A few of my firm's charity auctions have a diverse mix of guests who seem to be comprised of three distinct groups- non-paying clients- non-paying or reduced-ticket-price employees of the non-profit- full-paying guestsAlthough I can appreciate why a handful of "free" guests might be allowed to attend (e.g. a reward to an employee, or asking someone to speak), in a few charity auctions I've worked, the majority of the attendees -- the majority! --...more
Author: spinxwebdesignWhen you say effective online marketing technique and you will surprise to know that it involves not just one factor but several.Article marketing is one of the most popular online marketing techniques among online marketers. And besides being one of the most effective strategies, this particular method does not have cost and almost always free. An online marketer only needs to be knowledgeable about how to compose a good...more
If you write a business plan only as a sales document, using it to get buy-in from investors, you are missing a great opportunity to create a document which works both for these external parties and your own guidance. Follow these tips to make sure your plan serves both your needs and their needs. Dont Keep Two Sets of BooksWhen creating the pro forma financial statements and revenue projections for your business, you should be optimistic, but realistic. This allows you to use the same numbers for your business plan and your personal targets and goals. If you are truly planning for different targets than those you tell funders about, you run the risk of becoming confused between these different sets of expectations and even misspeaking during talks with potential funders. Address RisksBy carefully addressing risks that your business will face in your plan, you serve the needs of both funders and your own planning down the road. Funders will be happy to see you acknowledge the potential downsides for the business as long as you think creatively about how to eliminate or decrease the risks wherever possible. Doing this work becomes part of your companys risk management plan which you...more
In the early stages of figuring out what your business is, deciding on a mission statement which will serve the business both now and in the future, meeting the needs of funders, employees, and customers, is difficult. The challenge is to make the mission statement specific enough that it is clear that it is for your business alone and would not...more
By seeking out a sample business plan for a cafe business, you can learn a lot about how other cafe entrepreneurs have succeeded in the past. Find a sample plan from a cafe that successfully raised funds, launched, and still flourishes to be sure you will not be lead astray.The WritingIf you find a successful sample plan as mentioned, you will see...more
Starting even the simplest hotel or inn is a venture that carries with it a high amount of risk. Here are four top mistakes to avoid when opening a hotel business. Mistake 1: Not Raising Enough CapitalA hotel owner generally purchases the property of the hotel, and the down payment alone may be substantial. Factor in all of the additional costs before you can invite a guest inside - renovation, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, computer systems, initial marketing, and supplies. Then, without good, conservative projections of your costs and revenues over the first year, hotel owners can still fail to have enough cash on hand to see them through the early growing pangs before room occupancy rises enough to cover costs. Don't let this happen to you. Asking your investors for more help a few months after opening shows them that you didn't understand the business to begin with. They will likely make you pay for the mistake by taking a greater percentage of the business, saddling you with much higher interest rates, or even replacing you with a new manager. Mistake 2: Failing To Check The Zoning Before any work begins you must know that the location you desire is properly zoned for a hotel....more
The cost of sales for a photography studio represents the direct costs of each job. Costs which support these jobs, but are shared among a number of jobs, are accounted for separately on your income statement. Knowing your cost of sales helps you to...more
When preparing your bar financial plan, you will need to show an understanding of the cost of starting up the business before a cent of revenue comes in. Pay attention to estimating the following key categories. Leasehold Improvements Leasehold...more
Are you setting up a non-profit organization? Don't ignore the specific, technical steps you must take to set up a new non profit organization. Although they will vary depending on your location, here are some guidelines for American non profit...more
Wholesale kid garments is catching the attention of many people because of money making return. If you as well want to start this trade other than you don't have the suitable place for it then don't be concerned you can start it over the internet...more
Author: Lynne SaarteCatalog printing might look like it is just good for the retail industry, but in fact there is more to catalog printing than you think. Color catalogs can be used for all businesses, from raw materials supplies, manufacturing,...more
Those businesses that aren't good at managing employee overtime hours effectively could easily be creating problems for themselves for the present and for the future. You will often hear some companies make the claim that they don't allow overtime,...more