FinditLocal411 Blog
January 26th, 2010 at 11:16 am
What’s the current state of your company? Sometimes that answer is harder to find than you think. You may inherently know of your problems, but until you face these issues head on and conduct a business analysis, you may doom yourself to an environment of stasis.
Business analysis incorporates many different factors and can be somewhat difficult; therefore, one must know what they are doing in order to take advantage of such an analysis.
Analysts
Seek out a Business Analyst if you seek someone who can properly perform an analysis. Like many professionals deemed, “Analysts”, they are trained to use a variety of different methods and to discover and fix the problems that may result and appear as a result of the analysis. Analysts can provide you and your company valuable and well-documented data on your company as you move forward on many problem-correcting decisions.
Make sure your business analyst covers the following concepts:
- PESTLE: This is a technique that is used to perform an external environmental analysis through looking at external factors such as: Political, Economical, Sociological, Technological, Legal and Environmental aspects; hence the name.
- MOST: This technique is used to perform an internal environmental analysis through looking at factors such as: Mission, Objectives, Strategies, and Tactics; hence the name.
- SWOT: This technique is used to help the business determine and focus on their strengths and weaknesses. SWOT stands for: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
- CATWOE: This technique is used to help understand what the business is trying to achieve. It stands for: Customers, Actors, Transformation Process, World View, Owner, and Environmental Restraints.
There are several more techniques that a Business analyst uses in order to provide an accurate business analysis, and if performed properly, problems will be discovered, as well as the solutions for the problems. And, in the end, by using this technique, a business can better increase their bottom line by fixing the problems, even though they might have not known they ever existed without the use of such an analysis.
January 20th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
The truth about starting your small business: It’s a grind. How much of a grind is up to you though. There are several things you can do to help your business get off to a good start. First off, it is not a small endeavor. Starting a small business is a large responsibility that takes plenty of resources (both human and financial) if you want the business to be successful. Assembling those resources in a tactful way takes time and somewhat excruciating effort…but the payoff can be rewarding.
Ready…Set…Business!
It is for that reason why we have put together 5 tips to help you with your dream to start a small business. The internet provides many people the opportunity to open a their own business nowadays. Renting office space and holding grand openings aren’t requirements anymore, but there are a few crucial steps that you must waddle through. When you go to start a small business, take these considerations into mind:
- Capital. Starting a business requires money. Whether you are renting a building (if that is your business model), entering deposits on utilities, or purchasing necessary office supplies, a fixed startup account is needed. You can always borrow the money from a lender; however, you will want to make sure that you save money for the start up costs as well. This will help show the lender that you are serious about the business. Even in some cases (depending upon the business) you may be able to save all of the financing that you need; therefore, allowing you to stay out of debt from the beginning.
- Start small. Don’t get carried away in the beginning. There is always room for growth later.
- Protect your personal assets. Make sure that you file the proper documentation to keep your business and your personal assets separate.
- Make sure you have a business plan. You must know how and if you will make a profit and know the route that you must take in order for that to be possible.
- Be competitive. You must be competitive in the business world in order to survive. Maintain your competitive edge at all times.
These are just the beginnings of a successful business. We have documented each step thoroughly in previous posts, but these 5 steps are important to keep in mind as you prepare to construct your new business.
January 14th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Right about the time your little business-that-could starts earning money…the big decisions arrive. For this post, we’ll focus on incorporation. And then, the next confusing choice will be deciding on whether to become a corporation or a limited liability company (LLC). After you find the pros and cons of those decisions, you need to decide WHERE to incorporate.
Two Places at Once
Surprisingly, you can live in Wisconsin and be incorporated in Florida. Your business operations could be in California and be recognized in New York! At one point in time, business owners didn’t have this choice, however, that is no longer a problem.
Basically, a business can become incorporated and registered in any state in which they choose. Different states offer different laws on the topic and are governed by different statutes. So, just because you have a business in Nevada you may be able to receive better benefits by becoming a corporate business in another state.
Proper Paperwork
 With all this displacement and jumping around between states, it’s easy to lose track of which licenses, permits and registrations you have completed according to the state’s business codes. We at FindItLocal411 implore you to organize this process as efficiently as possible. Not having the proper licenses and permits can result in fines, the inability to conduct business and more.
Locating and understanding the different licenses and permits that is required for your business can be time consuming result in many headaches. There are businesses out there who offer services in this area. For a small fee, they will locate the different licenses and permits that you need for your particular business, and if you have more than one location for your business, they will handle the paperwork for all of the locations.
Make the Leap
 Becoming a corporate business can be beneficial and can also provide you and your business with additional tax benefits at the end of the year. Also, it helps protect you, as the owner, from having your assets combined in with the business; therefore, if the business is named in a lawsuit or files bankruptcy, your personal assets will not be affected.
Incorporating your Business is a scary step, but it’s not a point of no return. Stay relaxed and keep focusing on your goals. Your hard work and strong product as carried you this far. Grow with wisdom and dedication and don’t let the details get in the way.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Starting your own business can be extremely exciting. You can’t wait to open the doors, or even the virtual doors, in order to get your business generating an income. However, before you can do this appropriately you have to have a sound business plan into place. A business plan helps to serve as a blueprint for a business as it helps to guide the direction that you should take. Planning your business start up should entail several key aspects.
Key aspects to planning your business start up:
- Develop a business plan.
- Secure a budget for all key areas, such as marketing, employee compensation, and more.
- Obtain a date for opening the doors.
- Start an advertising campaign prior to opening the doors to let consumers know that your business will soon be opening.
- Use a press release in order to announce the opening.
Planning
These 5 elements will ensure a solid foundation for the start of your new business. Planning, consideration, and more allow you to go into the endeavor with your eyes open and in a professional manner. Not doing things mentioned above can hinder the path that your business may take and can possibly set your business up for failure before you even open the doors.
Like in any business, research and well-guided preparation are strong indicators for success. If you are unable to do any of the above mentioned tasks, there are other businesses out there that specialize in those areas.
There are businesses that can help you develop a business plan, a marketing campaign, write press releases for you, and more. By no means are you expected to have all these things on your to-do list. Handling all these tasks can be very stressful. Obtaining outside help in these key areas can prove to be beneficial in a variety of different ways.
January 7th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Many people have the dream of owning their own business and working for themselves; however, the dream often fades right around the time the risk monster rears its ugly head. Owning a business entails a great deal of risk and oftentimes scares owners away. If your business fails, then essentially you assume all of the financial loss that was associated with the company.
The financial support of one’s family remains atop the list for many in business, so revenues are always a major factor in business ownership; however, by buying a business that already exists you can help to relieve some of the stress.
Buying the Business – What to Consider
Buying a pre-established business will give you a foundation to determine whether the business is profitable enough for you to invest in. Years/months of financial records and market-shares are already functioning, allowing for a more exact assessment of the business’ success.
When purchasing an existing business, make sure that you cover these three elements:
1. Consult an Accountant
Present an accountant with the financial reports in order for you to figure out two main objectives:
A) Can the business be considered a sound investment?
B) Are the financial reports that you have been granted real or forged?
2. Hire a lawyer
In order to make the acquisition as smooth as possible, bring a lawyer to answer your big picture questions. You may even want to consider making your newly purchased business a limited liability company; therefore, you do not personally assume all of the responsibilities that the business will assume. In this case, if the business happens to fail, your personal assets will not be affected. Talk to your lawyer to help weigh the other options that you may have as well. Nolo.com offers several easy-to-read web resources filled with legal advice for small businesses.
3. Consider a contract
A contract that would keep the former owner from opening a competing business within the local area for a determined period of time could also be beneficial.
Buying a business can help take some of the stress out of owning your own business. At least you will know whether or not the business is profitable before taking such a risk; however, that does not mean that the business will stay profitable; therefore, you need to try to run the business in the same manner as it had been before. After all, it was successful, so the former owners must have been doing something right.
Keeping these three objectives in mind will keep you safe from unforseen damages while you can focus on aquiring a great business.
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:22 am
Certainly you have experiences where you were dealing with a disgruntled customer and you knew that you were right in the situation that was concerning your customer but no matter how you tried to convince them to see your point you just could not convince the customer to see your perspective on things. Well how do you convince an upset customer that you are right?
You Don’t!
The most important thing to keep in mind when dealing with an upset customer is that your opinion does not matter, no matter how right you may think you are the customer is always the one with the correct opinion, simply because it is theirs. Providing your knowledge does not mean you know more than the customer.
While you are the expert and they are the customer, when it comes to their opinion and their expectations they are the EXPERT. Being knowledgeable means you should understand what the customer needs and wants and although their requests may seem a little out of the norm, you should politely agree and attempt to do what they ask if it is at all possible. While there are times that the customer’s requests will be impossible you still need to convey that you will do your best to meet that need.
Tactics to Ensure Satisfaction Better Service
Politely explain your viewpoint
You can express your view point to the customer without showing an attitude. Comments like “I misunderstood the situation, or our standard policy is… “Will go a long way toward explaining your side without being confrontational. You should only do this at the beginning of the discussion before it becomes a confrontation. Once you have expressed your point reiterating it will only further upset the customer.
Keep smiling
Even if you feel like you could scream just happily comply with their wishes and keep smiling. If you are friendly and smiling it shows your willingness to reach an agreement and amend the situation.
Provide results
Handling the situation with a professional level of understanding and being humble will go far to calm the customer and in many situations they will end up being one of your best customers because they know that they can come to you if they have a problem and they will get results.
Follow-up post card
A great way to make a lasting impression with a disgruntled customer is to send them a post card that thanks them for their business and expresses your gratitude toward being able to resolve the situation. It is also a good idea to offer them a discount toward future business.
Things to Keep In Mind
A bad word travels fast
A disgruntled customer will paint a picture to their friends and family that they are correct and you are wrong and this can be detrimental to the health of your business. If other potential customers get word that you are argumentative and uncooperative they will most likely not give you the chance to prove yourself.
Your attitude
Your attitude to a troubling customer can mean the difference between keeping and loosing that customer. While it may seem at the time of the conflict that that customer is just not worth it, you need to keep in mind that unless you are the only one in the world that does what you do, that you have competition and that your competition may be very happy to oblige this customer. You are not in the business of turning the upset customer over to the competition.
Secure a Life Long Customer
This may seem like over-kill but you will be surprised how far this may go to securing a life long customer. They will be very surprised that you went the extra distance to keep them happy and in most cases will tell their friends and associates how you went out of your way to make them happy. It is a good idea to never discount the value of going the extra mile for a disgruntled customer.
While this advice may not always resolve the situation if you keep a positive attitude, do not allow your ego to get in the way, keep smiling and go out of your way to help the concerned customer in most cases you will resolve the situation and possibly have a loyal customer.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:41 am
As a small business owner your connection with your community can be your #1 key to success. You should strive on a daily basis to make yourself aware of the needs within your community. While this does not mean becoming a “non-profit” business, it means extending your hand to help those in distress.
Be A Good Neighbor
The identity of a community is based around the private business owner that supplies character to the community. As part of that identity it is important that you are more than the business down the street. You need to be the business that cares. By becoming a concerned citizen and good neighbor you tell your customer base that you are there for them. There are some steps you can take to make sure you are aware of what is going on in the community.
- Become a member of the community – join an organization of local business owners that is aimed at community service such as the Rotary society.
- Sponsor local activities – Get involved with the local sports teams such as the high school sports.
- Offer discount programs for members of local organizations – by offering a discount to members of local services and charities you express your support of what they do for the community.
 Read the paper – often there are local interest stories in the paper, such as families that have lost their home or a loved one. By reaching out to these individuals you show that you care. You may want to offer them a discount on products they need or supply them with items that you carry that may help them in their time of need. Not only is this good community relations but it is also usually tax deductible.- Get to know the fellow business owners around you – by integrating with the small business owners in the community you create a customer base from these fellow business owners, and you can also do joint community fundraiser projects for a particular need, such as a golf tournament for a cancer victim.
- Show up at local festivals and events – By sponsoring local festivals you show that you are part of the community and this may also give you exposure to members of the community that may not be aware you existed or wanted to do business with you but have never stopped by or called.
- Attend city council meetings – Not only will this keep you up to date on local regulations and events that may affect your business, but you will also be expressing to the leaders of the community that you are a concerned member of the community.
Focus on the Big Picture
By becoming a concerned member of the community you are taking your business beyond the four walls of your store or office and directly into the lives of the people that you count on for business. By being aware of the lives of those in your community you do more for your business than any advertising campaign or customer service program could ever do.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Beachwalk Resorts is a new community in Michigan City, Indiana, just one hour from Chicago. It features a family atmosphere with cottages for rent or purchases of family vacation homes. The streets are lined with white picket fences and the kids can run and play safely.
The goal of Beachwalk is to remember the simpler times when children ran in the streets, rode their bikes, played hopscotch and enjoyed the sun. However, if this is not enough there are numerous amenities to keep your family and your children happy and busy all summer.
Beachwalk Amenities
- Fishing Pier
- Basket Ball Court: a full court with adjustable backboards. The Resort even offers an annual 3-on-3 Memorial Day tournament.
- Tennis Courts: not a pro yet, you can rent rackets and balls at the office
- Central Park: having a reunion or family get together, come to the park
- Putting Green
- Getaway Fountain Park: a natural shaded habitat for relaxation
- The Dunes: a natural sand habitat
- Waterfall Park: take a romantic walk
- Lake Kai Grasses: another park area that offers movies in the park during the summer
- Beach volleyball: play some volleyball on Lake Kai, free volleyball available at office
- Sandcastle Playground: for the kids
- Treehouse Café
Along with all these great things to do, you can swim in Lake Kai. The Lake is 5 miles from Michigan City to New Buffalo. The Lake offers swimming, kayaking, paddle boats and an alligator trampoline for the kids.
Don’t like swimming in the Lake, right next to it is a swimming pool. While the children are swimming, adults can enjoy the sand volleyball courts and the café, all within the same area.
Rental Properties
Looking for a vacation, this is the place to be. Choose exactly what you need: offering a two night rental, weekly rental or a monthly rental. Choose your size. You can bring the kids or you can bring the whole extended family.
Here is just one example of the cottages you can experience. The Sun Spot is a one bedroom, one bathroom guesthouse with full kitchen. It has a deck for grilling and enjoying the sun. It has an exquisite bathroom with heated floors, heated towel bars and tub. It is fully furnished with a grill, TV, VCR and an outside shower to wash off that sand after the day at the beach.
For the bigger families, rent Alice’s Wonderland that sleeps up to 10 people. This vacation home offers 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, along with a golf cart to tour the Beachwalk area during your stay.
Events
Planning a wedding, bring the whole family. You can rent some cottages and rent The Clubhouse and have an entire weekend wedding event. The Beachwalk offers weddings on the sandy beach. The Clubhouse is used for the reception. They provide the space. You can provide outside catering, alcohol and a band of your choosing.
The Clubhouse can also be used for corporate meetings and events. They have all the amenities a business needs, including meeting rooms, internet access and catering.
If you find that you love the area, you can purchase your own home here. You can also purchase property and build your own home. There are numerous properties available all immersed within this beautiful community.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Anniversary or just looking for a break from the children with your significant other, come to the Michiana area. There are many romantic getaways just waiting for you.
Relaxation:
In need of some relaxation, visit the New Buffalo Inn and Spa. The Inn is just six blocks walking distance from the beaches of Lake Michigan. The rooms are specially designed with the lake in mind and beautifully decorated. One example of a second floor suite is the ‘Snug Harbor’ suite. It has a great room looking over the backyard garden, a vaulted ceiling, fireplace and entertainment center. The bathroom has a full tub and shower and the bedroom has a bed and mirrored alcove with a Jacuzzi whirlpool.
If you are looking for more space or are traveling with other couples, you may want to look into the cottages at the New Buffalo Inn. The cottages can sleep from 5 to 8 people and are located near the inn and in the downtown New Buffalo area.
Finally, just in the small town of New Buffalo is the New Buffalo Spa. They offer a large variety of packages, along with packages including your hotel stay at the Inn and your spa specialties.
Culture:
If you are looking for some cultural events, try the Southold Dance Theater in South Bend, Indiana, offering modern dance and ballet performances throughout the year. Along with performances of some favorites, including the Nutcracker, the Theater offers a wide range of creative dance classes.
Another possibility in South Bend is the Broadway Theater League, bringing Broadway shows to the Michiana area. The theater was established in 1959 and has featured some popular performances. Such as upcoming, it will be presenting Rain: a special tribute to the Beatles.
Outdoor Activities
If you enjoy the outdoor nature activities, there are many options, not including the beautiful lake.
One such place is the Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve. The gardens vary and change dependent on the season with daffodils and primroses in April and May, changing over to beautiful perennials in the summer. The Nature Preserve provides ponds, wildflowers and trails to enjoy.
Along this 105 acre property, there is also a conservatory and nature center. The Conservatory features a waterfall overflowing into a pond with tropical ferns and gold fish galore. In the nature center, you can learn about various birds and ecosystems, including an active beehive and local reptiles.
During the summer months from May to September, there are classical artists performing music throughout the gardens. During the holidays or on other special occasions, special chamber concerts may be held. There are too many highlights to list, including special events, classes and even weddings being held.
Food and Drinks
 Just want a drink, how about a local brewery? The Mishawaka Brewing Company in Mishawaka, Indiana has been brewing its own beer since 1992. At the Pub, you can enjoy top shelf drinks, specially brewed ales or your regular bottled beers. Along with brewing beer, the Mishawaka Brewing Company has their own line of soft drinks, such as Lazy Dog Root Beer, which are served at various locations throughout the area.
So grab your significant other and enjoy some time to yourselves in and around Michiana!
November 10th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Your car breaks down. You have to get it repaired. If you do not know anything about cars, it is important to find a mechanic you trust.
There is some basic knowledge that you can still be aware of when you talk to the mechanic.
Repair Charges
Labor rates:
Ask the shop if they charge a flat hourly rate for labor or actual time. Most charge a flat rate, for example, a normal break job may take 3 hours, so they charge you for 3 hours of time. Unfortunately, if the job only takes 2 hours, you are still charged for 3.
Estimates:
If you have a complicated repair or are unsure, ask for a written estimate and get a second opinion. A written estimate should include the problem areas, the repairs needed, the parts needed and the labor charges.
Please note that state law also requires them to contact you for approval if the charges exceed a certain amount. For example, if they quote you 1,000 dollars and as they are working, the job ends up becoming 1,200 dollars, the mechanic is required to contact you for approval to continue the job for the 1,200 dollar amount.
Parts:
There are various types of parts depending on the mechanic, you may have an option to get new parts, re-manufactured parts or salvage parts. So what is the difference?
- New: These can come right from the manufacturer, guaranteeing the right parts
- Rebuilt: Restored to a working condition.
- Salvage: Used parts that have not been altered or rebuilt, only good for some parts
Now that you have got the repairs done, you should always leave there with a complete receipt. It should have each repair performed, parts used, costs of parts, costs of labor and you can also get any parts back. For example, if they replace your hubcaps, they have to give you the old ones (not that you would want them, but state law requires they be available, if you do).
No Contracts!
Additionally, be aware of service contracts. This is usually on top of the repair prices and may be given by the manufacturer or the dealers or other companies. You should consider the price and coverage before you buy a service contact. For example, what is covered by the contact, how much is the extra coverage, how long does the extra coverage work and is this extra coverage really necessary? Again, if you just bought new hubcaps, you might not need an extra service contact.
Fighting it Out
Finally, what if there is a dispute over price? As with all major purchases, take notes. Remember the following:
- What was the estimate?
- Who did the estimate?
- Did you ever talk to the shop owner when you got an estimate?
- Get names of people you speak with
- Document important dates and times
If you are being charged unfairly, start with speaking with the manager. If you are not successful, you should research if there is a higher owner or corporate entity. If not, you can contact the state Attorney General or the Better Business Bureau to file a complaint.
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