The reputation of your business is the result of multiple factors coming together to be observed and judged by your audience. Your financial, social and environmental impacts are crucial elements to establish a positive reputation nowadays. However, it is fair to say that building your reputation doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a long process that can take some trials and errors. You’ll be pleased to know, as an entrepreneur, that your audience is likely to forgive some mistakes that occurred in … [Read more...]

There’s a reason why the legend of Icarus is such a great cautionary tale. Like the inventor’s son of Greek Mythology, nascent entrepreneurs are often in danger of flying too close to the sun. It’s not hard to see why. We live in an era where images of success assault us from all sides. They’re on billboards, on the sides of buses, we’re bombarded with them in commercial breaks or before we sit in the theater to see a movie. We’ve been conditioned by society to believe that we deserve it and and … [Read more...]

Every entrepreneur enters into this world knowing the risks and statistics. They know only half of all startups will make it to their fifth birthday party and they know it’s just a third of them that will get to blow out ten candles. It’s that little niggle that forever lingers at the back of their minds, which is why they need to ensure they’re doing all they can to make their business sustainable.   The question is: what strategy can make you stand the test of … [Read more...]

One of the greatest challenges for entrepreneurs wishing to start their own business is that of raising capital.  The term ‘capital’ in this context relates to the amount of money required to launch a business and get it off the ground.   There are a number of ways you can reduce the amount of upfront capital you require and many early stage businesses find ways to bootstrap their business in the early days.  Indeed, many of the most successful businesses started out with very little … [Read more...]

If you have sustained an injury or contracted an illness that has left you unable to go to work, you may be feeling incredibly frustrated. If you are not covered by full sick pay, you are probably feeling very worried too. How are you going to pay the bills while you have not got an income coming in? Read on to discover some of the different ways you can make money while you are off work injured. Freelance – There is only one place to begin, and this is with freelancing. Thanks to the … [Read more...]

Don’t Underestimate customer opinion. It can and will kill your company if you’re not careful. This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Afterall, customers tend to only buy from businesses that they like. If you do anything that changes their perception, then you will see a drop in the demand for your business that directly impacts profits. So, what we need to look at here are the issues that can obliterate the opinion of your business. There are a few different possibilities you must be … [Read more...]

So, you’ve just got a new job - congratulations! Now you will enter the initial negotiation phase where you both need to agree on a salary. Plus, your new employer will probably want a lot of information from you, such as your date of birth and address, so that they can add you to their system. In some cases, they might even ask for information that you consider to be too personal to give them. But how much exactly do you need to tell them? There are different requirements regarding what … [Read more...]

Capital is vital for survival, and investors have the cash to keep the company afloat. After you’ve raised the perfect amount, it can be easy to forget about the money men and women behind the scenes. There is a stigma surrounding consumers and their happiness, yet investors don’t get the same treatment. They should because these people have the power to pull the plug. Because they’re a crucial part of the business, they want to know how the money is being spent and how the brand is developing. … [Read more...]

Sooner or later the time will come to spread your wings. Not just because you finally have enough funds that you can make your own mark in the business world. But it's also because you can and should. How long do you want to be cooped up in someone else’s office space and keep paying lease fees? It's just not becoming of a professional business to remain on the leash as a tenant. So how far can you go? You could rent an office building that’s small so you can still have your own space. You’re … [Read more...]

Earning a decent salary is only one aspect of protecting your money both in the present and the future. If you’re not careful with your finances then you can easily find yourself in a tricky situation. Excessive spending can quickly lead to excessive borrowing. Failing to pay back the money you owe on time can lead to a bad credit score and the inability to take out loans for the big purchases you need to make in life (e.g. a new car or even a new house). Additionally, you need to be … [Read more...]