Small/Home Business

Posted by Katelyn Thomas

If you've been thinking about taking a seminar, now is the time to sign up. You have a short window of opportunity before holiday shopping starts up and you should feel some extra motivation as all the kids head back to school.

Not sure what to take? Check out your local library and SBA. Our library does free classes on all sorts of computer skills and has a small business department that offers programming like how to manage effectively on a regular basis.

Check online, too. I've noticed free classes from HP on all sorts of business related topics.

Posted by Katelyn Thomas

Today, I bought a new computer for business use. I hated to do it because it was such a big expenditure. However, my old laptop had issues that were really affecting my productivity and the necessary repairs were going to involve several hundred dollars and several weeks of a life without my laptop. I had just spent almost two hundred dollars on repairs for the same computer less than two months before, too. For me, a new computer was actually cheaper than the repairs and lost time and income..

However, there are times when fixing your computer is a smarter choice. If it is under warranty or if the part is relatively inexpensive, you may want to have the repair done. In fact, I did a repair on our children's game computer myself the other day for the price of $20. It needed a new cpu fan. If only my laptop would have had a problem like this!

To decide whether your computer is ready to go to the great internet cafe in the sky, get a repair estimate, including the time involved. Add up the repair costs and the cost of your lost time and compare it to the cost of a new computer. If the two totals are fairly close, you probably want to opt for the new computer, complete with warranty.

Posted by Katelyn Thomas

I hate reality shows, but I watch Flipping Out. I don't know why. Those people put the D in dysfunctional. However, during all of the drama, Jeff Lewis did do one smart thing - he installed a nanny cam when he was uneasy about what an employee was doing when he was in the home unsupervised.

As a small business owner, you probably have mixed feelings about spying on employees. When a business isn't very big, owners often become attached to employees and treat them more like family members than staff. Spying with a nanny cam seems almost dishonest and sneaky. You may see a staff member adjusting clothing or scratching an itch when he or she thought there was privacy. You will most likely see some minor work related issues. After all, noone is perfect. Should you do something this drastic?

If you are having theft problems or work isn't getting done while you are gone, a nanny cam can show you which employees are abusing your trust. It is up to you how you handle all the things you see. If you notice minor infractions, you may just want to ignore them and be thankful your suspicions about bigger problems are wrong. If you see serious problems, you may opt to try to rehabilitate your employee or you may decide to fire him or her.

Nanny cams - they may smack of "Big Brother" but they can protect your business.

Posted by Katelyn Thomas

Sometimes, it can be hard for a small business owner to find the information he or she needs. Limited time to do research and make calls can make it really tough to get help. If you have a small business or home business related question, from how to deal with an employee issue to how to start a specific business, ask me. I'll do my best to find you an answer.

If you're a died in the wool DIYer and want to look for answers yourself, check out your local SBA office or your local library. Both of these organizations love helping people find answers.

Posted by Katelyn Thomas

Your energy bill is shooting up along with the hot summer temperatures and you need to try some energy saving tips. However, you don't want to make your employees cranky from working in a warm office. How can you save energy without leaving your staff to sweat out the summer?

Turning the thermostat up just a few degrees can save money and help reduce environmental pollution. Most electric companies and government agencies recommend setting the thermostat at seventy eight degrees.

Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs in all light fixtures. These bulbs don't generate a lot of excess heat, which helps keep the temperatures in the building down. As a bonus, you're saving a lot on energy costs - as much as thirty dollars per bulb per year.

Allow employees to bring in a fan to keep at desks or work stations. Fans circulate the air and make temperatures seem lower. Even though they do use some energy, several fans will still use less than a central air unit that is set several degrees lower than the optimal seventy eight degrees.

Consider letting employees dress down. It is amazing how cool people feel in short sleeves and collarless shirts. Allowing tasteful shorts similar to those that UPS employees wear will also boost morale and help the staff feel cooler.

Posted by Katelyn Thomas

As we move into mid-July, keep a close eye on office supply and big box store sales flyers. Traditionally, these stores have some great deals on paper, presentation folders, glue and other school supplies that are commonly used in the office.

So far, I've seen paper for four dollars, glue for eighteen cents and Purell for five cents. Stocking up now on supplies like these means you can save big later in the year, when they will cost much more.

By the way, if you have a family friendly business, don't overlook other cheap school supplies, like crayons and pencils. They serve two purposes - you can set up a kid's area so they can color and draw while their parents shop and you can put together inexpensive back to school goodie bags (with your company information on them, of course) to donate to local schools that have students from low income families.

Posted by Katelyn Thomas

You have the chance to move your business to an awesome new space. You'll save on rent and be able to expand. It is outside of town, but that shouldn't be a problem, right? Actually, with the rising cost of fuel and the struggling economy, that move may kill your business.

Choosing the right location for a small business has never been so important. People are not willing to drive as far as they used to drive and they try to combine several errands into one trip. Unless your area has a very efficient and consumer friendly mass transit system available, you should look for a space that is very centrally located.

Posted by Katelyn Thomas

This week I talked about dealing with problem employees. However, sometimes you simply can't get an employee to change. Perhaps he or she has addiction problems or perhaps you have employed someone who is determined to win the lotto instead of working. Whatever the reason, he or she is not willing to make the necessary adjustments to become a good employee. So, now you need to fire your employee, but how?



Document Everything

When you realize you are having problems, start making a record of them. Lateness, rudeness, theft, or other bad behaviors should be written down, along with the date and time. This way, you have a record of why you fired the employee to back you up in case he or she decides to file a suit for wrongful termination. You can show that you fired the employee because of behavior, not whatever he or she sues for.

Don't Do It Alone

Firing someone alone just isn't sensible. Another person in the room can testify that things were done properly and can help defuse anger.

Spell Out Severence Agreements

Make sure any severence information is clearly stated and is put in writing, as well. Be clear on Cobra, severence pay and other behefits.

Posted by Katelyn Thomas

When I worked for a veterinary office right out of college, my boss used to have the office manager call up on her days off and ask us about different services. He had a good idea, although it probably would have worked better if he had someone call who we didn't talk to every day! Her voice was pretty recognizable.

There is no better way to find out how well trained and customer friendly employees are than to have someone ask the same questions a customer would ask and then give you feedback on the employees' responses. If the employee doesn't do a good job, you can institute some training sessions to help him or her learn the skills that are missing. For employees that answer the phone incorrectly or don't seem to know how to deal with an unhappy caller, perhaps some classes in customer service through an outside organization would be a good idea.

If you'd like to set up a regular schedule of employee check ups, you may want to consider using a secret shopper company.

Posted by Katelyn Thomas

For most small business owners, a trip to one of the big box office supply stores is the equivalent of letting a child loose in the toy store. "Oooh, green post it notes. Wow, look at that desk blotter. Check out the new business software." Although it is tempting to buy every new gadget and supply you see, overspending on office supplies can wreck the business budget.

• Using an inventory sheet to buy supplies from is a great way to avoid impulse buys.
• Set a spending limit for extras and stick to it. The reality is that we don't end up using most of those must have new office supplies or only pull them out a few times.
• Take advantage of reward programs and coupons. These discounts can really add up.