Everything,Ever,Needed,Know,ab business, insurance Everything I Ever Needed to Know about the Consulting Busine
As we all know to live in this world we have to perform some activity by which we can earn money. There are many activities by which we can earn money and meet the standards to live in this society. And from one of them is franchise. Franc Small offices have unique needs, and thatincludes document shredding. Designed with the smaller business inmind, the Dahle 20314 is a cross-cut shredder that offers Level 3security and brings you into compliance with federal regulations. The
Like most writers, I have two jobs: consulting work and a "real" job. I'm not ashamed to say, for a long time, my consultingbusiness was haphazard, at best. While, I'm a strong writerand designer, I knew little about running my own business untilrecently.After nearly a decade of working for newspapers and the like, I started a new life as a marketing executive for a small manufacturing company. As with most small companies, I found myself taking on a variety of tasks, including billing, customer service, inventory and shipping.The lessons I've learned working for this company, I applied to my editing and Web design business with great success. Here's what I've learned: * You can set your own terms. You can decide if you will be paid upon receipt, in 15 days or 30 days. Make your terms clear and print them on your written bid and on your invoices. It was liberating to know that I no longer had to wait and keep asking my client when the check would be sent out. Nor was I held hostage to smaller companies that considered my invoice a lower priority than their other bills. * A credit check can be your best friend. Before a manufacturer will give a new client it's best terms (usually Net 30 or Net 45), it will run a credit check. Think about it, when you tell a client they don't have to pay you for 30 days, it's the same as offering a line of credit. But what do us writers do? We run to our message boards and ask other writers if they have ever worked with this particular client before. Make a simple form with your logo and call and check the references yourself. It may take an hour or two of work, but avoiding one bad credit risk will save you hours more. (It can save a lot of money, too!) * Have someone else call companies that are late with payments. Manufacturing companies know the person who makes the sale and handles customer needs should not be the same person demanding payment. I'm lucky. My husband is a no-nonsense businessman who has no qualms about calling my clients and demanding payment. If you aren't so lucky, you can ask a friend in a similar or complimentary business to make the calls for you. In exchange, offer to do the same for your friend's business. * It's okay to charge for shipping. If you are sending files or documents via any method other than good, old standard mail, it's perfectly acceptable to add the cost of shipping. (I strongly suggest making sure your customers know that UPS or FedEx is not included in your bid price.) Not only is it OK to add this charge, but also most manufacturers add 10% because the manufacturers are fronting the cost of shipping. That's right, you're paying for it and expecting to be reimbursed. That has a value. * Use a packing list. If you are sending a client documents or a CD containing electronic files, use a packing list. Don't describe the contents in a cover letter, it will be thrown away or misplaced. Not only should you use a packing list, but also it should be in the same format as your initial written bid and your final invoice to avoid confusion. * Don't be afraid of paper. Writers aren't necessarily afraid of paper, but home business owners are. Manufacturing companies, especially those that are ISO certified, keep paper copies of everything. If you get an e-mail from your client changing the specs of a project, print it out and file it. You never know when your client might need a reminder. * Develop a paperwork system and stick with it. If you require a client to sign a written agreement outlining his expectations, require the same from all your clients. If you need a purchase order number from a client to begin business, ask the same thing from everyone. Article Tags: Packing List
Everything,Ever,Needed,Know,ab