You may be wondering how they do this. The answer? Completing the onboarding process and understanding what the company truly stands for.

Getting off on the right foot with employees is a great way of guaranteeing a seamless onboarding process within your small business. Not only does it help to reduce the rate of employee turnover but it also sets them up for success on just about every occasion.

If your employees are not fully trained or don’t understand the visions, values, or goals of the company, there’s a huge chance you aren’t providing the best overall customer experience.
You can use certain types of human resource onboarding software to help your new employee have a seamless transition to work life. Yet there are a couple of other things you can do to speed along this process.

Here are the 5 best practices for your small business onboarding process.

1.  Prepare Yourself For New Employees

Preparing things in advance is a crucial step in the success of the onboarding process before the employee takes a single step inside the property. Simply put, everything they need to begin their first day (or week) should be waiting for them as they arrive!

You should then consider introducing the employee to the rest of the team. This includes everyone in all of the departments within the business – down to the very last individual. Making time to introduce the new team member allows the employee to feel welcome to the team.

The more comfortable they are with their colleagues, the better their productivity levels will be!

Your small business onboarding process must also feature relevant documentation for the new team member to browse through. To begin with, they must have a copy of the employee handbook on hand. This document should include the following information:

• General HR policies
• Sick days
• Dress code
• Time off
• A welcome note
• Letter of employment
• Computer log-in details (if necessary)

Give them an official guide and schedule for their first week in the company that outlines any training they must do and highlights your expectations of them during this introductory period.

2.  Create A Comprehensive Training Program

Another brilliant practice to incorporate into your business onboarding process is to create a comprehensive training program for new employees.

This should outline every single bit of information that an employee must know to efficiently and effectively complete their job duties. It will also highlight the main responsibilities.

It can be extremely frustrating for employees to be spending their first few days of work filling out paperwork and undertaking training programs. But this will give them all of the essential tools they need to carry out the job properly.

Training should be autonomous. In layman’s terms, this type of training should be recorded to free up staff and allow them to shift their focus to more important tasks within the business like resolving customer queries or complaints.

A great way to show newer employees the ropes is to allow them to shadow other more experienced individuals working within the business.

You could even set aside a team of more experienced employees to help with the training and development of new hires. These individuals can carry out the job more thoroughly and will ensure that the new team members are fully trained.

3.  Clarify Company Culture, Vision, and Values

Helping your employee to understand the vision and culture of your company from the very first day is a critical step. Always take your time with any core business explanations as this will enable the employee to fully grasp why each of the values is so important to the business.

Clarifying company culture, vision, and values will also do wonders for a more positive business environment. By focusing on this part of your workforce, you may find it easier to create a stronger sense of community within the company culture.

Make sure to have transparency with your communication. The clearer you are, the more productive the employee is likely to be. Plus, it will be good for the new hire to feel comfortable enough to ask questions and seek clarification.

In addition to feeling more comfortable with other employees, this will also help new hires to fully grasp exactly what the business stands for.

Specifically, it will help the new hires learn about how your small business is operating to achieve set goals. They can then adopt these behaviors and incorporate them into their approach to working.

4.  Make Sure They Follow The Rules

Depending on the industry you are working in, your small business might be closely regulated by your local government.

If this applies to your business then you need to ensure your new employees fully understand the legalities, regulations, and rules that govern your business and the specific industry that you are currently operating.

Unfortunately, if your employees do not comply with set rules and regulations, there is a huge chance that you will have to pay hefty fines or maybe even be shut down altogether!

Reading over and clarifying the rules and regulations of the industry your business is in could make the biggest difference of all. Fortunately, there are ways to clarify this and ensure that all employees going through the onboarding process are clued up.

During this process, provide specific compliance instructions so they know what to do and say in certain situations to comply with state and federal laws.

You can also make sure to offer regular training opportunities to employees to ensure their knowledge stays up to date. Refresher training is crucial to new and old employees alike and will constantly keep them aware of any new regulations.

5.  Have A Practice Run

To evaluate the effectiveness of the training, you could set up a situation where the recruit can practice all of their newly acquired skills.

Encourage the managers and heads of departments to make phone calls and have meetings with new employees. It will help the new hires to feel more comfortable within the business and might even get them into the swing of things quicker and more efficiently.

You can begin by conducting a mock internal call with another member of staff to help the new employee to understand and then clarify everything they have learned during this process.

These tests might include procedures for simple everyday tasks or even for customer interaction. If the new hire is successful during this part of the onboarding process then it shows you have correctly done your job. If they aren’t, it will highlight areas for improvement and things that must be worked on for a second time.

Make sure to ask for feedback from new employees to check whether anything needs to be taken away, added, or re-clarified so their training and development program is as seamless and detailed as possible. You can explain things in more detail if necessary.

Summary

In its simplest form, the success of your small business depends on the effectiveness of your employees.

It may take some time to successfully build a thorough onboarding process for your company. However, the right type of training will likely prove to be an excellent tool for guaranteeing long-term employee retention!

Remember: building personal connections with team members is a core part of team building!

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.

The post 5 Best Practices For Your Small Business Onboarding Process appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

To help you out, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 tech options for small businesses looking to collect and leverage their data for growth.

CRM

There’s a reason CRM systems are so popular among small businesses: they’re incredibly effective at managing customer data. Whether you are a gym owner or a SaaS provider, with a good CRM system in place, you can keep track of your customers’ contact information, purchase history, and interactions with your company. This gives you a valuable bird’s-eye view of your business that can be used to inform marketing and sales decisions.

Not only does a CRM system help you manage your customer data, but it can also automate many of the tasks associated with customer relationship management, such as contact list management and lead nurturing. This can free up valuable time for you and your team so that you can focus on other aspects of running your business.

An analytics platform

If you’re looking to really get the most out of your data, an analytics platform is a must. With an analytics platform, you can collect data from all sorts of sources (web traffic, social media, marketing campaigns, sales data, etc.) and then analyze it to glean valuable insights.

This data can be used to improve your marketing and sales efforts, better understand your customers, and make more informed business decisions. And, because analytics platforms are typically cloud-based, they’re easy to use and don’t require a lot of upfront investment.

A project management tool

If you’re not already using a project management tool, now is the time to start. Project management tools are essential for small businesses because they help you keep track of all your ongoing projects, deadlines, and tasks. This can be a lifesaver when it comes to staying organized and keeping your business running smoothly.

But project management tools aren’t just for task management; they can also be used to collect and track data. This data can be used to improve your project management process, identify areas of improvement, and make sure that future projects are more successful.

A customer service platform

Customer service is a critical part of any business, but it can be difficult to provide excellent customer service without the right tools in place. A customer service platform can help you keep track of customer inquiries, issues, and requests so that you can address them quickly and effectively.

In addition, a customer service platform can be used to collect customer feedback. This feedback can be used to improve your products or services, resolve customer issues more effectively, and build stronger relationships with your customers.

A content management system

If you’re in the business of creating and publishing content, then a content management system is a must. A content management system (CMS) will help you manage your website’s content, keep track of revisions, and publish new content quickly and easily.

But a CMS can also be used to collect data about your website visitors. This data can be used to improve your website’s design, content, and overall user experience. In addition, this data can be used to better understand your audience so that you can create more targeted and effective marketing campaigns.

A marketing automation platform

Marketing automation platforms are designed to help businesses automate their marketing tasks. With a marketing automation platform, you can create and manage your marketing campaigns, track leads and customers, and measure the results of your campaigns.

In addition, marketing automation platforms can be used to collect data about your marketing efforts. This data can be used to improve your marketing strategies, optimize your campaigns, and track your return on investment.

A social media management platform

Social media is a powerful tool for small businesses, but it can be time-consuming to manage all of your social media accounts without the help of a platform. A social media management platform will help you post content, schedule social media updates, and track the results of your campaigns.

But a social media management platform can also be used to collect data about your social media followers. This data can be used to better understand your audience, create more targeted marketing campaigns, and measure the success of your social media efforts.

An email marketing platform

Email marketing is a great way to stay in touch with your customers and promote your products or services. But if you’re not using an email marketing platform, you’re missing out on some powerful features.

An email marketing platform will help you manage your email list, create and send newsletters, and track the results of your campaigns. In addition, an email marketing platform can be used to collect data about your email subscribers. This data can be used to segment your list, create more targeted campaigns, and measure the success of your email marketing efforts.

Conclusion

There are a variety of tech options available to small businesses that can help them collect and leverage data for growth. By using the right tools, you can collect data about your customers, marketing efforts, and website visitors to improve your business.

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.

The post What Tools Help Small Businesses Make the Best Use of Their Data appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The world of business has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. With social media platforms, 24-hour news coverage, and an ever-increasing global presence, small business owners must stay abreast of the changes.

If you have a clear vision of where your business is heading and have built an established business, then reinforce your IT department, think creatively about your recruitment strategy, and review your marketing plan to grow your business faster.

Develop a Strong IT Team

A solid business presence requires more than just a great website and robust software. To handle any technical issues, you should also create a team of IT experts. You never know when a technical problem could come up unexpectedly, disrupting your staff’s workflow in the middle of a busy day.

When your website slows down, for example, in addition to fast WordPress hosting you will need experienced technicians to diagnose the problem.

Your website could be slow for many reasons:

• Your images might be too large.
• Your videos might be too long because they are filled with unnecessary information.
• Your web browser might not be up-to-date.
• Your website might have too many plugins.
• Your platform might have too many scripts running in the background.

Rethink Your Hiring Options

For a small business, finding the right candidate is not always easy because the hours at your business might be long, the tasks difficult, and your expectations high. Still, it’s essential to fill all your open positions.

As each potential employee represents a substantial investment, they must bring something of value that will make the investment worthwhile.

If you can’t find the right people and your company has limited resources, here are some alternative ways of hiring employees:

• Engage part-time subcontractors who are subject matter experts.
• Employ part-time workers who only work certain hours during the day to create a more balanced workload.
• Hire temporary workers when you have a new client project and need to onboard more people for it.

Improve Your Marketing

You can always improve your digital marketing. Transforming it will have a significant impact on your company.

Today’s high-impact marketing techniques extend beyond appearing in the top search results or generating website traffic through pay-per-click marketing.

Besides these proven methods, here are two other strategies you can try:

1. Use Social Media Platforms to Reach a Wider Audience.

One of the fastest ways to reach your target audience is through social media. With it, you can connect with people directly, build a following, and create relationships. Besides being low risk, it requires no money or up-front commitment.

Find innovative ways to engage your audience on social media. Identify which channels you should use, how often you should post, and what kind of content you should create.

2. Find Out What Is Trending in the Market

It’s difficult to determine which tactics will be effective and which ones won’t. As a business owner, you must be aware of the latest marketing trends that are most successful.

To avoid wasting time and money on ineffective techniques, conduct research before committing to any strategy. After this, evaluate the new tactic before adding it to your marketing mix because the results from one company’s test may differ from those of another.

Stay on Top of Emerging Business Trends

Adapting to the constant changes in technology and consumer behavior is essential for your small businesses to remain competitive. Growing it requires that you do much more than just sell the best products or services, you also need to be adept at handling unexpected technical issues, using the best hiring practices, and developing marketing strategies that engage your customers.

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.

The post How to Grow Your Small Business Faster appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

What are the CPA Firm’s Services?

First and foremost, what are CPA Firm’s Services?  CPA firms typically offer tax preparation, bookkeeping, and auditing services.  CPAs typically offers the core service along with consulting for small business owners like you!

How to hire a CPA?

Hiring a CPA is much similar to hiring a lawyer or a doctor. There are specific roles they have, and not all CPA’s can do the same thing. Many industries have specialists and CPAs are no exemption from that rule. So based on what you are looking for, you should do your research and find the CPA that has the knowledge and experience in exactly what need.

The difference between hiring an excellent CPA and a mediocre one depends on asking the correct questions. Many CPAs will fix your tax returns and do little more unless you explicitly ask for it. At times, the extra fees for additional services—like business advice or tax planning— can appear surprisingly expensive and high.

So, before you sign off on your CPA firm in Las Vegas, make sure to ask them some questions to find out if they are the right fit for you.

1. Do you carry a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN)?

This should be your first question. You want to make sure that your CPA is certified to do the things you need. Anyone who is in charge of preparing your tax returns must be in possession of a PTIN to submit to the IRS. Without a PTIN, tax accountants actually cannot submit the prepared tax return, and pretending to be able to do so can harm your company.

2. If needed, are you available year round, and what are your working hours?

Knowing when you can get in touch with your CPA is very important.  As your company’s circumstances may change, you might need to reach out to your CPA on a monthly, weekly,  and also on even daily basis. Look for a small CPA firm in Las Vegas that will be available to answer all your questions, and be available to flexibly work with you. Also, make sure that you don’t get billed at a high rate per hour every time you call them on the phone or send them an email. Make this clear with them from the very start. Remember, you are not just hiring a Las Vegas CPA firm to prepare your taxes, you are also hiring them to get the benefit of their expertise and knowledge.

3. What will you do if I get audited by the IRS?

Being audited by the IRS is not uncommon, and it can also be very time-consuming. This is an excellent question to ask because there are many CPAs out there who only provide tax returns, but don’t give any ongoing support. In this case, you’ll want someone who is ready to represent you and stand by you in front of the Tax Court or IRS.

A good trick that can help you stay in your budget zone is to look for a CPA firm in Las Vegas that offers protection for tax auditing that is included in their service agreement. This way, if you do get audited, you’ll be guarded without having to spend an hourly rate.

Also, a key element is to find out how much experience your CPA has in handling  IRS issues. Feel free to ask them about previously dealt cases that they successfully settled.

4. How much do you charge, and what are your rates?

Like any other service you hire, this is an imperative question to ask before hiring a CPA firm.

This is because various CPAs are not clear on providing a precise price for their services. As an example, you might run into many CPAs who will say that the cost of your return will be a certain rate and will be done on a certain timeline. But, they will often get overwhelmed in the meantime with a present tax season and get behind schedule. This in turn can cause many activities to become prolonged on the date previously agreed upon, and you should discuss this situation beforehand. In most cases, Your CPA will add on all of those billable hours you forgot about and any additional work they were not expecting to finish the return.

    5.  How Has The CPA Worked With And Benefited Business Owners Like Me?

Past experience will determine if this CPA will fit your business’s needs or not. Always make sure that that your CPA can cover the industry you are in and can provide you with feasible results. From an accounting and tax standpoint, not all business types are treated the same, and having a CPA firm in LAs Vegas that specializes in your area can save you time.

To sum up

Be careful. Selecting the wrong CPA firm can damage your business and bring pain to you financially and emotionally. In the end, your CPA should be experienced and knowledgeable about your line of work, in order to give you the protection you need. As a business owner, hiring a good Las Vegas CPA firm is important for making sure that your finances are in order and that all of your taxes are paid on time, so make sure you invest sufficient time in searching for the right fit.

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.

The post Five Questions to Help You Choose a CPA Firm in Las Vegas appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

2021 has been a real test of resilience for SMEs. Added to the existing challenge of COVID have been new disruptive factors, including a supply chain crisis, which led to an increase in demand for working capital, as well as rising inflation and labour costs, all reducing their ability to generate economic growth.

Whilst government-backed schemes such as the Bounce Back Loans Scheme (BBLS) and Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) have provided a lifeline for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) facing significant liquidity pressures, SMEs need a plan in place to avoid these challenges becoming a structural issue which will stifle their future growth and imperil their survival.

Whilst the UK economy is currently on track to be the fastest-growing economy in the G7, there are five key areas of risk which need to be managed by SMEs to ensure they can capitalise on and contribute to economic growth in 2022.

1. Inflation

The UK Government has announced that CPI inflation could hit 5% in 2022, driven principally by increasing energy costs, as the economy demonstrates fundamental symptoms of heating up. Supply chain issues have been more prevalent than ever as shortages of labour, skills, energy and raw materials add to the escalating list of headwinds that SMEs face heading into 2022. SMEs will also need to be able to distinguish between temporary and permanent inflation – with some areas impacted by inflation such a labour costs being potentially irreversible.

The rising costs of goods and utilities, coupled with a tightening of the labour market and subsequent wage inflation, will result in unprecedented demand for working capital and SMEs will need to ensure they have sufficient liquidity provisions to operate in this inflationary environment. Increased inflation will also force businesses to scrutinise their internal pricing models and decide whether they can sustain margins with higher input prices or choose to pass down the cost to consumers.

2. Interest Rates

Following the sequence of lockdowns in the UK, small business owners are finally experiencing a resurgence in demand for goods and services, with many seeking credit to meet this growth in demand. The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has however, indicated that the recent jump in inflation will necessitate an interest rate rise which will disproportionately affect small businesses reliant on funding in their early stages of growth.

With a rate hike on the horizon and the cost of borrowing set to increase, SMEs would be well-advised to take stock of their current capital structure and if appropriate, access fixed term, fixed rate loans to prevent exposure to an increasingly volatile lending market.

3. Recruitment

Adding to the number of plates that SMEs must spin in 2022, is the increasingly challenging task of retaining and recruiting skilled staff. The pandemic has radically changed the working environment, fostering new challenges and responsibilities for business owners to contend with. The workforce is becoming increasingly transient, demonstrated most prevalently in the last year and a half, with SMEs having to adapt and recruit from a wider talent pool as the era of cheap labour comes to an end.

A tightening of the labour market putting upward pressures on wages, compounded by a lack of skilled labour due to the ramifications of Brexit, is having a further negative impact on firms’ working capital. Moving into the new year, SMEs will have to diligently balance the need to attract skilled staff through financial incentives whilst ensuring they have sufficient working capital to continue operations.

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4. Technology

The necessity of businesses to digitalise has seldom been as pressing. UK firms are faced with a crippling supply chain crisis, with major retailers’ stock levels at their lowest since 1983.

Digitalisation and the use of AI can support SME integration into global markets by lowering transaction costs and those associated with transport and border restrictions. It also supports innovation and allows firms to compile data and analyse their own operations in new ways, enhancing performance.

Yet despite the benefits and opportunities that digital technologies bring, many SMEs continue to lag in adoption. Indeed, many face a financing gap in the advancement of technology. If firms are serious about leveraging fintech and innovation to streamline operations, the role that alternative and traditional lenders play in the provision of much needed credit should not be overlooked.

5. Green Transition

During the COP26 Conference, over half of the UK’s largest businesses committed to moving to net zero by 2050, with a considerable number of SMEs pledging to take part in the UN’s Race to Zero. Environmental awareness amongst consumers and employees alike is swiftly becoming non-negotiable, meaning that firms who are not investing in sustainability credentials risk falling behind their counterparts.

SMEs face significant barriers to entry in the transition to the new economy including a lack of funds but also by way of established business models and access to critical technology. Firms need to address how they can leverage public and private investment to reduce their carbon footprint and become more resource efficient, demonstrating their commitment to the green transition.

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.

The post 5 Key Challenges Facing SMEs In 2022 appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) says there are now almost 30 million small businesses employing more than 47% of the workforce. While the SBA defines small businesses as those employing fewer than 500 people, the majority employ fewer than 100 and many are micro businesses with a handful of employees or maybe just one or two.

The Tech Transformation

Relatively recent tech – such as the Internet, Big Data and AI (Artificial Intelligence) – has enabled small businesses of just about any size to reach and service their market wherever it’s located, and advanced POS (Point of Sale) systems are widely used throughout the small business community – not just by larger retail operations.

Tech has extended the reach and scope of smaller business:

Data and the cloud

More data is being collected than ever before thanks to increased use of social media and mobile apps to name two sources. This data is being analyzed in more depth to provide highly valuable marketing intelligence for businesses of all sizes, not just larger corporations.

It means smaller businesses can operate from a position of strength from knowing more about their market, and cloud technology enables small concerns to store the ever-larger amounts of data economically without the major expense of physical storage.

The Internet

undoubtedly a huge game changer for all business, but really opens up opportunities for smaller operators.

It’s reasonably economical to set up a professional looking and effective online presence, so smaller businesses benefit from being able to reach their customers almost anywhere in the world instead of being restricted to local markets.

This also means more niches are being specifically served by smaller businesses agile enough to respond to a need for a particular product or service.

Before the widespread use of the Internet, certain niches may not have been viable to go into if relying on a small number of local buyers. Now though, even a minority niche can be worthwhile if you can reach all (or at least the majority) of customers for it by promoting on a global scale as the web makes possible.

The culture of entrepreneurship

In general, the US – while always having at its heart an entrepreneurial spirit – has developed an even more pronounced entrepreneurial culture in recent times with increased numbers of people going into business for themselves.

Tech such as the Internet enables potential entrepreneurs to identify a need in the marketplace and develop a product or service to quickly fill it. Sometimes these can be quite niche such as – for example – entrepreneurs filling gaps in the food and drink market by providing specialist cuisine outlets that offer something different to the competition.

Others have found themselves with an unexpected hit on their hands having started out by filling a small gap in the market and later finding demand is far higher than expected.

The ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factor

Something that drives small business growth and startup culture is the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factor – particularly noticeable among women entrepreneurs.

A report in 2017 by the National Women’s Business Council identified this push and pull; the ‘pull’ stems from the stimulus to start a business (ie spotting a gap in the market), and the ‘push’ stems from factors driving people to start something influenced by their circumstances. For example, a business that be can run while looking after children, fulfilling familial obligations, or perhaps due to dissatisfaction with their present job.

Outsourcing

Another factor helping small businesses grow and operate in certain markets is the rise in the availability of skilled outsourcers. Being able to hire people with specific abilities as and when needed is a tremendous help to small businesses, and their choices are widening with more of the workforce likely to be contractors or freelancers of some type going forward.

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.

The post The Keys to the Growth of Small Businesses appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

There are very few things in life that give you the same adrenaline rush as launching your business. The journey becomes even more adventurous when you’re trying to make your mark as a solopreneur. If you’ve got the vigor and zeal to bring your ideas to fruition, it’s possible to run a successful business on your own.

Being a solopreneur means you’ll have to juggle multiple responsibilities, from product development and marketing to accounting and growth hacking. You’ll even have to focus on That means you need more than just a laptop and a high-speed internet connection to operate your business.

Whether you’re working from home or renting a coworking space, you must equip yourself with a toolkit comprising the right office stationery, tech, and hardware. It can go a long way to make a lasting impression on clients who visit your workplace for meetings. Also, it’ll help you organize your work and increase productivity.

In this blog, we’ve compiled an extensive list of important office supplies you need to kickstart your journey as a solopreneur. Let’s take a look.

Custom Rubber Stamps

In the age of digital signatures, it’s natural to wonder whether you even need a custom rubber stamp. But if you’re a one-person army running a full-fledged business, chances are you never have enough hours in the day.

Between nurturing active leads and monitoring marketing campaigns, you don’t want to spend your time signing documents and writing your office address on envelopes. That’s where self-inking custom rubber stamps step into the picture.

Whether you want to add the date of shipping or return address on product packages, personalized rubber stamps are just the right solutions. You can even use monogram stamps to spice up the product packaging and make it stand out.

Similarly, custom signature stamps come in handy when you have to sign a bunch of checks or agreements. Modern self-inking stamps even save you the hassle of getting separate ink pads. If you’re planning to launch a business in 2021, it’s high time you invest in a high-quality custom rubber stamp.

Checks & Envelopes

The advent of internet banking has improved the speed and simplicity of business transactions. But there might be specific scenarios where you’ll need to make payments using checks. Many vendors and suppliers still prefer check payments because of the enhanced security.

That’s why it is a good idea to invest in a set of high-quality, durable business checks that are compatible with laser and inkjet printers. Apart from the bank, you can order business checks from various online platforms. If you’re ordering checks online, make sure you find a reputable and trustworthy company.

Also, dig deeper and find out what kind of security features are available on the check. If you’re using accounting software to manage cash flow, find business checks that are compatible with the software.

Business envelopes are an indispensable part of making check payments. Apart from standard double-window envelopes, you should also keep a few coin envelopes and booklet envelopes handy.

Office Furniture

No. You can’t run a successful business from the comfort of your bedroom. Even if you’re working from home, it’s crucial to have a dedicated office space to execute and manage business operations.

And if you’re building a home office, the quality of furniture will play a key role in enhancing your productivity. Invest in a sturdy ergonomic chair that helps you maintain correct posture throughout the day. If you’re planning to invite clients or investors for meetings in the future, you’ll need to make arrangements for additional seating.

Find a table that can easily accommodate your computer, notepad, phone, and other objects you’ll need in your arm’s reach while working. Don’t forget to invest in a few rugged storage cabinets to prevent folders, documents, and other paraphernalia from cluttering your office.

Hardware & Software

Apart from a laptop, you’ll need a few more pieces of hardware, such as a printer and paper shredder. If you experience connectivity issues in the office, consider installing a couple of network boosters. Depending on the type and scale of your business, you might also need a business telephone line.

When it comes to software, you must choose the right applications that’ll take some of the load off your shoulders and help you focus on growing your business. Most new-age business owners build a toolbox that includes the following types of software:

• Marketing automation tools
• CRM platforms
• Conversational AI platforms
• Project management tools
• Email marketing platforms
• Graphic designing and video editing tools
• Web development platforms
• E-commerce platforms
• Accounting and invoicing software
• Website analytics platforms

You won’t need all these applications when you’re getting started. Make sure you choose the right tools that’ll help simplify your job.

Kickstart Your Entrepreneurial Stint

The path to becoming a successful solopreneur will be filled with several roadblocks. Empower yourself with the right technology to ease some of the challenges. While you’re at it, don’t ignore quintessential office stationery, such as custom rubber stamps, business envelopes, and checks.

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.

The post The Ultimate Office Essentials Checklist for the Busy Solopreneur appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Security Solutions

Security technology is important to a modern business, as they look to protect their assets and help their employees feel safe. Security technology can include video surveillance, door access controls, window sensors and network security. Network security is the biggest change to business security, as criminals can access private information or financials if not properly protected.

Both your physical and digital assets should be safe from criminals. A business which is vulnerable risks having their reputation damaged if information is wrongly accessed, which will lead to a loss of business.

IT Technology

A well designed and optimized IT system is the base of a business. This includes hardware as well as software. Hardware can become outdated after a few years, so it’s important that you keep on top of them. IT systems can include network installation and maintenance, as well as data storage devices. Most of your business will use IT devices, from a warehouse stock checking device, to an office printer.

You should communicate with your team to find what technology is currently benefiting them, and what they need upgrading. This will help you get your team to become more productive. After investing in the right technology, businesses can increase productivity and efficiency levels. Investing in adequate and necessary IT equipment is a great way for businesses to ensure that they succeed.

Voice And Communication Tools

Your business will need to have some sort of communication tool in place. This will be for you to be able to communicate effectively with your team and clients. It could be in the shape of face-to-face communication methods, or more technologically advanced internet phone systems. VoIP phone systems don’t require a phoneline, instead they are operated via broadband.

This helps businesses, as they can communicate with businesses and clients across the world without suffering international charges. These internet-based systems are cheaper to install than phone lines, making them the perfect choice. Taylored Systems help your business with managed services in Indianapolis, who deal with a wide range of technology systems that your business can utilize.

The Cloud

Cloud computing technology is the most effective way in which you can store data. Hard drives are still useful for businesses to keep hard copies, but cloud storage allows businesses to store and access data and programs over the internet instantly.

Businesses can access a more unique cloud system. A SaaS system allows businesses to subscribe to applications they use over the internet, a software as a service.

Management Software

This type of software allows businesses to manage their employees when they’re not on site. This was used more due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where employees worked from home. It serves the purpose of checking how productive employees are, as well as supplying them with crucial business information when needed. The aim of a successfully implemented management software is to automate some processes that managers don’t have time for, as well as make project and task management simpler.

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.

The post The Different Technologies Your Business Can Utilize To Thrive appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

When should You think of Selling Your Small Business? Small businesses can close because of so many reasons. The main reason being the business is not able to meet the expectations of people. For instance, so many people sell their business due to financial or health issues. Lloyds Business Brokers come into the forefront at this point to help you get the right price for the business. Further, when the business shuts down due to immense competition, they will want to sell off a reasonable profit percentage. Also, the more prominent competitors may prompt the business holders to see the economic drives with the business. Owners may want to sell it sooner, but the process is not so easy.

Many of the business owners are planning to retire, but they can’t do so. Likewise, many of the businesses don’t even want to quit. It includes the day-to-day responsibilities right from owning the business. The freedom gives the owners to get the price just like how they want it. Lloyds Business Brokers help in looking for the change and move the business forward. The clients check out the business to see if there are any negative consequences to it.

When should You think of Selling Your Small Business?

Things to see when you plan to sell a small business

Setting the goal for the sale

When you plan to sell the business, explore various options with the investment banker. Besides, see the change if you want to see the change structure. The owners might get prices above their expectations and sometimes below them. You have to set goals for the sale date. You have to know what you want to sell.

Try to analyze the offer well.

It’s best to showcase the business at events and trade shows. People get to analyze the offer well through Lloyds Business Brokers. Secondly, the request can be a simple one with no unique clauses. Some private firms specialize in dealing with recommendations, and all of them are ethical. Take the offer only after negotiating the same.

Do the calculation well.

Business owners stay in assumptions that they can sell the business to save enough for the retirement. Further, the companies require enough capital at a 4% distribution rate. If a business owner hopes to get the retirement amount from the sale, the business has to produce more. For instance, if the company produces $5,00,000, the business must be sold at $17,50,000. Try to do the math to get the business at the less price but sell it at a higher price.

Planning ahead of the sale

You also have to prepare ahead of the sale. Likewise, the sales business should be a rewarding one. But it will require a good set of business, goals, and policies for all the plans to survive.

Conclusion

Maintain the lifestyle even after selling the business. Also, take the fruits of labor and earn well enough. However, with the help of prime brokerage services, it can be much easier. Make your business good enough so that you get good money for it. If the business is no longer a successful one, it’s best to be sold off.

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.

The post When should You think of Selling Your Small Business? appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The hashtag ‘#smallbusiness’ currently has 25 billion views on TikTok. This has resulted in small business owners looking to use the platform to elevate their brands to capitalise on the opportunity to reach new audiences. A common way to do this is to buy TikTok followers. 

The finance experts at money.co.uk have investigated which business sector is currently doing the best on TikTok. The team reviewed the top performing videos under #smallbusiness, noting down the number of likes and the industry the business belonged to. You can get TikTok followers to grow your account on this platform, and this allowed them to rank the business sectors in terms of popularity from highest to lowest.

Key Points

• The beauty industry is the most popular #smallbusiness industry on TikTok with a total of 61,792,300 likes from the videos analysed.
• The fashion industry is the second most popular with 50,424,500 likes.
• Just behind in third is the jewellery industry with 49,893,000 likes.

Top 10 most popular business industries on TikTok:

Money.co.uk can reveal that the most popular #smallbusiness industry booming on TikTok is the beauty industry with a total of 61,792,300 likes amid the most popular videos. From cosmetics such as homemade lip gloss to ASMR packaging clips, the beauty industry is certainly proving popular on TikTok.

Coming second on the list of the most popular small businesses on TikTok is the fashion industry with 50,424,500 likes. Streetwear, printed logo shirts and activewear were all heavily featured in the most popular small business videos.

Jewellery comes third with a total of 49,893,000 TikTok likes. The most popular videos included homemade necklaces, rings, and earrings.

A common way to do this is to buy TikTok followers.

The art industry is fourth on the list of most popular small businesses on TikTok. Paintings, canvases, and graphic design videos received 43,543,000 total likes.

Completing the top five is the home decoration and accessories industry with a total of 27,103,700 likes.

Methodology

1. Money.co.uk trawled through the #smallbusiness page on TikTok to identify the most popular videos under the hashtag.
2. In order of popularity, 235 of the most popular videos were analysed, noting down the number of likes the video had and which industry the business belonged to.
3. This enabled them to rank the industries from highest to lowest based on popularity.
4. The data was gathered on 06/05/21 and is accurate as of then.

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.

The post The Most Popular SMEs Industries Booming On TikTok appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.