Financing a big piece of equipment your business needs to keep moving forward can be difficult, especially if your company is relatively new and hasn’t built up a long credit history. That’s why it’s important to understand all your options when considering how to bring in that new asset. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about a vehicle for transporting items between your shop and a customer, custom-built machines that bring you unique opportunities to increase efficiency, or something integral to growth like a bigger anodizing tank. Here are three ways to fund that acquisition without relying on traditional bank loans.

SBA Loan Programs

The Small Business Administration has long made it a mission to provide loans for small businesses that are trying to grow and thrive in various industries. The programs they have set up are vital for many companies who do not have the two years of operating history needed for traditional bank loans, and they’re designed to simplify your overhead so you can focus on reinvesting the return on your purchase until your company matures and you cement your share in the marketplace.

Leasing and Equipment Financing

Financing companies are also fast to step in, with leasing options available for many common pieces of equipment and even some uncommon ones. The upside to financing this way is the elimination of many add-on expenses like installation and removal. The downside? You don’t actually own the asset, which can be a long-term ROI issue on core pieces of machinery with long operating lives. Still, many do offer a lease-to-purchase option that will get you what you need now, with an opportunity to hold on to it at the end of the lease.

Credit Lines

If loans and leasing aren’t an option, revolving credit lines can often provide you with a path to purchasing that is accessible at any stage of growth. Unlike credit cards, many credit lines with cash draws are large enough to provide you with access to equipment right away, and they’re also reusable when you pay the balance down, so you can use them as scaffolding while you scale up your operation and build the record needed to obtain other loans.

You love making the spaces around you tidy and spotless. This has led you to start your own cleaning business. You have the desire to move forward with cleaning other people’s homes and businesses, but you are not exactly sure of the types of cleaning supplies you will need to begin. If you are looking for some answers, here are six items that can help you kick off your cleaning business.

Cleaning Rags

Janitorial cleaning rags can be used for dusting and cleaning up messes. You can also use them to help with polishing things like silverware, wood and brass. Cleaning rags are also good for wiping windows and making tubs and sinks spotless.

Mops

Mops are essential for cleaning, so they should be on the top of your priority list. The types of mops that you choose will depend on the places that you are cleaning. A dry mop will be handy for cleaning up dusty locations and is used before a wet mop cleans the floor. If you are working with a shoestring budget, strip and string mops could be good options. If you have a larger portion of money to work with, you can consider a steam mop.

Bucket

A bucket will keep water for mopping. You can keep things simple by using a pail or you can make things easier on yourself by purchasing one that has a built-in wringer. This type of bucket also has wheels on it, so you can easily move it from place to place.

Cleaning Products

You cannot get a building sparkling clean without cleaning products. Some items you will need might include disinfectant, laundry detergent, tile cleaner, furniture polish and toilet cleaner.

Gloves

Keep your hands protected by wearing gloves. Since cleaning products can irritate the skin, gloves can create a barrier to avoid contact with your hands.

Vacuum Cleaner

Some of the homes and offices that you will clean will have carpet in them. Having a vacuum cleaner will help you to quickly get rid of dirt and dust in carpeted areas.

If you are starting a cleaning business, you will need to know about some of the essential items that you will need to get started. Some supplies that will be important to have include cleaning rags, a variety of mops, a bucket, cleaning products like disinfectant, furniture polish, toilet cleaner and laundry detergent, gloves and a vacuum cleaner.

Furniture can be expensive, especially if you are looking for a large piece such as a couch, desk or dining room table. If you are struggling to find room in your budget to furnish your home or office, skip the traditional furniture stores. There are several different ways to find the furniture you need at prices much cheaper than what large furniture retailers have to offer.

Shop on Discount Websites

You don’t have to sacrifice quality for price. When you shop online using a discount website, such as Black Friday furniture deals, you will find pages and pages of beautiful furniture at very reasonable prices. The Internet offers endless options, so you will be sure to find your ideal item.

Attend Estate Sales

Estate sales are great places to shop for furniture, especially if you prefer a classic look. You can look online to find sales in your area and even browse pictures of the available merchandise in advance. Since the furniture on sale is used, you will be able to get a bargain. In many cases, you can even haggle with the sales representative running the sale, especially if you plan to buy multiple pieces. Make sure to arrive at your chosen sale early, since the best items often sell quickly.

Check Out a Consignment Shop

Your local furniture consignment shop is a treasure trove of great finds. Unlike other secondhand stores, the nature of consignment means that the owners only accept pieces that are likely to generate a decent amount of money for them and the original owners. Similar to the merchandise at estate sales, many items available at consignment shops have the allure of being antiques which are no longer manufactured today.

Reupholster or Refinish Something You Already Own

Do you really need to replace that old chair or table? A fresh coat of paint or new upholstery can make a piece of furniture that was showing signs of wear look brand new. There are plenty of online tutorials available to show you how to go about this project, step by step. You can also enlist the help of a crafty friend or family member.

It’s expensive enough to pay for the rent or mortgage and the utilities needed to keep your home or office up and running. Why spend any extra cash on furnishing the place? By going to nontraditional sources like discount websites, estate sales or consignment shops or giving an old piece of furniture a makeover, you’ll both save money and make your space comfortable, functional and beautiful.

There are currently twelve to twenty-four million online stores that sell so many different products to people around the world. That number is constantly growing and you could be one to add to it!

Running a successful online store today can totally be done as long as you have the time and dedication to drum up business.

If you’re interested in joining the many successful stores online, then there’s no better place way to start than right now! There are tons of different ways to get started and we have the advice to help you do so.

Keep reading for our guide to the best five tips for running successful stores online.

1. Choose the Right Platform

There are many important things that you should look into when choosing which eCommerce business platform that you want to start your store with. This will be your website that you use to sell products or services to your customers. It can help you manage transactions, get new orders, and keep track of data.

Choosing the right platform is handy because you want one that is easy for you and your customers to operate. Make sure to read reviews and see which eCommerce platform is the best.

2. Efficient Web Design

Having a good web design is crucial for customers to want to shop with you. Many people will click away and look for something else if your website is sloppy or doesn’t run in a smooth manner.

Before even opening your online store you should take the time to make sure that your website has been designed efficiently with the customer in mind. Make sure that the font, color scheme, and all links look good and actually work.

You also want to make sure that your website loads quickly as this is a great way to keep traffic to your page.

3. Works With Mobile

Another important part of making sure that your website runs efficiently for your customers is making sure that your website is mobile-friendly. Tons of people shop from the palm of their hand so you’re going to want to make sure that your website can handle that.

Do some tests with your own smartphone to see the look and feel of your website. Make sure that the platform you have chosen gives a mobile option. Most websites have their own mobile version which is compact and can smoothly run on a smartphone.

4. Social Media Marketing

Besides managing your website, you’re also going to want to make sure that you’re making your store on social media so that more potential customers can see it. Start by making an Instagram and Facebook account as this is where your audience will generally be.

Social media marketing is a great way to gain customers and have a successful online store. You can also pay for ads to be shown to your target audience on social media to attract more attention to your store.

5. Treat All Customers With Care

Another great way to make sure that you have a successful online store is by treating all of your customers with care and kindness. Make sure that your customer service is understanding, considerate, and helps to resolve problems as efficiently as possible.

When you treat your customers with kindness and resolve any issues that they might have, then there is a higher chance that they will want to shop with you again.

Running Successful Stores Online

There are tons of different ways to run successful stores online, and you should make sure that you’re always striving to do better. Running your online store will take time and dedication, but it will have a huge payoff.

Make sure to keep scrolling our blog if you’re looking for more work from home tips.

Did you know that 70% of people around the world work from home at least one day each week?

Thanks to technology, anyone can bring their office with them wherever they go. However, if you’re a parent, you already understand how challenging it can be to get anything done when they’re at home with you.

Do you want to know how to work with kids when you’re all on the same schedule? Keep reading to learn 10 tips that can help you work from home with kids so you can reach your full potential.

1. Be Prepared with Lots of Entertainment

Making sure your kids at work on other fun projects is the best way to ensure you can be at work, too. When your kids are bored, they’re more likely to either interrupt you constantly for attention or find a way to cause lots of noise. Lots of parents who are pros at working with kids suggest setting up a big play box full of all kinds of games and activities that can keep them preoccupied.

Music, movies, shows, and podcasts are other simple ways you can provide hours of entertainment without having to be in the room as them.

2. Set Boundaries When Necessary

In an ideal setup, you should be able to have your own home office space that’s reserved for you and your work. Even if you do have a separate room, kids can still barge in at the worst times. This is why establishing extra boundaries can help you avoid any embarrassing or distracting interruptions.

One good idea is to have a stoplight system in place. If you have a red sign on your door, your kids will need to learn that they have to behave and stay out of your office until your meeting or other important work is finished. A yellow light can mean that you’re busy but you can stop to help them if it’s a quick fix while green means you have more free time for them.

3. Take Advantage of Nap Times

If your kids are still young enough to need nap times, try to coordinate your work schedule with the timeframes when they’ll be asleep. Whether you’re a graphic designer who uses tools like https://setapp.com/how-to/paint-for-mac or a freelance writer, you’d be surprised by how much faster you can get things done when you know you won’t be interrupted.

The best part is that most kids have a predictable schedule when it comes to taking naps. This means you can try to plan to do your hardest work during this period.

4. Communicate Your Needs with Your Partner

Although telecommuting allows you to spend more time with your kids and enjoy more flexibility, there is a tough learning curve for work-from-home parents. Communicating your needs with your partner is the best way to ensure they can do everything possible to make your work/life balance healthier. Talking about your rules can help them show support in front of your kids if they ever try to find ways around your rules.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Recruit Extra Help

Hiring a part-time or even a full-time babysitter can take a lot of weight off of your shoulders and allow you to dive deep into your work. This tip can be especially helpful for parents working from home with a baby. Unlike older children, your baby won’t be able to care for themselves or stop crying on their own most of the time.

6. Do Practice Runs and Reward Good Behavior

If you’re implementing a new rule or trying to teach your kids how to behave during certain work situations, training them will lead to the best results. When kids have time to practice how you want them to behave, they’ll be more prepared when it’s the real deal. Make sure to praise and reward your kids to reinforce positive behaviors.

7. Set Aside Time to Spend with Your Kids Each Day

Lots of kids don’t understand why you can’t always take a break to play a game with them. In their eyes, having you at home is a big tease because they want to spend hours with you. Empathizing with their desires can strengthen your bond and help them behave well if they can expect special time together at some point during the day.

8. Find a Schedule that Maximizes Your Productivity

Who says a 9 to 5 is the best way to be productive? Depending on your ability to focus, you may even be able to cram an 8-hour workday into 4 hours or less. Whether you need to do short bursts of work spaced throughout the day or have a few uninterrupted hours in the morning, do what you need to do to get through your work as quickly and painlessly as possible.

9. Invest in a High-Quality Headset

No matter how well-mannered your children may be, there are unavoidable times when their games will cause background noise. For this reason, it’s important to invest in a high-quality headset that can help cancel out their noises. If you’re worried about the cost, it’s comforting to know that a headset would qualify as a home office tax deduction.

10. Learn When You Need to Take Breaks

Even if you follow all of these tips, some days will still feel impossible for reasons that are out of your control. When this happens, it’s important to remember to be kind and patient with yourself. If you feel overwhelmed, take some time to step away, hug your kids, and practice some self-care.

Although It’s Challenging at Times, Any Parent Can Work from Home with Kids

Learning how to work from home with kids is never easy, but you’d be surprised by how peaceful your living space can be once everyone has the chance to adjust to your new lifestyle and rules. Remember that patience and flexibility are two of the most important skills you need to thrive as a telecommuting parent.

Do you want to learn other ways you can revolutionize the way you do business? Explore our site to find more expert tips and guides.