Posted: January 1st, 2012 | Author: Clare Fountain | Filed under: At work, In business | Tags: tips | No Comments »
Hey welcome back! I've got plenty more organising hints and tips to share with you...
The month to get your Business Plan, Budgets and Marketing Plan Sorted.
Review and update. Have fun setting new goals and challenges for the next 6 to 12 months and look at your long term goals.
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Posted: October 1st, 2011 | Author: Clare Fountain | Filed under: At work, In business | Tags: tip | No Comments »
Do you have an uptodate database of your business contacts? Most accounting/email software has a simple card system. Spend time this month updating contact details and create an excellent asset and resource for your business – just in time for your Christmas mail out.
Recommended Read : You Inc by John McGrath – how to attract amazing success into your life and business.
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Posted: September 1st, 2011 | Author: Clare Fountain | Filed under: At work, In business | Tags: tip | No Comments »
Have you considered the marketing opportunities Christmas can create for you?
List your most valuable clients/marketing contacts/suppliers and decide what to send them this year (check your budget/targets are on track first). What will you send? Custom printed cards, a special offer, gifts, email etc.
Get Christmas Sorted early to save money, time and stress.
Create an opportunity to reinforce your point of difference to your contacts.
Helpful link: www.quotationspage.com look for quotes to add to your Christmas message or include on your invoices, emails etc.
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Posted: August 1st, 2011 | Author: Clare Fountain | Filed under: At work, In business | No Comments »
Does your accountant have your figures for last year?
If yes, archive your records and spring clean your files.
If no, make an appointment and get them done so you know your tax liability/status.
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Posted: July 1st, 2011 | Author: Clare Fountain | Filed under: At work, In business | Tags: tip | No Comments »
Do you know your tax liability/status for the last financial year?
Book in an appointment with you accountant so you have a deadline to finish your accounts by. Review your budgets and set targets for this financial year.
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Posted: June 5th, 2011 | Author: Clare Fountain | Filed under: At home, In business | Tags: tip | No Comments »
Review your budgets/targets – are you on track?
Meet you accountant with up to date figures – you might need to spend some money to reduce your tax liability. Get their feedback and advice on the next financial year.
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Posted: April 1st, 2011 | Author: Clare Fountain | Filed under: In business | No Comments »
Does your office support you?
Do your systems work? Give them an overview this month and get them Sorted.
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Posted: March 1st, 2011 | Author: Clare Fountain | Filed under: In business | No Comments »
Update your database with contact details received over the festive season – returned cards, rejected email addresses. Do it Now whilst it is still fresh.
Make sure you do it and back it up both on and off site. Have you followed up all the leads generated last month?
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Posted: February 2nd, 2011 | Author: Clare Fountain | Filed under: In business | Tags: Save Time, succession planning | No Comments »
Definition of Succession = A number of similar events or people that happen, exist, etc. after each other
The key word in the above definition is ‘similar’. Small businesses are typically built around the creator or business owner. They do what they do and hopefully they do it well.
The key question for a business owner to ask themselves is ‘what do I want from my business?’ If the answer includes lifestyle and growth then I believe it is vital to have a succession plan.
I visited my fantastic butcher, as I do every week, and asked him how his summer break was. He took the public holidays off and told me that he can’t go on holiday as there is no one to run the business when he is away.
Does your future as a business owner look like this? It might work for some people but I am assuming that for most it wouldn’t.
So how do you plan for taking time off? With my passion for being organised it is easy to guess my answer!
The first step is to make sure that your business is financially viable. I have been working with clients and their accountants recently to put together simple but effective budgets. This makes sure that your business can actually afford to support your chosen lifestyle. In your budget you need to include provision to pay someone whilst you are away PLUS have enough to pay for the trip (and treats!) and your normal overheads.
When you are confident that financially you can leave the business the second step is to make sure it can run without you. Putting simple but effective systems in place and recruiting the right people to operate them will lead to FREEDOM!
To do this I recommend you take a step back from the day to day running of the business and understand the roles and responsibilities required to successfully run it. Review what works and what doesn’t work. Look at the business in terms of roles and not people. Put it to the test – take a day off and see what happens. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that your business actually runs better with you out of the way!!
This is the process that I love supporting clients through so they can live their dream lifestyle, spend more time with family, friends or just on themselves!
Top Tip - What could you be doing NOW if your business was running without you? Failing to plan is planning to fail!
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Posted: February 1st, 2011 | Author: Clare Fountain | Filed under: At work, In business | Tags: tip | No Comments »
Get your marketing Sorted this month.
Create opportunities, follow up leads, build relationships, renew your marketing tools/material, update your website. Take a look at your business from an outside perspective and give it an overhaul.
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