How To Run Your Own Fishmonger Business

Running a fishmongers could be a great experience if you are passionate about the food industry and believe in offering fresh and locally-sourced produce 

Being a fishmonger requires much more than just being able to appreciate fish as a food source. The profession needs its employees to be able to work long working days, and a typical shift could begin as early as 5.30am in the morning, if not earlier. This exciting business demands the skills of someone who is able to make it down to the fish market every day and source the freshest produce available to then sell it to customers in the store.

The trade also requires for professionals to understand that cleanliness in a fishmongers is of paramount importance and this means that an average of two hours of cleaning needs to be done at the end of each working day. In between getting the fish from the market and selling it directly to your customers, you will need to ensure this is also descaled and clean, without forgetting the all-important filleting process that will see your produce become sellable.

Being a fishmonger is therefore not for the faint-at-heart, but if you have a passion for fresh produce, are able to wake up early every morning and become excited at the sight of locally-sourced fish in a market, then this could be your chance to set up your own fishmongers.

Here’s how to run your first fish-related business.

Be prepared to make some sacrifices.

Working in the fish industry is not for everyone. Few people like running a business that involves waking up at stupid hours in the morning and having to clean up their stores for up to two hours after its closing time. You will need to bear in mind that these are part of a typical working day at a fishmongers. Running your own business will also require that you put in some time aside to work on the admin that you will inevitably need to do and you will have to be really passionate about what you are selling because…Guess what? Your clothes and hands will be stinking of fish most if not all of the time. If you think you can handle getting up at 5 am every morning and still have the energy to be excited about seeing fresh fish on the market’s counters, this could be your chance to become a top fishmonger.

Have the best tools on board.

Running a fishmongers is just like running any other business; you will need to have the best tools in order to deliver the best product. Having your own store will ensure your salary is higher than if you were working for someone else but initially you might see your shop struggling until you have found the right clientele. Fishmongers spend vast amounts of time preparing the fish ahead of this being sold, and as a result, you will need to ensure that your business has all the right tools in place in order for it not to let its customers down. To be a top fishmonger in your area, you will need good sets of knives, fish hand scalers, excellent and sharp scissors, robust aprons and a few shears. These items will help you deliver the best cut and filleted fish around, as long as you have been given the right training to do this properly of course. Invest in the right tools, and you will see your customer base grow. If you would like to make use of machinery in order to scale your produce, these fish scaler machines could be what you are looking for to see your business become better prepared.

Be selective.

Any business can start trading, but not every company does this successfully. In fact, most companies fail to see healthy growth as time passes. If you want to set up your own fishmongers, you will need to be selective about the type of produce you decide to sell, and this will need to be the best, no ifs or buts. If you would like to see customers flock to your store day in and day out, you will need to ensure that whatever it is you are offering them is something you would also pay money for and that aside from being tactful and conversational to your customers, you are able to provide them with high-quality produce. Experts advise not to rush to the market, and to look for traders whose stalls are popular and not empty. This will give you a good indication of who to buy your fish from. With time, you will become an expert at telling the difference between good and excellent fish, but initially, you will probably need to invest some time and money in being trained for this purposes. Knowing your fish is vital if you are going to sell it; book one of these courses now.

Build a strong network of suppliers.

Your suppliers will be your treasure in this business. They are the ones who will be able to source the best fish for you so that you can then trade this for a higher value with your customers. You will need to know everything there is to know about fish: from how this is caught to the impact fishing techniques have on things like price and sustainability. Each fishing boat in your region will have a reputation, so you need to do some research and learn who will be able to provide you with the best produce for you to offer your customers. Study the market first, and once you know who the best players out there are, build strong relationships with them so that they can offer you their best catch of the day.

Build on your unique set of skills.

Before supermarkets started having a massive impact on our economic environment, fishmongers were the places from which buyers would get their fish. Nowadays, these big retail centres have become so popular, the presence of fishmongers has inevitably suffered. If you would like to be a top fishmonger you need to remember to build on your unique set of skills. You should be practical and have physical stamina, have excellent communication skills and be able to handle complaints in a calm manner. Being able to cope with the sight of blood is also a skill that is seldom mentioned when referring to the fishmonger industry as is the ability to cope well under pressure. If you would like for your business to grow, you will also need to understand marketing, and how advertising your business correctly will bring you the amount and type of customers you are after.

Know what being a fishmonger requires.

This article has already outlined what your primary responsibilities will be as a fishmonger, and it is essential that you become familiar with these in order for your journey towards being a professional in the fish industry to be as smooth as possible. Being a fishmonger has a lot to do with dealing with customers, and as you would have probably already guessed, this means you will be taking and placing orders regularly. Like any business in which items are sold, you will also be counting and reviewing your stock on a regular basis, and you need to ensure that your fish sources are second-to-none. Descaling the fish will be another one of your important responsibilities, as will be gutting and cleaning this. If you would like for your fishmongers to have that ‘wow’ factor, you will also need to be good at arranging displays in counters, unless you have the help of someone who can do this for you. The fish cannot go to waste, and this will involve that you ensure this is being stored properly, and being able to advise your customers on how to cook the fish they purchase will also be something you will need to do.

Being a fishmonger comes with its own set of challenges, and it certainly isn’t a profession many out there would choose. However, if you have the right training, tools and expectations in place, this could be a career that could not only fulfil you but provide you with the lifestyle of your dreams. Being close to fresh fish every day could be what you are after since after all, you are incredibly passionate about this particular type of food. If you have some knowledge about fish and you would like to deliver top produce to your customers, this could be your chance of becoming a top fishmonger in your region. Some do it for their love of fish, others in an attempt to save this planet from becoming ruled by giant supermarkets and the rest decide to become fishmongers as it’s been something that has been running in their families. If you are ready to take the next step into fishmongerland, this is your opportunity to do it in style. Arm yourself with loads of support and determination and don’t let the obstacles that will inevitably pop up along the way make you take your eyes off the bigger picture.

 

[Image credit: Pexels.com]

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2nxdS6K via website design phoenix

Five Must-Have Tools For Virtual Businesses

We live in an online world. The Internet has evolved from a useful tool to a necessary component of everyday life, whether personal or professional. That’s why so many entrepreneurs no longer have a traditional office to host their business operations.

Having a virtual office reduces the limiting overhead costs associated with starting and running a business, including rent and equipment. On the other hand, running a business without a headquarters presents unique challenges which business owners often don’t discover until it’s too late.

Here are some must-have tools for running a virtual business:

A Unified Phone System.

One of the most challenging aspects of any business is effective communication. When you don’t have the traditional telephone infrastructure of a tangible office, these struggles can be compounded. Fortunately, a virtual phone system can mitigate this challenge.

UniTel Voice Virtual Phone System connects multiple mobile phone numbers through one central, virtual switchboard. If you have a business partner or other employees in your organization, this ensures that the right person is getting reached and that client calls aren’t being missed because someone is busy. Furthermore, it adds an air of establishment and professionalism that clients will find comforting.

File Storage and Sharing.

The ability to instantly email documents to a coworker was a huge development in the working world. However, it quickly became apparent that emailing back and forth with edits and numerous versions could be time-consuming and complicated. Live database technology at the time was costly. Now, cloud sharing is cheap, accessible, and secure.

To instantly share important files, or ensure everyone has the most up-to-date information, you’ll need an online file sharing method. Dropbox is a popular choice due to its user-friendly interface and added security features. Google Drive is another popular choice due to its integration with G-Suites. Whichever you choose, be sure to put security and usage policies in place.

Instant Communication.

There’s a reason group chats have become so popular on social media: you can instantly get an answer to a question and ensure everyone is up to date on the latest plans. This function is equally as important in a business setting, especially in the midst of a big project.

Platforms like Slack allow you to message different channels. So, if you want to have a private chat with your business partner, that is doable. If you decide to send a group message to everyone working on a specific project, it’s as easy as the click of a button. If you want to wish everyone in your organization a happy Friday, it’s simple and straightforward.

A Meeting Space.

If you’re working with a team, sometimes you need to stop typing and start talking. Having a meeting space is crucial for collaborative projects, whether you choose a virtual space or an actual office.

For those looking at virtual spaces, applications such as Zoom and Join.me are great meeting tools that will display multiple attendees at one time. If you’re hoping for a more hands-on approach, consider leasing or renting a co-working space. These shared office settings are increasing in popularity in the start-up world, due to their affordability and convenient, innovative nature.

Project Management Tools.

You would think that being able to instant message your team would be enough of a project management tool, but it is still helpful to have a critical path laid out in a user-friendly, visible format. One of your team members might message your group to tell you a task is done while you are in a meeting. By the time you check your messages, that note is a thing of the past. With a project management tool, you will easily be able to check the status of different project steps, as well as assign due dates.

Trello is a commonly used, free, online project management platform that integrates with Slack for optimum communication. It is the virtual equivalent of a bulletin board with post-it notes, creating a clean, easy to read cover page. You can add more details in the posts themselves, so that the main board doesn’t become an overwhelming mess. You can also tag users and set reminders within the posts, so nothing gets missed.

The world is shifting away from traditional office settings, allowing people a greater work-life balance and the ability to travel while holding a job. Creating a virtual office has never been easier.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2BGVWvA via website design phoenix

The Employer’s Dilemma: Education Vs. Academics

Since time immemorial, there has been a conflict between education and academics. Education is defined as the pursuit of knowledge that leads to learning in a non-systematic format. While academics is the formalized and systematic approach to education. One of the biggest differences is that academics of any time and place is metered by gatekeepers. Whereas education is open to anyone pursuing knowledge.

These days, it seems employers want academic graduates. But that has not always been the case. What they wanted were people who were teachable. The two most valuable qualities were reliability and teachability. The education system was about producing a reliable workforce for the industrial revolution. But a system designed to prepare people for the workforce 70 years ago will be inadequate for today’s needs.

Yahoo cites Professor Allen Grossman from a Harvard Business School study on competitiveness:

“There are more job openings today than ever before and 50% of businesses report they can’t get enough skilled laborers,” Grossman said. “We can’t be competitive unless we have good workers in our factories, our offices, or whatever area of our business world that we’re focusing on.”

New startups have a chance to weigh in on the debate with their hiring and training practices. Should they give more priority to the applicant with the highest academic degree? Or should they stop requiring degrees for jobs that don’t need them and focus on other means of training and education?

Here are some of the pros and cons of both:

Non-academic Skills.

There are many skills needed in the workplace that have nothing to do with academics such as conflict resolution. Lean Six Sigma training is one example of a corporate program designed to train employees, managers, and teams on the type of curriculum that is relevant to modern business but is not necessarily a part of the modern academic landscape.

One of the downsides to focusing on academics is that academia does not tend to focus on interpersonal skills. In some ways, too much study can be detrimental to cultivating interpersonal skills. Recent high-profile firings and workplace upheavals have shown us that the problem with workers is not generally the ability to do the job. Rather, it is interpersonal friction, sexual harassment, and other inappropriate workplace behavior.

There is a strong case to be made that strong interpersonal and other non-academic skills should play a larger role in the hiring decision.

Higher for What the Degree Represents.

College degrees are overrated. That is the opinion of more than one expert on the subject. It has been shown time and again that graduating from college does not mean you will be proficient in basic math, English, or science. Your knowledge of history and politics may also remain subpar. From an employer’s perspective, the college graduate still needs to be taught the job. In many situations, they do not require any less training than the person with only a high-school diploma.

That is not to say that there is no benefit to having a degree. But it is largely about what the degree represents. There are intangibles such as the desire to learn, the willingness to commit for a long period of time, the foresight to invest in one’s self, and the endurance to complete what one starts. This is a worthy list and is not exclusive to academia. Look for people with those traits. And it will pay off for your company whether or not college was their chosen path.

For the Sake of Diversity.

It is hard to get diversity when you only pull from the same pool of people who pursued the same type of education in the same way as everyone else you have ever hired. It is laudable that many companies give academic equivalency for certain types of work experience.

That could be expanded even further. There is something to be said for a single mother who successfully raises two children. You don’t have to reduce your expectations of excellence to achieve diversity. You simply have to expand your search. There are plenty of qualified workers who don’t have a college degree.

Education comes in many forms. Don’t forget about the non-academic skills. Hire for traits and not just pedigree. And make diversity a priority for your workforce.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2nplc54 via website design phoenix

[Interview] Bo Zou, Toronto-Based Digital User Experience Specialist And Thought Leader

Remember Pokemon Go?

It wasn’t even two years ago that this free, location-based augmented reality mobile game took the world by storm. It drove millions of people out of their living rooms and onto the streets, into parks, museums and stores, glued to phones that would reveal mythical creatures to catch along the way.

Toronto’s Bo Zou says the Pokemon craze is a noteworthy example of how digital user experience informs, inspires and transforms collective human behaviours. It also showcases how getting it right can transform startups into players: Pokemon Go caused software startup Niantic’s revenues to skyrocket by $600 million within just three months of its mid-2016 launch.

He also believes that startups often have an advantage in using technological advances to help them innovate customer experiences. “In many respects, it’s the leanness, flexibility and agility of startups that help them become successful,” he says. “They’re the ones doing the disrupting, and their innovations are making waves.”

But startups are also small enough not to have lost sight of the customer, the end user, Bo says. Oftentimes, they have a much closer connection to end users, thus finding it easier to connect the dots to design user experiences that matter.

Helping clients in all stages, sizes and sectors do just that is exactly how Bo has developed his career.

For the last 15 years, Bo Zou, who works and lives in Toronto, has been developing and executing experience strategy and design through all digital channels for companies like HeathWallace in Asia, and Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Canada, along with his own experience design studio in Toronto.

The Chinese native equipped his career path with two postgraduate degrees from London universities in the United Kingdom – one focusing on human/computer interaction with ergonomics, and a second with an emphasis in visual arts and arts criticism.

User experience is really at the heart of digital transformation, Bo believes, and it’s a critical aspect of building and differentiating a strong brand that engages customers. The explosion in data in today’s digital era leads to deeper and more expansive insights into customers and stronger, more personal connections, as well. Further, he notes, opportunities for innovation are virtually unlimited as digital channels grow.

Bo’s heritage has inspired him to put a special twist to his focus on user experience – integrating the ancient Chinese philosophy of feng shui into his practices. “Feng shui is all about harmonizing people with their surroundings,” he says. “By leveraging technology to provide a sustainable sense of harmony and delight, a brand can be transformed to be truly human-centric.”

Bo Zou recently spoke with Young Upstarts about digital transformation, user experience and what it means to entrepreneurs intent on building their own brands.

While startups in many ways have advantages in terms of culture and customer relationships over larger enterprises, how effectively do you think they have harnessed the power behind digital transformation and why? What do you think they could consider doing differently?

Bo Zou: One of the key elements within digital transformation is cultural shift. Too often organizations invest heavily in digital tools and platforms in the hope of swiftly bringing their business operations into the digital age.  Unfortunately, statistics demonstrate that more than 80% of these companies fail due to the cultural and human resistance within those organizations. In other words, digital adaptation must be rooted in organizational culture and human relationships to make it effective and sustainable.

On the other hand, startups are often the first adopters of the latest technologies, especially around operational and productivity tools, digital marketing and customer relationship management. We are in an age where a vast pool of free and affordable digital tools and platforms are widely available for startup companies to leverage.

That said, one of the key challenges a startup often faces is creating a consistent digital strategy that connects the disparated ecosystem in a way that makes it seamless and efficient, as well as scalable in the long run. Operating a business using free digital tools among two or three founders is one thing; using tools like these within a mid-sized, multi-disciplinary team across multiple locations is another story. Instead of hitting a ceiling down the road that may cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix, and potentially slow down the company’s growth, it’s always better to have a clear digital roadmap from early on.

Working with digital transformation consultants, as well as business incubators, can help connect the dots, create a clear roadmap for a startup company to grow its culture, streamline its business operations and, more importantly, pave the way for future growth.

Digital technology has been a hugely disruptive influence on society and culture, while feng shui is centred primarily around creating a harmonious environment. How do you align such opposing forces to create an impactful user experience? What are the specific principles that you apply?

Bo Zou: In the spectrum of human civilization, digital technology has only been around for a very brief period of time, if we compare this to the thousands of years of human knowledge and wisdom. Even though technologies grow at an exponential rate, we as the people who interact with the technologies are pretty much the same as our ancestors. This contrast often causes a disconnect in our relationships with society and the environment at large.

As a digital veteran who has been dealing with technology advancements and how they impact human behaviours, I’ve seen this conflict firsthand and share many concerns with respect to how we can maintain sustainable development, while staying true to what it means to be human.

This is exactly why I saw the connection between the rich ancient Chinese doctrines of Feng Shui and the digital evolution of today. Feng Shui is much more than just a philosophy. It is based on over six thousand years of concrete applications in architecture, urban planning, social engineering, human relationship building, tools, processes, as well as communications. It’s real life applications are still very prominent and alive in many parts of the world. It is a natural extension to resort to Feng Shui principles to find ways of resolving the human conflict with a fast-moving technological landscape.

In essence, there are three key principles in Feng Shui that I apply to digital user experience design over the years: one, design for an integrated and holistic system; two, design for context; three, design for sustainability.

What have one or two of your favorite or most challenging projects been in experience design and strategy, and why?

Bo Zou: One of the most challenging (and inspiring) recent projects I’ve led and worked on was Manulife MOVE, a fantastic example of applying Feng Shui principles in digital business transformation.

In the past, insurance companies faced three major challenges when dealing with their customers:

• There’s always a stigma around the concept of insurance – people think they only need insurance when something ‘bad’ happens.
• People have trust issues with insurance companies, mostly around transparency and legal small print.
• Customers only interact with insurance brands when they purchase or renew an insurance policy and when they make a claim, but rarely in between, making it a big challenge for insurance brands to build an ongoing customer relationships.

Through applying Feng Shui principles of designing for context and finding opportunities to integrate insurance brand offerings in a positive way to customer’s day-to-day lives, we have developed a brand new type of insurance offering altogether.

Instead of a traditional fixed premium insurance policy, Manulife MOVE was launched as a beautifully designed mobile fitness app that works with popular fitness trackers such as Apple Watch and FitBit to actively promote a healthy lifestyle and reward Manulife’s customers who lead a healthy lifestyle with real financial incentives. The concept is simple and elegant. The more exercise you do, the cheaper your insurance becomes. By positively promoting a healthy lifestyle through a delightful digital user experience, without the need of length legal jargons, Manulife is able to turn around its negative connotations of insurance provider into a positive on-going relationship building experience.

What in your life influenced you to pursue a career shaping brands through user experience, and how, with the perspective of hindsight, would you use those personal experiences differently today?

Bo Zou: I’ve always been interested in both science and art since my early childhood. It was only natural for me to pursue a career that merges the strengths of science, technology, art and design to create positive human experiences. So far, it has been very fulfilling and exciting to help brands on a global scale realise the importance of user experience in their business operations and apply a human centred approach to every aspect of their organizations.

In the financial services industry, for example, many of the world’s leading banks and insurance companies are still very antiquated with legacy systems and rigid operational models, making it very difficult for effective digital transformation. As a result of this, banking and financial services, along with educational and health services, are still the top essential service areas that are not accessible to a vast human population around the world. According to a recent World Bank research, we still have over 2.5 billion people around the world that do not have access to banking services, making it difficult for them to build and manage businesses, grow wealth and expand their prosperities for generations to come.

Applying user experience design principles to help transform the financial services industry to make banking and insurance accessible for all through leading digital technologies has always been a key driver of my career path.

In the coming years, I would like to devote more of my time and effort in helping connect a multi-disciplinary business ecosystem and working with major financial brands and small startups through digital transformation and innovation to bring accessible banking to the unbanked.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2DS6zS4 via website design phoenix

6 Tips For Starting A Business On A Budget

by Lewis Robinson

Starting a business on a budget is a formidable challenge, but it certainly is possible. It’s much easier when you don’t require lots of space or expensive equipment. Even so, there are some strategies you can employ to avoid breaking the bank.

Here are some tips for bootstrapping your business.

1. Work in a Spare Room.

One of the best ways to save money is to run your business out of your home, at least during the startup phase. This is the time when you’ll most need whatever money you do have available. You’ll be able to stretch it much further, if you can avoid renting an office. A spare room will suffice for as long as it’s feasible to continue working there. Make sure to check on the zoning laws in your area, to make sure there are no restrictions against operating a business from a residence.

2. Use Virtual Assistants.

Another important way to save money during the early years is to avoid payroll costs by employing virtual assistants. This will allow you to go longer without renting an office. You’ll also save a ton of money on equipment for your staff and thousands of dollars in employee benefits.

There are numerous freelancers available that might surprise you with the types of services they can provide. Remote contract services are far less expensive and can make it easier to target the exact type of expertise you’re looking for. They’re more flexible than the typical employee and you can increase or decrease use of their services as your needs change.

3. Lean Marketing.

The busier you are with day-to-day operations, the more important it is to have a marketing strategy that doesn’t eat up your time and money. Remember that you can’t take advantage of every marketing tactic that comes your way, especially if you intend to save money by doing the work yourself. Chances are, you’re going to be learning as you go, so you’ll have to avoid spreading yourself too thin.

Think carefully about where your efforts and resources are applied, so you can get the most for your time and money. Don’t cling to anything that isn’t generating results. If your email marketing strategy isn’t working, drop it. Maybe you’ll get better results from social media, review sites, or blogging. When you find something that does work, stick to it and work at making it better.

4. Be Frugal.

Avoid spending more than you absolutely must. Don’t pay a website designer, when there’s so many good software options that can help you design your own site. When you need equipment for your business, look for the best deal you can find. That might mean acquiring secondhand office furniture or upgrading your current computer, rather than getting a new one.

Think carefully about how much you’re going to use something before you buy it. A simple printer might make more sense than a four-in-one, especially if you rarely use the fax or scanner functions. It would be cheaper to get copies down the street, if you only need them a couple times a year.

5. Utilize the Cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS).

Before purchasing expensive software and equipment, do some research to see if you can find an online service alternative for a low monthly fee. There are subscription services like this for email, sales planning, CRM, project management, accounting and cloud storage.

Cloud apps make it possible to pay a manageable fee each month that can be scaled up or down, as your needs change. This beats purchasing your own expensive servers and hiring specialists to maintain them.

6. Develop a Budget.

Write down every penny you have to invest and calculate both your expenses and expected revenue for the next six months. Based on this information, come up with contingency plans you can follow if revenue falls short. These plans might include cutting expenses or working an extra hour or two each day.

Always remember to account for business and personal expenses separately. Your business bank account is not a piggy bank you should run to when you need personal cash. Be prepared to scale down your lifestyle for the first year you’re in business. Accept that it could be awhile before you can be certain that your operation will succeed.

As you can see, it’s not impossible to keep startup costs down. The key is to make the most of what you have available and seek less-expensive alternatives. Remember that the sooner you start making money, the sooner you’ll create the momentum necessary to move past this critical stage.

 

Lewis Robinson is a business consultant specializing in social media marketing, CRM, and sales.  He’s begun multiple corporations and currently freelances as a writer and business consultant.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2nuAPaw via website design phoenix

[ADV] Titlelo.com: Fort Lauderdale’s Hottest New Title Loan Startup

According to a Pew Research study, millions of Americans use title loans every year putting their vehicles at risk of repossession. Varying from state to state, title loans can be unregulated, which increases the potential for high interest rates.

A new start-up in Fort Lauderdale called Titlelo Title Loans is on a mission to change that. Titlelo is a title loan company that specializes in providing honest and personal service to make the title loan process more comprehensible and beneficial to borrowers. According to their website, their mission is as follows:

“Our mission is to enhance the transparency and affordability of title loans by tailoring each experience to the client’s needs and offering direct information about lenders, terms, and fees.”

Here are some reasons why Titlelo may have a competitive edge over other lenders in the market:

• Their service employs financial experts that can understand the needs of borrowers and match them with the right lender. Depending on the situation of borrower, Titlelo finds borrower a lender that perfectly complies with their requirements.
• Titlelo provides consumers with sufficient transparency to develop better trust and loyalty.
• Title loans can be stressful at times due to the lengthy process and formalities. Titlelo streamlines the application process so that title loans can be granted within no time. Their online application asks for minimal information so that the process is carried out as soon as possible.

Benefits of Title Loans.

Title loans are generally beneficial for people who have poor credit history or need money urgently. Depending on the lender, the requirements for approval can be very flexible at times. Lenders do retain the possession of the vehicle title but the borrower keeps the car throughout the lifetime of loan. Borrowers can continue to use their vehicle without any additional restrictions imposed.

Challenges.

Generally, borrowers of title loans are in need of urgent cash, which is why they fail to conduct sufficient research on lenders. This results into inflated interest rates, hidden fees and even the inability for the borrower to maintain the loan.

Despite conducting enough research, some borrowers may fail to understand the complex terms and conditions of the loan agreement. This may lead to repossession. Although repossession is not as common as one would think, it is still a looming threat that most borrowers are not prepared to handle.

There is overwhelming support to regulate car title loans. According to the Pew study, although most borrowers do agree that title loans are helpful, they ultimately feel like title lenders take advantage of their situation.

How can Titlelo help?

As mentioned above, Titlelo mainly focuses on personalization, transparency and efficiency. Every borrower experiences personal attention throughout the entire loan process. From understanding the terms to forming the agreement, it is ensured that borrower is satisfied.

Titlelo works with over 50 lenders nationwide, which allows them to make versatile offers that suits every kind of borrower. This competitive advantage may prove to be a major benefit for subprime borrowers who do not have the time or means to make an informed choice. Additionally, Titlelo has created a learning center to help consumers who are new to title loans understand its laws, definition, and best practices.

Consumer rights are considered over the rights of lender when creating a contract. This ensures customer satisfaction on each step. Given the fact that title loans can be highly beneficial in emergency cases, Titlelo aims to excel in the context of lending by providing quality and standardized services.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2rXK4Wp via website design phoenix

3 Startups To Watch Out For In 2018

According to the latest statistics released by the Small Business Administration, there are just under 29 million small businesses in the United States that employ more than 56.8% of the workforce. Those are impressive statistics when you stop to consider small businesses account for approximately 99.7% of all businesses in the United States.

With figures like those, you can see why startups are so important to our future economic stability and growth, and this is why startups are closely monitored. With more than half a million new businesses starting each year, investors watch startups closely and invest their funds based on how they project future growth of those startups.

If you are interested in startups to watch out for in 2018, here are three that should interest you.

1. BRAVA Investment Launches Stealth Female Project.

Fertility is a major issue and so Stealth Female Project is a startup that advertises innovative approaches to women’s fertility issues. Located in the USA and with a female CEO, Nathalie Molina Nino, this is one that Forbes is suggesting investors watch. It isn’t yet clear exactly clear what the focus of this startup will be in terms of fertility issues, but Forbes found something interesting so that is why investors should probably do some deeper digging to see why this illustrious group gives it a thumbs up.

2. XpertDox Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

With the rising cost of healthcare and so many inexplicable diseases and conditions striking the US on any given day, most consumers are simply at a loss as to how to find affordable treatment in their area of the nation. Not only are they looking for healthcare they can afford, with or without insurance, they are looking for information on diseases, which isn’t always easy to find. XpertDox is an innovative new search engine that puts American consumers in touch with everything and anything they need to know about healthcare, from finding providers to seeking information on some health-related issues that remain obscure. This is one startup to watch, especially in these times when the new POTUS is working diligently to overhaul our broken and totally unaffordable healthcare system.

3. Modern Fertility.

Here, we have another fertility-related startup, with two innovative entrepreneurs, both women, operating out of Silicon Valley in California. They have found a way to put technology to work in home diagnostics. They have devised a test which can be conducted from the privacy and convenience of your own home. Within the first month of doing business last year, these women brought in $70,000, and that number continues to grow, month by month. Once the problem is diagnosed with a little help from technology and the USPS snail mail, women can go armed to a doctor they find on XpertDox to seek fertility treatments based on what they know. They can also use XpertDox to research some of the findings those tests revealed.

In the final analysis, it appears as though anything related to healthcare is going to meet with a significant amount of interest from investors. These three examples of startups to watch out for in 2018 indicate that Americans are tired of approaching health care in the same old way. It didn’t work before, it doesn’t work now. These startups are empowering people to take healthcare back into their own hands, and for that reason alone, empowerment, they are startups to watch.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2BGlsAY via website design phoenix

Five Cloud-Based Business Services For Budding Entrepreneurs

In a world where speed matters more than ever, being able to offer customers, clients, and subscribers easy, quick access is a top priority. In addition to speed, consistent functionality is a crucial component for web-based brands that offer both services and products to the masses. If your website is offline or your ability to provide services is hindered, then you’re losing both time and money.

A recent trend – cloud computing – has made it possible for businesses to circumvent many of these concerns and operate at peak efficiency. Even small businesses and entrepreneurs can take advantage of such services to streamline their performance.

Today, we’ll examine five cloud-based services for businesses that can help nascent entrepreneurs tackle some of the biggest challenges of running and managing their businesses.

Organising Solutions.

To begin with, every business needs an easy and simple way to collaborate and stay connected. Whether you’re planning the roll-out of a new ad campaign or managing inventory orders, keeping everybody in the loop – in real time – is essential. While there are many options out there, finding free or low-cost options should be a top priority.

Many new entrepreneurs recommend solutions such as Google Drive and Dropbox as two great, free solutions for beginners. Sharing files with the team and accessing documents from anywhere – even while offline – is made possible through the features these cloud-based organisational tools offer.

Payment Options.

Ensuring that both employees and vendors are paid on-time – and in a timely fashion – is one of the biggest struggles of budding entrepreneurs. It’s also one of the most essential, as making a good first impression on customers and suppliers alike affects the longevity of any business.

Solutions such as AccessPay offer cloud-based direct debit services for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re seeking to manage one-time payments and deposits via Bacs or need to set up recurring billing solutions via direct debit services, cloud-based payment processing options are increasingly replacing the traditional merchant accounts due to their improved functionality and faster processing.

CRM Solutions.

Crucial to any new business’ success, maintaining good relationships and service for new customers should be at the top of any priorities list. Thankfully, customer relationship management solutions utilising the cloud can be easily obtained, configured and managed by even the smallest of businesses.

Dozens of unique options exist, with Salesforce and HubSpot being the most popular. Through solutions like these, you’ll be able to manage and track leads, analyse metrics for your business, and drill down into the data to discover what strategies deliver the best results for your efforts.

Accounting Solutions.

Tracking receipts and expenditures, payroll, tax liability and other financial measurements is one of the biggest indicators of whether a business will succeed. All too often, new entrepreneurs will fail to adequately account for these variables and end up bankrupting their companies before they realise what happened.

With cloud-based accounting services such as FreshBooks, every aspect of the accounting process can be handled from one interface – and from anywhere in the world. Track invoicing status, payroll and a variety of other important financial metrics without having to keep reams of paper and folders on-hand. Utilities such as this make it far easier to account for expenditures and handle your finances without the need for expensive, professional accountants.

Communications Solutions.

Many entrepreneurs rely on standard communications solutions to keep the team in sync. Whether it be phone, text or email, these options can work, but they do not provide the full functionality that cloud-based communications systems do.

Increasingly, business are using solutions like Slack to tie everybody together for maximum efficiency. Not only do apps such as Slack integrate seamlessly with other cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive, but individual channels can be created and managed for specific tasks (and with specific permissions). These tools can be the perfect option for siloing communications when necessary and tie people together when required, both of which can maximise productivity.

As cloud computing continues to become more prominent and ubiquitous in daily life, it should surprise no one that these services are infiltrating the world of business. These five cloud-based solutions are just a few examples of what the broader dynamic of cloud computing can offer businesses. For new entrepreneurs, though, these services – most of which are free or very reasonably priced – can be godsends in the fight to build a powerhouse brand in one or more industries.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2nuAxk3 via website design phoenix

[ADV] Choosing The Right Toilet Facilities For Your Next Event

Everyone knows the horror stories of toilets at events and this can stain people’s opinions of your do as a whole. There are two key factors in choosing the right toilets at your event and these are the volume of attendees and the style of toilets that you want.

Here we explore how you can choose the right toilets for your event:

Getting the right volume.

Getting the volume of toilets right is vital and this should always be your starting point. Having too few toilets will give a bad impression, no matter how good they are. The amount you need will depend on two key things: the type of event and the number of people. Daytime events can usually enjoy a smaller number of toilets without a problem because people will come and go without having too great a need of the toilets. If your event has an overnight stay, however, then nature will run its course and the volume of use per person will increase dramatically. This is also true before physical events, such as runs, when the participants may have nervous bowels. You should start by calculating the number of toilets you need based on the recommended usage for each type and the volume of attendees.

The Portaloo.

The most basic offering you can provide at an event is a portaloo, which is also known as a recirculating toilet. These toilets are great for short-term events as they are highly portable and can be moved into place easily and quickly. If fast deployment is especially important to your event, they can also be ordered as moverloos attached to trailers so they can be taken from location to location.

The Toilet Trailer.

The toilet trailer is the next step up in quality and this can offer a level of increased class to the event. They enable you to provide male and female separation, which makes the toilet going experience more pleasant for everyone. Depending on the needs of the event, the formation and quantity of each type of toilet can be adjusted and larger or smaller trailers can be ordered. These toilets offer greater quality and a proper flush that will be appreciated by attendees. This style of toilet can add a bit more value to an event. These toilets are particularly good in camping areas, where attendees have paid a premium.

Urinals.

Urinals take up less space and allow for a quicker turnover of males through the toilets. At some events where there is either sporting activities or alcohol involved, the presence of urinals can dramatically reduce the pressure on other toilets and can help to increase the flow of attendees through the toilets, preventing queuing from occurring. These toilets are available as six man or four man units, but you will normally need to construct some privacy fencing around them to keep these family friendly.

Disabled Units.

You should remember that you need to offer provision for any disabled attendees to your event. Ensure that you have at least one disabled toilet in each location for proper coverage.

Wash stations.

It is also essential to provide wash stations to ensure that hygiene can be maintained at events. While most toilets will include inbuilt wash stations, urinals and some other toilets may not. Ensure that you have an appropriate offering of wash stations and hand sanitisers at your next event. This will also help you if the soap or water runs out in one of the units.

This article was sponsored by SRP Toilet Hire.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2DO7kvn via website design phoenix

7 Career Paths For Graduates With Educational Doctoral Degrees

Earning a doctoral degree in education is one of the best ways to position yourself as an eligible candidate for a variety of administrative and managerial positions within the field of academia. Whether you choose to pursue a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) or a Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Ph.D.), both degrees provide the skills and credentials need to land high ranking positions at schools and universities across the country.

In general, graduates with an Ed.D. are more likely to enter into job roles that directly involve school administration, while graduates with a Ph.D. are more likely to land jobs related to quantitative research and academic scholarship. However, either degree will work to boost your chances of landing just about any administrative role in an educational institution.

With that said, the following are seven of the most popular career options for graduates who’ve earned a doctoral degree in education:

1. Superintendent.

It makes sense to lead with this position because superintendents are essentially at the top of the educational power structure, overseeing the curriculum and performance of the whole school within a school district. Superintendents also earn some of the highest salaries in education – as high as $250,0000 per year – and they enjoy highly appealing pension plans and other job benefits.

A graduate who has earned an EDD in organizational learning would be in an ideal position to land such a job after first establishing a few years of hands-on experience within a district. Although experience will be needed in addition to the degree, starting with the essential credentials is the first step if you have aspirations of one day becoming a superintendent.

2. Principal.

If you’d rather take a more on-site approach to managing a specific school, then the role of principal would be more suited to your preferences. The vast majority of principals have either a Master’s degree in education or an Ed.D., however, those with the latter usually earn the highest salaries. According to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), principals make an average annual salary of $87,000+ per year.

Principals work more than other educational professionals during the summer as they have to supervise summer school programs, as well as oversee all necessary maintenance, repair, and janitorial services for the facility. Plus, principals tend to do a lot of work in the weeks before the commencement of the school year, as they have to participate in the yearly planning and preparation process.

3. Professor.

While the conventional path to becoming a professor would typical involve earning a Ph.D., many Ed.D. graduates also go on to become professors at universities and colleges of all kinds. In fact, many Ed.D. graduates start out working as professors, either part-time or full-time and then move up to higher administrative roles within the organization. If you’re considering this path then chances are you’re already familiar with the job description, but don’t forget that in addition to teaching you’ll also be writing and publishing scholarly articles within academic journals.

Having a degree in organizational learning will equip you to enjoy life as a professor – an occupation with a very high rate of job satisfaction. If you enjoy teaching but also want to challenge yourself on an ongoing basis, entering into higher education as a professor may be an ideal route for you to take.

4. College President.

A graduate with a doctoral degree in education could also attempt to become a community college president, a job that involves overseeing the college’s budget, maintaining accreditation, spearheading public relations, and organizing student and faculty recruitment efforts. This is an ideal career for someone who enjoys public speaking, as the college president is responsible for representing the school at important events and in the press.

However, it should go without saying that in order to land a job as such a high-ranking figure you’ll need to bring some experience and background to the table. Thus, this is often a promoted position that educators pursue after working for a particular college for a number of years.

5. Program Director.

Academic program directors are in charge of specific programs within the school, such as an art program or a physical fitness program. As such, they’re responsible for aiding in the organization and development of curriculum and research at the postsecondary level. Since every school, college, and university are comprised of a variety of different programs, this kind of job is always widely available.

However, it should be noted that it would help to have additional degrees or experience that prove your expertise within the specialty of the program (i.e. – an Arts program director would benefit from having an art-related degree on their resume). Other degree types that will help you land a job as an academic program director include those related to business management, finances, public relations, and communication.

6. Dean.

A significant percentage of Ed.D. graduates go on to hold authoritative positions in colleges and universities, such as the role of academic dean. Similar to what a principal does for a grade school, the dean serves as the chief administrative officer for their college/university, overseeing the institution’s financial management, faculty, fundraising, and curriculum delivery.

Before you rush to start your journey to becoming a dean, keep in mind that rising to this position will usually be a very challenging and competitive process that will require quite a bit of politicking and experience building. Typically, the process will involve starting out as a regular member of the faculty and then progress to a chair of your department, followed by becoming the assistant dean, and then finally the dean.

7. Academic Advisor.

Finally, another potential career option to consider after you’ve earned a doctoral degree in education is the role of academic advisor. Although this usually isn’t the first course of action taken by graduates who’ve earned their Ed.D., it’s a good job to keep in mind as a starting point within a university, as the salary can be as high as $60,000 and the job is relatively simple compared to the aforementioned options on this list.

While many would consider an advisor position as being below the rank of a graduate with a doctoral degree, the flip side is that someone within an Ed.D. or Ph.D. has a high chance of being hired for this job in virtually every region.

Playing an Influential Part Within an Organization.

Regardless of which of the aforementioned job types you choose to pursue, with an Ed.D. or Ph.D. you could eventually find yourself holding a prestigious position that has you directly impacting the direction of the organization you work for, and its students and faculty. If you’re up to the task of assuming such a high level of responsibility on an ongoing basis, you’ll be glad to learn that graduates with educational doctoral degrees are in high demand due to this being a relatively challenging and lengthy career path.

In conclusion, if you have your sights set on playing a vital role in one of America’s many higher learning institutions, earning a doctoral degree in education is definitely one of the fundamental steps that you’ll need to take along the way.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2nqMw1S via website design phoenix

5 Most Profitable Businesses To Start In Singapore

Most investors from different parts of the world look at Singapore as a great location to open a business startup or open a foreign branch. Further, most surveys have voted the country as one of the best business hubs in the region. If you are planning to start a business in Singapore, all you need to know is that it has a conducive business environment.

The good thing is that incorporation options with Visa Express are a straightforward process that you can go through with ease before setting up the business. For those who are not decided yet, here are the top-five most profitable businesses to start in this country.

Tours and Travel.

Singapore is a great tourist destination due to the efforts the government is making to promote the wonderful tourist sites in Singapore. The country has numerous natural and man-made attraction sites. They also have the world-class Changi Airport. So, why not set up a tour and travel company? The good thing is that online visibility will help you get clients from all parts of the world with ease.

An Online Fashion Shop.

Singapore is not left behind when it comes to embracing e-commerce. Apart from providing infrastructure to conduct online business, the people in Singapore are also embracing online shopping. You can sell cosmetic products online with ease without incurring the cost of renting a stall or employing many employees. You can either sell directly on your website or use one of the many public selling sites available.

Biotechnology.

Singapore’s government has taken a key role in promoting the biotechnology sector. The country is now manufacturing and exporting bioproducts to numerous countries across the world. If you have what it takes, it is easy to open a business that deals with such products. Make sure that you have enough capital because the business requires a lot of money to start. However, the profit margin makes it all worth starting.

Information Technology.

The best part of targeting IT in Singapore is that there are many options you can branch into. Whether you need to start a digital marketing company or general IT solutions, you can rest assured that the market here is ripe. With many businesses starting here, they all need to embrace IT and definitely will be looking for your services. Make sure that you have a skilled team of experts and the right tools to perform any task that is brought to you.

Telecommunications.

Mobile phone and internet connectivity are becoming popular all over the world. Singapore has a great position both in Asia and the whole globe for providing the best telecommunications connectivity. You can get a share of the pie if you start a business that offers these solutions to businesses and individuals at home. The startup capital may be high because most telecommunications businesses require expensive equipment and infrastructure. This business is one of the best in giving high profits.

Conclusion.

Even though the above five businesses are not the only ones you can start in Singapore, they are the best and can offer you great profits. Before setting them up, do some market surveys to confirm that they will succeed within a short time.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2DQ9n20 via website design phoenix

What Startups Need To Know About Workers’ Compensation Insurance

If you’re the founder of a startup, your top concern is launching and growing your business. But if you’re at the point where you’re hiring employees, your list of concerns just grew bigger. Now, you have to worry about payroll taxes, insurance and workers’ compensation.

If you’ve yet to purchase workers’ compensation insurance, it may be time to change that. Here’s what you need to know about this important coverage.

Do You Need Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Technically, everyone should have workers’ comp insurance. If you have employees – and that includes yourself – they need to be covered by your policy. In some rare cases, founders with no employees are exempt from needing workers’ compensation insurance.

As a general rule of thumb, you need workers’ compensation insurance if you have people on the payroll.

Why Do You Need Coverage?

Businesses are required to have workers’ comp insurance by law. You have an obligation to provide your employees with protection if they are hurt on the job.

As workers’ compensation attorney Neal Storm explains, injured workers may receive benefits for:

• Occupational diseases and illnesses
• Work-related injuries
• Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Injuries caused by work-related duties

Most states require business owners to obtain a workers’ compensation insurance policy that will provide employees with financial assistance if they are hurt on the job. Some states also have minimum coverage requirements to prevent employees from suing after a workplace injury.

What Does Workers’ Comp Cover?

Workers’ compensation insurance covers your employees in case of a work-related injury. If you are on the payroll, you may also be covered.

Along with paying medical and hospital expenses, your policy may also offer disability payments while the employee is unable to work, and if necessary, retraining and rehabilitation.

Most on-the-job injuries are covered by workers’ compensation insurance.

Do You Have to Cover Independent Contractors?

If you work with independent contractors, you may be wondering whether you need to include them in your workers’ compensation policy. The answer is: no.

But they must actually be independent contractors (ICs). It’s not enough to call someone an independent contractor. If ICs are treated like employees, the state may deem them employees and you will be responsible for providing coverage.

Most states use a multi-factor statutory test to determine whether an IC is actually an employee.

Here are a few things the state labor board will consider:

• Whether or not you dictate the worker’s hours
• Whether your company supplies the materials to perform the job
• Whether the worker is working exclusively for your company

How Much Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Cost?

It’s hard to estimate the cost of coverage, as it will depend on a number of things. Premiums are generally determined by a system that classifies employees by their main roles, or class.

The class rate is multiplied by each $100 of payroll designated to that class. Rates will vary greatly for classes, and will depend on the risk-level of the job. For example, computer programmers may have a class rate of .260, while contractors may have a class rate of $13. Location also plays a role. Policies in California are generally more expensive because the state has a high rate of workers’ compensation lawsuits.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2nrCf5z via website design phoenix

5 Ways To Protect Your Startup From Premises Liability

Startups have a lot to worry about. From growth to marketing strategies, there’s a lot on your plate. It’s easy to forget about things like premises liability when you have your sights set on success.

But if you run a business from a physical location, you should take steps to protect your company from premises liability claims.

1. Get the Right Insurance Coverage.

Not all accidents can be prevented. That’s where insurance comes in. The right insurance coverage will protect your business should a client or customer file a liability claim.

If you run a business that invites the public onto your doorstep – whether it’s customers, vendors, clients, delivery people or other visitors – you should have general liability insurance.

Should someone be injured on your business’s property, he or she may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In addition to providing coverage for these damages, general liability insurance will also provide coverage for defending these claims.

Without adequate insurance, your business will be liable to cover these damages out of pocket. Depending on the extent of the injuries and damages, a claim can bankrupt a startup.

2. Inspect, Inspect, Inspect.

Prevention is the key to protecting your business from premises liability claims. Make sure that both you and your employees routinely inspect the premises for potentially dangerous conditions.

Taking the time to inspect the property may take time away from productive tasks, but it can go a long way in finding potential liabilities before they’re discovered by customers or employees.

3. Correct Unsafe Conditions Immediately.

Take steps to correct unsafe conditions as soon as they’re discovered or even suspected. Employees should not assume that someone else will take care of cleaning up a spill or clear the walkaway of ice or snow.

To prevent confusion, implement clear policies that establish who will be in charge of such tasks. This way, employees know exactly what to do in these situations.

4. Warn Patrons.

If you are unable to correct a dangerous condition, display a sign that warns patrons of the condition and to avoid the hazard until it’s fixed.

For example, a “Caution: Wet Floor” sign should be placed on floors that are slippery from rain or cleaning.

“Slip and fall accidents can be caused by soapy water on the floor, food spills in the supermarket, foreign objects obstructing a walking path, or stairs that weren’t maintained properly, among others,” says Bogdan Martinovich. “These cases involve injuries sustained by falling on someone else’s property. Property owners have a responsibility to keep their property free of hazards that can cause falls.”

5. Take Preventative Measures.

The best way to avoid premises liability claims is to take preventative measures. Establish clear and precise safety procedures and protocols so that employees and management can effectively correct unsafe conditions.

Make sure that all employees are on the same page about these procedures and protocols. Training may be required, but will be a worthwhile expense to prevent future claims.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2DOqb9x via website design phoenix

Pros And Cons Of Owning A Delivery Fleet

Depending on the industry, owning and operating a delivery fleet can be an integral part of your business. It can be crucial to the growth and further development of a company. However, determining if investing in a delivery fleet is a good idea can be somewhat difficult, particularly as it tends to be quite an expensive investment to make. The fact is that there are a variety of advantages and disadvantages of owning a delivery fleet, so it is not always easy to determine whether it is a worthwhile move to make.

To help you to decide if owning a delivery fleet could be beneficial for your business, take note of the pros and cons below.

What are the pros of owning a delivery fleet?

Flexibility. When you own a fleet of delivery vehicles, it gives you the flexibility that you need to tailor your delivery schedule to accommodate your business’s needs, as well as your customer’s requirements. For example, say a request for an urgent delivery is made, the flexibility of having your own fleet would make it more likely that the request could be fulfilled.

Free advertising. The fact is that a fleet of your own vehicles acts as a great advertisement for your company. Adding logos to the sides of your delivery vehicles will ensure that they offer free promotion of your brand.

Time constraints. For companies that work within set time constraints, having a private fleet of vehicles can be incredibly useful. This can help to ensure that all orders are delivered on time.

Adds that personal touch. Another bonus of having your own delivery fleet of vehicles is the fact that it means offering a more personalized delivery service to your customers. Having products hand delivered by a company themselves, rather than by a third-party company is appealing to many people.

What are the cons of owning one?

The cost. One of the cons of owning a delivery fleet of vehicles is the costs that come with it. The initial cost of purchasing a fleet of vehicles can be insanely high. However, you can find fleet sales to help cut the cost. Even so, the price of owning a fleet will be high.

Insurance can be expensive. There is also the cost of insurance to think about, in addition to vehicle maintenance. If vehicles aren’t properly maintained the insurance on them can be voided. Little hacks to prevent maintenance problems or to catch them before they become more serious, such as using the worlds safest wheel nut indicator to show when a wheel nut has come loose, putting the wheel at risk of coming off, can come in handy. The key to reducing the cost of owning a fleet of vehicles is preventative maintenance.

Storage. There is also the concern of finding somewhere to store your vehicles securely when they are not in use. Some companies send these vehicles home with their drivers due to a lack of storage space. However, it’s safer and more cost-effective to store them all at one facility.

There you have it, a guide to the pros and cons of owning a delivery fleet. Although it can be expensive to own a delivery fleet, the fact is that the pros seem to outweigh the cons. This means that if your business could benefit from a delivery fleet, it is an expense that is worth investing in.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2nqMvLm via website design phoenix

How To Get Better Results From Your Recruitment Campaign

by Jerome Forde, founder of Forde HR Cloud

If you’re looking to make a new hire for your fledgling business, you’re going to need to get hands on. However, recruiting is not as easy as it may seem and there are many obstacles to get through if you want to achieve the best results.  In fact, a recent survey showed that nearly 2 in 3 businesses struggle when it comes to the hiring process. The main problem areas identified were a lack of applicants and those who do apply are often without the required skills and experience.

We spoke to some of the leading experts to get some tips for improving your recruitment campaign and together with our own advice, we hope you find some useful information to help you achieve better results.

What impact will the role have?

Candidates can respond favourably to a job description which talks about the impact of the role, rather than just what the main duties are. Strong candidates will be inspired when they can see how their input will help to grow the organisation. If they can imagine themselves in the role, they are more likely to apply.

As Perry Timms, Chartered MCIPD, Founder & Chief Energy Officer at PTHR said:

“Describing the impact a role has can be more of more value than a list of competencies, and a range of accountabilities.”

Your job description can be as inspirational as it is informative and doing so will increase your candidate pool. Not only this, you will also be more likely to get the most suitable candidates.

What will excite the candidates?

In addition to showing the impact of the role, you also want to write a job advert which gets them excited. Once you have enticed the right candidates, leave them with the sense that they don’t want to miss out on this opportunity.

Kunjal Tanna, Director of LT Harper spoke about the key to a great advert by saying:

“Your ad is about attracting people to want to talk to you so it should get someone excited. The key thing to get across in an ad is what the person applying stands to gain by getting this job (e.g. will they get specific training, will they work directly with clients/the business leaders etc). “

What are the potential achievements and recognitions for someone working in the job? Show them the perks and they won’t be able to resist applying.

Is the job description transparent?

A key aspect of recruitment is transparency with the job description. Afterall, people are instinctive and can sense when something’s off. You want both the advert and the job description to be enticing, but not to the point were you are being creative with the truth.

Rebecca Clough, the Managing Director of In Car Safety Centre, the UK and Ireland’s leading car seats specialists talked about the importance of an accurate job description;

“It might be tempting to exaggerate the positives of the role and/or gloss over some of more mundane expectations. Whilst this may increase the number of applications, it may also increase your turnover rates if new staff feel the role hasn’t met expectations.”

It is good to focus on the positives of the job, but also mention the challenges of the role. The right candidate won’t be put off, but it will help ensure you don’t make the wrong hire.

Do the recruiters know the role?

It’s important that your employees to be have an enjoyable application experience, as it’s their first impression of the company. It’s not just down to the job advert and description; it is also about the communications they receive during the process.

Whilst some SME’s use recruitment agencies, there are benefits to doing it yourself. Either way, you’ll want to be involved where you can add value. Whoever is handling your vacancy, make sure they have good knowledge of the role and the requirements.

Leon Brown, Education Content Developer & MD of NextPoint Software echoed this sentiment by saying:

“Make sure the person handling recruitment has a fair understanding of the role they are recruiting for. Seems obvious enough, but is often overlooked. This is particularly relevant to those in SMEs, whose businesses are often niche and specialist in nature. “

The last thing you want is for the whole process to fall down because the recruiter is unable to answer important questions or they don’t ask the right questions, which leads to the wrong hire.

Do they measure up?

You may be under pressure to recruit, fast. However, rushing the process and hiring someone “who will do” can be costly error, so never make a hire for the sake of it. You should ensure the candidate meets with your expectations during the interview.

Tim Fouracre is the founder & CEO of Countingup spoke about the importance of the interview process; “The next step at the interview stage is of course ensuring that a candidate actually measures up to the template you’ve set out in the job description. “

Again, this is why the job description is so important. During the interview process, you should go through the description. Ask questions aligned to the criteria and ensure that the candidate can do everything they claim in their CV. It’s also why the interviewer needs to know enough about the role to accurately assess the quality of the answers.

 

Jerome Forde is an HR and employee relations specialist with 30 years’ senior level experience in complex public, private and not for profit organisations. Before starting Forde HR Cloud, a HRIT platform for start-ups and SMEs, Jerome operated within large scale businesses, bringing extensive practical experience in the areas of conflict resolution, change management and outsourcing.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2E0tbyQ via website design phoenix

The 5 Personality Traits You Need To Be A Successful Entrepreneur

At some point most people will dream about becoming an entrepreneur. After all, the idea of being your own boss and setting your own hours is appealing!

In fact, statistics show that in the US alone there were 8,751,000 self-employed people by the end of 2016! Unfortunately statistics also show that nearly half of these will fail within the first four years.

So what makes the difference? It doesn’t matter how good your idea is, your personality and approach to starting a company will play a huge part in whether you are successful or not.

Here are the 5 traits you need to be successful as an entrepreneur:

1. Confidence.

Every entrepreneur must be confident in their own ability to succeed. This confidence will help you to find a solution to any problem and will instill confidence in the people that work for you.

This s not something you can assume will happen as you start to trade, you must already be confident that you’ll make it.

2. Open-Minded.

No matter how well prepared you are for success there will be unforeseen challenges and complications to your success.

Many of these situations will be beyond your control but being open-minded will allow you to adapt to every situation and find the right opportunities. This will also ensure you can find inspiration in everything.

A good entrepreneur will accept suggestions and ideas from others; after all, no one has the answer to everything!

3. Passionate.

When you create a new business there will be many issues you have to face and some of these will seem insurmountable. However, if you are genuinely passionate about the service you are offering or the product you have created you will have the necessary drive to find a solution.

Without this passion it is very easy to give up on an idea at the first hurdle.

Passion for the product will also ensure that you are always aware of the latest developments and what your competitors are up to. This will help you to gain an edge when needed.

4. Communicative.

It goes without saying that you need to be able to talk to people. But, being communicative is about more than just the ability to talk. You need to connect with your customers and your staff. This means having the ability to listen.

Listening will allow you to build relationships with these people, which will encourage loyalty to you and your brand.

In addition you’ll be able to identify what they really need and provide the right product for them.

Ideally you should also be a good public speaker as you’ll need to motivate and convince people from time to time. Fortunately, if you are already a good communicator and have confidence you can learn the art of motivational speaking.

5. Competitive.

Finally every marketplace is extremely competitive and you need to be able to compete with the best. You need to want to be the best to really succeed in business.

The competitive streak is what will drive you to the top of the business world. Without it you can build a successful business but are less likely to be at the top of your game.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2nkX7MI via website design phoenix

6 Tips For Growing Your Contractor Business

Looking to grow your contractor business? Whether you have plans to stay small or scale your business over time, it’s important to find effective ways to bring in new customers.

Here are 6 tips for growing your business.

1. Perform an Internal Review.

Start by performing an internal review of your company. There are a few key areas you want to focus on:

• Financial stability
• Customer referrals
• Repeat business
• Employee turnover rate
• Customer ratings and reviews

To find out this information, you’ll need to review your books, talk to your employees and see what people are saying about your business. Look for areas of improvement, and start working on plans to fix these areas.

If customer service is lacking, you may need to hire a new team that excels in this area, or implement a training program to improve service.

2. Build a Great Team.

Contractors rely on their teams to get the job done and to provide exceptional work. Hire talented subcontractors with good reputations.

If you’re working on a new construction, you’ll need to find a certified electrician, plumber, roofer and craftsmen to handle the interior work, like cabinetry and painting. Take the time to find qualified, experienced and reputable subcontractors to add to your projects.

As for your own employees, promote and reward them for doing a good job. Be discerning when hiring.

3. Make an Investment in Your Business.

Growth requires investment. Invest time and money in your company. Buy new technology and equipment to streamline operations and improve the quality of your work. Train your employees and actively market your business to attract new customers.

Growth costs money and resources, but the investment will pay off in the end.

4. Make Customer Service a Priority.

Lack of customer service is one of the biggest complaints people have about contractors. Make yourself available to customers. Hire someone to answer phones. Yes, this is an added expense, but customers and potential customers want to speak to a person – not a robot – when they call your business.

Be sure to clearly state your office hours on your website, your social channels and your business cards. Customers won’t expect someone to be there to answer the phone after business hours. To make customers feel valued, consider setting up automated social media and email messages when the office is closed. Just let customers know that you received their message and will respond within 24 hours.

If someone asks a question or leaves feedback on social media or a review site, take the time to respond.

5. Join an Industry Association.

Industry associations, like the Associated General Contractors, can help you forge valuable connections while developing important essential skills.

From writing contracts to determining your fees and product recommendations, industry associations can help you learn the skills you need to succeed with your business.

6. Focus on Marketing.

Marketing is essential in every industry, but it’s even more important for contractors. Word of mouth will get you repeat business and loyal customers, but you also need to attract new customers with no connections to previous clients.

Your marketing efforts should start with your website and also include email, social media, blog posting and video creation (if possible). It’s also important to invest in local marketing. Attend chamber of commerce meetings, answer questions in local newspapers and invest in local advertising.

from Young Upstarts http://ift.tt/2BCzPWZ via website design phoenix