Small businesses, particularly those seeking organic growth, fail more often than they think. Since the success rate is quite low, startups and small businesses need a foolproof strategy to be successful in the long run. There are several things a small business owner can do to take their business to the next level. While on the one hand it is imperative to set goals, plan in that direction and organize tasks, on the other, keeping up with the latest technology is also equally important.

The latest trend that small businesses have been seen following is to embrace cloud technology. Accounting technology has taken a sharp turn from traditional methods to accounting in the cloud.

QuickBooks Cloud: a new way to manage finances

QuickBooks Cloud is an accounting software that serves users with all the necessary accounting tools on a single platform. It has not only made accounting and bookkeeping easier for its users, but also simplified documentation for CPAs, business owners, and owners. This is how an entrepreneur can grow a small but resilient business with the help of QuickBooks Cloud.

• Embrace the cloud, once and for all

To compete with the largest companies and make a mark in the market, companies must already migrate to the cloud. QuickBooks Cloud is an innovative way to offer anywhere, anytime accessibility along with a host of unique benefits like check printing, payroll management, inventory tracking, invoice management, etc. on a single platform, without depending on paper.

• Finally Enjoy Greater Productivity

Small businesses need to work on their productivity. Since the workforce is comparatively smaller, SMEs need to develop a system that will help them grow. The QuickBooks Cloud is highly scalable, so when a business grows, growth features can be easily managed without increasing business expenses.

• Make tracking a habit

In traditional accounting methods, businessmen would keep many tasks in mind instead of recording them. This can be classified as an inefficient method of running a business, as it is a sloppy method of keeping track of tasks. With QuickBooks Cloud, tracking can be done in the software in no time. The software unerringly reminds users to make payments on time, keep track of inventory, and schedule and/or attend upcoming events.

• Keep up with taxes

QuickBooks Cloud helps its users stay up to date with changing tax laws. Along with that, tax payments have also become much easier as QuickBooks software helps to organize taxes beforehand. Tax payments with QuickBooks are greatly reduced stress for businesses.

• be an apprentice

A successful entrepreneur understands the importance of keeping up with the latest. He knows where the competitors and leaders are headed. Customers need to keep changing and so does the market. Therefore, an SME must keep up with the market in order to be in business for the long term.

• Backup and Backup

Cloud means multiple backups. And with QuickBooks Cloud, an entrepreneur ensures that they have multiple backup copies of their company’s most valuable data. Data loss from any possible cause can cost a business thousands of dollars. Therefore, every company is obliged to keep their data safe.

• Enjoy better planning for your business

The cloud helps companies better plan for their future. The cloud’s scalability feature helps companies easily expand and contract their functions. With easy access from anytime, anywhere, entrepreneurs can get work done with clients and CPAs even if they are in a remote location anywhere in the world. Therefore, better planning and problem solving became easier on multiple levels.

QuickBooks Cloud has helped young entrepreneurs, CPAs, and small and medium-sized business owners get more done on a single platform. With cloud computing technology, users will not only save time and money, but also stay up to date with the latest developments in the field of accounting. Businesses looking to compete with larger companies can start by accepting the QuickBooks Cloud server to run their accounting operations in a more resilient manner.

Improving your level of productivity is not a result that will happen on its own. It will require learning some new skills and, more importantly, actually implementing them. We’ll take a look at one such ability in this report. The ability to use micro-milestones to complete your important tasks in a timely manner.

Implementing this skill will mean that you have a systematic way of completing important tasks. One of the real benefits of doing this is that you will have more time with family and friends. You will also feel a very real sense of accomplishment doing this. On the other hand, having this ability will be another way to avoid completing important tasks. It also means that you can completely avoid feeling that feeling of not finishing something that you know you should have.

THE MICROMILE STRATEGY

Before we jump headlong into this productivity-enhancing strategy, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page.

Wikipedia defines “Milestone” have

“…a milestone is an event that receives special attention.”

This is where ambiguity can start to come into play when it comes to this strategy. What we’re looking for here is a marker that exists in the duration of a total task that you’ll use as a way to break up that task and allow you to complete a part of it.

When it comes to choosing the marker, it should be something that makes sense for you specifically. For example, if we have chosen as a task to write a book, then one of the subtasks would be to write a chapter of that book. For our purposes, we can go a step further and say that our micro-milestone in this case could be 1,000 words.

The important thing to note here is that the micro-milestone should be chosen in a way that you don’t feel overwhelmed trying to complete the entire task in one sitting.

Think of it this way, “How do you eat an elephant?”

The answer is simple.

“One bite at a time!”

In our case, one bite at a time will be the micro-milestones. This will tend to create positive momentum for you and lead to an overall improvement in productivity.

WHY DOES THIS WORK?

The micro milestone strategy is effective because of three specific principles that work synergistically to create a whole that is greater than its parts.

The first principle is the idea of ​​”Momentum”. One of the biggest enemies of productivity is the idea of ​​inertia or non-motion. Most of the time, you delay starting a task due to the perception of being overwhelmed by it or biting off much more than you can comfortably handle at the moment.

By choosing micro-milestones, you will find yourself more proactive and not overwhelmed. By completing micro-milestone after micro-milestone, you’ll build positive momentum.

The second principle of “Commitment” works with the idea that when we have decided that we are going to do something and start on that path, we will tend to stay on it until we reach the logical end. In this case, by committing to completing a micro milestone, you’ve made the beginning easier because you know the end isn’t some far, unreachable place.

Finally, the last principle that makes micro-milestones work is the idea of ​​”Consistency”. All of us are programmed to be consistent with how we see ourselves. That is why it is so difficult not to fulfill something that you have promised to finish. That said, I would like to clarify what I just wrote. If you were forced to commit to something by an outside authority, the effect of this principle is greatly diminished because you didn’t actually make the decision yourself.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

In this report, we take a hard look at a strategy that, if implemented, can increase your productivity. We examine some of the WHY reasons behind your increased productivity, explain the idea of ​​micro-milestones, cover the principles that make this specific strategy work, and finally what to do if you encounter three popular roadblocks. By allowing yourself to consistently implement the micro-milestone strategy, you will find that your productivity levels start to skyrocket. What’s interesting about this is that it’s starting to become a pervasive effect. The other areas of your life will become productive because as your drive increases, so does your feeling of being a more productive person. This means more fulfilling personal relationships, more successful business and/or professional outcomes, and of course, a greater sense of accomplishment.

Many organizations approach the problem of customer service by encouraging their employees to speak with a smile. Be polite. Never lose your cool. But isn’t that a bit like closing the stable door after the horses have gone out? Good customer service should be based on a good customer experience with your product. This starts with the relationship your business grows with a customer.

This relationship will be tested by the entire process of the buyer-seller relationship.

1. The images and promises of the marketing campaign

People start to form opinions about your company and your products from the messages they receive, even before they buy your product. Often, they receive these images before they have even thought to buy. Will your images match the experience?

2. The ease of ordering/purchasing the product

Once someone has decided to buy your products or services, how easy is it for them? Is there someone to answer the phones or will they receive a voicemail message? In fact, many companies lose sales this way. Some people, who want to act now, will simply hang up and move on to the next company that will take their call. Also, many leads are not followed. A message is left but no one answers. When the buyer contacts you, do you have your systems in place to make the buying process as simple as possible? Buyers want to feel that they have made the right decision in choosing your product. By creating a simple ordering process, you help them feel confident in their decision.

3. How well does the product meet marketing expectations?

Your customer now has your product in their possession. Will it live up to any hype used in the marketing campaign? Or will there be disappointment when the actual product does not match expectations? Marketing is a powerful force. It will create expectations that the product must meet. When it’s not, it can create customer satisfaction issues. Make sure your product matches expectations.

4. How well will the product meet customer expectations?

In addition to the marketing message, a customer often forms their own expectations based on past experiences with similar products, observations, and conversations with others. Will this add to the experience or create a disappointment? The product must meet or exceed expectations. Anything less will create a potential customer service issue.

5. When something goes wrong, how do you fix it?

Do you recognize that problems can occur? Have you decided how to satisfy customers? Have you looked at the financial ramifications of your solutions? Better yet, look at the product itself. If you find many customers with similar products, it may be more appropriate to address the weaknesses of the product itself.

6. What are the procedures?

Even with the best products, problems can arise. It is best to address these issues in advance. Decide what processes will be used to satisfy your customers. Think about the replacement, and its cost, discounts, etc. If you are going to replace a product, how quickly can you get it to someone? As a replacement, it should take priority over new orders. Customers will tell more people when they have had a bad experience than when they have had a good experience. Solving customer problems affects not only that specific customer, but many other people as well.

7. Is your organization easily accessible or is the process frustrating for most?

Everyone has frustrating stories to tell about voice prompts going nowhere. They don’t cover their issue and continually come back into the system without a way to talk to a live operator. Make it easy for people to talk to someone. Test your systems thoroughly. Automation can be a huge help and cost saver for organizations, but it must be used wisely.

8. Can the customer service representative really help?

Customer service representatives must be trained to solve problems. They must be able to do more than empathize and smile. Nothing is more frustrating than a good customer service representative who can’t solve your problem. Provide your staff with the right information and training. That they have responsibility and accountability for their actions. Employees tend to rise to the level that is expected of them.

Good customer service requires a continuous examination of methods. The questions discussed above will start the thought process necessary to truly provide world class service.

Managing a brand is similar to building a reputation. It grows slowly, gaining the trust and loyalty of its followers until it is established. Brand recognition and consistency in the marketing message build trust, which in turn leads to increased sales. However, consumers are fickle and easily distracted by bigger, bolder marketing messages and glossier packaging, and trust is easily broken.

Just like building a reputation, it is often much faster to lose that reputation compared to the time it took to build the brand. Therefore, it is imperative that companies pay attention to their brand management and business reputation.

Creation of brand awareness campaigns

Every brand is different. It takes a lot of understanding to get the message across. By using creative brand communication strategies, it is easy to capture the attention of your consumer.

A great example of a company that has achieved this is Johnnie Walker. They have built the brand from an emotional campaign. A difficult task, and one that works best when it flows and reinforces a truth of the product. His “Keep Walking” campaign produced good sales growth of 48% over eight years for what was a struggling whiskey producer.

Here are four tips for building an emotion-based campaign similar to Johnnie Walker’s campaign:

1. Tell a Story: Bring to life the brand idea of ​​”personal progress” that people want to aspire to.
2. Make it difficult to copy: In the case of Johnnie Walker, it is almost impossible for another whiskey brand to copy this campaign, as it is based on the brand name and icon.
3. Consistency is key – use a message consistently. In the case of Johnnie Walker, the brand name is linked to the message and each ad is linked to the packaging or marketing material.
4. Execution is everything – quality and attention to detail shows, from TV commercials to print advertising and website marketing. All the material is related to the main message and the campaign.

Managing your Reputation

Once you’ve achieved brand recognition, it’s imperative to maintain your reputation. Reputation management can be defined as the process of monitoring the actions of an entity and the opinions of other entities about those actions; report on such actions and opinions; and react to that report by creating a feedback loop.

Understanding this process and being a part of it is the bare minimum that a company should pay attention to in order to maintain a positive reputation. Reputation management has gone mainstream with the advent of pervasive computing.

Five simple tips for managing your reputation include:

1. Perform a reputation audit: identify all the issues that could affect your company’s reputation
2. Analyze issues to determine the historical influence, current landscape, and possible future state of that issue.
3. Carry out change strategy options to address each problem and act on them
4. Constantly evaluate your landscape
5. Be present, consistent and communicate your message persuasively

One thought leader who truly understands that consistency and communication are two of the key ingredients to a brand’s success and is able to express this message effortlessly is David Taylor, a world-renowned expert in persuasive brand communication strategies. .

Taylor’s guide to the essential steps in achieving persuasive brand communication can be summarized as follows:

1. Brand understanding and goal setting
2. Get the right team
3. Keep brevity and strict information
4. Get the most out of production
5. Brilliant Brand Activation
6. Development and execution of the campaign.

So how do we drive sales through brand management?

Build bridges between marketing and sales

There are positive, synergistic roles in both marketing and sales, and if each party accepts the role assumed by their counterparts, the organization will thrive. Traditionally, it was quite difficult to identify the criteria to build the bridge between marketing and sales.

Traditionally, a company would resort to the following five strategies:

1. Take a new approach to lead development
2. Determine the piping requirements.
3. Synchronize marketing communications channel upload activities with sales force requirements
4. Feed the sales pipeline with precision
5. Practice aggressive marketing to build the relationship.

Marketing and sales have traditionally been kept as two separate concepts with marketing paving the way, while sales closing the deal. With the advent of pervasive computing, the gap is rapidly narrowing. Social networks are the key to this result in the online approach.

With social media spaces becoming more popular, marketers and entrepreneurs around the world are using LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking sites to discover new markets, meet prospects directly, and forge profitable new business relationships. No lead generation, branding, or cold calling required. In a sense, many sellers are becoming their own sellers.

The roles could be defined as follows: The sales role in social media is to initiate and develop key relationships. The role of social media marketing is to help marketers plan, execute, and measure their efforts.

Regardless of the approach, be it online or traditional, effective brand communication remains key to all strategies.

According to Bob Pike, author of “The Fun Minute Manager,” bosses should strive to create an office culture that is fun, productive, and profitable. He adds that having fun at work reduces employee turnover, increases creativity and innovation, and is good for the bottom line.

A fun work environment is one in which formal and informal activities occur regularly that are designed to lift people’s spirits and remind them of their value to the organization. This can be done through the use of humor, games, celebrations, or recognition of achievements.

For managers and employees alike looking for ways to bring more lightness to the workplace, here are five ideas you can start implementing right away:

Establish a daily routine to energize the office in the afternoon

Most people need an energy boost in the afternoon. At Microsoft they play loud music at three o’clock when everyone’s energy starts to wane: some people get up and dance and everyone claps when the song ends. In another office they spin around in their chairs for thirty seconds around two in the afternoon. Another idea is to take a short coffee break where you can watch a short stand-up comedy routine on DVD in the cafeteria.

Bring some fun to meetings

In the book “The Levity Effect: Why It Pays to Liven Up,” Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher explain that researchers reported that humor during meetings was found to “facilitate a transition from a feeling of tension and defensiveness to a realization relatively safe.” And joy”.

Some companies start their meeting with a Laughter Yoga session to encourage people to relax and present their best ideas. Other companies make sure food and candy are available during meetings. Still others provide paper and crayons and other fun accessories, like slinkys and play dough.

Have friendly competitions

There are many companies that put up a basketball court in the parking lot so that employees can have basketball tournaments during their lunch hour. Others send an email with a brain teaser or brain teaser every Monday and offer a small prize to the first person to solve it. Still others have pie-eating contests, darts contests, or office chair relay races.

Celebrate important events and milestones

It is important to celebrate the achievement of personal and company milestones. Get together once a month in a restaurant or pub and congratulate each other on birthdays, weight loss, kicking the nicotine habit, or meeting your company’s sales quota. Employees need to feel that the company is aware of their achievements and that management is interested in their personal goals.

Create a humor bulletin board

Create a humor bulletin board and hang it in a conspicuous place. Look for cartoons and jokes that poke fun at the circumstances that cause negativity or conflict in the office. You can also encourage people to bring in funny vacation photos or images of their children or pets looking funny. Candid employee photos are also a fun addition to the humor bulletin board.

Conclusion

A fun environment is part of a high-trust environment, and building trust among employees is vital for a company that wants to succeed. Trust makes employees loyal and keeps them focused on the organization’s core goals and values. In addition, humor stimulates creativity and helps in problem solving. In today’s economy, a creative workforce is a powerful asset. What other ways can you think of to bring more fun, humor and lightness to the workplace?

HMRC may only have introduced Non-UK Pension Schemes (or QNUPS) in February 2010, but they are already proving to be an excellent pension opportunity for UK residents as well as UK expatriates, especially as the current UK government pension support is looking so bleak. Whereas previously UK taxpayers could rely on the stability and support of their government pension fund, now if you’re looking forward to retirement it’s likely that feel insecure about how you will manage financially. If you’re confused about your eligibility or want to learn more about QNUPS benefits, this handy guide to QNUPS will help answer your questions.

What are QNUPS?

With the launch of QNUPS, those with investment assets located in the UK can now transfer their investments to a QNUPS without being liable for UK inheritance tax or Capital Gains Tax (CGT) charges on growth within the trust. The same criteria as for QROPS apply when establishing a QNUPS: the QNUPS must be established outside the UK and the country in which it is established must recognize it for tax purposes and regulate it as a pension scheme. So now that the facts and figures are out of the way and QNUPS is explained, how can you take advantage of this financial opportunity?

What are the benefits of a QNUPS?

There’s no upper age limit as long as you’re still working, so you can keep contributing, even if you’re past your retirement date.

The income and assets you deposit into QNUPS can come from any source; it does not have to come directly from employment.

The limit on the amount of money you invest in your QNUPS is significantly above the reduced amounts the government now allows in UK pensions.

You can withdraw up to 30% of the balance as a lump sum before withdrawing your retirement income.

QNUPS are exempt from UK inheritance and inheritance tax laws, meaning you can maximize the residue of your QNUPS inheritance you leave behind.

There are more tax benefits than just inheritance tax, as there is no annual or lifetime tax allowance cap on a QNUPS, unlike UK personal pensions where total tax-free amounts drop to £40,000 per year, or £1.25 million over a lifetime.

Funds in a Gross QNUPS statement; in other words, they compound outside the tax umbrella to a much greater extent, and tax is only paid when they are finally remitted to the UK, for example, they sell an investment property and there is no CGT on the sale gain. Same with equity portfolios.

QNUPS are effectively viewed by HMRC as a pension trust; therefore, like a UK pension, they are out of bankruptcy proceedings and cannot be divided in a divorce.

Am I eligible to get a QNUPS?

Whether you’re a UK resident or an expat living abroad, you may be able to take advantage of a QNUPS. The following list illustrates the criteria you must meet:

You must be at least eighteen years old; there is no maximum age limit

All UK residents or those domiciled in the UK (domicile is determined by birth) are entitled to take out a QNUPS.

Non-UK residents who currently have assets located in the UK are also eligible.

There are many cases where a QNUPS can be very beneficial, and not just for UK expats with UK pensions. If you already have assets in the UK and want to create a larger tax-exempt platform in a much quicker time and want to reap the benefits of a scheme with effectively tax-free caps, then a QNUPS could be the most effective way to protect your retirement. money.

Within marketing circles around the world there has been an enormous amount of attention directed at a relatively new form of marketing called flash mobbing. This marketing model is not only gaining attention, but also making a lot of people incredibly successful.

But first I would like to point out that although this form of marketing is often referred to as flash mobbing, it currently has no name and is the result of a combination of two different marketing strategies.

Originally called tuangou, the system was first developed in mainland China, where buyers organized and approached suppliers to negotiate wholesale prices rather than pay full retail price, as is the case with purchases. individual. Group Buy Created!

Collective buying power has been exploited from the start, not only in China (over 800 group buying sites) but also in North America, where marketers are just beginning to see the potential of this group marketing model. trend.

Despite how obscure they are about each other, the name was changed from tuangou to the much more pretentious name of flash mobbing. However, this is what the mainstream media has chosen to label tuangou.

The true definition of flash mobbing is when a coordinated group of people suddenly gathers in a public place, performs an unusual or senseless act, and then disperses.

Probably the most publicized example of flash mob advertising is the Oprah Winfrey Show when she hosted a concert in downtown Chicago with the Black Eyed Peas. Shortly after her runaway hit “I Got a Feeling,” previously organized groups strategically placed within the audience began performing synchronized dance moves. As the song progressed, like a chain reaction, the entire crowd of about 20,000 people danced in sync with each other.

You are probably wondering how tuangou, the art of collective buying, became flash mobbing. As I did.

A hybrid version of the two has begun to sweep the nation. With group buying sites popping up everywhere, the world is getting used to the concept of group buying. Not to mention saving lots and lots of money in the meantime. However, how do these two seemingly different aspects of marketing come together in one of the most intuitive marketing methods in recent memory? Let’s find out.

In the case of “group buying” sites like Groupon and TeamBuy, we’re seeing a complementary mix of tuangou and flash mobbing. The backbone of their marketing models relies on the tuangou system for purchasing power while exploiting the social web in true “flash mob” fashion. How this is done is where the real genius lies.

Without numbers (ie group) the model falls apart. So how do you create the excitement for buyers to join and, in turn, make crowdsourcing viable? Social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. With these sites in your corner and quick accessibility to your buyers, they in turn create a monolithic word-of-mouth marketing machine that automates the tedious work of conventional marketing avenues, all while spending minimal on expenses. If I told you that it could save you thousands of dollars in marketing and eliminate your need for print or radio ads…wouldn’t it grab your attention? Essentially, this significantly reduces the cost of customer acquisition for manufacturers and service providers. Clearly, this is the bait that attracts most CEOs.

Broken down further, it looks like this:

tuangou = collective purchase
flash mob = buzz or word of mouth advertising

The combination of the two, if applied correctly, is an ideal marketing model with the highest possible conversion numbers of any other marketing method. As all businesses compete in this rapidly changing world, we must discover new and intuitive ways to market our goods and services. As Stuart H. Britt once said,

For a company not to advertise is like beating a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but no one else does.

With growing popularity and increasing conversions, one might be bold enough to say that we are witnessing the transformation of how marketing can change for 2011 and beyond.

*If you enjoyed the content of this article, I ask that if you feel inclined to reprint it on your site, please leave the credit and accompanying links intact in the footer. Essentially, go ahead and reprint, but do it in its entirety.

Accounting is one of the most crucial aspects of almost any business. If you intend to outsource your company’s accounting functions to a third party, it is absolutely important to carefully evaluate each facet of that company’s activities before reaching a conclusion.

Here are some basic tips for choosing a professional accounting provider for your business:

State your expectations and find out if they can meet them

Your search for a professional accounting provider should begin with a clear definition of what you want from the provider and the value you expect the relationship to bring to your business. Find out if the vendor you intend to partner with can deliver what you expect in terms of value and return on investment. Don’t hide your expectations.

Discuss your expectations with providers. Tell them exactly what you want, how you want it, and how you intend to measure their performance. This approach will prevent misunderstandings in the future if they don’t meet your expectations. Also, make sure all agreements are in writing and signed accordingly.

Growth and size of the accounting provider.

Experience is crucial in accounting. Before you outsource your accounting functions to any company, do some research on the level of growth of the company in recent years. If the company has shown a positive level of business growth, it could be an indication of the quality of the services it provides to customers.

Find out about the internal structure of the company and the level of experience of the experts they can boast of. Outsourcing to a startup may not be a good idea, although some may exceed expectations. But outsourcing to an established professional accounting firm will ensure that your company’s bookkeeping is in good hands and you won’t have to worry about return on investment.

Accounting Provider Tracking History

The track record of any accounting firm is a reflection of the quality of service it provides to clients. Find out if the prospective accounting provider has a history of commitment to service or has a well-known reputation within their own industry. Also, find out if the provider tracks customer satisfaction, which is a strong indicator of how far they’re willing to go to ensure customer satisfaction.

Comments from previous clients

Hear what past clients are saying about the potential accounting providers you’re considering. An easy way to get started is to go online and look for reviews. Find out if a dissatisfied customer has written an article about the provider or if a satisfied customer has recommended it. But don’t stop there, ask accounting providers to give you a list of their past clients. They will have no problem providing you with such a list, if the quality of the services they provide is top-notch.

data security

Data security is as important as your company’s accounting or even more. Before outsourcing to any accounting firm, educate yourself on their security and confidentiality processes. Accounting providers must be able to demonstrate that they use modern and secure information technology systems.

Evaluate the level of information security management of the provider, if you see gaps or have doubts about the authenticity of the security of your data, do not hesitate to consider other options. Also, find out if the company has invested in modern data security technology, such as the cloud, to ensure that customer data is protected.

relationship management

Relationship management is crucial to the success of the accounting functions you outsource. You must understand how the accounting provider you intend to outsource to manage the relationship with clients. Consider your communication skills.

Do they often create a communication gap that leaves you searching for more information? Or will the language and company culture be a barrier between you and them? You need to consider how well your company can engage with them, share ideas, discuss solutions, establish and maintain a professional relationship.

Avoid cheating from high bidders

There is often a temptation to outsource your company’s accounting functions to the highest bidder. Professionals in the accounting business are relatively expensive in providing services. If you intend to outsource to a professional accounting firm, be prepared to pay a competitive price. Just like in any other industry, there are also quacks in the accounting business. One of the easiest methods these charlatans use to get victims is to offer prices that fall below the normal competitive market price.

While the lowest bidder may not be the best option, the most expensive accounting firm may not deliver on its promises. As such, do your best to strike a balance between a successful track record, experience, and competitive pricing when selecting an accounting provider.

Assess financial stability

It is crucial to ensure that the accounting provider you intend to outsource is financially secure. You need to find out if the provider is financially strong enough to run your business. If the provider is financially weak or has financial problems, such as the inability to pay employees, such weakness will affect the quality of service delivery and ultimately affect your business.

Availability

How often will you have the opportunity to discuss your concerns with the accounting firm you outsourced to? You should consider the availability of the accounting provider before signing any contract. In most cases, many small businesses require face-to-face meetings every week or two, while some large companies may require monthly meetings or vice versa. Depending on the nature of your business, you may need to talk to the department or employees responsible for communicating with vendors to come up with a reasonable time frame that works best for your business. It is crucial that you outsource the best accounting services for your business to ensure ROI.

Once you’ve clearly established the need for a specific Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) or grant application, it’s time to set a goal and develop measurable objectives. For example, your needs section has stated that your target population is a small rural village with 500 people and neighboring vampires are taking out villagers at the rate of one per week (US Department of Vampires report, 2010). Your goals are: 1. decrease the loss of villagers in; 2. increase the number of vampire hunters to; 3. decrease the number of vampires. (At this point I need you to double check your FOA and make sure the funding is actually for vampire removal and not werewolf grooming and while this is a topic for another blog, it’s important here as well) . As it should be, the objectives are general and do not indicate how many villagers you plan to save; how many vampire hunters do you plan to train; or how many vampires each assassin will kill. Measurable targets will now move into place and make or break your proposal (and ultimately your village because they can’t last too long at that rate).

It is impossible to develop a solid operating plan or even a proper evaluation without measurable objectives. Let’s write down an objective for your first goal, which is to decrease the loss of villagers to neighboring vampires. We want this goal to be measurable and ambitious, but not overly ambitious.

The following is an example of an objective that is not measurable:

The Vanishing Vampires Project will significantly reduce the number of villagers kidnapped by neighboring bloodsuckers at the end of the funding period. (How much is a “significant increase”? If you choose to go this route, grant reviewers will give you 1 or possibly 2 points out of a possible 10 for submitting.)

The following is an example of a goal that is measurable but not ambitious:

The Vanishing Vampires Project will significantly reduce the number of villagers kidnapped by neighboring bloodsuckers by 2% at the end of the funding period. (hm, bloodsuckers – 98, villagers – 2. Not an impressive score. Might get you 2 or 3 points with the reviewers.)

The following is an example of a goal that is measurable but probably too ambitious:

The Vanishing Vampires Project will significantly reduce the number of villagers captured by neighboring bloodsuckers by 100% at the end of the funding period. (To sell this to the reviewer, you better have a very detailed trading plan packed with research-based activities.)

The following is an example that is measurable and ambitious:

The Vanishing Vampires Project will significantly reduce the number of villagers kidnapped by neighboring bloodsuckers by 75% by the end of the first year of the funding period and by 85% by the end of the funded project.

gold

The Vanishing Vampires Project will significantly reduce the number of villagers captured by neighboring bloodsuckers by 100 people the first year and 250 by the end of the funded project (you just saved half the village and that should impress even the toughest critic, especially if you follow up with a researched action plan, but that’s another topic!).