It's a Friday afternoon at 4:45 and a potential customer is ready to use a business like yours. They call, hear the phone sound a couple of times, and they are directed to voicemail. When you read your messages, they are all booked up with your competitor. But today's customers demand fast responses and a personalized touch -- and many small business owners are simply too pressed for time to provide both. In this article, you will find out why expectations are continually inc

In small businesses, there are many hats that need to be worn, but should answer calls from customers to come at the cost of sacrificing personal privacy? For many entrepreneurs, their personal phone numbers are the first line of communication for their businesses, until they find themselves overwhelmed with both business and personal calls. The difference between a personal phone number vs. a business phone number goes beyond just convenience. It impacts both your profession

You're about to start an LLC, but they need a business address. You use a computer at home or laptop and don't want to list your home address on a public record. Will virtual addresses be accepted? The answer is it depends on the address the form is asking for. This guide clarifies the rules of address and demonstrates where a virtual address comes in, and how to select the right setup to ensure business compliance. This is merely general information, not legal counsel; pleas

A client has 3 days for a contract to be on a porch. This results in a shipment of inventory that appears “delivered” but does not arrive. A spare part bounces up and down between carriers while your team waits. A lost or stolen package isn't just a package for entrepreneurs or small business owners. It translates to postponed orders, unhappy customers, and cash down the drain. Fortunately, many delivery issues can be avoided. Read on to learn about seven practical measures y

A traditional office lease requires a pro image but can be a wager on a start-up that's still in the ground. This is just the rent, and it can take a toll on your finances before your largest client even signs. Here you'll find a breakdown of the actual cost of leasing, the components of a business address, and when each is appropriate. At the end, you will be able to identify the setup that is right for you, your team, and your growth plans that are within your budget. What

You've been working on your product, your site, and your pitch for months. But then a customer calls in and you get an extended string of dialing numbers, a wrong pin number and a customer asks, "Can you hear me?". In moments like these, as a small business owner, you are unwittingly molding customer, partner, and investor perceptions of your business. A dedicated teleconference number provides a solid, professional starting point to all calls. This article discusses seven ef

While keeping overheads low when running a hybrid or remote team, the issue that arises if you need to meet in person is real. A coffee shop isn't quite enough for a client to pitch, and a hotel conference room can be hundreds of dollars with a few days' notice. This article explains how on-demand conference rooms fill that void, providing your business with a professional conference space, minus the cost of a full-time lease. What Are On-Demand Conference Rooms? On-demand co

Your team is working across 3 time zones and just came in one signed contract on a fax machine in an empty office. It's not there to get, the one who forwarded it is unknown, and a client is awaiting confirmation. This is what happens every day for businesses not using fax systems that have been designed for just a single desk in a single building. Fortunately, you do not have to have a physical machine or a "fax person" to solve this problem. A common virtual fax number enab

Each lost call could be a lost opportunity for a lead. For many startups, it's the actual expense of scaling a business for limited resources, no one to answer the phone, no dedicated business line, and customers who take it for granted that a personal cellphone number equals a fledgling business. Thankfully, you don't have to hire a reception to sound like a business with an office staff and a payroll of receptionists you just must get the right systems in place. This guide

You've likely encountered this situation when you file your LLCs, put your business address on your invoices, and registered your business with Google Business Profile – your home address is there! Business owners should be concerned about privacy when some stranger comes to your door seeking "the office". The idea of a P.O. box seems like the answer, but it's not necessarily the answer that most business owners think of. To help you understand and see the difference between

You've moved out of the kitchen table, but a five-year lease for an office seems too much. Most growing businesses find themselves at this point, either when they're stuck between a coworking desk and a rented meeting room or a rented desk and a private office, when they are faced with the dilemma of choosing among these options. This guide will go over each of them individually so you can match your workspace to your budget, image, and next level. Why Flexible Workspace Matt

Within the past few years, customer communication has changed more than it did in the previous 20 years. Chatbots can provide responses immediately, while automated systems can route calls without requiring a human to answer. So, what should business owners do now? Does this mean it’s time to become fully automated, or is a real person still necessary? This isn’t just a technology issue for entrepreneurs and small business owners; it’s also a customer experience issue with re