Category: Business

Depending on how expansive the property is, and the energy resources at your disposal, a home energy audit can potentially reduce energy consumption by 50%. If you’re looking for more affordable, sustainable, and economic options that are going to future-proof your home or business – an energy audit is perfect to start. Here are some of the mechanisms and benefits that it can bring you:

Economic benefits

When setting out to perform facility improvements or if you’re looking for operational savings, there’s no better place to investigate than energy efficiency. For instance, you can significantly reduce water costs by installing specialized plumbing fixtures, in case high flow and water consumption are determined to be an issue, following the audit. 

By perfecting your building’s performance, you’ll have more fine-tuned control over where your resources are going – thereby avoiding overconsumption and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Finally, there are a substantial number of initiatives worldwide, to foster green energy means and reductions of energy consumption and emissions worldwide. Many of these have a tangible economic impact, whether it be in tax deductions or grants and recognitions. 

An energy audit is going to pay for itself down the line, in most cases.

Modernizing consumption

An energy audit can help you start managing your resources much more efficiently, as problem areas and blind spots are detected during the process. This has ramifications down the line. 

When looking towards plumbing engineering services, emerging systems such as water-free, heat recovery, and renewable-powered water heating could all be available, following an energy audit. By investigating your energy consumption, you can start implementing modern technology uniquely suited to your situation. 

An added point is that the plumbing consultants taking on the new project will have a good starting point, which will hasten the process and reduce specialist costs.

Access to hot water, sanitation, and more functional uses, such as fire suppression and storm drain systems are vital for the health of any building. By investing in an energy audit, you can create opportunities for improvement, as well as supply a safety net knowing your building will be at full capacity, regardless of circumstances.

Health and wellbeing

By looking at your building through an expert’s eye, you’re able to reduce operating costs and improve working conditions for everyone entering and leaving the building. Assess your building’s performance, lifecycle, and air quality – with feasibility in mind.

Mechanical engineering, when coupled with sustainable engineering, can renovate and improve aspects of your building that will make it a more welcoming and habitable place to be in. Productivity and architecture, as well as building performance, have a demonstrable link – finding opportunities to improve the work conditions is helpful for all parties.

Between lighting, airflow, and natural elements, there are a variety of options to make the working space healthier – which could even reduce the total duration of sick leave. Additionally, energy audits can save resources by introducing smart systems, which can at the same time perfect your building’s processes, while also attuning themselves to the needs of its inhabitants.

When looking for an energy audit, make sure the company is well-recognized in the field and can offer you the service at the level you’re looking for. Companies such as PCD Engineering are at the top of their field, supplying unique insights into green building systems, mechanical and electrical design engineering, and sustainability through analysis and precise implementations.

Everyone understands to a certain degree the sheer importance of having proper ventilation inside a building – whether it is a hospital or a warehouse. Our bodies won’t survive without fresh, clean air and some sunlight, after all. It is for this reason natural ventilation is slowly becoming commonplace among many establishments, an increasing numbers of which are investing in electric window openers and window controls. It may even help a business save with incentives on green-tax. While some of the advantages that they offer appear to be a little more obvious than others, there are a few that many are unaware of. With that said, here are some of the most notable benefits of natural ventilation for buildings.

Promotes health

There’s no denying the fact that poorly ventilated buildings can make people develop physical and mental health-related problems. With natural ventilation, you can overcome this problem since it will provide occupants with fresh air in the interior space. In doing so, it will make sure that the property is safe and free from any health concerns. It will also make the working environment a much more pleasant place to be in, allowing employees and workers to maintain a higher level of productivity in turn. 

Low equipment cost

The majority of HVAC mechanical solutions require a considerable amount of money and square footage to adequately fulfil their intended purpose. However, natural ventilation needs far less ducting and mechanics. While it is undoubtedly true that they still require some level of control to make it function the way it is supposed to, it doesn’t demand a lot of space. More importantly, it doesn’t require a significant investment of financial resources.

Little maintenance required

Apart from the reduced cost of the equipment, natural ventilation also provides long-term benefits in terms of savings because very little maintenance is required. Other mechanical systems generally require expensive maintenance. Some may even require a costly replacement or reconditioning every fifteen to twenty years. With that said, the equipment for natural ventilation usually lasts much longer. If specific parts or components break and can’t be repaired, replacements are also much cheaper than other HVAC systems.

Pass safety inspections

These days, safety inspections are a common occurrence among many building owners. The structures need to be assessed and evaluated to ensure that the health and safety of people aren’t compromised in any way, shape, or form while they are inside the premises. And with natural ventilation, you’ll show the inspectors that you’re serious about the well-being of everyone in the building. In case of emergencies like a fire, this type of ventilation system can also make a difference in keeping people from inhaling too much smoke, which can save lives.

With all of the advantages that they boast, it comes as no surprise that more and more owners are slowly adopting natural ventilation systems for their respective buildings. Some even pair them with their existing systems too. Because of this, it is an ideal solution for anyone looking to get good ventilation systems for their establishments.

Are you taking the leap from staff member to manager?

Managers earn higher salaries and may even receive additional benefits at work. However, managers are tasked with different responsibilities than team members.

Pretend you’re managing a retail store.

While subordinates are responsible for their individual roles and teamwork efforts, you’re expected to delegate duties, prepare deposits, maintain vendor relationships, and implement corporate policies.

Another primary role of your job is managing employees effectively, and assigning duties is just the beginning.

Learn how to manage employees and increase productivity in this must-have guide for new managers!

Scheduling Your Employees

Scheduling may seem like a simple task on its surface, but it does take planning.

Let’s go back to the retail store example.

It’s perfectly normal for some days to be busier than others. Suppose your store’s most active day is Saturday, while Monday may be the slowest day. These patterns are also common in the restaurant industry.

Since Saturdays are busy and Mondays are slow, which day requires the most staff? You’d be surprised by how often managers over and under schedule employees.

Okay, so you overstaffed the store on Monday. What’s the big deal? The store still made money, right?

Yes and no.

Yes, the store may have generated some sales, but those sales were not enough to cover the day’s payroll.

What if you under schedule Saturday, the busiest day? How bad would that be?

While customers flocked to the store on Saturday, you still lost quite a bit of money.

Many customers left because there weren’t enough employees to help them. Since the lines were so long, your staff didn’t have enough time to upsell or deliver personalized customer service.

How to Manage Employees and Schedules

Several other issues can arise from poor scheduling practices, like changing an employee’s schedule without telling them. Bad communication will throw any schedule off-track.

There are different ways to approach scheduling; however, size plays a crucial role.

If you have a small staff, you could get away with traditional paper schedules, but don’t schedule without looking at sales reports first. As you learned earlier, you need enough staff to drive sales on busy days.

Traditional pen and paper scheduling may work for five or fewer employees, but digital alternatives are more manageable. Even five is too much to handle without some type of software.

Use Employee Management Software

As a manager, you have a lot on your plate. You’re only human, and details quickly slip through the cracks. Fortunately, there are software solutions that catch and manage details for you.

There’s employee management software for nearly every niche, from medical to SaaS. While different software products reflect the needs of respective industries, there are some general similarities between products.

For example, like EAP software, most employee management programs come with built-in timesheets and contractor billing; these features are essential for scheduling and payroll.

Some management software comes with customer relationship management (CRM) features. These features generate, interpret, and apply customer data for maximum sales. Sharing this data with employees helps them achieve sales targets quicker.

For example, suppose customer data shows that the majority of your customers are parents of young children. This revelation is an excellent sales opportunity! Come July, run a summer sale and instruct employees to upsell customers on back-to-school items.

Hiring and onboarding new employees is another crucial role of a manager. Luckily, employee management software has you covered. Simply generate, print, and process as many employee forms as you need, including W2 documents, legal forms, food safety forms, employee handbooks, and more.

Suppose you’re a project manager or department manager at a tech company. Consistent communication is essential for tech product development; thus, managers should take full advantage of SMS notifications, meeting booking, email alerts, and more software features.

Finding Talent

Most managers are responsible for onboarding talent, while HR professionals or recruiters find talent. However, managers at small businesses are often tasked with finding new employees, as well.

Managers don’t recruit employees like professional recruiting agencies. Instead, you would write a job ad and post it on popular job-seeking sites, like Indeed, Monster, or even Craigslist. Job-seekers email their resumes, generating a large pool of applicants.

The next phase is the interview process. Select the best resumes and contact applicants for interviews. Ask questions that reveal their problem-solving skills, emotional intelligence, teamwork abilities, experience, and innovation.

Hiring the best employees takes time. Unless you have a small staff, consider outsourcing this task to an experienced recruiter. HR pros can also manage these tasks.

Motivating Employees

Productivity is crucial for any business, whether you’re selling directly to businesses or consumers. You need a motivated sales team that lands new accounts and a production staff that keeps the gears rolling.

Sluggish productivity is a red flag; it could mean that your employees are unmotivated, distracted, frustrated, or even unhealthy. Managers must spot and address red flags before production gets worse.

Fortunately, you can supercharge productivity in several ways!

Implement attractive incentives that encourage employees to work harder, produce more, and improve quality.

You could reward sales teams for hitting targets or provide holiday bonuses for mega Black Friday sales. Test out different rewards, like gift certificates, bonuses, team lunches, and electronics.

Employee wellness is another factor to consider.

Fatigue, poor nutrition, dehydration, and exhaustion all contribute to productivity problems. These issues weaken immune systems, leading to more viruses and sick days.

Combat wellness woes with the following ideas:

• Seasonal employee retreats
• Weekly wellness emails
• Corporate wellness programs
• Outdoor lunch areas
• Healthy on-site snacks
• Break rooms
• Motivational quotes
• Water coolers

Encourage employees to bring healthy lunches and take walks to improve blood circulation, too.

Interpersonal issues can also damage morale, which impacts mental health.

Thankfully, improving wellness and incentives cuts down on employee conflicts. However, toxic employees should be dealt with accordingly to preserve a healthy work environment.

Flex Those Management Skills

You can’t learn how to manage employees perfectly overnight, but you can give yourself an excellent headstart.

Remember these tips and tricks as you improve your management skills, and check out the blog for more indispensable lifehacks!

Do you love flowers and everything that they have to offer to the world? Then you might want to learn how to start a flower shop so that you can share your love for flowers with others.

Currently, there are more than 30,000 florists scattered throughout the U.S. But there is almost always room for one more for those who are interested in starting a flower shop.

If you want to become a florist and launch your own flower business, there are a few steps that you’re going to want to take before you do. Find out how to start a flower shop below.

See How Many Flower Shops Are Already in Your City

Prior to getting too deep into trying to figure out how to start a flower shop, you should take a look at your potential competition. Google “flower shops near me” and see how many of them there are.

You might want to rethink your decision to start a flower shop if your area is already too saturated with them. But if nothing else, you’ll want to research the shops in your city at this time to see where yours would fit in.

Find a Physical Location for Your Flower Shop

If you decide that you are, in fact, going to become a florist in your area, the next thing you’ll need to do is find the right location for it. It should be in a spot that’s not too far off the beaten path.

You don’t necessarily need to invest in a huge space right away. But it should be a space that you can grow into over time as necessary.

Obtain the Necessary Equipment for Your Flower Shop

After you lock down a location for your flower shop, you’ll have to fill it with the equipment that you’ll need to work as a florist. This equipment should include things like:

• Floral coolers
• Floral containers
• Floral foam
• Floral tape
• Floral scissors
• And more!

You should also look into getting florist insurance. This is one great insurance option that might be right for you.

Market Your Flower Shop’s Products and Services to the Masses

When you get to this point, your flower shop should be ready to go! The only thing left to do will be to market your shop’s products and services to those in your community.

You can do this by running ads in your local newspaper, hanging up signs all over town, and using social media to your advantage. It should help to spread the word about your flower shop.

Figuring Out How to Start a Flower Shop Doesn’t Have to Be Hard

If you’re a person who is passionate about flowers, you should seriously consider learning how to start a flower shop. By following the tips found here, you should be able to get it up and running in no time.

Your products and services will put smiles on everyone’s faces. They’ll also help you to live out your dream and provide you with the ultimate sense of satisfaction.

Discover more about how to start a small business from scratch by reading through the articles found on our blog.

Have you ever Googled something and before you reached the search results it said “Ad”? Maybe you’ve scrolled through Facebook or Instagram and saw an advertisement for a restaurant or product. Well, those are prime examples of PPC ads.

Many PPC advertising companies help businesses get their products and services before the eyes of their target audience. If you’re interested in learning more about how PPC advertising can help your business, just keep reading.

What Is PPC Advertising?

PPC advertising is a form of marketing that helps to boost online traffic and leads to a company’s website. Some of the most common PPC ads include advertising through Bing ads, Google AdWords, and social media advertising on LinkedIn and Facebook. This marketing technique helps businesses customize campaigns based on their business goals.

PPC ads are used to either influence customers to make purchases, visit an online store, or go to a website. These days, many consumers are always online and on social media, so advertising on internet platforms is one of the smartest things that a company can do.

Reasons Why You Should Use PPC Advertising

There once was a time when the only way to advertise a business was through large billboards or TV commercials. However, things have changed drastically due to the increased popularity of the internet.

Pay per click marketing is an affordable way to promote a business with a small budget. Here are a few additional reasons why it’s smart to use PPC advertising services:

Affordability

Due to economic slowdown, costs per click (CPC) are down. That means, you can utilize this form of advertising for a fraction of the cost.

Since the cost of pay per click is more affordable, you can save more money on your advertising budget and still get high revenue returns. It’s a win-win situation.

Reach the Masses

We touched on this in the information above, but it’s important to reiterate. Everyone is online these days. The smartest thing to do is to go where the people are.

Some folks no longer have cable television. They use streaming services and YouTube for entertainment. They are on social media connecting with friends and family. Not only that, but they read online blogs to get information instead of the newspaper.

Therefore, there is ample opportunity to get your products and services in front of your target audience. Nowadays, you’ll see pay per click ads on blogs and websites such as YouTube.

Quick Turn Around Results

PPC advertising doesn’t require a lot. You can create campaign ads and have them approved within two days. If there are no issues, that same ad could generate profits on the same day that it goes live.

In today’s marketing world, you don’t have to spend weeks or months putting together a commercial campaign. You don’t have to save up a bunch of money to advertise on a billboard. A simple PPC ad can bring in quick revenue.

Visibility

The economy has taken such a hit that even big businesses have had to scale back on advertising. Because of this, it creates an environment that allows some of the “little players” to get some shine.

With reduced competition, it creates a great opportunity for small businesses to receive notoriety online. This is especially true if you’re new to PPC advertising.

Once you start to put ads for your products and services out there, it’ll generate more sales than it would’ve in the past.

Timing

When it comes to pulling in sales and revenue, timing is everything. Most PPC advertising companies advise businesses to get started early. The most strategic move is to start putting out PPC ads before the holiday season.

That way, you’ll already have your campaign set up before the shopping begins. It’s never a good idea to wait until the middle of the holidays to get your ad campaign started.

If you start ahead of the frenzy, everything will be in place and ready for the holiday rush.

As you can see from reasons listed above, partnering with PPC advertising companies is the way to go. To learn more about it, check out these facts about PPC ads.

A Marketing Trick to Use With PPC Advertising

Speaking of reaching your target audience via online platforms, there’s also another cool way to gain attention for your products and services. By partnering with social media influencers, you can pull in tons of revenue.

Unlike the old days, individuals who have a large online following are just as much popular as network TV shows.

Many companies reach out to people with numerous Instagram followers to ask if they could advertise their products on their IG page. Let’s say the influencer that you reach out to has 800,000 followers—that’s a lot of people that’ll see your advertisement.

Not only that, it’s also a smart idea to send the influencers free products so that they can try it themselves. If they love it, they’ll rant and rave about it. Usually, they’ll post it on their social media page or make a YouTube video about it.

It’s a smart and cost-effective way to get more eyes on your products and services.

Give PPC Advertising Companies a Try

Without proper marketing and advertising, most businesses won’t succeed. The masses have to know that your products and services exist in order to generate sales and revenue.

Thankfully, PPC advertising companies are available to help you perfect your ad campaign and obtain the success that you desire.

If this information was helpful, don’t hesitate to read more of our website. Our articles offer insight regarding business, marketing, finance, and more.

Despite the rapid vaccine rollout in the United States and other countries across the world, COVID-19 continues to be a threat. To help their employees stay safe, many companies continue to allow their employees to work from home.

Some businesses are even considering making the change permanent.

However, while safer and convenient in many ways, working from home presents employees with a new set of challenges. For many people, it’s hard to focus when they’re out of the office and stuck at home.

So how can you stay productive?

Keep reading for three working remotely tips and tools that will help you stay focused and productive.

Use the Right Apps

The right apps let you do everything from map out your workweek to manage a remote sales team. Using them at home is a must.

If you need better communication with your coworkers, Slack is a great choice. From sharing files to sharing memes, there are few things that the app doesn’t allow you to do.

If you struggle with scrolling through Pinterest and browsing Twitter during your workdays, you might want to check out SelfControl.

The app lets you block your own access to websites that would otherwise distract you. You can add whatever websites tempt you to the list then blacklist them for a period of time.

Treat It as a Day at the Office

It’s tempting to see working from home as an excuse to cozy up in bed while wearing a pair of pajamas. Try to avoid doing that.

Treat your time spent working from home the same way that you treat working at the office. Make an effort to wake up on time, shower, and look presentable.

It might seem tedious, but you’ll find yourself much more motivated to work when you take it seriously.

You’ll also want to make sure that you have a suitable working space. Your bed isn’t a viable long-term option—a desk, table, or even counter is a much better choice.

Eliminate Distractions

Sure, your cat is cute, and the TV is only a remote click away, but if you can’t do it at the office, don’t do it at home. Try your best to resist these sorts of distractions, as they’ll only set you back in the long run.

You’ll also want to make sure that your workspace is clean and clutter-free. Don’t let it get messy and out of hand, as that can impact your work efficiency.

If you choose to block access to certain websites on your computer while you work, do the same on your phone. Or, better yet—put your phone in another room until you finish for the day.

Take Advantage of These Working Remotely Tips and Tools

Working from home can be a challenge, especially if you’re not used to it. However, by using these working remotely tips and tools, you’ll be able to power through your work and keep your productivity high.

Did you find these tips for remote working to be helpful? If you did, take a moment to check out our other posts for more productivity-related guides and tips.

There are few things as exciting and thrilling as transitioning from the status of ‘employee’ to ‘entrepreneur’. After all, not only does it represent an opportunity to transform your passions into profit and generate more income, but to be your own boss and make your mark in your chosen industry.

However, it is also a daunting experience. And, given the staggering number of start-ups that fail every year, it is easy to see why.

The good news is that with some planning and preparation, you can give yourself the right set of circumstances to improve the business’s chances for success. So, for those who are looking to start a business venture, here are some simple tips that all entrepreneurs must be aware of.

1. Choose a trade that you’re passionate about

Running a business is exhausting – there are no two ways around this. If you want to persevere as an entrepreneur, you must choose a trade you’re passionate about. Even if there are other more lucrative industries out there, selecting a field that you feel strongly about will help you persist amid any struggle.

Since you’re likely to face many challenges and obstacles along the way, it’s imperative that your line of business is something that will keep you going, regardless of the situation.

2. Never spend impulsively

One of the reasons why many start-ups struggle with their finances is that they don’t take advantage of the opportunity to consider their options before they make a purchase – be it for products or services critical to their operations.

In doing so, they end up spending more than they need which eats into their profits and ends up causing financial losses. To avoid this, you must shop first and explore all avenues. You’ll spend much less than you would have without compromising the quality of the desired goods and solutions.

3. Make sure that the business is compliant

Depending on your chosen industry, there may be laws, regulations, and certifications that you’ll need to adhere to so that you can operate. It is critical that your start-up is compliant with all of these because it can cause a lot of problems later on. If need be, hire a lawyer or a specialist. Doing so may appear like additional costs now, but it’ll save you from a lot of trouble.

4. Invest wisely

If you want to make money, you must spend it wisely. So, before you commit any finances, carefully consider whether or not the service or product is something that will benefit your start-up. For example, an HR system and payroll solution from a company like Tugela People is an investment worth making because these services remain central to any business, and need to be prepared to accommodate further growth before it happens.

Going into business may not be easy, but it doesn’t always have to be a complicated proposition. With the simple tips laid out above, you’ll be able to maximize the chances of your business to attain growth and development and succeed in the industry.

Did you know that in the US, 92% of tort cases involve personal injuries? As you can see, it’s very common to go to court to get compensation for a personal injury.

If you’ve been hurt recently, then you might be seeking fair compensation for your damages. One option you might’ve come across is a structured settlement.

But how do you go about it? And what do you need to be mindful about?

Here are 3 important facts you need to know before you shop structured settlement quotes.

1. Always Deal With Licensed Professionals

To ensure you’re getting good quotes and that you’re working with reliable and trustworthy people, always deal with licensed brokers or insurance agents. They’ll be the ones in your state who can get you fair compensation.

You can double-check their licensure by checking state insurance or financial service website portals. All you need is the license number so you can verify it.

For example, Rightway Funding on Facebook is readily available with information about structured settlements and has a link to their website. You can easily request their license number by contacting them.

2. Don’t Take Offers to Buy Your Structured Settlement Payments

Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous companies who will try to confuse you with what seems to be official terms. They’ll claim to be giving you a structured settlement quote, but instead, they’ll offer to buy it from you.

In the confusion, many people end up transferring their structure settlement payment to the company for dirt cheap.

These companies often have website names that claim to give you structured settlement quotes. But don’t fall for it. Instead, what they offer you are quotes for transfers or buyouts and usually lump sums.

These businesses are typically unlicensed as well, so be careful when doing your research.

3. You Have the Option of Selling Your Structured Settlement

While you shouldn’t take any unsolicited offers to buy your structure settlement, you can still choose to sell it if you wish.

By selling your structured settlement, you can enjoy some benefits. For example, not only are they tax-free, but you’ll also have steady income over a period of time.

This can offer extra security during difficult times. It can also be an excellent option if you have large upcoming bills, such as when you buy a new car or house, or you need to pay off a large amount of debt.

Again, don’t trust any unsolicited offers that come to you. Instead, shop around for structured settlement companies that will give you no-obligation quotes. You can then compare and pick the best for your situation.

Know These Things Before Shopping Structured Settlement Quotes

Now you have some additional information when it comes to structured settlement quotes. If you keep this in mind when shopping quotes, then you’ll be able to get a structured settlement value that’s fair for your situation.

So make sure you do your due diligence. That way, you’ll get the maximum amount possible to compensate for your suffering.

If you’d like to learn more about cash for a structured settlement, read the rest of our blog now.