Invoicing Tips for Small Business Owners Among all the hats a small business owner wears, some become so heavy to hold up that they crunch down on the neck of the business owner. It doesn’t matter how fancy the hat is, it can really start to feel it is taking away from the part of […]
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When we consider the benefits of freelancing, it’s usually in the context of our own lifestyles as members of the work force. We think about the increased potential to earn and the freedom to set our own schedules and perform our work from the locations of our own choosing. Don’t forget, though, that the freelance-client […]
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One of the most enjoyable aspects of the freelancer’s life is the ability to work from anywhere, and increasing numbers are finding personal fulfillment and business success thanks to the rise of co-working. Sure, for many of us, non-virtual tasks are big parts of what we do, from networking and lining up clients to making […]
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The month you launch your new freelance business, you’re likely to be (or have been) a jittery, double espresso-fueled, intimidated mess. But you’re also so high on adrenaline that you can crush that initial wave of projects like breakfast cereal and network successfully at conferences, Meetups and happy hours in the same day. You’re inhaling […]
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Large businesses have the advantage of large budgets for advertising, social media and promotions. Small businesses are always looking for ways to compete with the big guys and with their smaller competitors. This may seem daunting at first, but the truth is that small businesses have one advantage over larger businesses – the personal touch. […]
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Since most of us don’t have trust funds or large amounts of savings with which to start a business, one of our first stops is to the bank to request a loan.This is a critical step which requires a lot of homework, since asking for too much or too little may kill your business right […]
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Freelancers often work hard for many hours and don’t see much return in the way of income. They are often viewed by those who hire them as cheap labor, and the extra time they put in to find clients, create proposals and chase down payments are not valued by the clients. If you are one […]
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Finding new clients is a time-consuming and expensive proposition. Online marketing, conventional advertising and strategic planning can drain your resources. It takes you away from doing what you do best – creating a superior product or service. Large companies can afford to hire marketing teams, but most small businesses need to concentrate on other priorities. […]
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When you work as an employee, getting paid is a no-brainer. You sign some forms when you join the company, and your salary comes on a regular basis. But once you leave the comfort of the corporate world and strike out on your own, getting paid becomes your responsibility. Not all clients are quick to […]
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If you’re about to launch a new business or are thinking of expanding an existing one, one of the first questions to ask yourself is whether you prefer to work alone or with a partner. There’s no one answer to this question, since there are advantages and disadvantages both of working alone and of partnering. […]
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Invoicing is an important aspect of running a small business, and though it seems simple, it’s important to create a system so that mistakes don’t happen. When you’re juggling more than one client and focusing on giving each client the best possible service, proper invoicing can get forgotten in the shuffle. If you can afford […]
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Once you’ve made the leap from employee to business owner, one of the first questions to consider is how to ensure that you are paid in a timely and organized manner. It’s easy for a business to go under due to lack of cash flow, too many customer debts and a lack of proper bookkeeping. […]
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Relationships with clients must be nurtured carefully so that the clients come back to you for more work and refer you to others for similar projects. The success of the services you deliver is often measured by the emotional connection the client has developed with you. Unfortunately, the client-business owner relationship can be damaged, sometimes […]
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The twenty-first century business world seems to be dominated by big chains and online shopping sites. Big chains have the advantage of being a known quantity – if you have been to one branch you know what to expect in another. Chains have large advertising budgets and the ability to offer attractive deals and sales. […]
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Proper financial management is one of the most important factors in the success of a small business. Before or soon after you start your business, you will want to hire an accountant to manage your finances and help your new venture flourish. We often think of accountants as filers of taxes, but their role can […]
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Great business ideas are a dime a dozen, but most of them never get implemented. People dream about starting their own businesses but keep working at their nine to five jobs and their ideas never come to fruition. This is because it takes a certain kind of personality to take a germ of an idea […]
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You’ve started your new business and gotten your first clients. Now it’s time to start organizing your accounting books. A shoebox full of invoices and statements, or even an inbox full of electronic receipts, just isn’t going to cut it. You need an organized system, and you need to understand how it works, if you […]
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Pretty much every freelancer, consultant and independent business owner has come into contact with clients who, for one reason or another, don’t pay for products or services in a timely manner. This can be painful, especially for a small business, since it interrupts cash flow and makes it more difficult to honor commitments. Telling a supplier, […]
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The world of online and in-store payments has been changing rapidly in the past few years. Developers, financial institutions and innovators are looking at new ways to pay and collect payment, boost sales and save more. We’re clearly currently in a transition period where everyone’s figuring out what makes sense when it comes to paying […]
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