May, 2014

BYOD Brings Security and Intellectual Property Concerns

If your business has yet to adopt a bring your own device (BYOD) program, there's a strong possibility it will in the next few years. A 2013 report by research firm Gartner forecasted that half of employers will require employees to supply their own devices for work. BYOD saves employers money and removes the barrier of technology confusion, but it's not without risk. IT managers have to establish secure networks across an array of devices. Then there's the question of intellectual property. When employees develop business content on their personal devices, they may feel entitled to that content. BYOD can pay dividends, but businesses should know the ins and outs before they ask their employees to swap out the company smartphone.

5 Ways to Increase Operational Efficiency While Decreasing the Cost of Your Business

There are a number of things a business can do to promote efficiency throughout the company. Improving the culture through lasting organizational changes can make all the difference. Better processes, optimized communication and performance incentives can affect productivity across the board. Here are five ways to increase operational efficiency while decreasing the cost of your business.

Four Policies New Businesses Often Overlook

When you start a new business, you may feel like you’re a juggling dozens of matters at the same time. Certain issues can fall through the cracks in the early days, and you may find yourself trying to catch up at a later date. Here are four policies that many new business owners forget to address and find they must catch up on later when the policies are needed.

Ensure that Customer Feedback Improve Customer Service

Does customer feedback actually make a difference when it comes to improving customer service? The answer to that question depends on what the company does with that feedback and how well it resonates with employees at the store level.

Crowdfunding: Six Lessons Learned from a Successful Business Project

Crowdfunding is no longer purely a means for new startups to get off the ground. Nowadays, already-established companies are taking to sites like Kickstarter to launch new products that, in turn, can produce tons of advantages -- including an intense learning experience -- beyond the up-front capital.

5 Ways to Make Your Business Look Professional

Starting a business takes hard work, dedication, and ingenuity. With that being said, one needs more than just a great business plan to take a business to the next levels. First impressions are incredibly important and aesthetics play a major part in how your potential clients view your business. Set yourself up for success by making the look of your office space a priority. The reality is that your office space can make or break future business. Whether you are going too extravagant or looking dumpy, it plays a major roll in your clients mind when they enter. With that said, here are 5 ways you can vamp up your business and make it look professional.

Creating Your Company Values

Values: they might sound warm and fuzzy, but they are actually an integral piece of creating a strong corporate culture.

Whether you are a well-established organization or a brand new start-up, here are some tips for creating company ethics to help propel you into the future….

Vacation and Sick Days: Six Tips to Creating a Fair Time Off Policy

The majority of states are not required by law to provide vacation and sick time. Therefore, your company's policy and vacation and sick days is entirely up to you. Use these six tips to create a fair time off policy for your company.

Location Smarts: How You Can Use Area to Your Business' Advantage

When running a business, one of the most critical concepts is the product, price, place, and positioning of the brand. For many businesses, especially retail or food stores, location is the most important factor to achieve success. Therefore, picking the right area can be critical to business survival. This article will explain how you can use the location of your business to give you a competitive advantage over other firms.

Tips for Starting a Family Business

Starting a family business can be a challenging and rewarding experience. A little patience and lots of planning will have you well on your way to success. Here are 6 tips to help you get started:

1. Structure is key. 

Whether you plan to work with parents, siblings or distant relatives, it is essential that everyone knows who is boss. Take some time early on in the planning phase to establish who the boss will be and delegate obligations to each person. Once all of the responsibilities have been assigned, be sure that each individual is compensated accordingly.