Copyright © 2008 Small Business Delivered All Rights Reserved SmallBusinessDelivered.com
[Home] [Newsletter] [Blogs] [BookStore] [Business Forms] [Business Software] [Office Products] [Article Archives] [About Us] [Contact Us]
Starting a new business is a very trying ordeal that is already complicated by the number of decisions you have to make. Decisions that involve money and since your the boss only you can make them. Just as you're in business to sell and make money so are thousands of others. They offer a variety of products and services that although you think might be a good idea at the time really aren't and will only prove to be a drain on your bank account.
I've seen all sorts of offers for items and services that would supposedly help my small business. But most small businesses are already cash strapped and can't afford to be wasting money. And oh will you see some ways to waste your money. Those ways will come from door to door solicitations, emails, snail mail, and the occasional phone call. I even get regular fax's telling me how good fax advertising works as I'm wading the paper up and throwing it away.
You'll constantly get such offers. I've been offered magnets, buttons and pins to advertise my company. Coffee mugs and phone book covers as marketing materials. Credit card machines for credit card processing. Magazine advertising and offers to build me a website. I've even received offers from people wanting to help me sell my business. The list goes on and on. But hey maybe you've been in business awhile and are looking to sell or just want to know what your business is worth. Well what are you going to do with all these offers so you can see if one might just be useful?
The first thing you need to do is take a breather. If you have a sales rep right in front of you don't fall for the pressure of having to make a decision right away. I once had a magazine rep that was in my office for over an hour trying to get me to commit to an ad in her magazine. She finally got me to sign and almost as soon as she left the office I regretted it. Here I was committing money to something that was going to cost me month after month and I'd let the pressure make my decision. I ultimately had to go to the trouble of canceling but luckily I hadn't given her any money.
Constantly salespeople use pressure tactics to try to get you to make a decision. But you don't want to be an impulse buyer. An early mistake I made was signing up for a check clearing machine. When you received a check from someone you would run it through the machine and the processing company would essentially insure the check by confirming the funds were in the account. If the check bounced the processor would cover the check and incur the cost of getting the customer to cover the check. What I failed to pay attention to were my own customers. They are mostly businesses that never bounce checks and are repeat customers. But that machine was costing me monthly. One bill from the processor and another from the leasing company for the machine. I was able to cancel the processing side by I was stuck with the lease at about $60 a month for four years. I made an impulse decision without considering all the ramifications.
The worst thing you can sign up for is a credit card machine. Yes you may need one but do your homework. You'll find that you can get them a lot cheaper by buying them outright than by leasing. You'll save thousands of dollars.
So when considering all these offers take the time to really think them over. Don't give in to the pressure; it can cost you a lot of money with little or no return.
Cash Miller is the Editor of SmallBusinessDelivered.com and hosts his own blog at www.SmallBusinessDelivered.com/cash-millers-blog.
I've seen all sorts of offers for items and services that would supposedly help my small business. But most small businesses are already cash strapped and can't afford to be wasting money. And oh will you see some ways to waste your money. Those ways will come from door to door solicitations, emails, snail mail, and the occasional phone call. I even get regular fax's telling me how good fax advertising works as I'm wading the paper up and throwing it away.
You'll constantly get such offers. I've been offered magnets, buttons and pins to advertise my company. Coffee mugs and phone book covers as marketing materials. Credit card machines for credit card processing. Magazine advertising and offers to build me a website. I've even received offers from people wanting to help me sell my business. The list goes on and on. But hey maybe you've been in business awhile and are looking to sell or just want to know what your business is worth. Well what are you going to do with all these offers so you can see if one might just be useful?
The first thing you need to do is take a breather. If you have a sales rep right in front of you don't fall for the pressure of having to make a decision right away. I once had a magazine rep that was in my office for over an hour trying to get me to commit to an ad in her magazine. She finally got me to sign and almost as soon as she left the office I regretted it. Here I was committing money to something that was going to cost me month after month and I'd let the pressure make my decision. I ultimately had to go to the trouble of canceling but luckily I hadn't given her any money.
Constantly salespeople use pressure tactics to try to get you to make a decision. But you don't want to be an impulse buyer. An early mistake I made was signing up for a check clearing machine. When you received a check from someone you would run it through the machine and the processing company would essentially insure the check by confirming the funds were in the account. If the check bounced the processor would cover the check and incur the cost of getting the customer to cover the check. What I failed to pay attention to were my own customers. They are mostly businesses that never bounce checks and are repeat customers. But that machine was costing me monthly. One bill from the processor and another from the leasing company for the machine. I was able to cancel the processing side by I was stuck with the lease at about $60 a month for four years. I made an impulse decision without considering all the ramifications.
The worst thing you can sign up for is a credit card machine. Yes you may need one but do your homework. You'll find that you can get them a lot cheaper by buying them outright than by leasing. You'll save thousands of dollars.
So when considering all these offers take the time to really think them over. Don't give in to the pressure; it can cost you a lot of money with little or no return.
Cash Miller is the Editor of SmallBusinessDelivered.com and hosts his own blog at www.SmallBusinessDelivered.com/cash-millers-blog.
Check out our E-Book BookStore as we are always adding new titles to our selection.
|
 |
Below you'll find links to some other useful websites that you might want to check out.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
SCORE
Small Business Administration
Internal Revenue Service
Prosper.com Person to Person Lending
Better Business Bureau Online
USA Today Franchise Solutions
USA BizMart Business Broker Directory
Dunn and Bradstreet
Federal Trade Commission
SCORE
Small Business Administration
Internal Revenue Service
Prosper.com Person to Person Lending
Better Business Bureau Online
USA Today Franchise Solutions
USA BizMart Business Broker Directory
Dunn and Bradstreet
Federal Trade Commission
Our BookStore, Software Store, and Office Products Store are offered to you in partnership with Amazon.com so you can feel secure in the purchases you make.
Featured Accounting Articles
Sponsored Links
|
.jpg "Cash Miller - Copy (2)")
Everybody Wants Your Money!
Now that your small business has finally started to gain some traction does it seem like everybody has their hand out?
By: Cash Miller
Now that your small business has finally started to gain some traction does it seem like everybody has their hand out?
By: Cash Miller
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Entrepreneurs Helping Entrepreneurs
|
Cash Miller
Sponsored Links
Free Newsletter Signup!
Bartering Organizations
Business Brokers
Business Franchises
Business Incubators
Chambers of Commerce
Ezine Article Sites
Factoring Companies
Freelance Opportunities
Inventory Liquidators
Traffic Exchanges
Business Brokers
Business Franchises
Business Incubators
Chambers of Commerce
Ezine Article Sites
Factoring Companies
Freelance Opportunities
Inventory Liquidators
Traffic Exchanges
Business Directory
Find the Pieces to Your Business Puzzle Right Here
Find the Pieces to Your Business Puzzle Right Here
Be Active In Managing Your Accounts Receivables
Effective management of your company's accounts receivables is crucial to maintaining positive cash flow for your business. Failure to manage your accounts receivables could cost you everything!
Cash Flow Is King!
There was a time when what mattered most to the success of your business was reflected in your profits and your losses. If you were in the black you were getting ahead. But with ever tightening credit and companies taking longer to pay the ship could be sinking without you realizing it.
Protecting Your Business Credit Lines
You work hard to establish credit lines with your suppliers. Often you will have to trust your employees to use those credit lines on your behalf. But is your trust well placed or not? You might be surprised with the answer.
Your New Business And Budgeting Your Money
Running a small business means making choices on a day to day basis. Many of the decisions you will make for your business will involve money. How you spend your money during the early stages of building your new business could mean the difference between success and failure.
Effective management of your company's accounts receivables is crucial to maintaining positive cash flow for your business. Failure to manage your accounts receivables could cost you everything!
Cash Flow Is King!
There was a time when what mattered most to the success of your business was reflected in your profits and your losses. If you were in the black you were getting ahead. But with ever tightening credit and companies taking longer to pay the ship could be sinking without you realizing it.
Protecting Your Business Credit Lines
You work hard to establish credit lines with your suppliers. Often you will have to trust your employees to use those credit lines on your behalf. But is your trust well placed or not? You might be surprised with the answer.
Your New Business And Budgeting Your Money
Running a small business means making choices on a day to day basis. Many of the decisions you will make for your business will involve money. How you spend your money during the early stages of building your new business could mean the difference between success and failure.