Business

Top 5 Business Payment Systems Every First-Time Entrepreneur Should Consider

They say time is money. And if you’re one of the 30.2 million small businesses in the United States, you know that very well. 

That’s why finding ways to simplify how you do business can help you maximize time and run and grow a successful shop.

Discover how business payment systems can help ensure you get paid and focus on what you do best.

Business Payment Systems: What Are They?

Business payment solutions offer an easy way for you to receive payment and for customers to pay you. These systems can take care of all the various steps involved when you process customer payments. That includes swiping credit cards and safely storing credit card information.

Whether you have a brick-and-mortar store or an exclusively web-based business, online payment processing can streamline how you process and receive payments.

Online Payment Systems for Small Businesses

Your small business payment processing needs may depend on several factors—including the size of your business, your average customer, and whether you want an all-in-one POS (point of service) and payment processing system.

Here are five online payment systems to consider for your small business.

Authorize.net

If you’d like your customers to be able to make payments directly on your website, Authorize.net will help you accomplish that. Instead of redirecting visitors to your website to a third-party payment platform, shoppers can pay directly on your site.

Using this payment gateway service allows you to accept all major credit cards as well as digital payments through platforms like Apple Pay and PayPal.

PayPal

PayPal is another popular platform for accepting business payments. In addition to receiving online payments, you can accept in-person credit card payments through a mobile app and card reader. You can also create and keep track of invoices directly in your online account.

Square

Square not only offers payment processing, but it also provides POS systems as well. With Square you can process credit card payments without incurring fees through the use of a free card reader.

Other bonuses include fraud protection and payments transferred to your bank account in as little as one day. Plus there are no monthly or set-up charges.

QuickBooks Payments

If you want a system that integrates with QuickBooks accounting software, this tool will let you do that. You can choose either a web or computer-based program as well as a pay-as-you-go or monthly payment structure.

Striker Payments

Striker Payments is a merchant account payment processing company that offers an innovative POS system that is easily accessible through an iPad interface. They also offer easy online payment processing for a range of business types and sizes.

Whether you own a small retail shop or an eCommerce or mobile business, Striker Payments has a solution and platform for streamlined payments processing.

Get More Small Business Tips

Have you found this information on business payment systems helpful? Do you want more advice about simplifying your small and growing business? Keep browsing our blog for tips on everything from eCommerce solutions to ideas for growing your brand.

Forget Something? 5 Business Needs That Fall Between the Cracks

Although 80% of all new businesses survive their first years, many small businesses struggle for their first few years of operation. One of the biggest reasons why companies have to shut their doors for good is a lack of adequate preparation.

Sure, you may have the office, the staff, and the right attitude. But do you have everything you need to succeed?

Before you answer, make sure you’re not missing out on these five important business needs.

1. Market Research

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. To compete to your fullest capabilities, you’ll need to gain a better understanding of how the market is performing and what your competition is up to.

Unfortunately, a lot of business owners get so caught up in the excitement of starting their company that they forget to do conduct this important research.

It might mean more work on your part or outsourcing to a firm who can conduct market research for you, but having research-backed evidence to enhance your marketing strategies can save you a ton of money in the long run.

2. Funding for Work Materials

New talent means new revenue! At least, in theory.

Bringing on new talent also means new expenses, such as desks, chairs, computers, software, and onboarding training.

The average cost-per-hire for a single employee comes out to around $4,129. It’s a lot, and if you’re not careful, these costs can catch you off guard.

3. Data Security

Handling a digital presence is a huge part of operating a modern business. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, going digital is more convenient and reduces paper costs and waste. But on the other, it’s all too easy for someone to steal your company’s data.

One of the first things you should invest in is managed IT services. An IT firm can spot any potential threats, update your data security protocol, and keep your business running smoothly.

Data breaches can cost thousands of dollars in recovery fees. But worse, it can shake the confidence of your customers, resulting in lost revenue.

4. Reputation Management

Speaking of digital presences, don’t forget to take advantage of online listing services. Sites like Google My Business and Yelp are a great way to organically spread the word about your business and make for a great supplement to your social media efforts.

Keep an eye on the conversation surrounding your business. What people say can have a big impact on others’ opinions.

5. Talent Management

A business is only as successful as its employees. It’s important to take care of your staff, whether you’re overseeing a handful of workers or an entire organization.

Give adequate time off, promote growth within the company, and create an environment where employees feel comfortable speaking up.

Don’t Ignore These Business Needs

Forgetting even one of these important business needs can lower the chances of your success. Make sure you follow these tips and implement these strategies.

And if you’re looking for more info about running your own business, make sure to check back with our blog!

Keep Your Business Secure: The Best Shredder for Small Business

If you run a small business, you almost certainly have confidential documents which need to be eliminated. While there are a number of ways to eliminate these documents, perhaps the best option is to utilize a shredder. 

Interested in buying a shredder for your business? Need a little help finding one? You’re in the right place. 

We’re going to help you find the best shredder for small business.

What’s the Best Shredder for Small Business? 

There is no shortage of shredders on the market today, each of which offers something a little different in terms of capacity, shred precision, and construction quality. While all of these shredders could prove successful for your small business, some are deemed better for small businesses than are others. They are as follows. 

Bonsaii EverShred C169-B

The first shredder we’ll review is the Bonsaii EverShred C169-B. This shredder is available for a moderate price, yet offers a great deal in terms of functionality and construction quality. 

Capable of shredding up to 14 pieces of paper at once, it can run continuously for up to 30 minutes. A cross-cut shredder, it trims paper down to a P-3 security level, making it almost impossible to piece back together again. 

Featuring a jam-protection system as well as an auto-reverse feature, it rarely runs into mechanical issues. Plus, with an anti-overheating system in place, it runs smoothly throughout the duration of its use. 

Overall, this is a terrific paper shredder for small businesses. It’s durable, it’s functional, it’s affordable, and it gets the job done quickly. You couldn’t ask for too much more. 

Fellowes Powershred 99Ci

Next up is the Fellowes Powershred 99Ci, a long-running shredder with an above-average shredding capacity. While it offers greater functionality than the C169-B reviewed above, it’s also around twice its price. For this reason, it’s been ranked below it. 

This shredder can handle 18 pieces of paper at once and can operate continuously for up to 30 minutes. This makes it a great machine for offices which must shred ample amounts of paper on a regular basis. 

A jam-proof shredder with an automatic-off safety feature, it allows users to shred documents in a safe and efficient manner. Offering a P-4 shredding security level, it leaves shredded items almost impossible to piece back together. 

AmazonBasics 24-Sheet Crosscut Shredder 

The AmazonBasics 24-Sheet Crosscut Shredder is one of the best budget buys on the market, offering extraordinary power and speed at a mere pittance. Possessing top-notch construction quality, it’s built to thrive through years of use. 

Capable of shredding up to 24 pieces of paper at once, it can run continuously for up to 25 minutes. Note, however, that its cool-down time is around 60 minutes. This is quite a bit longer than the cool-down times of many other shredders.

This shredder provides a shredding security level of P-3. While the pieces it produces could conceivably be put back together, putting them back together correctly would take days. 

In short, this is a terrific shredder for small businesses of all kinds. No other shredder on the market provides this level of functionality at such a low price. 

Royal 1840MX 18-Sheet Crosscut Paper Shredder 

If you spend all of your workday shredding paper, you should think about buying the Royal 1840MX 18-Sheet Crosscut Paper Shredder. Possessing a continuous runtime of 60 minutes, it can slice through 18 pieces of paper at once. 

Because it’s a crosscut shredder, it delivers great, but not outstanding shredding security. However, as long as you’re not dealing with world-changing documents, you shouldn’t ever have to worry about an individual piecing its work back together. 

Possessing auto-reverse and anti-jam features, it’s as efficient as shredders come. In short, if you’re looking for something fast, secure, and reliable, this shredder will have you covered. 

Bonsaii EverShred C149

Another high-quality shredder for small businesses is the Bonsaii EverShred C149. Capable of shredding 18 pieces of paper at once, it can run continuously for up to 60 minutes. 

Offering both anti-overheating and anti-overloading features, it does a great job of protecting itself from prolonged damage. With auto-reverse capabilities, it almost entirely does away with paper jams. 

As far as security goes, it slices paper down to a P-3 level. For most small businesses, this is more than sufficient. 

Aurora AU1210MA

If you’re looking to optimize security, you should consider going with the Aurora AU1210MA. This is a micro shredder, capable of slicing paper to a P-4 security level. Once it’s through with a piece of paper, there’s almost no chance of someone piecing its remnants back together. 

This shredder can handle 12 pieces of paper at once and can run continuously for up to 60 minutes. For its price, this is fairly substantial shredding efficiency. 

Offering both auto-reverse and anti-jam features, it corrects all of its own problems. Just plug it in, slide through some paper, and reap the benefits of its optimal technology. 

GBC Cross Cut Shredder Duo

The last shredder we’ll review is the GBC Cross Cut Shredder Duo. This affordable yet effective shredder can handle up to 11 pieces of paper at once and can run continuously for around 30 minutes. 

It trims paper to a P-3 security level, offering easily enough security for the purposes of most small businesses. With auto-rest and anti-jam features, it regulates its own performance to prevent breakdowns. 

If you’re looking for a solid no-nonsense shredder that will get the job done, this one’s it. To check it out more closely, view here.

Need More Help With Your Business

And with that, you’ve learned of the best shredder for small business. While the Bonsaii EverShred C169-B is arguably the best of the bunch, each of the shredders reviewed above has its merits and is worth a purchase. 

Looking for more help with your business? ArticleCity can help. We offer top-notch writing services to small businesses, helping them to optimize their digital marketing efforts and stand above their competitors. 

Utilize our services today!

How to Make Vending Machine Business Profits – Get Started in the Vending Business

Do you hear that sound?

Yes, that’s a can rolling down the vending machine shoot but — it’s also cash!

Or it could be cash.

If you’re thinking about vending machine business profits, you’ve likely been looking at the amount of money people put into the machines and wonder how you can get a piece.

Continue reading this article to learn how to make money from vending machines.

Vending Machine Business Profits 101

You may have been reading over this review or other information regarding vending machines when inspiration struck.

Let’s make some vending machine money!

Become an Industry Expert

Okay — you don’t have to be an industry expert but the more you know what about the industry, the better you’re going to do when you get started. Taking time to learn about the industry before you start investing money will allow you to not only make more money but it will allow you to save more money since you won’t buy things you don’t need.

When you do your market research, you can figure out what it will take to win with your vending machines. It can take some time to recoup your investment in your vending machines so make sure you know how much you can invest without putting a strain on your finances.

Start From Scratch or Buy a Business?

If you want to do your own vending machines, you’ll have to start from scratch and build your network of vending machines. If you’re ready to grow then you can buy a vending machine business and take over for the other owner.

If you do choose to buy an existing business, you should still do the legwork to make sure their business is solid. You don’t want to buy a failing vending machine business.

Select Your Locations

When you’re building your vending machine empire, the location of your vending machines is key. If you choose a location that is a flop, it doesn’t matter how amazing your vending machine is — it’s still not going to bring a good return on your investment.

When you’re considering your location, you need to keep some important things in mind.

• Is there high traffic where the vending machine is?
• Are there other food or drink options nearby?
• Is it near places where people will be waiting for a long time?

Finding locations that have a lot of people frequenting them like train stations, airports, event centers, schools, rest areas, doctor’s offices and more will allow you to get traffic to your vending machine.

As long as your vending machine has good products, you’re likely to get business.

Consider Your Startup Costs

If you’re excited to get your business going, you have to think about your startup costs. After you consider the startup costs, if it still makes sense for you, you can continue with your plans.

The obvious first purchase is vending machines. Depending on the vending machines that you want to buy, they can cost you anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 for each machine.

If you find used machines, you might be able to get a deal on them. You can also look around and see if there are cheaper machines in a different location. If someone is serious about getting rid of them, they might give you a deep discount.

Insurance and taxes will take more of your money and be a big part of your startup costs. Before you get started, find out what tax licenses you’re going to need as well as what liability insurance you’ll have to have to get started with your new business.

Some of the ongoing costs you might experience are rent and royalties from the locations where your vending machines are. Though these costs will likely change from month-to-month, you do need to estimate how much money you’re looking at each month.

Maintaining your machines is another startup cost that is a must. If your machines are down, you won’t be able to make money even if you are paying rent to have them there. Factor repairs and regular maintenance into your plan.

If you don’t want to have to do all of the work yourself, you might hire someone to take care of your machine’s restocking and customer service.

Choose Your Products

You should think about what the people at each of the locations want to consume. If you’re trying to sell healthy food to people that want a soda — no good and vice versa.

Snack foods are almost always the best choice but again — think of the people at each of the locations where you have the vending machines.

Healthy vending machines might be a good option for doctor’s offices.

Invest to Be the Best

When you get started, you might need to get a small business loan to get the funding you need to get your business going. There are many ways to get the money you need to get started but generally, getting a loan is the best idea unless you have investors that are willing to help you with the startup money.

Love Learning About Business Topics & Beyond?

Now that you know how to cash in on vending machine business profits, you might want to learn more things that can help you in business. We have many articles that can help you increase your knowledge as a business owner.

Navigate through our site, find your favorite section, drop a bookmark and come back later for more great reads.

5 Benefits of Using Company Brochures for Your Small Business

Companies in the United States spend approximately $207 billion in marketing every year. They spend most of the money on televised ads, product events, and online promotion.

When searching for effective marketing materials, look no further than company brochures. Brochures offer a myriad of marketing benefits to your small business.

Here are five important reasons why you want to use brochures for your small business.

1. Brochures Are Easy to Distribute

Unlike newsletters, distributing brochures is easy. They are light enough to place in a variety of locations within a building.

You can bundle tangibles such as t-shirts with brochures to market your business.

Many people appreciate handling information in small packages such as brochures. Resources such as newsletters and company journals can be overwhelming.

2. Brochures Are Cost-Effective for Small Businesses

Most print shops will not turn away your business due to budget. In most cases, they will adjust their work to fit the bill.

You will also realize these cost savings using brochure templates, which help save time. There is a wide range of free and paid templates available on the internet.

There are numerous web resources available used to design marketing material. This will allow your small business save costs even more.

You should be aware that high-quality professional designs don’t come cheap.

3. Company Brochures Personalize Communication

Using a brochure gives you an opportunity to communicate with your audience easily and quickly. Personalized messages are more effective than those meant for a larger audience.

As your small company grows, adjusting the message on a brochure will be quite easy.

Many small companies have limited resources until they become profitable. Additionally, clients perceive brochures as professional tools common in established businesses providing quality products or services.

4. Business Brochures Are Effective for Marketing Purposes

Brochures will allow you to distribute important news about your products or services.

You can print a map on a brochure to direct potential customers to your business location.

A small business can use brochures to announce upcoming events such as sales and expos. This works if your business deals with niche products or services. The method is cheap and convenient for any small business.

The adage goes that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Any well-designed brochure will prove this point. Many businesses use charts in brochures to announce important news to potential customers.

5. Brochures Provide Consistent Branding

Whenever an ad is out of sight, it’ll be out of mind. This applies to both televised and online marketing platforms.

Businesses that use brochures don’t face such a problem because the target audience carries them home or places of work. This is an important aspect of creating a brand identity.

Get Started!

Often, all the information that can lead to a sale is well-summarized in a standard brochure. A small business can rely on these tools to generate engagement through such a tool.

Brochures are versatile tools which are necessary for every small business. Company brochures will supplement your small business efforts allowing it to grow. Contact us today and learn more.

How to Start a Real Estate Business: Your Complete Guide

Have you been thinking about entering the real estate profession? The real estate business is lucrative.

Agents can rake in high commissions in a matter of weeks. Did you know the average earnings for a real estate agent in New York is $102K a year? 

But these high commissions come with wisdom and expertise. Navigating the real estate industry can be complex and overwhelming. Especially for buyers and sellers. 

That’s why both parties need knowledgable real estate professionals to guide them.

In this post, you’ll learn the steps to gaining this knowledge and how to begin building a profitable real estate business.

Keep reading!

1. Know Your Neighborhoods

It’s no secret that real estate is a competitive industry. It’s unlikely you’ll be the only real estate agent in your area when you start your company.

To be successful, you need to assess your knowledge, experience, strengths, and weaknesses.

After doing a thorough examination, you can learn more about the area to position yourself better in the marketplace.

Here are some questions to consider:

• How fast are homes selling in each neighborhood?
• What is the mean of selling prices from block to block?
• Are sale prices close to asking prices?
• Are there any conditions in the neighborhood that is affecting the real estate market?
• Are some streets safer than others?

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the market where you intend to set up your real estate business. Having a handle on the market will put you ahead of the competition.

Stand Out Among the Competition

Your expertise will present you as an established professional. Knowing the cities, towns and surrounding neighborhoods where you’ll match buyers to sellers is key.

You must know a market analysis, accurate data for schools, crime rates and the reputation and characteristics of each neighborhood.

Mastering this knowledge will give you a leg up on the competition. And help buyers and sellers refer you to their friends and family.

Another important point for success is knowing your competition. Perform some research about how other real estate businesses approach selling in this market.

You can join online forums, join professional real estate groups, attend industry seminars and workshops or research real estate industry publications and news online.

2. Specialize in a Market Niche

Another way to make your real estate business stand out is to specialize in a niche market. A niche is an area of specialization. For example, would you prefer selling to investors, developers or target the residential market? 

Or do you want to focus on a certain geographical area like the upper east side of Manhattan? Maybe you want to specialize in selling coops or condominiums?

Does becoming the expert in short sales and foreclosures pique your interest? If not, maybe you want to narrow your interests to rental properties or retirement communities.

When you narrow your interests to a specific niche, you’ll have a better chance of success.

3. Get a Real Estate License

If you’ve never worked in real estate, you’ll need to obtain a real estate license to begin selling or renting properties as a licensed realtor.

Every state requires agents to be licensed. But before you take the real estate exam required in your state, you’ll need to enroll in a prelicensing real estate program.

The program will teach you the subject areas and the topics you’ll need to know for the exam and for operating a real estate business.

Here are some of the instructional content taught in real estate programs:

• Types of  property ownership
• Titles, deeds, and contracts
• Fair housing laws
• Fiduciary responsibilities
• How to work with financial lenders
• Real estate laws
• Federal laws

Keep in mind, rules, and regulation may vary from state to state, depending on the state where you will practice real estate.

After you pass your licensing exam, you’ll need to submit a licensing application. The state where you reside may also require you to submit fingerprints and a background check.

Once your application is approved, you will pay the licensing fees to become a licensed real estate agent. Then you may be hired by a real estate company or broker.

4. Write a Business Plan

Once you’re ready to open up a real estate business, you’ll need a business plan. A business plan is a document that outlines your goals for your entire business and how you will achieve them.

This document will detail how you plan to operate your business and accomplish each objective. In your business plan, be as specific as possible.

While your business plan doesn’t need to be 50 pages long, it does need to present an action plan with dates and milestones on how you’ll reach your goals.

5. Get a Business Insurance Policy

Many new business owners overlook the importance of protecting their real estate business with an insurance policy.

The insurance may cover your business for theft, fire, intellectual property litigation, property damage, and other coverages.

It’s essential to obtain insurance before you incur claims. This will protect your business in the event of a claim or accident.

When you’re advising a real estate client, they can sue you for professional malpractice. When you’re covered, it can be the difference in keeping your business running or having to close your doors.

6. Set Up an Attractive and Functional Website

A website can be a key moneymaker for your real estate business. It can attract people to your website and convert leads into paid customers.

To drive leads to your business and keep them, you’ll need a website that’s attractive, functional, easy to navigate with links that go to the right pages.

Your website should also be created with responsive design so it looks great on any device. You’d be surprised at how many real estate companies drive potential clients ways because of basic real estate website mistakes.

Time to Start a Real Estate Business!

Now you know the steps to building a successful real estate business. Put them to use and before you know it, you’ll be on your way to high commissions!

Need more business tips? Keep reading our blog.

Business Plan: 6 Key Questions to Ask Before You Start a Business

As of 2015, there are over 25 million entrepreneurs in the United States.

With the accessibility convenience that the Internet provides, it’s also easier than ever before to start your own business. Many times, you can even do it from your own home.

But, just because it’s easier than in the past to start your own company doesn’t mean you don’t need to be cautious.

In fact, there’s a handful of questions you need to ask yourself before you dive in.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we got you covered.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about what you need to consider while creating your business plan.

1. “What Problem Can My Business Solve?”

This is one of the most important questions you can ask, and it’s important that you be honest with yourself.

If what you offer to your target audience solves a problem or makes their lives easier, they’ll likely pay money for it. But, if it doesn’t bring them much value, you may find that your company’s performance will struggle.

The good news is that the answer to this question isn’t always complicated.

It could be as simple as an app that helps budding musicians find open mic nights in their city, or a platform that lets people hire local petsitters.

2. “What’s My X-Factor?”

So, you’ve found what problem you’re going to solve. That’s great!

Except, it’s likely that plenty of other people have the same mission.

While competition isn’t inherently bad, it can make things a bit difficult as a business owner. This is especially true when you’re just starting out.

So, you’re going to have to find a way to stand out from the crowd if you want to get your audience’s attention.

Ways you can help differentiate yourself include:

• Provide above and beyond customer service
• Develop a powerful culture around your brand (Nike, for example)
• Have a relatable cause or story behind your business
• Be weird and unconventional

The more effort you put into being unique as a business, the better off you’ll be.

You can learn more about starting your own company here.

3. “What Funds and Resources Do I Have Available?”

This is another one where you’ll need to be completely honest with yourself.

If you don’t have the proper funds and resources (or can’t definitively secure them), don’t get too caught up in bringing an end-game vision to life.

For example, there are people out there who dream of having their own office and a dozen employees working under them. But, there’s no need to spend money on renting a workspace if you’re just starting out in most circumstances.

Instead, focus on what you can realistically obtain with what you have access to.

Even you only have a few thousand dollars or only know a couple of people in the industry, it’s important to accept that you’ve got some work to do before you start scaling your company.

4. “How Well Do I Know the Market?”

You wouldn’t set out to sea without checking the weather, would you?

The same applies here when entering a market for the first time.

You could provide the best product or service the industry has ever seen, but introducing it at the wrong time could spell the end for your business.

Similarly, you’ll also need to consider unexpected factors, such as unforeseen costs and how your audience reacts to your branding/marketing.

Put simply, you need to put in the time and research everything you can about the industry you’re about to enter. This means analyzing your competition, your audience, and the performance of the market itself are all crucial.

5. “How Do I Plan on Marketing My Product/Service?”

Yet another one of those make-or-break questions. 

How you market your product or service is just as important as what you’re actually offering. But, it’s not quite as daunting as it seems to come up with a strategy.

To get started, consider what is known as the Four P’s of marketing:

• Product- What you offer and how it will stand out among other products. Also, consider who you want to buy it.
• Price- What you charge for what you offer. Pursue the ‘sweet spot’ in terms of price that will optimize sales.
• Promotion- How you frame your product or service. For example, it could be marketed as a premium purchase or something that is intentionally barebones.
• Place- How you reach your audience. Essentially, this is your chosen method(s) of making sales (online store, phone, retail, etc.).

Flesh out each answer as thoroughly as possible and you’ll end up with a solid marketing plan.

6. “What Is My Exit Strategy?”

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. That’s why inventions like seatbelts and lifejackets exist.

The same applies when starting your own business. Unforeseen circumstances could very easily cause your company to enter a downward spiral, such as an imploding market that leaves no need for what you offer.

So, you need to come up with a plan to cushion the blow as much as possible (or eliminate it entirely).

Common exit strategies include:

• Selling your company to another business owner
• Shutting down all operations and liquidating
• Merging with another company that provides similar products or services

Think of what the ideal solution to an emergency scenario would be, and then plan for it.

That way, you’ll be one step ahead when the need for a way out arises. 

Coming up With a Solid Business Plan Can Seem Difficult

But it doesn’t have to be.

With the above information about developing a business plan in mind, you’ll be well on your way to giving your company the best chance of success.

Want to learn more about how to succeed online? Make sure to check out the rest of our blog!

5 Steps You Should Take if You Want to Grow Your Consulting Business

The global consulting industry is worth 262 billion dollars and growing.

As a consulting business owner, there’s no doubt you’re in a lucrative market. But this doesn’t necessarily mean you’re bound to make the big bucks. There are thousands of consulting firms in the United States alone, which means competition for clients is fierce.

So, how do you position your consultancy for growth in a competitive market?

That’s where we come in!

In this article, we’re fleshing out the various strategies you can use to grow your consulting business and pull in the profits.

1. Work on Your Professional Reputation

A consultancy is only as good as the people behind it.

If you have a poor professional reputation, not many people will want to be associated with you. Your business is an extension of your professional brand.

As such, it’s important to keep working on your professional reputation even as you as strive to set up and grow the consulting business. And talking of reputation, we don’t mean just polishing up your profile on LinkedIn and other social media platforms.

In the world of consulting, credentials matters. Clients want to hire firms led by industry leaders who are highly educated. So if you currently have a master’s degree, it’s time you enrolled for a doctoral program or other professional courses that can enhance your expertise.

2. Don’t Be a Jack of All Trades

Consultancy is a wide field. There is:

• Management consulting
• Strategic consulting
• Business consulting
• Healthcare consulting
• Manufacturing consulting
• Information technology consulting
• HR consulting
• Marketing consulting.

Common wisdom dictates that offering an array of consulting service is an effective way to increase the size of your target market. Technically, this is true, but as a small consultancy, it’s best to focus on a specific field. This should be the field where you have expertise.

For instance, if you’re a healthcare professional, naturally you will open a healthcare consulting business. You have no business offering, say, IT consulting.

Yes, you can hire in-house IT pros to offer this type of consulting under your firm’s roof, but many clients looking for healthcare consulting services will be wary of working with your firm.

Why?

You guessed it. Jacks of all trades are masters of none.

That said, you can expand your service as the business grows, just as long as you don’t stray too far off your niche. If your business offers management consulting, for example, you can gradually expand into strategic consulting, because the two are closely related.

3. Build a Competent Team

You might have started your business as a one-man band, but as clients start streaming in, you’ll need more people pulling the strings.

Now, recruitment is one of the tasks many consulting business owners do wrong. There’s lots of talent in the labor market, meaning it can be difficult to pick the right job applicants, especially if you’re not a human resources consultant.

Just because a job applicant has stellar academic qualifications and meets your experience requirements doesn’t mean they’re a good fit for your company. Yet, if you go ahead and make a wrong hire, your company will pay the price. Replacing a worker can cost you up to $15,000.

This is why you need to put a lot of focus on your recruitment strategy. Look for workers who’re also a good cultural fit and have a real passion for consulting. Alternatively, you can outsource the task to a recruitment firm in your niche.

4. Build a Strong Online Presence  

Americans aren’t just purchasing physical products online. They’re also looking for service providers on the web.

If you want potential clients to find you, your business needs to be where they are: online.

You’re probably thinking, “But I have a business website and the company has social media profiles and sales aren’t getting any better.”

Well, having a website and being on social media is just a starting point. What are you doing to, for instance, ensure your website ranks on Google’s first page? Do you have a blog where you share your expertise with the world?

To build a strong online presence, you’ve to invest in digital marketing services. This way, you’ll have professionals who will craft and implement an online marketing strategy for your business. Gradually, your business will be easily found on the web and sales will pick up.

Another benefit of having a digital marketing agency on your team is your company gets real-time reputation monitoring and management. These pros will deploy online listening tools that will catch negative reviews and comments about your firm.

5. Keep Up with Industry Trends

The consulting industry might not be as fast-changing as other industries, but every new year comes with a couple of trends.

For instance, the advancing technology means consulting firms have to stay abreast of tech innovations and integrate them into their operations. If a client is tech-savvy, they will also want to work with a company that’s up to speed tech-wise.

Therefore, it’s vital to monitor developments in your niche. Read industry magazines, follow niche leaders on social media, and attend conferences and other events.

Take Your Consulting Business to the Next Level

The demand for consulting services will always be there. As a consulting business owner, the key to success lies in knowing how to tap into this demand.

Lucky for you, we’ve outlined effective strategies that can help take your business to the next level. Your responsibility now is to put them to use.

All the best and keep reading our blog for more business tips, hacks, and insights.

Secrets to Success: 5 Essential Business Services for Startups

Do you currently run a business or startup, or are you about ready to launch one? There a few things more satisfying than being at the helm of a new enterprise, guiding its growth as it scales upwards.

Running a business comes with many challenges. Client acquisition and brand building a chief among them. Success often depends on establishing your company’s credentials.

However, just as challenging is the minutia of administrative tasks required. Fortunately, many of your business services can be outsourced, freeing you to focus on your strengths.  

Keep reading for 5 business services that will benefit your startup.

1. Payroll Services

Building a team means finding people with the right skills and attitude to help you accomplish your goals. It’s important to find people that share your vision and will push to get things done.

However, no matter how dedicated they may be, errors in payroll can have a devastating impact on your corporate culture. Getting your team paid properly and on time allows them to focus on what matters most.

Payroll service providers like www.payrollserviceaustralia.com.au will expertly manage your payroll services. 

2. Customer Service

Every successful business has an established way that allows customers to speak with a service representative. Whether it’s for information, to manage a complaint, or address any other concern, customer service has a major impact on business-customer relations.

Outsourcing your customer service saves you the overhead of acquiring the necessary equipment and space. It saves you from establishing protocols and training staff.

Instead, you can lay out your expectations and then leave it to the professionals.

3. Marketing

Marketing is as much an art as it is a science. A marketing agency will have the strategies and experience to best target your audience. They have the know-how to make an impact and get results.

4. IT Support

Businesses have never been more dependent on technology. Regardless of the sector, tech plays a major role in any business.

Outsourcing your IT support means that you have a team with the know-how on-call to manage your network. This means that all your IT needs are expertly managed and supported.

5. Legal Services

Having legal support on retainer means that you have the advice and guidance you need at hand at all times. The value expert legal advice can offer is immeasurable when you consider all the potential liability that a business is exposed to.

Final Thoughts on Business Services

Running a startup is an exciting and demanding time. It’s an opportunity to build something fresh and new. But it’s also a time when the finer details of running a business are addressed.

Outsourcing business services allows you peace of mind, knowing that you have a dedicated team looking after each role. It lets you direct your energies where they’re most needed while ensuring that your company runs smoothly.

For more articles on managing a startup, visit the Starting Up section of our site.

7 Key Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Commercial Locksmith

When you own a small business, it’s your pride and joy. You’ve worked so hard to get it up and running, after all. Plus, it’s how you earn a living and put food on the table for your family.

For this reason, you should take care to protect it while you’re not on-site. You may think all it takes is a simple lock to keep burglars out of your property, but that’s simply not the case. Here are 7 key reasons why your business needs a commercial locksmith.

1. They Can Upgrade Your Security Measures

You may think your small business is secure, but how much do you really know about this field? What may seem like an airtight security system to you might actually be full of flaws.

Commercial locksmiths are experts in their industry who have years of experience and training. They’ll be able to perform an audit, which means they’ll take a look at your current security system and detect any vulnerabilities.

Then, you can work with them to design a better infrastructure so your business is safer. Not only will your premises be safer outside of operating hours, but they’ll also be more secure when your employees are working their shifts.

2. Get Quick Rescue When You’re Locked Out

Any downtime during your business hours is a loss in revenue. Unfortunately, lockouts do happen, especially if you’re stressed out and trying to handle multiple tasks at once.

If you have a commercial locksmith you establish a good relationship with, you’ll have a better chance of getting quick rescue when you’ve inevitably locked yourself out. This can result in less time spent with your business closed when it should be open. What would’ve been a missed delivery wouldn’t happen since you’d get prompt access to your property.

The best thing about this service is many locksmiths offer 24/7 services. So if you have that early 5:00 am delivery but can’t find your keys, a commercial locksmith can come get your doors open in time to receive your shipment.

3. Get an Effective Access Control System

The old-school way of doing things is to use a lock and key for your business. Whenever you get a new hire, you cut them a key, and when they leave, they give it back. This works on an honor system since you don’t know if they’ve duplicated their copy or not, even if it’s against company policy.

A commercial locksmith can install an access control system so your employees don’t need keys to enter or leave your property. Instead, all they need is a key code, which can be changed periodically so employees who have left can’t access your place of business anymore.

4. They Can Replace Locks or Keys

Over time, both locks and keys can get worn down or damaged. When a lock gets has wear and tear, it can be easier for burglars to break in. And obviously, if keys are worn down or broken, they can’t be used anymore.

Whenever you have a problem with either your locks or keys, all you need to do is call your locksmith. They can fix problems cost-effectively and quickly as well. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your business is well-protected by professional services.

5. They Can Resecure Your Site After a Breach

Sadly, even places with the best security possible can be breached by cunning criminals. At some point, your business may be broken into, even if you’ve followed every precaution and upgraded your security system.

When this happens, you need an expert commercial locksmith on your side. Whether you have traditional locks and keys, or you have a digitalized entry system, they can either reinstall or reprogram the appropriate systems. You can also consider this service if you’ve recently had a high employee turnover rate and want to change your security infrastructure.

6. Get Complete Access with a Master Key

If you have multiple areas of your business that need to stay secure, it can be annoying to fit individual keys to your ring and figure out which one you need for each door. This frustration is multiplied when you have to go in and out of these rooms constantly.

This issue can easily be remedied by having a professional locksmith create a master key for you. That way, you can use just one key to get into all rooms on your property, without the fuss of inconvenience of a whole keychain full of unidentifiable keys.

7. Store Your Items in Secure Safes

Not only do you need to keep your premises itself secure, but you also need to safeguard items like documents, cash, and checks. While you can certainly do your own research and figure out what commercial safes are good for your needs, a locksmith can help with that as well.

Not only can they make your safe more secure and hard for criminals to steal, but they can also install, repair, and replace your safes whenever you need. Read more here if you’re interested in what a commercial locksmith can do for you.

Enlist the Services of a Commercial Locksmith

As you can see, a commercial locksmith can be highly beneficial to your place of business. While yes, it costs more money than going with a regular key and lock, the investment you make will be worth it in the long run. When you can deter thieves and keep your company safe, you’ll avoid heartache, pain, and financial loss in the future.

For more reading material, please check out our business and finance section.