4 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Small Business

Are you currently trying to take your small business to the next level? Running a small business can be tough, but there are things you can do to set it on the path to success. As a matter of fact, there are a few things you can do right now to instantly improve it!

1. Mark the Cash - At the end of each and every day, keep track of how much money was spent on expenses and how much was made in revenue. Keeping track of expenses will allow you to know how much profit you are earning and if the business is doing well. Knowing how much was made in revenue each day will not only help you understand what your profit is, but it can help identify trends throughout the week, month, and in the year over year analysis.
2. Pay Attention - Being able to identify trends on when you make the most money is important so you can gear up for that time of the week, month, or year. You should also be able to identify trends in the industry and your local community to better predict customer traffic and possible revenue.
3. Best Practices - Every business is going to have their way of doing things, just as yours will. However, there are certain best practices that are industry wide that you can adopt to streamline certain processes. Using what is already proven to work can save you time, money, and a handful of potential headaches.
4. Clear Communication - All businesses need a reliable phone system for clear communication with their clients, vendors, business partners, and fellow employees. The phone system with the most features at the most cost effective price is VoIP. A VoIP phone system will benefit all employees, whether they are working on-site, from home, or on the go.

If you could change a few things around to make your small business better this second, wouldn’t you? To improve your small business with a VoIP business phone system, contact Reliable Voice and Data Systems. To learn more or to schedule an free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

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How to Choose the Right Business Phone System

Communication is one of the most important aspects of creating and maintaining a business. In order for your business to properly communicate with clients, customers, vendors, employees, etc., you will need a reliable phone system in place. When choosing a phone system for your business, keep one word in mind: VoIP.

All About VoIP

VoIP phone systems will piggyback off of your current internet connection, so not only will you be cutting the cord for your traditional landline phone system, you’ll be cutting your phone bills in half! If that's not enough to entice you, VoIP phone systems also come with a boatload of advanced features. Some of which include call forwarding, call monitoring, using your computer as a “softphone”, video conferencing, and many more!

Cloud-Based VoIP

Small businesses looking for the best phone system possible at a price they can afford should consider a cloud-based VoIP system. There is no hardware to purchase or maintain other than the actual IP phones, so this is an extremely cost-effective and hands off phone solution. The service provider will make all necessary maintenance and upgrades without ever allowing you to lift a finger.

On-Premises VoIP

Larger businesses that want control of their phone system should opt for an on-premises VoIP system. You will need an IT team to manage and maintain the system, but this will allow you to configure the system how you want. The up front cost for an on-premises system is rather expensive, but you will end up paying lower monthly fees over time.

Every business needs a phone system, but all businesses are different and will need options in order to pick the right one for them. When it’s time to switch to 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.

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3 Ways You Can Protect Your Business

One of the most important aspects of running your own business is protecting your investment and limiting your liability. Otherwise, you could end up in the middle of an awful lawsuit that could leave you with no money when it’s all said and done. In order to protect your business, make sure you take the proper steps to do so.

Get Yourself a Top Notch Attorney

Finding yourself an attorney as soon as you start your business is recommended. This attorney should be competent and knowledgeable with your local laws and have expertise in the type of business you run. Being able to have an attorney familiar with your business right away will allow you to contact them before you take any action during a possible lawsuit.

Separate Identities

Most small businesses start out as a sole proprietorship, which is something no business owner should ever do. Why? Because when the company is sued, all of the owner’s assets are up for grabs in court. To keep your home, cars, and personal finances safe from being attacked in court, set up a trust to own your business. This trust will give your business its own legal entity that won’t put its owners at risk when being sued.

Install CCTV Security Cameras

The lack of evidence during a lawsuit is something that can hurt a business when it's being sued. Let’s say someone falls in the building of your business and sues you for a large sum of money. Can you prove that this fall is something you are responsible for — or that it even happened at all? Having CCTV security cameras surveying every open space of your business will allow you and the court of law to see what really happened so a fair trial can take place.

As a business owner, it is your responsibility to do everything in your power to protect your investment from being sued. If you’re looking to keep an eye on your business at all times, consider installing CCTV security cameras from Reliable Voice & Data Systems. To learn more or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

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This is How You Should Be Answering Your Phone at Work

For many businesses, communicating via the telephone is an important part of business operations. To ensure that your business is setting the right tone, there are certain practices that should be followed when speaking with customers on the phone. Here’s a few best practices that all employees should implement into their workflow processes.

Nail the Greeting

When answering the phone, the greeting should have four key elements: the initial greeting, the name of the company, the name of the person answering the phone, and an offer of service. A good example of a proper greeting is, “Good evening, Reliable Voice & Data Systems. This is Linda, how may I help you?” This greeting will give the caller all the information they need to address their reason for calling.

Avoid Sounding “Sales-y”

No one wants to call a business to hear a long promotion that takes longer than 10 seconds to listen to. Not only does this come across as pushy and a waste of time, but it can catch the caller off guard and cause them to become annoyed or forget what they were thinking. If you would like to convey a promotion to the caller, let them know later on in the call.

Be Sincere

Answering the phone with a monotone voice and a scripted greeting can sound insincere. To come across as more authentic, sit up straight and smile before beginning to speak. You should also switch up your greeting so it sounds more natural. Change the initial greeting depending on the time of day, or your wording for when you offer your assistance.

By making a few adjustments to how you answer your phone, you’ll start every conversation off on the right foot! Not only should you speak on the phone in a certain way, but you should take advantage of advanced telephony technology like VoIP. When considering making the switch to VoIP, contact Reliable Voice & Data Systems. To learn more or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

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The Most Common Workplace Accidents

Accidents in the workplace can happen to anyone at any moment. For those who own their own businesses, accidents that cause workplace injuries can cost you a lot of money. Of all the workplace accidents that can happen, the most common ones are…

• Slips - No matter the type of business you own, most will have a break room or kitchen. This is the area of the building that can experience small puddles of water on the floor thanks to the sink. Since kitchens will have some form of tile or linoleum, this can become a slippery surface with just a few drops of water or other liquids.
• Falling Objects - For those who work in warehouses or stores with tall shelves, it’s possible for items to fall off of these shelves. Being struck by a falling object can cause severe head injuries, especially if the objects are furniture or large pieces of technology like televisions.
• Back Injuries - Some jobs require workers to lift a specific amount of weight as stated in their job description before being hired. However, poor form can lead to muscles being injured, putting the worker out of commission. One wrong movement when moving product can send even the healthiest of workers to the emergency room.
• Conflicts - Not all workplace injuries happen by accident, some will happen due to physical altercations. Whether it’s two workers, two customers, or a worker and a customer, violence can take place in your business. When the fighting is done on your premises (or with your worker), you could be held liable for any damages during a lawsuit.

How to Avoid Being Liable for Damages

If an accident happens in your business, sometimes you can be held accountable if a lawsuit does come to fruition. However, if your business has a CCTV security system you will have the evidence to show what actually happened. Not only will this show you what really transpired, but it could expose people who fake a workplace incident. Having eyes everywhere will keep you and your business protected from possible liability.

Workplace accidents happen from time to time and unfortunately, there are a few ways you can be injured. When your business needs to install a CCTV security system, contact Reliable Voice & Data Systems. To learn more, or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

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5 Expenses to Save on for Your Small Business

Owning a small business is not easy, especially when it comes to budgeting your money. There are things that each business needs to make sure they stay in operation, which usually takes up a majority of the budget. However, there are some expenses you can miss out on that will help you save money.

1. Base Salaries - Naturally, some of your employees will need to be paid salary or an hourly rate. However, if you have certain sales people that make money off of commissions, offer a commission-only payment with bonus incentives. This way you’ll be able to save money on payroll while also having employees that will be working hard to earn their money.
2. Unnecessary Items - Having each of your employees use tablets to complete a sale might work for some of the larger companies, but this isn’t necessary for small businesses. Focusing on training your employees communication skills will be better for the money spent.
3. Up to Date - Having old computers and technology can oftentimes be expensive to keep. Not only can their lack of speed and features limit your employees, but they can also cost more to repair. Learn when to replace certain computers and opt for a smaller, more navigable model.
4. Cut the Cord - Using a traditional phone system is extremely expensive these days. With a VoIP phone system you can receive equal call quality, but with ten times more features at half the cost. Getting more for less? There’s no reason why all businesses shouldn’t be using a VoIP phone system.
5. Track & Cut - For the next few months, write down every business expense. At the end of this time period, evaluate your list of expenses and see what you can cut out. For necessary expenses, do your research and see if there are more cost-effective options or alternatives.

Running a small business is no easy task, but cutting down your expenses is definitely one of the hardest tasks you’ll face. When you realize that it’s time for your business to adopt a VoIP phone system, contact Reliable Voice and Data Systems. To learn more or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

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Tips to Build a Business on a Tiny Budget

Starting your own small business is an extremely difficult job that requires all of your time, effort, and unfortunately — money. It’s not always easy to get a startup off of the ground with a limited amount of capital, which is why a lot of businesses do fail. For those looking to stretch their dollar a bit further, here’s a few tips to help you out!

Stick to What You Know

The most common mistake people make is starting a business they know nothing (or little) about. The easiest way to save money is to start a business that you are highly skilled and knowledgeable in. This way you won’t need to hire consultants or have some of the work outsourced at a top dollar price. If you know the industry like the back of your hand, you’ll know where to put your money and how to budget it properly.

Work From Home

Getting office space right off the bat is something many business owners will do as soon as they start their company. However, this work space isn’t always needed right away and by holding off on it, you can build your business’s profit to reinvest. Working from home will save you on all of the workplace costs, especially if you have a few employees. Instead, you can simply supply them with phones and maybe even a work computer.

VoIP Phone System

Staying connected with your employees is crucial, especially if everyone is working from home. Since you’re already saving money on office space, you will have the extra cash to supply your employees with their own VoIP phones and software. This phone system is extremely inexpensive and offers features such as call forwarding, video conferencing, and you can even place calls via the computer.

Building your small startup business can be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do, but it is possible if you know how to budget right! When you need a VoIP phone system for your business, contact Reliable Voice & Data Systems. To learn more, or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

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