Image Source Add to Flipboard Magazine. It can be hard to know just what to spend your money on when you’re in business - especially when it comes to your own. Investing in something that promises longevity is a tricky game at the moment, as the guarantee doesn’t come until you’ve seen the proof of the pudding; a lot of brands are willing to sell you something just to take your business, but aren’t committed to seeing it through to the end.
Dealing with the finances in your place of work and putting them towards improvements has to be thought about for as long as it takes you to make your mind up. There’s no arbitrary set amount of time to mull things over – just as long as you know that you’re doing the right thing and what you are doing will last, the amount of return it will gain you in continued business from consumers and – more importantly – not having to replace the goods will see you through.
Paving
Considering the outside of the offices, just how safe is the track to get up to your building? Whether it’s a main road or a private path, potholes, lumps, and bumps can be more common that you think. Finding a registered (and recommended) professional to come and lay commercial asphalt can be the way around this. The sealcoating that can be provided to go on top will extend the lifespan of your paving, making it more economically sound for your business to pay out for.
Beverages
Your brain cannot function properly without the right level of hydration. Ensuring that all of the staff in your office have access to fresh, clean and cold water at all times isn’t a cost that you should even be factoring into your expenses – it should just be done. Placing a couple of water fountains around your office can really help increase focus and motivation within your workforce without you even having to do much; thinking about it rationally, you’re only providing them with what they’re entitled to and the means to get it. It’s simple
Getting ducted air conditioning can be a huge benefit to your place of work. It provides cooler air when the weather is warm outside and warmer air on the inside during the colder months. It makes sense to keep the temperature under control in your office for the benefit of everybody who’s working there – including you. It can last a long time.
Natural Lighting
The more natural lighting you have in your office, the less you will have to spend on electricity to get your office lit up. It’s somewhat of an easy solution to what could be draining a lot of your money. It’s not easy in some respects to introduce it, but if you traditionally have the blinds drawn and stuff put in the way of the windows blocking in the natural light, get it all out of the way so you can embrace it. It’s apparently meant to lead to a happier workforce.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/chairs-empty-office-room-243140/ Add to Flipboard Magazine. Running a business comes with a lot of responsibility - especially when you have employees. Not only do you need to make sure that your company is making enough money to both cover their salary and make a profit, but you also need to ensure that your staff is motivated, productive and happy at work. Although some may say office design is trivial, it can contribute to a healthy workplace. From the interior design to the location of the office, every decision you make could make or break the overall working environment.
Decor
First up, decor can really make a difference. If you’re working in a place that is falling apart with paint chipping off the walls, your employees might feel unsafe and in danger. When your staff is unsure, they won’t be able to work to their potential. Likewise, if the colors you choose are too brash and distracting, it might not promote the calming environment you’re looking to achieve. So before you decorate, think carefully about the colors, prints, and textures that you intend to use.
Furniture
If you want your staff to be able to stay motivated and work to the best of their abilities, they have to be comfortable. You don’t have to make their workspace all singing and dancing, but no frills won’t cut it either. They need a clean and clear environment to get the job done – so make sure your desk and chair orders are suitable. You can find a ton of reviews online (like this – http://www.officechairsonly.com/steelcase-leap/) that can help you to decide what style is right.
Layout
The layout is as equally as important as the furniture. If you sit all of your staff members near a cold window or right by the bathroom facilities, they may feel at a loss and uncomfortable at work. You need to be able to arrange your office space so that your staff feels motivated, can access the facilities they need and communicate with others in their department. Likewise, you also want to make sure that they aren’t too distracted so that they can do their job and not slack off.
Facilities
Let’s talk facilities. Staff welfare is hugely important (read more about it here – http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/office-hazards/reception/staff-welfare). You need to make sure that your employees have access to the bathroom and that they’re not going to have to queue all day for it. They also need access to fresh air and water as a rule. But, you might also want to think about any other facilities that could benefit your staff at work. For example, would a staff lounging area boost morale, or a cafeteria?
Atmosphere
And then there’s the atmosphere to think about. Depending on your line of work, you might want to have an air of creativity, quiet or even fun about the place. If it’s super silent and your staff needs to be energized, or there’s too much traffic outside, and they need silence to work, you’re going to need to make some changes.
Add to Flipboard Magazine. Retirement can be a tricky time. The balance changes from having too little time, to have too much and the money situation is often vice versa. That is why it’s vital that you consider your retirement financial planning now before it’s too late. So read on to discover some tips and tricks that will help you have the time of your life, in the golden years of your life.
Invest
Investment is something that can take a considerable amount of planning. This is because most of them work over the long term. That means the longer that you leave them, the more you can generally expect to get out of them.
Of course, investments are not a guaranteed option, that is why you have to be on the ball about the types of investment and the possible risk that you are undertaking.
The best way to do this is to bone up on the field that you are looking to invest in by using financial blogs on the intent. As well as following finance advice sites on social media. In fact, you can read more about how retirement planning and social media go hand in hand by clicking the link.
Consider home equity
Home equity release is another option to consider when you are in retirement to boost your finances. This is when you sell part or all of your home back to the bank, and they release the funds for you to enjoy now.
Of course, this needs planning, because if you hope to do this, you will need to make sure you have paid off enough of your mortgage to be entitled. Which you can do through carefully budgeting and saving, now and so increasing your payments every month.
Be aware though that not everyone sees releasing home equity as good idea. As you can even end up owing the bank if you live for longer than expected!
IRAs
Of course, something else that you need to plan for your retirement is a pension or saving funds, which you need to open now.
These are funds that you pay a certain amount into which is then held to be accessible for when you have finished working. You can often choose to cash it in as a lump sum or take out weekly or monthly payments, and it’s worth comparing these to see what offer you the best return.
Working
Lastly, something that you need to plan for, although you may not expect it, is that you may want to keep working.
This, of course, will help you have an additional cash flow, and many folks believe it helps them to stay focused and purposeful during their golden years. As long as it’s interspersed with lots of fun and relaxing.
Work that you take on could be in the form of consulting or overseeing other people work in your field of expertise. Or you could take a chance to do something totally different and more suitable for your current health and lifestyle.
Long gone are those days when promotional pens were the only means to win their heart. When you wish to reward them for their hard work, monetary incentives are the first thing that comes to mind. True, monetary benefits may increase their productivity level and keep them engaged there are many cashless employee rewards that leave a long-lasting impression. Not only are they unique, they are also a good way to appreciate your employees.
MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION
One of the trendiest ways of thanking your employees these days is offering them a paid subscription of their favorite magazine or a TV subscription. There is a reason why such gifts are a becoming popular trend and that is their usability. Any gifts when used reminds the user who it was from. A subscription of their favorite TV shows and movies is a gesture they will be reminded about every time they use it.
PLAY BOSS FOR A DAY:
This can really be an interesting way to get to know how your employees feel about their work and also yours as a manager. It is the perfect example of fitting into someone’ else shoes. If you wish to thank an employees for their contribution, ask them to switch roles with you for a one day. Not only will they feel valued and important, they will also experience the stress and pressure of being a manager first hand. On the other hand, you, as a manager, will get to experience their side of the story.
MOVIE TICKETS:
This always works. Movies are that one thing that we all can relate to. Are there any upcoming movies that your employees are excited about? Motivate them by taking them for a movie day in the middle of the day. Better yet, make it a company event.
A SPA DAY OUT:
Who doesn’t love to relax and rejuvenate? Whenever embarking on a new project, give your employees a half day off to go for spa treatments. The next morning they will be more determined and energized.
CRUISE SHIP EVENT
Fun corporate cruises are another unique way to thank your employees for all that they do for your and your company. A number of corporate cruise ships can accommodate up to 400 people, offering a number of different packages that include food, transportation, and safety equipment. This time out from the norm will provide your employees with some bonding time outside of work and speak out their ideas and concerns.
SHOPPING DISCOUNTS AND GIFT CARDS:
Offering discounts on some famous shopping brands will also leave a good impression on your employees. We all love to shop, be it buying new clothes or a car wax. Rewarding them in this manner will surely set your company apart from your competitors and make your employees feel valued.
Charles Darwin, product of British schools, caused a great deal of controversy when, in 1859, he published his now world famous magnum opus ‘On the Origin of Species’. It was important for many reasons but the one that caused so much trouble, and which reputedly made him consider destroying the manuscript rather than publishing it, was that he knew that he would face so much criticism from religious people who saw in his work a rebuke (it was actually a refutation) to what they saw as being the proof of God’s wisdom and omnipotence. It stills causes controversy today as the debate about whether evolution should be taught in schools continues to rage on. The book is now world famous, and yet it is often misunderstood. When Darwin wrote about ‘the survival of the fittest’, he was not referring to the athleticism or strength of certain animals and suggesting that for that reason, they would survive. He was describing the fact, observed in nature every day, that the animals which survive are the ones that are most suited to their environments. According to Darwin, creatures like snails and jellyfish, which may not seem all that advanced, are actually marvels of evolution exactly because they have survived for so long and continue to do so. They are perfectly adapted to their environment, and that allows them to succeed.
The exact same thing is true in business. Someone may start a business and have immense amounts of money to do it, but if they do not adapt themselves to their environment, they will quickly find themselves unable to compete with their more innovative rivals. Surviving in the world of business necessitates that you are aware of all sorts of different things, from changes in labor laws to shifts in the stock market, and more importantly, that you are able to adapt. To do this, your business will need to be as efficient as possible. Identifying your strengths and weaknesses is one thing, but you will also need to know how to make existing parts of your business perform better than they currently do. Here are a few ways that you may be able to do it:
Something that you often hear, from both private citizens and businesses alike, is that they are having cash flow problems. This refers to the fact that their money is not immediately available to them for a variety of reasons. It may be that they have invested a lot of money in getting their business off the ground and they are waiting for their return, or that they have completed work for which they are waiting to be paid. This can be particularly difficult because doing work on behalf of a client (whether it is delivering something to the other side of the country or doing their taxes) requires both time and resources, which both mean money. If you have to wait for the end of the month for your client to get around to paying their invoices, it may slow you down in investing more time and resources in future projects. If you find yourself with this problem, you should find out about freight bill factoring. This means that a company will pay you on behalf of your clients and let you get on with running your business. They will take a small commission but if it means that your business does not stagnate, it is money worth spending; you will likely lose more chasing up your clients, which is time better spent working for your new ones.
Another area of your business that you may be able to streamline is your workforce. It is not particularly pleasant when you have to fire someone, but if it is the difference between your business (and your livelihood) succeeding or failing, it becomes a necessary step. While employees are great, they can sometimes be rather inefficient. For example, a recent study found that an incredible 89% of people admit to wasting time at work each day. 38% of that wasted time is spent on social media. A separate study estimates that Twitter alone costs the British economy £1.38 billion a year. If you notice that your employees are not working as hard they could or should be, you may be better off letting them go and finding someone who is more committed to the company and the goals that you are trying to achieve.
While it may seem rather callous, the reality is that technology is now able to perform certain jobs more efficiently and at a lower cost. Employing someone to answer your phones may seem like a good idea because you want your customers to continue to have a human interaction with you, but automated phone services are much cheaper, and they never make a mistake. Not only that, they do not take weekends off or ever fall ill. Business can be incredibly competitive, and if you allow yourself to make a decision for any other reason than efficiency, you may quickly find yourself not able to compete at all. That is why it is important to use the best small business phone systems.
Another great way of streamlining your business is to outsource everything that you can. Whether this means letting someone else take care of your HR department, or relying on a company to take care of your transit needs rather than investing in a fleet of trucks and drivers yourself, it can be more efficient and more cost effective. You should make the market work for you. If one company does not offer you a good enough price, or they do not perform their job well enough, hire one of their competitors. The government legislates against monopolies and unfair business practices for exactly this reason: the free market spurs innovation and progress. Use that to your advantage.
Some people may think that simply surviving and making enough money to get by is good enough, but life can quickly become boring if you do not have any ambition. No company in the world is run perfectly and there are always areas in which too much money is spent for too little return, or resources are not used to their best advantage. If you spend time making yourself more efficient, you will make more money.
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