http://www.small-business-forum.net/ Now that your business is up and running how do you manage its daily operation en Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:35:09 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.small-business-forum.net/images/misc/rss.png http://www.small-business-forum.net/ http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3496-interviewing-potential-employees.html Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:37:42 GMT i have a list of 10 names from my local union of people who are willing to work for me on a part time basis. many of these people have been laid... i have a list of 10 names from my local union of people who are willing to work for me on a part time basis.

many of these people have been laid off for over 2 years (big red flag)

I can do a phone interview on all 10 and choose 1

what questions should i ask?

1. why have you been unable to find work in 2 years ?
2. level of experience with service, residential, commercial?
3. how old are you? do you like men or women?

help? ]]> Managing Your Business huggytree http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3496-interviewing-potential-employees.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3492-hired-helper-cash-today-didnt-go-well.html Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:59:06 GMT had an ex-plumbing apprentice help me today...he ran the gas lines while i did some water pipe....he over tightened the pipe to the waterheater and... had an ex-plumbing apprentice help me today...he ran the gas lines while i did some water pipe....he over tightened the pipe to the waterheater and cracked the gas valve for the heater....$350 for the part...plus 2.5 hours locating it...almost had to tell the homeowner they would have to wait 5 days w/o hot water....or pay $750 for a new waterheater...i got lucky and found the part at 4pm tonight...

ive had this guy help me before w/ digging ditches....he was a good worker.....he did the gas line in about 3x slower than me.....he did about 1 hours work in 3.5 hours and then broke the part....not a good day

i paid him $80 also for his work...didnt know he broke it until after he left...otherwise i wouldnt have paid him

im not liking having an employee right now..

he was the guy i was considering hiring full time if i can snag a few more builders...now im leaning toward a journeyman instead again....he was an apprentice years ago, but now is a factory worker..

anyone else have a good employee story to make me feel better?
(i lost $ today) ]]> Managing Your Business huggytree http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3492-hired-helper-cash-today-didnt-go-well.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3448-sales-why-does-my-sell-percentage-go-up-when-im-busy.html Sun, 29 Aug 2010 01:30:23 GMT Ive noticed something about my sales recently and wondering if im on the right track or not. ive been very busy now for 8 weeks....absolutely... Ive noticed something about my sales recently and wondering if im on the right track or not.

ive been very busy now for 8 weeks....absolutely burried...im selling 90 percent plus of everything i bid....every phone call turns into a job...the few who are price shoppers call back in a week and choose me....its like i cant lose....i am putting less effort into the calls...im over booking myself and am at a point where i dont care if i get 1 more job or not....im sure my attitude is showing and somehow creating much better sales.

during the slow times i spend every ounce of effort to get the jobs...i go above and beyond....and my sell ratio goes down....

im not sure if ive just become a better salesman recently or people like my busy attitude i have?....maybe during slow times customers sense my desperation and choose someone else during slow times...maybe my desperation shows and turns people off....i see it as trying to have awesome customer service

time will tell if its my sales technique...it doesnt seem like im doing anything different...other than putting less effort into it...maybe less is more

anyone notice these things during slow and busy times? ]]> Managing Your Business huggytree http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3448-sales-why-does-my-sell-percentage-go-up-when-im-busy.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3440-where-would-you-go-grant-info.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:08:08 GMT my son thinks we should try for a grant....lots of newbies get them why not us.... we might fit into...rural,local manufacturing , bringing... my son thinks we should try for a grant....lots of newbies get them why not us....
we might fit into...rural,local manufacturing , bringing business to our town, small business....fAMILYbusiness...
any ideas on where to start the search? any ideas on the likely hood of getting one? dh thinks it would be good to use for tv ads , becasue it brings so many to our town....
thanks ]]> Managing Your Business greenoak http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3440-where-would-you-go-grant-info.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3434-iso-web-based-project-management-software-part-2-a.html Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:09:59 GMT It's amazing how things can change in a manner of a few minutes.

I previously asked about project management software that was part of a customer management software. I appreciate all the replies and suggestions. Well, things have changed (including employment, lol) and I'm now up for a new search.

I'm now really looking for just a web based project management software.

We are in the process of creating a non-profit organization that we have no doubt will be global. We are starting to get all of our ducks in a row and would like to have something to manage all of our tasks and projects. We need something in the 'cloud' so that we can access it from anywhere.

I've come across the following options and like what I've seen so far, but I'm looking for others' experiences, thoughts and/or suggestions.
Projecturf - Web-based project management app, collaboration and task management software
Project management software, online collaboration: Basecamp
OnePlace - Online Business Organization Solution
TeamLab ? Create Your Enterprise Portal in the Cloud for Free
Mavenlink: A better way to manage your projects from start to finish
Project Management Software Online: Project Manager.com

If anyone has used something different and have a personal review that you'd like to share I would appreciate it.

It'll just be 2 - 5 people in the beginning getting things set up, but we'll quickly have 25-50 staff and volunteers, probably within 6 months. If we have to use one product and move on to something as we can bigger, that is fine.

Thanks as always,

Chimpie ]]> Managing Your Business Chimpie http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3434-iso-web-based-project-management-software-part-2-a.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3418-how-about-version-angies-list-businesses-reviewing-customers.html Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:17:04 GMT a friend of mine who has gotten a bad review on Angies List came up with a different idea...he wants to make his own list of bad... a friend of mine who has gotten a bad review on Angies List came up with a different idea...he wants to make his own list of bad customers.....companies pay for the service and basically write a black list of bad customers....

so when i get a new customer i can see if they are on the naughty list....i can see reviews and decide if im better off skipping their business....

i just thought it was interesting....if it was $20 a month id consider joining....it would have to be big like Angies List before id consider it....not worth joining when there are only 1000 names on it...

any idea's on how to improve upon this idea? ]]> Managing Your Business huggytree http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3418-how-about-version-angies-list-businesses-reviewing-customers.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3414-new-trend-subcontracting-things.html Sun, 22 Aug 2010 02:04:55 GMT a home builder told me about a new trend he see's

instead of having companies bid for the lowest price/best value they offer what they will pay and you take it or leave it...you figure out how to do it for that price...

i told him when they all go to that method that will be the day im 100% homeowner jobs

anyone else seeing this trend in any other business?

i only know of a few low end / large builders who do this...the prices offered are typically $1,000 less than cost per house....yet they find people who are willing to do it...

doing business this way means no quality or service....only price...they solely focus on price and nothing else ]]> Managing Your Business huggytree http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3414-new-trend-subcontracting-things.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3413-looking-decent-management-software.html Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:16:40 GMT I'm looking for some opinions for a business management software. I'm not opposed to Quicken, but word on the street is that it has gone downhill and the paid updates and solicitations are out of control.

I don't need to manage NASA, just a few basic functions:

*Create and Send Customized Invoices
*Create Proposals
*Integrated with Pay Pal would be nice
*Basic Accounting, and projections
*Project management would be great,

I want something local that I can install, not web based. Easy to use for accounting idiots.
What do you guys use or what do you suggest? ]]> Managing Your Business eborg9 http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3413-looking-decent-management-software.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3402-subd-out-job-competitor-they-didnt-follow-instructions.html Fri, 20 Aug 2010 01:17:23 GMT I had a homeowner call last month for a water heater which stopped working...i am not experienced with repairing them...i ran over and looked at it... I had a homeowner call last month for a water heater which stopped working...i am not experienced with repairing them...i ran over and looked at it with the homeowner while we tried to figure out the problem....i hired another plumber to fix it for him and he knew it was under my 1 year warranty...

plumber found out that it was due to a flood (which homeowner didnt tell me about)

the plumber i hired then proceeded to try to fix it and sent me the bill for his repairs...

why did he repair it when it was clear it wasnt a warranty issue?

its $200

i called to complain and left a msg...

who's at fault?

i dont mind paying for his trip charge to discover the flood issue...this homeowner is not a good person and hid the fact of the flood from me....he should pay for the whole thing, but i know he wont...i am planning on billing the homeowner and adding $55 for my trip....he knew all along why it didnt work...

homeowners warranty on the new house is now gone until he pays me $255

what should i pay?

i needed this other plumber to find out the problem for me....so i must pay him for his time...but feel that charging me to repair something that wasnt my fault is crazy....i know he will see things differently and will probably end our future relationship...i may just pay the $200 and chalk it up to experience...this project was in a horrible neighborhood which i shouldnt have been in, my van got robbed (lost $3k worth of tools), spent 12 hours on the phone with insurance co's, credit card co's, drivers license, etc.......nothing good about the experience with this job......maybe i needed this final blow to make me realize to stay out of these neighborhoods. ]]> Managing Your Business huggytree http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3402-subd-out-job-competitor-they-didnt-follow-instructions.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3369-need-some-help-quick.html Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:11:07 GMT As many of you know, we have banner advertising on our site. The advertising is up for sale on a first come/first serve basis. The HouseViewOnline... As many of you know, we have banner advertising on our site. The advertising is up for sale on a first come/first serve basis. The HouseViewOnline site is very predominate in the local real estate market and I work with all the local agencies. We have a center ad on the main page. An agency approached us about buy all the slots on that ad. After some talk we agreed. Now that the ads have started running, the largest agency in the area (Market share>30%) is screaming "No Fair". We should be able to run ads also at that spot.

Is there a fair compromise on this? Should I just tell the larger company "Sorry you had your chance"? ]]> Managing Your Business nealrm http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3369-need-some-help-quick.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3348-looking-web-based-project-management-software.html Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:29:50 GMT I'll be doing a Google search here in a few, but I was wondering if anyone had any experiences with web based project management software.

What I'd really like is a complete software suite, that would track a client from the initial call, to mailing of literature, follow up, sales process, quotes/bids/proposal, invoicing, project management and shipping.

Thoughts? ]]> Managing Your Business Chimpie http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3348-looking-web-based-project-management-software.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3338-collecting-overdue-invoices.html Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:57:00 GMT Hi All,

I haven't been here for a while (very busy) so I apologize for my absence. I need your advice!

I have a client in the US that owes me over $3,500 and is ignoring my repeated emails and phone calls. They have always paid before, so I was surprised at this turn of events. The invoices were due on receipt and were originally sent at the beginning of July.

I know that a month isn't a long time, but what concerns me the most is that they aren't responding at all. The project has been completed and all work delivered.

To further complicate things, I'm based in Canada, so I'm not sure if I'm going to have much luck.

Does anyone have any advice/tips as to what my next steps should be? Should I continue calling and emailing (politely, of course) or should I begin to sound a bit more harsh? I don't want to foster any negative feelings, but I do want to get paid.

Thanks in advance, guys!

Karen ]]> Managing Your Business KarenB http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3338-collecting-overdue-invoices.html http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3331-business-books-dvds-can-help.html Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:55:53 GMT Hello, We work with kids with autism in their homes and schools. We started a year ago and have been growing. We just got an office and just did... Hello,

We work with kids with autism in their homes and schools. We started a year ago and have been growing. We just got an office and just did a big hiring of 7 staff so we have 25 staff now.

Things are going are OK but I feel we need to start analyzing the different processes in the different departments to improve the shooting from the hip method.

Are there any Business Gurus you guys would recommend for certain areas of Business. I'm interested in improving in all areas of Business like: Management, staff reinforcement, time management, marketing, communication, company culture etc... before you ask : ) There is such a plethora of Books and Information out there. I dont see nearly as much targeted towards small business though.

Thanks ! :) ]]> Managing Your Business Grindstone1 http://www.small-business-forum.net/managing-your-business/3331-business-books-dvds-can-help.html