Small Business Tools
Advanced small business tools help to avoid a big problems with the finance planing strategy.
Posted by Brian Reed on September 22nd, 2010 ~
0 Comments You’re busy. I’m busy. As small business owners, we’re all busy and we’re all looking for ways to get more done in less time. And that means doing everything we can to increase our productivity. Below are six ways that I’ve been able to be more productive. I’d love if you could share your own tips.
1. Use the right tools.
One way small business owners kill their productivity is by using the wrong tool for the job. They keep using their pen and notebook when they should be using a tool like Evernote to trap and record their ideas. They waste time manually entering receipts into QuickBooks instead of using something like Shoeboxed that can quickly handle their accounting for them. As a small business owner, it’s worth it to spend some time finding the tools that you need to better run your business. Don’t try to hack a tool to do something it’s not supposed to do. We live in an economy where it’s pretty easy to find free, online productivity tools. Don’t be afraid to use them.
2. Stay up to date.
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Tags: Ways, Ways Productive
Posted by Sara Lopez on September 20th, 2010 ~
0 Comments Did you know that Halloween is the second biggest decorating holiday of the year, second only to Christmas?
If you’re used to thinking of Halloween as just a blip between back-to-school and the holiday season, think again – Halloween isn’t just a trick-or-treat obligation or a chance to dress up. Halloween can be a really sweet business opportunity.
And What About These Business Opportunities?
- Best Green Business Ideas
- Best Business Opportunities 2010
- Senior Care Franchises
More on Finding Business Opportunities
Tags: Halloween, Halloween Sweet
Posted by Brian Reed on September 20th, 2010 ~
0 Comments There’s an industry of consultants offering advice to city, county and state policy makers on how to generate more entrepreneurs in their locales. Much of this advice is based on research that looks at what’s different about places that have more entrepreneurs from places that have fewer of them.
Many governments are following this advice without looking deeply enough at the research behind it. A brief glance shows four problems with using much of the analysis to develop public policy.
1. The evidence doesn’t always support the theory. Consider, for example, the argument made by economic development guru and consultant, Richard Florida, that increasing demographic diversity will increase entrepreneurial activity. Florida’s own research fails to show that places with more diversity have more entrepreneurs. His diversity index, which measures the share of the population that is gay, and his melting pot index, which captures the foreign born share of the population, have no statistical relationship to the rate of new business formation when other factors are also considered. The the
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Posted by Rachel Garcia on September 19th, 2010 ~
0 Comments Bingo has been popular game for fundraising events and family gathering occasions for decades since it can be played by people of all ages. Bingo creates excitement and fun atmosphere for all players and by doing proper planning and preparation, anyone will be able to set up a successful bingo event. If you happen to be in a non-profit organization and are in charge of a fundraising bingo event this year, here are few tips to help you set up a successful bingo event.
1. Time and location. Discuss with the people in your organization about the date and time of the event, and the location where the event will be held. Also, you need to consider making sponsorship proposals to help you buy bingo supplies such as bingo sheets, bingo cage and balls.
2. Bingo supplies. You may also prepare bingo sheets or bingo books for the players. There are great-quality bingo books for sale on online wholesale bingo supplies store that you can easily purchase online. Browse around for online wholesale bingo supply store that offers a wide selection of bingo goods at great price.
3.
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Tags: Event
Posted by Sara Lopez on September 16th, 2010 ~
0 Comments If you’re thinking of expanding your company internationally or even nationally, Tim McGuire’s answers to questions about the challenges and opportunities for companies expanding beyond their borders (The Globe and Mail) is a transcript worth reading.
McGuire, a senior partner at McKinsey & Co. and head of its retail practice for the Americas, stresses that Canadian companies can succeed internationally, but that they “have to figure out how and where to win before they go”. For instance, he says, many Canadian companies try to expand into the U.S. market first, when actually it should be one of the last markets they try to broach as the competition may be fiercest there.
He also speaks about the importance of not waiting until you’ve saturated the Canadian market before trying to capitalize on international opportunities.
Canadian businesses, says McGuire, need to
“recognize that eventually you’re going to run out of room in Canada – we live in a relatively small-population country.
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Tags: Expanding, Expanding Business
Posted by Sara Lopez on September 15th, 2010 ~
0 Comments WASHINGTON, D.C.—Building on the momentum of July’s Jobs for America: Summit 2010 and leading up to Election Day, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Campaign for Free Enterprise is embarking on a two-month nationwide push through state and local chambers, an online ad campaign, and a series of policy, gubernatorial, and youth events that urges Americans to ask five questions of their political candidates about the free enterprise system and job creation.
“Because this election will be about the economy, the Campaign for Free Enterprise is offering voters a simple plan to see which candidates are focused on free enterprise policies that create jobs,” said Stan Anderson, managing director of the U.S. Chamber’s Campaign for Free Enterprise. “Our message for these events is simply this—if you’re a politician, we want to make sure your top priority is in line with that of the American people. We need to put policies in place that will get our country’s job creators hiring again and turn this economy around.”
The five questions will be delivered to hundreds of state and local chambers nationwide and will be posted online with the ability to click and send immediately to lawmakers. In all, the Campaign
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Posted by Brian Reed on September 14th, 2010 ~
0 Comments Health insurance is on my mind right now because my company is reviewing its policy options. Our premiums are about to rise, and like most small businesses, we’re watching every penny, so we’re trying to figure out where to cut back.
A new study from The Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust shows that we’re not alone. Health insurance premiums have gone up for just about every company—which is nothing new. But what is notable is that employees are shouldering a bigger share of these cost increases than ever before.
“Premiums increased just 5 percent for single coverage and 3 percent for family coverage between 2009 and 2010,” the study reports. “At the same time, workers saw their share of the premiums for single and family coverage grow for the first time in several years.”
“In 2010, covered workers contributed a greater share of the total premium, a notable change from the steady share workers have paid on average over the last decade,” the report continues. “Covered workers on
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Tags: Health Insurance, Rise