Small Business Toolbox

A library of business management info


Equipment
  • Keeping Up With Technology
    07/31/2008
    How does technology leap from trendy to mainstream? For small business owners, the answer can have a bottom-line impact: Adopt something too early, and you may discover where the term bleeding edge came from; latch on too late and an obvious opportunity may pass you by. The good news is that truly revolutionary technology rarely displaces the status quo overnight--even in the Internet age.
  • Is Your Computer Keyboard Making You Sick?
    06/16/2008
    If you pay too much attention to all the TV commercials for antibacterial soaps, wipes, lotions and sprays, it can be difficult not to feel paranoid about all the germs out there that can get you. Now there's a new threat, or at least a newly publicized threat, to worry about.
  • My Space: Creating Happier, More Productive Office Spaces
    06/05/2008
    It's become such common knowledge that it's almost cliché to say it: We spend most of our time at work. Everyone knows this, yet there are many employers who give scant thought as to the conditions of our home away from home. This is an unfortunate oversight because the appearance, comfort, cleanliness and security—or lack thereof—of a physical work environment exert a huge impact on retention, productivity and overall employee satisfaction, explains Philip Blumberg, chair and CEO of Blumberg Capital Partners, a commercial real estate firm, with offices in Miami, Houston and New York. Extrapolating from this, it's relatively safe to say that work conditions can also wield a sizable, if indirect, impact on a company's profitability.
  • The Buy-Versus-Lease Dilemma
    06/02/2008
    It's an age-old adage that entrepreneurs have been asking themselves for years: Should I rent it or buy it? Add to the mix today's tenuous economy and many small business owners are asking themselves that question more frequently and with added trepidation. In trying to answer this nagging question, some argue that there are a number of variables to consider. It's a subjective choice that is usually made on these factors:
    Business philosophy; financial obligations and growth.
  • Protecting Your Small Business' Knowledge and Information
    05/12/2008
    It's a nightmarish scenario that too often comes true, particularly where it concerns small businesses whose processes are very often informal. A long-term employee departs, leaving nothing but empty drawers in his wake. Suddenly it dawns on you that no one else has access to what that person knew about his job (the "it's all in my head” syndrome). The end result? Innumerable hours spent in reconstruction and guesswork. Unless you are an archeologist, you and your staff have more productive ways to spend your time.
  • New OSHA Rule Takes Effect
    04/18/2008
    Under a new OSHA rule that will take effect May 15, businesses will be responsible for providing most required personal protective equipment at no cost to their employees. At NFIB's urging, OSHA has excluded several common items from this requirement, however.
  • Break Room Necessities
    03/19/2008
    A well-stocked and comfortable break room benefits both you and your employees. Employees will see that you take their comfort into consideration and you'll gain a more productive staff if they aren't constantly running out for coffee. Even if your employees aren't big on taking time outs, you should encourage them to get up from their desk every so often. A 10-minute coffee break can do wonders to increase concentration and productivity.
  • RFID 101
    01/10/2008
    For many businesses, radio frequency identification (also known as RFID) represents the future for their operations, particularly asset tracking and inventory management. The major advantage of RFID technology is its' ability to count many items simultaneously and in real time.
  • Smart Year-End Equipment Purchases
    11/06/2007
    Year-end tax savings break down to a rather simple formula: defer as much income as possible to the coming year, while making as many purchases as possible in the current year. Making the most of this formula, however, requires constant tax awareness. Financial gurus point out that taxes should not be thought of as a one-time event, but rather an ongoing, year-long event. Issues you will need to consider include business income and purchases, buying and selling of investments, taking distributions of retirement funds and stock options, etc. Each of these should be discussed throughout the year with tax and investment advisors.
  • First Impressions
    05/17/2007
    As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So it's important to evaluate your business' physical appearance through the eyes of your customers. What do they see when they drive up to your building? What do they see when they walk through the door?
  • Five Ways to Go Green
    05/14/2007
    Going green is not only a feel-good proposition for small businesses, it may become a necessity in the coming years as fuel prices escalate and consumers (and even employees) become more green themselves--and want to do business (or work for) more environmentally conscious companies.
  • 10 Tips for Selecting an Internet Fax Service
    04/04/2007
    You’ve seen the studies and know that you can save as much as 93 percent on the cost of adding fax capabilities and 89 percent of the monthly cost by using an Internet fax service instead of a fax machine or fax server. You also know you can improve privacy, simplify document management, and extend your faxing capabilities everywhere. Now the question is which one do you choose?
  • Fully Furnished
    04/02/2007
    The latest ways to organize your high-tech workspace
  • Determining Business Expansion Costs
    03/15/2007
    A common problem when expanding a business is the underestimation of costs, which can lead to the discovery that you have insufficient funding. Here are five factors to consider when preparing to grow your business--and tips for managing them.
  • Information Overload
    02/16/2007
    Every business has different IT service needs, but how do you know when you should handle such needs in-house or outsource them? The answer will differ for every small business, but the following tips can help you get an idea of how not to get in over your head--or how to get out if you're already there.
  • Tech Tools Tutorial
    02/05/2007
    It's easy to get overwhelmed when shopping for business gadgets. When everything's marked as a must-have productivity booster, how are you supposed to know what to buy? Look no further--here's a list of the five pieces of technology every small business should have.
  • Finding a Printer That Is a Jack of All Trades
    01/11/2007
    Just as personal computers have become more versatile over the years, so have personal printers. Multifunction printers combine printing with copying, scanning and faxing in one unit, and sometimes phone, voice mail and e-mail sending functions as well.
  • Turn Your Vehicle Into Your Office
    10/27/2006
    With the cost of doing business along with gas prices steadily rising, equipping your vehicle with some sort of office equipment to avoid shuttling back and forth to the office is a practical move.
  • This Mess is a Place: Get Out From Under the Clutter and Organize Your Desk
    10/19/2006
    As a small-business owner, you're probably so swamped that you might not even realize how messy your desk really is. While some people swear they can find whatever they're looking for under mounds of paperwork or office supplies, experts say organizing your work space increases productivity––and can decrease stress. Keeping a trash can and/or recycle bin at your side, follow these steps as a guide to cleaning up your desk.
  • Traveling With Technology and Its Glitches
    10/18/2006
    Airline rules continue to change regarding carry-on toiletries as well as carry-on laptop computers. Some airlines banned the batteries of some laptops because of the risk that they might explode mid-air. As of this writing, rules for each were easing. But other perils threaten those who travel with electronics.
  • Cool Tools: MyGadget
    09/20/2006
    The Washable Wireless Keyboard from Unotron gives your office the cleanliness you want and the performance you expect from a standard office keyboard. The sealed structure and patented SpillSeal technology lets you immerse the keyboard completely in water or an antibacterial solution for cleaning--meaning fewer germs in your workspace.
  • Appearances Count: Making Your Business Look Appealing to Customers
    09/14/2006
    It's important to evaluate your business' physical appearance through the eyes of your customers since it's the first impression they'll get of you and your employees. What do they see when they drive up to your building? What do they see when they walk through the door?
  • What You Need
    07/25/2006
    Streamline your toolbox with these wrenches from Loggerhead Tools. With a squeeze of the hand, the Bionic Wrench automatically sizes and grips a wide range of U.S. and metric-sized nuts and bolts, distributing equal force on all sides of the fastener.
  • MyGadget
    07/25/2006
    Ted Goldstein, owner of HarryGs.com, shares his thoughts on his favorite office gadget.
  • Bag of Tricks: How to Prevent Airlines from Losing Your Luggage
    07/25/2006
    While airlines claim 98 percent of luggage lost are returned within a few hours, it's better to plan ahead so that you're not stuck without clean socks (or worse) on your next big business trip.
  • Keep the Power
    07/25/2006
    How to protect your business during a power failure.
  • Lock Down: Fortify Your Business Against Identity Thieves
    07/25/2006
    It's not uncommon for businesses to request personal information from employees and customers, but if this information falls into the wrong hands, it could put individuals at risk for identity theft and spell disaster for your business.
  • Cutting Utility Costs Can Boost Your Bottom Line
    06/19/2006
    There are some things business owners can do without; unfortunately, utilities don't fall into that category. Though many factors can affect utility rates, such as natural disasters that can cause prices to spike, the cost of your utility bills may not be entirely out of your control. By being proactive and following a few steps, you can help ensure you are paying as little as possible to keep your utilities running.
  • Workplace Safety: Look Around You
    05/30/2006
    Have you looked around your workplace recently? Most likely you will find a few safety hazards that you need to correct to prevent you or one of your employees from getting hurt.
  • Cool Tools: What You Need
    05/25/2006
    Read about the latest cool tools small-business owners can't miss.
  • Tech Talk: Getting It Down in Black and White
    05/25/2006
    The whiteboard has become a universal ubiquitous business tool. From tiny desktop ones to wall-size versions, they serve as the focal point for developing strategic business plans or for planning your stop at the grocery store on the way home.
  • Cool Tools: MyGadget
    05/25/2006
    After experiencing a small earthquake, one small-business owner vowed never to be unprepared for an emergency again.
  • Advanced Technology Now Within Small Businesses’ Reach
    04/06/2006
    Many small businesses, particularly those that lack an information technology (IT) staff, often find themselves at odds with the technology components they need, want and can afford. They crave the technological “bells and whistles” of large corporations, but settle for basic computer and network technology because they believe they cannot afford a robust infrastructure. Unfortunately, such rudimentary IT components often furnish sub-par solutions that give away a company’s status as a small business.
  • Going Wireless Without Going Bonkers
    03/13/2006
    Imagine your office without that jumble of cords and cables behind every desk. You don’t need to be an information technology professional to set up a wireless office. But if the idea of pulling the plug on your computers makes you nervous, consider starting with the simplest device conversions and gradually work your way up to more complex systems.
  • Looking Good in Print
    03/09/2006
    More and more, the research, education and communication we do involves photons and electrons flying around cyberspace. Yet a surprising amount of that data still winds up in a physical format that was invented in China in the second century: Paper.
  • Laptop Shopping Tips
    02/08/2006
    Laptops (also called notebooks) now offer almost everything that a personal desktop computer can, plus the convenience of portability. You have a huge range of choices, but certain characteristics can help you find the most suitable laptop.
  • Approaching the Start-of-the-Year Meeting With Your Insurance Agent
    01/09/2006
    The first of the year is an excellent time to revisit your insurance coverage. As your business changes and grows, your insurance needs will change accordingly. It’s wise to monitor your insurance to make sure coverage is adequate in all areas.
  • Selecting Your Backup Vendor
    04/13/2005
    You’ll be hard-pressed to find a business that isn’t data-dependent these days. If that data is lost, or you are unable to access it, there could be serious consequences for your business. To protect against such risks, more companies are choosing to outsource their data backup functions to specialized companies.
  • Steps to Implementing a Confidential Document Storage and Disposal Program
    07/27/2004
    Without exception, every business today generates documents and records that require safekeeping. Information such as employee records, customer records, financial data, supplier information and many other types of information must be kept confidential.
  • People First, Technology Second
    05/14/2004
    Using technology to help find, capture, maintain and support customers is imperative; however, implementing technology just for the sake of having it available isn't the right approach.
  • A New Kind of Partner
    05/03/2004
    Sole proprietors often consider whether or not they should take on a partner.
  • Old Equipment: When to Replace, When to Keep
    04/22/2004
    The equipment that's obsolete in one sense may remain perfectly appropriate in another sense.
  • Guidelines for Buying Used Equipment
    01/28/2003
    In a tight economy, many small businesses are discovering the benefits of buying used instead of new.
  • Tips for Purchasing Expensive Equipment
    11/19/2002
    When making a large purchase such as business vehicles, computers and other office equipment, certain guidelines need to be followed to receive the best pricing.
  • Save Money Shopping Online for Business and Personal Items
    04/15/2002
    With more shoppers becoming comfortable buying online, several new omni-sites have recently emerged that can help you save money when buying for personal or business needs.
  • Microcassette Recorders: Selection Depends on Needs, Part I
    04/03/2002
    The microcassette recorder is one of the most reliable and functional of all types of business equipment.
  • Financial Guidelines for Purchasing New Equipment
    04/03/2002
    How can businesses determine when the initial cost of a piece of equipment will be offset by the financial savings it brings in time?
  • Online Shopping Guidelines
    03/28/2002
    Whether you're shopping online for personal or business needs, there are a few common sense issues to consider before punching in your credit card number and completing the sale.
  • Microcassette Recorders: Selection Depends on Needs, Part II
    03/14/2002
    The microcassette recorder is one of the most reliable and functional of all types of business equipment. Today's Workshop continues last week's discussion of features to look for when purchasing one.
  • Send Your Employees on a Shopping Expedition
    03/14/2002
    Employee suggestion systems have long been a way to improve internal operations.