The stresses can be overwhelming, and despite successfully beginning the business, you may not be equipped to deal with some of the day to day activities that come your way. From dealing with finances to keeping good customer relations, keeping on top of everything you have to do can be tough.
We all need a little help from time to time, so the following guide can be used to help you navigate the daily aspects of your company.
Managing Your Staff
If you run a small business, you may not need to hire a large workforce. Instead, using a service such as Elance, hire a freelancer as and when you need them to take on occasional tasks, such as managing your website or writing a company blog. Freelancers require a single fee for each job you hire them for, so there is no need to organize a salary, pension plan or deal with their taxes.
If employees are integral to the running of your business, you will need to consider hiring for part-time or full-time positions. Consider the task that you can not manage on your own and hire others accordingly. It will cost you money to employ others, and you will need to manage their workloads effectively. On the plus side, you won't be alone, and the support of others in running a business is valuable. Online scheduling software will help you to manage your employees daily tasks and shift patterns without the need to increase your workload by dealing with organizational spreadsheets.
Dealing With Clients
Your business doesn’t always need to be open to book appointments with your customers, so using a particular online service is scheduling made easy. You won't need to spend time on the phone managing appointments or worrying about your own calendar, as online services are designed to help you manage your time effectively.
Your website is a perfect place for your customers to see the service you are offering and it can be accommodated with an e-commerce facility to sell products without your input.
There will be times when your customers have a query, so always be professional in your dealings with them. Your business may depend on their custom and word of mouth, so maintaining a good working relationship is vital.
Managing Your Finances
You may have already spent time budget planning for your company, but you may not be equipped to deal with all aspects of the ongoing finances yourself. An accountant can help you with your tax returns and expenses, and you could hire a specific member of staff to sort out wages, bank deposits, and arrange client invoices.
However, online software such as Xero will help you to manage many aspects of your finances without the need to hire somebody else. From checking your expenses to managing your receipts, such a service will help you with accounting at the touch of a button.
Marketing Your Business
In the internet age, you no longer need to spend a lot of money printing and sending out flyers or hiring advertising space in the media. The biggest marketing tool you have is your company website, the perfect place to showcase your product and services.
However, you need to stand out in the competitive marketplace, so your site needs to create its own brand identity. A brand is your opportunity to tell the consumer what your business stands for, by giving it a unique look and voice. Branding includes creating a company name, logo and a tagline, to ensure your company is recognizable.
Social media is another effective form of marketing without you needing to spend any money, or your valuable time in promoting yourself individually. By creating a specific business page on something like Facebook, you will be able to connect with your customers in a personal way. Considering the legion of followers, you may already have on your social networks; you will be able to market your business to more people than you could ever imagine. Encourage your friends and customers to share word of mouth to their networks.
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