5 Ways To Lower Your Company’s Electricity Bill

May7

Companies are more reliant on electricity than ever before. If you’ve noticed your company’s electricity bill going up, here are a few tricks that could help to reduce costs.Energy Power Consumption Socket Electricity Current

#1. Switch to the cloud

If you currently use your own local server, switching to the cloud could save you a lot of money by reducing your electricity consumption. Private servers use up a lot of energy to stay cool, whilst you don’t have to pay any energy bills to use a remote cloud server.

The cloud can also have other advantages, such as allowing employees to work remotely. With more employees working from home instead of in the office, your company energy bills will be reduced saving you further money.  

#2. Install a meter

You could also consider installing an energy meter. This could help to make you more aware of your electricity consumption by showing you exactly how much you’re spending on it as you’re using it.

You can install a meter by hiring a level 2 service provider. You could even get a smart meter installed which you can check readings for on your phone.

#3. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use

Appliances that are constantly left plugged in could be adding huge costs onto your electricity bill. This includes computers, printers and extension cables. Check every evening before leaving the office that all machines are unplugged or switched off at the wall.

You could enforce this as a rule that your employees follow if you’re not always the last to leave the office.

#4. Upgrade old appliances

Old computers and printers could be worth replacing – many of these appliances are likely to guzzle power compared to modern appliances. You can even save money by replacing old light bulbs for modern LED bulbs.

When shopping around for new appliances always check their energy rating. Appliances that have a good level of energy efficiency are usually given an Energy Star recommendation, which is something to look out for.

#5. Consider adding a renewable energy source

You could even consider taking your energy source off grid and never having to pay an energy bill to a provider ever again. Solar energy is the most common way of doing this – by installing solar panels on the roof of your commercial property, you can generate all your own electricity.

Solar panels aren’t cheap to install, but you’re certain to make your money back over time. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a clear sky to generate power and many modern solar panels can generate electricity even on the cloudiest of days.

On top of solar power, you can also generate electricity using wind power. Commercial wind turbines don’t generate as much power as solar panels and are unlikely to power up a whole office, however they could still be a good supplement, especially if your office is located in a windy area.

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Working On The Move: How To Stay Productive

Apr13

Your plans to work on the move are always done with the best intentions, but do they always turn out how you’d hoped? Once you leave the office, it can be difficult to retain the motivation that keeps you going.

Working while travelling or when you’re away on business can help make sure you get work done, and don’t return to a backlog of emails and tasks to sort. While it’s not always easy, there are some things you can do to help you keep that motivation.

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Need some help? Here are some tips to help you stay productive while on the move.

  1. Always keep a pen and some paper to hand

You can’t always rely on connectivity once you leave your office, so the old classic pen and paper can be the way to help you get stuff done. Use your time to write down your ideas, make lists of tasks that need doing as well as any papers or emails you need to write later on.

It’s a handy way to help you stay productive, as well as keep those important thoughts for later when you do eventually end up back online.

2. Take the office with you

Thanks to cloud solutions, it’s easier than ever to access your important documents and folders when you’re on the move. Cloud applications enable you to work collaboratively with others, wherever you are and allow you to access your emails easily for seamless working.

Meanwhile, investing in a document management system for you and your employees will allow you to access those important corporate documents and templates that can help you carry out your work on the move. Ensure you have the right security systems in place to protect your assets whenever you’re off-site.

3.  Keep your energy up

Traveling can take it out of you, which can make it difficult to focus on what you’re meant to be doing. Staying hydrated, while eating a healthy snack can help perk you up and keep you focused on the task at hand.

If you’re still struggling, a brisk walk in the fresh air could help you to re-energize so that you can get back to your work. If typical energy-boosting methods don’t work, it might be a sign that you need to rest so that you can feel recharged for the next day.

4. Set yourself a time limit

It’s difficult to stay on task without the office environment, but by giving yourself a time to work until – you’ll find that you become much more productive. If you’re someone who thrives under pressure, this method will enable you to get much more done in a short amount of time. Try not to work longer than you would in the office and take time to explore the destination you’re in instead.

Getting work done out of the office can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. Many of the principles for creating a productive working environment can help you out of the office too, so it’s worth giving them a try if it helps you get things done. Find the best methods and routines that work for you to help you stay productive while working on the move.

4 Links Needed To Last In Your Business

Mar22

Connectivity is crucial if a business has any hopes of succeeding on the market. The right level of connectivity will ensure that processes are fast and that every aspect of the business is run at a high level of efficiency. This will impact everything from customers and client opinion of the brand to levels of profitability. But how do you make sure that a business is connected? That’s what we need to look at today.

Networking Communication Internet Digital Networked

Networking Communication Internet Digital Networked

Get The Right Tech

It’s crucial that members of the team are using the latest and best technology. You are probably worried about the cost of ‘teching’ up your business, but this is an expense worth brunting because it will make your business far stronger than it is today.

So, what tech are we talking about here? Well, one could suggest that you consider giving each employee a tablet. This portable type of technology is adaptable for a wide range of different purposes and can still be connected to the larger network for bigger jobs.

As for the cost, there are a variety of ways to deal with this issue. You can think about adopting a bring your device to work model. That way, you don’t have to cover the cost of the technology but you do need to be prepared for the fact that employees will be using a variety of tech. This makes setting up a network slightly more difficult.

Use A Unique App

You may want to consider setting up an app for your business. An app can be accessed on a variety of different devices from a phone to the more typical laptop or computer. With this type of tech, it’s possible to share information immediately with different groups of employees are the whole team. Goals and jobs can also be discussed on apps like this, so it’s perfect for a business with employees who are operating remotely.


Use A Consultant

One of the benefits of technology is that it will allow your business to expand dramatically in both scale and size. But you need to do this in a way so that it doesn’t impact customer service.

How do you handle that? We suggest that you use the services of a consultant. A skilled IT consultant for businesses will be able to help you design a business network that will allow connectivity in your company to thrive. It’s all about using the right solution and a consultant can guide you towards the correct path.

Keep Things Instant

Finally, you need to make sure that businesses, clients and employees can contact you or one another instantly. Remember, any delay is going to impact turnaround time and of course level of customer service.

Luckily, these days, there are variety of pieces of software that allow you to contact and communicate with people instantly. You just need to put them to good use.


We hope this helps you maintain high levels of connectivity in your business and that you can ensure that optimum levels of operations for your company.

Funding Your Business: Some of The 4 Things To Consider

Mar12

When it comes to your business the way you get things off the ground is vitally important. The business can start off as just one thought. The thought can be nurtured and once you have your plan in place the next and only step is to actually make the dream become your reality.

But of course, this can often mean that you need some sort of funding to get off the ground. I thought I would share with you some of the options you could consider. I hope it gives you the confidence and knowledge to take the next step yourself.

accounting

Using hedge funds and investment profits

Many people consider hedge funds and investments that they already have in place to fund and push their new business or business expansion forward. It can be a great way to add more exposure to your business and there is even a trading platform could be the way to ensure that you make the right choice when it comes to funding your business for the future. It could also help you to consider further investment for the future.

Finding an investor

The other option to consider would be to think about finding an investor for your business. This means that you can get exactly the cash injection into your business to kick start your plans, buy stock, create products and even expand the business in other ways such as holding stock or finding a business premises.

However, often this means if someone invests they would want to end up having a stake in the business. If this sounds fine to you then it could be a very lucrative way to get not just the investment but also the extra support.

Using loans to fund your dream

You could also consider a loan to fund your dream business venture. There are many different business loan providers out there that could help you secure the amount of funding you need.

It might be just as a loan, it could be put against your business assets as a secure way to ensure that the loan gets repaid in full. Loans are a little easier to obtain and to handle, and they also give you the full control of the business still without needing to give of the equity of your business away. However, the risk is down to you as the business owner, so it may not appeal in that way.

Your savings and hard earned cash

Finally, your savings can be a great way to fund your business. Many people do this option and feel that they have added their own value and hard earned cash. Sort of like backing their own idea. Of course, like anything, there is an element of risk to it as at the end of the day, many businesses do struggle with their first year of trading.

However, you decide to do it, funding your business is an exciting time, and taking something that formed as an idea and making it a reality is a great journey to embark on.

What Really Goes Into A Property Development Business?

Feb8

If you have an eye for investment, the housing market, and making a property as appealing as possible, you may want to find a career capitalizing on those skills. Property development is more than just building and it’s more than just buying and selling property.

property

It’s the step-by-step process of finding, improving, and selling properties for a profit and it can be a hugely lucrative business in the right market. But what goes into getting such a business off the ground? What are the skills you need, the partners you need, and the processes you have to go through?

The funding

Property development is all about making investments pay off. As expensive as property is, of course, you’re not necessarily going to have all the cash you need to get started on hand.

All throughout your career, in fact, you’re likely going to have to keep finding and tapping sources of funding.to avoid eating the brunt of costs yourself. Property development loans don’t work like new build loans, either.

You don’t get the lump sum of cash all in one go, but rather it tends to be split into different stages, each stage representing a stage of development. For that reason, experience in creating and working to budgets on developments in the past could be crucial.

The strategy

Not all property development business work exactly the same, either. You might have a wildly different profit model from another business in the same market, for instance. In plain terms, your profit model might be based strictly on the purchase, development, and sale of land and property.

Or, depending on what your local market is like, it might be based on buy-to-let or build-to-let properties. You need to figure out your market, which of your options is going to be most profitable, or if perhaps you need to mix both strategies to some degree and come up with the appropriate business plan.

There are templates available to help you craft it, essential as it is. If you don’t have the path to profit laid ahead of you, it is going to be all the harder to find it.

The speciality

Most property developers specialize in some kind of property or some kind of investment opportunity. The most common kind is those who buy, renovate, and sell resident homes to the private market.

But you might focus on acquiring land and building new properties or developing properties for commercial entities instead. Finding a niche is valuable because it gives you a specific market to focus on. Properties have to be developed not by any one rule-book but catered to the specific buyer or tenant.

Learning what their priorities will be can allow you to focus your budget more specifically on what is most important about the property for them, not just a scattershot approach to increasing the value of a property.

The location

There’s one rule in property development that you have to learn above all else: you don’t make your money when you sell a property, you make it when you buy it. For that reason, opportunism is one of the key factors in a successful property development business.

Finding those opportunities for profit is all about location, first and foremost. You need to get to know different areas, look for the signs of neighborhoods that are on the rise, changes in demographics, whether a city or area is more rent-friendly or more profitable for buying and selling, and so on. Pay attention to rent price, to recent sales, and to signs of development in an area such as new services and businesses opening there.

The timing

Opportunity is all about timing, as well. The housing market has its ups-and-downs not just in the grand scheme of things but from year to year. To profit as much as possible, you need to buy when prices are cheap, then develop and hold onto properties until prices are high again.

Finding the ideal time to buy and sell might not always depend on seasonal shifts, either, but on market dynamics. It’s a good idea, once you’re up and running, to sell property before you buy, so you don’t always have to rely on bridging loans that can impose some restrictions on your overall budget.

The connections

As a property developer, your expertise is going to be in finding the best possible opportunities for property development. You are likely not going to be a contractor or renovator yourself, so you need to build connections within those industries to make the actual development side as painless and cost-effective as possible.

This includes builders, utility fitters, painters, renovators, architects, and companies that rent out equipment like diggers and tip trucks. Fostering connections within these industries is crucial. The better your relationship, the longer you’ve worked with them, the more likely you are to benefit from better deals.

Beyond just searching for these services like a consumer would, take the opportunity to network within trade shows that tend to act as a shared space for many of these services.

The marketing

The property market isn’t the only one you need to concern yourself with. You need to focus on building a brand as a property developer to the market of consumers, as well. This includes learning to market the properties you develop and doing so without the assistance of realtors can reduce your overall costs.

But property developers can also extend their services to others, such as landlords or property owners who want to increase the value of their own property. If you offer your development services to others, then you have a strong brand.

This includes having the right digital brand, but it also includes having show homes created in conjunction with interior designers and stylists to give an idea of the final product you offer.

If you don’t have any experience either in renovations, property investment, or construction, then it’s probably a good idea to get some. You need to know the market and what’s involved before you try to make a career profiting from it.

 

What Does It Actually Take To Get A Business Off The Ground?

Feb7

If you’ve ever watched Dragon’s Den, you could be forgiven for thinking that all you really need to hit the big time in business is a bright idea. While this is undoubtedly an excellent foundation, it certainly isn’t the only ingredient you’ll need.

Setting up a business is not a straightforward task by any stretch of the imagination, and there’s a lot of hoops to jump through before you reach the finish line. If you’re thinking about acting on an ingenious idea and trying to crack the world of entrepreneurship, this guide should come in handy.profits

Financing a new business

It’s impossible to establish a new company without spending money. The amount of money you spend will vary hugely according to the type of business you plan to launch, but there are likely to be significant costs involved.

It’s so important to determine exactly how much you money you’ll need and how you’re going to obtain that cash. Many people invest their own money, but if your savings won’t cover the startup fees, you’ll need to consider other sources.

You could look for investors, you could apply for a loan, or you could look to bring partners on board. Whichever path you take, you’ll need to plan every step in detail so that you know where your money is going and how you can recoup it in the best way possible.

If you’re not an expert when it comes to finances and accounting, it’s wise to arrange meetings with financial advisers and take a look at what other companies do to maximize efficiency and lower running costs.

Researching the market

Before you take any giant leaps into the unknown, it pays to do your research. To be successful in business, you need to ensure that there’s a market for your company. If you’ve got a product, who is going to buy it?

What other similar products are already on the shelves? How much do those products retail for? Will your product serve a purpose? Are you offering something different? If you’re providing a service, is there a demand out there? Have you got any competitors? Have you got a USP?

Who are you targeting? Research should provide you with all the answers to these questions and help you decide whether or not there’s a good chance that your business will attract attention and generate sales.

Use the information you obtain from surveys and polls, focus groups and consumer trials to shape your business plan, improve prototypes, plan your pricing strategy and design your marketing campaign.  

Investing in equipment

Almost every company in the land depends on equipment of some kind to deliver services or products. When you’re working on your finances, and you’re drawing up plans for production and logistics, consider what kind of equipment or machinery you’ll need to get the business up and running and operate as efficiently as possible.

If you’re in the construction industry, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for diggers, towers and mobile cranes for sale and to look into hire costs for machinery you’re unlikely to use on a regular or long-term basis. If you’re kitting out an office for a telesales company, have a look at the latest computer systems and communication programs and equipment.

You may find that investing in cutting-edge tech will cost more now, but save you money in the long-run. If you’re running a hair salon and you’re on a budget, look for nearly new equipment, which will enable you to achieve the same results without spending as much. Whatever kinds of tools or machinery you need, shop around for the best deals and consider buying in bulk to take advantage of lower prices.

Hiring staff

Most business owners employ at least one other person, and some companies have teams of hundreds or even thousands of people. If you’re in the midst of planning a grand launch, consider how you’re going to staff your business.

How many full-time roles do you need to advertise and how much do you have available to spend on wages? Once you’ve got a core team, consider how you can access skills without adding to your annual wage bill. There are alternatives to offering full-time contracts.

If you have a seasonal business, for example, consider short-term and temporary contracts. If you work on projects, for example, building houses, you may wish to think about hiring freelancers and working with contractors on specific jobs.

If you run a company that has many different departments, it may be beneficial to weigh up outsourcing options. This can help you to run the business smoothly and effectively for less.

Legalities

When you’re watching TV, it’s easy to get a rose-tinted vision of what happens when you set up a new business. On the small screen, you don’t necessarily see what goes on behind the scenes. You can’t just design a website or put your name on the side of a van and start touting for customers. You have to make sure that your company is licensed and that it operates according to regulations.

Promoting the business

Once you’re ready to set the world alight with your new venture, it’s time to spread the word and promote your company. Now that you’ve figured out how to get all the cogs turning in the right direction, you need to make people aware of what you do and how you could benefit them.

There are countless marketing methods you can use, and you should utilize the results of market research to design a strategy that has maximum impact. Use methods that will attract your target demographic and try and be original. If you’ve got a brilliant USP, you need to sell it in the best way possible.
Have you got ambitions to be the next business mogul? Have you got a fantastic idea, which you want to turn into a profitable business model? If so, hopefully, this guide will prove useful, and you’ll soon be watching your empire grow.

How To Invest In Real Estate With Less Than $100,000

Feb2

Forget about your cryptocurrencies and stocks, real estate is still the best investment opportunity out there. The main issue with it is that large portions of the populations feel as though they’re sectioned off from it.

This is because investing in real estate demands that you have a lot of money. People are pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into different properties – it’s not something you can get involved in if you aren’t a high earner.

At least, that’s what most people think. However, as you will see in this article, you can invest in real estate with less than $100,000.

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Put A Deposit On A Mortgage

If you have less than $100,000 ready to invest, then you probably can’t buy a house outright. But, what you can do is use your money to put a deposit down on a mortgage.

This will give you access to money that you can use to buy a house. From here, you have many options at your disposal. You can either rent the property out and collect monthly income, or you can try flipping the property to earn a profit on what you paid.

Naturally, you still have to pay off your mortgage, so remember that when you flip your property to ensure you make enough to cover that. With monthly rent, you can use tenant payments to pay off your mortgage bit by bit until it’s gone. Either way, you’re the proud owner of a property, and you invested less than $100,000.

Invest In A REIT

So many people are unaware of REITs. For those that don’t know, this stands for real estate investment trust. It’s this idea that you invest your money in the trust, and gain access to income-producing real estate.

You’ve basically bought shares in the real estate that the REIT owns, get it? As this Rich Uncles review shows, you can start investing in REITs with as little as $500. Obviously, the more you invest, the more shares you own, meaning the more money you get back.

With a REIT, you could have money in various different properties all generating a monthly income. It’s one of the most affordable ways to make money from the real estate market.

Buy Some Land

When you think of real estate, you think of houses and other buildings. But, land comes under the same category too. What’s more, the land is considerably cheaper than buying properties.

Especially if you’re buying farmland, which is cheap and presents many opportunities for you. Now, you can easily get your hands on over 10 acres for under $100,000 – I think the most expensive farmland is around $6,000 per acre, and the cheapest is about $1,000 per acre.

With this much land, you can start a farm and make money from it. Or, you can sell the land on to other people when it improves in value. Or, my favorite idea, you can contact wind energy providers and tell them they can install a wind turbine on your land. They’ll pay you for this, and you’ll keep getting regular income from it. A smart way to invest in real estate if you want to stay away from properties.

There you go; three ways you can invest in real estate with less than $100,000!