Many budding entrepreneurs wish to set up a business for themselves, being your own boss is alluring, and making it in the world of business has a certain pull which is why so many people give it a shot, unfortunately, many fair. This is why so many people are tempted by franchising, where you essentially use the brand name of a successful company but operate the branch as if it were your own business. There are of course huge plus sides, your marketing is done for you, the brand is instantly recognizable and you have a client base, but there are downsides too.
You Have One Hand Tied Behind Your Back
While owning a franchise as clear perks, you will be unable to make certain changes. Policies, procedure and restrictions are all in place and need to be adhered to. This usually means pricing, what services are on offer and employee benefits. Although you benefit from franchising in a few ways, this is certainly a downside. Although you’re the boss, you cannot change anything for the needs of the business or make new policies you think could make it all run smoother, instead you’re hampered by existing policies which suit the business from a regional perspective, and are not tailored to your own specific branch.
You’re Fairly Limited In what You Want To Do
If you have settled on franchising, then you’ll likely have certain businesses already lined up for approach. What you will soon realize is that on the surface is that the majority are in the simple cash for service game. Restaurants, coffee shops, that kind of thing. It means you can’t do something that can benefit your fellow human, whereas if you set up your own business you can. You can set up a charity or a service that can really help people. These opportunities are few and far between in franchising, however some do exist, there are some senior home care franchise opportunities, which means you can make a difference.
The Initial Expense Is Huge
Usually, when people are setting up business they try to limit the initial costs as much as they can, of course mistakes are made, but loans are required so it is vital nothing is wasted as the cash could be needed later on. When using a franchise a huge cash some is usually paid to the wider company. For example, to use a Burger King franchise you need to pay them 50,000, and that’s before any investment in the new building which will usually cost over 350,000 once architect fees and planning permission has been calculated. So although the long term gain could be great, in the short term you’ll need a huge cash injection that is only really suited to already successful businesses.
You Can’t Put Your Own Slant On It
If you set up a franchise the interiors are exactly the same throughout your country. But if you set up your own business you can really make something different, something that will succeed. Building your own company can also generate more excitement that a franchise, people know what franchises are and what they’re about, but if you create something different, unseen and novel then you’re going to drum up way more business, and keep all of the profit.
For most people, biking is one of those sports that’s a little bit under the radar. You’re either in the world of push-bikes, or you’re outside of it and have literally no idea what’s going on. It’s hard for people who have grown up in a world where the most expensive bike you could buy was $250 from Target to understand how anybody could fork out $6,000 – more than you’d pay for most motorbikes.
But the bicycle industry is a big one, and it continues to grow, thanks to the amazing innovations being made in the space. A good example of this progress in action is to compare a Specialized Stumpjumper from 1998 to the same make and model in 2016. There is simply no comparison. Not only does the 2016 variety look better, but it’s also wildly more capable, allowing even moderately skilled riders to bomb down some of the most treacherous mountain tracks.
Cycle consumers themselves tend to be a very loyal bunch. They all have their favorite bike manufacturers, whether it’s Cannondale with their infamous Lefty fork, Marin, Giant or Specialized. So breaking into the market as an entrepreneur seems like it would be difficult. The cool thing about the market, though, is that the community itself is very engaged. It’s a lot like the video-game market or the digital camera market: it’s a place where people actually want to spend their money, so they spend a lot of time researching the products and getting excited about new releases. There are all sorts of opportunities here, therefore, to build a brand and make a dent in this $6 billion-a-year market.
Pure Fix Cycles
One of the best examples of success in the sector was the experience of Pure Fix Cycles. The company started out back in 2012 as a group of four friends with a passion for bicycles. The company managed to attract more than $4 million in investment capital, and within a couple of years, it had expanded to over 300 bike shops and was selling more than 2,000 bicycles a month through its online and retail outlets.
The fascinating thing about the company was the fact that the people behind it started designing bikes for it in-between their college classes. Back in 2010, two of the men behind, Michael Fishman and Austin Stoffers, went shopping for bicycles near the University of Wisconsin where they were studying. They were looking for a great bike with good wheels that did the job for under $1,000. But soon they bumped up against a problem. Despite the fact that Madison was an area with a thriving cycling community, they couldn’t find any bikes that fit the bill. Either bikes were so cheap that they would fall apart after a year of heavy use, or they were so expensive that they couldn’t justify the purchase. Nothing was in that sub-$1,000 sweet spot that would make the purchase worthwhile.
The pair went away and thought about why the market didn’t seem to be able to come up with a bike that had great wheels, was sturdy and robust, and would suffice for life at college. They discovered that it had a lot to do with the componentry around the gears. Adding up to 30 gears to a bike was costly, even if bikes were using cheap kit.
They decided, therefore, to start a bike company that offered bikers single-speed bicycles, with only one sprocket at the back and one chain ring at the front. At first, the pair worried that they wouldn’t find a niche for their product because of the fact that single speed bikes make it difficult to ride uphill. But then they realized that there is a whole community of hipsters out there who crave simplicity and novelty and would rather have a high-quality bike without gears than a low-quality bike with gears.
The pair then contacted a manufacturer with the facilities to build the bike and powder coating ovens to paint it with their branding. They also brought in a couple of their friends, one a computer whiz, and the other an expert in branding. The four then made their first order of 165 bikes, priced at more than $325 each. They planned to sell them over the course of their first year, but they proved so popular that they ended up selling them over the course of the winter break.
Soon the company was going from strength to strength, and the bike company was making significant profits. They entered a university competition to win some cash, won it and then walked away with another $7,000 in cash which they put towards a second, larger order of bicycles. Every time they sold the bikes, they doubled their order from the manufacturer, but no matter how many they ordered, they still never seemed to have enough bikes.
Once they’d left university, the four grads paired up with a former senior executive from Priceline. They then set up their own national distribution service which allowed them to sell bikes nationwide. Because their focus was on providing bikes cheaply, they wanted to differentiate themselves from the rest of the industry. Under the regular setup, big national distributors bought bikes from manufacturers and then sold them on to bike shops, taking a cut for themselves. Pure Fix decided that they would act as their own distributor to reduce costs and get bikes to their customers as cheaply as possible.
Reasons For Success
So what can entrepreneurs learn from all of this? The first important thing to note is that Pure Fix isn’t a company based on marketing gimmicks – it’s based on a product. The company fulfills a real need out there in the marketplace for a cost-effective bike that allows students on a budget to buy something that is both high-quality and cheap, without any of the unnecessary components that add so much cost to the sticker price.
There’s also the fact that the company operates off a new business model, made possible thanks to the internet and their direct relationship with manufacturers. They’re able to build bikes for a fraction of the cost of the more established players, all thanks to the fact that they manage their own distribution.
The company also cites the fact that it is full of young people. Unlike at a larger company, there aren’t a bunch of gatekeepers who keep a lid on innovation. Instead, getting somebody to say “yes” to a new idea in their company is relatively straightforward. All a person has to do is go to them with an idea and see whether it makes a material impact.
Then finally, there’s the fact that Pure Fix is a startup. They’re lean, ambitious and able to change rapidly with the times. Because of their small size, they’re able to innovate faster and come out with new products quickly. Since creating their single-speed commuter bike, they’ve expanded into other areas like, like trick bikes and kids’ bikes.
Become A Bike Distributor
For entrepreneurs, there is a whole host of ways to get into this business. One way is through the same model as that adopted by Pure Fix. Take Canyon for instance. Canyon decided that it was fed up with the fact that the biggest bike makers in the world charged such high prices for their premium and high-end bikes. The reason for the high prices was the enormous overhead of running a fleet of branded shops, rather like Specialized does. Instead, Canyon, a German company, decided it was going to distribute its bikes direct to customers over the internet. Today, it’s the fastest growing bicycle company in the world, and its prices are anywhere for 25 to 40 percent lower than what you’d see from major vendors.
Canyon makes bikes to order from customers in its assembly plant, and then uses its network of distributors to send bikes directly to people’s homes. Their costs are low, so bang for the buck is high.
Become A Component Designer
Another way into the market is to manufacture and design your own components. Perhaps the best example of a success story in this area comes from British component manufacturer, Hope. Hope, based in Lancashire, England, realized that most mountain bikes weren’t designed to withstand the British weather. American and Japanese manufacturers didn’t seem to understand that not all mountain bikes were ridden along dusty singletracks in the Rockies. Some, especially in the UK, were being taken through feet of mud and getting completely caked in the process. Conditions were so bad that bikes regularly needed replacement parts, especially for things that contained bearings, like headsets and bottom brackets.
Hope decided that there was a market for high-quality, water and mud resistant bearings and bottom brackets. And so it began designing components that would suit this niche market. Now Hope is known all over the world as being a manufacturer of the highest quality and most durable bicycle components out there. If you make a habit of going riding in the highlands of Scotland, you make sure that your bicycle has Hope parts.
The entrepreneurial spirit leads many CPAs to consider opening their own practice. However, opening an accounting firm requires more than accounting prowess and financial acumen. There are a bevy of factors that play into the success of a small business startup, and you must be ready to invest the time and money into establishing your firm as a credible, reputable source for accounting services.
The Financing Requirements
When drawing out the financial plans for your startup, you need to accumulate enough funding to get your firm up and running—and keep it running for a full year. You’ll need to assess the cost of office leasing, equipment, advertising efforts, and living expenses for both you and any employees you hire. Depending on your location and size, you can expect to need $50,000 or more to begin with. First consider your revenue goals. This will help you determine where you should place your office, help you evaluate what types of client you’re hoping to obtain, and determine any specialty services you intend on offering. If you don’t have the personal capital to invest, you’ll need to seek out financing options. Many consider SBA loans and traditional loan options from banks; however, in recent years, banks and traditional lenders have tightened the reins on loan approvals, so without previous experience in running a successful startup, you may need to pursue other means of funding.
Licensing Requirements
In order to open an accounting firm that provides public accounting services you must have a CPA license. To do so, you’ll need to meet the qualifications required to sit the CPA exam; every state in the country requires a bachelor’s degree, and many also require a minimum of 150 semester hours in accounting-specific education, which many achieve through master’s programs. You’ll also be required to apply to your state board of accountancy in order to register your firm.
Invest in Your Employees
The secret to a profitable accounting business is loyal, hardworking employees. Your team is integral to success. Find skilled employees that are well-qualified for the position. The best way to find these individuals is to draw upon a large pool of prospective hires, then implement a rigorous interview process. Once you make a hire, make them want to stay. The cost of turnover can drown a startup, and showing the right individuals they matter to the success of the company can pay dividends down the road. Invest in your employees by fostering strong relationship within the office and through networking opportunities; improve their skills and certifications by funding their CPA prep courses; offer competitive salaries, bonuses, and employee insurance policies to encourage loyalty. There’s no limit to the ways you can invest in your accounting firm’s employees, and doing so means investing in the future success of your business. You may choose to find a partner, use hard money lending, or consider utilizing angel investors from Angel.co. Always be sure that you completely understand repayment stipulations and interest rates on any type of loan you procure to ensure you’ll have the means to pay it off.
Marketing Essentials
You’ll need to generate a cache of clients for your business, so be prepared to invest time and money into strategic marketing schemes. You can utilize resources like the American Institute of CPAs. They offer marketing materials that include templates, printing services, and other essentials. Prioritize networking—your colleagues and even personal contacts are going to be your best resources for attracting new clients. Write articles and have them published online and in local news publications to expand your network. Book speaking engagements; whether that be in local seminars, in support of community projects, or with local service clubs. This gives you another measure of visibility, and will further expand your reputation as a credible source for accounting services. You can also hire a company that provides marketing for accounting firms if you have the finances to invest. This can help you saturate a competitive market from the onset.
Opening an accounting firm is a journey filled with hurdles, but with the right preparation, funding, and team, your startup is poised for success.
When you run an online business, the one thing your business really depends on is your ability to get clients.
So many people go into business thinking that if they just throw up a pretty website and create Facebook business page that magically all of these ideal clients are just going to be tripping over each other to work with them.
Unfortunately it doesn’t quite work that way, though it would be brilliant if it did, but the old “build it and they will come” mentality is really quite damaging, so it’s time for business owners to understand that if they want to be successful and stay in business, then they actually have to be investing time and/or money into getting new leads and clients.
The good news is, this is actually not anywhere near as complicated as it sounds. Sure, if you look around online, you’ll see endless stories of struggle when it comes to marketing and sales, but honestly, people are just making things far more difficult on themselves than they really need to be.
As with so many things in life, we humans do like to over-complicate things, but to keep it simple is actually a far better overall strategy – regardless if it’s life or business.
So, let’s look at a few easy, and totally non-sleazy ways for you to start getting more clients and actually start growing your business the way you know you’re capable of.
Be Personal With Them:
Now, before you get any ideas, I don’t mean personal in an inappropriate way. What I mean is, remember that your clients and potential clients are actually humans, too. They’re not just there to open their wallet and keep you in business. Get to know them as people, both before and after the sale. This shows that you care and that you can be trusted. There’s nothing more crucial in business than your reputation, and in the online world, especially, word gets around fast, so make sure people are saying and hearing good things about you.
Deliver Lots Of Value:
It’s said a lot that people don’t buy products or services, they buy people – meaning they buy into whatever you’re offering because of you and how you offer it. This is why you can easily look at one copywriter or business coach online who’s completely crushing it with their business and is totally booked out, whereas you have another who’s offering more or less the exact same services and products, but can’t even give their free stuff away. The reason is because that first coach or copywriter has taken the time to nurture their clients before they became clients, they showed up consistently with the same message, and they proved they know their stuff because they kept giving lots of value in their trainings and through their emails, etc. This is such a simple approach and concept, yet so many people fall short on this one. People will buy into you and will likely become customers for life, even if they really need what you’re offering or not because if you show up all the time and deliver real value to them, then they will trust you, and trust is what gets people to buy in the end.
Be Real:
While everybody loves a good rags to riches story, they seem to be dominating the online space over the past two years. I’ve honestly never known of such an epidemic of people once broke, living in their cars, and now all of a sudden making 6-figures and living the laptop life. Yes, they’re good for inspiration when they’re actually true, but the sheer volume of these stories does make you wonder, doesn’t it? Sharing your story with people is one of the best ways to really connect with your audience and ideal clients, but be real and raw with people. They’re not stupid, and they can tell when you’re lying, so it’s completely off putting. A great way to share your story is through places like Facebook, blogs, with your email newsletters, and even through advertising, which you can help with at places like advertiseworld.com. You can certainly try being fake in business, but it really won’t get you anywhere.
Set Up A Sales Funnel:
These are amazing for generating a consistent flow of regular clients and sales to your business, and although they do take a bit of work to set up, they’re actually easy to do, and completely worth it when you look at the benefits. A sales funnel can really look however you want it to, and obviously has to fit in with your business model and goals, but a very simple and easy to set up one would look like this: create a simple Facebook, Instagram or Twitter ad that drives targeted traffic to a high-value freebie known as an opt-in, which people sign up for in exchange for their email address, then you would deliver a continuation of that freebie through an equally high-value email series over a certain period of time, and ultimately this leads in to you then making an offer for your paid product or service.
Reach Out To People:
So many people are afraid of doing this because they think it makes them look sleazy, but if you approach it the right way, there’s nothing wrong with this old-school marketing method at all, and it’s highly effective. Simply reach out to people on your contacts list, old colleagues, even old clients and just start a conversation with them. Don’t send a message offering them a product or giving them a link (that is sleazy and will get you nowhere), but simply open up the conversation and show genuine interest in them and what they’re up to, let them know what you’re up to, and if they ask for more information, then just give it to them. They may not become a client themselves, but they could know someone who is looking for exactly what you offer.
A credit union is essentially a financial cooperative set up within a community for members of the community. They usually offer brilliant loan rates with a mission to help people of the community get out of debt and generally educate them about banking and the financial sector. They can help communities grow and play a vital part in supporting and increasing the local economy. If you wish to set up your own credit union, here are some tips.
Do Your Research
First you need to investigate whether there’s already a credit union in operation in your area, then you need to find out how many members of your community actually want a credit union and would use its facilities. You can use forms known as non-committal pledge forms. These can be great to show potential colleagues who you want on board that there really is space for a credit union in your area. Don’t forget you’ll need a diverse team around you too, people with financial nouce like accountants but also people who have some knowledge of running financial businesses like a bank manager. Once you’ve done this and come up with a business plan, you can apply to the relevant financial authority to outline your plans and prove you and your members all share a common bond.
Begin Marketing Your Credit Union
Once your credit union is open you’ll need to start marketing it. Primarily because you’ll need members as soon as possible to keep is sustainable. In smaller communities the majority of this can be done via word of mouth, but use posters in local libraries and community centers. Perhaps arrange to speak to a local community association and highlight the benefits of you’re going to provide. You should also set up your own website, if people hear about your union they can simply find you online, this hits a wider audience too and could reach potential members from outside your immediate area of operation. You can even use online application forms to take some strain off of your in house staff, the setup of these can be quite complex but there is some great commercial web design for credit unions out there. They can help you set your site up so it looks professional and works properly.
Make It Attractive
Find a great premises, you can do this by appealing to the community, perhaps there is some cheap office space to rent or an old building that hasn’t been occupied for a while. You need to use this space to attract savers, because without savers you won’t have money to load out to people who need them. It should be professional, and well set out. Go into your local banks and see what they’re doing, you’ll likely see clean open spaces and well lit side offices. Follow suit, it’ll lend your union an element of professionalism and experience that can put potential savers at ease. There are many challenges for financial businesses, but by using a premises you lend yourself some credibility. People will know they can come and speak to you if something has gone wrong, instead of having to phone you.
For a lot of people, starting a blog is more than a hobby. It might be a passion that drives you. It might be part of the marketing arm of your business. It might even be your business itself. If you want to get serious about starting a blog, for profit or otherwise, you have to formulate a real plan. You have to strategize its design, its delivery, and its dissemination. In this article, we’ll look at the organized approach to giving your blog the best start it can get.
Set up the site
Real thought has to go into the design of your blog. From the URL to the design, you have to avoid the generic approach as much as possible. For the name, if you have a business, then keep the name as close to the business or what the business provides as possible. Otherwise, take your time writing the topics your blog deals with and make one of them the main aspect of the blog name. You want a format that’s easily customizable and fit to purpose. WordPress is going to be the most likely choice, as it’s used by most of the top blogs on the net and has all kinds of functionality for custom changes. You want to avoid generic hosts, too. Instead, look at options like the best managed WordPress hosting to find a host that works exactly to your needs.
Organize your blog like a business
If you’re serious about growing a quality blog, it can’t be something that you only approach when you feel like it. You have to approach it like a business. For instance, if you have more than one writer or you have others in your business, then assign them specialties and delegate the responsibility of thinking up or covering topics. Find out how often they can contribute and whether they need the help of another writer finalizing. Set up a real schedule for when blogs need a first draft done, when they need to be proofread and edited and when they need to go out. You don’t have to worry if the content isn’t always the exciting subject you wish it could be. So long as it has value and it’s consistent, that’s the main thing that matters.
Start building a community
Swimming alone in a sea of blogs isn’t going to do yours any good. You need to have a proper marketing and audience building plan for it. This includes getting set up on social media and networking with other bloggers near to the subject you cover. Ask them to do guest posts and offer to do guest posts on theirs. Ask your readers questions and publish their answers with some input or use giveaways and competitions to get them directly involved. You can even ask if they have any topics they want covered. You need to get them engaged. This means going directly to your community.
The growth of a blog isn’t always a straight and narrow path. Some months will be wildly successful while others might seem to have little impact at all. As long as you keep a steady, planned approach, however, you can keep growth as consistent as possible from your end.
A physical storefront is where businesses of the past two to three hundred years have thrived, but that is changing. The internet is the hill your business will live and die on for the far-flung future, and it’s up to you to take advantage of that.
No matter the purpose of your start-up, there are plenty of ways the internet, digital media and technology can help you transform your business into a company that can truly utilise all facets of the digital age.
Now that your staff and yourself are equipped with the techniques, it might be time to sort out gadgets. You should look to dole out smartphones and laptops as required to ensure your workforce is mobile and can work from anywhere that is required of them. This is essential especially if your headquarters is ever changing and your staff are based in many different locations. This basic level of equipment will help with productivity and connectivity.
If you do have a solid headquarters, it’s important to equip it with a wifi router that can allow both yourself, clients and guests access to the internet. A wifi router enables some capabilities that don’t just revolve around access to the web; you can connect devices such as a printer or coffee machine to your network.
Get your workforce using Google Drive to collaborate on a cloud-based platform. All your work and admin can be stored on Google’s servers meaning you can access it from anywhere. This is incredibly important as it removes the work from the workplace and stores it anywhere you need it. For a start-up, this is incredibly important as it solves some issues with one solution. You don’t need to worry about backing up documents because Google Drive will do that for you.
Like Google Drive, you should invest in cloud storage. Services like Dropbox and Onecloud offer a storage solution that can combine with Drive to offer you a number of solutions to storing your work and files. If you’re scared of one of these services failing, you can actually utilize a number of them!
Social Media is something that should never be ignored and allows you to basically promote your business for free. Sites like LinkedIn also enable you to network with new clients and collaborators. Twitter and Facebook can also act as a customer service platform. A integrated platform like Hootsuite will allow you to control all of these at once and ensure the same message is heard across all of these sites.
These are just a few ways you can get started, but these tips are among the most powerful. Once you get going, you’ll master these tools and your start-up will benefit from being a truly mobile digital beast.
Every year more and more businesses are being targeted by cybercriminals – particularly small businesses. Sometimes it’s only a prank – a few inappropriate social media posts to get people reacting. At other times, it can be something far more malicious and can put the details of you, your stuff and your clients in danger. Whatever the extent of the hack, here are the steps that you should take to save your business and prevent it ever happening again.
Notify all your clients
Don’t try to hide what has happened. Yahoo had a cyber-attack back in 2014 that led to at least 500 million of its user accounts being stolen – something the company didn’t reveal until this year. They are now under intense court scrutiny.
Make sure to contact all your clients straight away, letting them know what has happened, that you are doing everything possible to fix it and the precautions that they should take. Depending on how many customers you have, you may need to send it out as a mass email.
Notify your employees
Anyone on your payroll will need to know about the hack, as their details could be under threat too. If you are in a small office this shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you have staff that work remotely, you will have to notify them all too.
Notify the authorities
Now that the embarrassing part is out of the way, get the authorities involved and let them know there has been a breach of information. If you have been struck by ransomware and a hacker is demanding money, a specialist cybercrime branch of the police will be able to notify as what to do. Once the hacker has been dealt with and your business has been safeguarded, they will be able to tell where you need to improve your security. You should book regular checks to prevent another attack.
Prevent future attacks
Hackers are likely to attack the same target twice, especially if they were successful in getting a ransom the first time. Make sure you have heavy-duty internet security installed and that it is up-to-date. Encrypt all your important files and create a backup folder in case one is compromised. To protect against ransomware, you can minimize your downtime with immediate disaster recovery by Infrascale or other related failover software. To protect against email or social media hacking, make sure that you regularly change passwords and that they are difficult to guess.
Seek cyber insurance if you don’t already have it in place. This will make sure that any clients or employees whose details are stolen are compensated in the future.
Create a response plan for if you are ever attacked again. This should speed up the recovery process, so that you can continue with business as usual. If you feel your reputation has been tainted, ensure people that your security has been heightened and that you are now more readily armed against potential attacks.
If you own a business you’re going to need people to know about it. If they don’t, they aren’t going to solicit your services and give you money. Keeping your business and brand recognisable is one of the core tenants for business success, here are some tips on how to keep your brand in the minds of your customers. There are many reasons businesses fail, don’t let this be what drags you down.
Use an Impactful Mission Statement
To ensure you build a great brand you need to think what your business does to provide value to prospective customers. The mission statement basically defines a purpose for existing. It will inform every other aspect of your brand building. Everything else you create should potentially reflect your mission statement, what you’re trying to achieve. It should be witty, but not isolate any groups of people.
Create A Powerful Logo
When you think of a business sometimes the first thing that comes to mind is the logo. Think about Apple, for instance, or Nike. Their logos are super powerful and allows you to stamp a memorable picture into the mind of the consumer. If you’re arty you can create your own logo, this gives you a way of creating exactly what you want and need, adding a personal flair to your business. If not, you can outsource the logos creation to a specialized company, when you highlight exactly what you want they can come up with some great ideas. There are some great cheap logo design companies out there who can do a great job and help your brand grow.
Form Your Business Voice
Depending on what kind of business you’re going for you need a specific voice. It could be informative, conversational, professional, friendly, humorous, the list goes on and on. You need to decide exactly how your website rhetoric is going to appear. For example, if you’re setting up a law firm it would be foolish to use a consistently humorous voice, people want a professional service not a giggle.
Use The Power Of Social Media
Everyone is on it these days, facebook, instagram, twitter, and then you have all of the various populist blogs on tumblr and blogspot, the advertising potential is limitless. There are many ways to harness the power of social media, but one of the easiest is by creating meaningful content that is shareable. If you create content that other viewers want to share then you’re only going to attract more people to your page and business. Just resist the urge to use clickbait strategies, people hate them and it’ll reflect badly upon your company. Also do not be afraid to use visual content. Articles with images receive 94 percent more views. Twitter content with images receives nearly twice as many views as text posts, even though there are seven times more text posts on Twitter.
Pay Attention To Your Customers
Ask for customer feedback and if they suggest something try to cater to it. Feedback truly is a gift, and you can attract more customers by showing you’re listening to what they’re doing and changing. If you use a feedback facility it allows customers the ability to show you what’s wrong with the website too, there could be bugs and typos. Interacting with your customers through your website and social media keeps it recogniseable and shows people who care.
Back in the 1980s when courier companies first became big business, how they were run was very different from today. Back then, it was the couriers who dictated as and when a parcel would arrive. Today, however, it’s a much more customer-led industry, with clients expecting their parcels to be delivered as and when they need them. People want good service, a small delivery time slow, and fast delivery. If a company can’t offer those things, they’ll lose a customer; it’s as simple as that.
Today, all the best courier companies are those that are run by small firms. The reason for this? Because smaller companies are able to offer a more personal approach and one that puts the needs of the customer first. So, if you’re thinking of starting a courier service but are worried about your chances of success as a small company, there’s no need to be. As long as you get the fundamental parts of your business right, you’re sure to be successful.
With that in mind, below is a guide to everything that you need to know to launch a successful courier business. Have a read, take note, and you can ensure that your new venture is a soaring success.
Decide what areas to cover
The first step that you need to take is to decide what areas you would like to cover. Some couriers choose to cover the entire country, while others prefer to only offer local deliveries. Then there are couriers that offer overseas shipping. However, international shipping can be expensive to do, so probably isn’t a good idea when you’re first starting out. Instead, it’s best to opt to offer either regional or national shipping. (Ideally, you want to offer national shipping, as this will increase your chances of success.)
Write a list of what you will need to get started
The next step is to put together a list of what you will need to get started. This is important, as, without a list of the essentials that you need, such as a certain amount of trucks or vans, GPS fleet tracking software, and handheld parcel scanning devices, you’ll have no idea of the size of the budget that you will need. So it’s important to write a list of everything that you will need to get started so that you are able to budget effectively.
Take on a team of staff
If you want to make a success of your courier company, you need to take on a team of staff and train them up before you launch your new venture. Otherwise, the chances are that you will struggle to make a success of your venture. You might think that you can manage everything yourself, but the truth is that soon enough things will get too hectic to deal with by yourself. So it makes sense to train up some team members beforehand, so that when you need them, you’ve got them.
There you have it, everything that you need to know to start your own courier business and make a success of it.
Some people prefer to save money when they have ‘extra’, however, smart people know that it’s much better to make investments. Why? Because eventually, you’ll be making a much larger return on your investments than the interest you’re receiving in your savings accounts. After all, savings actually depreciate over time. If you want to start making investments, here’s what you need to know to make lucrative investments for life:
Invest In Things You’re Interested In
Instead of investing in things you don’t have any interest in, make sure you’re at least a little interested in what you’re investing in. This will give you more of an incentive to learn more about what you’re doing, and it won’t feel like a chore.
You Don’t Need Huge Amounts To Get Started
You don’t need a large amount of money to get started. You can get started with just a small amount of money. In fact, this approach is best, until you truly understand the different kinds of investments and what works for you. You’re probably going to make some mistakes and experience dips in the beginning, but it won’t matter so much with a smaller amount of money.
Learn As You Go Along
Make it your mission to learn as you go along. Although you should know some stuff before you start, such as how different stocks and things work, getting started is important if you’re ever going to do it. The sooner you start, the more money you can have later on!
There Are Things Out There To Help You Get Started
There are certain things out there that can help you to get started, so you don’t have to to and fro any longer. You can look at the orion code system review to help you get an idea of what could help and how you can become successful.
Be In It For The Long Haul
You must be in this for the long haul. It’ll take some time, we’re talking years, before you can make a significant return on your investments. You’ll want to invest more money later on too, to get the most out of your investments. However, starting with smaller amounts will give you more confidence and allow you to prepare.
Vary Your Portfolio
It goes without saying you need to vary your portfolio in order to get the best results. You can invest in stocks and shares, property, and more. By making sure you aren’t putting all your eggs in one basket, you’ll get a much better result.
Take A Few Risks
Investing is all about taking risks. By taking a risk or two when you’re feeling brave, you’ll get better results. Playing it safe will usually only ever get you mediocre results.
There’s a little more to understand about investing before you go off and do it yourself, but that’s for you to go and find out. What will you invest in first? There are lots of YouTube tutorials and other things out there to help you reach your financial goals. Good luck!
Every startup knows the importance of having the energy to get the job done. But what does it take to get then excited and ready to face the challenges of the day, other than just pumping them all full of coffee? Take a look at this.
Get To Know The People You’re Working With
It’s often said that the best managers are those who adapt their management style depending on the personalities of their team members. Some people are motivated by targets and by challenges. Others get out of bed in the morning because they want a pat on the back and to be told that they’re “a good boy.” But how are managers supposed to differentiate their management techniques unless they actually know their employees? According to Forbes, it’s worth spending some time to get to know your colleagues outside of work. Often, you’ll be surprised by just how much you have in common. Getting to know as many different people in your business as possible during coffee breaks helps you adapt your management practices to better suit the needs of the individual. Plus, it helps you to grow your internal network: always a bonus.
Don’t Avoid A Problem
Entrepreneurs sometimes tend to push problems in their business to the back of their mind. There’s just so many other things to deal with that they can often feel overwhelmed. But safety issues, like faulty electrical equipment, have a habit of biting back when you least expect it. Jim’s Test & Tag, an electrical safety firm, recommend that companies regularly test their electrical equipment. Safety issues at work can severely damage staff morale and dampen the mood at work, especially if somebody gets hurt. Spend an hour in the morning every day getting all the things that you really don’t want to do out of the way. You’ll soon notice the benefits in your team.
Never Gossip
There’s probably not an awful lot you can do to prevent gossip in your own team at work unless you happen to have employed a bunch of saints. But there’s definitely a lot you can do as a founder to avoid gossip and saying negative things about co-workers. Communication in the office is probably a lot more fluid than you imagine, so anything you do say is likely to end up back at the colleague in question. If there’s something negative you need to say to a colleague, it’s probably a good idea to say it directly to their face. Always look for opportunities to praise colleagues too, as this can be a real motivator on a cold, dreary morning.
Be Grateful
One of the things that sets happy people apart from everybody else is the fact that they are generally grateful for what they have. Gratitude towards employees is equally important. Everybody likes to feel appreciated once in awhile, so creating a culture of gratitude in your organization is key to making people feel good about their work. It’s always worth praising those employees who go above and beyond in their work, as it’s often these people who are adding the most value to your firm and to your product.
If you own or run a customer facing business then you’ll already know how important it is to keep them happy. Businesses thrive from customer satisfaction, there are a number of things which can hurt your business but angry customers who vow not to return can be the most damning of all. Here are some tips to keep your business falling into any of the traps.
Pay Attention To What They Want
If you offer a service of some sorts then as time goes by you’ll get feedback, it’s logical to act on negative feedback because if you don’t then the customer will likely go somewhere else and if it annoys one it probably annoys others. To get a real scope of what the customer wants you can take out a survey, this will give you a wide range of opinion from customers of different ages and backgrounds. You can even incentivise your survey to make them feel more engaged, or, if you just don’t have the time there are companies that’ll help you with your surveys.
Offer Differing Finance Options
Whatever business you operate you should endeavor to accept all kinds of finance. The future of retail financing allows customers the option to buy how they want. You you don’t have certain facilities then you’re isolating a clutch of customers. You should be able to accept hard cash, EFT payments, credit card and have a contactless facility. Apple and Android pay are the new must haves too. If your products are quite expensive then you should be able to offer finance options, this allows people to pay who haven’t got the full amount at hand.
Be Kind
All interactions with customer service should be done in a kind and professional manner. No gruffness or rudeness, just be kind and professional. Otherwise it’s going to damage your brand
Irrevocably. You’re employees should consistently model this, and you should give them the correct training so they can deal with unhappy or even angry customers. They should always stay calm and be willing to represent your brand in a positive way.
Go above and beyond.
Your skillset may be more than what’s been scoped for you, so think beyond your assigned role. You may be retained to help on pure marketing but have expertise in product marketing, which falls under a different domain. Why not offer ideas, tips and suggestions? We can all do that little bit more, and it’s really what sets you apart from the competitors. If you go above and beyond in the right way then you can earn a customer for life. Customers talk, and they’ll tell each other about what you do that your competitors don’t.
Think of customer satisfaction as the lifeblood of your company. The happier they are with you, the more they’ll spend. If they’re waiting, offer them a tea or coffee, if you think they weren’t offered the right kind of service then send them a coupon in the post. It’ll impress them, sure, but it also means they have to come back to spend it giving you another chance to impress. Think outside the box, and stick to the years old mantra of the customer is always right.
Stepping into the world of business can be intimidating. It can take a lot of investment to start a company up. What’s more, you’ll need to do a ton of market research and learn about how to run a business. Setting up an office and hiring all the right people can be tough. But there are other options.
For many aspiring entrepreneurs, creating a home business is the best way to start. There are plenty of businesses you can start at home with limited funds. What’s more, many can be done solo, so you don’t need to deal with the challenges of employment. Here are some of the best ideas for businesses you can start from your house.
Managed Service Provider
Apps and web software are becoming increasingly popular. Providing these for businesses and individuals is profitable. But not everyone has experience in software developing. Becoming a managed service provider allows you to act as a middle-man, providing services to customers.
There are many companies on the web which can provide you with the right resources to become a managed service provider. You can become a reseller, offering customers services using a CSP platform.
It can be competitive, so you’ll need to market your business and reach out to customers. But with no investment required and a high potential for profits, it’s a great home business idea.
Event Planner
Are you great with keeping organized? Can you talk to all kinds of people and understand their needs? Do you know how to put on a great party? Maybe events planning is for you!
You can start an event planning business from home. You can talk to clients using the phone or even VoIP services and keep notes of what they want in their event. You will need to get out to look at venues and get the supplies you need. But most of the work relies on organization and getting in touch with people.
You could organize all sorts of events for people. You might want to become a wedding planner. Maybe you want to set up charity events for businesses. As long as you know how to put on a successful function, you can start getting clients fast.
Consultant/Mentor
If you have a wealth of knowledge in a particular area, why not profit from it? Those who show a high level of expertise in a certain sector can make a lot of money.
For instance, if you have legal knowledge, you could become a law consultant. Many people will pay for advice on legal situations. The same applies for if you have experience in entrepreneurship, or perhaps you could advise people on financial matters.
Another alternative is mentoring. There are sites which let you become a mentor for people online. You could also offer home lessons in your area of expertise, be that guitar playing or yoga.
Content Creator
Content creating is becoming a valuable skill. Companies often employ various content creators. But it’s also something you can do yourself, and something that can lead to a lot of profit.
Many people make money by blogging. You can start out using a free blogging service and attract readers with engaging content. You could also expand to create videos on YouTube and get on social media sites like Twitter and Instagram. If you develop a following, you can profit from your audience and sponsorship’s.
It’s something you can infuse your passion into. For instance, perhaps you want to make a travel blog or video tutorials on arts and crafts. It’s a highly enjoyable way to work from home.
Nibletz Staff
