Business

Advice on renting office space for growing businesses

September 8, 2011 By admin

There comes a time for every growing business when that home office just isn’t going to cut it anymore. Whether you’re going to need to impress bigger and better clients, or simply need room for more staff, renting office space is going to be become a necessity. But which type of desk space do you opt for?

Leased offices

The traditional method of renting commercial property is taking a long lease from a landlord. You’ll likely be looking at a deal spanning three years of more, paying a fixed rate over a set period and supplying everything from building security to office furniture.

If you want full control this is the way to go, as well as being cheap per square foot – as long as you take into consideration you’ll be doing all the admin and paying all the bills (including any large scale building dilapidations). If you have the gear to fill it, and a watertight plan to keep staffing levels constant or similar, away you go.

Sublet office space

Of course, things don’t always go to plan. If you do go for a lease, and your landlord is willing to support the idea, you can always look into sub-letting some of your new office space.

Sub-letting can give you some welcome extra income, as you rent areas of your office your business is not using – you’re heating and lighting them, after all, so they may as well have people in them. It can also be a good way to hedge your bets on staffing levels – or to cover your back if you need to downsize.

The shared office

Alternatively, you can take this space in someone else’s shared office. This can be a fantastic option for small businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs who are starting small. Leasing can be daunting for a start-up, so why not let someone else take the admin strain?

Shared offices in London are commonplace now, with schemes springing up all across the UK and elsewhere. You only need to rent the amount of desk space you need, while it also tends to be on a month by month basis. You won’t have a say in furniture, décor and utility providers, but you can move in (and out) straight away while enjoying all the facilities of a professional office – meeting rooms, reception and kitchen facilities.

Serviced offices

The popularity of shared offices has also seen a growing number of serviced offices appearing: office space run by a management company specifically with desk space renters in mind. You can expect a slightly more clinical approach than a shared office, while added facilities can include executive suits, post rooms and IT support.

You may pay a little more for a serviced office, but serviced and shared offices can give your business the breathing room it needs as you grow and continue to expand. You’ll get the professionalism and location of a fully kitted out office space, without the admin hassles and without having to give a very long commitment.

About the author: Chris Marling writes on behalf of officegenie.co.uk, the UK’s first proper online marketplace for desk space and shared office space.

Filed Under: Business Advice Tagged With: office rental, office space, shared offices

Take the Stairway to Payroll Heaven

July 29, 2011 By admin

Selecting the right Payroll Company for your new business can be challenging. There are many payroll company CV’S to wade through. Some companies work well for smaller new businesses and others are better suited to large organisations. So which do you choose and why? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Setting Up A Business Tagged With: payroll companies, payroll services

The Way To Use E-mail Autoreponders To Enhance Your Internet Business Potency .

March 31, 2011 By admin

As a small enterprize getting a new telefone system can be an enjoyable and doubtless stressed situation. There are some typical mistakes that known previous can limit the likelihood of buyer’s remorse kicking in. Many home business owners regret the choice after the purchase and installation, realizing in hind sight that they should have prepared and accepted more clearly their wishes. This text only covers a couple of the potential problems, however these are the most typical to think about. Grow your business Image with Toll Free Numbers Toll free numbers give a good image to your small enterprise venture, making it appear trusty and solid while securing it across the nation exposure. Service suppliers offer toll free numbers as a part of their phone service with a large number of other facilities like call forwarding, voice to mail, caller ID, web administration, custom menus, alerts on cell telephone, pager notification and loads more. Here are a few of the options that are now available to help your little business battle with the big dogs : Boosted technology : Blend the power of the telephone with the power of the PC and info networks and you now don’t have to depend on voice alone to speak.

Now it is actually possible to video meeting through the web and bring folk in one or two different locations together for a business meeting to help in making calls quicker. Unloose your work-force : you now do not have to keep your work-force near to the vest for them to be ultra productive. Now you can let them ramble where ever it is they have to be and still keep them in touch. Advanced Features at a small fraction of the Cost With a virtual office small company phone service you can gain advantage from all of the advancements of a standard telephone service at cost-effective rates. While making calls, the callers can hear pro sounding greetings integrated in the car attendants of the system. If the user is not available or busy, the callers can select options like voice mail, fax mail, or email to convey their messages. Virtual Office Telephone Service Suppliers choice of a good office telephone system is a particularly tricky job, since it is dependent upon the categorical necessities of your business like the size of your organisation, number of workers, your financial position and other considerations.

A couple of suppliers even offer virtual telephone numbers and toll free numbers for the benefit of the clients. the little business PBX system can create the impression of a single office location for firms having staff working from different geographical locations. Straightforward web administration enables the user to make the changes inside a brief time. Due to the scalability of the virtual telephone system, any quantity of extensions can be added to it in the future as laid out in the telephone requirements of the small enterprise. Therefore , PBX systems are definitely of benefit to smaller firms.

Filed Under: Business Tagged With: business, free numbers, telephone, toll free

What Tools Do You Need To Plan An Event?

February 12, 2011 By admin

Tools For Business Events

What tools do you need to manage an event? Well, the main tool you need is an Event Organiser who is good at what they do, is well organised, works well with their events team and knows how to use all the resources at their disposal. As well as their personnel tools there are an increasing number of software packages that can be used as tools for planning events.

Good content management and customer relationship management systems can be invaluable event management tools when having a large number of repeat attendees or clients that need regular communications about upcoming events. Some event management tools and CRM systems will also include the ability to log all communications with delegates (for example, records of emails sent with confirmation details of the event booking) which is extremely useful to keep track of what delegates have been sent in advance and to re-issue information if delegates have mislaid details such as attendee reference numbers etc.

There are a number of specific event planning tools available which can further aid event planning and enable clear record keeping, Event management software includes Online registration and delegate management, which could include online payment. This helps keep track of exactly how many attendees are expected.

Other useful software tools for planning events include packages for venue selection – databases which may be linked to large venue companies with details of locations, venue sizes etc. Software is also available for Exhibition Management and these packages can manage all aspects of planning, booking and billing – especially useful for event management companies regularly planning large and complex exhibitions. Further tools also aid on-site requirements for such large events, such as registration and badge production.

Increasingly, event management tools are available as online resources, which enables staff working remotely to access them and can avoid limitations on the number of users and required licences. With the increase in use of laptops, smart phones etc, -these web-based tools for planning events can only make event planning easier – not just for the organisation planning the event but for attendees too, and anything which makes it easier for attendees and delegates to book and confirm attendance at an event can only be a good thing!

Filed Under: Event Planning, How To Do Business Tagged With: event management tools, event planning tools, tools for planning events

Choosing The Right Theme For Your Event/Party

February 9, 2011 By admin

Business Opportunity

So you’ve decided to hold an event, set the date and booked the venue – now, you need a theme!
This doesn’t necessarily mean all the attendees having to go in fancy dress but you may wish to make the event extra-special with a themed event, which will have the attendees raving about your company for years to come (and if it has external attendees, hopefully they will come forward with some new business for you to having had such a good time!).
When choosing your theme party, you will need to fully consider your company and attendees, and be sure that the theme you choose is appropriate and consistent – an Art Deco theme is no good if your catering is served by waiting staff in 1970s dress for example.
Also, is this just a thank-you for company staff or will external clients and others be there too – can people really have fun and let their hair down or will it be quite a conservative corporate event?
The sky’s the limit though in terms of a theme but once you’ve considered popular themes such as Las Vegas Casino, Hawaiian, Hollywood, 80s, Arabian Nights, ‘winter wonderland’, Moulin Rouge, Bollywood, Masked Ball, Black and White Ball, fire and ice and Harry Potter (yes, even for adults!) etc, you may wish to bring in a company whose speciality it is to manage themed parties. They might just make your ‘Winter Wonderland’ or ‘Moulin Rouge’ theme party a little more sophisticated and add touches that will make the theme party a little different from the norm. In addition, they will be able to make invaluable suggestions of successful themes if you just don’t have a clue what to go for!
The added value in working with an events company for such a themed event is in the level of detail they will consider. The décor and entertainment a hugely important if you are really going for a theme and an events company can ensure that everything from table settings to ice sculptures, fireworks to burlesque dancers all fit in with your required theme.
You will also want to ensure that catering and drinks all fit the mood too – special touches like a themed cocktail goes down well and interesting party food will keep attendees happy upon arrival and encourage them to stick around for further entertainment.

Filed Under: Business, Event Planning Tagged With: theme events, theme party, themed event, themed parties

Things To Consider When Organising An Event

February 1, 2011 By admin

When organising an event, there are a multitude of things to consider. Firstly – Why are you organising an event, what is its purpose, what do you want the event to be and who is it for?

These may seem like obvious questions but you need to be able to have clear aims and objectives for your event before you can plan further. Is this a half day, full day or evening event? Will it last over more than one day – if so, have you considered accommodation – will this be provided or will delegates/attendees have to arrange their own accommodation? Also, depending on the size and scale of the event, as well as considering what resources are available to you, you will want to consider when to hold it. Be sure to consider what other events may be on in the locale on that date, which may put pressure on for example, policing and travel resources. These could include football or other major sporting events, local fairs, other events of a similar type – do your research beforehand to try and avoid a clash.

When organising events, you then consider further your attendees – is this invite-only, is attendance free or is a paid ticket required (and if so, how are you going to manage collecting payment and ticket issue), is your venue space large enough or might it be too big? Will there be a dress code, should they bring anything with them (laptop etc)?

Another aspect of organising an event, which is easy to get very wrong, is catering. If you have used a reliable company in the past, stick with them, otherwise speak to a few different catering companies to check out their services, go and visit them too to find out what kind of people they employ. Their team will reflect either well or badly upon you and poor catering appears to be the one issue that is always complained about, regardless of the success of the rest of the event! Don’t always go for the cheapest catering or menu option – again, consider whom your attendees are. If this is an all-day corporate meeting, you’ll want a decent lunch as well as good refreshments at breaks. If it’s an evening party, then appropriate party food and drinks will be more important.

Another common issue when organising events is signage and communication to reception and porters – particularly in an external hotel or conference space. Its very frustrating when you have travelled to a location, only to be told by reception staff that they haven’t heard of the event you are supposed to be attending and there are no signs anywhere to tell you where to go – as this is when people just want to turn around and go home!

Filed Under: Business, Event Planning Tagged With: organisation of events, organising an event, organising events

The Importance Of Event Insurance?

January 27, 2011 By admin

Business Insurance

Why do I need liabilities insurance? Well, every business requires liability insurance and events management is no exception in needing events insurance as there are potential risks involved in any kind of event, from a simple catered meeting to a large-scale live entertainment event. Every person at an event may potentially trip and fall and every piece of equipment used or brought onto site for the event runs the risk of getting damaged. If an unforeseen accident happens at your event, who pays?
As we all become increasingly aware of our legal rights, and with access to legal services become more widely available, more and more individuals and companies will resort to legal action to address any losses incurred either to property or as a result of personal injury. Such cases can be expensive so liability insurance is a practical necessity to anyone looking to hold an entertainment event.
Not only will event insurance cover the required Public Liability which is a requirement from either the local authority or venue (check first as they may have a specific minimum level of cover required) but also damage to property or equipment. This can become particularly essential if you become embroiled in action with a supplier for example and there are disputes over damage for expensive equipment.
Your liabilities insurance should also include Employers liability, which will cover any damages or claims incurred by staff employed for the event. Even if you are not paying anyone for helping out at the event, Employers Liability is a legal requirement as you have a responsibility to anyone working at such an event. Equally, there is also specific liability insurance available to non-profit organisations such as clubs and community groups who operate differently to commercial organisations.

Should you have to cancel or postpone your event, you may incur a number of irretrievable costs and liability insurance can cover you for this if the cancellation or postponement is due to reasons beyond your control (such as extreme weather conditions). This could run into thousands of pounds so good and comprehensive liability and events insurance will ensure your business is not damaged irreparably should you need to pay to cover any unfortunate events.

Filed Under: Event Insurance, How To Do Business, Setting Up A Business Tagged With: Event Insurance, Events Insurance, Liability Insurance

Find Solutions To Marketing/Promoting Your Event

January 24, 2011 By admin

Once you have decided to create and manage a live event, you will need to let people know it exists – marketing and event promotion is essential to actually get people there!
When considering an event initially, you should also be looking at marketing an event. This isn’t just about advertising and booking a few slots in the local newspaper but you will need to consider all aspects of the following: within the initial event proposal, you should include details of the strategy behind the event so any further promotion is clear (What is this event? Who is it for?). You may also wish to conduct any appropriate market research to help shape who your event is aimed at. Then you can consider sending invitations, budgeting for and buying any advertising and issuing press releases. You may also have to consider any merchandising and sales promotions, so discussions with suppliers will be essential at this point too.

There are PR and Event Management companies who specialise in promoting events and will be able to manage all aspects of the marketing and promotion of your event. If your event is expected to be large, or you are looking to make a particular kind of impression but aren’t quite sure how to get this across then using their expertise in promoting events may be worth the additional expenditure. This is particularly true when considering a PR strategy, looking at new methods of promotion such as online advertising, use of social networks, creation of artwork and content for promotion and so on.
If you have a very small budget for your event promotion however there are things you can do yourself that just require some preparation, research and possibly some legwork! Making use of free listings magazines, newspapers and websites as well as social networking sites is easy to do. As are basic flyers or leaflets, which can be handed, out or posted. You can also work with the Royal Mail to distribute to specific postcodes, which is relatively low-cost. You may wish to consider placing adverts in larger newspapers or magazines, but this can be expensive so choose your publications appropriate to your target audience. Additionally tube/underground/bus/taxi advertising is not as expensive as you may think but you will need some artwork and text already prepared. Outdoor poster and bus-shelter sites can also be useful for location-specific promotion (outside colleges and universities can be very successful for example) but this will push your costs up.

Whichever methods you choose, please don’t forget to include time, date and location and spell check, read and re-read (and get a second or third pair of eyes too!) – nothing worse than forgetting essential details or seeing a major spelling error in an advert or leaflet after it has gone out. Don’t expect the designer or printer to change it because they won’t!

Filed Under: How To Do Business, Marketing an Event, Promoting Events Tagged With: Event Promotion, Marketing An Event, Promoting Events

How To Hold A Corporate Event?

January 11, 2011 By admin

corporate events

How do you hold a corporate event? Well, first of all you need to clearly identify exactly why you want to hold the corporate event and its aims and objectives. You also need to know your company and staff well in its current state and whether such an event is appropriate at this time – sounds obvious, but if the aim is to increase staff motivation and your company has just made a number of people redundant for example, splashing out on extravagant corporate entertainment will not go down well. Equally if you’ve had a really successful year, exceeded all targets and increased profits, a sparse mid-range hotel conference suite with a day full of dull strategy and finance presentations with mediocre catering would not be appreciated either.
You also need to decide if the corporate event is for the whole company or just a specific unit or team that needs particular motivation (and if this is the case – bear in mind how other staff members will feel if not invited!). Is this to be a memorable day’s experience or just a day out of the office?
Once the clear aim of the event has been established you next need to be clear about budget – as frankly, the sky’s the limit when it comes down to corporate entertainment – from relatively inexpensive sessions of teambuilding drumming/singing/paintballing etc to hiring luxury yacht’s or spending a day at the tracks racing Ferraris.
You should also decide whether you wish to hire one of the many companies who manage all aspects of corporate events from venue hire to catering to corporate entertainment or if you have someone in-house who is extremely well-organised, thrives on making ‘to-do’ lists and excels at paying attention to detail (if you don’t already have an events manager). Attention to detail is key here and the whole event will need to be mapped out in precise detail – everything from budget, location, catering and getting to and from the event. Also, don’t forget to let the staff attending actually know what they are turning up for! Keeping things a mystery, or being too vague just makes people nervous and if the aim here is staff motivation, you want the staff attending to mentally buy in to the event and ideally, actually look forward to it else you can do as much planning as possible and it could be a disaster. However, follow these general guidelines and it won’t!

Filed Under: Business, Corporate Events, Event Planning Tagged With: Corporate Entertainment, Corporate Event, Corporate Events