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Desk Phones Vs. Softphones – Which one is better?

Desk phones are going out of trend. In fact, most of the decision makers have already migrated to soft and VoIP phones according to recent Frost & Sullivan survey.

An Executive using VoIP

Softphones are more interactive, responsive and offer better productivity. It is hardly surprising why many firms in first world nations have switched to softphones and left PBX-based phone behind.

So what should you pick?

Here are some of points to consider before you make a decision.

Upfront Costs

A mid-grade, voice only desk phone costs nearly $100. Add video calling and other perks and the cost goes well beyond a hundred bucks.…

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Motivation through Gamification: The Path to Productivity?

For years, GTD (get-things-done) advocates, efficiency experts and HR professionals have searched far and wide for the best way to enhance productivity in the workplace. For a small business, it may not be that simple, especially when people are wearing several hats at the same time.

For any size enterprise, perhaps the best way to enhance productivity is to establish targets and find creative ways for people to reach these. Here is where gamification comes into play.

What is Gamification?

Gamification involves using games and psychology to encourage specific behaviors within the game’s target audience. Research indicates internal gamification can increase employee productivity by 40%.…

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Are You Ready for a Mortgage?

As a CEO, you’re used to making some big decisions. Every day, you’re responsible for securing the future of your business, and for helping it to thrive. However, sometimes the most momentous choices that you have to make affect your personal rather than your professional life.

Taking mortgage

The money that you earn from your enterprising endeavours won’t just sit in your bank: you’ll use it to support, improve, and attain the lifestyle that you want. When your enterprise is doing well, you might choose to upgrade your home, and this is where one of these big decisions rears its head.

The question: are you really ready to upgrade?…

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Why Covering Your Business Vehicles Is Important

No matter how good you think you are at fixing vehicles, you and your company will feel much safer having the right cover for all work vans and cars. For many small and new businesses it can be incredibly tempting to avoid the added expense of breakdown cover and any extras, especially when you feel confident fixing problems yourself.

Car insurance

However, this isn’t always the safest or cheapest option. Taking out breakdown cover and insurance for all your business vehicles will keep the business in a good position, especially in the event of any accidents.

Cost-effective Option

Breakdown cover is only really appreciated when your vehicle breaks down part way through a journey.…

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What You Need to Start a Business From Your Van

The global financial crisis may have seen many companies go out of business but it brought to life a lot of successful, inventive ones as well. Many budding entrepreneurs had to come up with unique ideas or services to start making money, while a lot went back to basics in attempts to turn a profit. One such idea is making use of existing resources to start a business, such as running a business out of your own van.

Cafe on a wheel

This has many advantages as you’re the boss so can choose working hours to suit your lifestyle and the money you make is even more rewarding.…

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Save Money Sourcing a Business Car

Having a smart, professional looking vehicle is important for most small businesses. Whether it’s just for visiting clients and potential investors, or a necessary asset for the running of your company (such as gardening and catering businesses), this can be one of the largest expenses.

Business vehicles

Many will spend hours scouring the internet for the cheapest used cars and vans available. This isn’t always the most cost-effective method for sourcing a vehicle for your business though. For new and small companies especially, paying for a new or used car upfront can be a struggle and result in losing money in the long run.…

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Five Businesses You Can Start Almost Immediately

Setting up a new business, whether as a solo venture or with a partner, is an exciting opportunity but it can take a lot of effort. Sourcing funds, creating a budget and just organising the general running will eat into a lot of time when you’re eager to get out there and start making money.

Hard working entrepreneur

There are a number of business options which don’t take as long to set up for those with an entrepreneurial itch. Many can be done from home and around another part-time job, with little set-up time or equipment required.

Child Minding

The go-to option for many teenagers looking to earn extra pocket money, babysitting or child minding is also a quick and (fairly) easy way to make money as an adult.…

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Smart Tax Strategies for Audit-Proofing Your Small Business

Going through an audit can be nerve-wracking and time-consuming. Most business owners would rather pull their own teeth out than deal with the IRS. Here’s how to survive the ordeal and avoid future audits in the future.

Small business tax woes

Outsource Your Accounting and Tax Work

If you want to avoid a lot of trouble with the IRS, pay someone else to deal with them for you. Outsourcing your tax and accounting work is one of the best moves a small business can make. Too many businesses mistakenly believe that they must do everything themselves.

In some ways, their entrepreneurial spirit “forces” them to “take on the world.”…

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6 Secrets to Achieving a Good Work-Life Balance for Busy Mums

When done solely, having a job, managing a household and raising kids are all extremely time consuming and sometimes difficult elements of everyday life. But what happens when all of these elements are combined together and one person is required to do all three of these things? For many busy working mums, it can all become a little too much sometimes which is why achieving a good balance between work and home life is extremely important and essential for success in all parts of life.

Busy mom's Work life balance

If you’re a busy working mum who is struggling to get that balance, we’ve compiled the below list of 6 secrets to achieving a good work-life balance.…

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Three Simple Ways to Supplement Your Income

Keeping a small enterprise afloat with a limited income is an unenviable challenge, yet it’s one faced by many businessmen and CEOs. The current commercial climate is highly competitive, and keeping the wheels turning whilst make a tidy profit is incredibly hard work.

An entrepreneur works on additional income for her business

This is why many entrepreneurs are beginning to look outside of the box, beyond traditional methods of increasing turnover. They’re turning to the many skills that their experiences have endowed them with, and putting them to good use in order to increase their incomes. If you’re one of their number and you’re looking for inspiration, here are three ideas that you might like to consider…

#1: Sell Your Products Online

Whilst almost every modern business will have an online presence, not all of them are utilising the internet to its full advantage.…

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