Why Even A Micro Business Needs Credit Control
This week our guest is Jammie O’Connell of Credit Control Solutions and together we explore the why, how and what of a credit control system – no matter how big or small your business. And it’s a lot simpler than you may think. Credit control is one of those terms that sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is. It’s just another simple, and whatever size business you are, you need to have some sort of system for getting the money in. More importantly, your credit control system is what will stand you in good stead if there is a problem payer. In this episode, our expert, Jamie runs us through the super simple steps that are involved. PS – I know the image is sideways! I’m rather hoping people think it’s deliberate instead of being one of those seriously annoying little pernickerties that just happens – and I can’t be arsed to sort it out!
Will You Hit These 7 Brick Walls To Business Growth?
It can be so frustrating when you’re working to grow your business, but don’t seem to be getting anywhere. You work like crazy and but it’s two steps forwards and two steps back! And back where you started. But it doesn’t have to be like this! After 15 years of helping corporates to grow, many with massive results, Linda Garcia has identified the 7 Brick Walls business owners most frequently hit. Find out what they are and how you can avoid them. Connect with Linda Garcia here Download the Productivity Guide – 20 Ways Productivity Can Pay For The Living Wage
Linda Garcia
Originally from a scientific background and after several years in Environmental Consulting, I qualified with an MBA to diversify into management consultancy. I ventured around the world, living and working in over 15 countries bringing business performance improvement programmes to fruition in a wide range of industries. After more than a decade of globe trotting, one husband, two children and a 40ft shipping container later, I returned to my native Kent where I founded Alluxi Consulting in 2014. As a Business Performance Consultant I work with inspired business owners to optimize the performance, maximize profits and, ultimately, build the sustainability of their company. I volunteer as Chair to the Board of Trustees for a local centre of the national charity Relate, enjoy bringing my skill set to the role of school governor, and participate in the Professional Mentoring Scheme at Aston University. When I do have any spare time (ha!) I’m occasionally swimming, reading psychological thrillers, or playing electronic scrabble.
Amanda Francis
Amanda Francis Amanda has over 36 years’ experience in a variety of roles, including media sales for a major technology publisher, IT recruitment and HR Management for Arcadia. She set up her training consultancy, Sorceris, 20 years ago, focusing mainly on sales, negotiation and range of management skills and 15 years ago bought Alchemis, a successful business development agency, helping marketing, digital, creative and strategic agencies to win new clients. The great love of her life is her 7 year old granddaughter who teaches her something new every time they meet! Today Amanda and her Alchemis team get sales for businesses – basically they are experts in getting you in the door and making that sale. on Facebook on Twitter on Instagram on Linkedin Listen To Amanda’s Show Website
The Proven Step By Step Formula For Telephone Sales Success.
If you need more sales in your business, there is no getting away from the uncomfortable truth that you may need to come out from behind the computer or phone screen and get on that phone! Cold calling, yes, but definitely not as we know it. Amanda Francis and her team at Alchemis have been helping other businesses to make more sales for over 15 years – and they are damned good at it. Amanda gave away all of her secrets, telling us exactly what her team say and do, what they research before they pick the phone up and the exact steps you need to take to get yourself to the critical end point when the sale is made and the cash register rings. Connect with Amanda Francis here
The Chimp Paradox
Thanks to Sally Reeve, weight loss expert, for recommending this book. If you’ve ever set a goal, made a decision to get it done and then 1 week later it’s all going wrong – you’ve eaten the tonne of cake, several bags of crisps and all the rest of it – then the Chimp Paradox will help you understand why you’re sabotaging yourself. And it’s not just for losing weight. Our brains kick in to ‘help’ us fail when we are trying to get all sorts of things done. It’s really annoying, and it makes us feel bad. You can get the book online here by clicking through on the image…
The Business Of Weight Loss With Sally Reeve
Tune in for great weight loss tips from Sally, along with a book recommendation to help you get your head in gear. Plus we chat around the ups and downs of targeting a niche in this crowded market. Plus the usual business ‘tool of the week’ and social media tip or idea to help you grow your business. Oh, and a few laughs along the way! Connect with Sally here
Sally Reeve
Sally Reeve Sally Reeve has 12 years experience in the weight loss arena and has developed a range of programmes to support and offer positive encouragement for all clients. There is a focus on a new you, and a new lifestyle and so this really is a tailored solution. Sally’s business has been going from strength to strength and a new branch opened in 2015 at Innovation House, Discovery Park, Sandwich to meet the demand of a growing client base. Sally and her team are avid supporters of the National Obesity Forum (www.nationalobesityforum.org.uk), holding events to promote National Obesity Awareness Week and campaigning for changes in the way obesity treatment is funded. Locally, they are in contact with several town football teams, providing help with their charity work with school children, to supply healthy eating and exercise programmes which are both educational and fun. on Facebook on Twitter Listen To Sally’s Show Website
A Lesson In Growing Your Business
Denise Barnes was a guest on the show in November, and she was such fun and a real inspiration and I’m so pleased she agreed to write an article for us. I asked Denise to write about business growth, and here’s what she sent in…. Let me first give some background of my business. I set up from scratch an estate agency in the village where I lived. There was only one other estate agent and I’d just resigned from being its manager! I’d grown a struggling corporate office to a highly profitable one in the space of two years. What marvelous training! So I figured I could do equally well on my own. It was 1988 and the housing market was booming. People were actually queuing up in the morning before I could put my key in the door, occasionally even fighting over a house – ‘I viewed it first’ – as though they were in the January sales. Not too difficult to expand in those sorts of circumstances, I hear you say. Except a few months later, at the beginning of 1989, the whole housing market collapsed, along with retailers, financial institutions – in fact, it affected almost everyone. We were at the beginning of a recession, which was to last four years. But towards the end of year four there was a glimmer of light and I felt now would be the time to open a second office. I found the ideal premises in a country village a few miles away. On opening day people said, ‘You’re either mad or you know something we don’t.’ But during a recession or any quiet period, it’s an ideal time to expand. Rents are lower, labour is cheaper for any work needing to be done on the building, graphic artists and printers and many other companies are all vying for work at knock-down prices – it can be the perfect time to grow your business, if you have the nerve. The main thing is not to fall into the borrowing trap. Yes, if you own your own business, sometimes the only way to flourish is to borrow. But spend wisely. Pay back the loan as soon as you can. Then when it comes to the next thing you want to introduce or develop, your bank manager will already know how you operate and hopefully support you. During the 17 years I had my business I increased from one to eight offices by the time I came to sell. With each expansion I asked these questions: Was the office in the right position for my clients? Were there plenty of chimney pots for us to survive? What was the competition? Were the premises in good condition? Were there any onerous restrictions on the lease? How were the lenders doing? (If people were having difficulty getting mortgages they wouldn’t be buying houses.) Did I know anyone I could put in or promote as Manager? You must ask yourself all the relevant questions for your own business. And you must PLAN. If you have a good idea on how to expand, book in some time with your accountant and get him or her to prepare a business plan, taking into account the additional expenses such as increased rent, extra staff, more phone lines etc. Discuss the plan with your bank manager. If they’re comfortable with your figures you’ll likely get help if things are initially slower than anticipated. And if things go badly wrong, do come clean – they may well have a solution. Take professional advice. I once told my accountant I wanted to sell French property. I’d only been trading nine months and already I was looking for exciting opportunities. He warned me against it…I’d lose money…the English would not be buying French property for much longer…prices would go up…I should concentrate on building up my new business, etc. But I was stubborn – and he was 100% right. My foray quickly fizzled out and not only did I lose money, I wasted time going to France to view the properties. And when I was away I worried about the danger of taking my eye off the ball. So not every expansion is lucrative. Not everything works. But sometimes you just have to give it a go. If you’re determined, then have the courage of your convictions. Convictions that should lead you into a good, profitable and interesting business which will take you right up to retirement, when you can sell and sit on the beach all day painting your toe nails! Note: Some of the ways I grew my business are mentioned in my book: Seller Beware: How Not To Sell Your Business. Connect with Denise here
Building Resilience And Dealing With Change
Things don’t always go as we want. Sometimes things are just not as we expect and we have to deal with it. That’s what happened to Katherine Horn who battled breast cancer and set up a business providing wigs to people like her. Listen to her story founding Panache Wigs and hear some fab tips and ideas from the Resilience Champion Zaheen Nanji. Read more about Katherine and Panache Wigs.
Katherine Horn
Katherine Horn Hello, my name is Katherine Horn. I set up Panache Wigs after losing my own hair 2 years ago because of breast cancer and chemotherapy. I am a fully mobile wig specialist offering free home consultation visits within Kent and East Sussex from my home base of Ashford. In the comfort of your own home where friends and family can be present to assist you with choosing a wig from my selection of over 1000 different styles/colours of real hair and synthetic high quality wigs. During my visit I also offer free emotional support to anyone experiencing hair loss be it through cancer treatments, alopecia, thinning hair or any other condition causing hair loss and also provide you with a wig care guide and kit. Panache Wigs will make you look and feel gorgeous again…. because you are. x on Facebook on Twitter Website Listen To Katherine’s Show
Tamsin Fox Davies
Tamsin is the Marketing Director for Constant Contact in the UK. You can find her on Linkedin
Mark Jennings
Mark Jennings is known as The Google Guy – he can help you with anything geeky around Google, from Google Analytics, Google Adwords, Google My Business – and even just setting up your Gmail or Google Apps. Find him at Stormchasers, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn Feed Shark
The Declutter Divas
The Declutter Divas The Declutter Divas are the stars of Channel 4 programme The Hoarder Next Door. Whilst they are specialised in helping people who have serious hoarding issues, their day to day business supports businesses and families to control their clutter and become more productive. on Facebook on Twitter Listen To The Declutter Diva’s Show Website
How NOT To Sell Your Business
Well this episode probably had almost everything in it. For one thing, if you get bowled over by the gorgeous sales agent for your business, and take your eye off the relevant ball, then you end up with the sort of crummy job that costs you thousands and thousands. You’ll be pleased to know, I certainly was, that it is possible to come back from a total cock up and end up back on top again. It was great fun recording this episode and thanks so much to Denise for being a great sport and really sharing it all – and of course to Laura Burton Lawrence for keeping it all on track. Read Denise’s Profile and Connect
Denise Barnes
Denise Barnes Denise Barnes has travelled the world, unpacking her suitcase in a score of countries and working at more jobs than she cares to remember. Mentionable events include selling lipstick in a Denver department store to top English model of the day, Jean Shrimpton; typing on a French keyboard for the UN Narcotics Director in Geneva; chauffeuring a lonely Swiss multi-millionaire lawyer in Zurich; being the first fashion model in Atlanta to dance to pop music; working as a PA to a film producer and delivering a film script to Richard Harris in Rome and not recognizing him (he was not amused); and cooking in a vegetarian sanatorium in Bavaria, which gave rise to her first hilarious memoir. Back home in England, Denise reluctantly began her training as an estate agent – and loved it! Juggling the running of her chain of eight offices in Kent with taking an Honours Degree with Open University, Denise had difficulty finding the time to pursue her life- long passion for writing. To give herself the freedom to write she sold her business after 17 years, but unfortunately to the wrong buyers, namely a couple of tricksters, which resulted in a second, more serious, memoir. Buying back the business and after six years selling it once again, she is now able to resume her love of fiction writing, under the pen-name, Fenella Forster. on Facebook on Twitter Listen To Denise’s Show Website
Let’s Get That Energy Sapping Clutter Cleared
Listen in to The Declutter Divas as we discuss the impact clutter can have on your business and performance. Plus we find out how to get it cleared as quickly and easily as possible! Read The Declutter Divas Profile and Connect
A Free CRM Tool That’s Fully Loaded!
My experience with CRM’s (Customer Relationship Managers) is that they take ages to learn, even longer to get your data up into them, and when you’ve finally got it all done, you find out there is one critical flaw that means it won’t work for you. There is also generally a wheeze when they are free – you can only upload 200 contacts before you have to pay, or only one person can use it. With Hubspot CRM that isn’t the case – of course there are extra things to buy – they are a business after all, but those things are improvements for you to add in as your business grows, not limitations to being able to use the tool as a fully featured CRM. And it’s simple use, even when you’re customising the fields to suit you. Now before you go hoiking everything you’ve got over onto this, please go and have a look, load up a couple of records and see how it works for you. If you have any ideas you think will help other business people or, have any other tools you can recommend please pop something into the comments below. n
Top Tips From Hazel Addley Change Specialist
As usual this weeks tip is so simple. I asked Hazel what she knows now that she wished she had known when she started out…. ‘It’s ok to be me’ Hazel that it’s okay to just be herself, that she didn’t need to look particularly posh or glamorous and that people would want to work with her. She was comparing herself to coaches who were dolled up – and now she understands that she doesn’t have to be like that – just be herself.
Books For Making Change
Our guest Hazel Addley, a coach who specialises in change has recommended two books for us. The first is Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers. This book has been around for a while and many of us have read it – and so it’s tempting to dismiss it maybe as a bit of old hat. But it’s endured and I think is worthy of at least a second go round to bring out some of the finer points. The book, as you might have guessed from the title, is about dealing with the fear, acknowledging it and working through it to make the change. The second book is The Artists Way by Julia Cameron which takes you through a journey of making that change to be an artist in business. Both are available on Amazon, and other online or offline bookstores – if you hunt on Amazon you will probably find Feel The Fear for only the price of the postage!