Outsourcing IT Services: A Prudent Move For Most Small Business Owners

One of the aspects that are paid attention to during any business startup is the cost saving measures implemented. As new companies usually have a limited number of resources, more emphasis is placed on measures that can help reduce the efforts and costs associated with developing and running their business.An important feature that is necessary for any business is the need for a good IT support team. This is crucial for smooth running of the IT infrastructure operations and can either make or break the business. However, implementing your own IT support team for your business can be quite a challenging and expensive process. The expenses are usually associated with the costs of hiring the relevant personnel and the equipment involved. In such cases, the best cost effective measure for such companies would be to outsource the IT computer services to another firm or company that specializes in this. As the companies that handle outsourced tasks usually have a lot of experience and expertise in dealing with the subject matter, they will be able to provide efficient service at a nominal fee. However, in order to get the most beneficial solutions, it is important to compare the different deals available before zeroing in on one.The different tasks and responsibilities of the IT support teamPrimarily, a good IT support team monitors the IT infrastructure of the business and must ensure smooth performance. When there is a problem with any of the servers, it may usually result in downtime. The IT solutions team must be able to detect the cause of the problem and take the appropriate measures to fix it in an efficient manner. They also take care of the storage and the data management aspect of the businesses critical files. They must be able to store the data in such a way that it is easily accessible and secure at the same time. Backups of data must also be created in order to minimize the loss to the company during any data loss or corruption. Apart from this, the IT services support team also monitors the security and must prevent any unauthorized entry or intrusions in the system servers.


Therefore, it is evident that an IT support team has a lot of responsibilities and tasks delegated to them. Implementing all these features in a company or business can be quite an expensive method. This can be especially difficult for small businesses and companies who are looking to make the best use of the resources available to them. Therefore, outsourcing these tasks to a firm or company can be one of the most cost effective and beneficial solutions that a business can acquire. As they will be able to handle all the problems and the maintenance tasks for the businesses IT infrastructure, the user will be free to devote his time and resources to achieving the objectives of the company. This can also help a great way in reducing the stress and the effort in a newly formed company. Therefore, outsourcing IT services can be a very beneficial and prudent option. Contact your local IT services company or local tech support guy for more information on the benefits of outsourcing IT services for business.

What an ERP Can Do for Your Batch Food Processing Business

Food safety and accountability are two very important priorities for batch food processors. When you first started out you did all of your scheduling, processing, and tracking by hand. Although you may have integrated some software into the process, chances are the various processes were not connected and required you to keep separate records to track everything. As your business grows you discover trying to stay on top of financial, quality control, and batch processing has become a time consuming chore. If you are finding yourself in this situation, the time is right for you to consider an ERP software solution.Tracking and AccountabilityERP solutions give you the ability to track specific ingredients from the cradle to the grave. This is an important benefit for batch processing operations to ensure accountability in the event you face an FDA recall. On the FDA's site there are over 20 food related recalls for June 2014. These range from contaminated food stuffs to undisclosed allergens. Either of these issues can cause serious health problems or even death in consumers. With the tracking ability this software gives you ingredients and batches can be traced from the moment they arrive at your facility to the point they are delivered to your customers.Streamlined OperationsInstead of trying to do everything manually or with disjoined software programs, an ERP solution integrates your entire operation. Not only will the software give you tracking ability, but it can also do financial batch processing, order scheduling, inventory management, warehouse management, and more. Once your ERP is up and running all of your operations will run smoothly and automatically. You will not need to manually schedule testing, processing, or deliveries. The software will do all of this for you without fail.


Increased ProductivityOnce you and your employees are freed from the mundane tasks of manual tracking and organization you are free to be more productive. Your operations will run smoothly, batches will be processed and tested in a timely manner, and deliveries will be scheduled to meet your customer's needs. With thee inventory control feature of the software you will no longer have to worry about raw materials spoiling since you will only have on hand exactly what you need to meet your needs. On the financial end of your business integrated accounts receivable and accounts payable functions ensure a constant stream of revenue into your business.AdaptabilityAs your business grows the ERP software will grow with you. If your batch processing recipes need to be updated or changed, the software can also handle this task. With an increase in productivity the ERP software grows with you ensuring your business has the freedom it needs to be successful and keep growing. The ERP software should be tailored to your business' needs and be able to be updated and expanded as needed.If your food processing business is experiencing growing pains you need to consider taking the next step to even more success and look into ERP software. You may be surprised how valuable this tool can be in the success and continued growth of your company.

A GSA Schedule Cautionary Tale

My company has been on the GSA MOBIS Schedule for nine months, with absolutely no success. Why? The answer is very simple and I am glad to share it with you, in the hope that my sad tale saves someone else from this costly and time-consuming misery.This is what I have learned:If you want to provide soft skills training or curriculum development services to the federal government, you need to have:(1) a large company with many trainers and support staff;(2) offices in the Washington, D.C. area;(3) offices on the west coast;(4) provided similar program services to the federal government in the recent past; and(5) dedicated personnel to watch for relevant RFPs and write the lengthy and complicated proposals.In other words, if you are a one-person operation located in the Midwest, if you lack the requisite person power, if you have to estimate and charge all travel costs, and if you haven't had any recent federal contracts, FORGET IT!!!Either the contracts are for millions of dollars over a multi-year time period or they are for a one or two day program, and both types of contracts typically need to be provided someplace to which you will need to travel (and even remain for long periods of time). Since the government says it will take the lowest cost and since I always need to factor in travel costs, I'm sunk. I don't have a chance. Not a prayer.And, guess what? I could have avoided all of this had I thought to research my chances on the GSA website, instead of asking the GSA preparation and marketing company (who wanted my money) if they thought my company would be a good candidate.


Recently, I discovered that there is a "Readiness Assessment for Prospective Offerors" on the GSA Website. If I had only taken this assessment, I would have realized the GSA Schedule was not a good fit for me.Here are the key questions that would have made this glaringly obvious:

Does your firm know how much time and money successful firms spend to market to the Federal Government? (Research shows that successful firms spend between $80-$130K a year to earn their first order).

Does your firm have the committed personnel or resources to write proposals and administer a MAS contract?

Does your firm know that as a MAS contractor you are required to sell a minimum of $25,000 within the first 24 months following contract award and are expected to exceed $25,000 in sales each 12-monthperiod thereafter?

Does your firm understand that 60% of the GSA Schedule contractors do not meet the minimum sales requirements as defined by I-FSS-639?

Have you developed relationships with potential federal customers? (GSA research indicates that it is important to have a relationship with the agency you are targeting to buy your product or service.)
These were "Yes" or "No" questions and my answer to each of them would have been a resounding "NO!"So, what have I learned from this ill fated and completely avoidable misadventure? I'll tell you in my article: My GSA Misadventure.

Working Moms and Mom Entrepreneur Business Tips

Today's technology makes it easy for mothers all over the globe. No matter what your skills or interests, you can be guaranteed to find a work at home opportunity that will meet your own personal needs. However, this does not guarantee easy money. Mothers that choose to work at home will find ample opportunities, but it will take a lot of dedication and stubbornness to make it work for them. The following are some tips for moms working from home online:Treat Your Work at Home Like a Real Job
The most common reason for failure in work from home opportunities is it is often not treated like a real job. An outside job requires you to work certain hours and actually work for the full shift. Temptations and distractions can easily get out of hand when working at home. You must treat your opportunity like a real job or you will end up on the list of failed entrepreneurs. This may mean enlisting the help of a nanny or working only when the children have gone to bed.Understand You Can't Do It All
Many work from home mothers dream of doing it all. Spending time with family in a perfectly kept home and bringing in a sizable income at the same time. You must let go of the idea that this is going to happen for you. If you are serious about making money online, you must realize that something is going to have to give. The dishes may not get done, but as long as the children are happy and your work is done, you should be satisfied.


Invest in Tools to Increase Your Income
You must also be willing to invest your time and money into tools that will actually help you increase your income. Technological advances make it possible for you to automatically email leads collected from your website. There is software available that make tracking your finances quickly and efficiently. You can even purchase software that will help you to create your own apps. The key is to know which ones will help you grow your business.Take Advantage of Social Sites
Social sites, like Facebook, are filled with other moms, just like you, who want to work and stay at home with their children. Making connections with them can give you a chance to bounce ideas on what works and doesn't work. It can also give you the chance to share your own opportunity to with others who want the same things that you do.Moms working from home online are not a rare occurrence. Millions of mothers are searching every day for a work at home opportunity that is going to allow them the privilege of staying at home with their children while still bringing in an income. If you are one of these moms, you must take your search seriously. It could just be the best change you ever make and may let you lead the lifestyle you have always dreamed about.

Certification For Your Women Owned Small Businesses?

Quite often one of the topics of discussion among small business owners is "certification". To push the thought process a little further, I will usually ask; "What type of certification are you seeking and who are you planning to do business with?".For example, if you are seeking to grow your business with federal contracting you should explore certifications with The Small Business Administration (SBA). Yes, you can certify with the SBA as a Women Owned Small Business, Economically Disadvantaged Business and Veteran Owned Small Business. The certification process with the SBA is free and you can do it yourself. Since the federal government has 'set asides' for both contract and bid opportunities, certification may be quite beneficial for your small business.If your goal is to work within the private sector, perhaps with a major corporation, you may want to consider a national certification. However, there are fees associated with third party certification councils including fees for annual renewals.Your certifications should align with your business strategy. I always stress to business owners that it is important to do their research related to the types of certifications that would best support their business strategy.Prior to making any investment of your time or money in pursuit of certification, I cannot stress the importance of doing your research. Also, as a contractor or supplier, you should become familiar with the terminology of contracting. If you are pursuing federal contracting, you should become familiar with acronyms. For example, if you are seeking contracts in the private sectors understand the agency's meaning of terms such as vendor, supplier diversity programs and contracting tiers.


Utilize online information and websites to equip you with vital information related to the company, its goals, its commitment to diversity, and any other strategies that can help you prepare for contract opportunities.View their "Supplier Diversity" programs specifically targeted toward women and minority owned businesses. Leveraging your status as a women owned small business can have its advantages. The Federal government, corporations, state and local governments have established goals that commit a certain percentage of business for women owned companies. This commitment provides you with the opportunity to leverage yourself as a women owned business.A word to the wise, make sure you are an informed business owner as you enter the world of contracting, there could be a range of opportunities available to help you compete for contracts that can grow your business.

Choosing The Best Air System For Starting A Paintball Field

Which air system you choose for your paintball field will have a huge impact on the outcome of your business. Which equipment you choose for your initial inventory will have a direct effect on the size of the initial loan you acquire. Obviously, starting out with a large monthly bill will put considerably more stress on your business, so it makes sense to be as conservative as possible with spending at first. Besides the initial start up costs, you also have to consider other factors like how durable the equipment is/how long it will last and the overall convenience of it. A higher initial cost for better supplies to start out with may be worth it if it saves you money, hassle and time later. Even if the air system was cheap to begin with, it may end up costing you more in the long run with ongoing costs of air refills, maintenance and replacements of paintball guns and cheap air tanks.A CO2 tank refill system is the cheapest way to go initially however comes with a few headaches. Your system will consist of a bulk size CO2 tank, refill equipment (hoses, gauges & scale), and portable CO2 tanks that attach to the rental paintball guns. Before air can be transferred from the bulk tank to the portable tanks, bulk CO2 tanks must be filled by a commercial gas company and you will be reliant on this source as long as you use them. This means your paintball field must be located within a driving distance away from a commercial gas company. If you're going to use CO2 at your field, it would be wise to check for a location of a commercial gas company before even starting your business. If there is a no source to fill your air tanks, your paintball guns will not work and you do not have a business. Fortunately, companies that refill bulk CO2 cylinders are not hard to find in most cities however if you live in a rural area, sources may be too far away and CO2 would not be the best choice for your business. Refilling your bulk tanks will be an on-going expense, tedious task and of the reasons to consider using a different air source other than CO2. Some gas companies offer a convenient trade-in program like they do for propane tanks and this can help save money.Another important point to consider when deciding on CO2 as your field's air source is how hard this gas is on your other most expensive and important initial start up cost - the paintball guns. When CO2 is trapped in the bottle under high pressure, it's stored as a liquid. As it's released into the air (or a paintball marker), it converts to a gas. When it does this very rapidly (like when a paintball gun is fired repeatedly), it's temperature drops and can cause the air tank + the inside of the marker to freeze. This causes the gun to sputter, malfunction and misfire until it warms back up again making for a dangerous lapse in action on the field. Besides being less fun, freezing the inside of a paintball gun over and over again causes o-rings to break and many maintenance issues that will soon to lead to replacement. If you're dead set on using a CO2 air tank refill system at your field, you should consider purchasing regulators for your paintball guns. A regulator is an accessory part that will 'regulate' the air temperature and warm it up before it goes into the gun, preventing freezing. These cost $10-$30 a piece and do not come stock on most rental paintball markers.


With all of this trouble, it seems few would venture into a CO2 air tank refill system for their business. However comparatively, the initial prices are what makes them the most popular. For a bulk size CO2 tank, expect to pay $1-$2K. Depending on the air tank refill kit you choose and how sophisticated you want to get, prices will range from $200-$900. Most fields start off with at least 10 paintball guns, meaning you will also need at least 10 portable CO2 tanks. These will cost $20-$30 each depending on the size of the tank you choose. This makes the total cost of a CO2 air refill system roughly $1500-$3500. While this may seem like a lot, it's very small comparing to a compressed air system, the other choice besides CO2.Choosing a compressed air system as the refill source for your paintball field may cost more up front however will save you much money and trouble in the future. This kit will consist of a bulk size compressed air tank, commercial size air compressor to fill it with, refill equipment, and portable high pressure air tanks that attach to the rental paintball markers. Of this amount of gear, the air compressor houses the largest cost, however will make you independent of any outside sources. High pressure air is also the easiest on paintball guns. It maintains the same temperature and does not wreak the same kind of havoc on markers that CO2 does. This means your paintball guns will last longer and have less maintenance issues when you run compressed air. The constant temperature of compressed air also allows paintball gun better consistency and more accurate shooting for an easier (and more fun) time on the field.For a high pressure air tank refill system, a bulk scuba tank or something larger can be used to cost around $3-$400. The commercial air compressor will cost $4-7000 depending on the size and type. Sometimes you can find cheaper prices by looking for a used one, however beware of the quality. The most cost effective hpa portable tanks are aluminum (not carbon fiber) and will cost $50-$75 each. For a field renting out 10 paintball guns, a compressed air refill system will cost roughly $5-$8000, significantly more than a CO2 system. While it may cost more up front, the most efficient air systems for paintball fields remain to be compressed air, yet more fields tend to opt for the cheaper, more troublesome CO2.

Residual Income is A Must! Part-time or Full-time Discover How To Build Residual Income Today

Stating that residual income is a must is a strong statement. However, it's true, if you have any desire for financial freedom. Residual Income earns you money even if you are not working. In fact, you can build your residual income stream to be paying you 24 hours a day/7 days a week.Many people are not sure what the difference is between residual income and other income. Over 90% of the people work for what is known as linear income. Linear income is swapping time for dollars. If you work eight hours a day for five days a week, the company will pay you for those forty hours of work. Miss a day or week, and you lost the ability to earn income.Residual income is different; you do the work once and get paid month after month and year after year, and this becomes a very powerful way to earn income. As you continue to build your residual income stream, you will find the income paying for your car, then your house, finally you will have more income than bills at the end of the month. You will notice an increasing amount of discretionary cash in your bank account allowing you to become debt free.Residual Income can come from many sources; some of them are:
Royalties from books, films and songwriting, etc.
Advertisements, subscriptions and affiliate links from your website
Investing in stocks, bonds and mutual funds
Real Estate holdings
Selling the business you owned
Interest from Your Savings Account



Residual income from these sources are very good vehicles, but they take a special talent or large sum of money up front to build the financial freedom people are looking to achieve. Residual income is the preferred income for the rich and famous.One of the most accessible ways to build Residual Income is starting a Home Based Business. Below is a chart that shows the power of a Home Based Business that rewards you with Residual income.Residual IncomeDesired Monthly Income Required Bank Account Value$20,000 $8,000,000$10,000 $4,000,000$5,000 $2,000,000$2,500 $1,000,000$1,250 $500,000$675 $250,000$388 $125,000$194 $62,000This chart is based on 3% annual interest rate (approximately.)Shortly, after starting your Home Based Business you should be able to not only recoup your return on investment, but also be making over $200.00 per month (That is equivalent to having over $62,250 in a savings account!). With the right guidance, think of the possibilities! A Home Based Business; not only gets you the power of residual income, you will get major tax benefits that will dramatically help build your generational wealth. Yes, Residual Income is very powerful and has built Generational Wealth for many people that have sought it out.