Running a business is filled with regulations everywhere you turn. These can drain precious time away from the core of your business, but if you ignore them, there could be huge financial consequences you may be risking without even realizing it. The best way to handle them is to understand your exposure, consult with any experts you need to bring in, create a checklist, and make sure you’re in compliance. Here’s a head … [Read more...]
Are You Vulnerable to Fraud?
According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), over $3.5 trillion is projected to be lost to fraud worldwide in 2011 alone. The typical organization loses 5 percent of its revenues each year. While we have a lot to think about as entrepreneurs, we do need to take time to educate ourselves about this unfortunately common business loss. The Fraud Triangle An easy way to understand fraud is to learn … [Read more...]
Six Quick Productivity Tricks So You Can Go Home Early
If you have an endless to-do list, you’re not alone these days. Most of us are constantly looking for ways to work smarter and get more done. Here are six quick tips to help your productivity so you can go home early. 1. Group tasks. If you have lots of errands to run during the week, why not set aside one day or a part of a day to get them knocked out all at once? It saves start/stop time and may also save gas and time … [Read more...]
Five Bottlenecks to Avoid that Stump Your Business Growth
As a business owner, you have likely acquired many skills and are wearing many hats in your business. Although admirable, your versatility can often lead to slower growth for your company. This happens when you become the bottleneck. Here are five places to check to make sure you haven’t become the bottleneck in your own business. 1. Managing everything. It’s definitely good to keep tabs on everything that’s going … [Read more...]
Are You in the Business of Pleasure?
You might not think you are in the business of pleasure, but we all are, to one degree or another. If we don’t give our clients a great experience, they’re not likely to come back. That’s why we can learn so much from the entertainment industry, even though we might not be in it directly. Pleasing Clients From the day a prospect calls you, emails you, or enters your shop, what do they see, hear, feel, … [Read more...]