What Small Business Owners Can Learn From Reality TV Shows
There’s no doubt about it: there are tons of trivial, low-budget, poor quality TV programs currently being aired, that give justification to the label of “ boob tube”.
There are talk shows that don’t “say” much. Programs that promote girls behaving badly. And a host of other fluff stuff.
But, with some selective viewing, you might be surprised to discover that there’s much to be learned on TV that can enhance professional and personal development, and shorten the learning curve.
Particularly when it comes to owning and operating a business.
Below are a few quality choices to check out, for your viewing pleasure and enlightenment.
1. THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE
When it comes to business, Donald Trump is no chump. The creator of this weekly program, and a larger-than-life leader in real estate, provides many lessons worth heeding regularly for business owners in any field.
The story line? Essentially the show takes famous folks from different industries, (i.e. models, actors, comedians, singers, wrestlers) and divides them into two equal teams of men and women. He then provides them with weekly “assignments” or tasks where each is pitted against the other for the ultimate title of his “apprentice”. The project manager, (each episode), of the winning team is rewarded with a donation to his favorite designated charity. On the losing team, someone has to be fired.
Much like any work “environment” Donald has to deal with egos, catfights, ineffective team members, and general mayhem.
You’ll never be bored in his boardroom. Even though he’s the boss that America “loves to hate”, Donald is decisive, discerning, and demanding. Note that he always surrounds himself with a good “team” (usually his family members or trusted long time friends). He gets feedback from the various people he manages to get a broader perspective of the success of his projects. He’s a survivor. He’s tough, but he also gives praise when earned. Just a few principles and policies that today’s business owner should incorporate in their management practices as well. Visit their site at: http://www.nbc.com/the-apprentice/
2. SHARK TANK
Produced by ABC and originally launched back in 2009, this reality show features five filthy-rich investors, (a.k.a. “sharks”) that are presented with products and services from entrepreneurs where the panel has the opportunity to “buy into” the business, both figuratively and literally.
What can business owners take away from this show? Pertinent questions like why should consumers, advertisers, or lenders “invest” in their business? How are they different from their competitors? Is their price structure realistic? Does there “elevator pitch” quickly and accurately convey what their business is about when presenting to others?
Watch episodes here: http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank
3. TV COURTROOM SHOWS
Whether it’s Judge Judy, Judge Mathis, or People’s Court, business owners can benefit on discussions and rulings related to labor laws, liability, wrongful termination, and contractual compliance. Knowing a little about the law can potentially save money and serve as a protective measure when conducting business.
These are just a few examples of how reality shows can be used as teaching tools, much like textbooks and real-life experience, to enhance business owners’ know-how, and ultimately their net worth!
About the Author: Jennifer Brown Banks is a noted blogger, veteran freelance writer, and ghost writer.
Her blog, Pen and Prosper was chosen as a Top 10 Finalist at Write to Done’s annual contest. Banks has been featured at award-winning sites such as: Men With Pens, Technorati, Write to Done, Pro Blogger, and Daily Blog Tips.
Vist her site @ http://penandprosper.blogspot.com/
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Photo Credit: linh.ngân
7 Productive Tools for Small Business
The highly competitive market of today demands that new and upcoming small businesses put in twice as much effort as they did a decade ago in order to stay afloat. However, on the bright side, they also have twice as many business tools available to help them succeed. This will be the topic of today’s post in which we will highlight 7 extremely useful and productive tools that any business can use regardless of industry.
Batch Book
Batch Books is very handy cloud-based contact management system for sales and social media. Its sole purpose is to allow you to keep track of all your communications within the company and with your clients. It can create contact lists and also manage to-do lists. Users also have the ability to customize data for their reports.
MailChimp
Does your business send out regular newsletters to current and prospective clients? If so, then give MailChimp a try. It can create professional email newsletters in no time. Users can chose from a list of templates, create their own, integrate everything with their social networks and track results. It has everything under one platform and best of all it is not that expensive.
Drop Box
I can’t stress the importance of drop box. In a nutshell, you can practically carry and file, videos, images or a project with you at all times. This software can be downloaded on any machine and synched to store all your relevant files. You can be in an internet café at the airport or in a hotel in another country and access all of your data online at any time from any place. It’s a free service that also connects with your Smartphone.
Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus & LinkedIn
Yes there are four social media platforms in one heading but I believe they should be covered together instead of separately. Most people regard them are social media platform but to small businesses, these are some of the most productive, and lucrative business tools they will ever get their hands on. All four are great ways to reach your target audience, interact with them, keep them up-to-date on the latest company news and also get their feedback on services and products. Best of all, they are completely free to use!
Skype
Staying in touch with customers, clients and even office employees has never been easier than with Skype. With an extremely user friendly UI, Skype enables companies to chat and video chat with people at any time around the world. It is a must have for any small business.
Square
Setting up a credit card payment system for small businesses can be a tedious task, not to mention expensive. However with Square, things are much simpler, faster and easier on your wallet. You can take or make payments anywhere and at any time and since all the payments are electronically tracked, you don’t have to re-enter the information every time you wish to make an online payment. This service is available on all mobile phones and Smart phones.
Evernote
If a big part of your job involves coming up with creative ideas from online resources, then Evernote would be perfect for your business. It allows users the ability to save sentences and paragraphs they see online and even entire web pages. You can also type in random thoughts, and record your ideas using their audio recording feature. This tool is invaluable for managers and think tanks.
The one thing that readers should take from this post is that unlike a decade ago, there is an abundance of innovative tools available today that are specifically designed to make start-ups and small businesses become more efficient, competitive and profitable. This is great news for small business owners because in today’s highly competitive job market, they are very keen on getting all the help they can get and tools like the ones mentioned above are invaluable in terms of communication, productivity and revenue.
About the Author: Alex Finlay is a design consultant with 10+ years of marketing experience, mostly with start-up companies. He helps start-ups create a brand image and grow their online presence. Alex has been working with LogoDesignGuru on many online marketing projects, providing brand identity solutions for small businesses.
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10 Different Ways to Grow Your Small Business
When it comes to ensuring the growth and development of a small or midsize business, the best way to keep the proverbial goose and golden eggs on your front is by executing certain efficacious strategies. So, whether you own a small business or just manage a department, here are ten effective strategies to ensure a long term business growth. Take a look.
1. Be goal oriented
The growth and development of any small business begins with focusing on the quality and targeted goals. A goal oriented strategy will also take you and your employees off the superfluous misalignment and goof-ups.
2. Ask your peers
Sharing and taking experience from other entrepreneurs on a regular basis will bestow you with untouched business knowledge. When you will be in a crucial business crisis, these experiences will later on take you off the ledge.
3. Take advantages of social networking tools and online media
To attract traffic and make others acquainted with your existence in the international market, make use of blogs, websites, twitter or facebook. Awash your digital market space with effective and attractive videos and blogs. This will eventually drive more companies to your business and will help you carve your niche among your target audience. Remember, promotion of your business and services is the key to success.
4. Hire effective employees
More than half of your business success is dependent on how effective your employees are. Don’t hire people that have an executive position in their former company; look for doers that could achieve targets within the provided deadlines.
5. Don’t sweat the small financial loss
Of course, any sort of financial setback harshly affects the morale of the business. But, rather lamenting your failures and losing your cool over your employees, examine what went wrong. Take a scrutinized look at your forecast sales and cash flow, and work accordingly.
6. Centralize on the long run
Instead of investing all your time and resource in the shorter purposes look into the bigger picture. You would not want to have something that only comes handy and meaningful in short run. That’s why, reassure yourself that your hard earned money is working for you and is continuously renewed in the process.
7. Plan a backup door
Look beyond the certain target audience. Business which particularly manufactures products in-house can pitch in with other smaller firms, if it allows you to gain a larger order. Don’t give a second thought if you are not making expected profit as long as your business is supported with a few good market opportunities.
8. Make long-term partnership with firms that could expand in near future
To avoid any under-delivered promises, you need to research for companies that can scale with your business potential. Find out which firm holds the possibility of making it big in near future, and try to establish a healthy relationship with its employees.
9. Don’t fall in the same stream
To get an edge over your competitors, you need to do something innovative and experimental. This will rev up your sales and eventually your business development.
10. Re-analyze your business
Once you have noticed that your plan is falling into the place, don’t just sit down and relax. Rather, run with the flow and find out the next emerging possibilities for your business. After all, achieving one success doesn’t define your business prospects.
With a small business comes limited resources; therefore, effectively planning your business strategies is the only best way to ensure the growth and financial stability of your firm. Just, keep these aforementioned points in mind to persuade your small business in the line of successful companies.
About the author: Diana Maria is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on technology. Beside this she is fond of autos. Recently an article on Motorola DEFY plus attracted her attention. These days she is busy in writing an article on chicken pox treatment.
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How to Avoid a Wholesale Supplier Scam
If you’re an e-commerce merchant planning to re-sell tangible products, law requires you to have a supplier’s agreement. This is an agreement that states the terms and conditions between you and your wholesale supplier. However, if you’re a start-up e-commerce merchant or you’re thinking about selling products online, you need to be aware of the wholesale supplier scam.
What Is a Wholesale Supplier Scam?
Just like any other type of scam, a wholesale supplier scam comes in different shapes and sizes. The most important thing you need to know is that the scammer created their website to trick you into thinking they’re going to offer you a great deal on wholesale products. Here are the top three most common wholesale supplier scams.
1. Replica Scam
Not all replica merchandise suppliers are trying to rip you off. However, there are several wholesale suppliers who claim they’re selling you an authentic product—Louis Vuitton handbags, Nike sneakers, Rolex watches—when it’s actually a replica. If you want to sell replica items, that’s fine, but make certain you’re advertising your goods as replicas to avoid any legal problems.
2. Pay First Scam
You call your wholesale supplier and ask for a shipment of Dell laptops, but they claim they’re out of stock. Before they can re-order their stock of Dell laptops for you, they ask you to pay first. If you run into a situation like this, you should definitely err on the side of caution. While you feel like you can trust the company, this may be a wholesale supplier scam trying to swindle you out of your money without delivering the goods.
3. Drop Ship Scam
It’s rare to find a wholesale supplier who will drop ship your products for you, but it’s not impossible. You find a supplier, receive a product sample of what you’ll be selling, and its quality is great. However, here’s where the scam kicks into play. When your supplier starts shipping items to your customers, the products they receive are of poor quality. As a merchant, you get stuck with a chargeback as well as having to pay your wholesale supplier for shipping your products.
Warning Signs of a Wholesale Supplier Scam
Spotting the warning signs of a wholesale supplier scam is easy, but takes a little investigative work. However, it’s worth the time and effort if you want to save your business money in the end. Warning signs include:
- No contact details on the website
- Fictitious contact details, such as a fake physical address, telephone number, or names
- They have stolen website content (text and images) from other wholesale supplier sites
- When you call the company, the person who answers the phone doesn’t state their name or their company name—proper etiquette practiced by all legitimate businesses
- The wholesale supplier doesn’t ask you for your business ID or tax ID number
- Your account manager stops all correspondence with you, and you can’t get in touch with anyone else at the company
- They deny your request for a product sample, or begin acting suspicious when you ask for one
How to Avoid a Wholesale Supplier Scam
Avoiding a scam is just as easy as spotting one. Here are some tips to help you prevent a wholesale supplier scam.
- Make sure your list of wholesale suppliers comes from a dependable source
- Look for a full business name on the company’s website
- Look for contact information, including a landline telephone number
- Use resources such as the Better Business Bureau and WebRank Stats Whois to help validate the company as trustworthy
- Check out other forums to see what other e-commerce merchants are saying about the supplier
- Copy and paste some text from the wholesale supplier’s website into a search engine to see if it matches content on another site
Share Your Horror Stories
As an e-commerce merchant, what types of wholesale supplier scams have you seen? What companies should your fellow merchants avoid? What additional tips do you have for merchants to help them avoid a wholesale supplier scam?
About the Author: Meghan Faye Wolff is the senior copywriter and marketing specialist for Instabill Corporation. Instabill provides international and offshore payment processing solutions to e-commerce and MOTO merchants worldwide. Meghan writes about social media marketing, tips for start-up businesses, and e-commerce and payments industry news on the Instabill blog.
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Kids in Corporate America [Infographic]
By the year 2025, millennials will make up 75 percent of the workforce. Corporate America is taking notice. The generation that came of age with the Internet is helping companies across the country adapt to the ever intensifying shift to digital. But they aren’t just tech savvy; they want to change the whole working landscape.
(click for larger image)
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Photo Credit: http://www.hallway.com/blogs/companies/kids-in-corporate-america-infographic/
8 Common Legal Mistakes That Nearly Every Small Business Makes
Going into business isn’t just about hanging a sign on the front door anymore. In an increasingly complex world, you have to protect yourself and avoid making embarrassing and expensive legal mistakes.
1. Failing To Register A Trademark
Trademarks protect you in the future. You may not be too concerned about it now, if you’re a young business, but eventually you may want to make sure that your brand name is protected. It’s easy to forget about trademarking a name or slogan but if someone infringes on your trademark you will want that protection.
2. Infringing On Someone’s Copyright
Since it’s sometimes unclear whether an image is free of any copyright, it’s best to use a paid service or check to make sure that the image is in the Creative Commons. It’s not enough to post an image or graphic and credit its author. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t intend to violate copyright law. If you’re using someone’s property without his or her permission, you’re in violation and could be sued by the copyright owner.
3. Incomplete Filing
One of the most common mistakes businesses make is to file Articles of Incorporation and then set the paperwork aside. This gives you no protection, from a legal standpoint, and the IRS will not recognize the corporation as a legal entity. You must also prepare bylaws, execute organizational minutes, issue shares of stock, execute key agreements, and file IRS elections (i.e. S-Election).
4. Assuming Mandatory Incorporation
Not all businesses need to be incorporated. It’s become almost an unwritten rule that all businesses need to be incorporated. This is simply untrue. Unless you really need the legal protection that a corporation affords you, there’s little benefit of incorporating. What you do get by incorporating is extra tax forms, additional corporate tax (if you’re a C corporation), additional record keeping, and franchise fees.
5. Using Stock As Currency
Paying employees, vendors, or anyone else in shares of stock ties the corporation to the new shareholder for as long as the company stays in business. If you do this with your business, think of the long-term consequences. You will be legally bound to act in in their best interest since the purpose of the corporation is to maximize shareholder value. If you don’t want to be bound by this kind of agreement, don’t issue stock as a form of payment.
6. Careless Filing
As incredible as it sounds, many business owners file business documents based on what “sounds good.” LLC may sound good and snappy after your business name, but does it serve your purpose? Choosing what form your business takes while chatting with a friend over drinks could be a costly mistake. For example, in New York and California, LLCs pay far more in fees and taxes than other business entities. If you choose an S-corporation, you had better be prepared to file extra paperwork for the “S” election. Make sure you are choosing the right business entity for your needs.
7. Ignoring Jurisdiction
Don’t just randomly choose a state of incorporation from a drop-down menu on a website. In most cases it makes sense to incorporate in the state where you are doing business. There is normally no reason to incorporate in states like Nevada or Delaware, despite what some people say. In fact, you may actually increase the legal fees by doing so while decreasing your legal protections.
8. Failing To Formalize Contracts
A common mistake that many business owners make is to not formalize contracts. Small businesses often have this problem when dealing with vendors and sometimes even with customers. A handshake is no way to do business. While you might be completely honest and ethical, you have no way of knowing whether your customers or vendors are.
Even if your vendors and customers are honest, you may run into legitimate disputes that require arbitration or a trip to court to sort out. A contract is the only way to protect your business and your interests.
About the Author: Guest post contributed by Hayley Spencer, on behalf of Lawyers.com, providers of legal help and resources.
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Make a Direct Impact by Going Local
For many entrepreneurs, local business means big business.
The digital world may have broken down boundaries, but in the rush to engage online with our target audiences, let’s not forget about the opportunity knocking in our own backyards.
According to a recent study by Roost.com, just 15 percent of an average local business’s social media fans come from the city where the business is located. Small businesses must do more to reach their nearby customers.
And that starts with a ZIP code.
Just ask Jim Lafeber, owner of Simon’s Shine Shop, a high-end car wash in Chicago. Jim came to my center looking for an effective way to communicate directly with his customers. He had been supplementing his direct-mail promotions with social-media activities, but his mailing lists had become outdated and expensive. He needed to take his direct-mail distribution to the next level.
Jim turned to an affordable, tool called Every Door Direct Mail. Created by the U.S. Postal Service, Every Door Direct Mail helps small businesses send advertising mail to targeted audiences without the need to acquire an address list. It helps build traffic, find new customers and increase revenue, and is available from The UPS Store franchised network.
Jim selected his target ZIP codes and provided us with his design file, and we handled the logistics of printing and mailing more than 20,000 coupons. This saved him the valuable time and expense of having to purchase a mailing list or travel from printer to Post Office. Jim also saved $190 a year in mail permit fees.
Today, he happily reports new customers are flocking to his carwash to redeem the coupons. And he’s connected with a new audience without spending a lot or dealing with the logistics of a mass mailing.
Solutions from reaching hundreds or thousands of customers to printing your next brochure are closer than you think. They might even be in your own backyard.
Whether coupons or postcards, direct mail remains an effective way to communicate directly with customers. Every Door Direct Mail can help the process by:
- Simplifying direct mail orders. You provide the mailing design, and The UPS Store handles the logistics—from printing to coordination with the local Post Office—so you don’t have to worry about the process.
- Reaching all of your target customers: You pick the target area—whether city, neighborhood or a specified distance from your business — and the mailing will be delivered to every door.
- Customizing your message. Today’s business communications are constantly evolving, and the old bulk printing approach has gone by the wayside. Quick, flexible printers can create quality collateral as your business and audience change.
Solutions from reaching hundreds or thousands of customers to printing your next brochure are closer than you think. They might even be in your own backyard.
About the Author: Tom Bellino is the co-owner of four The UPS Store locations in Chicago. He is a current Chairman’s Club member and past president of The Lakeview Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining The UPS Store network in 2005, he was an executive at a local oil distribution company, preceded by an 18-year career at UPS, where he held several management positions.
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Safe Wi-Fi For your Business and your Patrons
For a great number of business owners who operate a brick-and-mortar retail or service location, a wireless Internet connection is an optimal way to attract patrons and foster loyalty among customers. Modern businesses, from small town cafes selling gourmet coffee to mom and pop computer shops selling laptop deals, a Wi-Fi connection is essential to keep your customers happy.
Happy Customers
Even with the advent of wireless broadband 3G, 4G and Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, people still appreciate the kindness of a business owner who offers free Wi-Fi. After all, wired broadband connections perform better than 3G, even when shared on a wireless router. Customers love to be able to place free voice calls on VOIP services such as Skype and free themselves from the burden of metered data plans, or perhaps they wish to make a quick purchase on iTunes without worrying about interrupting a download due to a poor cell phone signal.
Keep it Secure
For all the benefits of an in-store Wi-Fi connection for free Internet access there is, however, a significant caveat: the wireless connection must be absolutely secure. Hackers, crackers and other less-than-pleasant miscreants of the Information Age are known to prey on unsecured wireless connections, particularly when they know that many customers connect to a single Wi-Fi network or commercial hotspot. Unsecured wireless routers are prone to a number of attacks, and some of them can turn viral, according to research performed by Indiana University as early as 2008. One of the biggest threats to wireless networks comes in the form of Firesheep, a malicious Firefox extension that has been labeled as an effective packet sniffer that can easily intercept unencrypted session cookies, such as the ones commonly used by popular online social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
The minimum measures that a business owner should take to secure a public Wi-Fi hotspot for customer use should include firewalls and WPA or WPA2 AES encryption. Enabling password protection for customer use may seem restrictive at first, but it is also a way to form a bond between patrons and the business since it sends a message of concern for the customer’s browsing safety.
Comprehensive commercial security solutions for Wi-Fi hotspots are available for business owners who want take that extra step in securing their public wireless networks. These solutions are worthwhile investments since they not only prevent malicious activity, but also allow value-added customization options such as branding, welcome screens and marketing in the form of gift certificates, coupons and advertisements for special offers.
About the Author: Jeremy Jansen is an IT professional with over 8 years in the industry. He enjoys helping small businesses with their business needs.
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Franchise Marketing Techniques to Increase Franchise Sales
For franchise owners it is important to continuously be growing your business. By expanding your business, you are coming into contact with more patrons and potential franchisees. Unfortunately, in economic recessions this task can prove to be more difficult. This is the reason you should always be watching for new franchise marketing techniques to pique the interest of new franchisees and increase your franchise sales. Eye catching franchise marketing can prove to be an important part of your business model. Below are five techniques to help grow your business.
In-Store Advertising
Although it may seem simple, you can use your own stores to broadcast your business. Franchise owners are able to use the popularity of their stores and the frequent visits from customers to promote new franchise locations. Each new store has the opportunity to further promote future franchisees, while bringing your products into the lives of new patrons.
Networking
Typically, when people think of networking, many think of finding a job. But in franchise marketing it is the opposite, you are seeking individuals who you can offer jobs to. By networking, you will be able to connect with new franchisees, while promoting your business and helping to create a larger employment pool. There are many different types of networking, ranging from email, to in person, to online on LinkedIn and other social networking sites. Knowing the right people can cause an increase in your franchise sales.
Media
The media provides another option to increase your franchise sales. Although different strategies apply, you can use both the local and national media to expand your business. The local media is an important tool for lead generation and allows you to target geographic areas where you would like to grow. National exposure provides the largest scope and can attract large amounts of attention.
Internet Marketing
One of the largest and most powerful franchise marketing tools is the Internet. Franchises are able to utilize online marketing tactics both through advertisements, social media and email campaigns. Companies can utilize both paid and organic marketing to connect with users.
Trade Shows
Tradeshows are another way to meet prospective franchisees. The event will provide an insight for potential franchise owners, while promoting brand awareness and product visibility. Tradeshows also provide an opportunity to promote new and current products and drive sales.
About the Author: For a franchise business to be successful, it is important to continuously work to find new leads and increase franchise sales. Franchise marketing is a proven way to generate new leads and expand your business. For more information, contact Upside Group Franchise Consulting today!
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Small Business Insurance Brokers – What to Look For
If you have a small business, you may not have considered the idea of small business insurance. If not, you might want to take a moment to reconsider. If you have thought about it or have just learned the benefits, you may be wondering what to do next. Keep reading and find out how you can find the right small business insurance policy for your needs.
Why Small Businesses Need Insurance?
Whether you run a small corner café or you’re a freelancing web designer, you need small business liability insurance. In today’s world, people are ready and willing to sue over almost anything. And unfortunately, no matter how hard you try, mistakes will happen. You can’t be everywhere at once, you can’t be perfect and you most certainly cannot avoid mistakes along the way.
Without coverage, you can face the astronomical costs of legal fee representations. You may also be responsible for damages awarded to the client, customer or business that you provided services, products or advice to. If, however, you have small business insurance, these fees will be paid for by your insurance company, as long as you continue to pay your premiums while you are in business.
What is a Small Business Insurance Broker?
So now that you understand why small business liability insurance is so important, it is time to learn how to obtain a policy and what to look for in a small business insurance broker. Like brokers with other types of insurance, small business insurance brokers work with several different insurance companies. They research various polices for you and let you know what each company has to offer.
Benefits of Using a Small Business Insurance Broker Over a Business Insurance Company
While it is true that you can contact various businesses on your own and request policy quotes, there are many benefits to using a small business insurance broker. These benefits should not be overlooked and understanding them can help you determine if, in fact, a broker is the right solution for your insurance needs.
- A broker can help ensure that you are meeting all legal state and local requirements in your business.
- A broker can obtain several quotes in a matter of minutes.
- A broker may be more apt to explain the specifics of a policy to you than an insurance company.
- A broker can be a one-stop-shop for all of your business insurance needs.
When is a Broker Not Right for Your Businesses?
While a small business insurance broker is perfect for many small businesses, there may be some instances in which a broker and their fees are not considered a prudent business decision. Generally, this applies to businesses that are extremely small. In this case, an agent may be able to best assist you with your insurance needs.
Where to Look for a Small Business Insurance Broker?
There are many ways to find a small business insurance broker. You can contact your local Chamber of Commerce and ask for referrals to local small business insurance brokers. You can talk to other local businesses and ask them if they used a broker to purchase their small business insurance policy. You can look in the phone book or online as well, but using referrals is generally the preferred method because you are making your broker choices based upon real customer experience.
Finding the Right Small Business Insurance Broker?
Unfortunately, the insurance brokerage business has a few lemons in it, just like all businesses. To protect yourself from these brokers, know what it is that you need to look for in a broker:
- Ask all brokers for references from other small businesses that they have worked with.
- Contact the local licensing agency. All brokers are required to maintain licenses.
- Ask the state agency for a complaints record. While they may not always have one, it is worth checking into.
- Check the Better Business Bureau for complaints.
- Interview the agent before purchasing a policy. If you ever feel suspicious or uneasy for reasons that you can’t explain, go with your gut and find another agent.
- Test your broker to see how long it takes them to return your calls.
Making Changes to Your Policy
Once you have obtained your policy, you are good to go. However, as time goes on, your business will change and grow. As such, your insurance policy should change and grow. When it is time to make changes, it is important that you realize that your broker is your point of contact. They must approve and discuss all changes to your policy with you and with the insurance company that has issued the policy. Contacting the insurance company directly will only leave you frustrated so save yourself some headache and contact the broker directly for all changes needed for your small business insurance policy.
About the Author: My name is Mary G. Watson. I am a freelancer writer for www.liabilityinsurance.org. I am 33 years old and I have 2 sons. I used to work at a car company in New York as a car insurance agent. I usually write all about insurance. My topics are not only about cars but about business and others.
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