Posts

Why Downtime Can Benefit You and Your Business

September 8, 2020

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist It’s no secret: running your own business can get hectic, especially during busy season. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the task of prioritizing all that needs completed each day, especially when so many things are equally important. Then, before you know it, despite your best efforts to stay ahead, you can quickly fall behind on work. So what can you do to help yourself not just accomplish necessary tasks, but exceed your own expectations? Schedule daily downtime. If you’re so focused on the daily grind that you literally need a downtime tutorial, we get it. And we have you covered. The Benefits of Pre-Planned Downtime While there are benefits to experiencing unexpected downtime, it can still be a headache to deal with. That is why having a pre-planned downtime is a better choice, so that you can prepare ahead of time. Daily downtime is a great way to keep you from expending all your energy, and helps you get through the day. You can refocus your attention on your business and you’ll feel more motivated. You’ll be able to get caught up on all those little projects you’ve been putting off,

Why it’s Smart to Keep an Eye on Your Competition

September 1, 2020

By Zach Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s SEO and Marketing Specialist There are countless ways to educate yourself as a business owner. With books, classes, online materials and networking groups, options abound for every busy schedule and personality type. One other important means of learning that doesn’t often get lumped in with the list above is studying your competition–and it may just be the most worthwhile of all. The insight you might gain just through the power of observation can help you avoid certain missteps and grow your business that much faster. Here’s what to look for when it comes to analyzing your competitors. Recognize the Good Without Ripping it Off We’ve all seen a business concept done exceptionally well and said to ourselves, “I wish I would have thought of that!” Remember, there are always new ways to put your own spin on an idea and make it entirely your own, if not even better. Never resort to copying another’s idea verbatim, but notice what you like and look ahead. How could your own business benefit from a stellar marketing campaign or a revamped inspection package? Rather than get stuck in an endless loop of comparing your business to a competitor,

5 Ways to Turn a First Meeting into a Lasting Impression

August 20, 2020

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Coach To become a successful business owner means developing strong working relationships with clients, fellow franchisees, business networking groups, contractors and other professionals. Networking comes as second nature for some, but for others, it can be a bit of a challenge. The good news is that making lasting impressions can be learned–it just takes practice, patience and a little know-how. Following these simple guidelines can help you make the networking connections that could transform your business. 1. Carry Business CardsAlways give new contacts a business card so they know how to get in touch! But never rely on your wallet to keep cards in great shape; instead, pick up a pocket business card holder or portfolio pad to keep them neat, flat and dry and to safely hold any cards you collect from others. You may also want to give away sample reports, brochures, pens, notepads or other marketing items. 2. Dress for Success Making a habit of looking well-groomed every day means you’ll always be ready to put your best foot forward. You never know where you might find a great referral. If you know you’ll be meeting new people, your regular inspection

Tips for Running a Successful Family Business

August 7, 2020

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist Running a business is challenging enough on its own. Adding family into the equation can take that challenge to a whole new level. However, it can definitely be done right—as evidenced by our highly successful franchisees! Here are a few pointers for staying productive, profitable and most importantly, in each other’s good graces, as a family-run business. Resist the urge to talk shop all the time. You’re family first and business partners second, so it’s important to make an effort to continue to enjoy each other’s company outside the office. With work on the brain, this might mean you need to make a conscious effort to steer the conversation away from work when you’re relaxing at home. It’s also a good idea to schedule regular family dinners and events where work and work talk is off-limits. Don’t make new hires within the family—unless it makes sense.Family members outside your initial partnership might be tempted to consider your business a catch-all for anyone in your clan who needs a job. But nothing will breed resentment faster than hiring your nephew based solely on your relationship, then having to let him go when he

Benefits of a Google My Business Listing

August 6, 2020

By Adam Kiesel, NPI, Inc.’s Digital Marketing Assistant Getting your name out to customers has never been easier than it is right now. Thanks to digital media, you can easily post content to reach potential clients. In addition to utilizing tools like social media, you can integrate a Google listing to further draw traffic to your business website. So what benefits does a Google My Business listing have to offer? Keep reading to learn more. What is Google My Business? Google My Business (or GMB) is a free service that helps business owners promote their services to local customers. Using GMB’s suite of tools and features, you can easily manage how you appeal to prospective clients. In a way, GMB is today’s version of the Yellow Pages, which means that if you have a listing, anyone with an internet connection can find you. Almost half of people who search for a business are trying to find goods and services in their immediate vicinity. Showing up near the top of Google My Business local listings goes a long way in putting you ahead of the competition. Customers Can See Your Location As mentioned above, a large portion of those searching for

A Look Back: How Examining Your Business Periodically Can Help You Grow

July 31, 2020

By David Stamper, NPI, Inc.’s President & CFO One of the best lessons in life [and in business] is to learn from the past and use it to influence your present and future. Whether you’re just beginning or years into your business, reviewing and improving your records and progress on a regular schedule will pay off for you. What Information Should I Review? It’s best to plan to go over every little detail in your business, which means keeping detailed records of what makes your business tick. This involves everything from employee reviews to financial records. You’ll likely find that the things that seemed small at the time actually came to be major factors down the road. You can also look at old inspection schedules and records from meetings with real estate agents. Look for: If you have access to all of the details above, that’s great! However, keep in mind that most business owners won’t, and that’s perfectly okay, too. Let this list guide your future record-keeping so that you’re in better shape when it’s time to review next time. When Should I Review My Findings? Whether weekly or annually, there’s no right or wrong time to review your

The 5 Best Leadership Traits for a Thriving Small Business

April 23, 2020

Being a small business owner is a great feeling. There’s a sense of pride that you get from starting down your own path and getting to create your own opportunities, but there are challenges that you will face as well. Competition can be fierce, and it can be difficult to separate yourself from the pack. However, there are steps you can take to build your brand’s reputation and promote growth for your business. 1. Know When to Step In, and When to Step AwayAs a small business owner, you’ll wear many hats in the day to day operations. You’re the owner, an employee (sometimes the only one), an accountant and even the janitor. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and burned out with responsibility, and it’s important to know your limits. Successful owners identify their strengths and weaknesses and learn to delegate responsibilities accordingly. Of course, it can be hard to relinquish control for some owners and they will struggle with it. But the sooner you realize the big picture and how division of roles can grow your business, the sooner you will hit your goals and recharge. 2. Set SMART GoalsSpeaking of goals, it is important to have them. Think

Foolproof Tips for Keeping Your Small Business Organized

April 10, 2020

Small business owners have dozens and dozens of tasks they need to complete to grow and succeed. But with so much on your plate, it can be difficult to keep on top of them and stay afloat. It can be especially difficult if you don’t have any help and can’t delegate responsibilities to other employees. So how can you make sure that you aren’t getting behind in your work? Here are some tips to get organized that you can use in your daily business and even your personal life. Create an OverviewThe beginning step in this process is to sit down and see all the tasks that you need to do. Write them down on a piece of paper so that you don’t forget any, and can refer back to it later. After you think you have everything, be sure to double and maybe even triple check that you didn’t forget anything important. There’s nothing worse than realizing you need to do something at the last minute and panicking. Rushing a job is never a good idea—it puts stress on you and can reflect poorly on you later on. Break Things DownNow that you have all of your assignments accounted

5 Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs

October 2, 2019

By Stepha Vesper It takes a special kind of person to be an entrepreneur. They’re driven, brave, curious and committed to their own growth. But what does a typical day look like for a successful small business owner? And what’s their mindset like? Below are five habits that successful business owners seem to all have in common. 1. They keep a regular schedule.Successful entrepreneurs keep themselves accountable by sticking to a daily schedule. But they don’t just keep that schedule to work-related tasks. They’re not afraid to pencil in time for socializing, relaxation and exercise, too, taking care to get professional responsibilities out of the way before scheduling recreation time. This balanced approach helps improve health and wellbeing, and in turn, business growth. 2. They stay flexible.A willingness to roll with the punches instead of balking at change or getting stuck in a certain mindset is crucial when you’re managing a business. Things can switch direction at any time, and flexible business owners know this can be sink or swim. The entrepreneurs that are willing to step out of their comfort zone and meet challenges are the ones that stay afloat in the long-run. 3. They get a good night’s