Structuring Success: Steps for Setting Up a Business Partnership

Going into business? You’ll want to know about various types of partnerships and the ways of setting up a business partnership in the UK.

Choosing a Name

Choosing a name is one of the harder aspects of setting up a business. Trade names are usually protected as intellectual property, so make sure you’re not infringing on someone else’s property rights when you name your company.

If you’re going into business with someone else, choose a nominated partner and register with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The nominated partner is responsible for managing the partnerships tax returns and keeping records.

Setting Up a Business Partnership: Shop As An Entity

There are several ways to set up shop as a partnership. You can choose:

Ordinary Business Partnership

This is the most basic type of partnership which is similar to a sole trader entity. When you set up an ordinary partnership, you are responsible for any losses your business make, bills for things you or your partner buys, and any and all taxes on income.

The partnership will also have to register for VAT if you expect takings of more than £82,000 per year.

Limited Liability Partnerships

LLPs are incorporated entities that are run by 2 or more members. A member can be a company or a person. Each member pays tax on their share of any profits in the company. However, they are not personally liable for the debts of the business.

To form this type of company, you will need to designate at least two members, have a registered address which is publicly available, make an LLP agreement, and register with the Companies House.

Limited Partnerships

A limited partnership or LP has at least one general partner and one limited partner. These legal entities allow for both legal entities and persons to serve as partners, but you must have a registered address, appoint at least 2 partners, and register with the Companies House. All partners pay tax on their share of the profits and, like an LLP, liability for business debts is limited.

Dissolving The Business

No one likes to think it will happen to their company, but many businesses eventually dissolve. If your partner leaves you with a pile of debt, you may be forced to use a company like Claims Direct to recover the funds.

If you leave your partner, but you don’t pay off your share of the debts, your partner may pursue you for payment. In either case, both of you are equally responsible for the business.

You must file dissolution documents to formally end the company.

Any taxes that are due must be paid in the year that they are earned, regardless of whether the business operates for the full year or not. So, for example, if you earned money this year, but you dissolved the business before December, you must still pay tax on any shared profits you generated from business activities during the year.

If you do not, the government may pursue you for payment of those debts.

The post Structuring Success: Steps for Setting Up a Business Partnership appeared first on Small Business Can.

A Competition Designed For You

Here are some good reasons why you might want to consider adding ‘must enter business competition’ to your ‘to do’ list!

Seeing the wood from the trees

The application process is an opportunity to reflect on what your business is all about and clearly articulate your USP.

It’s an opportunity to work on your business rather than in it by stepping back to look at achievements, challenges, market trends and areas for improvement.

Work on your business rather than in

As such it gives you an opportunity to dust off and update the business plan.

Punch above your weight

Competitions are also about PR, marketing, selling…spin. They’re an opportunity for you to raise the profile of the business for free. Entering the competition will get you into the local press.

Competitions are also about PR, marketing, selling…spin

It’ll probably get you into the regionals and it could get your business national and even international profile.

Work the room

By working the competition – filling in the forms correctly, engaging with local reps for the competition, turning up at the networking events, volunteering to give quotes and elbowing yourself into photos, you will get marketing material that’s ‘independent’ for your website and other marcomms. If you progress through the competition there are programs such as Ulster Bank’s Business Achievers Awards that produce corporate videos for all of the short listed companies. These are done by professional companies with editors and designers. You probably cannot afford to produce these yourselves! They are given to you after the competition for your website and other marketing material, and they will impress!

Access to a big network of influential people

Working the competition will also give you access to a big network of people that can help your business grow. For obvious reasons the politicans always turn up. You’ll have access to state agencies. You’ll meet all the local and national enterprise support agencies. Bankers, funders, journalists, other successful businesspeople…the big national Awards are a veritable who’s who of the great and the good in business. And you’ll be one of the stars of the show…just by entering. And if you win…!

It’s not just about you, you know!

When you sit down and take the time to apply to a competition, you’ll realize that you have a team supporting you. It illustrates the importance of the support of family and its role in moving your business forward. You’ll see the staff that have and are stepping up to the mark.

You have a team supporting you

You’ll probably get your management involved. Sometimes just by reflecting and internally acknowledging what you’ve achieved together is a major win in its own right.

If it’s worth doing, do it well

There are many different competitions out there from local and regional awards to national events. Aside from all the benefits listed above, the winners often benefit from superb packages which may include cash prizes, mentoring, free PR and much more.

Look here, we wont deny that it takes time to enter. Last year most people we surveyed said that the form filling was too much hassle. We’ve worked with Ulster Bank in particular to get the form down to a fairly slick 20 minutes. But even if it takes more time, you owe it to yourself, your staff and your familily to give it your best shot.

You owe it to your business to to give it your best shot

Even if you’re not short-listed you will benefit from working ‘on’ your business. You can use the knowledge to plan future strategies and identify weak areas. It’ll help you make your business stronger and better. And that’s what it all, eventually, boils down to!

The post A Competition Designed For You appeared first on Small Business Can.

This post was originally published here - http://www.smallbusinesscan.com/competition-designed/ on

Entering Business Competitions: If It’s Worth Doing, Do It Right

We’re a website. We have to do a Top Tips! Here’s our take on how you should approach entering business competitions and filling in the forms. Sorry if this appears a bit didatic. But last year some of the smallbusinesscan team were on judging panels; this blog is based on some of the very simple mistakes that were made – and could so easily be avoided – by applicants.

Check the deadline for entry

Of course its obvious but almost 90% of applications are filled in on the last day…and they look rushed. Mad dashes to meet deadlines result in poorly written applications, errors and spelling mistakes. In many cases essential information is missing, probably because the author didn’t leave enough time to get it organised. It takes time to complete an application properly. You may have to undertake additional research – which you probably should be doing anyway as part of the routine of running the business (another reason to enter awards!). You may need to find research to back up your claims. And you’ll need to have your financials at hand.

Check you meet the criteria

Criteria might include how long you’ve been trading, level of turnover, your business sector. If there are a range of categories for entry, think carefully about which one best suits your business. Ulster Bank allows you to enter at least 2 categories, so make sure you check this out. It doubles your chances and helps you think about how you want to present your business and the kind of profile you want for it.

Read any entry guidelines available

Again obvious enough isn’t it. But ask yourself this…when you were doing the A Levels or Leaving Certificate, how many of you read exam papers from start to finish, before putting pen to paper? Yet it is and was probably taught to you as a fundamental exam technique. You’re older and hopefully wiser now, so read the guidelines for business competitions you’re entering!

Keep your answers simple, clear and as short as possible

First of all remember that judges are going to be reading hundreds of applications. They’re not going to read long rambling essays. They’ll also know if you just cut and paste answers from your website! Consider talking about your business, achievements, and plans for the future…

• In short sentences
• And in bullet points

Go over your application again

On the same theme: Read your application thoroughly for spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, punctuation. Get a colleague to read over the final application. Ask for feedback on the content as well as correcting typos.

Back up what you are saying

Whatever you say about your business and achievements, eventually you’ll have to back these claims up with evidence – financials, research, marketing materials, testimonials and references.

Check out previous winners

It’s always worth looking at the ‘previous winners’ page to give you an insight into the types of business that win and how they project themselves. All these winners are good well managed companies and this is a good chance to peer review and benchmark.

Hit that deadline

Make sure you leave plenty of time to get the application in on time. And look for a receipt to prove that it is in.

Any more tips? Please add them to the comments section below.

The post Entering Business Competitions: If It’s Worth Doing, Do It Right appeared first on Small Business Can.

5 Smart Strategies to Manage Your Taxes after a Windfall

Coming into a large sum of money can be exciting! The thoughts of what to do first with the money are likely racing through your head. Whether you thought of vacations, a new home, a new car, or a new puppy, did the IRS cross your mind during those thoughts? They probably should as they are going to come knocking on your door; so to speak, collecting the money they are owed on your newfound income. Unfortunately no income is safe from the IRS. This could put a damper on your celebrations, but if you know upfront what to expect and how to minimize its affects, you can make the most of your money and minimize your tax penalties in the end. Let’s look at ways to manage your taxes after a windfall.

Think Long Term

While your head might be spinning with ideas of your next vacation, new car, or a new wardrobe, you should think more long-term with your new income. Retirement is a great place to start because not only does it allow you to have money set aside for when you are ready to stop working, but it has tax savings as well. Consult with a tax professional to see the maximum amount of money you can contribute to an IRA or 401(K) this year and still have the money be deducted on your taxes and then take advantage of that figure! Yu kill two birds with one stone with this tip, and pay the IRS less in the long run. As an added bonus, if you do contribute to a 401(K), your employer might match all or a fraction of your contribution, giving you evens more money for retirement.

Give to Charity

Most everyone wants to give something to charity when they come into money. There are several ways to do this. You can give them a lump sum and write it off on your taxes or you can set up a Donor Advised Fund, which works similar to the way a trust would that is set up for a child. The charity is given a certain amount of money at the intervals that you determine. This allows you to write off the charitable contributions for that length of time while doing some good with the money you have obtained. Either way that you decide to give, your contribution will be tax deductible.

Pay Estimated Taxes

No one likes to think about paying taxes when they earned a large sum of money, but it is necessary. If you are worried about what you will owe, why not pay estimated taxes now before April 15th arrives? You can talk to a tax relief experts to see how much of your new money should be put towards taxes and send it in to the IRS. When it comes time to file taxes, you will get the money back if you overpaid. On the other hand, if you under pay or neglect to pay at all, the IRS will hit you with penalties and fees that are not pleasant to pay.

Go to School

Have you always wanted to go back to school? Now is a great time and you can afford it! Without student loans, you have the ability to write off your education expenses. This allows you to save money that you owe to the IRS while bettering yourself with a higher education. Whether you go to school in order to get a better job or you do it for personal reasons, the result is the same when it comes time to file your taxes.

Get a Timeshare

Timeshare property taxes are usually deductible on your tax return, just like the property taxes on your primary residence. If this is the case for you, invest in a timeshare where you and your spouse typically vacation and use it often! This allows you two benefits with your windfall – you get the vacation you dream of when the money hit your hands and you get a tax deduction for a portion of it. This can help to decrease your tax liability, allowing you to avoid tax relief programs when April 15th comes, such as an installment plan or asking for an extension on what you owe. No one wants to deal with excessive taxes, and this is one of the most exciting ways to deal with it.

Once the excitement of a windfall wears off, it is time to figure out how you are going to manage your money. It is best to talk to a professional before doing anything as excitement can get in your way of making smart decisions. Any decisions that you make should have your taxes at the forefront of your mind. You do not want unpleasant surprises come next April, when your money is already spent and yet you owe the IRS a large sum of money. Understand your tax obligations now and the ways to overcome them in order to have the most success possible.

Share this article in your social media circles – you never know who might have come into a windfall. You could prevent them from making mistakes that could cost them a lot of money!

The post 5 Smart Strategies to Manage Your Taxes after a Windfall appeared first on Small Business Can.

The Definitive Guide to Local SEO

Local businesses are finding it increasingly important to have an effective online strategy. The days of knocking up a cheap and cheerful website that acts as a glorified business card are long gone.

The simple fact is that the businesses with a top ranking are the ones who are getting the lion’s share of the traffic.

But equally true is that these businesses haven’t got an amazing (and expensive) marketing team working for them. In fact, all they have done is to focus on some straightforward techniques that any small business owner can put in place.

That is exactly the reason why Pickaweb put together the Definitive Guide to Local SEO to help any small business owner to get their online strategy back on track – quickly.

Here we’ve got a quick summary of some of the key points to help you hit the deck running.

The Basics

First up there are some SEO basics that need to be put in place. This is all about applying some best practices to your site.

Things like keyword selection, setting up metatags, using keyword rich URLs, linking between pages, adding more pages for specific products or services, etc..

These are definitely quick wins and should be your first priority.

Name, Address & Phone (NAP) Citations

As well as fixing up your site you need to ensure that you get listed in authority websites – especially those related to local businesses. These are called local citations and they are very important for any local business serious about getting traffic.

But you need to ensure that you are listed consistently across them, especially your business name, address and phone number – hence the acronym NAP.

Fortunately there are loads of NAP sites to chose from and you should also pay attention to niche citation sites.

This is definitely an easy win. That is not to say it isn’t time consuming although there are a number of companies like BrightLocal that can do all this for you.

Link Building

Link building is the process of getting other websites to link to you. In recent years it has gained a tarnished reputation because people tried to game the system and were penalised by Google.

However, it is still a legitimate strategy for any business and despite the mystery that surrounds it there are still some surprisingly easy ways to get links for your local business.

Google My Business

These days if you are serious about getting traffic from Google then you need to play by their rules and that means setting up and configuring your Google My Business listing.

Creating your listing is just the first step and you need to make sure that you optimise it and make full use of all the features that Google provides for you.

Blogging for Local Business

Most local businesses do not have a blog. Possibly because they either can’t see the benefits or they can’t think what to write about or maybe they are just in a plain boring industry.

But there are definitely benefits to blogging for any local business. You just need to get started and create some initial content ideas for your blog.

Customer Reviews

Getting reviews is a vital part of any local SEO strategy these days. In fact you may have noticed that the local businesses that tend to get a high ranking have got one thing in common: Google reviews. Go check it out.

People often think that getting customer reviews or testimonials is difficult. But there are easy ways to get customer reviews too.

Video for Local SEO Success

With great video cameras in most smartphones these days there is no excuse not to make videos for your business. You can create great quality videos using your iPhone and some basic equipment.

But it isn’t just about creating video for the sake of it. Video can be a great way to improve your site’s ranking.

So, it’s: Lights, iPhone, Action!

Mobile – The Future of the Net

These days people aren’t just sitting at home browsing the web. They’re out and about using their smartphone or tablet. In fact the growth in mobile usage is staggering and is behind Google’s decision in April 2015 to promote mobile friendly websites in their mobile search listings.

First up you need to check if your site is mobile friendly. If it isn’t then one of the ways you can address this is to consider switching to a responsive website.

Google+ for Local SEO Success

Google+ is Google’s social platform and it is increasingly important for local SEO success.

There are some basics that you need to ensure that you get the most from Google+ but there are considerable benefits for any local business.

Tools of the Trade

There are loads of great tools for Local SEO whether you want to get the basics right, get on top of your NAP Citations, create a better blog, get more reviews, use video or get more mobile traffic.

by Pickaweb

The post The Definitive Guide to Local SEO appeared first on Small Business Can.

6 Best Companies for Health Benefits

Companies who truly value their employees will offer amazing health benefits and incentives. Some of the most well-known companies provide benefits to all of their employees regardless of employment status, while others beef up the stakes with free high-quality meals and transportation. When looking to apply for a company, it’s important to review their health benefits and incentive packages. It’s also crucial to see what offerings they have for sick pay, bonuses, and vacation time. These seemingly small offerings can make a $30,000 a year job worth much more, so it’s important to pick a company with a good reputation and quality incentives. Let’s look at the top 6 best companies for health benefits and incentives.

Facebook

The social media giant knows how to take care of its people. The sprawling campus offers free bikes to all its employees and features a unique and robust atmosphere that employees state is fun to work in. Employees are passionate and compensated well. There is onsite healthcare, including a chiropractor, acupuncturist, gym, and full health benefits. Vision, dental, sick pay, vacation time, and medial are also included. As an added benefit, the company also provides tons of free food.

ASEA

ASEA is a premiere manufacturer of products that help people live and feel better. It’s a leading company that specializes in the cellular health market. People who work for the company receive a competitive salary, a complete health plan, and generous holiday and time off. Medical, dental, and vision benefits are provided by the company and there are extensive options to advance and improve. ASEA reviews are always full of satisfied employee statements.

Costco

Costco is known worldwide for its excellent value and customer service. The health benefits include medical, dental, sick pay, vacation time, and raises based on hours worked. Starting pay is competitive and there is plenty of room for advancement within the company. The company has a unique culture that fosters promotion from within the ranks, and most managers are promoted based on their ability to work hard.

Adobe

Adobe is a people-focused technology company that drives innovation in a supportive and fast-paced working environment. The company puts a huge emphasis on acquiring effective employees who can get the job done effectively. Health care is on par with other high tech companies, but they also offer pet insurance as a unique option for people who really loves their pets. The company works hard to provide some of the best health benefits available in the industry and invests heavily in its employees. As far as paid time off is concerned, you can take as much time as needed provided you get your work completed.

USAA

USAA is a leader in financial products and insurance products, so it’s no wonder that they also take exceedingly good care of their employees. The company has a complete health package that includes dental, vision and medical. Employees are able to benefit from discounts on their available services, and they have access to the same services as their customers.

Intuit

Intuit is a company with its hands in a lot of different products. The company truly values its employees and pays them well, while also providing outstanding health benefits. The company offers a full health plan, including dental, vision and medical. Employees also get access to fitness reimbursement, discounted healthy lunches and handsome bonus packages. There is a good work and life balance, and the culture is one of mutual respect and appreciation.

Looking at the healthcare packages of a company is extremely important. There are few companies that rank highly and don’t provide their employees with good health and medical benefits. The mission of a company should include the health and well-being of its employees. Look for a company that provides good benefits and a culture that fosters healthy living and work/life balance.

The post 6 Best Companies for Health Benefits appeared first on Small Business Can.

€10 Million in Funding Available to Businesses: Action Plan for Jobs

On May 15th 2015, a new initiative was launched for 10 Million Euro to be granted to businesses and organisations across the country with the view to support job creation.

The launch was announced at the Carlow Enterprise House, with official members of state present such as An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, Minister for jobs, Richard Bruton TD, and Minister of State for Business and Employment, Gerald Nash TD.

The location of the launch was strategically planned at Carlow Enterprise House as it was celebrating its 10th birthday.

This initiative is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs that aims to create 100,000 new jobs by 2016 across the country. The regional scheme, available to 8 regions in total, allows for Enterprises boards and other organizations which promote employment to bid for funding.

The initiative is separated into two forms of funding:

€5 million fund for collaboration by the 31 LEOs on regional-specific initiatives and granted on a competitive basis to Local Enterprise houses, with projects that have the greatest potential to create employment opportunities.
€5 million Community Enterprise Initiatives fund, available through Enterprise Ireland, for new and existing business or community groups to collaborate on projects which will strengthen the job creation potential of their region.

The closing date for both types of funding in July 10th 2015.

The Taoiseach made it clear “We are all here today for two reasons – to support local jobs and to support local enterprises creating them.”

After the conclusion of speeches from different speakers including members of State and Official from Carlow Enterprise Board, the Taoiseach took time to speak with local companies who had gained momentum, with the help from the Carlow Enterprise Board.

Maven TM, a company based in the Carlow Enterprise House since 2011, had previously encountered a visit from An Taoiseach in 2013, for the forecast of new job creation within their business.

When asked by An Taoiseach on the progress of this creation of jobs, Mark Cradock, MD, was able to confirm that this prediction had been met and the business was expanding further, leading to the company moving to a larger office space to facilitate growth.

“The success of the Carlow Community Enterprise Centre is an excellent example of local people taking action and control at local level.”, said An Taoiseach.

The post €10 Million in Funding Available to Businesses: Action Plan for Jobs appeared first on Small Business Can.

Pros and Cons of Marketing Automation

Marketing automation has indubitably come a rather long way from being but a simple method of sending automatic marketing emails without any specific focus. Throughout the years, it has developed into a versatile tool that many marketers now use to create sustainable value for their customers, thereby generating more leads and ultimately converting them to much needed sales. However, marketing automation isn’t a “one size fits all” solution, and this is something that every marketer should keep in mind while tailoring the approach to actively engaging their target audience. Here is some food for thought to help you get a clearer picture of what the benefits and potential pitfalls are for those who have chosen to automate.

Pros

Marketing automation can facilitate a synergetic relationship between your marketing and sales teams.

Often enough, there is significant information asymmetry between these two departments and this can cause a costly rift in your value creation chain, meaning less leads and sales than you could be having with your level of investment. Proper automation requires both teams to be in the loop – this creates a process structure that actually makes it nigh impossible for these two departments to become misaligned. Build value from the inside!

It allows for major future returns by keeping your leads in “stand-by” mode until they’re ready to convert.

A well-timed action from your automated system can mean the difference between reinvigorating your communication with a customer and losing it to the competition.

Big data means big opportunities.

Marketing systems rely on trending, trial and error and machine learning, which means they get smarter by constantly doing and re-analyzing. You can easily measure the effectiveness of certain messages and formulations and then adjust your approach accordingly – constant feedback means constant improvement.

Inspiration through integration!

Many marketing automation solutions offer a rather high degree of integration with major customer relationship management (CRM) systems, which can further help you tailor a more personalized instrument to reach your customers.

Strength in numbers

Your new system can indeed help you fire in quick succession and even simultaneously at a host of moving targets in various marketing channels!

Cons

It might prove to be a costly investment.

The knowledge required to create an efficient and dependable marketing automation system comes with a price. That price does depend on the amount of functionality and the ability to use it as a scalable solution, but its true cost is always relative to your expected ROI. Do your math carefully!

You’re going to need a ton of data and content.

Processing and learning algorithms work by analyzing huge quantities of data to assess consumer trends and serve your marketing offer accordingly. If your data is scarce, incomplete or even faulty, your automated system is going to be doing a whole lot of missing, and getting wrong or generic offers and messages is something that consumers find irritating.

“Automated” doesn’t equal“no maintenance”

Sometimes it’s just the opposite. You need to manage your tools like you would normally manage your people. There is always some tweaking to be done in order to help this investment of yours grow to its full potential, which means dedicating some human capacity to boostyour machine learning.

It could make you lose your ability to act moderately

Many risk becoming too aggressive, too passive or too generic by relying on a machine to do all the work. Automation may offer you some serious data analytics, but marketing is about building interpersonal relationships through value, and this creates sales.

Wisdom for the road

Marketing automation is a mighty tool with the proven capability of boosting your leads and sales, but getting it right is tricky. If you plan on going “full auto”, bear in mind that the costs can quickly rise and surprise, so keep a close eye on your process, feed it ample data and remember: marketing is about understanding psychology, and psychology is about fundamentally understanding people.

The post Pros and Cons of Marketing Automation appeared first on Small Business Can.

Business Signs: Illuminate Your Business To Success

Every business needs marketing, many opt for on-line marketing campaigns and others go for the old fashioned way of using magazines, newspapers and other directories. There is nothing wrong with using any of these, in fact, they all work quite well! In the past few years there has been a massive boost in the use of custom signs for businesses, companies are employing architects to create weird and wacky designs to compliment their services, professionalism when it comes to signs has gone out of the window here as quirky is here to stay.

Let’s take a look at some fantastic business signs…

An amusing sign for a bar

Sometimes a little humour goes a long way, this sign does just that. Using humour in your sign can instantly create an inviting vibe, it will also be talked about, I can guarantee it. Though only a bar would really get away with this type of humour.

Waffle house sign

This one is jumping on the social media bandwagon, I think this one is very clever as I am sure everyone walking past here is bound to snap a photo or two of the sign and put it onto their own Facebook pages, who does not like free advertising? To pull this sort of thing off you will need to be very careful not to infringe on the copyrights of social media platforms, personally I think this one is too close for comfort.

Dragon Building Decoration

Have a sign already but the building itself is a little, boring? Jazz it up and make it the wow factor by adding your mascot right on the front of your building, this could work with any business, it would be especially good for a kids themed restaurant or a company that works with children such as play areas and play warehouses. Also having the mascot on the building as well as business cards, posters and flyers will ensure the nobody misses your establishment!

Why Have A Sign Anyway?

The cost of a new sign and the cost to design it will be a significant investment, you can count on it! The initial investment will be well worth it and the money spent will made back quite quickly as they have a positive effect on the profitability and financial health on any organisation. The U.S small business administration states “For businesses that choose to enhance their signage with an electronic message display, the owners typically see an increase in business of 15% to 150%.”

The Placement

When business owners think about signs, they typically think about it being attached onto their own buildings, in some cases companies are kept well out of the way in business estates that are not in view of the road so this would be pretty pointless as they would only require a small sign with their company name on it. For those that are off the beaten track, the best option is to rent a plot or space that is on a busy intersection or highway, the more visibility the better.

As with the signs above, if you allow room underneath for special offers and monthly offers whenever you run them, you can add them onto the sign and bring in even more potential business through the door by the temptation of saving money for the consumer.

The post Business Signs: Illuminate Your Business To Success appeared first on Small Business Can.

How to Improve Customer Service

Gartner’s report, “Why You Need to Rethink Your Customer Self-Service Strategy,” estimates that by 2016, more than 80 percent of organizations will face higher customer service costs if they don’t provide self-service options for customers. The data points to more and more customers using online portals, FAQs and other online tools instead of speaking to live agents. Let’s take a look at how you can improve customer service.

Customers want more convenience and control of their buying and service experience. Give them the tools they want to expedite their needs and streamline your customer service at the same time.

Automatic Callback

Keeping a customer on hold can lead to mounting frustrations and the loss of a potential sale. Start by using a system like Virtual Hold Technology to calculate the expected wait time. Customers can decide if it’s worth holding, or if they want to receive a call back from your company without losing their turn in the queue. Many customers will jump at the option to stay in the system without having to wait around and suffer through bad hold music and continuous transfers.

Streamlined Accounting

For simple accounting and bookkeeping needs, PayPal can collect payments, send invoices and generate e-commerce shopping cart buttons.

However, a growing business with multiple clients and team members may need a more robust system. Quickly generate quotes and estimates for clients with an accounting system like Sage One. Produce financial reports so you can figure out how often your clients typically need service and how you can improve your offerings. Sage One also lets you quickly generate invoices and statements for your accountant.

Meeting Apps

Eliminate the back and forth with email clutter, and instead give your customers the option to book you directly with an app like You Can Book Me. Clients can see when you’re available and book a time that works for them. The system also works with your Google Calendar so you always know when you’re booked and when your next meeting is coming up.

Give busy clients the freedom to meet from anywhere in the world with GoToMeeting. The service offers online meetings with a personal meeting room and the option for HD Video Conferencing. Share your screen with your client to show charts, images and other materials as needed.

Customer Portal

Set up a customer portal through your internal system for customers to easily access their data. For example, small businesses running a yoga studio can have portals for their customers to check the classes they’ve booked, merchandise bought and personal information. A portal can also be established as a knowledge base for your customers to empower themselves by getting the information they need without scheduling a meeting or calling for support.

Customer Relationship Management

Gain more insight into your customer contacts with a customer relationship management (CRM) tool. Nimble imports your contacts from Outlook, Gmail, LinkedIn and Skype and then takes a deeper look. The tool keeps track of your communication history and can send stay-in-touch reminders. It even analyzes your shared interests. Transform that knowledge into a sharply targeted and meaningful social media campaign, communication strategy or service idea to better serve your customers.

The post How to Improve Customer Service appeared first on Small Business Can.

Category Archives: General