Ultimate Company Car Shipping Guide For Savvy Savings

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Ultimate Company Car Shipping Guide For Savvy SavingsWhether you have just opened a branch in another state or you’re planning to relocate to a new location, car shipping can be a costly and tedious process. But when you compare it with the cost of sending an employee to pick up the car, it’s often cheaper and more convenient. Moreover, company car shipping reduces wear and tear and the risk of accidents.

You can significantly reduce expenses and waiting time if you follow this complete car shipping guide for businesses.

Shipping Options And Convenience

The first thing you must do is decide how you want to ship your business vehicles. The two most common options include hiring a private driver or working with an auto transport company. Beyond that, you can also choose to use other car shipping methods, such as an airplane, cargo train, trucking, and more. Working with a car transporter is cheaper and won’t put miles on your car. Additionally, auto shipping companies have qualified and insured drivers.

Hiring a private driver might be better if you want complete control over the timeline. However, hiring a private driver will be more expensive than working with an auto shipping company. It will also put miles on your car.

Although cargo trains might sound like a better option, they have limited routes and are usually reserved for commercial car dealers. Lastly, shipping your car via air freight requires a considerable budget.

Find A Reliable Car Shipping Company

Regardless of the car shipping method, you decide to use, you must take your time to find a reliable shipping company. Fortunately, the internet can help you identify top-rated car shipping companies near you. You can check the website of each car shipping company to learn more about their qualifications, pricing, and services. You will also come across broker companies that can help you choose a reliable car shipping service at a fee.

Confirm Credibility

After finding a car shipping company or broker you trust, it’s wise to ensure they have credibility. The quickest way of doing that is by calling the company to talk to a representative. Speaking to the company’s representative allows you to learn more about the company. While you are at it, remember to ask various questions, including:

  • Is your company licensed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration?
  • Where do you store the vehicles overnight for security?
  • How long do you take to ship vehicles?
  • Do you offer GPS tracking?
  • Are your drivers qualified?

You should also use the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration search tool to check whether the US Department of Transportation has registered the car shipping company you are working with. This tool lets you confirm if the shipping company is licensed and maintains the required maintenance levels. Avoid a moving company with many complaints and with no safety rating.

Get Multiple Quotes

Now that you are sure that the car shipping companies you want to work with are licensed and registered with the US Department of Transportation, it’s time to get multiple quotes. Comparing the crisis will help you find a reliable and affordable car shipping service.

You can expect to pay around $ 1.96 per mile for short distances of up to 500 miles. Shipping costs for medium distances will cost you about $ .93 per mile. Long distances above 1,500 miles will run you about $ .58 per mile.

Other factors, such as vehicle size, season, and location, will also determine the final cost of your auto shipment. That’s why it’s best to get car shipping quotes from different carriers or brokers. In order to get accurate quotes, it’s crucial to provide the vehicle pick-up and delivery destination and the preferred transport method. Also, indicate the vehicle’s year, make, and model. You should also choose your preferred pick-up date to get an up-to-date car shipping quote.


Choose Your Preferred Shipping Method

Next, you must choose between enclosed auto transport and open carrier. An open carrier might be the best option if you are on a budget. However, it exposes your vehicles to the elements and debris. Enclosed auto transport, on the other hand, offers more protection. As a result, it is the best shipping method for expensive or classic vehicles. It is also the best option if your company cars will travel cross-country or through rocky terrain. However, it will cost you more.

Find Out If The Shipping Company Has An Open Transport Date

Once you pick your preferred shipping method, your carrier will contact you to let you know if they have an open slot on your preferred pick-up date. Most carriers will give you a week’s notice to inform you when your car will be ready to ship. If the pick-up date is inconvenient, you can talk to the shipping company to schedule An exact pick-up date. Please note that this will cost extra.

Preparing Your Vehicle

You should also ensure that your car is in perfect condition before shipping. So, wash it thoroughly by hand to make sure it’s clean before shipping. After that, inspect it thoroughly for dents, nicks, or other cosmetic damage. If your vehicle has any preexisting damage, it’s great to take pictures before shipping it. This protects you in case additional damage occurs during transport.

You can also get a comprehensive mechanical checkup before shipping your car. Also, remember to disable the car alarm and leave the gas tank almost empty. Leaving the gas tank close to empty will reduce the weight and save you money. Finally, secure fog lights, ground effects, spoilers, and other loose items before shipping.

Bring Your Car To The Pick-Up Location Early

Your carrier will provide a location where you should take your car on the shipping day. The carrier will also indicate when you should take your vehicle. It’s best to take your car to the pick-up location 30 minutes ahead of schedule to avoid inconveniences. Also, bring your vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and driver’s license to prove that you own the car. Remember to sign the paperwork provided by your carrier before leaving. The documents you should review and sign include the shipping invoice, certificate of origin, and receipts.

You can reduce your shipping costs significantly if you follow all the steps outlined in this guide. Always take your time to confirm the shipping estimates to avoid unforeseen charges later.

How To Enhance Your Business’s Finance Department

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article | How To Enhance Your Business's Finance Department

Finance is the backbone of any business. Without good financial planning and management, a company can quickly find itself in trouble. As such, ensuring that your business’s finance department is up to par is important. Here are the top ways to enhance your company’s finance department:

Implement Financial Software

Financial software help streamline many of the tasks performed by your finance department. This frees your employees so they can focus on more strategic tasks.

The right software solution can automate tasks such as bookkeeping, invoicing, and tracking payments. This will help improve your finance department’s efficiency and allow your employees to work more effectively.

You can use different software and templates for your business. For example, for bookkeeping, you can use FreshBooks, and for invoicing, you can use Zoho Invoice.

Hire Qualified Accountants

Good and experienced accountants are worth their weight in gold. They can help keep your financial records in order and offer advice on improving your company’s financial health.

When hiring an accountant, be sure to look for someone who is qualified and has experience in the finance department. You should also ensure they are a good fit for your company culture.

You can engage with finance & accounting recruiters to help you find the right candidate for your business. They will be able able to identify qualified candidates that match your specific needs.

Develop Strong Internal Controls

Strong internal controls are essential for preventing and detecting errors or fraud in your company’s financial transactions. They also help to ensure that your financial statements are accurate.

There are many different types of internal controls, but some common ones include segregation of duties, employee background checks, and physical security measures. Others include authorization requirements and independent audits.

For effective internal controls, you should customize them to fit the specific needs of your business. You should also do regular reviews to ensure they are still relevant and effective.


Develop Policies And Procedures

Policies and procedures are important for ensuring that your finance department runs smoothly. They can help to standardize processes and improve communication between employees. Some common finance policies and procedures include expense reimbursement, Accounts Receivable (A/R) management, and Accounts Payable (A/P) management.

Developing policies and procedures specific to your company’s needs is important. You can develop policies and procedures by yourself or with the help of a professional. If you choose to do it yourself, many templates and resources are available online.

Good Remuneration And Benefits

It’s important to offer good remuneration and benefits to your finance employees. This will help to attract and retain good talent. Some common benefits you can offer include health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Remuneration is not just about money but also about recognition and appreciation. Show your employees that you value their work and contribution to the company. This can be easily done through things like bonuses, promotions, and awards.

Foster Growth And Development

Ensure to provide opportunities for your finance employees to grow and develop in their careers. This can be done through training, mentorship, and educational opportunities. Conferences and seminars are also great ways to encourage professional development.

Encourage a culture of learning in your company and provide opportunities for employees to share their knowledge with others. This will help to create a strong team of finance professionals that are always learning and growing.

Encourage Teamwork

Teamwork is a key ingredient for the success of any finance department. It’s expedient to foster an environment where employees can work together effectively. This can be done through team-building exercises, regular meetings, and communication tools.

Technology can also help to facilitate teamwork. Many different software programs can help employees to collaborate and communicate with each other.

Provide A Healthy Work-Life Balance

It’s important to provide a healthy work-life balance for your finance employees. This means offering flexible work hours, telecommuting options, and childcare assistance. Other benefits that can help to promote a healthy work-life balance include fitness programs and wellness initiatives.

A healthy work-life balance, therefore, becomes essential for employee productivity and satisfaction. It can also help to reduce turnover in your department.

Finance is a critical part of any business. Following these tips can enhance your company’s finance department and ensure it runs smoothly. These tips will help you to streamline many of the tasks performed by your finance department, freeing up your department so they can focus on more strategic tasks.

Business Practices For The Agricultural Industry

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Business Practices For The Agricultural Industry

The agricultural industry is vast and important, providing food and fiber for the world. It is also a complex and challenging business with many opportunities and risks. It is important to understand the various business practices to succeed in this industry. This blog post will discuss some of the most important ones.

Keep Up With Technology Growth

The agricultural industry, over the years, has seen constant evolution, and new technologies are always developing. It is important to keep up with these changes to stay ahead of the competition. This may mean investing in new equipment or adopting new methods of production.

Some of the latest technologies in agriculture include precision farming, which uses GPS and other data to manage crops more effectively; drones, which are used for crop mapping and surveillance; and robotics, which are beginning to be used for tasks such as picking fruit.

Failure to do so can result in lost market share and decreased profits. Therefore, staying abreast of the latest developments in the agricultural industry is essential.

Understand The Impact Of Government Policies

Governments around the world heavily regulate the agricultural industry. It is important to understand the various policies that are in place, as they can have a significant impact on your business. For example, trade agreements and subsidies can affect the price of your products, and environmental regulations can dictate how you operate.

It is worth monitoring government policy changes, as these can provide opportunities or threaten your business. For example, the US government’s recent introduction of tariffs on imported agricultural products has created an opportunity for domestic producers.

Involve Recruitment Companies In Filling Staff Requirements

The agricultural industry relies heavily on labor and finding the right staff can be challenging. It is important to work with recruitment companies that understand the specific needs of your business. This ensures that you find employees who are well-suited to the job and who will stay with your company for the long term.

For AG professional jobs, look for companies with experience recruiting for the agricultural industry. They get a good understanding of the required skills and experience.


Develop A Good Relationship With Your Suppliers

The agricultural industry relies on raw materials and inputs, which agriculture companies supply. Developing a good relationship with your suppliers is important, as they can significantly impact your business. For example, they may be able to provide you with discounts or early access to new products.

Use Big Data To Make Informed Decisions

The agricultural industry generates a huge amount of data to inform your decision-making. Big data can be used for things like crop mapping, yield analysis, and predicting market trends.

Some areas where big data has the biggest impact in agriculture include precision farming, livestock management, and weather forecasting.

Plan For The Future

The agricultural industry is subject to many external factors, such as weather, pests, and diseases. It is important to plan for these eventualities to minimize the impact on your business. For example, you may need to have contingency plans in place for crop failures or disease outbreaks.

Be aware of longer-term trends, such as climate change and the increasing global demand for food. These trends will majorly impact the agricultural industry in the coming years, and planning is important.

Diversify Your Market

The agricultural industry is global, which provides opportunities to sell your products in overseas markets. However, it is important to diversify your customer base, as relying on one market can be risky.

For example, consider selling to other markets, such as Asia or Africa, if you are selling into the EU market. This helps protect your business in the event of a market slowdown or other unforeseen circumstances.

Customer Focus

It is important to remember that your customers are the reason your business exists. It is essential to focus on their needs and provide them with the best possible service.

To do this, regularly survey your customers and ask for their feedback. This will help you to identify areas where you can improve your products or services.

For your customers to be happy, offer them value-added services, such as advice on how to use your products or tips on getting the most out of their purchases.

The agricultural industry is a complex and ever-changing sector. It is important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and trends in order to ensure the success of your business. By following these tips, you will be well on your way to becoming a successful agriculture company.

Crucial Stages of Employee Onboarding for New Hires

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StrategyDriven Talent Management Article |Employee Onboarding|Crucial Stages of Employee Onboarding for New HiresEmployee onboarding is a human resource process as well as a new hire experience. For HR teams, onboarding new hires is a complex workflow requiring input and action from different departments. For new employees, the onboarding process unfolds for many months and sets new employees for long-term success. This post looks at the crucial stages of onboarding new employees.

Stage 1: Pre-Onboarding

This is the first stage of onboarding, beginning immediately when a candidate accepts a job offer and continues after joining an organization. During pre-boarding, the offer letter is signed by the new employee, plans for onboarding are scheduled and new relationships are formed.

The new employee will likely have many requests and questions as they get ready for their first day with the organization. Remember that most employees will be finalizing their exit with their current employer at this stage. If they need to relocate to somewhere close to their new place of work, ask if they need help finding a house. You could also send them a document or video briefing them on how the company works and what to expect on their first day.

Stage 2: New Hire Orientation

The second stage of onboarding new hires is marked by the first day of reporting to work. Depending on the role of the new hire and the organization, phase two can last between a couple of days to a few weeks.

This phase is structured and aimed at ensuring new employees understand company policies and the organizational structure. Multiple onboarding workflows take place at the same time during this phase. They include issuing equipment, payroll, benefits enrollment and IT setup. More workflows may be going on depending on the employee’s role and organization policies.

Phase two also includes initial training sessions to help the person understand how the organization operates. The employee will familiarize themselves with tools, processes and learn about policies and procedures that are universal for all employees.


Stage 3: Role Specific Training

With formal training, an employee will have a clear picture of what it takes to thrive. A well crafted training plan helps the employee to feel welcome, and shows that the employer cares about their growth. The first step to role specific training is to familiarize the employee with the company’s learning management system. The employer should explore different types of learning techniques such as:

  • Self-paced learning
  • Blended learning
  • Micro learning

The new hires should select the style that they feel more comfortable with. All the materials for onboarding training should be kept in a safe place where anyone can access easily and refer to any time.

Stage 4: Transition to the New Role

The last stage of onboarding is designed to help transition from a new hire to fully employed. Managers should set clear expectations for the new team members for them to know and understand what is expected from them, and their responsibilities. They should also set goals to help new team members to visualize what quality, productivity and success looks like. Every manager should familiarize themselves with onboarding new hires and what are the 4 phases of onboarding.

Endnote

Onboarding is an important part of a company that needs to be managed carefully. It helps new hires to adapt to company culture, work ethics, and values. The above stages will assist you in onboarding and blending new hires into your organization.

The Pros And Cons Of Taking Out A Business Loan

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Business Loan|The Pros And Cons Of Taking Out A Business LoanBusinesses are the driving force behind economic growth. They create jobs, increase productivity and innovation, and drive demand for goods and services. Aside from that, they’re the perfect instruments for community development. In fact, it’s been estimated that every dollar invested in small businesses gives back 67 cents to the local economy.

With the global economy in its current state, it’s easy to see why many business owners are looking at business loans to get their companies off the ground. But what are the pros and cons of taking out a business loan? This article will explore some of these advantages and disadvantages.

What Are Business Loans?

Business loans are funding that allows businesses to pay for large-scale purchases or investments. They’re usually short-term loans designed to help businesses grow and expand. Business loan rates are a core part of the business loan process. They vary depending on the type of loan and lender you choose. They also vary across countries, but you can compare them from one lender to another. See current business loan rates in Australia to learn how the comparison works.

Pros Of Taking Out Business Loans

Business loans are an excellent way to get the financing your business needs. Here are some of the top pros:

1. Keep Cash Flow Healthy

If you’re a business owner, you know one of the most important things is keeping cash flow healthy. If you don’t have enough money coming in, you won’t be able to pay your employees or make payroll. It’s also crucial that you keep the line of credit open so that if an emergency comes up, you have access to additional funds. If you have a business loan with a low-interest rate and no prepayment penalty, it’ll be easy to use this money without worrying about regret.

2. Easy To Get Approved

If you want a business loan but don’t have good credit or any collateral to secure the loan, it can be challenging to find an institution willing to lend you one. A small business loan with no credit check can help solve this problem. It allows anyone turned down by other lenders, usually because of poor credit history or lack of collateral options, to access credit. The lender will not check your credit history or take any other type of security from you to ensure you repay the loan.

3. Quick Turnaround

You can apply for a business loan in minutes, and the approval process is usually swift. In fact, many businesses will receive their funding within 24 hours of applying. Thus, it doesn’t take long to get approved and get the funds in your account. This means that if there’s something urgent that needs to be done, such as paying for supplies or equipment for a new project or an upcoming event, you won’t have to wait around for weeks or months. This time benefit can help your business scale.


Cons Of Taking Out Business Loans

There are some disadvantages to taking out a business loan, which you should consider before making a decision. Some of these include:

1. Interest Rates

When taking out a loan, you’ll deal with fees (called interest) related to issuing and receiving the funds. These fees can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. The interest depends on the company offering them and how much money they lend. For example, banks may provide loans at lower interest rates because they offer more security than other companies. If your business isn’t very profitable yet, it may be worth looking into loans from smaller lenders who can give you better deals on interest rates.

2. You’ll Pay Back

No banks or financial institutions will give you a loan and leave you alone. In other words, you’ll need to pay back. You may get a loan with a very low-interest rate, but it could be difficult to pay back if your business isn’t doing well. You should also consider how much money you’ll have left over after paying back the loan. If you can’t afford to make payments each month, it might not be worth taking out a loan in the first place.

3. Credit Requirements

Another disadvantage is that you may not get approved for a business loan if you have bad credit. Bad credit refers to credit scores of 580 or lower on a 300–850 scale. It usually means you’ve had a few missed payments in your history. Lenders will check your business credit history and look at how much debt you have. They also will look at your payment history. If you don’t have good credit or if you’ve been delinquent on payments, lenders may deny your application for a business loan.

Conclusion

Business loans are an invaluable tool for any business owner who wants to grow their company. They allow you to get the funding you need for your business to succeed without the hassle of trying to find investors or partners. So if you’re considering applying for a business loan, take some time to research the pros and cons. Once you know these, choose a lender that captures your business interest.