subject: The Complete Business Solution [print this page] Running your own business, especially if you are the sole owner, can not only be quite risky but very challenging. For one, you have to make sure that all your processes and procedures are streamlined. Aside from this, you tend to be a one-man team when it comes to addressing accounting, marketing and customer service concerns. Here are some tips on how you can survive your business birth pains.
1. Do not try spreading your self or your business too thin. Focus only on one line of business. Once you are already earning a substantial income from that one, then thats the time you can start thinking about expanding your services and product line.
2. Even if you are a small business, set up your online presence. This is especially true for those engaged in the retail industry. Having a website is your most cost-efficient way of marketing your products and services. However, you need to make sure that you are setting up your web site to be search engine-friendly otherwise, al your efforts might just go to waste.
3. In order to ensure that you are able to properly monitor our finances, get Peachtree by Sage. Before you react and say that it might not be within your budget, hear me out first. Peachtree offers five accounting products from which you could choose from Peachtree First, Peachtree Pro, Peachtree Complete, Peachtree Premium, and Peachtree Quantum. Of these five, Peachtree First can be downloaded for free. It is suitable for small companies who are in need of an accounting platform that would help them monitor their finances while allowing them to create customizable reports, create quotes, invoices, and receive payments. As your company expands, you can just upgrade your Peachtree First.
4. Make sure that you have a way to consolidate your client list. It is recommended that you secure a system, such as the Act by Sage software, that will let you store your clients information including their buying history. This way, the next time that they approach your business, you already know which products or services to present to them.
5. Have a CRM application in place that could integrate well with your existing office solutions. One such software application is the Act! by Sage software. Although this application is primarily a contact manager, it also has a CRM module that would let you serve your clients better.
