Websites Helping Business Owners Achieve Success

The business professionals at Global Resources are committed to utilizing our knowledge and experience to help bring about positive change for the owners of small to medium-size businesses.  

We understand that business owners often have to wear many hats in the workplace and, as a result, frequently become professionals at multitasking.  

In an effort to help you stay on track, we have listed websites that many business owners consider beneficial: 

Resources

• SCORE – This site will give you loads of free advice from amazing mentors who have plenty of experience to share. You can even meet your mentors in person, as well as get free newsletters. Learn about a number of small business topics, from office security to mobile technologies and more.
• WhichVoIP – One of the easiest ways to save your business money is by using a VoIP service to reduce your phone bills. WhichVoIP is one of the leading authorities on VoIP and contains lots of up to date information that can help you evaluate different business phone service options.
• Entrepreneur – This is a site that is loaded with helpful guides that will help your business to grow. Information you can find includes franchising, setting work schedules with teams, finding new ways to make money, and much more.

Legal

• Small Business Administration – This is a government branch that helps entrepreneurs. You can use this site to get funding, find employees and a whole lot more.
• Better Business Bureau – Learn everything you need to know about business ethics from the BBB. Demonstrate your company’s credibility by getting a BBB rating.
• Shake – This is a new site that provides information on the legalities involved in operating your own small business. Use the mobile app to create contracts that can be signed immediately. The blog will explain the legal terminology used in your contracts.

To learn more about us and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the business experts at Global Resources LLC, call us at 855-338-0266. 

Trends in the Small Business Arena

The team at Global Resources offers individual solutions, developed onsite, for small to medium-size businesses.  As your trusted growth partner, we help bring about the change your organization needs to better achieve growth and profits.  Our experts are renowned for innovative approaches to business and being ahead of the current business trends.

Here are some trends the business owners should be aware of:

1. Online presence - The availability of Internet-based technology gives small businesses more control over brand development, marketing and customer engagement. While tech start-ups traditionally benefit most from these services, Internet tools provide affordable and attainable solutions for small businesses in every industry.

2. Ecommerce - Online storefronts, which allow for the movement of electronic commerce, is swiftly dominating the retail scene in the United States.  You can create and develop your business's ecommerce platform with a vast selection of Internet tools, including solutions for small business owners who need to develop an online storefront on a tight budget.

3. EMV payment security - EMV, or “Europay, MasterCard and Visa,” is critical in our modern marketplace. The national migration to EMV payment standards (popularly recognized as microchip debit and credit cards) is virtually guaranteed to safeguard small businesses and their customers against fraud over the next year. As of October 2015, merchants in the U.S. are liable for any fraudulent transactions processed without EMV-enabled terminals. The government-mandated requirement was expedited as a result of large-scale data breaches and an influx of counterfeit cards in the U.S.

4. Business Intelligence - Business intelligence (BI) software gathers fragmented data sets and translates it into information you can use to improve your business. BI has historically been used by large enterprises to curate, store and visualize what’s known as big data. The growth of Internet technology and big-data solutions make it possible for small businesses to take advantage of BI solutions.

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the business experts at Global Resources LLC, call us at 855-338-0266. 

Business Owners Incorporate Back to School

The back to school retail season is such a lucrative market and many entrepreneurs are interested in capitalizing on it. At Global Resources, we are committed to helping clients understand the present and analyze the future of their business.  We then create a plan of action to meet goals and, finally, we do the work necessary to create amazing result. 

At Global Resources, our deliverables are based on the professional goals and expectations of your organization.  We will solve the intricate and unique challenges you are experiencing in the evolving marketplace.  While there are best practices that are applicable to all organizations, we understand that no two businesses are identical.

For special seasons, such as back to school time, we analyze your target market, how back to school impacts their lives and how your products or services could fit in to get your back to school marketing campaign started.

• Create Marketing Ideas - If your products or services have no obvious back to school tie-in, you can still create one. Be overly creative to find the back to school connection! 
• Expand Audience - Don't limit your marketing ideas to actual students. It means altered schedules for parents, too, and for some, more time to do things for themselves or things they've been putting off.  Back to school can affect the entire community.  
• Teacher Time - Teachers are another great group to target with your back to school marketing ideas if your products or services are appropriate. Many of the marketing ideas that apply to parents will also work for teachers. 
• Deals and Promotions - Whether you are a clothes retailer, school supply retailer, dentist or hair salon, offering customers deals and promotions is a smart way to increase business.
• Go Digital - One of the biggest downsides of back-to-school shopping are the never-ending lines. It’s no surprise that many consumers are now reverting to purchasing their school supplies online. Some retailers even offer the option to shop online and pick up in the physical store, providing a faster option to actually have the product in hand.

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the renowned business experts at Global Resources LLC, call us at 855-338-0266. 

EIN Info for Small Businesses

Global Resources is a “full-service” consulting company — meaning that we maintain the expertise and diversification necessary to address all aspects of our client’s business. This requires us to maintain a staff of highly “specialized” professionals across a diverse mix of industries and disciplines. 

We are proud to say, that in the history of Global Resources LLC, there has never been an issue raised during the course of a client engagement where there wasn’t a consultant on staff that didn’t have prior experience in dealing with that issue.

One of the key responsibilities for many new businesses or businesses that are restructuring is obtaining an Employer Identification Number, or EIN, from the IRS.  When you partner with us, our experts will help through every step of the way –including obtaining an EIN.

Below are a list of common questions new business owners often have about EIN’s:

What is an EIN? An EIN is a unique nine-digit number that identifies your business for tax purposes. It’s similar to a Social Security number but is meant for business related items only.

What do you need an EIN for? A business owner needs an EIN to open a business bank account, apply for business licenses and file tax returns. 

What type of business needs an EIN? An EIN is needed by any business that retains employees. However, non-employers are also required to obtain one if they operate as a corporation or partnership.

How do I apply for an EIN? The simplest way to apply for your EIN is online via the IRS EIN Assistant. As soon as your application is complete and validated, you’ll be issued an EIN. There is no charge for this service.

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the business experts at Global Resources LLC, call us at 855-338-0266. 

5 Tips for Hiring New Employees

At Global Resources, we are dedicated to being the most impactful partner you will ever have.  We will navigate the way for your success, including helping you plan for the hiring new employees.  Employees are the backbone of your business and, with the right team in place, growth and increase in profits will happen. 

If you are a business owner embarking on the hiring process, we have 5 tips for you: 

1. Focus on the candidate's potential. Nothing is more important in a new hire than attitude. While having the right skill set may seem essential, the fact is, skills can be acquired, but attitude is something which the new employee brings to the job.  Attitude is a critical component in overall contribution and productiveness.  A person with the wrong attitude can undermine company teamwork needed to maximize company success.

2. Check social media profiles. Most employers do a background check, including a quick Google search on the candidate's name, to see what is shown online. Today, we suggest looking at social media profiles to evaluate their online presence even further. 

3. Ask the right questions.  In advance, determine questions that will help you decipher a candidate's drive, ambition, and attitude.  This will help you understand how the person works, and whether or not your prospective employee will grow with your business as a productive member of your team.

4. Let candidates ask questions. To help gage if your prospective candidate has the right attitude for your particular job, it's important to help that person understand the company's work environment. Allowing prospective employees to interview you for a change will give you a chance to see what's important to them. 

5. Don't judge a book by its cover. It's easy to write off candidates based on their appearance, but it's more important that you consider how well they can do the job.  Ask yourself, are they a good a good fit in other ways? When interviewing, it is important to think outside the box. Candidates who fall outside the narrow lines of your requirements may still be the perfect fit for your business, if they bring to the business skills or personal attributes which you were not looking for but now recognize as valuable.  

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the business experts at Global Resources LLC, call us at 855-338-0266. 

Starting a Profitable Restaurant

Restaurant industry sales are expected to reach $783 billion in 2016. Although this will represent the seventh consecutive year of real growth in restaurant sales, the rate of growth remains moderate. The restaurant industry will remain the nation’s second-largest private sector employer with a workforce of 14.4 million.

Opening a restaurant is a challenging and expensive process, and the reality is that many restaurants fail in their first year of business. However, there are certainly ways to reduce the risk of becoming another statistic. 

At Global Resources LLC, our team of experts includes restaurant professionals who know how to grow restaurant concepts.  We will assist you in maintaining positive cash flow, controlling costs and accelerating profitable growth for your restaurant. 

If you are beginning to plan your newest restaurant endeavor, we have five critical tips for you: 

1. Know Your Target Market - Understanding your target market before you begin planning will help you solidify your menu, determine location, décor and the overall atmosphere of your restaurant. 
2. Select a Service Style and Food Concept - What type of restaurant do you see yourself owning? One of the first things you must decide is what specific service style you are interested in. Typically, your service style will either be fast-food, which offers food types that range from burgers, fries, hot dogs and sandwiches; midscale, which has full course meals at value prices; or upscale, offering full service meals with high-class ambiance and, in turn, higher prices. After narrowing your establishment to one of these three options, you can narrow your style of food choices. Is there a particular type of cuisine that you see yourself serving? 
3. Create a Business Plan - Your restaurant will need a strategic business plan, which includes the overall concept and goal of your restaurant, financial information and projection, description of your target market, menu and pricing, equipment and employee details, advertising and marketing plan, and a potential exit strategy.
4. Choose a Location and Layout - It is important to find a location that has a continuous stream of traffic, convenient parking and is in proximity to other businesses. Once you find your location, the layout and design of the interior should be taken into account. You should already have a concept for your restaurant in your business plan.  Now it’s time to bring this concept into the design of the dining room. 
5. Create a Menu - The menu can make or break a restaurant, and should be in accordance with the overall concept of the restaurant. Revisit your business plan to make sure the menu is attractive to your target market, is affordable within your budget, and complements your restaurant's design concept.

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the business experts at Global Resources LLC, call us at 855-338-0266. 

Determining Your Audience

When you work with Global Resources LLC on a business analysis, you can expect to have your target market reviewed.  In the competitive marketplace today, having a well-defined target market is now more important than ever. In fact, targeting a niche market allows small businesses to effectively compete with larger companies.

Pursuing a specific market does not mean that you are excluding people who do not fit your criteria. Rather, target marketing allows you to focus your marketing on a precise audience that is more likely to buy from you compared to other markets. This is a much more affordable, efficient and effective way to reach potential clients and generate business.

Defining your target market is the hard part. Once you know who you are targeting, it is much easier to determine where and how to market your company. Here are some tips to help you define your target market:

1. Look at your current customer base - Look for common characteristics and interests amongst your customers and determine why they buy from you. Which audience brings in the most business? 
2. Evaluate your competition – Look at who your competitors are targeting. Who are their current customers? Don't go after the same market exclusively, but rather, try to find a niche market that they are overlooking which you can exploit to your benefit.
3. Choose specific demographics to target - Figure out who has a need for your product and who is most likely to buy it. Include the following factors in your process:

          •Age 

          •Location

          •Gender

          •Income level

          •Education level

          •Marital or family status

          •Occupation

          •Ethnic background

1. Look at the psychographics of your audience - Psychographics are the more personal characteristics of a person and can help pinpoint their wants and needs.  Specifically, you should determine how your product or service will fit into your target's lifestyle. This includes: 

          •Personality

          •Attitudes

          •Values

          •Interests/hobbies

          •Lifestyles

          •Behavior

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the business experts at Global Resources, call us at 855-338-0266.