Starting a small business is a difficult venture. Did you know that over half of new start-ups cease trading within the first five years? That is proof that it’s not an easy decision to make. The reasons for business failure can be down to many factors but one major cause is a lack of capital and by extension, an inability to invest. For success in business, these are the main things you will need to invest in:

1. Logo Design

Many small businesses mistakenly believe that design isn’t important. However, customers pay a lot of attention to branding and logos. Find a reputable and professional design company and invest in an eye-catching, consistent brand logo which will appear right across the board on business card, advertising, the website, apps and everything else. Design is essential in a visual-driven digital era to make you stand-out, look professional and build a good reputation.

2. Marketing

Closely linked to design, marketing is often seriously under-invested in by small companies. Marketing is absolutely essential. It’s no good having the best product/service in town, if nobody knows you exist. Effective marketing involves identifying your target audience and having accessible, brand-consistent and relevant ads reaching those people for maximum sales.

3. Technology

We rely on technology hugely in our personal lives, so your business should be no different. If you cannot keep up in the fast-paced online business world then your revenue will suffer as a result. Whether you need content management systems, instant messaging, social media, document organisation, an updated website, adequate mobile phone coverage, faster broadband speeds or printers – don’t put you and your staff at a tech disadvantage. Investing in technology is essential.

4. Accounting service

It’s crucial that small businesses are not losing out, optimising their capital and reducing any waste and inefficiency with their accounting. Hiring an accountant can free up time for you to focus on other things, help you to avoid missing deadlines or being fined and even help with payroll and investment opportunities. Being without access to good accountancy services could really harm your business. For Accountants Cheltenham, visit https://www.randall-payne.co.uk/

5. Legal advice

Legal matters are hugely important, and yet many businesses think it’s an expense they can live without. It’s imperative to protect your business from legal issues and receive help with things like drawing up legal contracts. A legal advisor can help make sure your business is not in violation of any laws or regulations, protect against disputes or act as a mediator and help keep you on the path to success.

6. Insurance

Don’t waste money on an inadequate insurance plan just to save a few pounds. Many small businesses think they don’t need insurance, but it pays to do your research, so you don’t get left out of pocket should the worst happen.

An office fit out involves a lot more than a simple redecoration. With the right refurbishment, you can launch a rebrand and invest in your future.

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Here are 10 easy steps to follow to help you achieve the most successful office fit out.

1. Initial planning stages

Appoint a competent project manager, preferably with experience handling similar projects. You need a team comprising of individuals with key skills to get the job done, then you need to decide on a clear budget for the project.

2. Detailed planning stages

This is when the real work starts. Office fit out companies will analyse your workplace to determine what suits your way of working. They will discuss your aspirations with you, look carefully at technology, workflows and opinions and identify needs.

3. Choose a building

You don’t have to stay in your current building if it isn’t meeting your needs. According to property expert Damian Lloyd, most commercial properties are sold by national agents who use specialist investment surveyors, so contact one.

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4. Choose an office fit out specialist

Office fit out companies will look at your architectural workspace options and determine what is physically possible.

5. Developing the designs and seeking approval

At this stage, a detailed design scheme is put together. The colour schemes, materials and designation of space is decided.

6. Minimise disruption

If you have to continue running your business in the space that is being fitted out, you need to make arrangements to minimise disruption. Limits could be put on the hours that fit out workers are on site, or employees could work from home.

7. Office furniture installation

Get involved in all the decisions about office furniture. The only person who knows what chair they need is the person who is going to sit on it! Ask your employees for opinions.

8. Setbacks

There will be unexpected events and potential delays in any office fit out. Make sure that your fit out specialist has contingency plans.

9: Moving to the new fit out

To achieve a seamless transition to your new office setup, you need to be organised. Back up your data, brief all the staff and delegate tasks.

10. Learn lessons

Sort out any remaining niggles and learn lessons from what went wrong. Enjoy your new office!

The rise and rise of the internet means more of us than ever are making purchases online each year. It’s convenient, often cheaper than shopping on the high street, and opens up millions more products to us than we had access to before. If you’re an online retailer, you’re probably aware of the limitless possibilities of the internet for your business and you might even have some exciting plans for the future. However, as competition increases and consumers become more demanding, the service you provide increases in importance. Poor service can break an internet retailer, while strong customer support – such as swift resolution to disputes and straightforward returns – can win you loyal customers and new fans.

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New legislation

New legislation has been added at numerous times over the last few years to deal with the rise in internet retailing.

The basic rules are:

Online retailers must accept any returns made within 14 days.
Online retailers must pay for any faulty or damaged goods returned within 30 days.
Online retailers do not have to pay for the cost of returning goods simply because the customer changed their mind.

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Although you are not under any legal obligation to pay for customer returns (unless the goods are faulty), many larger retailers do offer free returns to encourage customers to buy more and to increase brand loyalty. Many businesses also extend the 14-day returns rule as a gesture of goodwill to customers, according to Which.co.uk.

Finding a trusted courier firm

Perhaps the most important thing to think about when setting up any internet retail business is delivery. You’ll need to consider costs, returns and delivery times. You can help your business stand out from the crowd by offering a Same Day Courier Service, such as that offered by http://allaboutfreight.co.uk/same-day-courier-service/.

By using a reliable and trustworthy courier service, you will keep your customers happy and make your life less stressful, too. You do not have to provide a free courier return service by law, but doing so could allow your customers to purchase high-end or expensive items from you in confidence without worrying about what to do if they don’t like the item once it arrives. The extra customers you win over by offering generous delivery and returns terms could outweigh the cost of the service.

Businesses want more from their CRM systems in simplified features, focusing on goals such as relationship optimisation.

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The key to achieving this is by being proactive: anticipating your customers’ requirements and then acting on them, rather than re-actively responding to their basic needs.

With businesses struggling to overcome challenges due to the current economic conditions, companies are forced to evaluate CRM solutions with a more critical eye like never before.

1. Campaign Management

CRM systems should provide comprehensive campaign management functionality which enables workflow from initial campaign concepts to building, testing, deployment and measuring.

Mobile capability is becoming a vital aspect of CRM systems, with results delivery to PDAs and handhelds proving critical to businesses.

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Cross-sell and up-sell functionality will also be important to consumer-direct companies operating an online marketplace. Collecting data from previous customer behaviour is no longer effective – CRM solutions must now reach out and seek new customers.

2. Master Data Management

A CRM system should enable the management of multiple lists. This allows users to establish lists and utilise real-time data management and list segmentation.

When it comes to CRM for property management, contact a company such as https://propertydeck.com/ to find out how CRM systems can help your business.

3. Customisation and Flexibility

Each successful CRM system should be customised to fit your business. It is vital that the solution you purchase is both flexible and customisable.

A CRM system must support your organisation’s processes – otherwise you will fail to achieve the full value of your investment.

However, the ability to customise must be in a straightforward and simple form that can be applied throughout the system. An easy customisable dashboard is of vital importance.

4. Follow-up Tracking and Lead Generation

Relying solely on a solution to do all processes can be a disastrous approach in business. However, a CRM system that is strong in follow-through and lead generation for reminders for sales people and automated customer communication can be instrumental in conducting efficient processes.

There may be a number of sales representatives in your organisation who are resistant to changing their methods and processes of selling. Some may miss follow-up opportunities due to inefficient systems, badly kept records and lack of staff members.

Implementing an effective and efficient CRM system ensures you can make the most of sales opportunities.