Archive for May 2011
Small Business Ideas – 4 Fresh Untapped Enterprises, All Under $500 Bucks
May 15, 2011 | 
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Are small business ideas starting to swirl around in your head? Especially lately, since the last batch of pink slips were issued out. Remember the looks on your colleagues faces that conveyed the thoughts that were going through their minds? Has this economy has really gotten your attention! Before now seldom if ever would small business ideas even cross your mind. However, realizing that there’s no such thing as job security you’re now tuned into a different frequency.
As a matter of fact, the term could be coined as ‘job in-security. It’s sad it said that, many career employees suddenly find themselves searching for a new direction to secure their retirement. Clearly, implementing small business ideas are one such attractive course of action. Unfortunately, for many people, trying to start a small business is like trying to pull a tooth that’s not LOOSE… it’s hard as heck! (and it can be painful)
The Good News is that all small business ideas aren’t a monstrous endeavor. In fact some are easy to start and won’t cost you your first born. Incredibly, you won’t even need to mortgage your home, or rob what’s left in your piggy bank.
Read below as we uncover 4 creative ways to make money that is inexpensive and simple to start.
Outsourcing Coordinator:
1. Outsourcing is becoming a household word. Outsourcing is simply, referring jobs that are normally handled internally, now are being handled by an outside company or agency. You can accept bulk jobs from companies and then outsource all or part of the work to others. If done right, you will make a profit without working full-time. The biggest drawback is… you’re responsible for the work done by those that you hire. If they flake on an assignment or do a sub-standard job, it’s up to you to correct.
Virtual Assistant:
2. Become a Virtual Assistant. If you have great computer and writing skills, this could be an option. A virtual assistant is a secretary that normally works from home or some other remote location. They perform task such as, virtual filing, SEO, copy-writing, ghost-writing, and other computer related services.
Invest in a Small Business:
3. Instead of investing money to start your own business, you can invest in (OPB) Other People’s Businesses. How many people do you know that have had great small business ideas but not the motivation, money or desire to take action? By assisting them financially, or partnering with them by providing necessary business skills which they lack, you can earn a percentage of the profits. Of course, if the business flops, you’ll be out of the money AND TIME you invested, so there’s some risk.
Direct sales and home based businesses:
4. This is another growing trend. Since the advent of the internet, direct sales professionals are earning unprecedented record incomes. Contracting with a direct sales company, is equivalent to owning your own small business within a business. Sort of like owning a franchise, without the astronomical capital investment or ongoing expenses. One of the challenges are finding the right company, products or services that interest you.
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Lawn Care Business Forms, Contracts, Templates and Standard Letters
Running a lawn care business, like any other business, requires a great deal of administrative paperwork. Having lawn care business forms, contracts, templates and standard letters available for every situation that you come across regularly in your business saves you from having to create a whole new document from scratch every time.
Luckily, you don’t even have to put these business forms together yourself as a few experienced lawn care business operators are now making their tried and tested standard forms and letters available for you to freely adapt to your own business.
This article looks at some of the standard letters, forms and templates that you will need in the lawn care industry and towards the end lets you know how to go about getting them.
Financial
When putting together, invoices, receipts, bills of sale and other important financial related documents it is extremely helpful if you have some real industry examples that you can adapt and make your own. Keeping track of your day to day finances can be tough while out on the road so having appropriate forms for keeping daily income and expense records is important in this business.
Appropriate letters for following up on overdue accounts and bad debts are also required.
Dealing with Customers
Communication with customers is important and you should have standard letters that are well written for greeting new customers, politely dropping customers, quoting on lawn jobs, sending end of season messages, solving customer problems or informing customers of any news or changes relating to your services. You don’t want to convey the wrong message to customers, so having ‘tried and tested’ standard letters prepared by professionals that you can basically reuse with slight adjustments to suit each situation is the best way to go.
You should also have a well thought out service agreement that can be signed by yourself and each new customer. Having a basic agreement that you can base your agreement on can save you time.
Flyers
Having some templates of advertising flyers that have worked well for other lawn care operators also can save you headaches. Simply change a few details on the flyers that they provide you with on your PC to create your own company promotion.
Other
Other useful business forms and letters to have include letters related to bidding on lawn care contracts, equipment maintenance logs and vehicle mileage logs.
Having a great set of lawn care business forms, contracts, templates and standard letters can save you time and make sure that you get your lawn care business off to a great start in a professional manner.
How to get lawn care business forms?
A small number of successful lawn care operators have put together informational products that can help newcomers to lawn care get started successfully. Some of them also offer business forms and standard letters that you are able to use freely for your own business.
Commercial Remodeling – Ideas to Spruce Up Your Business
When it comes to giving your business a commercial remodeling overhaul, you don’t want to take any missteps. You want this project to go seamlessly, as your business is your livelihood and you will be investing a lot of money into sprucing it up. The design and layout of your office is the first impression you give clients about your business. If it’s messy and disorganized, they’re going to think your business approach is the same. Giving your company a new look is one of the best way to retain current clients, while attracting new ones. Focusing on the following can help your remodel stay on target, and meet your goals:
Paint
If your employees need to be full of energy, a bright color like red and orange will help ensure their energy levels are up. If your business is full of stress, calm colors assist in soothing nerves.
Lighting
If you or your employees are snoozing in the middle of the work day, then lighting might be the cause. Ways to solve this issue – and increase productivity – including installing new light fixtures, as well as letting natural light into work spaces.
Focus on ambiance
The ambiance of your company can mean the difference between success and failure. Customers want to do business in a place that’s warm and inviting, not a place that’s cold and withdrawn. This applies especially to restaurants: the ambiance can affect every aspect of the operation, including how patrons taste the food.
Furniture
You don’t want to skimp on comfort. Desk chairs should have a cushioned seat and back, and allow for ergonomically correct posture. This will keep you and the rest of the workforce set on what needs to be done, and avert future back problems as a result of long periods of sitting. Customers especially need to be comfortable, as no one wants to sit and wait – or eat – in uncomfortable furniture.
Keep your design in line with your expectations
If you are serving Italian cuisine, it’s probably not best to have mounted wildlife adorning your restaurant’s walls. If you’re unclear as where to go, then hiring a professional decorator might be the best solution, as this will keep you on your time frame.
Don’t settle for what’s trendy
You want your company to be modern, but you’ll also want it to be timeless. Don’t try to do whatever one else is doing. You need to set your business apart from your competitors, and the best way to go about this is to create something timeless.