Why should you be networking? Because it's a smart strategy for growing your business. By connecting with other business owners or professionals, you can open doors to new opportunities like partnerships, collaborations, and even new customers. Plus, networking helps you stay in the loop on current trends, ideas, and techniques in your industry. At Assured Consultants, we understand the importance of networking and can help you develop this skill. We also offer services like business formation, plans & strategy, coaching, marketing, access to capital, and certifications for government contracting. Connect with us on social media at @assuredconsults.
Our Founder As A Guest On The Business Zone With Crystal & Gilbert
Joseph Duncan discussed the current environment for those seeking business capital and provided a full description of the process to receive and the value in obtaining Minority-Owned and Woman Owned Business certifications.
Our Founder At The Community Briefing
Joseph Duncan discussed the business climate in Southern California and how Assured Consultants participates.
Business Owners, Utilize These Services to Boost Employee and Customer Satisfaction
We are pleased to share this guest post from Gwen Payne. You can find her at gwen@invisiblemoms.com
While larger companies typically have whole departments staffed with full-time employees to manage every aspect of business, small business owners often must juggle many different duties themselves. As the owner of a small company, you need to keep an eye on accounting, marketing, internet technology, and human resources—often with little assistance. You don’t want to overburden your employees by asking them to take on more than they can handle, nor do you want to neglect vital aspects of your business. That’s why small business owners are turning towards freelance and online services to keep both their customers and their employees satisfied.
What are the benefits of outsourcing when it comes to client and employee experience?
Trying to do too much at once can take a toll both on the mental wellness of an entrepreneur, and on the success of their business. This can lead to customer dissatisfaction and an unhealthy workplace environment. You need to be free to work with your employees and clients when they have specific needs, and not be constantly trying to keep up with processes a professional could easily sort for you. When you outsource to freelancers, you relieve your employees of feeling they’re being asked to multitask or step too far outside their comfort zone. You also ensure that customers receive the professional services they are paying for.
Take advantage of free services when possible.
Thanks to internet technology, a wealth of resources is available online, often for no cost. Many of these tools are invaluable for maintaining a good relationship with clients and workers. You are probably already using digital communication to stay in touch but consider using collaborative tools as well. Utilizing Google Docs, and scheduling apps such as Google Calendar and Outlook, will help you maintain good communication with your teams, which is essential for maintaining a positive workplace environment. Another area where you can’t afford mistakes is in your bookkeeping. Mix-ups in accounts can lead to customer dissatisfaction and disgruntled employees. So, as well as working with an accounting professional to keep your books in order, you can also access a variety of free accounting and budgeting tools online that will help you.
Affordable online services can save you time and money.
Customers appreciate a professional and easy-to-use website, so check out the various low-cost website building platforms recommended for business owners. Another affordable way to improve customer experience is to use affordable online marketing and ad programs. Using automation for repetitive tasks such as email campaigns or systems integration frees your employees up for more rewarding work, while also saving you money.
You can also find online services that help you run your business such as shift planning and scheduling software. This software allows you to create instant and repeat schedules, notifies employees when their schedules are changed, and helps you stay in compliance with labor laws.
For some services you should hire a freelancer.
There are times when it’s advisable to work with a professional on managing some aspects of your business. When it comes to accounting, for instance, it is imprudent to go it alone, even if you happen to be adept at it—it will take too much of your time and focus away from your business. A professional accountant will make sure you don’t make mistakes on taxes or payroll which can cost you a lot of money and frustrate your employees. Maintaining impeccable customer service is essential, so you might want to outsource customer service to freelancers or contract workers if you’re having trouble keeping up. And finally, make sure your company’s content and identity is safe by hiring a cybersecurity expert, who will ensure that all your important information, as well as that of your employees and your clients, is safe from cyber threats.
Your job as a business owner is to manage your business. Using outside services and working with trained professionals will aid you in following best practices, and result in an uptick in overall positivity, flexibility, and efficiency. Work with Assured Consultants for more guidelines and tips on how to grow and sustain your business and boost customer satisfaction. Call 800.791.3954 to schedule a consultation.
Does Your Business Have A Hashtag Strategy?
Today we are pleased to share a post from Joan Stanford, Branding and Content, Expert
You can contact Joan at www.jazzypen.com
🤔 Remember when branded #hashtags were all the rage?
Create a cool hashtag and people will follow and share, right?
WRONG, according to a recent study from Visual Objects. According to their report, 75% of people say they are “unlikely” to share content on social media with a branded hashtag.
The report also found that only about 1 in 10 survey respondents have interacted with a hashtag campaign in the prior three months.
In short, nobody's really sharing branded hashtags.
✅ Put more thought into creating content of value and then use relevant hashtags.
#branding #tuesdaytip #contentmarketing
4 Tech Updates & Innovations Every Small Business Needs to Thrive
We are pleased to provide a guest post submitted by Gloria Martinez. You can reach Gloria at info@womenled.org.
We accept guest submissions on topics that our readers will find interesting and helpful. You may submit at info@assuredconsults.com
Innovation fuels our society, but it can also fuel the success of your small business. More specifically, investing in the latest technical innovations for your business can save you money in the long run. Not to mention, there are some innovations that you simply cannot afford to ignore, especially when it comes to protecting all of the hard work and dedication you have put into building your small business.
All-in-One Payment Systems
Maintaining payment security is essential to maintaining trust with your clients. You can take several steps to ensure that sensitive payment and credit card information is safe from online hackers, or you can invest in one POS system that takes care of all those steps for you. Some POS systems allow you to accept payments from your customers without having to worry about having that information compromised. Plus, you end up getting more bang for your buck since this system also helps track and adjust your inventory via multiple channels.
Cyber Protection Services
Credit card information is not the only data being targeted by online criminals. Cyber-attacks affecting small businesses can also result in the loss of other types of personal and critical data. Most small businesses fold after a successful data breach. Creating a data breach response strategy can shield your business from this sort of loss but using date encryption services can prevent attacks in the first place. Depending on the nature of your business, these services can secure text messages, emails, and other data sources, and prevent costly breaches from bringing down your small business. Some small businesses choose to hire hacking services to test their network’s defenses. Once weaknesses are identified, you can take the necessary steps to secure your network.
Project Management Tools
Saving time can be more beneficial than saving money, especially for entrepreneurs who are single-handedly operating a small business. Understanding the importance of time management has helped countless entrepreneurs and business owners succeed and finding tech tools to manage your time can help you as well. Using top project management apps to keep yourself organized can help you make the most of your time. These apps can also come in handy if you need to work with freelancers or consultants, so you can keep everyone on the same page.
Energy-Efficient Technologies
If you are concerned about saving money and reducing the carbon footprint of your small business, then you should think about investing in energy-efficient tech upgrades. Whether you operate out of a home office, a warehouse, or a commercial space, adding green tech to your workspaces, such as a smart thermostat or automated lighting, has the potential to save your company thousands of dollars in overhead costs. As a bonus, you do not have to spend a fortune to add this sort of new tech for your business, and you may be able to use tax credits to boost your ROI. So, this is one tech update that can be good for business and the planet.
In the present economic landscape, small businesses can either invest in new tech and thrive or ignore innovation and simply survive. So, if you want to make the most of your startup and ultimately save yourself some time, money, and even stress, you must make room in your budget for continued tech updates. Doing so can enhance profits, secure sensitive information, protect the environment, and help your small business stay competitive.
To learn more about strategic and tactical planning, sales and marketing management, and process improvement, call 800.791.3954 or visit the website to speak with an expert at Assured Consultants.
6 Tips to Help Parents Start a New Business and Earn Extra Income
We always welcome guest submission on topics of interest. Today’s post comes from Gwen Payne. You can reach her at gwen@invisiblemoms.com
If you’re a stay-at-home mom or dad, you have one of the most important jobs in the world. Despite this level of importance, the pay rate for being a stay-at-home parent leaves a lot to be desired. Because of this, you may find yourself looking for ways to earn extra cash without sacrificing too much time with your family. If so, starting your own business could be the way to go, and you can even do so from the comfort of your home. Here are some tips for getting started.
Work on Your Business Plan
Every great business should begin with a solid plan. If you need help figuring out the basics for your new business, know that you can always work with a consultant to develop a strategic plan. Consultants like the ones at Assured Consultants can even help you source the funding needed to get your new business up and running, and then guide you through the next steps. If you’re having a hard time figuring out which type of business is best for your lifestyle and goals.
Establish Your New Business
Once you have an outline for your new business venture you can begin working on the paperwork needed to get it established. For instance, many freelancers find it helpful to work under an LLC, or limited liability corporation, to protect their personal assets and take advantage of money-saving tax credits. If you think this is the right move for you, you can always use online tools to form an LLC, get familiar with requirements, and pay any necessary fees.
Create Your Digital Presence
After you’ve set up your business, it’s time to start advertising it and networking with potential clients. These days, digital marketing reigns supreme when it comes to promoting a new business and connecting with customers, so make this one of your first priorities. If you are working on a home-based business, you can begin your online marketing efforts by consulting a freelance digital marketer or you can promote yourself using podcasts and other content.
Set Up Your Home Workspace
Up until now, you may have been working from your couch or kitchen counter. If you want to get serious about earning extra cash, however, you really need to create your own workspace. Having a dedicated home office will help keep kids, pets, and other household distractions from interfering with your productivity during work hours. You can set up a desk in an extra room if you have it, but you can also create a functional office using a wall, corner, or even a closet.
Establish Your Work Routine
Creating a dedicated office space can boost your focus, but it’s almost more important to create a consistent schedule and routine. Honestly, sticking to a routine is one of the biggest challenges that parents working from home can face. It can be especially tricky when you’re working with kids or even a spouse at home, but establishing clear boundaries can make things easier.
Find Your Work-Life Balance
It’s important to set boundaries around your work hours, but it can also be just as crucial to set boundaries around your personal time. This can be so hard to do when you are also trying to set up new e-commerce, freelance, or other home-based business, but it’s also essential for your mental health and your family’s well-being. Some simple work-life balance steps you can take to create healthy separation can include creating a strict stop time and taking actual lunch breaks.
Working as a stay-at-home parent can work for your family, especially when you start your own business. Then you get to call the shots when it comes to your schedule so that you can preserve the time needed to care for your family. So start working on your plans and consider connecting with professionals who can help you achieve your work and personal goals.
Photo Credit: Pexels
Working Your Gig: Tips on Setting Up a Freelance Business
According to estimates, freelancers/contractors will comprise 43 percent of the workforce by 2020. Partly an outgrowth of the technological revolution and partly a reaction against the strictures of the 9 to 5 grind, the “gig economy” offers the freedom to do work you enjoy and the flexibility to do it at home (or wherever you want), and to make your own work hours. It’s a great option if you’re looking to make a career change, a single parent, a retired person needing to augment income, or just one of the staggering number of people who say they hate their jobs and working for their bosses. The gig economy comes with its own stresses (the work isn’t always steady). It takes self-discipline and the determination to make your vision come true. A careful and thoughtful approach is needed so that you’re not diving into it without considering all angles. But the sheer number of people who work in the gig economy bears witness to the growing popularity of the freelance lifestyle.
Budget
One of the first things you’ll need to determine is how much work you’ll need to maintain your budget. People who are really committed to this lifestyle sometimes work several “gigs” to meet their financial needs, yet don’t mind it since they love the freedom and flexibility of working in this manner. Consider building up a “nest egg” before you commit to freelancing in case, you’re not able to find work on a consistent basis at first, bearing in mind that it can take some time to develop a productive network of contacts. One of the most important financial considerations for any freelancer, and one that’s often overlooked, is the need to pay taxes on a quarterly basis since you’re no longer working a “W2” job, one in which taxes are withheld from your paychecks.
How do you get started?
Knowing what kind of work, you want to do is the first thing you’ll need to decide. It should be something you truly enjoy and something at which you have some experience. Many freelancers are people who’ve worked at a 40-hour-a-week job for years, wishing they could be a writer, computer programmer, landscaper, or some other longed-for occupation. In other words, they come to the gig economy with a good idea of where they want to go with a freelance career. Some of the happiest freelancers are those who are very good at what they love doing. Think back to all the time you spent sitting miserably at your cubicle, imagining something better for yourself. If you’re making the commitment to enter the gig economy, you might as well love what you’re doing. There are more opportunities for freelancers than ever before, so don’t limit yourself. If you’re not sure where you want to concentrate your energies at first, you can always begin as a mystery shopper, or take surveys for paywhile you figure out your next steps.
Keep looking
Remember, being a freelancer means you should always be on the lookout, working your network and contacts and trolling job sites every day. You never know when the ideal gig may come along. One of the greatest outgrowths of the gig economy is the proliferation of freelance websites, online job boards that put you in direct touch with people looking for freelancers to fill some niche. Elance, Upwork and Craigslist are just a few of the more popular freelance job-sites. Outsourcing is a major need for many companies these days, and it’s a great way for them to stay within budgetary parameters while getting the quality work they need from people who have the flexibility to work on projects as needed, often with little or no advance notice. Remember, the more you’re able to do this, the more popular you’ll be with companies and the more work you can expect.
Workspace
Some freelancers struggle at first with working on their own without a supervisor looking over their shoulder wondering when you’ll have it done. Establishing your own workspace is important because it defines a dedicated area that’s for work only. When you’re in that space, you’re not watching TV or visiting social media sites. It should be in a quiet and pleasant part of the house, with a desk big enough to accommodate a computer, printer, and any other object you need to do the work.
Stick with it
If you’ve decided to join the gig economy, you’ve taken the first step toward a happier, freer lifestyle. Stick with it! The first few months can be difficult. Keep working your network and respond to as many online freelance projects as possible. It’ll pay off in the end.
By Lucy Reed Contact her at gigmine.co
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com
Will Your Employees Know What to Do?
All businesses, from mom and pop to large enterprises are vulnerable to the possibility of a cyber attack. Are you concerned that you or one of your employees might click a link in an email that can possibly cause a virus to infect their PC or even worse, your network? If you could offer a 1-hour presentation that teaches the importance of changing one’s behavior to help ensure online safety in the office and at home, would you make that available to your employees? If so, do you prefer live or online sessions?
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“In the words of Voltaire, ‘Perfect is the enemy of good.’ That has been a lesson I’ve carried with me for years.
Small Business Tips for Parents with Disabilities
Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com
If you are a parent with a disability, you may have more opportunities today to turn your free time into a reliable income stream. Mobility concerns often form a barrier for those who are looking to start their own business but are disabled. The demands of raising children can further complicate and make goals of small business ownership seem impossible. Where once the idea of working and raising children at the same time seemed like a pipedream fueled by questionable work-from-home schemes, the gig economy today makes flexible remote work easy. It’s not only possible to make some money from home, millions of people have taken to freelancing and other jobs in the sharing economy as a way to earn money on their own terms and according to their schedules.
Opportunities to earn money on a flexible schedule require some small business knowledge because these gig economy jobs are not jobs at all, but gigs. Gigs are usually contract-based, so you are not an employee, and therefore you have administrative responsibilities that would typically be handled by your employer’s payroll or human resources department. Since you are a contractor for most of these jobs, you are self-employed. As a disabled business owner, you may have access to some assistance in setting up and maintaining your business.
From grants to loans, financial assistance is available to those with specific disabilities. Since grants don’t need to be repaid, start your search with these opportunities. The US Small Business Association administers federally funded disability small business grants at SBA.gov. Other online resources for grant money include HHS.gov/grantsnet and FedBizOpps.gov. Grant funding might require some time and patience, but since many people are unaware of these programs, there may be funding available to help you along with your business.
Small business loan program information is also available through the SBA. Although the SBA is not a lender, they back various bank programs to encourage small business startups.
Gig Economy Opportunities
You have likely heard of the popular gig economy jobs, such as being a driver for a ridesharing company like Uber or Lyft. While those with disabilities that restrict their ability to drive, many who have disabilities unrelated to driving have found successin ridesharing. Other opportunities can be remote and computer-based, such as providing writing or editing services, acting as a virtual assistant, or providing remote customer support.
Running a Small Business at Home
If you plan on working from home, it’s crucial to create a serious work environment. A proper home office is separate from any hectic activity in your home but is pleasant and close to natural light. Throwing a desk and laptop in a closet is less than ideal, but so is trying to work from your kitchen table as kids scream by every few minutes. If you have an unused spare bedroom or separate study, repurpose the room as a home office. You’ll not only enjoy a quiet area in which to do your work, but you will also possibly reap a home office tax deduction.
Make sure that you use comfortable furniture and ample lighting, as you will likely spend many hours in your home office. When you can, make sure to get out and step away though. One downside of remote work from home is the potential disconnection from others. You can combat this sense of loneliness by taking your office out on the road when you can. Bring your laptop to a coffee shop or coworking space from time to time and connect with other professionals.
The gig economy makes working from home possible for those of all abilities. Leverage available disability grants and make your small business dream come true.
By Patrick Young
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Starting A Business When You Are Disabled
Photo credit by Unsplash
This is the perfect time to start a business if you are disabled. Working online is ideal for anyone, and with gig economy opportunities and the surge in the freelance market, the time is ripe for entrepreneurial success. There are many options available, but what are the benefits? And which are the best businesses? Let’s take a look.
From Job To Business
How does starting a business benefit you? Working from home can save you the hassle of accessibility issues from your employer. According to The Guardian, it also provides cost savings and schedule flexibility, giving freedom to those whose work may be affected by health issues and disabilities.
Starting a company from your home is a great way to earn a living without the hassle. However, you can – and should – keep your current job while building up your business.
Here are some business ideas that can be a good choice for you depending on your experience:
Online services, such as programming or web design.
Virtual assistance.
Computer-based customer support.
Services such as proofreading, accounting, or online marketing.
You can launch any past work experience into a business as well. Consider both a service-based business and teaching your skillset to others. You may also be uniquely equipped to start a business that solves a problem for the disabled community at large. For example, if you’ve overcome adversity, you can become a vocational coach or a motivational speaker. Another idea is inventing a device or item specifically designed for the disabled community.
If you are a disabled veteran, here is a list of the 50 best small business ideas for you from Profitable Venture, many of which are great ideas for individuals regardless of their veteran status.
Funding Your Small Business
You might need capital to set up your business, particularly if you have a creative idea. According to Chron, there are numerous agencies with grants or loans for disabled business owners. Research your local small business resources, private organizations, government grants such as the Disability Research Project and Centers Program Grant, and religious institutions. For more information on funding sources, check out this article from BizFluent.
Business Basics
You’ll also need to decide how to legally set up your business. Talk to your accountant or lawyer about which option best fits your needs and provides the security your business requires. You’ll also need to be prepared to file business taxes, and decide whether you need small business insurance.
Finding Customers
Like every business, you’ll need to find customers. Having a portfolio or testimonials is a great way to start. Online marketing is best for virtual businesses, but you’ll need to market offline for a local business. If you are offering a product or service strictly for the disabled community, you’ll need to target your marketing to this audience. Start by engaging with local disability organizations and virtual disability communities. Advertise at local events and in publications that cater to your community. Austin Startups has some useful advice for keeping a competitive marketing edge in your community.
Creating Your Home Office
The beauty of owning a business is, for many people, creating a home office that you can customize to match your lifestyle and habits. It should be a reflection of your personality and your business, while motivating you to take your dreams to the next level. Some questions to ask yourself about your home office include:
Will customers ever visit my office?
Do I have enough room for products?
What sort of shipping solutions do I need?
What kind of investment do I need for secure connectivity?
Do I need to upgrade my computer or buy a laptop?
Do I need a fax machine, postal services at my desk, a heavy-duty printer, or other such business items?
Will a custom-built desk that accommodates my disability make it easier to navigate my office?
With these ideas in mind, design your office to be a haven for creativity and productivity. Think outside the box of an accessible office job to create your dream business. With enough planning, research, and marketing, you can succeed as an entrepreneur.
— Patrick Young
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