How to Avoid an Entrepreneurial Burnout

Starting, running, and trying to grow your small business can be one of the most daunting and stressful jobs of all time. It's easy to stay cool and collected in the beginning, but all of the hard work and uncertainties can make a person feel burned out after a while. The goal isn't just to have a successful business, but to also enjoy yourself during this crazy rollercoaster ride.

Take a Step Back

If you feel like you're this close to snapping, take a step back away from it all. Put someone in charge of the day-to-day tasks and take a personal day to let yourself rest, physically and mentally. This means no email, no calls, no nothing! Allowing yourself to have at least 24 hours to away from it all can make you feel re-energized to take on the following day’s tasks.

Learn How to Delegate

Taking on every task and responsibility is a foolish thing to do. You hired your employees for a reason, because they're good at what they do and you trust them to get the job done. Delegate tasks that will allow you to focus on the more important things that need your full attention.

Pick and Choose

Doing all of the work all of the time is not always a good thing. Your priority should be to focus on tasks that will bring you closer to your and the company's goals. If there is a lot of busy work that needs to get done, but you don't have time, you should — delegate!

Don't allow yourself to become burned out — you're the most important piece of the company, so it's time to take a breather. For companies looking for an easier (and cheaper) way to communicate, opt for a VoIP phone system. To learn more or to schedule a free estimate, contact Reliable Voice & Data Systems at (877) 385-6657.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!

How to Properly Speak on Business Phone Calls

Does your business and line of work rely heavily on the use of phones? Since phone calls are most people's main point of contact, it's pertinent you answer the phone the right way. Because after all, this is the first impression — don't you want to make a good one on behalf of your business?

• Pickup Speed - Do not keep your caller waiting by letting the phone ring until right before it hits the voicemail. On the other hand, do not pick up right away, as this can catch the caller off guard. Picking up at the third ring is the sweet spot!
• Tone of Voice - Smile when you speak your greeting. You want to sound welcoming and happy to take their call — not monotone and unamused.
• Greeting - In your greeting, you want to include a welcoming statement, the company name, your name, and a question. An example would look like, “Good morning! Thank you for calling Reliable Voice & Data Systems. My name is Employee, how may I help you today?”
• Clear & Concise - When speaking, try not to use short words or slang like “okay” or “sure.” Instead, say “Certainly” or “You Got It.” Try to also refrain from saying “uhh” or “uhm” in between words. If you feel yourself about to say these things, create a short pause to collect your thoughts.
• Never Not Know - There are going to be times when the person on the other end of the line will ask you something you don't know. Rather than admitting you don't know, say “Great question, let me write that down and find out for you.”

Knowing how to conduct a proper business phone call is equally as important as an in person encounter. In order to have the best experience possible on the phone (with features like call forwarding, clear sound, and reliable service), contact Reliable Voice & Data Systems to inquire more about VoIP phone systems. To learn more or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!

How to Expand Your Business

Do you have a small business that’s performing well, but you would like to take it to the next level? Those who are experiencing steady growth should look to find ways to aid it by making select business decisions to take their business to new heights.

Venture Into New Territories

You’ve gotten to where you are today because your current recipe is a successful one. To expand your business further, use your method because you know it works well — but in a new area. Keep doing what you’re doing, but think about expanding the territories you currently service or sell to. Hiring new employees to venture out to these areas could help you tap into a previously untapped market.

Target Another Market

Your current customer base can usually be categorized into a select few categories based on their demographics (and sometimes psychographics). However, there are other customer markets your service or product could possibly be offered to. For example, you could have a successful business selling to people close to retirement age but also have a secondary customer market with new homeowners. It’s worth a shot to do some research and find out!

Reevaluate Current Processes

Just because your current business model works, doesn’t mean it can’t be improved even more. See if there are unnecessary steps, more cost-effective alternatives, or expenses you can cut out altogether. For example, you could use a more cost-effective material when producing a product or cut out expenses like a traditional phone system in favor of an affordable VoIP phone system.

Your business is doing well and we applaud you — but every business can always be doing better. When it’s time for you to ditch your current phone system in favor of a VoIP phone system, contact Reliable Voice & Data Systems. To learn more or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!

What to Do About Employee Theft

Are you worried that you might have an employee in your business that is currently stealing from you? Rather than going around firing people with no proof, there are questions you need to ask and steps you need to take.

Are You Being Stolen From?

• Count the Money - Open up the books and check to see if all of the numbers add up. Every once in awhile there might be fluctuations, but keep an eye out for unusual discrepancies. Theft can appear as large chunks or a small amount missing each and every day.
• Check the Inventory - Shoplifting can cause your computers to reflect a different in-stock quantity than what you actually have. However, if the CCTV security cameras don’t show proof of shoplifting, consider internal theft as a possible reason.
• Listen to Employees - Have you heard employees say that something of theirs has gone missing? Internal theft isn’t always at the expense of the business, other employees can fall victim to it too.

How to Handle Employee Theft

• Internal Audit - After checking all of your records, put aside any that have any significant or patterned discrepancies. Now that you have narrowed these variances down to a few instances, try to find out why they exist. If you can pinpoint cases of either shoplifting, damaging out items, etc., you’ll see what remains unaccounted for.
• Interview Employees - Round up your employees one by one and give them each an interview so you can see how they act and respond to any questions you may ask them. Rather than asking them if they stole from you, ask if they know who has been stealing and watch how they react — their tone of voice and body language could tell you a lot.
• Compile Evidence - You have your records with the discrepancies circled and maybe a testimony or two from other employees, but what about actual evidence? This is where CCTV security cameras come in handy! Go back and rewatch the tapes so you can monitor the area where the items or money was stolen from. Surveillance footage is the most compelling evidence to have when trying to remove (and convict) an employee who is stealing.

Employee theft is something that is very real and can happen to your small business, so it’s best to be prepared. To prevent employees and customers from stealing, consider installing CCTV security cameras by Reliable Voice & Data Systems. To learn more or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!

How to Fund Your New Startup Business

Are your trying to secure enough capital in order to fund a new startup business? Gathering this large sum of money can be difficult, but it is possible. If you’re looking to become a new small business owner, gather this money by...

Getting the Family Involved

The first (and most common) way people will fund their new startup businesses is by borrowing money from a family member or close friend. This is considered to be the least risky option for you since most friends and relatives won’t charge you an interest rate, ask for collateral, or give you a strict repayment plan. However, make sure you establish if this is strictly a loan or if you just acquired yourself a silent business partner that will now split any and all profits.

Heading to the Bank

As long as you have good credit, assets, and something to put up as collateral (your home), you have a good chance of being approved for a business or personal loan. Going this route to fund your new business will most likely provide you with more money upfront to get things going. Just know you will have to pay interest while also following a strict repayment plan.

Keeping Costs Low

Once you get the ball rolling and your new startup is beginning to take form, stay away from any unnecessary costs. You’re going to need all of the capital you can to get this business off of the ground.

• If you need a physical location, don’t over-estimate the size you need — if not, work out of your home to stay rent free.
• Do not hire employees if you can do the job yourself. However, jobs like doing the taxes  and any manufacturing might be better off left with actual professionals.
• Stay away from traditional phone systems as they can cost a fortune, especially if you need to add more phones to the plan later down the road. Opt for a VoIP business phone system as it is roughly half the price of a traditional phone system and is easily expandable.

Having enough money to fund a new startup business is the first speed bump to overcome when trying to become a small business owner. When you want to keep costs low, opt for a VoIP phone system that’s installed and serviced by Reliable Voice & Data Systems. To learn more or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!