to be reliable, you could choose to use something like Facebook, which puts a big focus on the promotion of businesses.

Though Facebook is a fantastic platform for business promotion, right now a lot of businesses are using TikTok to reach out to a potential audience. This is because TikTok is very visual-based, which allows businesses to promote the products and services that they are offering. You can link directly to your page from your TikTok video and so you will be able to gain much more traffic.

What to Look Out for When Buying a Second Hand Car for Your Business

Second hand cars are cheaper and practical to own, especially when your business requires daily road trips to get to your appointments.

Besides, there are various choices for second hand cars that are still in good condition, which you can get at a reasonable price.

Moreover, it is essential to know a few factors that can help you choose the right second hand car for your business.

But really, it’s not rocket science. All you have to do is inspect the car physically, take it for a quick spin, and if it all seems promising, you’re all set!

What to Consider When Buying a Second Hand Car for Your Business

Generally speaking, there are several factors to consider when buying a second hand car. These include price, mileage, the overall condition of the vehicle, and so on.

Obviously, no one wants an overpriced car. So, check and compare the prices of second hand cars in your area. The aim is to find something that is affordable and still running excellently.

In that sense, the overall condition of the car is vital too. You should inspect the vehicle inside and out to ensure it is in a good state. It would be wise to create a checklist of things to check before agreeing to buy a second hand car.

Of course, mileage is another thing to consider when buying a used vehicle. If a car has a mileage of 150,000 miles or more, it’s a well-maintained vehicle. It also shows that the car is mainly running due to regular care.

After taking all three factors into consideration, you can decide on picking the best second hand vehicle for your business.

What should you look out for when buying a second hand car?

Now:

Let’s look briefly at the top things you should check when buying a second hand car. These include dents and scratches, lights, tires, smell, and the engine.

Checking for dents and scratches is vital as it can help you determine the kind of repair that has been done on the vehicle. So, take your time to look at the interior and exterior parts of the car.

Also, check the lights to see if they’re all working. You can ask someone to see if all lights are working properly.

If tires do have severe wear, it’s a sign that the vehicle is not regularly maintained by rotating the wheels.

Another thing to look out for is the smell; you can usually identify any car problem through smell. A moldy smell is typically a sign of water leakage!

There’s usually a long list of things to look out for when purchasing a car for business or personal use. It’s also wise to expand your choices to ensure you acquire something that you can use practically.

Conclusion

Taking your time to check the interior and exterior parts of the car is essential when buying a second hand vehicle.

Also, you should keep in mind the features that can help things get easy for you if you’re running a business.

Moreover, you should also consider the cost of running a second hand car. If your newly-owned vehicle is over three years old, an MOT test is required by law to check its parts.

MOT Colchester Garage is one of the best MOT testing services if you reside in the UK!

Lastly, take the vehicle for a quick drive and test all its features before buying it.

Good luck, and may you get the best ride for your business!