Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Guest Post: How Commercial Roof Maintenance Can Save You Money in the Long Term



It is unfortunate that a majority of times roofs on commercial buildings are often ignored until there is a large problem, such as a leak, missing shingles, or water clinging to the ceiling of the commercial building. Once a problem gets to be quite large, most businesses are unnerved to find out that it will cost a lot of money to have it repaired. Like with a majority of things, it is always better to catch any problems while they are still small, which is why preventative commercial roof maintenance is always recommended. Having regular commercial roof maintenance is important because New York roofer is not the easiest to get access to for proper evaluation. The longer a business allows a problem with the commercial roof to persist, the more money they are likely to spend fixing it. It is important to keep in mind, for example, the leaks in roofs cause water to get trapped in the ceiling. If not fixed right away, the stagnant water will continue to build, causing the formation of mold. Not only does mold have the possibility of causing harm to the structure of the commercial building, but it can also cause employees to get sick.

Having regular preventative commercial roof maintenance will save money because if there needs to be repairs, they are often minuscule and do not cost a lot. Regular maintenance will also maintain the longevity of the roof - the business will not have to replace the roof as often. Not only that, but businesses will not have to pay compensation to workers who get sick due to the increase of mold in the building.

Commercial businesses should have their roofs inspected by New York roofer company at least two times during the year. One of the scheduled appointments should be conducted after the winter months as heavy snowfalls may cause the structure of the roof to become weak, possibly leading to the collapse of the roof. Also have an inspection done in the fall, before the winter begins. If there are any weak spots, they can be fixed before the snow fall occurs and ensure s the drainage system on the roof is operating at an optimal level.

A good New York roofer inspection will include things such as sealing pipes and vents, covering exposing nails, securing any loose shingles, removing any additional debris, and inspecting and performing minor repairs. All this preventative roof maintenance will ensure the roof lasts longer and costly future repairs are avoided.

When it comes to hiring a company to do preventative New York roofer maintenance once or twice a year, it is important for businesses to locate a good, professional commercial roofing company. A professional commercial roofing company will offer a lot of information during the course of the roof inspection, including photographs of all problem locations along with a detailed description of what they did to fix it, a description of the current roofing system, a list of any recommended replacements or repairs that will make the roof stronger and increase its longevity, and an estimate of the life cycle of the current commercial roofing system. Having regular commercial roof maintenance ensures the roof stays strong and the inside of the building remains dry and safe.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6414275

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Small Business Success: Say I Do To Your Small Business



A business is a huge commitment; you may sink your entire financial and emotional well-being into its existence. And just as you wouldn’t rush into a marriage, you shouldn’t rush into being a small business owner. When the right situation comes along, there is something to be said for fighting fear, taking a leap of faith and trusting that the puzzle pieces will fall into place.

That is exactly the leap Josh Opperman took after his fiancĂ© left him with only the ring he gave her as she made a sudden departure. Josh was told by his jeweler he would only be offered around 20% of the ring’s value if he was to sell it.

Instead of fearing it was the wrong time or the wrong business, Josh, along with his sister, turned this negative situation into his current business – I Do Now I Don’t. I Do Now I Don’t is a second hand jewelry marketplace that offers safe transactions, by having each diamond verified by a gemologist before transactions are processed. The eCommerce site exchanges diamonds and other memorabilia for a price closer to fair value than would be offered elsewhere.

We’ve all felt those feelings of insecurity and uncertainty, but Josh turned those feelings into a prosperous business earning him recognition as the 2014 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award from Entrepreneur Magazine. He provides some tips below:

Start small: At first, I Do Now I Don’t only had 100 rings on the site; now, 7 years later, there are thousands. The site has also expanded to all types of jewelry. The business grew incredibly fast, and had to quickly adjust to increasingly high volumes of merchandise. Starting small gave Josh and his sister time to learn best practices and troubleshoot.

Be flexible: Josh always wanted to own his own business and be an entrepreneur. Even as a child, he would brainstorm different ideas and businesses. He never dreamed of being in the jewelry industry, nor did he know anything about the jewelry business. However his flexibility and openness resulted in a great company he is proud of and passionate about.

Be trustworthy
: The biggest challenge for Josh and his sister was trust – when buying and selling very expensive items, a trust factor is imperative. Customers needed to be comfortable sending in high-value items. They established credibility by hiring a gemologist and taking advantage of multiple media opportunities in the early stages of the business.

Convenience can make a difference: When Josh worked from home, there was a The UPS Store on the same block that he frequented to get supplies and ship packages. Keeping day to day tasks as easy as possible gave him time to focus on the main priorities of the business.

Be a problem solver: Josh believes the best ideas in life come from problems you are trying to solve. If you identify a need, and find a solution, you may be well on your way to owning your own business.

Friday, February 3, 2017

9 Things You Can Do Today to Save Time



There are countless distractions and habits that waste your time in the course of a day's work. Here are 9 simple things you can do today to save time for better productivity and more free time after work.


1. Crank up Internet speeds


It may feel as if you're saving money every month on "value" Internet services or 3G mobile plans, but in reality you're wasting a lot of time waiting for pages to load and files to open. Upgrading may not cost you anything if you switch providers and take advantage of new-customer offers. But let your mobile carrier or Internet service provider know before you go through the hassle of switching. Chances are they will upgrade you at a great price rather than lose a customer.


2. Filter your email inbox


Small business owners in any industry have reasons to subscribe to email lists and useful trade publications. However, there is a limit to what you can digest while staying productive. Take a few minutes and narrow your list of daily emails to one trade pub and one general news or sports email. Otherwise, assign them junk mail status. You'll find your mornings becoming more productive immediately.


3. Set multiple deadlines per day


Simply by vowing to set multiple goals for the day, you'll learn to stop making excuses and analyze why the job did not get done on time. It requires changing your mindset in order to be more productive, but the beautiful part is that it can be done with a simple resolution. Have several deadlines in place for each part of your work day. If you take the time to plot out your week, you will save hours on end. Start today.


4. Use small business apps


Small business apps for your smartphone, tablet, and desktop computer can solve such time-consuming problems as overseas communication, finding a contact's business card, and more. In fact, there are six essential apps you can download instantly to avoid wasting time completing everyday tasks of this kind. Most of them are free in basic versions.


5. Plan outdoor excursions during off hours


Commuting is typically worst at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., while the lunch hour that is most hectic is 1 p.m. As an entrepreneur, there is no reason to play by these rules. Schedule a late lunch with clients so you know service will be efficient and late-morning or afternoon meetings to avoid rush-hour traffic. These time-saving strategies can be implemented immediately and help you reduce your stress level, too.


6. Put office collaboration tools to work for you


Once you gather a few employees on your team and start communicating online, you'll need organizational tools that can make the process smoother. A perfect example is Trello, the collaboration tool that helps you manage projects without calling team members to ask for a status update. It is in front of you, in real time, with automatic updates. This free service and many other communication tools are instant time-savers.


7. Restrict time on social media


As with email inboxes, there are countless updates, messages, photos, and random posts that can attract your attention throughout the day. Unless you are managing the social media channels for your business , it is unlikely that you are profiting from the constant connection to Facebook and Twitter. Take a few minutes during lunch to check in if you must, but vow to avoid social media throughout the day and you'll find plenty of extra time.


8. Do away with the tedious work


You probably never expected to handle payroll and accounting when you started your business. Chances are that should still be your policy after you have learned the basics. No matter how much you believe you are saving by handling these tasks yourself, you are better off devoting your valuable time to efforts that bring in new clients for your business. Take a quick survey of how outsourcing to a company like AccountingDepartment.com delivers an affordable alternative.


9. Combine desk work with exercise


No matter how busy you get, it is never a good idea to give up time for exercise. The invention of a treadmill desk allows you to combine the necessary tedium of working at a desk with the invigorating activity of walking. When you need an extra boost of energy but have no time for a jog in the woods, these desks offer a major multitasking tool. Shop for one when you have finished work for the day. If a treadmill desk is not in the budget, take a 30-minute walk at lunch. Your physical and mental state will be better off for it.

No matter what resolutions you make to save time, it takes a prolonged commitment to see the effects. However, you can start now and implement any of these nine ideas today.