May 20
Just like any other company, small businesses are in need of merchant services that will improve day to day performance. From online and wireless payments to better terminals and staying PCI compliant, youll discover many areas that benefit from efficient and high quality programs from a good provider. No matter the industry, your small business can quickly see results when placed on the right path.
Update Terminals and PCI Compliance
Modernizing your companys processing systems and equipment will make a huge difference in day to day operations. Old, outdated credit card terminals are a dangerous thing to have.
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Tags: Business, Merchant Services, Small Business
May 16
Back in January 2010, we gave you a list of 30 Online Invoicing Apps for Small Business. We got lots of emails and comments. Since then, readers like you have pointed out invoicing apps we missed. So we thought we’d add some new players, and take another look at the market.
The first thing we did was add an additional 20 online invoicing software apps to the list, and renamed the post to: 50 Online Invoicing Apps for Small Business.
The second thing we did: we reviewed the market as a whole to see what’s changed and what’s new. We discovered that the online invoicing market has evolved and is starting to “grow up.” One change in online invoicing and billing solutions from 17 months ago is that back then, most solutions were pretty broad (or marketed that way, at least). Their websites simply offered a Web-based solution for the small business owner, no matter what type of company. Now, there are more niche offerings specifically for certain industries. For example, you’ll see Time59, which focuses on the solo attorney market. Or there’s Zencillo, which offers a product for Spanish-speaking business owners.
Other things have evolved over the past 17 months, too:
- MOBILE — Almost all vendors have dialed in to the mobile market. Most offer iOS and Android solutions to complement their Web-based product. Apparently they are banking on the fact that small business owners operate on the go, and increasingly use mobile devices not just as phones but to conduct business transactions.
- FREE VS SUBSCRIPTION – Large or well-funded vendors may offer a completely free solution as a way to pull you into other products they offer. Free is a positive — but shouldn’t be the main deciding factor. Some of the most exciting features and time-savers come from the smaller vendors. Also, the smaller vendors tend to be the ones offering tailored solutions to specific industries or types of businesses.
- DASHBOARD INTELLIGENCE – More analytics tools and dashboards are available to help you determine how your cash is flowing. Now you can expect your invoicing tool to do more than just handle invoicing transactions well. Now the bar is higher. Look for an invoicing tool that gives you both: transactional capability AND intelligence.
- VIDEO TO “SHOW” YOU – Marketing, support and training sections of their websites are using more video. This strikes us here at as a great use of video. A video can convey much more information than words when it comes to showing people what the software is like and how to use it.
- MORE TESTIMONIALS — More credible testimonials appear on all of the sites, including the original 30. This in part is a reflection of the fact that many of these apps now have more of a track record 17 months later. That’s a good thing. We suggest looking closely at the type of business giving the testimonial. That may give you some clues as what type of industry or size of business the product is best suited for.
- PROMINENT PRICING — Almost all vendors, at least the truly savvy, list their prices prominently so you can easily answer the most important question: Can I afford this? Business owners are time-pressed. Many of us are shopping for online software after hours and on weekends or holidays. And time is money for many of us in the small business world. So look for a vendor that makes it easy for you to make a choice online, without needing to contact them for additional information.
On each of the earlier 30 reviewed, I visited each site again to confirm mostly if pricing was the same or different. If there were any significant changes, the short summary has been
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Tags: Apps, Invoicing Apps, Online Invoicing, Online Invoicing Apps
May 16
Remember, there is no single way to forecast any business. Its often very creative.
Magda was looking at forecasting sales for a small restaurant. She hadnt locked in the location at that point, but she had a pretty good idea of the small size she wanted. She decided she would be able to seat six tables of four people each as a starting point. She knew that things might change when she actually decided on the space to rent, but she had to start somewhere, so six tables of four it was.
Then she did some simple math: six tables of four meant at capacity she would be serving 24 meals. Meals take about an hour at lunch, and about two hours at dinner.
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Tags: Forecast
May 14
Home-based franchises are seeing a rise in popularity as many buyers interested in entrepreneurial news are lured in by cheaper costs and greater convenience, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The news source adds that while conventional franchises such as cleaning and tax-preparation services have been around a long time, niche franchises such as dog training, math tutoring and medical billing have sprung up in recent years and are fast expanding.
One example is Berkeley, California-based Fetch! Pet Care, which provides pet sitting and dog walking services.
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Tags: Franchises, Franchises Growing
May 11
I had to laugh at my 18 year old son the other day when he couldn’t connect with a friend because his cell phone was down and he wasn’t on Facebook. This friend might as well not exist, in my son’s world. I suggested he look up the family phone number in the phonebook which my son thought was absolute “genius,” (a rare complement as many of you with kids this age know). I went to grab the phonebook for him, because I knew he had no idea where this book lives, but alas he had already found it online.
Think about the last time you purchased a product or service. Just like my son with seeking a phone number, you naturally follow a buying pattern probably without realizing you are doing so. And, if y
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