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3 Ways to Increase Employee Productivity and Reduce Costs in the Workplace

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Have you ever wondered how you can increase your employee productivity and still keep costs in the workplace low and affordable? From doing surveys to see what your employees want and need to purchasing software that will help to improve customer interactions and keep your employees trained and happy, there are many ways that you can increase your employee productivity and still keep down your costs. Below you can find a few of those ways to get you headed in the right direction, and a few mistakes you don’t want to make that can destroy employee productivity.

Send out some surveys

MaxDiff surveys have been used for a while now to help with statistical analysis, and just to see what customers and employees want and need. Letting your employees know that you care about what they want and need by sending out a survey that actually asks what they think can go a long way towards helping you increase productivity and keep your costs down at the same time.

Make it easier with call center software

The easier you make it for your employees to interact with customers, the more productive they will be. Introducing some call center software features to your staff will help them to not only be more productive, but to be more organized as well. This not only helps your employees, it helps your customers and your desired bottom line in the long run. What’s not to love about that?

Avoid micromanaging your employees

While it’s true that owning your own business means you have to have your hands in everything that goes on in that business, micromanaging your employees is not going to help your business grow or make them any more productive. It’s important to remember that your employees are humans, not machines. If you want them to be productive, then you need to let them do what you tell them to do, without hovering over them every step of the way. Though it might not be easy, it’s the best way to go for everyone involved.

Now that you have three ways to help with employee productivity and reducing costs in your workplace, it’s time to move into a few of the mistakes you don’t want to make below.

Mistake #1: Rewarding busy instead of productive

One of the biggest mistakes companies make is not knowing the difference between busy and productive when it comes to their employees. Instead of rewarding the employee who logs the most time in a day or sends the most emails, try rewarding the one that is the most productive and has the sales to show it. This will motivate the rest to actually be productive, instead of just looking like they are trying to be.

Mistake #2: Having non-flexible schedules

In the past, it was pretty common for everyone to work a 9 to 5 schedule. That’s just not feasible or likely in today’s modern world. With remote working capabilities and the internet, employees have many, many options for getting those hours in each week. Don’t be a stickler with a non-flexible schedule that leaves no room for flexibility. Your employees will thank you for the flexibility, and be more apt to be productive to thank you for it as well.

These are just a few of the top ways that your company can increase employee productivity and reduce your costs in the workplace at the same time, and a few of the mistakes you won’t to avoid. Remember, employees are humans, not robots, so make sure that you treat them as such and you’ll be fine!

What is a Franchise?

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The employment landscape in this country has changed dramatically over the past few years, due in large part to the rapidly expanding Internet capabilities of everyday workers. The magnitude of these changes comes as a surprise, yet the direction has long been thought of as inevitable; economists had predicted for years that the expanding capitalization of the internet would lead to an ever increasing army of freelancers and small businesses.

The groundswell of interest in launching a self-directed business has taken root in urban and rural areas alike, as well as everywhere in between. While small businesses are now providing the bulk of new jobs in this competitive market, they also are lasting longer than ever. In years previous, startups often had the threat of shuttering looming over their shoulder at every step of the way. Yet today, startups are seeing growing success due to increased community support for local business and growing market penetration through innovative uses of internet marketing and broad research capabilities.

One often overlooked, yet incredibly lucrative business opportunity for entrepreneurs has always been the option to franchise an already successful business. This may seem like a complicated concept, but the idea is actually very simple. Existing establishments like McDonalds or Office Depot lend their name and business practices to an investor through a franchise opportunity. The investor then opens a new business within the same brand, but under his or her own personal management rather than working to build a competing business from the ground up. Opening a franchise location is a fantastic way for you to get your foot in the door in an industry that you are passionate about but may not have the background knowledge that will make you competitive from the starting line. Franchising is also a great way to beef up an investment portfolio for well-established business operators.

The key takeaway from a franchised business is its turnkey nature. The primary expense for new business ventures is the marketing budget. In order to make any money, you need to attract clients. But how do you draw in new customers if they have never heard of you?

Franchising solves this problem that can grow into an out of control capital drain. When you franchise, you are opening your own store—that you own outright—but you are able to slap on a well-known brand name above the door. This means that drop in business is actually a reasonable expectation rather than a pipe dream. Not many hungry lunch goers will take a chance on the new Frenchy’s Fried Chicken that just moved in to the next strip mall, but you will certainly see a steady trickle of customers interested in your offerings if you open a new Popeye’s instead.

Franchising also alleviates some of the natural pressures of competition. As a Popeye’s location you will be serving Popeye’s chicken, not your own take on it. This means that your restaurant will have its ingredients sourced from the same raw materials as all others in the chain. This is the same with other services; UPS franchises are all operated based on the same foundational principles. This means that your customers will arrive expecting a professional and familiar experience rather than passing on your operation altogether because they weren’t sure what to expect and looked elsewhere for the fulfilment of their needs.

Franchising is a great opportunity no matter where you currently find yourself in investing life. If you have ever considered building your own business, you owe it to yourself to consider launching it with all the tools, help, and branding power that comes baked in with a franchise.

 

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Court Reporter?

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If you’re interested in working in the legal field but don’t want to go to school for many extra years just to be a lawyer, plenty of other fields are worth considering. One such field is the area of court reporting, which is an integral aspect of any courtroom process. However, just because you’re interested in doing something doesn’t mean that you will necessarily be a good match for the career itself. Here is what you need to know about the role of a court reporter before deciding whether or not you’re cut out to be in this line of work.

General qualities of a court reporter

Like any career, some qualities make you more apt to succeed as a court reporter than others. Just like you wouldn’t want to work as a preschool teacher if you didn’t like small children, if you aren’t passionate about law and the legal system, it’s probably best to avoid court reporting. At the same time, you need to be able to remain objective and impartial as a court reporter, too. Your role as a court reporter is to provide a factual document that accurately captures the proceedings of a courtroom, and to do this you can’t add any of your own judgment or feelings. Beyond being neutral in the courtroom, you need to exhibit the characteristics of punctuality and timeliness, because a court case cannot start without you present. Organizational skills are also a must, because a judge or jury might request a piece of information be read back to them from any of the prior minutes, hours, or even days.

Typing speed and other knowledge

While soft skills like punctuality and neutrality are good to know, you must possess several hard skills to be a court reporter, too. Court reporters use a variety of technologies in their field, such as stenographer’s equipment, to take notes quickly, so it’s vital that you understand how to operate these tools if you want to succeed in the field. You’ll also need to pass the US Registered Professional Reporter test, which requires you to have an impressive typing speed of 180 words per minute to 225 words per minute without sacrificing too much quality or accuracy. You can use an online typing test to see how you measure up and what you need to work on before completing the test. Many court reporters also need to understand the flow of the courtroom, as well as common legal jargon that may come up during a trial.

Location, location, location

Beyond knowing legal jargon, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the area in which you work. Local geographic terms and state laws frequently get brought up in court cases, and being able to understand and spell these things will help you in your quest to get hired as a court reporter. Even if you’re an excellent court reporter with a history of doing a great job, if you live in Seattle and a high profile court case is happening in Florida, the job is likely to go to a court reporter in Miami. Make sure you consider where you want to live and work as you become licensed as a court reporter, so that you can brush up on the specific local knowledge required to succeed in your field.

Starting out, most court reporters make $27,000 to $35,000 a year; however, a court reporter’s salary can quickly accelerate to the mid $80,000s with hard work and dedication. If you’re interested in studying to become a court reporter, make sure that you possess the above qualities. With effort and the right attitude, you’ll be able to have a fulfilling career in the legal system.

For more articles like this from Social Small Biz, check out our lifestyle category!

Platinum Rapid Funding Group CEO, Ali Mayar On 5 Best Tips For Financing Your Start-Up

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Even the best business ideas will not prosper without funding or at the very least, a financial game plan in place to support the business .

Regardless of the current market conditions, aspiring entrepreneurs will have to rely on good financing to find their footing and launch their products. Ali Mayar, the Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Rapid Funding Group, offers these tips for financing and sustaining a start-up to get you off to a solid start.

Prepare a Bulletproof Business Plan.

A business plan is essentially a blueprint of a venture. It may seem like a lot of work but every business that has ever experienced success required a map to help steady and guide its course. According to Ali Mayar, one of the best ways to convince an investor about the feasibility of your business is to have a solid, detailed business plan.

This plan will show the investors where you intend the enterprise to go, what your strategies are, and how you intend to grow it. At Platinum Rapid Funding, we take careful consideration of what is presented to us by a potential borrower.

We consider all prospects to potential business partners and as such, we want to see how serious and determined you are about your business. If you have a very good business plan, we are more likely to listen but it’s important to note that we don’t typically work with start-ups and new ventures. However, we realize that every business starts somewhere and establishing a relationship early on where we can help down the road is important.

Take Care of Your Credit Score.

Good credit scores are an indication of your credibility and reliability as a borrower and business partner. If your credit history is good to excellent, you are more likely to enjoy better interest rates and loan terms. The lender is also more likely to offer a larger amount to help finance your start-up. If your credit score is less than ideal right now, try to work out a solution to repair it.

Design a Reasonable Budget.

Even a good business plan will not be useful to you as a start-up entrepreneur if you cannot make a budget and stick to it. In fact, a budget must be integrated into the business plan as its core financial aspect. A start-up entrepreneur’s budget shows the lender how well they have planned for the expenses associated with running a business.

Lenders will examine this area to determine the entrepreneur’s level of understanding of the business and its demands. Very often, what is shown in the budget will reveal the capability of the entrepreneur to run a successful business. What this budget will show will determine whether or not the lender should work with the entrepreneur.

Seek Advice.

It is rare for beginners to get it right every time when it comes to a start-up enterprise. As such, I recommend getting as much information as you can about the industry and acquire advice from the right people, particularly those who have experience in the field. What people already know will prove to be invaluable to you

Ready to Take the Right Steps Down The Road?

As a start-up entrepreneur, you should try to optimize your opportunities and minimize the risks. When you’re ready to take your business to the next level (for example, after your first year in business) talk to us at Platinum Rapid Funding Group. We will help you work out the financial solutions to put your growing business on the best track possible for the future.

5 Low-Cost Marketing Tips for the Budget-Conscious Entrepreneur

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Generating awareness and exposure for a business on a shoestring budget isn’t as tricky as some might think. It’s much more accessible these days than it ever has been. Thanks to modern technology, getting the word out to your target audience on any products or services offered can be as inexpensive as it is useful if you know how to go about the task. To this end, here are just a few low-cost marketing tips that every budget-conscious entrepreneur should know.

  1. Take your business to social media

More and more companies today invest in their social media presence, and for a good reason: it works. The platform does, after all, host plenty of potential clients and customers. More importantly, this marketing strategy requires little more than sometime and effort if done in-house or a small investment of monetary resources if outsourced.

  1. Use a referral system

Despite being overlooked, word-of-mouth advertising remains a powerful marketing tool that no business should ignore. After all, the majority of consumers will usually base their decisions on the recommendation of family or friends more so than any other strategy to draw attention. And by using referral systems such as discounts and rewards, not only will existing customers be appreciative, but they’re more likely to tell others about your business too.

  1. Use promotional materials

With the internet being all the rage as a marketing tool, a cost-effective way to stand out from the rest of the competition is to use promotional materials like branded merchandise. From pens and mugs to even clothing, promotional products will not only get the word out and help your business boost brand recognition but do so without costing you a small fortune.

  1. Develop business partnerships

It’s rare for any business, regardless of the industry, to find success on its own. And the same can be said when it comes to marketing. So if and when the opportunity presents itself, be sure to take advantage of teaming up with another company for collaborative ventures or joint events. Doing so can benefit all parties involved not only in the sales made during the collaboration but also in generating exposure towards a broader audience too.

  1. Create an email newsletter

It’s not surprising that many businesses still use email newsletters as an effective marketing tool. After all, not only does it allow them to maintain a good relationship with their current customers but also keep new ones engaged. As such, so should you as doing so will allow you to nurture your subscribers and build loyalty, turning them into paying customers as a result.

While it may not be easy to market a business with a small budget, it’s not as hard to do as some might think. And by keeping the tips mentioned above in mind, not only will you increase your chances of reaching your target market but do so without putting a sizeable dent in the bank account in the process.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/digital-marketing-seo-google-1725340/

 

Low-Cost Ways to Promote Your Supplement Business

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Supplement nutrition is one of the quickest-growing markets in the world. Driven by the wellness industry, an aging population, better brand positioning, and a proliferation of private labels with high-quality products, McKinsey reports that the supplement industry “is now valued at $82 billion, with roughly 28 percent of that in the US, where sales increased by approximately $6 billion between 2007 and 2012.” Entrepreneurs are jumping on the bandwagon, but the increase of supplement options have made it hard to stand out. According to the Nutrition Business Journal‘s 2018 Supplement Business Report, supplement manufacturers rated the three most challenging aspects of online retail as challenges of online retail as “driving awareness of product, navigating Amazon, and standing out.”

If you are in the private label supplements business, you need to find ways to draw attention in a crowded field while not cutting into your bottom line. Here are three promotional strategies that won’t break the bank.

Get in the swag game

People love free stuff. That is the reason why people walk away from conferences — and the Oscars — with bags full of goodies. Not only does it ingratiate consumers to a product or entity, but free stuff serves as a constant, tiny reminder of that business in their lives. If you want to stand out in the crowded field of supplement nutrition, one easy way is to do so is to have memorable swag. Folders and hats are great, but consider getting branded promotional material with a wellness angle, like stress balls, branded yoga mats, or reusable straws. Another idea you should consider is to offer promotional pens. When you ship your goods to customers, something as small as a pen can easily fit in an Amazon box or USPS shipping envelope. Promotional pens are also great to have around the office for your own use, or as a favor when business customers drop by. High-quality pens can last for years, making them some of the most durable and convenient pieces of swag.

Hit the conference circuit

In any field, your connections to buyers and fellow manufacturers can mean the difference between the life and death of your business. National and international conferences offer you a chance to find new clients and vendors, growing your network and thereby strengthening your business. Conferences also offer opportunities for career and professional development. The Center for Responsible Nutrition’s 2018 conference offered workshops on the human microbiome, pregnancy nutrition, and government regulation. Pursuing this type of continuing education gives you the chance to better position yourself in a changing field. Science and supplement nutrition are inextricably linked. If you have staked your livelihood on the second, you don’t want to be left behind by the first. Furthermore, you have a communication opportunity when you are tracking the latest info. As such, you can ensure your customers and buyers that their health is in informed and trustworthy hands.

Utilize your expertise

If you run a supplement company, chances are you know a lot about supplements. One of the ways you can stand out is by taking that knowledge public. Maintaining a blog is a well-known way to gain interest and juice your SEO, but today’s video-centric ‘net holds opportunities as well. Consider hosting webinars on a free platform like Google Hangouts. Webinars can, admittedly, be tricky — you do not want to bore anybody, and you want to offer genuine knowledge. But if you offer people something of value, webinars can be a very rewarding lead generation tool. The same goes with online video: Creating a series for Youtube could land you a following of people interested in your area of expertise, and people are more willing to trust purchases made by an expert.

The Dos and Don’ts of Allowing a Pet-Friendly Workplace

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Everyone loves the idea of bringing their furry friend to work, and it seems that employers are catching on. While it might be difficult to bring in cats or rabbits, more offices than ever are implementing dog-friendly policies for the benefit of their employees. In fact, studies have shown that dog-friendly workplaces are great at reducing stress, boosting workplace morale, and improving employee retention rates. It’s estimated that 81 percent of employees report that a dog policy makes them more loyal to their company. 

Better yet, a dog-friendly workplace is an attractive culture-improving effort which appeals to new employees. In an increasingly competitive job market, introducing dogs to your office is a great way to stand out from the crowd. 

If you’re one of the many employers who are thinking of implementing a dog-friendly workplace, here are some of the dos and don’ts you should follow.

Do: Make sure your workplace can accommodate dogs

This is, perhaps, one of the most important points on the list. If your landlord or property manager doesn’t allow dogs in the office, you could be putting your entire company at risk by bringing in man’s best friend. Once you’re sure that dogs are allowed in the building, however, you also need to ascertain your workplace is suitable for dogs. 

For example, it’s far easier — and safer — to bring dogs into an office setting than a restaurant or factory setting. Dogs are typically seen in office environments where employees need a break from the monotony of the computer screen. Because there are no sharp objects or workplace hazards, a mellow work environment is the best option to keep your furry friends safe. You may also want to consider the size of your office and the layout of your furniture. A little extra planning goes a long way when you want dogs to feel welcomed. 

Don’t: Neglect paperwork

Creating a dog-friendly workplace takes a lot of planning. Before you can bring pets into the office, you need to ready insurance forms, employee agreements, and written rules regarding workplace etiquette. 

At the end of the day, allowing dogs in your workplace is a liability issue. While the responsibility of the dog’s actions rests on the shoulders of the owner, you need to do everything you can to keep your employees safe. Most employers demand that dogs are up-to-date on their shots, are comfortable in crowds, and lack a history of aggression. Between dog bites and dog fights, any number of accidents can happen. It’s essential that have paperwork that defines clear expectations. 

Do: Invest in cleaning services 

Even the most well-trained dogs can have an accident from time to time. Hiring cleaning services might seem overboard for the small business owner, but preventing damage should be one of your company’s top priorities. When your company’s appearance starts to suffer, your employees’ morale will drop, the safety of the dogs is put in jeopardy, and you’ll end up paying more in the long run. 

When you start a dog-friendly workplace, you should invest in regular cleaning services. This includes frequent vacuuming, regular mopping, and the carpet cleaning Orlando experts to get the job done right. This will help prevent damage to the carpet and the floor underneath it. Without maintaining the quality of your workplace, you might need to pay for repairs down the line. 

Once you achieve these goals, then you can start investing in the fun stuff. Be sure to provide plenty of toys (ones that don’t squeak!), brushes, water bowls, lint rollers, and any other supplies you think your office might need. You should also invest in a few gates and pens to block off areas where you don’t want your dogs to go. 

Starting a dog-friendly workplace can do wonders for your office culture. When you’re ready to welcome dogs into your company, be sure to follow these tips.

3 Strategies to Grow Your Small Business

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As a small business owner, growing your business is not only a primary goal, but it’s often key to the survival and financial well-being of your business. In order to successfully turn your small business into something you can be proud of, try the following strategies.

Invest in professional services

Outsourcing some tasks to automation experts can help you save time by eliminating the need to perform monotonous day-to-day tasks, like filling in forms, sending emails, and searching for documents. Automating these actions transforms repetitive business operations into a seamless flow of data across all channels of your business.

These outsourced companies work to collect, organize, and deliver data, allowing you and your employees to focus on more important tasks. You’ll be able to devote more time to improving aspects of your business, while your employees generate a higher return on investment for each hour worked.

If your small business requires help with engineering or manufacturing, specialized engineering solutions cover a variety of disciplines. These include finite element analysis, mechanical design, custom machinery, and product design.

With the help of highly skilled professionals in automation or engineering, your small business can better manufacture products and manage projects with increased levels of efficiency.

Focus on customer service

From big corporations to start-ups, customer service is paramount to the success of any business. Luckily, with the right training, you can improve customer service throughout your small business and drive new customers in.

Start by making sure your customer service team has the proper skills for managing the needs of your customers. Your employees should be able to communicate clearly and be empathetic and consistent. Additionally, employees should have thick skin and the knowledge needed to help customers solve potential issues.

Even if your staff knows how to interact with customers, adapting your customer service model to please your current customers is key. Practicing proactive customer service involves making each customer feel like they have a personalized interaction. To do this, use your social media channels to respond to and interact with customers, regardless of whether they’ve posted a comment or a bad review.

Another proven method to improve customer service is to conduct customer satisfaction surveys and set focus groups to find out how to cater to your demographic. Assigning representatives to customers can help them feel like they have a relationship with your company, while treating customers as a community helps them feel more valued.

Extend your reach

Extending your reach within your current market can help make your product or service available to a new demographic of customers. To expand your current customer base, consider opening stores in new locations.

While this may seem expensive, remember that these new locations can be online. Try selling your products or services through a new website or ecommerce store. Additionally, advertising can help you reach new customers. After identifying a new market, aim to advertise in media that targets your new market.

For instance, if you’re looking to reach a younger demographic, using social media as a platform for advertising can help raise awareness of your company. On the other hand, to boost online advertising among your current demographic, try utilizing search engine optimization strategies to rank higher in organic searches.

Many small business owners want success for their business, but fail to employ realistic strategies for growth. Ultimately, investing in professional services, improving customer service, and extending your market reach can help promote the overall growth of your business while saving you time, money, and peace of mind.

Best Retail Accounting Software

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Reliable accounting software has specific features, such as integrated inventory management and POS and multichannel support. A retailer would also need core accounting to keep detailed and accurate records of financial accounts, expenditures, cash flow, income statements, taxes, and other financial information. This article presents three excellent retail accounting software solutions.

Sage 50 Cloud

Sage 50cloud combines the flexibility of a cloud platform with the power of desktop. In other words, it can be used on your computer, but you have the additional convenience of a cloud component to store and provide backup for your data anywhere and at any time. The software is ideal for small and medium businesses, which is what most retail businesses are, and offers tools to automate accounting processes as well as manage cash flow, inventory, budgeting, taxes, invoicing, and more.

Sage 50 Cloud can enhance your platform with several add-ons such as communication and office tools, credit card processing, and payroll system. Sage is one of the biggest suppliers of ERP systems in the world and the largest supplier of technology solutions to small retailers with millions of satisfied customers around the world.

Sage 50 Cloud is a great product for your accounting needs. There are Pro, Premium, and Quantum accounting plans.

Sales-optimized Accounting Software

With Sage50 Cloud, you can quickly come up with quotes and proposals, easily keep tab of all your customers, and instantly transform them to sales orders and invoices. Your retail business gains momentum with this fast process.

Full Views

The at-a-glance dashboards offer a full view of key metrics, so there is no need to go through hidden menus and buttons anymore if you want to get the info you need about your business. The key metrics that are fully viewable thanks to the dashboards include expenses, receivables, available cash, current inventory, sales performance, and revenue trend to name a few.

Zoho

Zoho is a top-rated retail accounting solution that can simplify vital financial processes. Among its perks and highlights are managing and monitoring invoices, tracking expenses, keeping tab of transactions, running expense reports, and accepting online payments . Zoho makes financial and accounting activities simpler, from automating repetitive tasks like payment reminders and sending out recurring invoices and accurately recording foreign currency expenses and invoices to facilitating sales orders.

Zoho Invoice offers wide integration with a variety of apps, customizable invoice templates, and mobile versions of the software for invoicing on the go. And that’s not all – it offers a free edition of the software and three subscription plans that cost as little as $9/month. A free trial is available as well.

Vast Integration

Of all the reasons to choose Zoho Invoice, extensive integration is perhaps the most important. Zoho Invoice works with third-party software and services such as doc management tools, payment gateways, online file storage services, and other business apps as well as other Zoho apps.

Quick and Simple

This accounting solution was developed to be quick and simple. Zoho Invoice is fast, easy to use, intuitive, and responsive just like all Zoho products. These are just some reasons why Zoho apps enjoy such great popularity as business and productivity solutions.

Great Invoice Templates

Experts have gone so far as to say Zoho makes the best invoice templates in its class. It saves users lots of time by providing a gallery of invoice templates where they can select free templates, personalize and customize them, and send them to their customers at once when complete. It takes a few seconds to complete the whole process – up to a few minutes if you’re new to this kind of thing.

Quickbooks Enterprise

There isn’t a soul in retail that hasn’t heard of QuickBooks, and for good reason. If you want to retain control of your back-end POS, this is the wide-ranging, feature-rich solution your retail business needs. The company has devised the software’s functionality and feature set skillfully, creating a suite of tools that is more like an enterprise solution than anything else.

This software tracks employee hours and commissions, handles shipping and sales orders and inventory management, keeps a master list of your customers and their contact info, manages customer credit accounts, and much more. It definitely holds its own in terms of feature matrix.

Best Choice for Retail

QuickBooks POS is solid enough to handle many service-oriented business types, but it’s best for retail. There is no way to generate integrated scales for selling items by weight, so grocery stores and other businesses selling bulk goods will find QuickBooks lacking. The integrated customer rewards program is especially easy to navigate. Setting up parameters is quite simple as well. Just input how much a customer has to spend before rewards are earned and then set the reward amount.

When you attach a customer to a sale, the main register screen displays some basic information about the person while you’re adding items.

Intuitive

It’s quite easy to get going once you’ve downloaded the software. If you’re familiar with Windows, the interface will make a lot of sense. The right side of the window shows graphically rendered sticky notes with automatic reminders of issues that need to be addressed (running out of stock, customer orders waiting to be fulfilled, etc.). There is a list of buttons down the left side of the window for quick access to commonly used tasks, such as receiving items and making a sale. You can add your own custom notes as well.

QuickBooks POS can meet the needs of businesses of almost all sizes. Mid-sized retail shops might benefit the most from what this system has to offer, while bigger chains could find the Multi-Store package most convenient.

Disadvantages

Unfortunately, QuickBooks’ closed ecosystem doesn’t leverage the equalizing power of modern technology. The basic mobile functionality and backups over the Internet that the company has added are not as great in terms of user experience compared to what other cheaper and more modern POS systems have to offer.

Final Thoughts

Thank you for reading our review of the best retail accounting software. We hope it’s been helpful!

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Quantified Commerce Shares Insight on The Future of Online Shopping

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It’s easy to assume that the e-commerce industry focuses solely on metrics — think market share, annual growth rate, total sales, and so on. But there’s more to the game than numbers; the industry is continually evolving in a bid to penetrate every corner of the planet. No one understands that better than Quantified Commerce, one of India’s biggest D2C (direct-to-consumer) brands in the cosmetic subspace.

Their story highlights how online shopping is making inroads into previously-uncharted (and perhaps hostile) territory. You see, India hasn’t been as accommodating as other markets have — almost 40% of e-commerce startups have closed shop or relocated in the last couple of years. But Quantified Commerce aren’t ones to falter in the face of a challenge.

Steered by Agam Berry (co-founder and managing partner), the company have grabbed a roothold in India and spread their tentacles worldwide. So whom better to provide a glimpse into the future of e-commerce? Here are some of the trends they expect to emerge:

E-commerce will continue to spread

Sounds bleedingly obvious, but it’s worth remembering that online shopping mostly been a privilege of urban dwellers. Still, the last few years have witnessed a massive rise in internet rural penetration, especially in Asia and Africa. That’ll of course open up avenues for e-commerce merchants.

D2C will be the new norm

Or rather, the future belongs to those who embrace the model. Today’s shoppers demand instant gratification; they prefer brands that provide a straight path from discovery to purchase. That’s best achieved by going the D2C route.

Content marketing will go visual

 It’s becoming clear that content can only draw interest when presented in the most concise format. On top of that, studies have shown that visuals generate more shares and conversions compared to text. So don’t be afraid to leverage the medium, more so video, to the maximum.

Short-form will rule

As highlighted above, concision will grow in importance as platforms become crowded with content (and consumer attention spans shorten as a result). This, combined with the preference of mobile over desktop, has brought micro-content (specifically short-form videos) to the forefront. Expect micro-content to have a bigger say on the social media landscape in the not-so-far future.

Social Selling

Speaking of social media, the need to expand revenue options has compelled networks to reconsider their stance against social commerce. And truth be told, it does make sense to be able to sell directly within social platforms— that’s where most people prefer to spend their time, after all. That said, the jury is still out on how the public will respond to the new outlets.

Innovation will drive success

Drone delivery stole all the headlines when it debuted a couple of years back; this is testament to how big a role innovation will play in the 20s and beyond. But that’s not to say only groundbreaking concepts matter — any idea that solves a problem or adds value counts. Besides, it’s easier to achieve a stream of small innovations than it is to reinvent the wheel.