Many people are frustrated by their current full-time jobs, but hesitate to take that first step toward independence out of fear. When you're used to a steady paycheck from a regular job, and have family and other financial obligations, stepping out of your comfort zone just seems too risky - no matter how miserable you are with your current situation. Your employer, however, could be your ticket to a successful freelance business. When I...more
SELLING YOU ON YOUR BUSINESS! You've probably heard it said that a business plan is a selling document. While it is very true that your business plan will be an invaluable aid to you in selling your business to others, you may not have considered that it can be a great way to sell or re-sell YOU on the business you have started. By examining how your ideas and products fit into the competitive environment, you can get excited about the potential...more
One of the most difficult tasks you will face as a business owner will be firing employees. Employees who consistently break the rules, do not perform the functions of their job, or cause difficulties for your business can be a strain on the work environment, your cash flow, and even disrupt your business from thriving and performing as expected. This tutorial will give you steps and hints about firing employees or associates.Document, Document, DocumentThe first step in preparing when letting go an employee is to make sure you have all the documentation you need. When you give verbal warnings, be sure to document them properly. Make a case for this specific situation by documenting everything you did before making the decision of releasing the employee. Anything that shows that you tried to solve things to the better. Your business should have a well documented procedure for what it expects from employees and anything that is considered grounds for immediate dismissal. Be sure to use these as guidelines and consult with a lawyer experienced in HR questions if necessary.WitnessesHave a friend, family member, or business partner be there to assist in any paperwork and any issues...more
Jobs are heating up. We're all feeling the pinch of hiring freezes and information overload. Workplace stress is increasing right along with the workload. Headaches are turning into migraines; back pains are driving us to the chiropractor, and minor irritations are causing tempers to flair. In addition to our personal reaction to stress, it is...more
There are many businesses in the sign & graphics industry currently using Microsoft Excel for quoting and tracking jobs. In fact you could be one of them. Under certain circumstances using Excel to manage these tasks could be an adequate way to handle shop management. But how do you know when it is time to look for pricing, job tracking and a...more
Craig Berman beamed noticeably after completing his board presentation. Berman, CEO of a startup that develops nanotechnology applications for the defense industry, had just closed a $ 20 million equity round. Berman finalized the round at an equity valuation that made the whole board blush. Only six months earlier, Berman's team faced a daunting technical delay that set the company back three months. With only four months of cash remaining from a previous equity round, the delay would cause Berman's company to burn cash faster and to fall short of an important benchmark. The prospect of raising additional equity earlier than expected and at a much lower valuation than anticipated was a chilling thought for Berman and his board. Just as things appeared to be headed downhill, the company's CFO broached the idea of obtaining $ 1.5 million in venture leasing. Roughly $ 600,000 of this financing would be used to finance existing equipment. The balance could be used for upcoming acquisitions of computer workstations, servers, software, and test equipment.A colleague had introduced Jamal Waitley, the company's CFO, to Jerry Sprole. Sprole heads Connecticut-based, Leasing Technologies...more
At times of severe financial crisis Debt Management Plan (DMP) helps you to manage your funds and also protects you from the humiliation of debt struck conditions. The famous American author Washington Irving in 'Wolfert's Roost' addressed dollar...more
Employee retention and motivationÂ…why should employers care? A storm is brewing. National productivity was up 3.9% in the second quarter and 1.9% in the third quarter of 2004. At the same time, the unemployment rate was up 5.5% in October 2004. ...more
More and more business owners are purchasing document shredders then ever before.Why?... Identity theft for starters.A new law is going into effect in the summer of 2005 which states that if you employ anyone for any reason and have personal...more
As a successful small business owner,you're accustomed to long hours; non-existent holidays and weekends spent working. When was the last time you went to your dentist? When was the last time you had an uninterrupted night out with your partner?...more
Becoming a successful entrepreneur in the online world is no different than becoming a successful entrepreneur in the brick-and-mortar world. Both tasks require vision, determination, and hard work.The online world of the web offers many exciting...more
If you could read my mind, you could sell me anything. Here's how.Wouldn't you like to be able to 'read minds' in a selling situation? If you could it would surely give you an advantage when matching your product or service with the needs of your...more