Human beings, just like any other organism, depend on a cycle of feedback and response, work and rest.  Viewed this way, our highly developed mind can work either for us or against us.  After all, it is our ability to think that has allowed us to adapt to and control our environment to some extent.  Other animals don’t have this privilege – or curse.  Have you ever heard about an overstressed dog or a cat suffering from burn out? (more…)

It would surprise most people to know that the Pareto Principle has applications that go far beyond time management.  In fact Vilfredo Pareto, for whom the principle is named, merely described the income distribution of Italy; he observed that 80% of the total wealth of this country is held by only 20% of its total population.

It is the great business management legend (yes, he is still alive today) Joseph M. Juran, who actually proposed this principle.  He discovered that the 80-20 rule held true for many other things apart from business management. (more…)

The answer is:  It depends on how you use this resource.  As with many other things, time is indeed a double-edged sword.  Some people use it to reach for the stars while others use it to dig their own graves.  Like money, we can invest it, spend it, waste it, or hoard it.  Just like money, what we do with our time can be the cause of success, failure, growth, or decay.

Value and Time
Value in business is intimately tied to success.  This can be seen through market leadership, yearly growth, customer satisfaction, monthly sales, or any other factors that are used to assess business success.  (more…)

Do you feel like you’re being held hostage by your business? 

Most small business owners start their business because;
a) they want to do something they’re passionate about; and
b) because they think it will give them more freedom in life by releasing them from the unreasonable demands of their boss.

After a few weeks, however, the truth hits them hard.  Running your own business is a whole lot more demanding than a full time job.  Instead of one boss, you now have ten; your clients, your suppliers, your employees, each with a different set of needs and expectations that have to be met by you. 

You are so busy running the business that you hardly have time for anything else. (more…)

The very structure of the above comment stresses need over want – what do you need to do today instead of what do you want to do today?

It’s very easy to go wherever the flow leads us.  An associate dropping by to gossip may be a welcome distraction from the report with which you are currently grappling.  Your son’s need for a Halloween costume may be a good excuse to delay working on an important project. 

These little excuses, however, add up and have a large impact on how well you maximise use of your time.  More often than not, prioritising want over need when it comes to spending time yields adverse financial effects.

So, what must you do today? (more…)

Anyone who has ever tried to set up their own business understands it’s an extremely hard challenge that they embark on.  I am certain you’re familiar with the fact that over 50% of small businesses go out of business in the first year & that 95% go out of business within the first 5 years.  However, that number doesn’t alter much each year.  Let’s explore this. 

Most businesses are launched because its owners have what they believe is a good concept.  But successful business ventures remain so because those who have the vision also understand how to implement it, have a reliable business background and are not afraid to engage experts who also have a solid business experience. 

Unfortunately, several awesome industry ideas fall short as their owners fail to understand the difficulties of running a new business and decline to seek timely assistance in areas that they may be weak in.

So many small business owners are exceedingly confident and often overestimate anticipated revenues and miscalculate what needs to be carried out in order to be successful. 

One common mistake that new business owners make is to never “let go” of several jobs that they are plainly not skilled to undertake and they assume that they will save money by refusing to ask for assistance. 

Don’t assume you would do it all. 

It is okay-and even smart to ask for help – whether that purely means getting a second opinion, or entirely outsourcing a function or activity that isn’t one of your core skills or processes.

Form filling and piles and piles of paperwork is becoming essential in today’s business world.  There are accounting and tax records to retain & sort; invoices to prepare and debts to collect; invoices to settle and so much more.  Unsurprisingly, all you want to do is concentrate on why you began your business in the first place – doing what you enjoy most and being compensated well for it. 

I know…all of this added effort is not your favourite aspect of running a business and may be be boring and tiresome.  However you must appreciate that it has to be performed eventually. 

You have two choices, you can bite the bullet and make sure you allot sufficient time to keep up with all of the ancillary paperwork, regulations, and accounting or you should hire professionals who make that their business to handle those mundane, however crucial, tasks for you. 

Then you can focus on the bits that you do best.  As a newbie, you’ll need to ensure you meet the obligations imposed on you by government tax departments, health and safety law, customer service and much more. 

As you begin to reflect on how you run your company, you will probably come across new things about it.  Varying how you view your company should shed new light and repeatedly provide you the help and answers you’ve been searching for.

You’ve already taken a huge plunge and began on the route to a totally new approach of carrying out business. Don’t end your quest now!

I challenge you to look closely at your company and employ the changes you need to see it succeed.  Extend the boundaries and limites of your imagination and don’t be afraid to try something new.

You can cut your next tax bill if you are focused on certain key elements.

Was your last tax bill exorbitant? Now is the time to cut your next tax bill. Small business owners have had quite a rough financial year. Many will not return to the world of entrepreneurs next year because of the great losses they have undergone. Imagine how it would be if you were able to cut your next bill.

Here is some very valuable information that will help both you and your business to grow. Below are 4 usable tips which should enable you to cut your next tax bill.

1. Purchase business goods

The fact that you are in business for yourself means that you are responsible for acquiring your own business supplies. The items which you use in your company daily are items that can be written off on your taxes. It makes sense to get money back on your next tax returns while buying things that you need for your enterprise.

2. Use your car wisely to slash taxes

As a business owner you use your car to travel to meetings, company events, training sessions, and a number of other places. Keep a careful record of all mileage that you have accumulated each year. When it is time to do your taxes, simply give your accountant your mileage book and they will do the rest.

3. Employ your family

Another vital method to save money on your next tax bill is to hire your wife or children. Hiring family to cut the lawn outside your company or clean the office can result in having more money in your own bank account at the end of the year. Since they may be in a different tax bracket, this will help the entire family to reap the rewards that come when you slash taxes.

4. Pay yourself less

Many small business entrepreneurs love the idea of paying themselves. This is in sharp contrast to having to work for an actual company as their employee. You now work for yourself and pay your own salary. However, it is wise to pay yourself a smaller salary, because a smaller salary means paying a lower tax rate. The lower tax rate you pay could translate into more money in your own pocket come tax time.

If you implement these 4 tips, you may be able to lower your next tax bill by a large margin next year.

There are some incredible tips for a new start up business that anyone can follow to ensure that their business does well.

Fortunately, there is no need to reinvent the business wheel. Simply implement the proven steps that other small business owners have already taken and you increase your chances to soar. This article will go over 3 simple tips for a new start up business that any newbie business owner can try immediately.

These 3 tips for a new start up business are just a few of the many ideas that will skyrocket your profits when properly utilized.

Network your way to profitability

People come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and all of them have the potential to be your customers. One area that many new small businesses often neglect is networking. It is not about what you know many times, but the actual people that you know. It is imperative that owners of small companies develop people skills, if they want to create lifetime relationships with their clientele.

Knowing where things are is a fantastic tip for a new start up business

Sometimes the simplest things can cause the most trouble. Knowing where the business items you need are located can save you a great deal of time, and all smart business owners realize that wasting time means wasting money. If you are naturally disorganized, you should consider hiring someone whose strength is organization. This can be your partner, a new hire or someone who is already on staff.

Always have an alternate plan

One final tip for a new start up business should be to always have an alternate plan of action. Since everything does not always turn out the way that we would hope, small business entrepreneurs must learn how to transform a bad situation into a good one. The only way that you can surely fail is when you stop trying and throw in the towel. Train your mind to think of another solution, if the first solution does not work.

In conclusion, if you are a novice small business owner, you do not have to walk around aimlessly searching for the keys that will unlock the doors of wealth for your company. Make a choice to follow the time tested principals of other company chiefs whose mistakes have paved the road to your success. Networking, being orderly, and being solution minded are just 3 tips for a new start up business that may give you just what you need to jump start your organisation today.

It’s a demanding economic environment at the moment for new and developing business ventures. But by cutting overheads and becoming firmer with service providers, new small businesses may flourish.

This commentary highlights half-a-dozen “tactics” for surviving in a downturn.

1. Accept that cash is crucial

Look after your money – if you’re out of cash and cannot access more credit, you’re probably theoretically broke and heading for ruin. The lack of money is what the majority of accountants recognise as being the primary killer in most business start ups which fail. I propose to my clients that they need a detailed 3 monthly cash forecast which isn’t taken from the income statement but from a thorough understanding of cash received and disbursements. Monitor trends in your cash position to be on top of any tough situations.

2. Collect the cash with obsession

Deal with accounts receivables routinely. Companies are hanging on to money longer than ever, resulting in overdue settlement. Those tardy settlements cause a knock-on consequence throughout the wider community. Money due will trend up, and several of your clients may turn out to be victims as well. Don’t continue giving credit.

3. Don’t depend on anyone

Keep a close eye on your service providers, and maintain other options. In a slump, a number of your suppliers may become in difficulty too, and you should think about other suppliers for your essential raw materials.

4. Assess your operating costs regularly

You might estimate expenses, you cannot project income. Search for ways to slash expenses. When economic times are good, businesses have a tendency to increase the number of employees and incur outgoings that are nice to have, but aren’t essential. It’s time to perform a clean peek at them.

Maintain a focus on core markets and expend money exclusively in those areas. Keep away from spending capital as well as time in areas which have been confirmed as less worthwhile. Many businesses start by slashing promotion & marketing expenses. This may be an error.

Instead of slashing these budgets, assess the processes you are using. Are there other cost effective ways to promote? Does your existing strategy deliver the proper outcomes? If not, revise the way you work to generate the greatest feasible outcomes.

5. Don’t ignore your lenders – talk!

If you have borrowed cash, stay in contact with the people you owe. Do not delay until it’s too late before talking to your lender. When you are already in a crisis and haven’t given them any notice, your position could become more complicated. Keep up frequent dialogue. It will aid you if you ever need to amend terms.

I work with several entrepreneurs who feel an enormous amount of strain lifted when we arrange improved terms with their lenders.

6. Returns – business ventures survive on the surpluses they generate

Don’t worry about increasing sales. Worry about growing surpluses. Make sure you comprehend what influences surpluses in the business. To stimulate demand, you may have to become imaginative with your product range, and you don’t want to put something out there that is actually unprofitable.

Consider branching out to seize the most of possible opportunities. Other people’s vulnerability and insecurity could work to your benefit. Who knows – you may identify another lucrative market.

The habits of successful business owners are a topic worthy of much discussion. Have you often wondered why some company heads earn significantly more than other successful business chiefs?

In this article, we will discuss 3 habits most highly successful business entrepreneurs employ on a daily basis.

1. Learn your business

One of the key elements present in the character of prosperous business heads is expertise. They are extremely knowledgeable about their business. While they may not do everything themselves, they know exactly what needs to be done in each component of their enterprise. This is essential because your employees will know that they can’t present you with inferior work and expect your satisfaction. If you are a new business entrepreneur, learn from reading books about your industry, going to seminars, and other business owners in your field.

2. Staff your shortcomings

As a small business owner, it is imperative that you staff your weaknesses. It is OK to be weak in certain areas. The danger arises when those weak parts of our business are left alone. These areas must be handled by someone. Employing individuals who are strong where we are not is a great way to deal with our inferiority. It is when we work together as a team that our businesses succeed and we can become a successful business entrepreneur in our own right.

3. Keep track of your marketing to become a successful business entrepreneur

Smart business owners will always know which marketing pieces are producing the best results. Knowing how much money your marketing is producing for your company is crucial. If a specific campaign is unproductive, you must be prepared to replace it or simply stop it entirely. If you are spending more on marketing than you are making in profits, your business will not be around for long.

To sum things up, the habits of small business owners who are successful are very similar. If you imitate the 3 characteristics above, you will begin to develop these character traits in your own life. You can be the next successful business owner in the nation by following the methods of others.