entrepreneurship Archives - OpenBusinessCouncil Directory

5 Resources a Wedding Coordinator Needs for Success

Hernaldo Turrillo — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 21:16:45 +0000

Being a wedding coordinator can be a very rewarding career. However, it isn’t all butterflies and roses. The truth is that this job isn’t for everyone. There are some things you should know before jumping into this business. Here are five resources a wedding coordinator needs for success.

Market Knowledge

It’s important for a wedding coordinator to know all of the ins and outs of the wedding business in their local area. Knowing the best wedding venues in the area isn’t enough. You have to know everything — or be ready to find the answers to everything you’re asked.

Your clients will ask the expected questions like, “Who’s the best makeup artist near me?”, “Which florist does the best job?” and “Which photographer is most budget-friendly?” You should also be prepared for more difficult questions, such as, “Which venues are most handicap-accessible?” and “Which bakery offers gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan cakes?”

It’s up to you to know the answers to these questions — and just about everything else related to the local wedding industry.

Marketing

Being a wedding coordinator involves more than planning weddings. You will also need to know how to market your business. Over time, you’ll be able to gain word-of-mouth sales. But in the beginning, marketing is key to seeing your business grow and flourish.

Social media marketing is the way to go. You’ll want to use Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn to get the word out about your business. Although it’s possible to see organic traffic, targeted advertising can also be a great way to drive traffic to your business. This means running paid advertisements, which leads us to our next point.

Money

It’s important to be able to fund your business. The expenses can add up before you even begin. You’ll need to invest in a high-quality website design, domain name, and website hosting. You’ll also want to be able to pay for advertising to attract potential clients to your business.

Rather than starting out full-time, many wedding coordinators start out as side hustles until they’re able to make enough money to quit their day jobs. If going straight to full-time wedding planning is your plan, you’ll want to have enough in savings until your business really takes off.

Legal Contracts

It’s easy to get so caught up in planning weddings that you might forget that this is a business, which means you must think about things from a legal perspective.

Since you’ll be working with clients, vendors, and contractors, it’s important to make sure you have legal contracts in place. This will protect you from lawsuits if anything should go wrong. Although you might consider hiring a local attorney to help you draw up these contracts, there are also wedding contractor legal contract templates online that you can print out.

Time

Being a wedding coordinator involves a lot of calls and meetings. This includes to and from clients, venues, florists, photographers, videographers, DJs, bands, bakeries, hair stylists, and makeup artists — just to name a few.

All of these calls and meetings take time and energy. If you have multiple clients whose weddings you’re planning, it can get stressful over time. You might consider hiring assistants to help you with some of these tasks because we all know how easy it is to get low on time when we’re trying to balance everyday life.

These are just five resources wedding coordinators need for success. Although this career may seem like fun (and it can be), there’s a lot more work involved than one might think. Being aware of the resources you’ll need for success can help you experience success in this career.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

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Affordable Solutions for Scaling Up Your Business

Hernaldo Turrillo — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 21:16:55 +0000

Growing businesses must prepare for new expenses and ask themselves how much they’re willing to spend. They need to consider their goals and current situation when deciding to expand their operations.

A budgeting plan, for instance, can help them stay on track and achieve their goals. Although every business requires a budget, a tighter grip on cash flow becomes even more crucial when growing a business because expansion can be costly. By calculating exactly what you will need and how much it will cost, you can save money on business growth.

Still, that’s just one consideration. Here are some other creative ways to cut costs when scaling up your business.

Enhance Cash Flow With Refunds

Refunds can be a great source of revenue for businesses. Your business can generate enough cash flow to operate and grow with the right refund strategy. VAT refunds are one way to get tax credits.

There are even special circumstances where these refunds are possible outside of Europe. It is possible to claim a VAT refund in Taiwan, for instance, if you do business there.

Taiwan’s unique membership encourages international businesses to invest there. Since the country has established economic ties with the EU, it has been designated as a customs territory.

Scale Down Your Workforce

It can be challenging to scale up a business. Among the many factors to consider, scaling down your workforce is an effective way to cut costs.

There are many ways to reduce labor costs. Small businesses, for instance, may be able to reduce costs by hiring interns or part-time employees who typically work for lower wages. Other options include outsourcing remote work to independent contractors or automating some jobs with technology.

Use Marketing Strategies That Save You Money

Performance marketing is becoming more prevalent in digital marketing. Unlike traditional digital marketing, it focuses on customer engagement and conversions.

As a result of its metrics-based approach, you only pay for results. Compared to other types of marketing, such as paid ads, this is amazingly effective.

Performance marketers can determine what content to promote based on social media posts, website traffic, and conversions. They can launch diverse social media marketing campaigns to engage customers and convert them into paying customers.

Build Your Brand With Digital Promotional Tools

All businesses need brand management. One way to make this process easier is to use digital tools. For instance, you can create professional-looking logos and manage your branding across various channels with affordable digital branding solutions. You can then use your logo on your website, social media profiles, and email signature.

Another cost-effective branding tool is branding software. With this type of software, you can easily manage your brand identity. For example, you can create branded marketing materials, such as business cards, letterheads, and email templates. Because branding software is so easy to use, you will maintain consistency across all of your channels.

Avoid Making Expensive Mistakes

It’s nearly impossible to completely avoid making costly mistakes when running a business. However, hiring a business consultant can provide you with enough valuable insights and guidance to prevent you from making unnecessary errors.

A consultant’s knowledge of the latest trends and best practices can also help you grow your business.

To save money and improve your business, consider hiring a business consultant. Profits from your business will cover the cost.

Follow These Suggestions for Positive Cash Flow

Check out VAT refund options, performance marketing strategies, inexpensive brand-building promotional tools, and hire a business consultant if you’re looking to grow your business. By utilizing these creative solutions, you can easily expand your business without jeopardizing your cash flow.

Hernaldo Turrillo

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7 Mistakes That Can Tank Your Business

Hernaldo Turrillo — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 22:22:29 +0000

Taking risks is an inevitable aspect of running a business. As the saying goes, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

While taking chances comes with the territory, that doesn’t mean it’s okay for business owners to be careless or reckless. If anything, the high stakes involved mean business owners have an obligation to mitigate risk and practice due diligence as much as possible.

The truth is every small business owner is only one or two mistakes away from potential failure. While accidents happen and mismanagement is unavoidable, certain mistakes are hard to come back from – if not impossible.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at seven mistakes that can tank your business:

Employee misclassification

Governments around the world are cracking down on the gig economy. Business owners relying on freelancers and independent contractors may discover the government recognizes these workers as traditional employees. Fines and penalties may follow. The solution – especially for companies with a large percentage of overseas workers – is to work with a third-party payroll service. Doing so means hiring foreign independent contractors won’t come back to haunt your business. It also means business owners can worry less about pesky payroll problems.

Unethical practices

When it comes to business success, reputation means everything. Companies that mislead customers, create a toxic work environment, and do other shady and unethical things will not last long. People – whether they’re employees or customers – never forget a thing like that. No matter how tempting it might seem, never, ever, allow your company to stoop so low as to cheat and lie in order to churn a profit. If you have to be unethical to succeed, you shouldn’t be in business.

Bad accounting

When it comes to business accounting, ignorance is no excuse. In other words, just because you’re not a natural whiz with numbers doesn’t mean it’s okay to let your bookkeeping go by the wayside. Poor accounting is practically an act of self-sabotage. It’s like if your doctor gave you test results he decided to make up on the spot. It does nothing but conceal the existence of a ticking time bomb. Sooner or later, bad accounting will bubble to the surface, revealing financial losses your company will struggle to overcome after going so long without knowing they exist.

Tax problems

Bad accounting almost always leads to tax problems. That’s because Uncle Sam (or your country’s equivalent) will come calling once they detect the potential for accounting inaccuracies. The added business tax owed, plus fines and penalties, can easily cripple even the most established of enterprises. The government may even go so far as to shut your business down due to unpaid tax debt.

Absent leadership

Few things prove as inspiring as great leadership. With this in mind, the apparent absence of leadership can cause employee morale to plummet. Business owners who spend more time away from their company than they do getting involved with its operation run the risk of having the bottom fall out of their venture without them even knowing.

Poor communication

Another sign of impending business failure is poor communication between departments and employees. While there’s something to be said for keeping teams separated from each other, a prolonged sense of being left in the dark can lead to diminished morale among staff. The best way to thread the needle is by arranging weekly updates – either through email, meetings, or both – to ensure everyone stays on the same page, even if they’re not privy to all the content on the page.

Defensive reactions

Do you want your company to operate the best way possible? If so, listening to middle management is essential. Business leaders that get defensive whenever they’re given less than ideal news are making their organizations weaker. Sticking your head in the sand will never solve the problem. When bad news hits – and it eventually does – business leaders can either react with practical problem-solving solutions or act like nothing’s wrong. One road leads to business success and the other heads to failure.

Taking risks is one of the costs of doing business. But unforced errors and bad management practices are not risks – they’re hazards – and business owners have an obligation to eliminate them. Failure to do so will almost always lead to business failure.

Julie Steinbeck is a freelance writer from Florida. She enjoys covering topics related to business, finance, and travel.

Hernaldo Turrillo

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The Importance of Networking As An Entrepreneur

Hernaldo Turrillo — Sun, 22 May 2022 10:39:34 +0000

As an entrepreneur the importance of social networking is unsurpassed. It’s a way to generate business and referrals as well as connect with likeminded people.

Know Your Audience

The first thing you need to understand about networking is what your contacts are looking for. Once you understand that, you can refer contacts to other people in your network. Being able to help others find what they are looking for will motivate them to also send referrals your way. This is a process that takes time and can’t be rushed. However, once your network begins to grow, so does your business.

Social Media

Use social media to your advantage. Networking platforms are the perfect place to showcase your professional credentials and let other business professionals know what experience you have to offer. You can highlight your successes by sharing digital badges on sites like LinkedIn. Displaying earned badges illustrates your achievements are verified.

By networking with other professionals, you’ll grow your business better than if you were doing business without it. You’ll have countless opportunities to cross-promote, invest and grow your business stronger.

You can also rely on the advice and experience of other business professionals. Being able to learn a different perspective or have fresh eyes look at something you may be struggling with is priceless. You’ll learn what methods and approaches worked for your peers when they were in a similar situation.

Meetings

Business meetings and events are a great way to grow your network. Interacting with other like minded professionals, you can learn about their business as well as highlight the key points of your own. These connections can reach globally. As you meet and connect with new people, make sure you don’t neglect your local connections.

Making a good impression when speaking to others at conferences or business forums, will help build confidence in your company. People will understand your brand and business culture from the way you present yourself and pertinent information. In business, it isn’t just what you know, who you know is equally important.

Reevaluate Goals

You may think that you have all the certifications and qualifications to ensure your business is a success. Through networking, you can see how you stack up against your peers. You may learn that what you have to offer doesn’t stand up to similar successful business ventures. If that’s the case, initiate conversations to understand the reasons behind their motivation and how their additional certifications or knowledge has worked to their advantage.

In order to be successful, you know that your approach to business must be one that’s able to evolve as business needs and demands do, and that means implementing new tools where necessary. Failing to keep yourself marketable and desirable among your peers will lessen the likelihood that you’ll continue to get referrals.

Growth

Being able to interact and build relationships with others is good for both your physical and mental health. By forming bonds with others, your well-being as a whole improves. It offers a sense of worthiness and accomplishment. Growth isn’t just about making business connections. It’s about fostering relationships and interacting with people who bring out the best in you.

Those who succeed are the ones who are open to diversification. Networking with people from different backgrounds, age groups and professions can broaden your horizons and feed your creativity and vision. Networking isn’t just about sharing your skills and abilities, but recognizing and appreciating those of other business professionals.

Networking is the best way to sell your strong points to other professionals while giving them a clear idea of how you do business. Forming relationships builds confidence, inspires growth and strengthens business ties.

Hernaldo Turrillo

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Remote Work in 2022: What Will It Look Like?

Hernaldo Turrillo — Sat, 21 May 2022 19:39:36 +0000

The COVID-19 crisis has shaken the world and forced businesses and individuals alike to pivot. In a globalized, digital world, jobs have changed drastically. Remote jobs have become the norm. From human resources to marketing, companies increasingly rely on technology.

How do you cope? Here are some ideas to help you start your own business or switch careers this year.

Start a Home-Based Business

If you work as a freelancer or run a digital business, you can set your own hours and focus on what you love. You might only need a few things, such as a dedicated workspace and something like one of these Ziply Fiber internet plans to provide you with the means to get online, and stay connected during your working day.

If home-based is the way you would like to go, you will first need to decide on your niche and target market based on your knowledge and experience. Next, create a detailed plan of your product or service. Then, decide on your business model, how often you work, and how you will market and sell your products or services.

If, for example, you have a background in retail sales, start an e-commerce business. It’s possible to build a six- to seven-figure business on Amazon’s platform because it’s the largest online retailer in the world. After you send Amazon your inventory, they ship the products to your customers. Incidentally, if you want to expand your business internationally but lack the resources or time to do so on your own, choose an Amazon FBA air freight service. They will manage your shipping, so you can focus on marketing and sales.

Launch a New Career

If you are unhappy in your traditional career, consider a line of work that aligns with the global economy. You will find greater job satisfaction in an emerging field that will improve our world.

Among the hottest trending new careers worldwide – whether you live in Austin, Texas, in the United States or Kuala Lumpur Selangor, in Malaysia – are professions in information technology and software development, digital marketing, and project management.

Here are three steps to make a career change:

Focus on your passions. What digital marketing skillsets do you have? Think of what makes you happy. Is it copywriting or content writing? Is it an artistic skill, such as design skill, drawing, or painting, that you could turn into digital art with software like Clip Studio Paint EX, iPad Pro & Apple Pencil, or Procreate? Or is it a digital skill you have mastered, like Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Email Marketing, or Social Selling?
Choose the right career for you. You should be aware of your strengths and weaknesses when looking for a career because you need to find one that fits your personality and interests.
Investigate companies in your chosen industry. Research top companies in your chosen industries. See if they have any openings that are right for you. Knowing what jobs are available in a new industry can be difficult, but with business review sites, you can find candid reviews from former employees who comment on what they liked and disliked about a company. Next, scan online job boards to find companies with openings that match your skills.

How to Fast-Track Your Career Change

The best way to train for a new career is to work in it.

Get some basic certifications in the industry you’re interested in, and then work your way up by taking courses that constantly upgrade your skills.

By getting experience in the field instead of spending years earning a degree, you will learn how things pan out in the real world. When you’re employed at a company, you’ll be able to network with professionals to get advice on how to achieve success.

Remote Work: The New Normal

As telecommuting becomes more popular and affordable, the number of remote workers will increase exponentially. Remote work is on the rise worldwide, according to recent surveys. Almost 8 out of 10 remote workers find working from home more productive. On average, remote workers earn $4,000 USD more than corporate employees. Business managers also see remote teams as a growing trend, with over 80% recognizing them as the norm.

Hernaldo Turrillo

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7 Things You’ll Need to Launch a Childcare Business

Hernaldo Turrillo — Mon, 09 May 2022 19:24:16 +0000

Caring for children is not only a noble business option, but it’s also a lucrative one. People who own and operate childcare businesses can often take on up to 8 kids on their own and charge as much $200-$300 per week or more depending on the state they are in. While there are plenty of expenses as well, this option is a fantastic business opportunity, especially in areas where quality childcare is in short supply. Launching a childcare business is no simple task. There are plenty of steps to go through, but in the end, you’ll have a great business with customers who always need your services.

Background Checks

Not only will you the business owner need to undergo a background check, but all the people you employ will as well. This is important to ensure the safety of the children you’ll be caring for. Don’t wait until the last minute either. How long does a background check take? Well, it depends on the service you use and if you provide all the important details right away or not. Some electronic ones are very quick and can turn around results in a few days, others through the police department can take a few weeks or more.

A Legal Business Entity

Operating a childcare facility either out of your home or in a separate facility means you’ll need a legal business entity. While someone who babysits might get away with being a sole proprietor, someone running a legal daycare should also have a legal business like an LLC or S-corp. There are not only many benefits to having one of these, but there are also many protections afforded individuals against liability if they have the right corporate structure. Unless you are doing something criminal, the legal business entities can help shield your personal assets in the event of litigation.

State Licensing

There are many different kinds of childcare facilities and each one has different state licensing requirements. Drop-in facilities for part-time care will have many different regulations than a full-time center. A home daycare also has unique regulations. It’s important to get all the details from your state about licensing a facility to ensure you hire the right kind of staff and that you follow any continuing education requirements for you and your staff.

Adequate Facilities

State licensing officials will give you a detailed checklist about what needs to be in the childcare facility. There need to be bathrooms, kitchens for preparing food, safety locks, and so much more. They will tell you what kinds of things to do to your home to ensure children are safe. This may even extend to your outdoor spaces as well, and if you have pets, they will also give you important details about what to do to create safety for the children who will be in your care. For facilities outside the home, you may need to do extensive construction depending on what’s already in a building to ensure it meets the state minimum requirements.

Child-Friendly Supplies

Some states require a certain number of toys, books, games, and gear for children of a variety of ages. You’ll want to be sure that any toys you have do not contain any choking hazards, harmful paints, or other materials that could hurt an infant or child. For bigger kids, you’ll want art supplies, beginner reader books, imaginative play toys, and more to keep them occupied and entertained in age-appropriate ways.

Legal Contracts

It’s important to work with a lawyer to ensure you have all the right legal documents for your clients to sign. This will help you in the event you need to get payment, deny service, or send a child home for sickness or poor behavior. Legal documents that parents sign to bring their children to your childcare business helps everyone be on the same page.

A Way to Accept Payments

Whether you choose to operate cash, credit, or even check-based is up to you. The best childcare facilities offer the option for all three. You’ll need to issue a receipt as well. Part of planning for your childcare business means looking into getting a payment portal and a process for accepting payments from the families.

Hernaldo Turrillo

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Cars With The Highest Depreciation Rates

Hernaldo Turrillo — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 19:31:56 +0000

Sadly, it’s a known fact that almost all new cars drop in value the moment you collect the keys and get behind the wheel for the first time. At this point, they’re no longer ‘new’ – and if you plan to sell up soon after, you’ll need to be prepared to take a significant loss on your investment.

This point still applies even while used car prices continue to soar. At the same time, it’s worth knowing that not all new cars depreciate at the same rate. The slowest depreciators are typically those with high demand and good reputations for reliability and other factors.

That being said, some high performers still depreciate fast because of high starting prices – making alternative purchase options like personal leasing more viable. But if you do want to buy outright, you might want to avoid the following five models to hold onto more of your cash.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

This German luxury saloon offers a smooth ride and plenty of tech, making it a popular choice for wealthy executives and high-earning businesses. But those of us with more restricted budgets should steer clear of a car which retains only 34.2% of its value across a three-year period, according to Auto Express.

Audi A8

Sticking in the same category, the Audi A8 is a rival to the S-Class both in terms of performance and depreciation. The average A8 retains just 34.5% of its starting price of £73,338 – though this is close to half what a new S-Class will set you back, so the loss may not feel quite as grating.

Subaru Impreza

Rally fans look away now. The latest Subaru Impreza lacks the appeal of its famous predecessors, and typically depreciates by close to £15,000 in its first three years or 36,000 miles. Cost-conscious readers may be better off choosing another model in the competitive SUV market.

Aston Martin Rapide

Ironically for a car named ‘Rapide’, this four-door Aston Martin depreciates frighteningly quickly. You’re likely to lose over 60% of its value through the first three years of ownership – so it’s worth looking at alternatives like the Porsche Panamera or Aston Martin DBX instead.

BMW 2 Series

Many cars in the BMW range hold their value well due to the desirable reputation of the badge. But the 2 Series Active Tourer has failed to find much of a market, and subsequently sees £18,262 slashed from its value not long after purchase. For many would-be buyers, it seems this multi-purpose vehicle doesn’t quite fulfil any one purpose well enough.

None of these cars are inherently bad, of course, with many respected names making it onto the list. But being aware of which models lose money faster will put you in a better position if you plan to upgrade in the near future.

Hernaldo Turrillo

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Nominations Open For 2022 Black British Business Awards

Hernaldo Turrillo — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 14:34:01 +0000

Celebrating the exceptional performance and outstanding achievements of Black professionals and business owners in the UK.

Nominations Open For 2022 Black British Business Awards

Nominations have officially opened for the ninth Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards) ahead of its Awards Ceremony in September. For almost a decade, the BBBAwards have shone a light on the exceptional achievements of Black British business professionals and entrepreneurs who have made extraordinary contributions to the UK economy. This year’s Ceremony will be held in the city of London on the 29th of September.

Since their inception, the BBBAwards and its portfolio of change programs have facilitated impactful and enduring cultural change in companies across various sectors, ensuring greater representation of exceptional Black executives in senior roles. Focusing on research-led, impact-oriented initiatives which have driven the talent agenda, the BBBAwards provide a platform to acknowledge, inspire and celebrate Black business stars in the UK.

From editors to litigation lawyers, master tailors to creative directors, the BBBAwards continue to champion talent in all sectors. Sophie Chandauka MBE, Executive Founder and Chair of the Black British Business Awards said: “After successfully navigating the challenges of putting on an Awards Ceremony during the pandemic, we are thrilled to announce that this year’s ceremony will be back in person.

We are calling on individuals and organisations across the UK to put forward their best and brightest talent. It will be an honour to recognise and reward those who have defied the odds and flourished in an economic and social landscape impacted by the pandemic, paving the way for future generations to follow in their footsteps.”

The six categories open for nomination for both Rising Stars and Senior Leaders include:

• Arts and Media (includes media, design, fashion, performance art, publishing and advertising)

• Consumer and Luxury (includes food, beverage, retail, travel, cosmetics and luxury goods)

• Entrepreneur (businesses must have been operational for 18+ months prior to April 2022)

• Financial Services (includes banks, brokers, payment services, insurance and finance regulators)

• Professional Services (includes law, accounting management consultancy)

• STEM (includes health, industrial, telecoms, pharmaceuticals, construction, transport and energy)

Last year’s winners included a range of professionals in a wide variety of sectors up and down the country, including accomplished and recognised litigation lawyer Akima Paul Lambert (who was also featured in The Lawyer’s ‘Hot 100’ list for 2022), Edgar Chibaka & Jamal Tahlil (co-founders of security and facilities management provider First Response Group), and Vese Aghoghovbia (Lagos-born entrepreneur who is bringing diverse representation into children’s literature, toys and products).

For the second year running, the BBBAwards will be celebrating an individual of a non-Black background who has been an advocate for diverse equality in business and is a leading voice in the advancement of Black talent through the Ally of the Year Award.

In addition to the Awards themselves, the BBBAwards has contributed to the progression of Black talent advancement through a range of important initiatives including Mentor Mondays, Race in the Boardroom, The Middle Research Report, The Employee Network Leaders Series and The Global Investor Strategy and Corporate Governance Forum.
Nominations will be open for six weeks and will close on the 22nd March.

For the third year, J.P.Morgan will be Key Partner and will retain this role going into the BBBAwards 10-year anniversary next year. Sponsors also include Barclays, Bloomberg, Tranzfar, Wellington Management and Wells Fargo. The Daily Telegraph for the sixth-year running will be the BBBAwards official Media Partner.

Hernaldo Turrillo

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Business Degrees That Pay for Themselves

Hernaldo Turrillo — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 22:13:13 +0000

Are you struggling to figure out what specialty to choose withing a college of business? At most schools, they use the term major to indicate the sub-category of BBA (bachelor of business administration) degree students can earn. Of course, every institution has its own set of curricula and terminology, but in general, candidates select from four major areas of study. The first step, even before choosing a major, is figuring out how to finance the four years of higher education.

These days, even public universities are costly, so it makes sense to consider all your financing options. Just like choosing a degree category, consider taking the time to examine all the different ways to pay for college. After dealing with costs, your next challenge is to review the four most common fields of study, which include accounting/finance, management, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Before making the final decision, consider the kinds of jobs available to graduates in each area, as well as which kinds of degrees suit you style of learning and personal career goals.

Covering Expenses

Unless you or your family as already created a college fund that pays all the bills, you’ll be in the same boat as many other prospective students when it comes time to figure out how to pay for schooling. There are numerous methods available, but the most cost-efficient, common sense one is to obtain financing from a private lender. No matter your current financial situation, you can apply for a private educational loan online and get a response within a couple of days. Additionally, private lenders offer repayment flexibility for new graduates that makes sense for people of all income levels and in any career field.

Accounting/Finance

If you’re good at math, enjoy working with numbers, like the concept of managing money, and are otherwise a logical thinker, then a career in finance or accounting is an ideal choice. Accountants who go on to earn the CPA (certified public accountant) designation can choose from a virtually endless menu of jobs, including tax auditing, corporate finance, long-term financial planning, and business consulting. Finance majors tend to veer away from taxation, auditing, and balance sheets. Instead, they focus more in investments, profit-making strategies, and stock market trading. The comparable designation to the CPA for these professionals is the CFP, certified financial planner.

Marketing and Management

If you thrive on writing compelling ad copy, planning promotional campaigns, and finding new ways to sell products and services, marketing is the niche that will suit your skills. If you lean more toward the managerial and operations side of the planning field, and are more concerned about how to motivate, hire, and retain the very best employees, then a management specialty will likely be the best choice.

Entrepreneurship

Not all schools offer a specific major for prospective entrepreneurs, but more are adding the category every year. The focus in on a mixture of marketing, management, accounting, finance, and unique skills that come into play when starting a small company from scratch. When you earn a bachelor’s degree with an entrepreneurial emphasis, you’ll be ready to launch a startup business as soon as you graduate.

Hernaldo Turrillo

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How You Can Start To Take The Stress Out Of Your Business

Hernaldo Turrillo — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 10:40:53 +0000

To describe the last eighteen months as stressful would be the kind of understatement that makes people think you’re delivering some kind of tasteless joke. Since March 2020, business owners have been subjected to the kind of stress that raises blood pressure levels to dangerous heights and made a good night’s sleep a distant memory. We are all reaching the point of burnout, if we’re not there already. Things are getting a little easier as the news gets a little better, but it is fair to say that we all need to find some ways to reduce the stress levels when it comes to running our businesses.

But it’s also true that many business owners set themselves up for stress, and this was true long before the pandemic. When you have that much responsibility, when you are managing employees, monitoring workflows, fulfilling customer and client demands and looking for windows of opportunity, you are going to find that you are pushed to your limits. Sometimes it takes a voice from outside of your organization to tell you that there are ways that you can make things easier. If you are looking for ways to cut down on that stress then using supplements can really help. Vitamin B1 or thiamine is commonly known as the anti-stress vitamin! TheNutritionInsider.com has some supplement reviews and recommendations that could be useful. In the meantime here are a few more ideas for cutting back on stress.

Take A Step Back And Take A Look Back

One of the biggest contributing factors to stress is that relentless drive to keep pushing forward. It is only natural that business owners have that shark-like mentality to never stop, but it is also true that if you don’t look at your business’ performance with an objective, detached perspective, then you are going to miss opportunities for improvement. Look for processes that are more convoluted than they need to be. Identify tasks that can be delegated or assigned to specific teams. Is there an area in which bringing in another person could make a huge difference? Is there a part of your business that has not been producing results for a while now and is overdue a cut? Don’t wait for a worst-case scenario to audit your performance. This process is as healthy, productive and stress-relieving as it is necessary.

Embrace Creative Solutions

There’s nothing more stressful than the knowledge that you are stuck with something that is not quite right. Maybe it’s that supplier who always needs a follow-up phone call to get what you actually asked for. Maybe it’s the digital marketing campaign that didn’t go the way you wanted it to. Maybe you are getting complaints from customers and clients about the packaging for your deliveries that are not easily packaged. If you want to reduce your stress levels, it’s time to take positive action and look for creative solutions. Take that packaging issue, for example. Industrial packaging machines can be commissioned that are designed to your specifications, to ensure that there is as little waste as possible. Find out more about automated packing machines from Blue Print Automation and embrace a more efficient personalized solution.

Don’t Neglect Your Own Health

As we mentioned, managing a business during the pandemic has not been something that you can simply put down at the end of the day. But if you don’t take care of your own health, your business will suffer too. So, make sure that you are finding time to step away from your responsibilities for some down time. Make some adjustments to your diet to make sure that you are eating healthily and try to avoid too much caffeine and sugar throughout the day. Try not to rely on alcohol in the evening, as it can affect your sleep and have an impact on your mood. Adults need between seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Don’t skimp on your sleep. Remember to keep talking to your friends and family about how you are doing and how you are coping with the responsibilities you are carrying.

Hernaldo Turrillo

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