One of the biggest challenges facing businesses today is keeping everything secure and as safe as possible. This task actually has many different sides to it. If you want your business to continue on for a long time with success, then you need to ensure that you stay on top of this. In fact, there are a few different major areas which you need to try and keep as secure as possible. You may consider hiring a reputable security consulting company to review the level of security risk and create strategies to address it. In this post, we will go through each of them one by one. We will see the various ways in which you can work towards keeping your business more secure – and your customers. For the security of your business data, you may see post about managing your employees’ access to your cloud server.

The Building & Premises

We should start with the actual physical premises in which your business is housed. If anything goes wrong here, then the whole business is likely to be dramatically affected. Looking after your business’ premises is relatively straightforward, albeit hugely important. One of the main ways in which you should be protecting it is by hiring security companies to keep an eye on it at all times. Having a security guard is especially important when it comes to those nighttime hours when nobody is there. However, around-the-clock surveillance isn’t a bad idea, either. As long as you are keeping your business secure, you can feel safe in your business’ basic building blocks.

The Customers

It is vital to remember that you also have a certain duty to protect your customers’ interests and their personal data. To that end, make sure that you are doing everything in your power to protect them. For the most part, this means ensuring that you have a secure online payment system. Using a service like that offered by HBMS, you can ensure that your customers feel as safe as possible. But there is more to it than that. You also need to be careful with what information you hold about your customers on-site. Chances are, you have a lot of data about them, and you also have a duty to look after it properly. If it gets into the wrong hands, it could cause a lot of trouble, so this is highly important.

The Employees

Much of what we can say for customers can also apply to your employees. You need to ensure that their data is also protected, no matter what. But protecting your employees also goes far beyond just watching their data. You also need to think about their actual physical safety. Part of this is covered by looking after your premises in the ways mentioned above. But it is also vital to encourage a working culture which shuns all aggressive behaviour the moment it arises. You want your employees to be well looked-after, happy and safe in the workplace. That way, they are much more likely to enjoy being at work, and they will feel more secure. In many ways, keeping your employees secure is essentially the same as keeping your business itself secure. Look after one, and it takes care of the other.

It is in the nature of businesses to grow as time goes on. Of course, this is what most business owners are hoping for. There is little use in having a business unless you work towards making it as successful as possible. With increasing success comes a changing business. Often, this means that big changes have to be made to accommodate the business’ newfound size. If your business is at this point, then congratulations are in order. Watching a business you started get to this kind of point of expansion is a real joy. However, there is also a lot that you need to think about. A lot of the time, such a sudden spike in sales will means that big changes will have to be made. One such change is the relocation of the office. This is often necessary to deal with the growing business, especially if you also need to take new people on board. If you are thinking about relocating your office, then there is plenty to consider. Let’s have a look at what you need to think about.

Pic Source

Equipment & Furnishings

Let’s look at what you will stock your new office with first. It is worth thinking about this first of all, because it is often a major expense during such a transitional period as this. A larger office needs more equipment and more furniture, particularly with new people on board. That’s why it is so much in your interest to save as much money as you can on these essentials. There are many ways you can do this. More info here: www.smarta.com/advice/general/the-ultimate-guide-to-moving-into-a-new-office/

The first, and most obvious, is to reuse some of the old equipment from the previous office. The truth is, you will probably find yourself reusing the majority of the computers. However, you might not. Some business owners like to make the most of this time during a business’ growth. Such people might well splash out on new systems. At the very least, it is worth considering – or selling the old machines to pay for the new ones. 

Pic Source

Another large concern for any office is the smaller equipment and stationery. It might not seem like these take up much of the budget – but you’d be surprised. In fact, it soon adds up, so it is worth sourcing cheap supplies. Have a look at www.filmsourceinc.net/pouch-laminator-machines-426-ctg.html for some examples.

Lastly, you need to find a sustainable way to source your furniture. This is deceptively important, as comfort makes for a much happier workforce. Never skimp on ensuring that your employees are as comfortable as possible in the workplace.

Space

It can be difficult working out how much space you need in your new office. To remedy this difficulty, I would highly recommend making a plan of the new office long before you need to relocate. This is vital for the successful completion of the transition. With a proper plan in place, you can see at a glance what exactly needs doing. It is much easier, on paper, to work out the space required and make it work for you and everyone involved. When you are working out what space you need, it helps if you have a clear idea of how many new people you will be employing. The ideal office space, for many, is one which has a combination of open and closed areas. Different people work in different ways, so it makes sense to cater to their individual needs. Ensure that you have both areas which foster collaboration and areas which allow individuals to work in peace.

Pic Source

Beyond that, make sure that there is also a fair amount of ‘dead’ space. The last thing anyone wants is to work in an office which is crammed to the walls with desks and computers. Your employees will work best if they feel that they have a bit of space to move around. It is a great idea, for this reason, to introduce a comfy relaxation area as well. What’s more, it helps to have a little space for the business to ‘grow into’. After all, there is every chance that your business will continue to grow in the future. It is helpful if you don’t have to change offices again straight away. Plan well; think of the future.

Location

There is one rule which applies equally as a real estate agent noted which is location, location, location. This famous adage works very well when it comes to choosing the right office space to move into. The location of your office is paramount, after all. Your employees need to be able to get there easily and without much fuss, for a start. If you relocate to somewhere further away, then people are unlikely to be very happy about it. You should ideally try to stay fairly central. Of course, it depends on where your business is located. But there is a fine balancing act which you need to consider if you want your office to work as smoothly as possible. If you are located in the city, don’t suddenly move your office to the suburbs. Your employees won’t appreciate the commute. However, there are downsides to being placed too centrally as well. For a lot of people, it helps to work somewhere slightly away from the centre of things. More information on the importance of location can be found at www.inc.com/magazine/20091001/. Once you find the right property for your office, you may apply for a bank statement mortgage to finance the real estate purchase.

Pic Source

The location also plays an important role for you financially. Let’s not forget that you will be paying rent for your new office space. With that in mind, be sure to find somewhere which does not drain the business of its resources. There is little use in spending all of your money on new office space. There is a fine line to draw here – you don’t want to sacrifice on quality either. Finding the right balance can be difficult – but it is worth it and it pays off in the long run. After finding the right location and office space, you can start looking for professional office moving services to hire. You may also consider hiring a storage unit from a commercial storage facility to temporarily store your office equipment.

With a little dedication and some serious time put into it, you can find your new office easily. As long as you remember the importance of keeping your staff happy, and watching the pennies, you should be fine.

Have you ever worked in a horrible cubicle office space? The strip lights seem to suck your energy away, don’t they? This is an example of a poor office environment. It lowers productivity and dampens morale. On the other hand, there are some offices that pride themselves on productivity.

The Google offices, for example, are known all over the world for their wonderful work spaces. Some have climbing walls while others have breakfast facilities. This might be a step too far for your average startup, but there is something to be learned here. The office environment has a huge effect on your employee’s work ethic. Here are just a few things you can do to help.

image

Natural light

Studies have proven that natural light has a powerful effect on productivity. Natural light has provides an organic energy that helps workers keep going. It gives the entire office a warm glow and a burst of energy. It’s a big difference to harsh strip lights or other forms of artificial lighting. These light sources have a negative effect on productivity and energy. Aim to open up your windows and skylights as much as possible. Doing this can even lower your business costs by reducing reliance on energy.

Air conditioning

Keeping the air clean and at a reasonable temperature is key to effective working. A stuffy office will quickly lead to low productivity and drain the energy from your workers. Try upgrading your air conditioning and duct systems throughout the office. Use a Norfab qf pipe to keep the office free of dust too. This will create a healthy, pleasant environment to work in. It’s all about getting the temperature and ambience just right to encourage the best work.

Let employees personalise their space

Google have a famous policy for new employees. They are each given $50 on arrival to personalise their desk. They can then go out and buy whatever they like to make their space their own. Doing this instantly makes employees feel at home. There are lots of benefits to making workers feel comfortable in their own space. They’ll work harder, faster, and more effectively. They’ll enjoy coming to work, and feel a little happier in their surroundings.

Make it fun and comfortable

As well as the working space, you should create comfortable break areas. It’s essential that your employees take regular breaks throughout the day. It helps keep their energy up, and keeps the business ticking over. Provide a fun and comfortable break area to aid this. For example, introduce a ping pong table or comfortable kitchen. It will also encourage your employees to collaborate and communicate better.

Open plan and closed rooms

A lot of modern offices instinctively opt for the open plan layout these days. It’s great for collaboration and spontaneous working. However, not everyone benefits from an open plan space. Make sure you offer some closed rooms for those who need to get on with quiet work. Having a balance creates space for both types of work.
That’s all for now, folks! Don’t forget to check out the other business blogs before you leave.

Pic Credit

Deciding to start up your own business is a massive step to take in life. However, it is one which you are unlikely to regret – provided that you follow certain pieces of advice. Many people try their hand at business every day, and success stories are common enough as to be pretty encouraging. However, it doesn’t take too much research to also find accounts of the opposite occurring. Unfortunately, people fail in business just as much as they succeed. The good news for any budding entrepreneur, however, is that these failures can be used as inspiration. There are few more effective means of getting going in business than by learning from the mistakes of others. If you are currently starting your own business, it might be a good idea to look into the things that commonly go wrong for business owners. That way, you know what to watch out for. This short guide will help to get you started on that journey. Here are some top tips for success in your new business.

Don’t Rush Anything

This is absolutely the number one piece of advice for those starting out in the world of business. There is no part of the entire process that is improved by rushing it. The problem that many business owners face is that they get too excited too early on. This is common, and understandable. After all, the reason you are starting a business is because you have a fantastic idea which you are passionate about. It makes sense to want to get the ball rolling as fast as possible. But the truth is, this does not make for a successful venture. Learn from others’ mistakes: take it slow. There really is no rush. Before you do anything, sit down and draw out a detailed business plan. You will be grateful that you did.

Pic Credit

Embrace Outsourcing

In the early days of business, you want to spend as little money as you can. This should be obvious to anyone wanting to run their own company. The less you spend, the better. One of the best ways to keep a tight budget early on is to outsource as much as you can. Much has been written on outsourcing, of varying opinions. But the fact is, outsourcing is a fantastic way to get the work that you need doing done without paying through the nose. Certain areas of business really suit outsourcing in particular. Managed IT services are, for example, ideal for this. Don’t be afraid to embrace the power of outsourcing as early on as possible.

Hire Decent Staff

Finally, there is nothing more important to your business than the people you hire. A lot of companies are also doing assessment tests just like the ones at https://wonderlic.com/wonscore/cognitive/ to understand if a candidate can do the job and to see if they are really fit for the company. Your employees are the central core of your business. There is an old saying that says that looking after your staff is tantamount to looking after your clients. It’s true: hire passionate people who really care about what it is that you are doing with your business. Then, ensure that they are well looked after. This is a short and simple recipe for business success, so you would be wise to consider this above all else.

Pic Credit