Author: Admin

If you’re looking for ways to shore up the bottom line of your business, don’t forget to take a look at your utility bills. Utilities are a large expenditure for most businesses, but the good news is that they’re easy to reduce. Here are six surefire ways to lower your energy consumption to reduce your utility bills. 1. Use lighting controls You can reduce your electricity bill by up to 40 percent and enjoy considerable savings on your gas bill by investing in “smart” controls for your business. Occupancy sensors in the bathrooms, conference room, and break areas will…

With the rise of do-it-yourself plans and ideas, comes the required space, knowledge and equipment to complete these rewarding projects. What’s more, completing many DIY projects makes sense only in certain settings with plenty of property. If you live in a rural community or are considering moving there, your lifestyle offers many advantages. Here are five easy DIY projects for your rural lifestyle: 1. Spruce up your house and outbuildings with fresh paint Whether you want the trim on your house to look clean and fresh or your entire barn needs an update, painting is a simple DIY project. With…

There are employers and employees, and then there are independent contractors. Employees and independent contractors might work next to each other on the same project, but there are critical legal status distinctions between being an employee as opposed to an independent contractor. The distinction affects where a person might receive benefits from, who withholds income taxes, where services might be performed and liability if an employee or independent contractor is injured at work. The IRS ultimately makes the determination about whether you can consider someone an employee or a contractor, and the distinctions are not always incredibly straightforward. Here…

A litigious society gives rise to a number of myths. Among them is the ever-present possibility a business will be regularly sued. It starts the day a company is officially recognized and the state requests a name and address for an “agent for service of process.” What does that mean? It’s the person who accepts the paperwork if someone sues! The reality of the situation, however, is a little different. Threats of lawsuits are almost as common as requests for business cards. The percentage of those aspiring legal epics that actually make it to trial is minimal. So how can…

Have a proactive, visible plan to make sure that employees know and understand that shrinkage is an issue. Several options are available to business owners or managers. Security Cameras One of the best ways to deter theft in a business is through the purchase and proper placement of security cameras. The wide variety of available cameras fit any budget and situation. With wireless, wifi supported cameras, you can view your business location no matter where you are. Other hard wired cameras work on a server system that can require a larger investment. Any way you go, security cameras aid in…

Storing items is often a necessity. Whether you simply have too many possessions for your current space or you are in the process of moving, you know that you need storage solutions. Despite the need, however, you don’t necessarily have an overflowing amount of money to spend on this project. Shop Around In order to obtain the best price for storage units, you generally must research the costs at more than one entity. While conducting preliminary research over the phone is often useful to eliminate costs that are far out of budget, you should visit at least a few different…

The odds of a new business succeeding are often less than 50/50. Even if a new business does make it past its first year, there is no guarantee that it will last for another year or longer. However, it may not always be possible to merely lease equipment or office supplies. How should the owner of a young company decide whether to rent or buy? What Are You Looking to Acquire? There are some items that you may not be able to buy even if you wanted to. For instance, office space is usually leased to a company by the…

HR costs are one of the biggest expenditures for any business, and over time, they can really add up. The main goal of any company should be to control expenses in each department. This can be achieved by utilizing tactics that are designed to cut costs using a proactive approach. Many businesses find areas within the HR department that have room for improvement and it is good place to start. It is about working to promote effective programing that can be done without interfering with actual employee benefits. Going Paperless Printing out payroll is an outdated practice that costs businesses…

In 2014, an entrepreneur named Ryan Grepper attempted to fund a project called the Coolest Cooler on Kickstarter. Grepper’s goal was to raise $50,000. Instead, he raised more than $13 million from more than 60,000 backers. Seemingly overnight, Grepper had far more funding than he thought he needed — and more than 60,000 coolers to deliver. The Problem With Rapid Growth At the conclusion of its funding campaign, the Coolest Cooler was the most popular product in Kickstarter’s history. To ship the rewards that he had promised his backers, Grepper would have to scale production greatly — probably far more so than…

Etsy is a growing e-commerce community that focuses on unique and handmade items. In Idaho, Etsy is quickly becoming a part of individual’s side-hustle to add a little income from home. Becoming a successful Etsy seller involves starting with a solid foundation of strategy. Here are some tips for building your own Etsy business and paving the road to success. Start with a Business Plan With any new business, it’s crucial to begin with a business plan. Steven R. Covey said, “All things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation…