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5 Things to Consider When Starting a Family Business

Starting a business is one of the most rewarding things you can ever do. Beyond simply being a solid investment, running a business builds character, boosts confidence, and offers a chance to do a lot of good for the community and the world as a whole. And some see it as a perfect opportunity to build something for their family. Family businesses have been a staple of local communities across the western world for generations. They build lasting relationships and are full of charm and character. For anyone looking to create something that they can run with their family, there are a few things to take into consideration.

 

The Idea

The most important part of any business is the idea. Before you do anything else you need to know what you want your business to actually be. This is also one of the more fun stages of company development. Here you can really stretch your creative muscles as a family and decide what sort of business you all want to be a part of. Some of the more common family businesses include craft stores, restaurants, and cafes or perhaps something more obscure like artisan watchmaking.

 

Start-up Capital

The sad truth of our culture is that everything is run on money. You could have the greatest idea in the world for your business, it won’t mean anything without some serious start-up capital to back it up. There are many ways to go about getting this, be it through a loan from your bank or simply saving up, but it is something you need to consider and look into before you start doing anything. And make sure you are staying smart when it comes to money. Do not borrow beyond your means or go through any illicit channels.

 

Inheritance

This one is something that a lot of people in family businesses seem to overlook. Inheritance plans need to be in place way before you even open to the public. And this is for a number of reasons. The main one being, if you died, it needs to be clear who is going to inherit the company. But there are situations where you could be declared unfit to work or placed in a state of coma in which case the inheritance information would be vital. Places like inheritancelaw are perfect for making sure everything is sorted and above board.

 

Community

The key aspect of a family business is the community it is placed within. If you are at the center of a major city then chances are your small family business is going to fail when it is competing with massive name-brand corporations. Small, family-run companies often tend to do better when placed in smaller town environments. In these settings, it is more common that everyone knows each other. This is going to work to your advantage as people are more likely to spend their money at a shop if they have a good relationship with the owner. This leads neatly into the last point.

 

Relationships

This covers both your relationships with your customers and your family. Depending on who is going to be working at the restaurant, you will want to set up your marketing and décor in accordance. A husband and wife duo will suit a nice, romantic atmosphere better. A father-son team will suit welcoming, vibrant colors. Consult some marketing experts and find out what is going to work best for you.

Keeping on the good side of your customers is always a positive. If you build strong relationships with them you will guarantee they will return but also find they act as free marketing for your venture.

Office Sports: Setting up and Running a Team

Do your employees look like they could do with a bit of a morale boost? Well, look no further as we have the perfect solution. Setting up your own office sports team. It may seem like a strange idea at first, but it actually has a huge number of benefits for everyone involved. It can help boost morale, help your employees, and coworkers bond and have fun all while keeping fit and getting your companies brand out there. So how would you go about setting up and running an office sports team? Here are some tips to help you get started.

Decide On Your Chosen Sport

The first step to creating your own office sports team is deciding on which sport you’re going to pursue. The smartest option is probably to do it democratically, either by putting sports into a hat or by leaving it up to a vote. You’re more likely to get more dedicated team members if it’s a sport most of the office is willing to do. Whether it be soccer, hockey, basketball, or baseball, there is any number of sports to choose from.

Set Up a Team Name

The next step is to decide on a team name. Probably another time to put it to a vote. It can help your employees/co-workers feel more heard and make them more likely to want to play for a team they helped to name. Once you decide, why not check out companies like merchology to get your own personalized team shirts with your team name printed on them. It’ll help you all look the part and feel like a real team. You could even have some fun with nicknames on the back of shirts (just be sure to keep it appropriate).

Sign Up For Charity Events

Many office teams take part in charity tournaments and for good reason. It’s a great way to get some experience playing against other teams and offices whilst also doing your part for good causes. You’ll be sure to find a whole host of tournaments near you.

Organize Practices

While you may not be professionals, it’s still worth taking time out to organize practice sessions. Sites like runningandmiles are designed to put all the best equipment and exercise apps all in one place. With a bit of research, you’ll be able to organize a simple training program for your teammates to help them make the most out of the sport.

Do Your Research

As with any sort of venture, the best thing you can do is do your research. There are plenty of already established office teams out there that you can learn from when creating your own. Make sure to brush up on health and safety and research ways on how to manage the cost of running the team in the most effective way. If you’re well-researched and have learned from some of the best, then there should be nothing stopping you from creating the next best office sports team.

It’s Just a Bit of Fun

While it should go without saying, it’s important to remember that the point of the sports team is for your office to have some fun with each other outside of work. While a bit of healthy competition may be fun, don’t let your need to win and be the best cloud your judgment. Don’t forget that the people in the office have chosen to give up some of their precious time to take part. Make sure they are having fun and don’t feel pressured to be there. Have some leniency when people can’t show up to practice and make sure communication is a priority and you’ll be topping the office team leaderboards in no time!

The 5 Easiest Home Repair Businesses to Run in 2020

In this ever-increasing digital age, where automation is reducing human jobs every year, it is tempting to make a career change into something more secure. Some jobs will always be required and need a human touch. The field of Home Repair is one of those fields. It is a much-needed service so there is always work available and it can’t be outsourced or handled digitally. But there are so many different areas, and some are a lot trickier than others. Below I will be highlighting 5 of the easier options for you to delve into.

Septic Tank maintenance.

Septic tank maintenance is an important part of any home that uses it. For areas not connected to major sewage systems, they are vital. And if they break or get backed up it can be disastrous. To that end, there is a massive client base already available who will pay for this service that, more often than not, cannot be handled without the proper equipment and transport. So, after a solid investment, you will find the business is relatively easy with the equipment handling most of the work. To get started do some intense research or look at other companies for examples. A great place to find more info is at https://septictankpumping.directory/

Lawn Maintenance

Lawn care goes further than a simple trim. There is much more to deal with. Weeds, plant health, tree care and pest infestations. So a lawn care company will stand to make a small fortune. Many Americans take great pride in their lawn and are willing to pay to make sure it is well looked after. So invest in some gardening tools. Get some lawn health care products and get yourself out there.

Deck Repair

Many Americans have invested in a deck to spruce up their garden or lawn. It provides a great place to entertain guests, host a BBQ or just relax in the sun. But the constant exposure to nature does take its toll. So deck repair services are always in need and are easy enough to manage. Investing in some painting supplies with varnish to protect the woodwork. And researching some basic wood repair skills will lend you a great skill set for this line of work.

Painting

Sometimes home repair means repairing its image. And painters are always in demand. Anyone doing some redecorating, moving into a new house or just covering up a damaged wall will need a painter. And with very low overhead investment costs, as you will charge your clients for the cost of paints, you can get into this field with relative ease.

Carpet Cleaning

Carpets are magnets for dirt. Spilt wine, messy shoes, pets. All of these common occurrences cause havoc on peoples pristine carpets. So a professional carpet cleaner is always busy. Invest in an industrial-grade cleaning device and get your name out there and, as long as you can get those stains out, you will never be short of work.

What’s the Best Phone for Businesses in 2020

Phones these days are so much more than they used to be. They are essentially computers sized down to fit in the palm for your hand. They are powerful tools that can keep you in touch with those around you and also let you keep control of your business. To that end, deciding what phone you will use for your business is important and can be a difficult decision considering how saturated the market is with quality phones. Below are a couple of ideas for paths you could take and some of the advantages of each.

iPhone

The brand everyone knows. iPhone’s are sleek, user-friendly and accessible. By their very nature, they are designed to allow you, the user, a lot of freedom and control over your creative outlets and content. This includes businesses. They come packed with useful apps to keep yourself organised and they have a seamless interface for communication. The only downside to an iPhone is the price, which is often extremely high. But do not be afraid to go second hand. Get a refurbished iPhone for your business and you won’t regret it.

Samsung

Samsung phones are praised for their study interfaces, strong internal hardware and more consumer-friendly price tag. Although their user interfaces can sometimes be a bit less clear than iPhone, they are known for allowing a lot more technical freedom when it comes to apps and utility. To this end, a Samsung phone would be better suited for someone who needs to be able to access more intricate parts of their business on the move. Samsung phones are also more open to third-party software, which should only be installed at the users’ own risk, but can open more creative aspects for a company to follow.

Our Guide to Starting Your Own Tree Surgery Business in 2020

Working as a tree surgeon is hard work. It requires physical fitness along with the right knowledge to get the job done right. Though the job may be difficult, does that mean starting your own tree surgery business must be difficult too?

 

You first have to make sure that you have the finances for the operation, tree surgery is not something you can just do with the tools that are in your garden shed, you really need to invest in the right equipment and vehicles before you even begin advertising your business.  To do this you have to decide what kind of services you want to provide,  like maintenance or removal. Look at other tree surgeons in Greensboro NC and see if there are any gaps in the market. You may be able to fund this equipment from your own account or you may need to apply for a bank loan.

 

Having good quality equipment is also important when starting your own tree surgery business.  You’ll need chainsaws, safety equipment and a number of other items.  Make sure you don’t try to cut corners or get cheap equipment, as quality tools will lead to a quality job. Investing in good tools will also mean that you won’t need to replace them too frequently.

 

There isn’t a wide market of people that require the services of a tree surgeon so another important aspect of starting a surgery business is starting to build a list of clients. You want to get your business to start making money as soon as possible, so meeting potential customers before you start will save you a lot of time once you’re up and running.

 

You should also figure out your work rate. Tree surgery is something that you can charge a substantial amount for, but you will also want to be able to pay any workers you may have a fair wage for their labour. Look at your potential incoming and outgoing costs before you start operating so that you don’t find yourself short on money. When you start your business you shouldn’t have your prices too high. Nobody will want to pay high prices for an unknown business, so you should only start to charge more once you are well established.

 

You should also put a lot of attention into advertising. As I’ve previously stated, tree surgery businesses are not widely known, so you need the right advertising to make sure that your new business does not go under the radar. Look at producing local radio ads and make sure you have a catchy name and logo. It may be worth even hiring an advertising company to make sure it’s done right.

 

But most importantly, make sure you’re ready to start a business. The startup process can be really stressful and demanding and you will have to learn a number of challenging things. Make sure you don’t have other life commitments that you need to focus on as starting this business will require you to dedicate a lot of time.