5 Things to Consider When Finding the Right Commercial Premises

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Commercial Premises|5 Things to Consider When Finding the Right Commercial PremisesWhen you are looking to take your business to the next level, you need to start looking at commercial premises. However, where do you even start when it comes to looking for premises, and what do you need to be considering?

Commercial premises can help to elevate your business to the next level, so it is a decision that you do not want to get wrong.

1. Is the Premises Fit for Purpose?

To begin with, when you are starting your search, you need to look at whether or not a premises is fit for purpose. Changing the use of business premises, or trying to change something to fit your use will be costly and timely. It is better to get premises that are fit for purpose straight away, as opposed to trying to alter (or completely change) what you are looking at. Knowing what you need is crucial, even in the early ages of your search.

2. What Location Do You Need?

Creating a checklist will aid your search. For example, do you need a location that has great footfall? Are you looking for an out of town location, or is a huge parking lot important to you and to your business?

3. Is it Well-Built and In a Good State of Repair?

Some commercial buildings can look great on first inspection; however, when you start to look closely, you notice that work needs doing. For example, it may need a new commercial roof or it may need extensive repairs to make it watertight. If possible, try and visit the premises you are looking at on several occasions before committing or making a decision. To further aid your decision, you may also find it beneficial to seek assistance from a surveyor, or another contractor, who may be able to see things that you may have overlooked.

4. How Much Will It Cost Per Month?

Whether you are buying or leasing new commercial premises, you still need to know the cost per month. When you factor in everything from insurance, to business and trading rates – right down to electricity, water, and other utility costs, can you still afford it? You do not want to take on a large property if realistically you will only be using a quarter of it.

5. What Rates Will You Have to Pay?

Speaking to the owner, or asking the property agent, is always a good thing to do (even at an early stage in your search). Establishing what rates you will have to pay to the owner, or even to the local state, will help you see if the location is still affordable. For example, a lot of town center premises will have extra rates placed on them, to ensure that the area is kept clean and tidy for all visitors and residents. These costs will all add up, and they will be added to the top of your purchase price, or lease price. So, before committing, check not only that you are in the right location, but also check the property is affordable both now and moving forwards in the future.

8 Tips For Running A Successful Distribution Business

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Distribution Business|8 Tips For Running A Successful Distribution BusinessWhile it is important to manufacture and deliver good products to drive more sales, most businesses would fall apart without an efficient distribution system.

An efficient distribution system is imperative for any business to thrive, especially in a global economy. Customers now shop online and expect to receive their products on time. So, if you’re planning on entering the business, now’s a good time. And if you’re already in it and want some quick tips on how to improve it, you’ve come to the right place. Listed below are a few tips that’ll help you run a distribution business successfully.

Manage your cash flow

Cash flow management may sound very simple- keeping track of the money coming in and going out. However, it’s not as simple as it sounds. The process gets tricky when money is tied up in stock. Making purchase and sale decisions and meeting other business expenditures becomes a headache in this case as maintaining balance is essential. One bad decision can lead to a series of losses for your business.

So, use tech tools to stay on top of your accounts payable and receivable. Set reminders for sending customers, suppliers, and vendors timely invoices to pay their dues. Doing so will help you stay in the green zone when managing cash flow.

Skill up

If you’re an enthusiastic learner, consider equipping yourself with additional know-how in supply chain management. Or motivate an existing resource in your business to do the same.

You can search for a budget-friendly online MBA in supply chain management on the internet to fast-track the learning process. These online degrees/courses specially cater to professionals looking for ways to enhance their knowledge, but don’t have all the time in the world to go back to campus-based education. By enrolling in such a course, you’ll learn many new tricks of the trade, including better inventory management, decision-making, etc. The updated info will help you run your operations more seamlessly.

Invest in automation

It’s always good to invest in your business and upgrade it. So, if you’re still running your business the old-school way, it’s time to become tech-savvy. Automating your processes, including inventory management, payments, and tracking will help you manage operations better and provide customers with better services. Your system will also be able to generate purchase reorders to keep inventory levels at the desired number for each product. This way, you won’t have to constantly count what to order and restock.

Automation will help reduce time lost in manual labor and eliminate errors in order fulfillment. You can then use the money and resources you save in other crucial business aspects such as marketing and customer support.

Organize your inventory

Maintaining inventory is perhaps the most essential part of a distribution business. If your inventory is unorganized, work will get difficult to manage. Staying on top of it is imperative, and some proactive measures can go a long way for your business.

Track and update your stock with invoices and physically oversee the store to double-check. It’s good to use technology here, i.e., barcode tagging and scanning to log incoming and outgoing shipments. Ensure your warehouse is tidy, well-organized, and safe from environmental threats. The last thing you want is your merchandise being damaged before it even reaches customers.

Make the ordering process simple

If a customer can’t place an order easily, they’ll likely not use your service again. Therefore, you must ensure your customers have a seamless experience while using your service.

A user-friendly website can be of great help. Ensure your website loads fast, and use efficient software to reduce the ordering time for the customer. Keep navigation simple and provide multiple payment options to facilitate more customers. Providing a fast, seamless experience means people will be more likely to use your service again and recommend it to others.

Prioritize customer support

At the end of the day, happy customers will drive your business to success. And considering that you’re not the only one in the industry, providing excellent customer support will help you retain a competitive edge.

Instead of relying solely on low-price strategies, focus on the quality of service and maintaining high customer satisfaction levels. Always provide your customers with the best products and services. Use chatbots on your website and social media accounts to provide 24/7 support and address customer complaints. You can also collect feedback from your customers on how they feel you can improve your service and incorporate it into your business model. You can leverage trust in your brand to build a loyal customer base for a steady income stream.

Invest in staff development

As a business owner, you must see if your staff is suitably equipped to adapt to any long-term organizational changes you implement. Investing in their growth means investing in your business growth also.

Providing your staff with the proper tools and training will ensure better productivity, whether it’s stock handling or customer support. This is also a good way to keep your staff more engaged, motivated, and loyal to your business. While employee turnover rates in 2021 were as high as 57%, research states that 94% of employees would stay with their current jobs if employers invested in their long-term training. So, invest in building a solid team.

Branch out your sales channels

A diverse customer base is always ideal for a business. However, you can’t cater to more customers with limited sales channels. So market your business and establish touchpoints n different channels, including social media and third-party retailers like Amazon. Incorporate an omnichannel strategy in your marketing mix. By catering to more customers, you can nurture more leads and sales.

Conclusion

When running a distribution business, the stakes are high because customers want their stuff on time and in good shape. This article mentions a few tips to help you run such a business model smoothly. While sound management is essential along with tech integration and providing customers a seamless experience, consider honing your expertise in the supply chain industry by seeking more education. By following the tips mentioned above, you can increase your chances of running a successful distribution company.

What Kind Of Support Should Your Business Rely On In 2022?

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Business Support|What Kind Of Support Should Your Business Rely On In 2022?It has been a turbulent couple of years for many firms. Support has felt in short supply.

While competition has increased in some sectors, it is also fair to say that a sense of unity can be felt across industries too. With livelihoods on the line, very few firms will not support their peers however they can.

Of course, some companies make it their express purpose to provide unwavering support. Your firm could have a brighter future if it engaged with such entities. But who are they?

Here is the kind of support your business should rely on in 2022.

Group Purchasing Organizations

The pandemic has been tough for most sectors. Consequently, many suppliers have hiked prices, while numerous smaller firms have struggled to secure the funds to purchase what they need.

Increased leveraging power would be of great help in such situations. Fortunately, this is what Group Purchasing Organizations provide. GPO purchasing saves businesses time and resources, allowing them to rally together under a membership base. After that, the GPO negotiates with suppliers on their behalf, using their combined spending for better negotiation terms, conditions, and outcomes.

If you are still asking yourself, ‘what is GPO purchasing?’, Procure Analytics can help answer any lingering inquiries. They explain the perks of these arrangements and how all three parties benefit; the GPO, suppliers, and buyers. Additionally, you will also find details of how trustworthy GPOs can provide robust savings analysis services before your firm joins. Do some further reading if you do require further assurances.

SEO Services

Many firms are slipping into obscurity. Those that do not have a strong presence online, thanks to diligent search engine optimization strategies (SEO).

External experts and consultants can implement these digital marketing tactics in your business. Try to do some further research on SEO’s benefits, as it can optimize your marketing campaigns and generate more credibility and exposure for your firm. All of this will help you stay relevant in industries that are becoming increasingly cutthroat and competitive.

Marketing is firmly a discipline of its own today. It requires constant dedication to monitor key trends, create compelling content, and draw in an audience in a world where attention spans are short and fickle. Only dedicated experts who treat SEO as a full-time pursuit can secure you a steady trajectory of success and ultimately free up time for you to run other aspects of your enterprise.

Cybersecurity Services

Cybersecurity is an essential aspect of a firm’s infrastructure today. Without it, businesses big and small can be raised to the ground in a heartbeat.

However, there were almost 500,000 job vacancies in cybersecurity last year, despite industries worldwide adopting more digital working methods. Skills shortages in the workforce were principally blamed. The challenge of filling these positions will likely not ease this year, given the extent of the problem.

Therefore, it is probably more prudent to engage an expert cybersecurity service. Whether they are directly responsible for implementing measures or operating in a consultancy capacity, their knowledge and wisdom should make your firm safer in the long run. Cybersecurity cannot be mastered overnight with a series of Google searches, so having this extent of knowledge at your disposal is key.

Does the company supplying e-services need to register to VAT in Poland

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |VAT in Poland|Does the company supplying e-services need to register to VAT in PolandThere is no denying that every entrepreneur wants to reach as many buyers as possible. This is the reason why many of them decide to provide e-services. Thanks to that they sell their goods and services on foreign markets. This raises the question of whether you should register as a VAT payer in Poland.

There is no denying that every entrepreneur wants to reach as many buyers as possible. This is the reason why many of them decide to provide e-services. Thanks to that they sell their goods and services on foreign markets. This raises the question of whether you should register as a VAT payer in Poland.

There is no denying that every entrepreneur wants to reach as many buyers as possible. This is the reason why many of them decide to provide e-services. Thanks to that they sell their goods and services on foreign markets. This raises the question of whether you should register as a VAT payer in Poland. The sale of electronic goods or services to individuals from another EU country involves a number of tax obligations. From 1 July 2021, with the so-called VAT e-commerce package, regulations simplifying these settlements came into force. Read our article and we will certainly brighten up your Vat in Poland.

What is VAT OSS?

VAT OSS (One Stop Shop) is a VAT settlement prcedure that replaced the previous one – VAT MOSS (Mini One Stop Shop). As we have already written in the introduction on 1st July 2021 new regulations came into force. The previous VAT MOSS procedure, which concerned the sale to individuals from another EU country of electronic, broadcasting and telecommunication services (so-called TBE services), has been extended to include the sale of goods by mail order to these entities (so-called WSTO), creating the EU VAT OSS procedure.

The EU VAT OSS procedure can be used by both active VAT taxpayers and non VAT taxpayers. VAT OSS registration does not interfere in any way with VAT-EU registration. It also does not result in losing the right to VAT exemption, due to the fact that sales settled under VAT OSS are not taken into consideration when verifying sales limits for VAT exemption.

VAT OSS – when is it worth using?

Every entrepreneur should remember that registration for VAT OSS is fully voluntary and depends on the decision of the seller. When making mail order sales of goods or providing services to private individuals from another EU country, they must keep an eye on the sales limit.

What is the sales limit?

The limit for sales to private persons from another EU country under the VAT OSS procedure is EUR 10,000. In case of Polish sellers, converted into PLN, the limit amounts to 42 000 PLN. Until the sales limit is exceeded, Polish entrepreneurs tax their transactions as domestic sales – applying the Polish VAT rate. After exceeding the sales limit, they are obliged to tax the transaction at the VAT returns applicable to the buyers country. Until the implementation of new regulations, which took place until 1 July 2021, after exceeding the limit of mail order sales in a given EU country, Polish taxpayers had no choice and were obliged to register for VAT in the country of exceeding the limit. This involved not only the registration obligation, but also the obligation to keep records and reports, i.e. accounting for VAT in another EU country. At that time, it was necessary to use the services of accounting offices that specialized in the knowledge of tax laws of other countries, which entailed additional costs.

To sum up, the VAT OSS procedure simplifies the settlement process, because once the limit of mail order sales in the EU has been exceeded, the seller can still settle the VAT with the Polishtax.com.

What is turnover in business?

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Turnover in business|What is turnover in business?What is turnover in business, and how does it affect the health of your company? Understanding how well your business is performing isn’t an exact science, but one of the indicators you may use to get a clear grasp is business turnover.

When running a business there are dozens of pieces of jargon to sort through, Indicators to analyze, and choices to make. They all assist you to realize how your firm is doing in precise terms. It’s probably one of the most significant and simple metrics to think about.

This article discusses turnover in simplified terms and walks you through the process of calculating it.

What is the meaning of business turnover?

It is a simple business metric that can be used to determine if a company is profitable or not. It’s frequently used as a quick and easy way to estimate a company’s size. HMRC, for example, considers turnover when deciding whether or not a company should register for VAT.

It refers to the total amount of money you made from selling your product or service in a certain period. It doesn’t take into account any expenditures or any other unexpected charges. It doesn’t even account for the profit you made during that period.

What is the significance of business turnover?

You can compare your existing turnover to other times of the year. This will help you indicate if your company’s revenue is increasing and if it is on track to meet your goals.

It’s also a useful figure for comparing to other metrics. If your gross profit is low in comparison to your turnover, it may be time to look into strategies to reduce your sales costs. If, on the other hand, your net profit is low in comparison to your turnover, you should consider increasing the financial efficiency of your company.

What’s the difference between profit and turnover?

Although both turnover and profit represent a company’s revenue, they are calculated using distinct parameters. Turnover, also known as net sales, is a company’s pure income from sales, whereas profit is the remaining total turnover after all variable and fixed expenses are deducted.

On their income statement, most businesses include both turnover and profit. Turnover is usually the first line item because it is the biggest figure and only accounts for revenue without any expenses. Profit is generally always the bottom line on the income statement, and it represents the entire income produced by the company after all operational expenses are deducted.

What is the method of calculating turnover?

Calculating turnover is as simple as combining all of your total sales for a particular time as long as your finance team keeps exact and accurate records. The gross profit (after subtracting the cost of products sold) and net profit (after deducting the cost of goods sold) can then be calculated using your turnover as a starting point (by then deducting all operating expenses).

Of course, turnover is not a metric of success. Every firm will make sales, but the size of the business, rather than the turnover, determines its success. However, when compared to other indicators, it can be used to determine success, and it is useful to know how well a company is growing

Tips for increasing your company’s turnover

You must make certain that your company’s turnover rises over time. Here are a few suggestions to assist you to increase the turnover of your company.

Aim for profitable growth.

Aim to sell as much as possible, whether you’re a product or service-based business. Increased sales will eventually result in increased profit, so be aggressive in your sales efforts. Use all accessible platforms to sell your goods as efficiently as possible.

Make special deals and promotions.

Offers and discounts are an excellent method to attract customers. You can always provide a supplementary service or decrease the price of the goods or service as an offer. This will assist you to attract more people to your goods or service, which will result in more sales.

Incentives are effective.

Your sales partners are your most valuable ally when it comes to growing sales. Make certain to motivate and incentivize them to perform better. Their improved performance will result in increased turnover for your company.

Final thoughts

So, this is about turnover and how it should be calculated. We hope you’ve understood the distinction between turnover and net profit. Turnover is an important aspect of every firm. It not only helps you assess your company’s success, but it also helps you plan for the future. Before the end of your first year of business, make sure you understand the various ways to increase your turnover and how to calculate them.