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The odds are against most new businesses starting in the UK. According to the ONS , more than half of businesses fail within the first three years of operation. And that was before challenges like COVID-19 were even being considered! To stand the best chance of survival, budding entrepreneurs might look to the example set by those who’ve previously enjoyed some success. Among the more inspiring stories is that of Adam and James, two childhood friends who, having collaborated printing flyers for nightclubs at university, decided to go into the business of providing print services via the internet. The resulting company, instantprint, is still going strong a decade later, providing a wide variety of products including booklets , flyers and posters. In an interview on the company’s site, they identified several of the challenges that thwart many new businesses, as well as the solutions which helped the business to get around those challenges. Keep Track of Costs. If your business spe...

When you are looking to grow your personal wealth, you have many options that you can consider. Each of these options will carry with them a certain amount of risk, as there is no such thing as a sure thing when it comes to investments. That being said, with the right guidance and consideration, you could very well stand to gain a desirable return on your investment. One of the more popular investment options out there is that of the mutual fund. When you choose to invest in a mutual fund, you can achieve a high return with minimal risk. However, before you actually make an investment, there are a few things that you should know about the mutual fund that you are considering. 1. Fund Administration. There are a number of different administrative tasks that might need to be handled when it comes to the fund you are considering. Jobs like financial reporting, shareholder reporting, net asset value calculation, and regulatory filings will need to be taken care of by someone who knows ...

Regardless of the popularity of buy and sell sites nowadays, the fact is that when it comes to complicated transactions involving large sums of money, people still prefer to go to the experts. However, that doesn’t mean that starting a conveyancing business is set for automatic success. As with any industry, you’ll need to learn and apply different tricks in order to achieve success in conveyance. Here are some tricks: 1. Make Sure You’re on the Registry. Conveyancing is a regulated profession with the Australian Institute of Conveyancers National being one of the most popular associations for those in the profession. If you intend to make a success of this business, then make a point of getting registered through the association. Many clients today have the foresight to check the list of registered conveyancers in their area, which means that not being registered can be a red flag against you. Hence, keep your membership up to date and even offer the information when conversing w...

Nir Bashan is the founder and CEO of The Creator Mindset LLC, where he teaches business leaders how to harness the power of creativity to improve profitability, increase sales, and make work more meaningful. His clients include AT&T, Microsoft, Ace Hardware, NFL Network, EA Sports, and JetBlue. His creative work has been recognized with a Clio Award and an Emmy nomination. His new book is “ The Creator Mindset: 92 Tools to Unlock the Secrets to Innovation, Growth, and Sustainability “. We speak with Nir Bashan about the role of creativity in business. In what ways are business leaders discouraged from using creativity? Business leaders are discouraged from using creativity because we have been drilled in analytics and logic from a very young age. We are discouraged from using creativity, and instead encouraged to use numbers and analytics and data to help define our world. It starts subtly at first and then grows into a roaring crescendo. When we were young, a cardboard box loo...

by  Joe Curcillo , author of “ Getting to ‘US’: Discover the Ability to Lead Your Team to Any Result You Desire “ As of the end of 2019, there were over 26 million people who worked at home on an average day, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number jumped by millions during the pandemic, and many of those people will continue working remotely well into the future. In fact, some industry experts predict that the future of business is working remotely. As business leaders scramble to figure out how to successfully lead a virtual team, one expert explains how all they need is a unifying vision. Having a unifying vision is going to make all the difference. Rather than trying to navigate your way through such a drastic change without having a plan, choose to have a unifying vision. I’ve helped many people with theirs and it’s what has helped their company become even more successful with their team working remotely. Working remotely has left many business owners and...

Have you just started a new company? That’s exciting. But a brand new company needs special attention, and if you seek for success you should be patient. In this article we serve you some great advice to help you make it as an entrepreneur.  Build a team that shares your visions. “Great people make a great company” – it’s quite simple, but you will need a staff that shares your visions. But not everyone is like you and different people with different mindsets and creativity levels can be the perfect combination for you new company. But you have to look for passion. Also you need to take the time to interview people thoroughly to ensure that they fit the vision, culture and share your values. You also need the perfect platform and for that you can use Candeno . You can complement with social platforms like LinkedIn – here you can get further informations about potential candidates.  Build a solid business plan. Now we need to take a step back – planning plays a crucial r...

There’s nothing more exciting than opening your first paycheck. Your hard work has paid off and it’s time to see what you’ve earned! But what happens if you don’t know how to read a paystub? Your excitement can quickly turn to confusion especially if you don’t know the difference between gross wages and net pay. In fact, you pay taxes several taxes, so be prepared to see multiple deductions. If you’re wondering how to read a paycheck stub then keep reading for an easy to understand breakdown. How to Read a Paystub. Some things your pay stub will include your name, the dates you were paid for, the exact amount of hours you worked, your gross wages, any deductions you pay into, what your employer contributes, and your net pay. Gross Wages. These wages are the exact amount you can expect to be paid prior to any money being withheld. If you earn $10 an hour and work 40 hours a week, your gross wages for that week would be $400. Net Pay. The cash remaining from your paycheck ...

The job outlook for web developers is better than many occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the job market for developers to grow by 13 percent from 2018 to 2028 . The average job growth is only 5 percent. Web development is a good industry to get into but what do web developers do, exactly? Let’s find out. What Is a Web Developer? A web developer is someone who writes the code that makes a website or web service do what it does. They’re programmers, but instead of writing applications like a word processor or games, they write for the web. A web developer created every website you read, social network you belong to, and web app you use. They make the internet the useful tool it is. The 3 Layers of Web Development. There are 3 types of web development: Client-side Server-side Database Client-side means code that runs in your browser or on your computer. Server-side is code that runs on the webserver before it sends the information to the browser. And databa...

Did you know that roughly 75 percent of all software projects fail? If you’re looking to develop some software, you may not know how to create a software project that will be successful. Do you need to have a good spec sheet? Maybe it all comes down to hiring the best developers? Read on, and you’ll learn the basics of developing a successful software project. If you’re looking to create the next killer app, these tips will help you get your idea off the ground. Let’s begin! 1. Determine What You Want. When creating a software program, you first need to decide what you want from your product. If you don’t go through this process, you might create something, only to realize that it isn’t what you want. You’ll then need to start from scratch, and this can cost a lot of time and money. When creating a plan for your software development project, you need to consider several things. To begin with, you want to list out some of the basic features your program will...

In the wake of the Great Recession of the middle 2000s, the alternative lending industry exploded. Recognizing that people just weren’t being offered traditional lending opportunities as often or as eagerly as they were before (for obvious reasons), new alternative financing organizations stepped in to fill the void. These kinds of services also took advantage of the dramatic explosion of financial technology being pioneered at the time, solutions that have gone mainstream in just the last 10 years or so and have changed not only the alternative lending world but the traditional lending world too. All of this has resulted in a significant amount of growth for this industry, growth that financial leaders and CEOs are predicting will only continue to grow. Here are just a few bits of inside information relating to where influencers in the alternative lending industry feel of these kinds of businesses are headed. Great Potential for Profitability. One of the most influential CEOs ...

by Meysa Maleki, author of “ The Conflict Resolution Grail: Awareness, Compassion and a Negotiator’s Toolbox “ Whether a coworker doesn’t like you or you perceive that you are not liked by a coworker does not change the end result – the work environment will be toxic. You will view any further comments or action by this coworker through the lens of hostile intentions as opposed to situational causes even if at times, it may only be your perception that they intended to harm you. The end result is more toxicity in the work environment and undoubtedly home environment as you take your spillover emotions home with you. It affects the bottom line, your productivity, and the productivity of the organization. Remember not everyone has to like you. The goal is not to be liked. In fact, people who are focused on being liked, oftentimes, put the relationship ahead of solving the problem and getting their own needs met. Over time, they become bitter and unhappy as they lose self- respect, wit...

by  Rohan Thambrahalli , the Founder and President at  UpstartWorks As businesses around the world return to work, leadership teams are tasked with deciding how best to reopen for their customers, their employees, and their values. Some of these changes, like face masks and temperature checks, are sensible and often mandatory measures meant to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Yet so many of the other adaptations companies have implemented come from a well-meaning but misguided belief in “the new normal.” Following 2020’s shift to remote work, virtually every business adapted in ways they’d never previously thought possible. Now, it’s time to take those lessons from the telecommuting era and apply them to the way we work together – without losing what makes your company unique. Here’s how. Re-Meet Your Team. The unexpected switch to telecommuting, which seemed to happen almost overnight, put many employees and managers in a position they’d never experienced before. O...

Product Lifecycle Management software – or PLM software – facilitates the design and manufacturing process of a wide variety of products and is especially relevant to the cosmetic industry. The use of PLM in cosmetics addresses all internal processes, from raw material sourcing to formulation, to administrative compliance. Not all Product Lifecycle Management software solutions are created equal, as they often revolve around one specific need (such as contract lifecycle management) or are developed to match the requirements of one industry in particular. Others opt to offer an all-encompassing program. This is why selecting the right type of product can be crucial to truly reap the benefits of such a complex tool. What Is PLM Software? Most companies have much to gain from centralizing, securing and sharing information efficiently. They also look to automate processes and to standardize their internal methods. This allows them to come up with more defined strategies, ...

Running a business involves a lot of work, and one of the best things you can do is to generate a presence for your company abroad. This is really important when you are looking to expand the company, and help to develop your reputation. You are going to need to think about the best ways of taking things to the next level, and traveling abroad for business is one of the best things you can do.  Traveling abroad is one of the best things you can do to try to promote your company more effectively, and this is something you need to work on. There are a lot of elements that play a part in trying to help you achieve this, and you need to make sure you focus on doing as much as you can. Here are some of the best ideas you can use to help you make the most of traveling abroad right now.  Arrange Meetings. When you travel abroad, it is essential that you make the most of your time there by meeting up with people and having business meetings abroad . Just because you are abroad, ...

by Michael Sipe, author of “ The AVADA Principle ” and founder of 10x Catalyst Groups As the coronavirus pandemic continues, small businesses have reopened across the nation but certainty and optimism are a long way from being restored. Spikes in infections in many states, double-digit unemployment, consumer and lender concerns, and steep economic challenges in the wake of a long shutdown make it difficult to forecast if and when many companies will fully recover. Small business owners – many of them baby boomers and in the retirement age range – are in a difficult position trying to decide whether to risk staying in business or sell and cut their losses. We are in the early stages of a depression that’s going to go on quite a while. Many small business owners are in their 60s and 70s, and they’re tired and beat up. Some recovered from the financial collapse of 2008, but now they’re getting hammered again. Customers and employees are scared or nervous. The supply chain is a big pr...

We live in a brave new era for content creation. From artists crowdfunding their living, to young entrepreneurs making entire careers out of their YouTube channels and Instagram accounts, the demand for online content is out there and people are willing to pay. With that in mind here are three ways that content creators are utilising their online following to turn their talents into businesses and careers. 1. Crowdfunding. Crowdfunding has really taken off in the last decade or so. Similar to a virtual busker’s hat, sites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe have launched some really inspirational projects. But when it comes to sustainable crowdfunding, many artists are turning to Patreon . The site’s subscription process encourages contributors to commit to a monthly donation, in return for access to different levels of reward determined by the creator. There are more than 100,000 creators on Patreon, and it’s not just unknown creatives trying to get their work off the ground. There a...

by Julie Potiker, author of “ Life Falls Apart, But You Don’t Have To “ It’s natural to feel overwhelmed and stressed out during these uncertain times, but numerous studies have shown that stress weakens the immune system . The emotional reality of this moment in history is putting us at risk just when we most need to protect our health. Mindfulness-based stress reduction is one technique to help protect our immune systems while the world continues to navigate the coronavirus pandemic. Mindfulness is the practice of honing your focused attention and choosing what you wish to focus attentively on. Here are some tips that people at any level of mindfulness experience — from complete beginner to practiced expert — can use to reduce stress in their life and protect their immune system. 1. Relax with a mindfulness meditation. Start with 12 minutes twice a day — or 20 minutes twice a day if you can make time. Look for guided meditations on Insight Timer or the free  Balanced Mind w...