Five Reasons Why Renting from a Plant Hire Company is a Wise Choice

Business

Project-based constructions are often done by demand. This means that a contractor may have several projects lined up for a specific amount of time and have several months without any jobs at all. This is one of the reasons why investing in heavy equipment and machinery is not a priority. Instead, contractors look for plant hires to provide them with the needed equipment.

In comparison, buying equipment means you have to pay for the maintenance and storage. A piece of equipment, depending on the model, type, and size can cost a large amount of money. The money used for buying equipment would be better off used as part of the revolving capital of the company.

Furthermore, if the machinery is not being used, it can get rusty and become outdated. Aside from the savings of renting, there are other advantages to consider which makes renting a more sensible option.

Variety of options

Machinery devaluates over time. If you buy your own, you will have to worry about replacing parts and repairing damage just to keep it in good working condition. Renting from companies like Ruttle Plant Hire in Preston, you have a variety of equipment to choose from. Not only is the rental equipment in good condition. Some rental companies even invest in top of the line and the latest models of machinery to suit every type of construction job requirement. You can also choose from a bigger inventory, hence, you have the exact equipment needed to complete a job.

Quality and condition

Plant hire companies specialise in providing machinery for every imaginable construction job. It is also their commitment to make sure that each piece of equipment is maintained to the highest standards. Some companies even guarantee repair and maintenance on site in case you encounter any problems while operating the machine.

Flexible options available on demand

Contractors are unlikely to have the same kind of project all the time. This means that every job requires special kinds of machinery that you may not always have available in your own fleet. Renting gives you the flexibility to have the required equipment on demand. Of course, you also need to book your rentals in advance so that you can pick from the best available equipment in the company’s fleet.

Avoid deprecation

If you invest in your own equipment, it will eventually depreciate in value. This can be a liability to the company in the long run. The cost of maintaining and repairing equipment can rack up over time. Another advantage of renting is that the cost can be included in the company’s tax deductibles.

Convenient and worry-free operation

Renting equipment also means you don’t have to worry about storage and clean-up after the equipment is used. The rental company will take care of the delivery and removal of the machinery as soon as the project is completed. They will also handle the care, maintenance, and clean-up. As long as the machine has not been damaged while in use, no further liabilities are incurred.

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Why It’s Important For Small Business Owners To Outsource

Business

As a small business owner you will know only too well about how overwhelming this position can be. There is a temptation in the early stages of your business to micro-manage every aspect of the company in order to save money and assert control. This however, is not a sustainable attitude and it is one which will leave you burned out, and the business in an unstable place. The key to surviving in business is learning how and when to outsource various aspects of the business, and here is why doing so is extremely important.

Focus

The biggest reason for a small business owner to outsource areas of their business is so that they can spend their time focussing on what they do best, which is running the business. For example let’s say that you are an excellent restauranteur who has just opened a French Bistro, how well do you think you are going to be able to focus on the restaurant itself, when you are getting bogged down in human resources stuff or the supply chain? The truth is that you cannot and the more time that you spend on areas of the business which don’t need you to be managing them, the less time you can spend on the areas which do require your attention.

Skill

Outsourcing is not just a time saver, it is also about letting experts take the reigns on certain parts of the business. For example let’s say that you start getting bogged down in bookkeeping and accounting for the business, in a effort to save some money. You may very well be able to work your way around the balance sheet, and use free budget templates to see the ins and outs of the business, but the time that it will take is likely to be double that of an expert in this field. The smart option is to outsource and area of the business such as accounting, in order to let the experts complete what for them, are very simple tasks, rather than you spending hours on such an activity.

Time

One thing which business owners want more than anything else is more time, something which is not easy to come by, especially in the early years. When you outsource an aspect of the company however, one of the best returns on this investment is the gift of time which it will give you. Something as simple as outsourcing delivery services like those available at www.askabsolutely.com can save you any unnecessary hassle. Business owners need to be at their best at all times, so the additional hours in the day can help to keep you more focussed. As we have preciously mentioned, with this extra time you can focus on the right parts of the business where you can be effective, rather than the areas where you cannot.

The idea of outsourcing is to make the business more productive and more dynamic, to offer a higher standard in many aspect fo the company and ultimately to allow you to focus on the important stuff and not the minutiae.

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Choosing the Right Business Premises

Business

You might be a tiny start-up or a more established business that needs to move to a bigger, better place. Whatever your reasons for upping sticks, there’s four things you have to consider before choosing the right dotted line for you and your enterprise.

Your location

Of course, this depends a lot on the nature of your business. If you’re an interior design company, you’ll need a big window with lots of footfall so passers-by can see what you’re all about. If you’re an IT-based company then you might be better off in one of the many offices to let in Teddington or nearby.

You already know that business premises get more expensive the nearer to the city centre they are. However, this doesn’t mean that you should settle for a cheap out-of-town place because the lack of passers-by might kill you off. You also, no matter what your business, need room for customer and employee parking and delivery vehicles.

It’s fine to ask around for advice – solicitors, your business advisor, your associates – but you shouldn’t feel pushed into anything. Your location is, alongside your finances, the biggest consideration, so don’t just jump in.

Your finances

If your ideal location is way out of your budget then you’ll just have to carry on dreaming. Avoid wasting too much time on the “if onlys” by restricting your search to your budget. Your first big decision is whether to rent or buy. These days, rental options are brilliant because there’s a culture of shared office spaces which are brilliant for techy start-ups.

If you’re having to rent a large unit, though, and you’re not planning to move for a good few years, then think about buying premises. Once you’ve pinned this fundamental decision down, look at what your business rates will be, as well as all your utilities, insurance, taxes, maintenance and security costs.

Your look

It’s unlikely that you’ll walk straight into your premises and not have to change a thing. Most of your changes will be cosmetic, probably – don’t go mad making big changes of any kind to start with, as this is a big drain on money. Just make sure that the outside looks presentable and inviting, as well as any interior areas that customers see. You don’t want to deter clients.

Space is also important. Have you got enough room for your immediate growth plans? Can you afford to have a waiting room or reception area? These things matter to clients and suppliers alike – they need to have confidence in you.

Your legal considerations

You also have some legal things to consider. There are several different types of commercial licences and not all premises have the same ones, so make sure your shortlisted premises have all the paperwork you need.

It’s also important that your building is fully compliant with all the legal regulations, like ventilation, fire, space, hygiene and heating.

Lastly, you need to make sure the infrastructure around your place is sufficient. If you’re a manufacturer, is there space to store waste until it’s disposed of? Can your delivery drivers make collections and drop-offs all day or are there time restrictions?

There’s a lot to think about, so talking to a commercial letting agency is always a good idea.

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How to Start a Business After Bankruptcy

Business

One often overlooked advantages of living in the U.S. is the fact that the bankruptcy laws tend to be much more forgiving than other countries. This can be seen when it comes to starting a business as some countries don’t even let those with a bankruptcy open a bank account.

However, there are no such prohibitions in the U.S. and if you are looking to start over by starting a new business, then read on as this article will give you some pointers on how to make it happen.

Don’t Mix Accounts

Granted, you don’t need a bankruptcy to do this but if when you have a business you don’t want to mix your personal and your corporate accounts. Doing so can not only lead to an accounting nightmare but it might make it harder for your new business to establish credit and trade lines.

As such, get started by incorporating. The truth is that it has never been easier to set up a company and the new tax laws make it to your advantage to do so. By doing so, you will make sure that your company can establish the credit it needs to grow without you being the co-signer. Granted, this does not mean that you will be able to get a million-dollar loan for your new business but you will be able to open the trade lines you will need to operate.

Register for a Tax ID Number

Also known as an Employer Identification Number, think of this as a Social Security number for your business. Getting a new number is especially critical if your previous business was involved in your bankruptcy proceedings.

However, you want to keep in mind that businesses, unlike people, cannot be discharged from Chapter 7 bankruptcies. This means that if you reboot the business, then creditors might still try to act against you. While this shouldn’t happen, there is a risk and as such you will want to discuss this with your lawyer. If you are not sure where to start, then you might want to check out this site – https://www.getfreeofbills.com/chapter-7-bankruptcy-attorney/.

Be Prepared

One thing that bankruptcy should have taught you is that things can change; sometimes rather quickly. While this can lead to a sense of uncertainty, you can harness this to your advantage. Part of this is knowing that you need to be prepared when things aren’t going as planned.

When it comes to your business, this means you need to keep an eye on two things. First, what is your cash position? Remember cash is king and having a good handle on where your company stands will be vital to your long-term success.

Second, you will need to have a plan to get small fast. Often this is how companies get into trouble as they assume the good times will last forever, and then live in denial when the market starts to turn. History is strewn with companies that thought they could weather the storm – remember Lehman Brothers.

Creating Financing

Let’s face it, most banks are not going to welcome you with open arms just after a bankruptcy. However, this does not mean that you are completely cut off from getting the money you need for your business; it just means that you need to get creative.

This includes picking a business that does not require significant capital – including a home-based business or some sort of professional service business. You could also look at working as a subcontractor first – at least until your cash flow stabilizes.

Beyond this, you can look for a partner or seek outside investors and then there are always your customers. Maybe some will be willing to pay upfront for your product or service and this will help to offset the cost of getting your company off the ground.

Look Out for Minefields

One way people can get into trouble with your business is by not paying their taxes. Not only can this create problems with the IRS but you could also run into trouble with the revenue department in your state.

Don’t let this happen to you, make sure you keep clean records and that you file your taxes on time. Keep in mind when it comes to income taxes, you can carry forward the accumulated losses from starting your business. As such, it pays to keep track of your taxes.

Be Very Careful of Giving Payment Terms to Customers

It’s a competitive market and customers have choices. However, you want to be very careful of giving payment terms to your customers as this can come back to haunt you – especially if the economy turns. Remember, cash is king and if you are starting a business after bankruptcy having cash in the bank is more important than being owed $1,000,000 from your customers.

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Start-ups: Don’t buy into all of the myths

Business Entrepreneurship Home/DIY Money Tips

Over the last few years it would be fair to say that the start-up culture has really come into its own. Whether it was the economic dip, or a completely unrelated reason, we’re not going to speculate. However, start-ups are popping up in all sorts of places, and entrepreneurs are constantly being bred.

At the same time, the surge in start-up culture has led to a lot of misinformation being published about new businesses. Myths have been developed and as the title of today’s post might have already suggested, we are today going to scrutinize some of these misconceptions and reveal the real truths behind them.

Myth #1 – You need too much capital

Once upon a time, this was completely true. After all, most new businesses were started in a bricks-and-mortar form, and this in itself added more costs. However, through the power of the internet there is no doubt that this myth has been reset so to speak, and you don’t necessarily have to have a lot of capital to get going.

Of course, there are exceptions. If a bricks-and-mortar store is going to be at the forefront of your enterprise, you do need some form of funding. However, don’t be put off by the suggestion that items such as point-of-sale terminals are going to hike up your costs – these are low cost, or even free, to install with vendors making their money on small transaction fees (that will barely touch your bottom line).

Myth #2 – Customers will flock to your great store or product

This next misconception is at the other side of the spectrum. A lot of new businesses are under the belief that customers will flock to their new product, under the “build it and they will come” philosophy. Without trying to be party-poopers, this isn’t going to happen. Sure, you may have released the best product of its kind on the market, but if nobody knows about it this is all for nothing.

You need a solid marketing plan in place long before your product hits the shelves. People need to be aware of it and without this awareness, you really will be on a hiding to nothing.

Myth #3 – You can do it all yourself

With funding low initially, this next myth is hardly surprising. However, as much as you might want to carry out every task yourself, we would advise exercising caution. Sure, you’re not going to be in a position to afford full time staff, but the rise of the freelance economy means that there are a whole host of skilled, temporary workers out there who can help you with everything from marketing to product design.

Remember, if you do it yourself you might save money, but by just having one extra pair of hands you can effectively double your output.

Myth #4 – Big companies eat start-ups for breakfast

It can be hard to not be scared by the big competitors in your field, but this should only occur if you can’t differentiate yourselves from them. If your service is the same, you are destined to fail. If you can offer differences, and ultimately an advantage to the customer, this is where you can prosper.

Remember, some customers are just scared and put off by big brands – and this is a unique advantage that you hold in itself. You can give a personal service, which is something that is greatly appreciated in the modern-day market.

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Employee development: The term on the tip of company tongues right now

Business Education Entrepreneurship Home Business Wiz Tips

If we were to wind back the clock a couple of decades ago, we would assume that the term “employee development” did not exist. Even if companies were aware of its meaning, the chances of them implementing its philosophies would be slim to say the least.

However, over recent times there has really been a shift in culture in relation to this. Big companies in particular are happier to invest in the development of their employees, whether it’s through training programs or even just sending them to industry conferences.

Whether or not this is the case for smaller companies, who perhaps have more constraints in relation to budgets, is debatable. However, business education is shifting; whether it’s from single day training courses or online MBA programs.

Following on from the above, let’s now take a look at some of the reasons more companies are getting more comfortable with employee development, and how you might decide to follow the same pathway.

The employee turnover numbers

Any company that has a high turnover of employees is asking for trouble. Let’s not forget that the recruitment business is an expensive game. Positions tend to be left open for long periods of time, leading to unproductivity, while once you do find your star candidate there is every chance that you might have to pay a recruiter fee or something else to guarantee their signature.

As such, training is a means of keeping employees and ultimately making your business a much nicer place to work. It is regarded as a “perk”, and a way of showing your employees that you respect their career. It’s something that will tend to breed loyalty and ultimately, weaken the chances of them jumping ship at the first opportunity.

It becomes easier to promote from within

This follows a similar vein to the previous point we looked at. As anyone who has been involved in recruitment will testify, as soon as you start looking to fill more senior positions the business becomes much tougher. There are far fewer candidates out there, while their higher salaries naturally means it’s a bigger risk.

If someone is trained internally meanwhile, the process can be made much easier. They already know the culture of your company, while you already know all about them so the risk is much smaller.

Employees tend to be more engaged at work

This next benefit works in several ways. Firstly, an employee who is picking up new skills suddenly has a lot more options available at work. They can apply themselves in different ways and this should, theoretically at least, prevent boredom occurring.

Then, there is the training itself. Once upon a time training courses were one of those things that everyone tried to avoid – they were boring to say the least. Now, the outlook has changed, and an interactive way of learning means that employees actually look forward to them, and see them as a positive to their daily routine.

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Building a Team: The Basics

Business

Hiring is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make at work. The people you bring in to your business don’t just bring a skillset and experience, they bring personality, attitude and the ability to influence the people around them. Your company culture is only partly set by corporate diktat: what really creates your working environment is the people who fill it.

Hiring is a chance not just to find a new programmer, executive, or department manager, it’s an opportunity to make your whole company more committed, more sustainable, fairer, more diverse or whatever you’ve decided your priorities are as a business owner. If you say you’re running a company that values it’s employees, that wants people to work smart not hard, and support a healthy work-life balance, but you don’t hire executives who believe in this and encourage those values, you don’t really have that philosophy at all. So when you’re building a team you need to make sure you’re talking the talk as well as walking the walk.

Today we’re looking at how you can do that, and build a team that works for you, your company and your employees.

Shortlisting

The first, and most important thing is to make sure that your values and culture are built into the recruiting process from the off. Whether you’re using your internal resources to recruit or retain an executive search agency, don’t just include a list of the experience you want, whether that’s managerial, in client facing roles, or developing products. Include your values as requirements, and your candidates will know from the start whether this is the job for them. If you’re consciously building a diverse team (and research suggests you should be), an upfront discussion of that as part of your job description will help you find the candidates who will fit into and foster that culture.

Regulations

When you’re doing this you need to make sure that the culture you’re trying to foster is supported by the law. If your attempt to build a company based on ‘old fashioned, reliable values’ and that leads to you turning away highly qualified women and minorities, what you’ve actually done is built prejudice into the heart of your company.

Run your ideas past a lawyer to make sure your corporate values don’t have a darker side, which could lead to you ignoring valuable talent as well as ending up on the wrong side of the law.

Interview

Don’t neglect to discuss what’s important to your company at the interview stage, and as with your other questions don’t hedge around in hypotheticals. Get specific. If you value a good work life balance, ask what they’ve done to foster that value at other companies. Ask how they’ve reacted when their personal feelings have conflicted with a company’s stated position.

If you can follow these three important points you’ll find you’re building a team that gels well and gets results!

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Top 5 Things You Should Know About Your EIN

Business

An EIN number is a nine-digit number required by the IRS for businesses in the United States. The Employer Identification Number is mainly used as identification of your business by the IRS, however, the number has other uses. Once you apply for an EIN online, you will have the number you need to use for your business. Below are the top five things you should know about this number as it is associated with your business.

Open a Business Account

One way you can use your new EIN number is to open a business bank account. Most banks will require your business to have an EIN number before you will be allowed to open up a new account for the company.

Business Permits

Another use of your EIN number is for business permits. If you need permits for your business based on the type of company or location, you will need an EIN number. With this number, you will be able to apply and secure such permits for your company.

Filing Taxes

With your EIN number, you can file your taxes with ease. An EIN number for a business is considered to be like a Social Security Number for an individual. With this number, you can file taxes for the business as well as focus efforts on employee payments and tax needs.

Credit Card Needs

To help with expenses, a credit card for your business will be needed. Applying for a credit card requires an EIN number when considering a company card. The EIN number will ensure that a card is issued to your business so that purchases can be made as needed.

Applying for Loans

An EIN number is also required by banks for a business to be able to apply for a loan. If your business will need monetary assistance via a loan, the EIN must be secured first before applying.

As you can see, there are many ways that an EIN number is used within a business. Be sure to file online to secure the number you need to get started.

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Sticking the Landing – How to Perfect Your Point of Sale

Business

If you are in retail business, whether it is selling clothes, cooking food, or any number of other products and services individuals purchase, you know how vital point of sale is. You want a sales-friendly environment and be able to upsell to any customer with ease.

You also want software that can assist you in your retail endeavours. Since technology is the future, it is time to get on board with point of sale or POS software. This software tracks critical information that you need regarding your clients and their wants and needs.

Continue reading below to learn how you can make your point of sale operate more efficiently.

Know Your Busy Times

Regardless of the type of retail business you own, you need to know your busy times of the day, week, month, and year. You need to know this information to be able to schedule appropriately as well as order the right amount of inventory. To be able to perfect your point of sale, you need software that can track this data to be able to better your company and get the highest ratings from clients that you can.

Market To Current Clients

Another excellent way to increase your point of sale is to keep in touch with repeat customers. If a customer has purchased with you before and had a good experience, they are more likely to come back and purchase from you again. Take advantage of this and market to your returning clientele.

Many businesses will focus on getting new customers in the door. However, if you can get repeat business, that is where the money is at. Find software that will integrate loyalty reward programs as well as personalized mailings and emails to clients who have already shown you some love.

Simplify Inventory

Inventory is needed in any business, whether that inventory is ingredients for a restaurant, or clothing for a fashion store. Inventory can be fickle though. How can you make the process simple, especially if you have multiple locations, new staff, or a tricky budget? You need to investigate software that can scan the current inventory in stock and recommend what needed items should be ordered. Certain software can also make it impossible for store clerks to lower prices or change the price at the register.

Make Your Register Precise And Accurate

The most crucial item you need to perfect your point of sale is an accurate and precise cash register. You want software that can work offline if you lose internet connectivity and that will save the transactions on the device and sync to the cloud when the connectivity returns. You also need to have the ability to run the point of sale software on the go, especially in a restaurant setting.

Involve Your Employees

The last vital tip to perfect your point of sale is to involve your staff with the acquisition of new point of sale software. This is an important gesture as the employees are the ones who will be using the software the most. It will also show your employees that they matter in your decision-making, which makes morale rise and respect gain momentum.

Why Should I Change My Software For My Business?

As a business owner, you want to have the top of the line software, and other technological advances as that are what consumers are looking for. They do not want to do business with an outdated or antiquated retailer. That is why many customers go online to shop, as it is so much easier.

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If you want to stay relevant, you must switch your software and the way you do business. By doing so, you can market to repeat customers for additional sales, know when you are the busiest to appropriately staff and order the correct inventory. But, most importantly, you can have pinpoint accuracy with your cash register where errors are a thing of the past and move towards a more efficient point of sale setup for your business.

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District Dilemmas – 3 Areas in Hong Kong to Consider for Your Business

Business

Those who have been fortunate enough to visit Hong Kong have experienced the wonder one of the world largest economies. The city, home to a number of financial institutions and corporate conglomerates, has one of the most thriving hospitality industries boasting some of the most luxurious hotels and restaurants. However, Hong Kong is really known for an economy supported by a variety of industries.

In this island city, this wealthy locale has been an attractive place for many entrepreneurs for years. Finding office space is no longer a problem, as Hong Kong’s commercial real estate market has a number of traditional and alternative office leasing formats. In addition to the standard co-working and virtual office formats, serviced offices in Hong Kong can accommodate your business. The problem is no longer whether you can find affordable space but where to set up shop.

Let’s take a look at some of the best locations to get started with a serviced office space in Hong Kong.

The Central

While you can consume a good portion of your time in the Golden Shopping Centre, and your money, a few miles away in Hong Kong’s central business district, known as The Central, professionals can experience the awe of working among some of the most internationally-known, wealthy institutions. Key areas that are a draw for both business and tourism are the Bank of China building and HK Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The area is located below Victoria’s Peak, which is directly across the harbour from Kowloon. In this area, financial titans, government consulates, and other corporate interests make this location their home. The area bordered by Aberdeen (Wing Kut Street), Admiralty and Victoria Peak has been the centre of international trade and finance since the British colonial era in 1841. For those looking for office space, this area is serviced by a few leasing companies that can provide you with office space.

The Pearl River Delta

Another possible lucrative market is the Pearl River Delta (PRD) located around the Pearl River estuary. As one of Hong Kong’s most densely urbanised areas, the PRD is known for being a consumer market, a trading hub, a services market and place for investing. The area has one of the fastest growing economies, and because of its link with Hong Kong, it has seen rapid growth in the last couple of years.

Described as a boon economy, the PRD’s economy is primarily supported through trade of goods, services and capital among major cities Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macau, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Foshan, Huizhou, Huiyang, Huidong, Zhaoqing, and Jiangmen. For this reason, this area’s population is expected to become one of the largest in the world, overtaking even The Central in terms of business. Those looking test out this market might take advantage of the numerous all night co-working spaces or even the virtual office, both offering professionals a lot of flexibility.

Container Terminal 9 (Container Port)

As with many other international locations, where there is a port, there are opportunities for business, and Hong Kong’s Container Terminal 9 offers prospective business interests the opportunity to take advantage of this area’s import/export trade. The port is undergoing a facelift that when completed will provide those doing business in this area six berths with a capacity to hold more than two million twenty-foot equivalents (TEO) yearly. This area is primed to be one of the busiest ports in the world.

An Island With Plenty Of Growth

Hong Kong’s beauty is the stuff of legend, but on a more mundane level, its business economy offers any entrepreneur a number of options. Entrepreneurs can find they have a place among all three areas whose intertwining interests go back and forth between finance and trade. The Central, PRD and the port are the financial backbones of a city-state whose economic presence in the world has been long-standing.

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