Bookkeeping Service Louisiana

Should Your Business Go Paperless?

3/27/2013

Ever since the advent of the computer revolution, people on the cutting edge of technology have touted the benefits of a paperless office. Within the past ten years, technological advances in computing and networking have dramatically changed the way we do business, and now more than ever, that goal seems within reach. It may be tempting to bid farewell to the stacks of papers on your desk, but before you turn on that shredder, take the time to weigh the pros and cons of implementing a paperless system.

Going paperless is a great way to have more cash on hand. In addition to the obvious reduction in costs of office supplies, switching to a paperless system for your billing gives you the opportunity to build an automated billing system, ensuring that there are no delays in invoicing. However, building these systems and the underlying infrastructure needed to run them will cost money upfront. If you’re serious about making the switch, be prepared to make the investment.

In addition to the investment of cash, it also takes a significant investment in time to get your paperless office running. Although new documents can be created digitally for easy access, documents created prior to the transition will need to be digitized (you can do this in-house or through a number of reputable digitization services). Your employees will also need to undergo training on the new system.

Keep in mind that switching to a paperless office is not an all-or-nothing proposition. You may find that one department in your business is ready, while another may never be. No two businesses are alike, so move in the direction that makes sense for you.

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Keeping Costs Low in your Small Business

3/18/2013

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Perhaps the oldest adage in the world of business is that it takes money to make money. While there’s no denying the truth of that statement, there’s nothing saying that you can’t spend a little less and make more. Cutting costs from your budget may seem like a daunting task, but by closely following your business’ finances you can find several places to trim fat without even noticing it. Each business is different, and the best ways to keep your budget lean will come the more time you spend with it. Below are a few suggestions to help get you started:

Need to replace office equipment? Consider purchasing previously used equipment online through services such as eBay or Craigslist. If you can break away from the cult of the new,you’ll find deep discounts on top-quality equipment, oftentimes still under the original manufacturer’s warranty.
Hire an Intern. If you have a project that requires hands-on work, but you don’t have the manpower to complete it with your current staff, consider offering the position as an internship rather than hiring a temp worker. Local colleges or trade schools will be happy to match you with a student who will work for little or no cost in exchange for school credit.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount. If you’re making a large order, most retailers will be happy to offer a percentage off the total cost. Certainly don’t force the point, but you may be surprised at what they can do for you if you simply ask.
Use in-house talent whenever possible. During employee reviews, think about what projects you have coming down the line that their talents may be well-suited for. If possible, try giving them a small project that you may have traditionally hired outside help for. For example, if you have someone that deals primarily in Customer Service that knows graphic design, let them take a pass at your new website. And since someone within your company will not have to spend time getting acquainted with your business ethos, you’re likely to see an improvement in both the turnaround time and the quality of the work.

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Picking the Right Employee

3/15/2013

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Hiring a new employee is never easy. What’s more, it’s time consuming - from the moment you start advertising the open position to the moment you finally finish training your new employee can take weeks, if not months. The next time you find yourself facing this ordeal, keep these tips in mind and you’ll have your new employee up and running in no time.

The first step in finding the right employee is perhaps the most crucial – before you begin to advertise the position you need to first determine what exactly that position will entail. Perform a detailed job analysis so that both you and your new employee will know exactly what is expected of them. You can do this either by auditing other employees that currently hold the same position or by reviewing comparable job descriptions. Once you have a good idea of what exactly you will need your new employee to do, write up a detailed job description for the position.

Where you go next will depend largely on your needs. If the open position requires a very specific skill set you may want to give the job description to a recruiter to see if they already have any potential matches. If the recruiter falls through, or your needs are more broad, you can follow the traditional methods of advertising the position through print or online.

Once you have interviews lined up, make sure you have prepared questions that are relevant not just to the open position, but also allows you some insight into the interviewee’s personality. While it’s true that it is vitally important that they can perform the job, it is also important that they will fit in with the culture of your workplace. You may find that a great candidate on paper “just doesn’t work out” after a few weeks on the job and you’ll have to start all over again.

Taking time to prepare the right questions saves you time in the long run.

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Get the Word Out About Your Business

3/5/2013

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Nothing beats word-of-mouth when it comes to expanding your customer base, but when it comes to getting people talking, you've got to crawl before you can walk. That’s where advertising comes in. Don’t worry – there are plenty of simple, effective ways to target your potential customers without needing all of Madison Avenue at your back. Below is just a small glimpse at the myriad of ways that you can keep your name in the conversation:

1. Targeted Online Advertisements
Just last year, Facebook has surpassed 1 billion active users. That means that nearly 1 in every 6 people worldwide regularly use this insanely popular social networking service. Big online companies such as Facebook and Google allow you to target your ads to where they will be the most effective. Whether your ideal client is a 45 year old housewife in Metairie or her 22 year old son in the Marigny, you can make sure your message is seen by the right person.

2. Social Media
In addition to selling to your clients through targeted ads, social media networks allows you to engage with your audience directly. The trick here is to make your Facebook page or Twitter feed something that your customer will want to follow. Sending out coupons or Facebook-only deals works, but an even better strategy is to provide fun and engaging content that your customer will want to see. Statuses and tweets that your customers deem valuable will likely get shared on their own network, providing you a great opportunity to increase your visibility at virtually no cost.

3. Print Media
Despite whatever lamentations you may have heard, print most certainly is not dead. In fact, it remains one of the most valuable ways to advertise to new customers. Find a publication whose readership matches your ideal client – you may find that advertising in a niche local magazine or specialty newspaper may be a better use of your advertising dollars than a smaller ad in a larger paper.

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Should Your Business Go Paperless?

Keeping Costs Low in your Small Business

Picking the Right Employee

Get the Word Out About Your Business

Louisiana Bookkeeping Service

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