We’ve all heard the old adage ‘time is money’, but in business this really is true. Your time is money, and making the most of it will boost your profitability and ensure your company is reaching its full potential. There are a number of ways you can make sure that you’re getting the most out of yours and your employees working hours and earning as much money as possible- here are some ideas for going about it.
Go open plan in the office
While individual working still has its place, it’s no longer considered the optimal way of working. A more team led environment comes with open spaces will promote the sharing of ideas. Open plan environments tend to be brighter, airier, and more pleasant areas in which to work, which can boost worker morale and improve productivity overall. Unfortunately, coronavirus has impacted the way offices and the world in general works, so now it might not be possible to schedule any significant changes, ensuring you’re abiding by social distancing guidelines. But long term as the world returns to normal; this is something to consider. Happy employees make productive employees, giving them a nice space to work from is just one way you can boost morale and get the best from your workers.
Update your hardware and software
There’s nothing that can stifle the flow of activity quicker than inferior technology or equipment stopping you in your tracks. Whether it’s outdated software that crashes, printers that jam or computers that crash, and lose information, these things can seriously affect your entire business. You need to spend money to make money, invest in new hardware and software so that your staff can do their jobs properly. You may need to update things like cabling with a company like jabbercomm.com as you go along to keep everything up to date.
Outsource when you need to
Even if your business is a smaller venture, as you grow, you might find that you struggle to keep on top of things, If so, now would be an excellent time to consider outsourcing and hiring other companies to tackle some of the workload for you. These are non competing companies to yours which specialise in specific areas allowing you to hire them to do individual tasks or run entire departments. For example, you could hire a company to deal with your marketing, so you don’t have to, or look into managed IT services. You could work with a freelance writer who will write blog posts for you, or utilise an accounting company to deal with your finances. It means you can continue operating without falling behind or having to go through the hassle of hiring your own employees (or more employees). It boosts productivity while staying manageable for you to run everything from the top.
Who hasn’t dreamed of living the van life? Out on the open road, driving into the sunset with all your worldly belongings in the back. No worries beyond where your next meal is coming from. It’s all about freedom, breaking free from the shackles of convention and living life on your own terms.
All you need to live this idyllic existence is a vehicle that will take you wherever you need to go. You could buy a fully-formed campervan outright, but this will set you back financially, and it means you won’t be able to customize it to your preferences. Many people under the spell of wanderlust opt for the DIY approach.
Your campervan is not just a vehicle; it is a home. For this reason, it takes a lot of time and effort to create the perfect space, from designing the layout to installing electricity and plumbing. A camper conversion is not a project to be taken lightly. If you are dreaming of lost highways and desert sunrises, here is a step-by-step guide to converting your DIY campervan.
Choose your vehicle
A van is just a vehicle that gets you from A to B. It takes a tremendous amount of imagination and perseverance to turn it into a home. Deciding on a vehicle to convert is a big decision and will depend on several factors, including your budget, personal preferences, and your road trip requirements. There’s a lot to think about when choosing a van and a few critical questions you will need to ask yourself to ensure you make the right decision.
Size: You can convert any vehicle you like, from a small car to an old school bus. You probably already have an idea of what size you need, but there are a few things to consider. How many people will you be traveling with? Do you need room for a pet or even capacity for picking up hitchhikers? The length of time you’ll be touring is also important as that will determine how much storage space you need. Write down a list of your requirements in priority order and determine how much space you will need to accommodate them.
Cost: Buying and converting a vehicle is not going to come cheap, but if you are restricted to a budget, you will want to cut costs wherever possible. A used van will be less expensive than new but may need more maintenance. You could buy a campervan that requires minimal customization, but this will be a lot more costly than buying a plain old panel van and kitting it out yourself.
Brand: You may have your own opinions about which brands and models are best, but there is no right or wrong answer. Some brands are more reliable, whereas others may benefit from better availability of spare parts. Do your research and get some recommendations before you make your mind up. And remember that a reliable, long-lasting vehicle is more important than one with a fancy logo.
Design your layout
Now that you have purchased your vehicle, it’s time to make a plan for your conversion. This is the most exciting part of the process, and the possibilities are endless. You will need to consider how much stuff you need to accommodate and the functionality you want your campervan to have. Here are a few things to consider:
How many people will be living in your van? The more people living in your van, the more space you will need for sleeping and storage. You will also need some open space for everyone to hang out without getting in each other’s way.
How tall are you? If you are particularly tall, then you will be limited in your sleeping setup. A crosswise bed will be too short for you, so make sure you take this into account.
How much storage space do you need? When embarking on the van life, it’s a good idea to downsize as much as possible and get rid of anything you don’t need. For everything you can’t part with, you will need a special place for it. If you have oversized items like bikes or surfboards, decide whether you want to incorporate storage inside your van or find a way of hitching them onto the roof or back. Try to include multi-functionality items to save space—for example, a bed with storage underneath or a kitchen table that doubles up as a workspace.
Will you be cooking in your van? Many van owners just cook outside, but having an internal kitchen means you can prepare your meals comfortably in any weather. A kitchen area will take up space and require proper ventilation. You will need a fridge, cooker, sink, water tank, countertop, and food storage space.
Do you want a bathroom? One of the biggest questions you will need to ask yourself is whether or not you need a toilet. The cheapest option would be to rely on public restrooms or digging a hole when there are no facilities, but if you prefer to have your own bathroom, that’s not a problem. There are many toilet options for a campervan which will give you peace of mind when you really need to go but will take up a lot more space.
Will you need plumbing? Whether you need drinking water, a shower, or a way to wash your dishes, clean water is essential. Although you could get by with just filling up a load of jerry cans, many van owners opt for a more elaborate plumbing system. You could have a manual pump system, a hose-fed water tank, or if you have the budget, you could invest in an electric pump. You should have a water filter too, particularly if traveling in remote areas.
Will you need electricity? Electricity is essential when you’re on the road. It will help you refrigerate food, charge devices, and see at night. But it can also be one of the most costly aspects of owning a van. Most people opt for a solar-powered system linked to panels on the roof, but you could also buy a gasoline generator or rely on power from electric hookups at campgrounds.
Do you need a workspace? If you’re a digital nomad who works from a computer while on the road, you will want a space to set up a workstation. A table will be essential, and can also be used for meals.
Convert your van
Now that you have designed your perfect mobile home, it’s time to put your plan into action. If you know what you’re doing, you can do all the work yourself. This will be a much more budget-friendly option and will give you a feeling of personal accomplishment and pride when the work is complete. If you want to get it done as quickly as possible, you could hire a professional campervan conversion company to carry out the work for you.
Before you go
With your newly-converted campervan all shiny and ready to go, there are a few last things you need to take care of. You will need insurance to cover you and any other drivers on your road trip. The insurance your van had when you bought it will no longer cover you, as a converted van is no longer legally classified as a standard van. Your specific insurance policy will depend on many things: the type of vehicle (do you need van insurance, motorhome insurance, or truck insurance?), what you are using it for, and the specific features and functions.
As soon as you are insured, packed, and have said your goodbyes, it’s time to hit the open road and begin your big adventure.
History is filled with the tales of business collapses of companies that have faced legal issues.
As early as 1494, the Medici Bank, which was owned by the Italian Medici family dynasty, collapsed after members of the family illegally used significant funds from the bank to sustain their lifestyles.
In 1963 in the US, Allied Crude Vegetable Oil Refining Corp collapsed when leader Tino De Angelis was exposed for defrauding clients for his own benefit.
In 1983, Carrian Group marked the largest business collapse in Hong Kong history when an auditor who raised the alarm on accounting fraud was murdered. An accounting advisor committed suicide to avoid legal pursuits.
In 2002, Adelphia Communications filed for bankruptcy on the basis of internal corruption. At the end of the investigation, members of the Rigas family were sentenced to prison.
These are only some of the many cases of business collapse throughout history that have occurred as a result of legal pursuits against the company or some of its members. Entrepreneurs, therefore, may wonder if a business can recover from legal pursuits? The answer depends on the offense, the relevant defense system, and the recovery strategy.
CEO or public-facing figure is arrested
What happens to your company when one of its eminent public-facing figures is charged with a crime? While the collapse in the stock exchange market may be imminent, you could save your business reputation and survival by working with trusted criminal lawyers who can provide the help you need. A criminal lawyer does not erase complaints or crimes, but it is a person who can help shed a more realistic light on the situation. A one-off event of violence, for instance, may have been the result of high stress and harassment. Fraudulent estate planning could be caused by poor advice rather than intentional criminal activity. Providing the defense required can protect your business from further damage.
Your taxes are not up to standard
Small businesses are the first to fall into accounting traps. If you don’t work closely with a professional accountant from Day One, it can be hard to keep your corporation tax return up to standard. However, tax mistakes can be recovered, both with the tax authorities and in the public opinion, if you reach out to a professional accounting service agency.
Your audience is more likely to lose faith in the brand if they realize that you were able to zero out your federal income tax or receive a considerable rebate. This is the case for Amazon, for instance, which enjoys an effective tax rate of -1% rather than the usual 21%. For individual taxpayers, it is frustrating to know that a successful company can legally cheat the system.
Can you recover from an unsafe product? Facts show that you can if you take swift actions. Johnson & Johnson recalled a product that had been tampered in 1982. The recall was expensive and led to profit loss. However, the decisive action allowed the company to recover within a few months. The lesson: Quick response can save both lives and your business.
In conclusion, why nothing can exonerate a business from legal complications, securing the appropriate defense mechanism, and acting quickly with the best interest of your customers at heart can prevent dramatic consequences. Many companies have faced legal challenges that have redefined their brands for the better.
Your business is your pride and joy. You’ve spent years building your brand, cultivating a base of loyal customers, and building a team that manages to surprise you with their dedication and ingenuity every day. But the curse of entrepreneurship is that you never get to sit back and say that you’re satisfied. You’re always searching for new ways to innovate. To bring greater motivation to your employees and greater value to your clients. And making operational changes that improve efficiency and productivity.
A big part of this involves knowing when you’ve reached the limits of what you can achieve with your current infrastructure, whether that’s your technology, your personnel or your physical premises. There may come a time when you need to move to a new premises with better transport links, more space or (for retailers) a more prime location with better footfall. While we’ve looked at managing the logistics of a business move, here we’ll look at some ways in which you can cut the costs, improve your cash flow and prevent the move from putting a dent in your margin…
Carry out an equipment inventory well in advance
In some ways our business premises are just like our homes. We can accumulate more and more stuff over the years which eventually ceases to be useful and becomes clutter. Take an inventory of your equipment well in advance and ascertain what you need to take and what you can do without. You may find that there’s a significant amount of equipment left that can be auctioned, offsetting the cost of your move. And the less equipment you’re bringing, the more affordable your move will be.
Consider the timing
The timing of your move can also lead to significant savings. Like most enterprises, movers have peak seasons. Move in the spring or summer when conditions are warm and dry and you can expect to pay slightly higher rates. If you can defer your move to fall or winter, you may find that you’re able to make significant savings.
Insure your valuables
If this is your first business relocation you may assume that movers are liable for damage to your delicate IT equipment, furniture and other items. However, this is rarely the case. Moving companies are legally within their rights to exclude certain liabilities from agreements with the companies that use them, and may reject responsibility for damages incurred to your goods. That’s why it’s vital that you ensure all of your equipment for the move.
Invest in infrastructure to get back up and running quickly
When moving to a new premises, you need to not only consider the cost of the move, but the expense caused by a lack of uptime as you get your new premises fit for purpose. Partner with a networking specialist like Richmond Communications Group, Inc.. They can help you to get your telecoms infrastructure up and running faster so that you can resume business as usual and provide a seamless service for your customers.
Moving to a new premises can bring out the best in your business. And when you’re proactive about the cost, you can prevent it from eating into your margins and impeding your cash flow.
After graduating from physical therapy school, the world is your oyster. There are plenty of directions you can take your career. Some people decide to work as a staff physical therapist in an outpatient clinic, while others take their destiny into their own hands and open their own private practice. If you are tired of clocking into to work day in and day out or feel like you are not making a real impact at your job, starting your own business could be the way to go. Before you dive headfirst into starting a business, here are some things to consider.
It Is Not As Scary As It Sounds
We get it. Starting your own business, let alone your own private practice can be a very scary thought. What if you do not make any money? What if you do not reach enough clients? What if you fail? Though it is not uncommon to have those thoughts, it is important to push through those fears. You will soon find out that what lies on the other side is knowing you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. You are not in it alone. There are plenty of resources you can tap into that can help you along the process of becoming a successful private practice.
It May Take Some Time
Things do not happen overnight. We are sure you have heard that and the phrase especially applies to starting a private practice. There are many steps involved to getting your private practice off the ground and it is not a linear process. Creating a business plan, pick and registering a business name, meeting with business lawyers, setting up an LLC, establishing a business bank account, NPI number and Tax ID are all things that must be done before you even think about purchasing a space or conducting business.
You May Have To Delegate
You cannot have your hands in everything and be effectively productive. It is going to take some delegation for your business process to run smoothly. Hire a great staff of people who are honest, hard-working, passionate about the industry and knowledgeable. You want to make sure you have the best and most capable people on your team. Understand what it means to be an effective leader. Encourage your staff members to keep up the good work by understanding work-life balance and compensate well according to performance.
Accept That You May Be Learning As You gGo
There is nothing wrong with that, especially if this is your first time starting a business. There are many nuances that go into establishing a successful business. A lot of those types of things are learned by trial and error. It may be helpful to find a mentor or someone who is an expert in your field. Having someone to approach for questions and advice can make the process seem less daunting. Be graceful with yourself and understand that you are learning as you go.
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