Business Management - Personnel Selection

If your business will be large enough to require outside help, an important responsibility will be the selection and training of one or more employees. You may start out with family members or business partners to help you. But if the business grows - as you hope it will - the time will come when you must select and train personnel. Careful choice of personnel is essential. To select the right employees determine beforehand what you want each one to do. Then look for applicants to fill these particular needs. In a small business you will need flexible employees who can shift from task to task as required. Include this in the description...

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Business Management - Record Keeping

The keeping of adequate records cannot be stressed too much. Study after study shows that many failures can be attributed to inadequate records or the owner's failure to use what information was available to him. Without records, the businessperson cannot see in advance which way the business is going. Up-to-date records may forecast impending disaster, forewarning you to take steps to avoid it. While extra work is required to keep an adequate set of records, you will be more than repaid for the effort and expense. If you are not prepared to keep adequate records - or have someone keep them for you - you should not try to operate a small...

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Business Management - Selling

Whether you operate a factory, wholesale outlet, retail store, service shop, or are a contractor, you will have to sell. No matter how good your product is, no matter what consumers think of it, you must sell to survive. Direct selling methods are through personal sales efforts, advertising and, for many businesses, display - including the packaging and styling of the product itself - in windows, in the establishment, or both. Establishing a good reputation with the general public through courtesy and special services is an indirect method of selling. While the latter should never be neglected, this brief discussion will be confined to direct...

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Business Management - Pricing

Much of your success in business will depend on how you price your services. If your prices are too low, you will not cover expenses; too high and you will lose sales volume. In both cases, you will not make a profit. Before opening your business you must decide upon the general price level you expect to maintain. Will you cater to people buying in the high, medium, or low price range? Your choice of location, appearance of your establishment, quality of goods handled, and services to be offered will all depend on the customers you hope to attract, and so will your prices. After establishing this general price level, you are ready to price...

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Secrets of Successful Small Business Managemen

A business is an ongoing activity that doesn't run itself. As the manager you will have to set goals, determine how to reach those goals and make all the necessary decisions. You will have to purchase or make your product, price it, advertise it and sell it. You will have to keep records, and determine costs. You will have to control inventory, make the right buying decisions and keep costs down. You will have to hire, train and motivate employees now or as you grow. Small Business Management - Setting Goals Good business management is the key to success and good management starts with setting goals. Set goals for yourself for the accomplishment...

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The Profile of a Successful Business Manager

The latest study by Assignments Plus of the business apppointments of leading companies throughout the world has identified the following defining characteristics of a successful senior manager: � Exhibits a real knowledge of the company, an empathy for its mission, and a genuine commitment to its goals and values. � Has significant direct experience of the business and a proven, demonstrable record of achievement in the relevant management areas. � Possesses outstanding planning, organisational and project management skills. Is a strategic and visionary thinker with a successful track record in developing, implementing, monitoring...

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Five Rules for Fixing Customer Service

Companies both large and small often spend time and money on big customer service ideas intended to woo new clients in the door only to lose their regular customers over little service slipups. “Customer relationships are made or broken when something goes wrong,” says customer service expert Maribeth Kuzmeski, founder of Red Zone Marketing in Chicago. “If you don’t have well-developed service recovery techniques in place, you’ll lose the customer every time.” In an age of social media, it takes only one disgruntled customer to create a disaster for a small company. The internet has greatly amplified the customer’s voice. If someone...

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