Anyone could agree that deciding to take that first step into the business world on your own can be daunting but exciting. Being your own boss is the dream and ambition of many, but only a small percentage make a huge success of it. There is so much unknown during the first year, and it takes a lot of hard work to get you to where you want to be, and the way you set your business up could be a big indicator of this.
Once you make it through that first year, you may find that you are in a position to take the next step. Working from home will have been good to you i terms of keeping your costs down and making it convenient to work as and when you had the time. But in order to ramp things up a little bit, such as ordering more stock, hiring employees or having the opportunity sell face to face, a business location might be on the cards. But how do you ensure you get your business set up right? Here are some of the things to think about.
One of the first things to consider would be the budget you have. A lease can be an expensive overhead, not to mention the things you need for the premises to function and even staff to run it. Look at your current outgoings and work out what you could afford comfortably on a low trading month. However, do take into account the difference a business location could make to your trading, it could help to increase sales and volume over the upcoming months. Not only do you have to take into account the cost to run a business location, but you also need to think about the other costs involved such as business insurance. To help protect your business for the future. The next obvious thing when it comes to costs has to be staff and people you have working there. It might not be practical to just be the sole person within your business now and if you do want to make a success of it, the time might be right to hire staff.
The location
The business setup needs to have the ideal location for it to be worthwhile. Think about what you really gain from having a business premises. Do you want people to be able to stop by and look at products on display? Like some sort of showroom, for example. Do you want it to be ideally a meeting place where business can be conducted face to face? Or is it just a spot for you to work. The location is vital to ensuring that all your needs are met, you need good visibility to attract the general public, but you may also need privacy if it just turns into being an office.
Hiring the right people
You will need to take some time to think about whether or not you hire staff. But they can be a huge asset to your business as well as a cost to consider. You may only want to start off with small numbers, and grow from that platform. Hiring the right people will be essential, so take time conducting the recruitment process. It should be a decision that you can easily make, and not one that you have instant regret over. Pick people who are qualified and skilled for the job that you are hiring for, but also consider their personality and who they are. Creating the right working environment will be a new responsibility that you will be taking on. So take time to think about the set up of that and make sure you consider others as well as how you feel.
A business premises is more than just an office space and storage option for your company. You may be working in there and have people working for you. This is when you need to consider how the location functions, from keeping ti cool to handling all the data and power you use in one hub. That is why it may be worth considering to help, especially when it comes to air conditioning systems and keeping the office cool. With a lot of technology being used on one go, the space could get hot very easily.
The technology you need
You also need to think about the technology you need in to help your new business setup function as it should. Desktop computers maybe, telephones to make those all-important sales calls. It all needs to be taken into account when it comes to signing a lease and the budget you have available. Let’s not forget the initial cost of setup, data systems being installed and also furniture, etc. You might want to invest in things such as small business accounting software to ensure that you can stay on track with the financial side of things. Last of all, what about making it easy for people to pay and buy or order your products and services? Contactless machines or being able to pay by card at least as well as taking cash could be something to consider.
Make it known
Finally, you need to make sure that the audience your business has is well aware of the new step that you are taking. You want people to understand that you are expanding, but if it is a shop or a showroom, you also want people to walk through the door. This is exriging. Take the time to share the new on social media and to your followers and it may also be worth having a special opening event that you can invite people to. This would be an excellent opportunity to gain exposure, so you could consider inviting influencers and other people who may happily share the business to their audience.
Let’s hope this gives you some idea on how you can create the perfect business setup for your next step.
You would think that drivers are less likely to grab the headlines due to a collision as they gain more experience, but older motorists are actually more at risk.
shows that 20 American adults aged 65 and over die everyday in motor vehicle crashes in 2016, which is 14 more fatalities than the daily average among teenagers in the same year.
To be clear, time makes senior drivers far wiser than younger motorists. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older adult drivers tend to use seat belts more frequently, to avoid hitting the road when the conditions are less safe, and to steer clear of drunk driving more often. And yet, nearly 800 senior drivers suffer from injury in traffic-related accidents on a daily basis. Why is that? The Insurance Information Institute (III) has an explanation.
The III, as per the Governors Highway Safety Administration, believes that older drivers are involved in higher crash rates because of impairments in vision, cognition, and motor function. The eyes go bad as a person ages; cognitive processes, such as attention and memory, decline as a person develops more health problems and deals with the side effects of medication; and decreased flexibility and slowed reflexes are the consequences of the physical changes an aging person experiences.
Since the number of senior drivers has been increasing over the past decades and is expected to retain its upward trajectory in the foreseeable future, TRIP, a nonprofit focusing on national transportation research, is calling for roadway safety improvements to allow older American drivers to contend with fewer hazards when traveling behind the wheel. Ride-sharing services and self-driving vehicles are also holding a lot of promise for mobile non-driving senior individuals.
Will transportation policies evolve soon enough to address the unique needs of the fast-growing road user population before more senior drivers lose their lives in car crashes? Hopefully, American regulators are not too old to learn new tricks.
For now, check out the following infographic to learn more facts about motor vehicle accidents in the United States.
Arthritis is something a lot of people experience. We will look at two common forms of it below.
Shoulder arthritis
As you age, you are more likely to experience shoulder arthritis, which is a common source of shoulder pain. Shoulder arthritis is everyday wear and tear that takes its toll on your shoulder joints, yet it can be extremely painful, which is why physiotherapy treatment and Prednisone Inspire treatment is widely championed as the best solution for anyone that experiences this condition.
While shoulder arthritis is a degenerative condition, there are a number of contributing factors, including shoulder overuse, inflammatory conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis, history of trauma and shoulder surgery. There are various different symptoms to look out for as well, with pain, stiffness and limited movement being common signs of shoulder arthritis while patients often note that stiffness and pain intensifies with use, and a lot of people struggle to sleep at night because of these symptoms.
As the causes of shoulder arthritis vary, and the condition presents in several different ways, the diagnosis stage is exceptionally important. When you book an appointment with a physiotherapist, they will carry out a thorough assessment to confirm that arthritis is indeed in the problem, and to get a better understanding of your condition. This diagnosis stage will include an evaluation of your symptoms, a look at your medical history and some diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray or CT scan.
Once the diagnosis is complete, they will then put together and effective treatment plan to ensure pain and stiffness are reduced so you can return to normal functionality in no time. This could includestrengthening exercises, postural exercises, hand manipulation techniques, electrotherapy, flexibility exercises, ice and heat application and much more.
Hand – Thumb Arthritis
Arthritis is a wear and tear condition, which tends to occur as part of the degenerative process, but when you think about how frequently we use our thumb, it is not difficult to see why this joint may suffer from a bit of wear and tear simply from overuse.
If the thumb joint is injured, it can be extremely painful, and it can impair movement as well, as this is the part of the hand that is responsible for giving the thumb its large range of motion. This is why it is important to book an appointment as soon as possible, to ensure movement is not impaired further, and pain does not get worse.
As touched upon, there are several different causes of thumb arthritis, with most patients either suffering from this condition as part of the natural aging process or because they have used the joint excessively and placed too much strain on it. In some instances, people experience arthritis because of an injury to the joint, such as a fracture or a bad sprain, which in turn causes the articular cartilage to become damaged. In all conditions, the joint will become hot, swollen and red, and it will start to wear out, and this is what causes the excruciating pain because the bones are effectively rubbing against each other.
If you think you could be suffering from thumb arthritis, there are a number of key signs you should be looking out for. You will probably experience sharp pain in the base of the thumb, and a lot of people notice that the pain eases during activity but gets a lot worse when resting afterwards. If this sounds familiar, you need to book an appointment with a physiotherapist as soon as possible.
Trade shows can be a vital outlet for businesses. As a way to showcase your business to others within your industry or a particular area, they can bring a lot of success to your business.
But trade shows aren’t necessarily an easy win. You can be faced with a lot of competition and a struggle to gain the attention of visitors. But with the right strategy and approach, your business could become the star of the trade show. Here are five tips for how to make it happen.
1. Start planning early
Details of trade shows are announced a long time in advance, usually after the previous event. That means you’ve got plenty of time to start planning and set out your strategy for your trade show appearance. What are you going to get out of it? How will you make it worth your while? Start thinking about this sooner rather than later to help you get everything in place.
2. Make that first impression count
First impressions are everything at a trade show. The design and branding you use will help people make their minds up about your company in seconds, which is why it’s important to get it right. Check out 100 amazing trade show ideas for 2019 and get some useful inspirations that will help you build a booth that will stand out for all the right reasons.
3. Make a more formal appearance
Trade shows usually feature talks, seminars and panel sessions, and it will be worth your while to get a slot on the line-up. Getting the chance to talk will give your business the chance to get its name out there to a wider audience, as well as help you show off your business’ expertise. Learn how to shine at a panel event and take advantage of this great opportunity to dazzle attendees.
4. Bring your best salespeople
Customer service is key at a trade show, people want to see employees who are happy, helpful and enthusiastic, so make sure you bring your best salespeople along. Make sure that everyone is equipped with the right messaging and the right approach to help generate those leads.
5. Make your stand a must-visit destination
Your stand should be the highlight of the trade show. Having some great giveaways, plenty of seating and a lot of noise will pique people’s interests and make sure they stop by. Word of mouth will travel fast, so making that first impression early in the morning will help. What kind of things work at a trade show? Why not purchase an ATM machine for sale or bring a coffee machine? You’ll soon attract those crowds ready to wow them with your sales pitch.
Making a good impression at a trade show combines several elements. You’ll want to plan the perfect appearance through a stand-out stand, as well as make your promote your appearance. Effective digital marketing will serve you well at a trade show, so shout about your appearance and make sure you’re the star.
The planet is in trouble. Every day you hear stories on the news of melting ice caps, extinct species, deforestation, and even worse. You can’t reverse these disasters yourself, but you can play a big part, especially where your business is concerned. When you operate your company in an environmentally-conscious way, it has positive effects on the world around, but can also lower operating costs. With that in mind, here are five smart ways to grow a green business.
1. Allow Flexible Work Schedules
The cost of lighting and heating an entire office is huge, which is why many new entrepreneurs try to put it off for as long as possible. Unfortunately, the damage that this space contributes to the planet is also significant. Introducing flexible work policies can remedy this issue. By allowing your team to work from home, even if for only part of the week, you’ll significantly reduce your energy bills. Your team also won’t need to travel to work, which lessens your impact further.
2. Install A Bike Rack
The cars you see commuting to work each morning are one of the biggest contributors to emissions, which cause damage to the ozone layer. If you can’t let your team work from home, then you should at least give them the option to travel to work in a green way by installing a bike rack. This is a relatively small investment, but one that can have positive results for everyone in your business. You can encourage cycling further by offering your team incentives to do so.
3. Switch To Efficient Equipment
Everyone knows that leaving equipment on unnecessarily wastes huge amounts of energy, but few people realize that you can consume more power than you need to even when these tools are in use. To avoid this, you should switch to newer, more efficient devices. Depending on your industry, you might also benefit from investing in condensate return pumps. These expenses will increase costs initially, but you’ll soon make money back in lower energy bills.
4. Sort Through The Trash
Throwing all of your rubbish and junk into a single bin may be convenient for you and your employees, but it isn’t a very ethical decision. After all, many different types of materials can be recycled these days, but, if you put all of your trash in the same place, then it will all go to rubbish dumps. A better choice would be to provide three bins – One for general waste, one of plastic, and another for paper. This ensures that at least some of your waste is disposed of properly.
Initially, ink and paper may not seem particularly large costs, but, over time, they can have a huge impact on your budget, as well as the planet we call home. For this reason, you should try to limit the amount of paper that your business uses. Instead of printing pamphlets and flyers, you can send marketing emails and link to PDFs on your website. You can also store important documents on the cloud, rather than in filing cabinets, and take notes on phones and tablets.
With these smart tips, you can save money and the planet at the same time.
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