Month: September 2021

Types of Records Every Business Needs to Keep

When you decided to pursue a career in business you probably weren’t thinking about all the records that you need to keep. However, even if it isn’t your passion, you still need to keep records of various aspects of your business in order to be successful in the business world. As you learn the fundamentals of running a business, make sure to include the upkeep of these records.

Financial Records

First and foremost, you need to be keeping very careful track of your finances and any money that comes in or out of your business. Having meticulous financial records will help you to have a clear understanding of your business’s financial situation. It will also help you to always pay your taxes accurately and take advantage of any deductions that can help you save money. Your financial records give you a thorough accounting of the business you have done and how successfully you have been able to perform so you can make pointed improvements.

Incident Reports

Things can go wrong in even the safest environments, and when problems do occur it is important that you keep a record of them. Sometimes incidents will be related to an accident in the workplace while other records will be about interactions between employees or customers. OSHA requires businesses to keep a log of serious injuries on the job. By maintaining a thorough record you can protect your company and also make changes to improve working conditions as you learn from problems in the past.

Employee Records

There are many documents that go into hiring, and that’s for good reason. You should keep track of all employee records, including signed documents proving they are an employee as well as documentation of their performance, good or ill, to back up your later decisions on giving raises or terminating the employee. Federal agencies may also contact you for proof in a lawsuit. The length you keep these records depends on their kind, so check carefully before throwing anything away!

Keeping records isn’t the most riveting part of a job, but it is a necessary part of a running business. Keeping records is always helpful and in some cases, it is legally required. As a business owner it is your job to make sure that you are keeping accurate records and that you ensure they are safely stored.

Read this next: Why Training Should Be a Top Priority for Your Business

How to Get Help with Your Small Business Plan

No one has it all figured out. Being on your own, especially when first composing a business plan, results in a lost opportunity to avoid the mistakes others have already made. You can get a lot of advice in the age of the internet, of course, but finding true help usually takes a bit more effort. When drafting your small business plan, you’ll cover all your bases by getting help through the following avenues!

Find a Mentor

The best and hardest way to find help is personal mentorship. That means not just searching up articles on business strategies and plans, but having a real professional look at your plan and analyze it personally. While you can hire someone, there are lots of ways to do this organically—such as going to local networking events, going to small business development centers, joining a professional or trade association, and even connecting with volunteer mentors through nonprofit organizations such as SCORE. Rebecca Radice recommends networking over social media as well! Really, there are a lot of options and a lot of opportunities to take advantage of, if only you put in the work for it.

Loan Programs

When putting together a business plan, one of the biggest hurdles to overcome is funding. If you’re struggling in this area, a great avenue of help are the Small Business Administration (SBA) loans available for most startups. According to Franchise Gator, SBA loans are backed by the government and tend to come with better rates than many banks. While there are many kinds, generally they require a minimum credit score, no recent bankruptcies or foreclosures, and at least a 10% down payment from the business. In return, interest rates are lower, repayment terms are longer, and $30,000 or more is available. This can be a big advantage to a business plan that requires a lot of capital.

Research Professional Advice

While you can’t trust everything the internet tells you, you can find a lot of helpful resources in certain places. Following professionals on social media and subscribing to newsletters and blogs in your field can give you insider knowledge about the industry you’re going into even if you don’t know anyone personally. According to Time Doctor, business podcasts can be extremely helpful as well. You can even take accredited classes online to help you model the perfect business according to your vision.

In the end, it’s up to you to make the best decisions for your startup. Ignoring help is never a smart idea, however. If you’re searching for help with your business plan, look for it in multiple avenues—you never know what resources and programs are out there!

Read next: What New Entrepreneurs Should Think About Before Starting a Business

Boulevardz client Kenny Glory Case Study: From a Blank Canvas to an Artist One Page Website Responsive Solution

Boulevardz client Kenny Glory Case Study: From a Blank Canvas to an Artist One Page Website Responsive Solution

KENNY GLORY

Website Address:

https://kennyglorymusic.boulevardz.com/

Project Date: December 2020

Project Type

Construct and launch website. In need of one page website artist solution.

The Request

An abstract and urban design in which fans can learn about new music, upcoming shows, merchandise and ambassador programs. Preferred colors of black, white, navy and blue. 

The Solution

A new one page website layout and design was hand-crafted on our one page website service Boulevardz with 1 revision. Links to all available streaming platforms where the artist’s music is available was created as well as a showcase to current and all previous albums. Color palettes of black, white, navy and blue were chosen. The artist’s website will be updated with all upcoming shows, merchandise and ambassador programs as they are made available. 

About the Client

Kenny Glory is an independent rapper, songwriter and live performing artist. He intends to share his talent in music with the world, help others achieve their purpose on earth and spread the fragrance of God’s love everywhere. We are excited to work with Kenny Glory.

The Architecture

The architecture was built with a request of an urban but abstract bone structure and a color palette of black, white, navy and blue. The website construction and design was coordinated with the client on our one page website service Boulevardz. There was 1 revision. The client was able to see continuous construction of the project at their convenience as it was built. We presented a system in which fans could access all platforms available for new music with opportunity to seamlessly grow that was embraced by the client.

The Results

A central, responsive and digital space connecting the client and its fans to its artistry. Per audit the title, headings and description are crawlable and located through the web. The description and title are at perfect length. The sitemap.xml is located and the robots.txt are well configured. No malware detected. Site is not blacklisted.

Testimonial

“Professionalism! Wow that’s lit…thank you so much” ~Kenny Glory~