Many small business owners agonize over whether to accept credit card payments. Some say it’s too expensive — that the cost of processing fees and the extra liability just aren’t worth it. Others argue that the added convenience to their customers makes the expense and potential hassle of accepting card payments pay off.
But, should your small business accept credit cards? These days, it’s easier than ever to take card payments; many payment processing providers offer mobile solutions that are perfect for all entrepreneurs, whether they’re selling from a traditional retail outlet, venturing out to farmers markets, working from clients’ homes or even out of cars.…
If you’ve decided it’s finally time to open your own business over the coming months, you’re probably chomping at the bit and can’t wait for the ‘Now Open’ sign to light up. However, while launching your first venture is exciting and motivating, you also need to remember it can be risky.
There is plenty of competition to go up against, and you need to invest much of your own money, time and energy. The more strategic and smart you are in how you set up your business, the more likely it is to achieve the results you’re after.…
By cutting down on your business’ utility expenses, you could not only save your firm more money, but this money could also be something you then use to invest in developing your company even more.
However, as most business owners will understand, you can’t simply stop using things like gas, water, and electric, as these are essential – what you can do though is be smart and cut down, here’s how:
1. Switch Tariffs
The first thing you can do is switch your tariffs.…
You’ve probably realised that it’s hard searching for a new role. When you do get invited for an interview, they’re often short notice and soon come around — leaving you with little time to decide what to wear. Follow our top tips to find out how to dress for each type of interview:
For a casual interview
You could usually call an interview casual if it’s for an unpaid position or for a charity. For these interviews, it is likely that they won’t expect you to be dressed very formally, and will be more concerned with your personality, including your punctuality.…
Business equipment and the tools used in everyday operations are assets; picking them up can be considered investments that all businesses need to make in order to maintain smooth operations. For small businesses, making big investments on equipment and tools isn’t always possible due to budget constraints.
When budget is an issue, most businesses will go for lower-quality, cheaper equipment and tools just to maintain operations. This is actually the wrong approach to make. Having the right tools for the job matters for several very important reasons.…
Sometimes we think with our hearts and not with our heads. Making New Year’s resolutions can often be disastrous, with 80% of people failing by February and regretting it instantly. One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to cut down on spending, and although this sounds achievable, if you don’t have a fully-pledged strategy in place, the likeliness of failure spirals out of control.
We understand that people can be victim to an unexpected expense — whether this is a home appliance breaking or making that third trip on a bus with only a return ticket.…
When your business isn’t ready for a brick-and-mortar office, or plain doesn’t need one; there are two basic options as to where you should register your business. You still need an address to register your business with the government and receive official mail at.
It’s easy to rent a virtual office or post office box, but deciding which is best for your business can be a tough decision. A PO box is certainly the least expensive option, yet doesn’t offer nearly the benefits a virtual office does.…
Being in the business of beauty is more than just about selling your products as fast as you can. You can’t expect retailing beauty items to be the same as selling, say, crockery or office supplies. Skincare products and cosmetics tend to be more intimate and more personal because their purpose is fulfilling that fundamental desire among people to look good and feel great about themselves. As a beauty store owner, you have to be more refined in your approach to selling.…
Every businessman likes to see his business at the peak and he has the right to wish so, but not every businessman make his best efforts towards achieving this status. This is partly because of the lack of resources and effort in learning about the ‘game,’ such as how to register your company, how to apply for Itin, how to secure funding, and so on – which can help ensure the business succeeds.
Here are seven ways to make your business a real success.…
Buying cars for your business can be a very expensive affair. Buying a car requires a large amount of capital, which you may not immediately have to hand – and the vehicle will begin to depreciate in value as soon as you drive it away from the showroom forecourt.
There’s also the additional maintenance and repair costs, which can really add up over the lifetime of the car.
Instead of buying, have you considered leasing or renting a business vehicle instead?…
