It also means that you can see what you have designed online printed up as a card, and if you do not like it, or your contact details change, it is not going to cost you much to get them re-printed. I should of course mention at this point that free business cards generally means that the actual production of the card is free but you will have to pay for the processing and the delivery charge which is fair enough!

If you have never designed a card before, the websites take you through a step-by-step procedure which is very easy to follow. For instance, you are asked to type in your details in the boxes supplied; you then choose a template and your details will appear on it.

If you are happy with the design of your business card you then proceed to choose how fast you would like the cards delivered. This can be Rush in three days to Slow, which is obviously the cheapest option taking twenty-one days.

If your cards are for personal use, then ‘anything goes’ as far as design goes. However, if the purpose of the card is to represent your business, then you … Read the rest

• Write down the plan. Prepare a written draft of your business plan. It should be short and concise, containing all the elements of the business in steps. Keep it current and updated. Keep the main points simple and highlighted for quick reference.
• Do not confuse cash with profit. Cash is the flowing money you spend to buy inventories. Profits are an accounting concept gained after much sweat in business. Delayed customer payments could cripple your financial situation but will not harm the profit. Plan to build an emergency cash fund to survive hard situations. Cash flow is critical; make a cash flow table in your business plan.
• Do not dilute priorities. Focus on three to four main priorities and work on them to strengthen the business plan. A plan listing twenty priorities will never be able to take off because of an unfocused approach.
• Do not overvalue the business idea. An idea on paper may look very lucrative but be a disaster in real life. It takes human power to shape it. Building products, shipping, selling and collecting payments, etc., are the realities of business.
• Do not confuse a plan with planning. The value of a plan is directly related

Opportunity to Start Afresh

As far as the bankruptcy laws are concerned, they are all in the favor of debtors. Bankruptcy presents you an opportunity to wash out everything that has happened in the past and make a fresh beginning. This is a chance for you to reorganize your financial situation because you are get legal protection from the creditors.

Keep Personal Integrity Intact

However, give foremost importance to one thing while turning around a business after bankruptcy. What is this important point? It is imperative, that you always keep your personal integrity intact. You should not try to hide any facts from the people who have invested their money in your business. This is more important in the case of smaller companies where most of the funds are raised with the help of relatives, friends, and family members. This is not only because the people who have invested deserve to know this information but also because any of them may come up at any time with a really beneficial idea for turning around the business that is on the brink of bankruptcy.

Work Our the Plan within Time Limit

Another important factor while turning around a business after bankruptcy … Read the rest

Talk It Over

Ask your customer what exactly he is angry about. This will give him a chance to think what exactly his grievance is and maybe calm down. This also signals your sincerity and wish to solve the problem.

Ask the Consumer How You Can Avoid Such Problems In Future

The best way to show your sincerity in resolving the dispute is to ask the consumer how you can ensure that this does not happen again. Listen carefully to whatever suggestions she may give. The consumer will be satisfied that you did not intentionally cause harm, and you will get suggestions on how to improve your services.

Don’t Fight Over the Phone

The biggest no-no, when it comes to handling dissatisfied customers is to try to shout them down over the phone. If the customer has a complaint, insist on meeting her and talking it out instead of yelling over the phone.

Third-Party Mediation

Third-party mediation is not useful only in politics but also in business. Involve a third person to listen to both sides and help you reach a settlement. This will also help the warring sides calm down, since people are reluctant to battle it out, when … Read the rest

Advantages of Extranet for Small Businesses

The extranet simplifies communication, data management and issues related to promotion of products. Discussed below are some advantages of having an extranet system:
Communicating with Customers–if you run the kind of business that requires you to communicate with clients frequently, or you need to be in touch with your contractors, vendors, and suppliers all the time, then the extranet helps you stay connected with them.

• Streamlined Communications–the extranet can streamline the communication between the company management or employees and their customers, contractors, and other service providers.
• Online Conferencing–One of the biggest advantages of having an extranet connection. Just add web cams and special software, and you are ready for an online meeting with your clients or service providers.
• Records keeping–through the extranet, you can keep the records of the communication between you and other parties, which is very useful in case of lawsuits.

How to Choose an Extranet Service

The following is a checklist you might want to consider when choosing an extranet connection for your small business:

• Availability of chat rooms to which you can restrict access according to your requirements.
• If you have a meeting or an important appointment, make sure you