I needed a break from my business. Being an entrepreneur is not as glamorous as my employed-self assumed it would be. You work longer hours, take fewer holidays, and don’t get invited to enough of those cocktail networking events in Hawaii that you had envisioned. So, my husband and I flew away from it all and journeyed from tropical South Africa to the French Alps. Nothing beats a full day of snow skiing to take your mind off of the stress of daily life. Well, that’s what I thought. ... from https://www.womenonbusiness.com/4-little-known-entrepreneurial-lessons-from-the-ski-slopes/
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Brought to you by Menttium: Some of the most successful businesses out there are the ones that recognize just how important the employees are to the company. Not only do you need well-trained, skilled, and experienced staff to get the job done correctly, but you need employees that feel confident in what they do and want to work hard to achieve their own goals within the company. For women, confidence in the workplace is something that doesn’t always come naturally. In fact, it can often be... from https://www.womenonbusiness.com/3-ways-employers-can-help-improve-a-womans-confidence-in-the-workplace/ Brought to you by EdWel Programs: A Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is recognized globally for individuals who want to manage organizational tasks. The Project Management Institute (PMI) grants this certification to people who passed the PMP exam. Several PMP training programs are available online to help you pass the certification test. Choosing the right training provider is vital to helping you in learn the ins-and-outs of being a project manager. What are the PMP...from https://www.womenonbusiness.com/pmp-training-and-how-to-choose-the-right-provider-to-be-taught/ New Survey Reveals What Small Businesses Are Spending Their Technology Budgets OnHow Do You Compare?4/19/2019 How does your business technology spending measure up? What are your business priorities for the near future, and how is business technology helping you achieve them? A new survey by CompTIA has some insights. Top priorities for SMBs in the year ahead include implementing new systems and processes, identifying new customer segments and markets, renewing existing customer accounts, innovation, and launching new products and services. Underlying all of these priorities is a focus on improving efficiency, whether by implementing brand-new systems or by fine-tuning the systems you already have. To help accomplish their goals, small businesses are turning to technology. In fact, nearly two-thirds (64%) say technology is a primary factor in pursuing their business objectives, and more than half (56%) of firms with fewer than 20 employees say the same. How are small businesses using business technology?Overall, 59% of small businesses are mostly satisfied with their use of technology. However, there is still room for improvement. The areas in which small businesses say they most need to improve their technology are:
Technology spending: Too much or too little?The average SMB in the survey spends between $10,000 and $49,000 per year on technology. More than half (52%) of small business owners feel they are spending too little on business technology, 22% feel they are spending too much, and 44% feel they are spending the right amount. What have small businesses spent their technology budgets on in the past two years? Some 36% of respondents say they have been focusing on infrastructure: laptops, desktops, servers, phones, storage, and the like. (New or upgraded hardware is a top item on respondents’ technology wish lists.) In addition, 31% said they have been spending on industry-specific software, while 30% say their technology spending has focused on both areas. Asked what type of technology is their biggest priority going forward, customer experience technology is by far the most important concern, cited by nearly one-fourth (23%) of companies as their biggest tech spending priority. Thirty-five percent of companies also say hiring skilled workers to help them drive technology initiatives into the future is a priority. (Learn more about digital transformation for small businesses.) Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:
How SMBs choose business technologyThe majority of SMBs choose technology from several different sources, including directly from the technology company, from a primarily online retailer such as Amazon, or from a brick-and-mortar based retailer such as Best Buy. The survey surmises that small business owners conduct due diligence, including researching a source’s product offerings, prices, and reputation for customer service, before making their decisions. With so many different offerings and options, it’s becoming more challenging for SMBs to fully implement the technology they envision. The study notes that in 2016, 23% of survey respondents reported excelling in technology vision and strategy; in the current survey, that number dropped to 18%. SMBs also reported less satisfaction with their execution and ongoing management of technology in 2016 than in 2018. “Many firms are taking two steps forward and one back as they navigate these new learning curves,” the report states. How SMBs view emerging technologies“Emerging technologies” encompasses a wide variety of technology, from IoT devices to artificial intelligence and drones. More than half (53%) of SMBs believe emerging technology represents opportunity for their businesses, and 30% are already incorporating it into their businesses. (Wondering how AI can help your business?) Small businesses use emerging technologies for the following reasons:
But not all SMBs are so optimistic about emerging technology. Almost a quarter (23%) say it’s too early to tell what impact emerging technology will have, and 10% believe it will have a negative impact on their businesses. The biggest challenges small businesses worry about with emerging technologies are the cost of entry (46%), the need for technical training (44%), and the difficulty of identifying the best vendors or suppliers (40%). Finally, the report identifies a new trend: Many SMBs are incorporating technology as a service or product offering for their customers. For example, 52% of professional services SMBs (such as accountants, lawyers, and marketers) offered technology services to customers in the last year, and 30% are considering doing so. This might include an accounting firm reselling software or providing cyber security audits. Among respondents who offer technology services, nearly half say revenue from tech-related activities is growing faster than the rest of the business. RELATED: When Technology Goes Too Far: How Not to Treat Your Customers The post New Survey Reveals What Small Businesses Are Spending Their Technology Budgets On—How Do You Compare? appeared first on AllBusiness.com The post New Survey Reveals What Small Businesses Are Spending Their Technology Budgets On—How Do You Compare? appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Rieva Lesonsky. from https://www.allbusiness.com/technology-budgets-small-businesses-spending-121049-1.html By Aaron Viles Last year, world leaders met in Paris to hash out a global climate deal to curb greenhouse gases and prepare countries and communities from the unavoidable impacts of climate change, made so by decades-long feet-dragging and unwillingness to act. While these public solutions are critical to fighting climate change, equally important are the voluntary steps taken by the private sector that have a direct positive effect and show by example that environmental protection and business success need not be at odds. Of course, this list is focused solely on environmental considerations, and is offered without assessment of a company’s treatment of workers, either domestically or in overseas factories. More environmental groups are aware of the intersectionality of movements to support the environment and workers, and I would be remiss if I failed to mention that exciting new work. Here are 10 companies that have taken big steps to address a host of environmental issues, from waste and pollution to climate change and deforestation: 1. PanasonicWhen you think about green businesses, Japanese electronics company Panasonic probably isn’t the first company to pop into your head. In fact, in 2014, Fortune found that Panasonic suffered the largest perception gap between the actions the company’s taken and what people think it’s done. Sustainability is a key part of the company’s corporate citizenship activities and has influenced everything from energy-saving production improvements to the adoption of recycling-oriented manufacturing. One of the coolest ways Panasonic is walking the walk is with its new North American headquarters. Historically located in suburban Secaucus, NJ, the company moved to a prime location in downtown Newark in 2013. The move was hailed as a key way to revitalize the struggling city, but for Panasonic, it fulfilled a sustainability mission. Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:
The company built a new LEED certified tower (gold exteriors, platinum interiors) just blocks from Newark Penn Station, a key transit node for both local and regional transit. This connectivity and transit accessibility has led to a nearly 50 percent drop in the number of workers commuting to work by car alone from 88 to 36 percent. Panasonic’s VP for corporate communications estimates that the move has taken 500 cars off the road every day. 2. New Belgium Brewing CompanyBrewing beer can have a lot of environmental downsides, from the energy required to superheat mash to the disposal of spent grain and other waste. Colorado-based New Belgium Brewing Company, the third-largest craft brewery in the United States, is proving that you don’t need to harm the environment to make it big. Being eco-friendly is part of the company’s culture and brand, and it’s made an astonishing number of environmental investments. Solar panels help power the bottling plant; an anaerobic digester processes industrial wastewater into energy to power the brewing process; company-issued bicycles help employees get around the 50-acre brewery site. Beyond its operations, New Belgium has taken a political stand on sustainability too. It was the twentieth company—and the first brewery—to join Ceres’ Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy coalition in 2011. Today, 19 breweries have joined to sign the Brewery Climate Declaration in support of reducing carbon pollution. 3. WalmartAt first blush, you may balk at the inclusion of Walmart on this list about environmentally-friendly companies. But the mega-retailer has made some key sustainable choices that, thanks to its large market share, can have huge ripple effects. Walmart’s 2014 decision to stock products from organic supplier Wild Oats garnered attention and praise for expanding access to organic foods at more affordable prices. That followed a 2013 update to its chemicals policy, which focused on both improving ingredient disclosure and replacing 10 hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives. Even earlier, Walmart committed to exclusively selling sustainable seafood. In addition to the direct impact of increasing sales of organic foods (as of April 2015, Wild Oats organic products were available in more than 3,800 Walmart stores) and reducing sales of products with dangerous chemicals, these policies all directly impact Walmart’s suppliers. Walmart’s support of organic food buoys the industry and creates more demand and sales opportunities for organic farmers. The company’s chemical policy provides a strong incentive for suppliers to adhere to stricter standards or risk losing access to Walmart customers. 4. AppleApple has a reputation for being cutting edge, a reputation that holds when it comes to going green. Apple’s $848 million energy deal with a solar farm in California enabled the company to power all its operations with renewable energy. A few months later it committed to getting 100 percent of its paper packaging from sustainable sources to protect the world’s remaining virgin forests. Like Panasonic, it too has invested in ways to help employees reduce their commute emissions, with 10,000 employees using the company’s transit subsidy and 2,700 carpooling in commuter buses. Apple’s rejection of climate denialism can’t go unmentioned. In 2009, the company loudly and publicly quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over its stance on climate change. Its 2015 Environmental Responsibility Report opens with the line: “We don’t want to debate climate change. We want to stop it.” This bold stance from a globally-renowned company helps bolster support for climate action and sustainable business practices. 5. IkeaIn June 2015, Ikea announced it would invest €1 billion in sustainability efforts, including buying renewable energy to power its stores and offices, and implementing sustainable manufacturing. As The Telegraph points out, “The figure dwarfs the amounts pledged by some countries to the UN Green Climate Fund. Germany, one of the biggest donors, pledged €750m.” This is just the latest step in a long history of eco-friendly investments the Swedish furniture giant has made. The installation of rooftop solar to power the company’s new St. Louis, MO, store is the 42nd such installation in the United States, and the company has also entered the residential solar market. In addition to buildings, Ikea has greened many of the products it sells. It introduced a vegan version of its famous Swedish meatballs, a nod to opposers of the environmentally intensive meat industry. In September 2015, Ikea announced its plan to sell only certified seafood. That same month was the first that 100 percent of its cotton was sustainably sourced from farmers who use less water, chemicals, and fertilizers. All that’s just the tip of the company’s green efforts. 6. IBMIBM has been a leader in sustainability for decades, a status recognized in 2013 by the European Union Code of Conduct for Data Centers. In 2015, the company made public commitments to continue its legacy through reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent by 2020, compared to 2005 levels, while simultaneously getting 20 percent of its global electricity from renewable sources over the same time frame. Perhaps more impressive is the company’s recognition of its influence over its supply chain. With 18,000 suppliers in more than 90 countries, IBM’s efforts to infuse sustainability—including the 2010 requirement that all suppliers have an environmental management program and that they publicly report their progress—have large ripple effects. 7. UnileverUnilever has also been lauded for its sustainability commitments, most recently by being top ranked in the 2015 Climate Survey among companies for tackling climate issues, drawn from responses from 624 sustainability experts from 69 countries. More than 20 percent of respondents said the company was the number one contributor to climate solution. In addition to strong support among senior leadership, Unilever has been an outspoken advocate about the importance of curbing deforestation. In 2010, the company committed to achieve zero net deforestation in 10 years, meaning for every acre of forest cleared, an equal acreage must be replanted. Unilever’s CEO has called deforestation the “most urgent climate challenge.” The company is already outperforming its targets. As of 2012, all of its palm oil came from sustainable sources, three years ahead of schedule, through the purchase of GreenPalm certificates, an offset program for companies using palm oil. Rather than stop there, Unilever has pushed forward to trace all its palm oil to sustainable sources. As of 2014, 58 percent of the company’s palm oil was traceable, including 98 percent that was sourced for its European Foods business. 8. ChipotleAlthough Chipotle has had its share of bad PR of late due to food contamination, the fast-food behemoth deserves a lot of credit for making ethical sourcing not only cool, but profitable. Chipotle released its “Food with Integrity” statement in 2001, which includes sourcing vegetables from healthy soil and meats from farms where animals are pasture-raised and treated humanely. When push came to shove, the company proved it was willing to drop pork carnitas from the menu on one-third of its restaurants rather than compromise on its commitment to responsible husbandry. Chipotle further caused a stir in 2014 when it removed all genetically-modified products from its foods, proving a commitment to biodiversity and natural products. Most importantly though, Chipotle has done all this while making a lot of money. Even while pork stayed off menus, Chipotle posted a billion-dollar earnings quarter in Q1 of 2015. Even a more recent slip in Q3 was not attributed to ecologically-responsible sourcing, but to other costs rising. The clear takeaway is that sustainability and profits need not be at odds—a compelling counterargument to the usual complaints about the effect of environmental stewardship on the economy. 9. BiogenMassachusetts-based Biogen has an impressive streak running, capturing the top spot for biotechnology firms on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index two years in a row, and being named the greenest company in the world by Newsweek in 2015. One big contributing factor was reaching operational carbon neutrality, the result of a multiyear effort to reduce emissions. The company’s investments included everything from energy efficiency improvements in its facilities to coordinating with suppliers around achieving environmental goals. This follows becoming virtually zero-waste in 2012 (98 percent of all waste is diverted), achieved through both reducing initial operational waste and finding creative ways to compost and recycle the waste it does create. Rather than resting on its laurels, Biogen set new bold sustainability targets, including reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and water use by 80 percent by 2020, compared to a 2006 baseline. It’s also tackling that last two percent of waste that makes it to landfills and investing in LEED-certified facilities. Don’t be surprised to continue seeing Biogen top lists in years to come. 10. ChicoBagThough ChicoBag, a maker of reusable grocery bags and other products, is not as large as the companies cited above, I would be remiss not to acknowledge at least one company that isn’t just making green improvements to its business, but whose actual money-making model is a green initiative. Plastic bags are a particularly insidious environmental hazard, contributing to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, harming wildlife that unwittingly consume small pieces of it, and littering our beautiful landscape for the millennia they take to decompose. Plastic bag bans have grown in popularity as more consumers and citizens see the harm of these wasteful containers. ChicoBag provides an alternative and makes money doing it. In line with its business, the company doesn’t use what it calls the “Big 4”–single-use plastic bags, single-use water bottles, single-use cups and polystyrene takeout containers–and has an aggressive, mission-oriented zero-waste program. In 2014, B Corporation made ChicoBag an honoree for Best for the World Environment. Even small businesses can make a difference by implementing sustainable business practices. For more information, read “How Green Is Your Business?” About the AuthorPost by: Aaron Viles Aaron Viles is a Senior Grassroots Organizer for Care2. He works with citizen authors on The Petition Site to create petitions that will win concrete victories for animals, the environment, and other progressive causes. Prior to Care2 he spent decades working within the non-profit environmental advocacy field. Aaron honed his craft while working for Gulf Restoration Network, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and Faithful America. He began his career with Green Corps, the field school for environmental organizing. When not in front of a screen or on a conference call, Aaron can be found doting on his daughters, pedaling furiously to keep up with the peloton, and serving as a volunteer leader for the Sierra Club, Dogwood Alliance, and his church. Company: Care2 The post 10 Big Companies Setting Great Environmental Examples appeared first on AllBusiness.com The post 10 Big Companies Setting Great Environmental Examples appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Guest Post. from https://www.allbusiness.com/10-big-companies-setting-great-environmental-examples-102601-1.html Brought to you by iMEDIA Ltd.: To say the online marketplace is competitive is to say the sky is blue, the sun is hot, and politicians are less than entirely trustworthy. The digital marketing space is difficult to navigate, which is why there are many options and routes to become successful. The two main paths are the more organic option of search engine optimization (SEO), or the more artificial option of PPC pages and services. However, these are not entirely either/or strategies. Most... from https://www.womenonbusiness.com/seo-vs-ppc-six-important-factors/ If you’re a small business owner looking for ways to grow your business, you’ve likely investigated the possibility of acquiring some outside financing in the form of a business loan. Also known as debt financing, this form of funding can be preferable to venture capital, because you maintain control of your business rather than selling off decision-making power in exchange for capital. That being said, the world of small business financing is complex, with many possibilities—some good, some not so good. And the last thing you’ll want to do is pay more for funding than necessary. If you’re new to the concept of small business financing, you may not know what qualifies as a good interest rate or a bad one. With that in mind, let’s review what makes for a good interest rate for the various financing options out there and what to look for when comparing products. What are your small business financing options?It’s important to note that there are many kinds of financing options available to small business owners. A term loan is probably what you think of when you imagine a small business loan, but it’s far from the only possibility—other financing products may make more sense, depending on your situation. Here’s a quick rundown of the most common small business financing options:
What is a good interest rate for these financing options?You’ll rarely find that a lender will extend the exact same terms to different borrowers. Every lending situation is different because every business is different. There are general ranges for financing interest rates, however. Where an offer lands within that range is subject to the lender itself, as well as the borrower and their financial situation and future plans—including the business owner’s credit scores, the time in business, their industry, what they plan to use the financing for, and more. That said, the typical rates for the above-mentioned business financing possibilities are as follows:
If you’re in the market for a business line of credit or are considering invoice financing to help even out your cash flow, or need a term loan to help fund a new renovation or expansion, see if the APR your lender quotes falls within these ranges. Have you received an offer at the lower end of these ranges? If so, you’ve likely got a good interest rate. If you’re getting offers on the higher end, it’s time to start investigating how you can improve your standing in the eyes of lenders. Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:
Why you should look for the APR, not interest rateYou’ll notice that the rates listed earlier are quoted in APR, or annual percentage rate, rather than interest rate. APR is a more holistic view of what a loan or financing will cost. It includes the associated costs of borrowing, including origination fees and closing costs. Some lenders will promote their product with a low interest rate, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. For example, some merchant cash advances might quote a reasonable interest rate, but their APR will be much higher than what you might get from a loan or line of credit. For an apples-to-apples comparison of what financing will cost, compare APR to APR. What fees are included in the APR?Depending on the lender and the product, there may be just a few or many extra fees tacked on to your financing, which is what makes the interest rate such an incomplete picture of the total cost. These fees might include:
Many loan products come with these non-negotiable fees. This is what makes using APR as a comparison point so important—you may not get the entire picture otherwise. Taking on debt in order to finance growth for your small business is always a risk. In order to minimize your risk and boost your chances of success, you’ll need the clearest picture possible of what that debt costs. If the interest rates and APRs quoted to you don’t make sense for your business, explore other options and work on improving your credit profile so you can take out the financing that’s right for you. RELATED: The Secret Weapon That Can Help You Get a Better Business Loan The post What Is a Good Interest Rate for Small Business Financing? appeared first on AllBusiness.com The post What Is a Good Interest Rate for Small Business Financing? appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Meredith Wood. from https://www.allbusiness.com/small-business-financing-interest-rates-121126-1.html I needed a break from my business. Being an entrepreneur is not as glamorous as my employed-self assumed it would be. You work longer hours, take fewer holidays, and don’t get invited to enough of those cocktail networking events in Hawaii that you had envisioned. So, my husband and I flew away from it all and journeyed from tropical South Africa to the French Alps. Nothing beats a full day of snow skiing to take your mind off of the stress of daily life. Well, that’s what I thought. ... from https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/600907800/0/womenonbusiness~Little-Known-Entrepreneurial-Lessons-from-the-Ski-Slopes/ Brought to you by Menttium: Some of the most successful businesses out there are the ones that recognize just how important the employees are to the company. Not only do you need well-trained, skilled, and experienced staff to get the job done correctly, but you need employees that feel confident in what they do and want to work hard to achieve their own goals within the company. For women, confidence in the workplace is something that doesn’t always come naturally. In fact, it can often be... from https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/600870704/0/womenonbusiness~Ways-Employers-Can-Help-Improve-a-Womans-Confidence-in-the-Workplace/ No, this post isn’t about gender identity—it’s about how arbitrary I find the labels “female entrepreneur” and “woman entrepreneur.” People like to create two categories for business owners: entrepreneurs and female entrepreneurs. I have never understood why the two have to be separated. Haven’t we reached the point in our society where we’ve stopped delineating between the capabilities of each gender? (Watch the videos in the Always’ #LikeAGirl campaign for tear-jerking examples.) Can’t we just focus on the subject of entrepreneurship without breaking it down further? I need no home court advantageWhile there’s nothing inherently wrong with resources directed specifically at women who own businesses, I fail to see the point. Don’t we all need help writing a business plan, networking with other business owners, and finding funding? Why is it specific to women? You don’t see “male entrepreneur” resources. I certainly don’t speak for all womankind, but I don’t want special treatment because I’m a woman. I want to succeed—and have, over the 13 years I’ve owned my marketing firm—based on merit and my ability to kick a$$ at what I do. Being a mother and business owner isn’t notableI absolutely detest the term mompreneur. Recognizing a woman who both raises human beings and runs a business is like congratulating a man for walking and breathing at the same time. It’s not commendable; it’s life. And where are the men who are doing the same? “Dadpreneur” is much less of a popularized term because it just comes with the territory. Mothers who work as employees aren’t “momployees.” So why do we point out the combination of the roles if they run a business? Years ago, I knew a divorced woman who would complain every chance she got about how hard it was to be a single mom. It made me crazy that she wore that label like an albatross. Now that I find myself a single mom, I refuse to embrace the label as an excuse for things being hard sometimes—they’re hard for everyone. I rarely think to call myself a single mother. I’m just a mother (and business owner) who happens to not have a partner. That doesn’t make my life tremendously difficult because I refuse to let it. I’m still 100% capable of doing what needs doing. It’s the same for running a business. Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:
Men are from Mars . . .There’s a lot of talk about the differences in how men and women work professionally and how they’re wired. A lot of it is cultural, I believe. When you hear about women being less assertive in the workplace, I suspect that’s more because historically women haven’t been as easily heard as men when they voice their opinions. It’s not that we have something lacking in our brains that keeps us from being self-confident; it’s experience. I’d love to move the trend away from women acting more like men. I do recognize that many of us came up in a work environment surrounded by males and that we adopted behaviors that we thought would get us ahead (and maybe they did). But it’s like an artist copying another artist’s style. You’re better off coming up with your own. An example I think about a lot that relates to this is comparing Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama. Both are incredible, powerful women, but they take such different approaches to success. Hillary seems to have let the men in her professional life rub off on her to the point that she’s all angles and assertiveness (I still love her). Michelle is the woman we all want to be our best friend. She’s not afraid to be female, and that certainly isn’t a detractor for her. She owns her power exactly how it is. People say that men are more logical and are go-getters. Well, so am I, so that blows that argument out of the water. It’s not about male and female entrepreneurs operating differently as a gender, it’s about people. I know men and I know women who are terribly disorganized. I know people of both genders who could sell sunshine to a San Diegan, who work relentlessly and have succeeded as a result. Gender has got nothing to do with it. What’s my point?Excuse me if I ranted a bit in this post, but I want to bring attention to this subject to encourage you women reading to stop calling yourselves female entrepreneurs and just be entrepreneurs. Your gender does not define your ability to succeed, nor should you rely on it to get special accommodations. Work hard. Do your best. Succeed. And show the next generation of girls that gender shouldn’t come into the equation for business success whatsoever. RELATED: 3 Leadership Lessons Wonder Woman Can Teach Female Entrepreneurs The post Why I Don’t Like Being Labeled a Female Entrepreneur appeared first on AllBusiness.com The post Why I Don’t Like Being Labeled a Female Entrepreneur appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Susan Guillory. from https://www.allbusiness.com/female-entrepreneur-label-121194-1.html |