Keys To Expanding Your Business

One of my favorite business books is the ever so popular, “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There,” which highlights the differences between the traits and actions of the successful, and the utterly successful. Many of the conclusions are downright surprising, and very enlightening, because most of what makes a person very successful is not being the big and in your face know it all. What does that have to do with expanding your business successfully? Keep reading to find out.

Today, there is a huge competition among the companies in market, and with all due respect your brainpower alone is probably not what is going to catapult any business to corporate stardom. One of the first things that is important to learn is to keep everything in perspective. When you do that, you are able to more successfully able to plan and implement for success. Another thing, is to listen to others, and don’t be the guru hogging the spotlight. With these two simple rules in mind let’s proceed to the next step.

Now it’s time to tweak your business plan. Surely, since the last time you blew the dust off of your business plan a lot has changed, and a lot has been learned. Now including leveraging the advice of those around you, consider what the next steps should be towards taking your business from good to rock star.

You should always remember that you can only achieve huge success in business by delivering quality to customers. Then you need to re-enforce to your customers the fact that you provided quality to them, and how that improved their existence on the planet Earth. But to begin with, everything depends on the quality of the products. Unless you deliver good products or services to customers you will never grow into a great business. Make sure that you have the quality in both products and services. If not, consider making major changes.

Once you have thoroughly reconsidered your business plan, it’s time to consider ways of turbo charging it. How can you expand efficiently and successfully, and what needs to be done in order to get there? Do you need to bring in new products, offer more diverse services, hire new workers? If you are offering true value to your customers then you probably will need to expand in a number of ways.

Expanding a business requires the same thing that starting the business did, namely, money that you don’t currently posses. If you go running to the bank for a loan, you are in for a long and grueling process, which does not promise any success.

There does exist another unsecured business financing option called the business cash advance. The cash advance allows borrowers a lot of flexibility in their pay back plans and is a lot more convenient and accessible than the mind-numbing business loan.

By: Jack L Brown

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10 Things You Need To Do When Starting Your Own Business

Of course, when you start a business you have no guaranteed paycheck at the end of the week. However, if you can handle the risk, starting a business could change your life forever. The 10 things you need to do when starting your own business listed below can help you achieve success.

1.Develop business ideas. Never underestimate the importance of planning when starting a business. Take time to evaluate your interests and abilities before you settle on the business that interests you. Next, create a business plan to keep your efforts focused and to help secure investment.

2. Get help. Many public and private programs exist that support small businesses. You can find a mentor, a special loan, special advice from a variety of agencies and trade associations.

3. Decide on your legal structure. Although many business owners become sole proprietors, many choose to form LLCs or corporations. Study the advantages and disadvantages of every business type and choose the one that best fits your business model.

4. Choose a name. The most important part of the marketing effort, the business name must inspire confidence and security while communicating what the business does.

5. Define your Market. Decide to whom you want to sell and find ways to solve their problems with your products and services.

6. Choose a location. Whether you start a traditional or online business, you need to choose where you will work. Many entrepreneurs work from home to control costs if they work online or at customer sites. However, you may need to rent space if you run a store or office where customers come in and out every day.

7. Keep records. As long as your business stays small, you might feel comfortable running it by the seat of your pants. However, when your business grows and you must talk to banks for financing and the IRS begins to audit, you will need to have all your paperwork in meticulous order.

8. Buy insurance. No one likes the cost of insurance; so many business owners skip it. However, a single accident, fire or theft could change your mind. Talk to your insurance specialist or other advisor to get the coverage you need.

9. Comply with regulations. Local, state and federal governments have volumes of regulations, some of which may apply to yours. Find out about unemployment insurance, workers compensation and licenses needed for your company to legally operate.

10. Use business energy accounts. Most utilities offer special rates for business and industry, so ask for those rates when you establish service for your store or office.

Beginning a new life as a business owner involves many challenges and risks. These 10 things you need to do when starting your own business will help you build a foundation that will lead to many years of success.

By: Graeme_K

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House Cleaning Can Be Your Next Enterprise

House cleaning has been a job that a lot of people have gotten into to provide a little more money for the bills that come due every month. Many more, each month, join the ranks of the self employed this way. The work is not as hard as some might think, however, it is a careful, considered and methodical way of working to help people out.

When you are involved in cleaning other people's houses, you are doing what you do at home, every day. You need to be familiar with a lot of little tasks and all of these are very simple to perform. Conducting a business in this fashion can be a very flexible, and motivating activity.

Planning what you are going to be cleaning is an important first step in your new business. Many services will clean only things such as the Kitchen or the Bathroom. Some will also clean the living areas, some the bedrooms and still others will also do the laundry. Decide what it is you will do and plan the average times accordingly. Many house cleaners will do all kinds of cleaning for a price.

The name for your business should command a little attention. It should sound professional and state what it is you are doing. The proper licensing for your company should be looked into and a DBA might be required in your area.

Equipment and supplies are things that many people get confused about. All that is needed are things that you already have at home. They need to be clean and serviceable and easily transportable. The very minimum that is needed for all tasks in a basic cleaning process is a bagged vacuum and several small items. A bucket, several cloths, some cleaning agents and a mop will round out the basics. Other items can be included to help with other tasks and can be purchased with the first billings.

A stated above, your start up costs can be very small. Your prices can be established by taking a basic hourly rate and prorating that to the many tasks that make up a house cleaning routine. To set up prices, you could call house cleaners in your area and ask what they charge for what they do. You can adjust those prices based on whatever criteria you find and come up with a value for your services, easily.

You might need to do a few cleanings for free. You would gain the attention of people who know a lot of others that would want their houses cleaned by offering a free cleaning to them. This would help you get your foot in the door and the word of mouth advertisement would be priceless.

Your house cleaning business can pick up fairly quickly if you have taken the time and care to perform the first several cleanings. Advertisements, after this, is the next step. The Internet will have local postings available as well as the community boards in many locations in your own neighborhood.

By: Stephanie W Curtis

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