Category Archives: Business Planning

5 Methods To Improve Productivity at the Office

There Are Technology-Based Methods to Improve Productivity

There are many technology-based methods that can help you increase productivity. For example, apps are available for your phone or computer that have timers on them which you can use throughout the day to track how much time you spend working on tasks. Apps like this are great because they allow you to set goals for yourself. Other types of apps allow you to block social media sites for a set amount of time so that you can focus on completing tasks. You can also find different software solutions for hand-off time allocation and inter-connection between teams. These are just a few examples of how technology can help improve your productivity at work.

Ask Employees What They Need to Improve Productivity

One great way to make a more productive environment at work is asking your employees what they think will help. Some good ways of increasing productivity among your team include creating a working environment that is conducive to productivity (e.g. minimizing distractions) and encouraging team members to communicate with each other about their status on projects. Other ways to improve productivity among your employees include setting a good example by being productive yourself and making sure they have access to the necessary tools for completing tasks. All of these strategies can be implemented at your job, and they all have the potential to increase productivity in a positive way.

Consider Implementing Remote Work

If you can, consider implementing remote work at your company. The ability to telecommute has the potential to decrease stress among workers and increase productivity. Not only this, but it also saves companies money by allowing employees to work from home. There are many systems that will make remote work easier, including board meetings or video chats that include a whiteboard. Other ways to work remotely would be to have a phone conference with a written transcript or even just email documents back and forth. All of these options are available for employees that want to work from home, and they can all improve productivity at your company.

Write Down Daily Tasks and Prioritize Them

One great method for improving productivity at work is to write down any and all daily tasks that you can think of. Not only will this help prevent you from forgetting tasks, but it also allows you to prioritize them into an order of importance. If there are many different things on your to-do list, start with the most important task first and then move on to the easier or more enjoyable tasks later. This will help you stay productive throughout the day, and it will prevent you from wasting time on easy but unnecessary tasks. Additionally, if you have a bad habit of procrastinating on your work, this method is a great way to get around that problem.

Relax More

This may sound crazy, but one of the best ways to increase productivity is to relax more. Taking breaks throughout the day has been shown to improve mental health among workers and make them feel better while performing their work. This means that if you take a break after working hard on a task for an hour, you’ll likely return feeling refreshed and ready to finish it up. Not only this, but taking breaks also prevents mental burnout and allows you to enter your work with a clear mind. To make sure you don’t waste time on social media or watching too much TV while relaxing, you can use the Pomodoro technique. This method involves working on a task for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. Repeat this process throughout the day, and not only will your productivity at work increase, but you’ll also feel great about yourself whenever you get back to work!

If you’re struggling with productivity at work, it may be due to a lack of organization or an inability to focus on the right tasks. Luckily there are many strategies to improve productivity – from setting deadlines and choosing what tasks matter most to taking more breaks throughout the day. We hope this article has helped you,

If you need an office where you can be more productive, we can help. Contact us today to find out more. No obligation to request information. Services are free to you in most cases.

8 Ways To Ensure Peak Efficiency In The Office

In any workplace, it’s crucial to maintain peak efficiency at all times. Always remember that productivity depends on efficiency. When you have an inefficient workspace, it’ll take your employees a long time to finish tasks, and the productivity level drops. A good work environment will allow your employees to tackle tasks relatively faster.

Implementing small changes to habits and incorporating the right tools can help improve efficiency and productivity in the workplace. If you want to increase the efficiency in the office effectively, here are several ways to make it happen soon:

1. Follow A Simple Schedule

One of the ways to boost efficiency in the workplace is to make improvements with the scheduling.

The initial task is to streamline the work schedule by utilizing an application that works best for the specific needs of your business, especially those with alerts and notifications. Look for one that allows push notifications to remind employees when they have scheduled tasks.

2. Set Realistic Goals And Offer Support

One of the common issues among managers in the workplace is not providing a clear sense of whether or not the performance of their employees is good or not.

It might be necessary to provide your employees with an incentive to keep up with their tasks. A good approach is to provide clear directions to help clarify expectations or concerns. Doing so will improve their productivity since they have clear objectives to focus on.

3. Provide The Right Tools

One way to improve the efficiency in the office is providing the right tools so your employees can perform their duties on time and efficiently. It might be best to ask your employees if they need specific tools that could help. If workable, implement the necessary tools into the workflow. Doing so will avoid any frustration among your employees when doing their tasks.

Today, several modern programs, applications, services, and tools impart significant improvement in the workplace, but also in the reputation of your business. A good example is an online fax service.

An online fax service will make it convenient to send and receive faxes. It involves sending documents electronically with the help of the Internet. The service is an excellent upgrade to the physical fax machine that takes up space and requires maintenance.

An online fax service will also come in handy if you’re out in the field and need to send documents. By searching using keywords like ‘fax near me‘ using your mobile phone, you’re likely to get a list of online fax services.

4. Deal With Disruptions In The Workflow

When your business operations frequently experience disruptions to the workflow, productivity can be affected. Generally, a disruption can range from data overload, a department with poor performance, or hardware problems. Make it a priority to deal with these disruptions immediately.

5. Delegate The Tasks

Once you decide to delegate tasks, it’s a good step in boosting efficiency and productivity. When delegating, avoid hastily giving away tasks, especially to those who lack the skills and knowledge. Before delegating, you need to determine individual strengths and assign the tasks accordingly to your employees.

6. Provide A Conducive Work Environment

A good work environment has a positive effect on the workplace. When your employees work in warm conditions with a cluttered desk, it can significantly affect their efficiency.

An environment that’s too cold or hot can be a distraction, urging your employees to walk around or find ways for their bodies to adjust. One improvement to the workplace environment is to ensure both air conditioning and heating systems are functional throughout the year.

Additionally, you also need to provide a clean work environment since clutter can be a distraction. In the long run, you’ll have happier and satisfied employees.

7. Avoid Micromanaging

If you’re micromanaging, you make your employees feel incompetent with their assigned tasks. Once you delegate the tasks, avoid the urge to micromanage.

Remember that it can negatively affect their confidence, resulting in poor efficiency and productivity. Your employees will greatly appreciate the autonomy and often show more initiative if you don’t micromanage.

8. Minimize Distractions

In almost any workplace, various types of distractions can negatively affect efficiency. One of the culprits is social media, which can lower the productivity level.

Although it’s impossible to implement a no-phone policy, it might be best to keep your employees focused and engaged with their tasks, while allowing enough breathing room.

Encourage your employees to turn off their mobile phones or mute the notifications during working hours, but take regular breaks to check on their phones. This approach ensures that the time they spend in the office is more productive.

Conclusion

Maintaining a good work culture and environment is crucial in maintaining a peak efficiency level and boosting office productivity.

If your business is starting to show lags in productivity, it might be time to consider making adjustments. Implementing these practical measures in improving the office environment will add an excellent boost in efficiency.

Looking for a new office? We can help! If you would like assistance of an experience local commercial real estate agent, we have some of the best available to assist you. Contact us today to find out more. No obligation to request information.

7 Keys to Creating a Hybrid Work Schedule

A hybrid work schedule is a work schedule that combines elements of a compressed workweek, remote work and flextime. Typically, in a compressed workweek employees will have some long days where they come to the office for a set number of hours and then leave early on other days to make up the difference and then work remotely other times. The combination of these methods can increase productivity and morale, reduce employees’ work-related stress, and decrease absenteeism. It is also known as an agile workplace.

However, implementing a hybrid schedule is not an easy task. It will take careful planning to make the transition as smooth as possible for both managers and employees. This article provides 7 tips on how to successfully implement a hybrid work schedule.

1. Communicate

It is essential to go over the new policy with all employees before it goes into effect. This way they can ask any questions and voice their concerns. To ease employees’ worries about how this will impact their schedules or other aspects of their jobs discuss hypothetical examples that explain how the schedule will work and share success stories of other companies that have successfully implemented a hybrid work schedule in their workplace. This way employees will understand exactly how this change will affect them and they can feel confident that their concerns have been addressed.

2. Identify scheduling and moral issues

A survey should be distributed to employees asking them about their concerns and ideas for the new policy. If possible, it would also help to gather feedback from managers as well. Look at how employees currently spend their time and identify any scheduling issues that may arise. For example, employees may be worried about how they will get projects done if they are expected to work 50 hours in four days instead of 40 hours over five days. Morale also needs to be considered. Employees who feel like their work schedule has become more flexible and fair are going to have a greater commitment to the company.

3. Create a detailed proposal

Once you have gathered all of this feedback, it’s time to create an official proposal with details on how the new policy will be implemented. Articulate precisely what the compressed workweek portion of the policy entails and present any rules that apply to employees who choose to take advantage of flextime. Also, be specific about which jobs qualify for the compressed workweek or remote working and how much time employees have to take advantage of it.

4. Include management training

If managers are expected to complete their regular duties during the hours when most employees are at home there needs to be proper training in place so they can manage these responsibilities effectively. Managers will also need to be properly trained in the concept of a flexible workplace if they are expected to supervise employees whose schedules differ significantly from their own. Also, if employees are working different hours from their managers they may have trouble communicating or sharing information. Proper training in collaboration and communication will help integrate these teams into a productive, well-oiled machine.

5. Provide support for shift workers

If shift workers are included in the new policy they should have two weeks to weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether or not they want to participate. Since there may be scheduling conflicts with their outside commitments, this period will allow them to work it out and give them ample opportunity to voice their concerns and suggestions. Allowing some lead time before launch will also help management identify potential problems that may require more thought before the policy goes into effect.

6. Launch gradually

Although it may seem like implementing a new policy overnight will prevent further complications, launching the policy too quickly will only cause issues that can potentially delay or derail the change. Before choosing this route, consider how much time you need to launch properly and present this method as an alternative to your employees. If they are concerned about lack of preparation, ask them to help you brainstorm ways the change can be successfully implemented. The more input your employees have the better.

7. Train employees for success

Change can be difficult and it is important to encourage employees who will soon begin working a hybrid schedule to have realistic expectations. The new policy should provide them with social support from coworkers, supervisors, and human resources so they know they are not going through this alone. If everything has been done correctly the transition to a hybrid workweek should be a smooth one that both managers and employees are happy with.

It is important to remember that the goal of an agile workplace is to better accommodate employees’ needs and provide them with more growth opportunities. It can be difficult to change company policy, but organizations should remain open-minded about new ways to boost their business performance. Following these tips will help managers ensure that their employees are satisfied and respected under a new policy like the hybrid workweek.

If you need help finding office space, whether conventional or flexible space, we can help. Contact us today for a no-obligation discussion on how we can help.

8 Tips on How to Efficiently Organize Your Workspace

Whether you are completely digital-oriented or choose to go old-school using paper, the physical environment of your workplace can have a significant effect on your career productivity. So, organize your workspace!

In fact, according to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), disorganization of the workspace could result in financial losses equivalent to 10% of a manager’s salary to a company. And more importantly, a cluttered desk restricts your ability to engage and even limits your brain’s ability to process information which can lead to problems at work.

All in all, there is no question regarding the merits of clearing out your desk. An organized and serene environment might be just the right dose you need to get yourself motivated and succeed at your job.

1. Start With Your Computer

When thinking about organizing your workspace, the first aspect that comes to most of our minds is our office space or the desk in particular. However, the one thing that we use the most is our computer/laptop. If this go-to device is disorganized, then it could be the primary source of experiencing distraction even at a dream job.

So, the first thing you want to do is organize your computer storage. Start by assigning separate folders for personal and office files. The last thing you want to do is send the wrong item to the wrong person when you are in a hurry. You should also make it a point to delete the files that you don’t need anymore.

This digital decluttering can be a part of your daily tasks so that you will have a clean monitor to come to every day.

2. Clean Your Inbox

The next crucial decluttering should happen in your email inbox. Make sure the email in your inbox is only the email you need to work with in the future. File away emails thay you have already dealt with. Keep it clean. Think of it as cleaning out your resume. Do you really need that extracurricular to be listed in your CV? Or do you want specific work experience to stand out? In fact, when you get professional help from a LinkedIn Profile Service, the first thing they would do is get rid of unwanted job descriptions and skill sets that do not matter for your application. To land an interview, you need to interest the recruiter and your future employer. In other words, you want the hiring manager’s attention to go to your career accomplishments.

Similarly, the promotional emails you receive every day might be one of the main reasons for you to miss an important message about a meeting or landing a job for that matter. When you scan through your inbox, you want it to be clean and organized, and not overcrowded. So, make it a point to unsubscribe from unnecessary mailing lists at least once a week.

Provided by Skillhub

3. Things you Need at Arm’s Length

One of the best ways to clean the clutter is to consider what things should be on your desk. Do you really need that dictionary or the old client files within your reach? Maybe you do not need all those pens, pencils, and highlighters when you hardly use one on an everyday basis.

Instead, you will have a clean desk if you get rid of those unnecessary items that make up the visual clutter. Even only this is a reason enough. For most people, you only need space for your computer, keyboard, mousepad, two pens, a notepad, and a personal item. Any other supplies can be kept in the storage.

4. Tag & Code

While the majority of us might have shifted to digital files, there might still be many professions that require dealing with papers. This can be a severe problem, especially when you can’t find a critical document when you need it.

That said, with all the tools and lifehacks available, it is easier than ever to organize your papers. It would be a good idea to tag them with a name or a color code. It will give you visual cues to quickly identify the file when in a hurry. However, remember to prepare a legend for which color is for what when creating this system.

Apart from this, you should also purge unwanted items, archive older files, and keep the system organized once every three to six months.

5. Get Creative With Storage

If you are one with plenty of storage on your office desk, then count yourself lucky. All you need to do is to keep your things tidy. However, if you do not have sufficient space, then consider it an opportunity to get more creative.

This doesn’t mean that you have to get a new desk or build an entire cabinet. Instead, you can keep your items organized in baskets or boxes. There are plenty available today, with different colors and patterns that can add personality and style to your workspace.

These will make your desk look cleaner, rather than having things scattered. Add a plant or two, and you have an Instagram-worthy workspace right there. You can also add storage to the walls by installing hooks or boards to attach papers.

6. Sort Your Junk Drawer

Let’s accept it: we all have that drawer where we just dump things (in theory, some don’t have one, but then, they wouldn’t be reading this).

Many of us throw things into drawers to keep them out of sight, which will give us the false impression that at least the surface of our desks is clean. However, this junk can only add up in time. It would be best for you to sit down once every month to clear out everything in these drawers. You might have to add a reminder in your calendar to do this regularly.

7. Know Your Habits

Before coming with your organizational plan, you might want to consider what your daily habits are. There is no point in keeping an item you use daily tucked away in storage. Instead, you will need quick access to them. Think of where you reach when you need a pen or a notepad—and assign their spaces accordingly.

Similarly, if you generally carry a bag, or coat to your workplace, designate a space for these things to stay out of your way.

8. Make Cleaning a Habit

Decluttering your workspace is not something that needs your attention once in a blue moon. Instead, by taking time every day to clean out, you can eliminate the mess from forming in the first place.

If you think about it, keeping aside just 10 minutes at the end of your workday can make a huge difference in maintaining a clean and organized workspace. Use this time to put back things where they belong, toss the garbage, wash the cups, and when possible, create a to-do list for tomorrow.

This might not fall into one of your ‘duties’, but it will certainly make your workday flow smoother and help you start every morning with a clear space and mind.

And if you are looking for a new office where you can re organize your office, we can help. Contact us today so we can show you how we can help you find the right office at the best price. No Obligation!

7 Key Factors When Choosing A New Office Space

Your office space isn’t just any other space–it’s the center of innovative ideas and the collective effort of your whole team. That being said, you should always be extra prudent when choosing a new office space.

Whether relocating or starting up, here are several things to consider when choosing a new office space for your company:

Location

The first item to tick off your priority list is the office’s location. Choose a location that’s easy to access, not only for you but also for your employees. Ideally, the office space should be accessible for your clients, partners, and suppliers. Also, consider its proximity to necessities such as public transportation, restaurants and other amenities.

Parking is also another factor to consider when choosing the location. Is there adequate parking for both your employees and customers? You don’t want your customers getting frustrated because they couldn’t find a parking space. Downtown locations generally have very limited parking so it is important to decide how much parking you will need.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure involves several aspects, not just the internet connection. Of course, you want an office space that has reliable connectivity, especially since, nowadays, a business may find it difficult to function without an internet connection. But also take into consideration other aspects of infrastructure like telephone connections and postal services.

If you’re planning to buy a property and turn it into an office space, you need to ensure that the infrastructure is good, especially the availability of good Internet access, electrical, heating and cooling (HVAC), and plumbing systems. If you are planning major renovations for a rehab, check out what is in stock at EasyMerchant.

Your Clients And Other Stakeholders

If you’re moving to a new office, you need to consider if your clients and other stakeholders will find it easy to access the new office. If you’ve been operating in your old office for some time, they’ve undoubtably acquired familiarity with the location and everything around it.

Tasks And Workforce Amenities

Amenities are also an important consideration in determining how comfortable your team will be in the new office. Are there enough amenities for the whole workforce to use and enjoy? An example would be conference facilities that can accommodate the whole team whenever you need to hold a company-wide meeting.

If you’re renting, there are important amenities that should be present in the building like shared meeting areas and daycare centers. Other amenities that may be considered are fitness centers, a lounge, cafes, and even outdoor spaces for tenants.

These amenities will ensure that your organization remains productive at work, and, most importantly, encourage employees to come to the office more frequently, especially if you are implementing an agile workplace with remote work.

Scalability

Scalability means the capacity of your office space to be changed or modified either by size or by scale. Your new office space needs to be flexible enough to accommodate the size of your workforce and it should also have enough room to grow your team.

With scalable office space, you don’t need to worry about having to relocate again just because the space can no longer accommodate your growing company.

Competition

While the office usually needs to be situated in a place where business is centralized, you also need to consider if there are competitors in your prospective area. Make sure and do some research to find out if there will be any competitors that would impact your business nearby.

Price

Whether you’re renting or buying the whole property, you need to know if the asking price is fairly competitive for its location and amenities. If the landlord is not providing tenant improvements, an allowance for them or if you’ll need to do any remodeling and or reconstruction yourself, make sure the price for such is reflected in the price. It is important to make sure you know what it is going to cost prior to signing a lease. You don’t want any nasty surprises after you are committed to a long term agreement.

Conclusion

A productive office space isn’t only for your team’s benefits, but also for the image of your company. Choosing a new office isn’t a walk in the park, but with the help of the tips provided, you have a few of the most important things to consider when choosing a new office space. Needless to say, we recommend you obtain the services of a qualified tenant rep to help you in acquiring your office space. They do this on a day-to-day basis and know what needs to be considered to make sure you get the right space at the best price. We have over 600 local tenant reps to assist you. Contact us today to get in touch with one. No obligation to inquire. You will be glad you did.

The Secret to a Well-kept Office Space

Many of us can agree that we become more productive when working in a clean and tidy office space. Not only does a neat workspace increase your motivation but it also is better for your mental health. A disorganized office has more distractions which disrupt your mental state of mind. These disruptions may be a subconscious reaction that may not even realize.

If your workspace has pieces of paper shoved all around the room; on chairs and on desks, this image immediately triggers your stress levels. Once stress levels are high, it becomes difficult to focus and get anything done. Seeing a pile of papers on your desk may also reduce your motivation levels, creating a negative mindset of your job and yourself. Furthermore, an office space is where many of us spend 8-10 hours a day for 5 or 6 days a week. If this area is unsanitary, filled with a build-up of dust and dirt, the effect that has on both your physical and mental health can be harmful.

Yes, cleaning the office can be a tedious and difficult job. Sometimes we find ourselves spending hours cleaning up the room on days we should be relaxing and enjoying ourselves. However, making sure your office is tidy and well-arranged doesn’t have to be difficult. This article will be discussing the one secret you need to a well-kept office.

A proactive mindset

The secret you need to learn is a change in your mental state of mind: developing and maintaining a proactive mindset. This mindset is an “act now or pay later” mindset where you realize that if you don’t clean your office regularly, in 6 months you will be spending hours trying to. It is the realization that 10-20 minutes of maintaining the office space once a week beats over 3 hours of cleaning it up on a Sunday afternoon. Once you get into this habit you will be programming your mind to be proactive. Cleaning won’t end up being a hassle at all. Before you know it you’ll be spending a couple of minutes every day tidying up in order to come back to a clean space in the morning.

This proactive mindset will also become useful in your day-to-day life. You will get to thinking ahead and creating a contingency plan in case anything goes wrong. Your next family trip will be as easy as pie because you will have packed the necessary things for any emergency.

Now that we know the secret to a well-kept office, the question is how do we achieve it.

How to become a proactive person

Think big picture: shift your mindset to focus more on the future. If you catch yourself trying to find the easy way out of a task or procrastinating remind yourself that in the long run taking action now will only benefit you. Attempt to remind yourself of your own long-term goals. Where you want to end up, what you are really trying to accomplish. A great way to do this is to begin journaling, it allows you time to reflect on yourself and reminds you of the things you find important in your life.
Own up to your mistakes: often we find ourselves and others complaining about others lack of motivation, lack of opportunities, etc. These complaints are an unhealthy habit; trying to convince yourself you are not responsible for a certain situation or outcome within your control.
Focus on what you can control: sometimes we don’t realize that we are getting wound up in situations we can’t control. This creates feelings of anger, stress, and disappointment. However, if we accept that certain situations are not in our hands we begin to focus on things that we can change. This leads to feelings of confidence, empowerment, and achievement. You may not be able to control how bad the traffic is one day but you can make sure that you step into a clean office and ready to work.
Prioritize: being able to prioritize certain tasks aids us in getting things done. Completing every task at once is impossible. However, if you can decide on which task to complete first you will get it done well and be motivated to carry on to the next task. Holding yourself accountable is an action you must take. Don’t be the person waiting for something to happen but be someone who gets tasks done. Actions like this will also motivate and drive other employees to act similarly.

Steps you can take now

Restart

if the thought of going into your office makes you shudder because of how unorganized it feels then your first step is going to be to restart. To begin a new habit of becoming proactive in keeping your desk clean, you need to begin with it clean. Spending a day tidying up and reorganizing the files and papers is worth it when you remind yourself after this you won’t have to do it again. You can also use this opportunity to rearrange your workplace in a way that you think might suit you more, you may even consider finding a new office space. Working in a new area might create more motivation since you will be viewing a different perspective. If you stay proactive about keeping your office organized, this will be the last time you spend hours tidying up.

Create more storage space

After completing the first step you should have cleared out some drawers, cabinets, and files. This has already increased your available storage space. In order to keep your desk clutter-free, you must use your storage space to the biggest advantage. If you would like to invest, you can purchase storage boxes place old files that you still need.

Keep essentials items close

Everyone wishes for a clean and organized desk. The best way to achieve this is to minimize. You should aim to identify the tools you need most to complete your work on a day-to-day basis. These items should be the ones that are kept on your desk. Any item that will be redundant or isn’t needed most of the time should be kept in a drawer or separate cabinet in order not to create clutter.

Create work zones

If your office is spacious enough you should consider creating work zones, this will minimize work that is done at your desk. An option would be if you have a chair or sofa next to a coffee table. This could be assigned as the area to look over paperwork and do some reading. One section or side of your office could be where you keep all of your supplies. This section should preferably have a closet or shelving space to help you stay organized. Once you end up creating these work zones and using them, they will eventually become a habit. You will find your office will be neater because you are not doing all of your work in one space.

Find a filing system that you like

If you are someone that doesn’t have to do any filing for your job you are in luck. Yes, filing is extremely tedious but thankfully we live in an age where a lot of things are online. The main filing we need to worry about is all of the paperwork – this still needs to be organized efficiently. It is useful to research different types of filing systems that will be most helpful to you. If you are lucky and you don’t need to file paperwork, but need to keep track of digital documents, make sure you develop an easy-to-use system so you won’t lose important documents.

And if all this does not help and you want to find a new office you can start from scratch with, contact us and we can help.

4 Tips to Collect Past Due Receivables

Past Due Receivables Are Frustrating For Business Owners

For every business to operate efficiently, a consistent cash flow is very important. When there are many bills that are past the due date, trying to collect all the payments can be frustrating. As it is a very time-consuming procedure, many business owners don’t put in effort in the collection of receivable bills until they are way passed the due date. Sometimes, they even write it off as uncollected without making any effort to collect. This can cause serious problems in the company’s profits and cash flow.

Here are four tips that can help you as a business owner to collect past due receivables.

Hire Debt Recovery Services

This is a proactive step to ensuring that the payments are done on time regardless of the deadlines, amounts owed, and payment methods. When you hire business debt recovery services, it is then their work to collect past due receivables on your behalf. There is a percentage charged as a fee that is determined by the amount of the debt. For example, if you have a debt of 1000 that is not paid by a client, then the debt collection company will pay you 800 and collect 1000 from your client.

Proactive Collection Staff

Make sure your staff or you are proactive in invoicing to collect past due receivables. You can inform your clients in advance what the payment policy and terms are. Do not wait for the bills to go past the date before reminding the client that he needs to pay the due. Send weekly updates to clients whose payments are nearing the due date. Implementing a debt collection accounting software will be a helpful tool to remind you of the debts and keep track of all clients

Offer A Discount

Sometimes even a small discount can encouraged making payments to you. Offer the clients or customers a 2 to 3 percent discount if they pay within one week as compared to 30 days or the due date. However, if you are in the type of industry where your profit margins are very low then this discount could be a lot of money. If your business can afford it then offering a discount on early payment can boost cash flow.

Propose Payment Plans

Sometimes the clients themselves are in a bad financial situation and will inform you that they cannot pay the past due receivables. Consider offering them a flexible payment plan. This will be helpful for the clients and also build loyalty in the long term. Assure that the new terms of payment are in writing and detailed so the client knows how they have to pay and when. Writing off the debt will be more expensive to you, so it is better to offer a flexible plan. This way you are at least assured that the money will be returned eventually.

These tips can help you collect past due receivablesmaintain the cash flow in your business. To make sure that it remains consistent, consider on-the-spot cash payments for your services or products. If that is not possible, then you must be proactively involved in the collection process from the beginning itself. This will save you a lot of stress in the future when you do have a cash flow problem but your funds are stuck.

And if you are looking for a workplace for your company where everyone can be more productive at work, let us know and we will show you how we can help you acquire your next office space.

Useful Office Cleaning Tips To Protect Your Employees

Workplace cleanliness is an indispensable measure that must be observed in any organization or industry. Cleanliness is not only essential in factories, processing plants, and laboratories but also the public and private offices. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic a year ago has taught organizations the significance of safeguarding the health of employees and gave a harsh reminder of never taking health and sanitation protocols for granted.

To help protect one of the most important assets – the employees – in a business organization, we will share some office office cleaning tips to keep them safe and in good health.

Hire Commercial Cleaning Services

Hiring professionals, commercial or office cleaning services, will help you to regularly maintain the cleanliness in your workplace. Cleaning service professionals are trained and well-versed in performing cleaning tasks inside and outside the office building. They have specialized equipment and cleaning materials that can efficiently clean areas that need disinfection and regular sanitation.

Australia is an excellent example of a country where cleanliness is valued in the workplace. In various cities in the country, you will be able to find several office or commercial cleaning service companies. Their services are not just land-based, but they have made their presence online as well, where you can click the link to find out more about the best cleaning services available in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, and other cities in Australia. The importance Australians place on workplace cleanliness is one of the reasons that helped stem the spread of COVID-19 in the country. In other countries, more industries and businesses are appreciating the essential services of office cleaners.

Invest in More Trash Receptacles in the Workplace

Offices often tend to get messy when the work area doesn’t have enough garbage bins to throw food and office wastes in. By assigning specific bays, quadrants, or locations where you can place trash bins closer to the reach of employees. You help promote cleanliness in the office by sending a strong message of proper waste disposal.

Place Visual Cleanliness Reminders in the Office

Visual cues and reminders are also effective in reinforcing the practice of cleanliness in every employee. Guide employees with visual signs on where to put their trash, emphasize the importance of three Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), or remind them to be considerate of others when using shared utilities like toilets, pantries, lounges, sleeping quarters, or cubicles (for those working in shift rotations) by cleaning them. Promoting personal hygiene and cleanliness is also an essential reminder, now that the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet dissipated.

Arrange for Regular Deep Cleaning and Disinfection Schedules

This arrangement should remain in place even if the pandemic eventually dies down. If your business already has deep cleaning and disinfection schedules before the pandemic, then you deserve a commendation for putting the safety of your employees first. You may need to set closer intervals for these specialized cleaning tasks due to the pandemic and you should keep it up for as long as your business operates within an office. For those who have not made such arrangements or those who occasionally plot deep cleaning and disinfecting schedules, it’s time to revise the program or arrangement and keep your workplace safe and clean to work in for your employees.

There are plenty of ways you can promote and enforce office cleanliness for your employees. As a wise and responsible business owner, you have to keep your employees safe, healthy and motivated to continue working and performing the best they can. Whether your business sells products or services, employees will be integral in the revenue generation and customer satisfaction in your venture. Show your employees that you care for their health and well-being by taking steps to keep office cleaning a priority and their workplace safe for them.

And if you are looking for an office that provides professional cleaning services to house your business, we can help. Our network of local tenant reps are intimately familiar with their markets and offerings and can help guide you to the perfect office for your business. Contact us today for more information. No Obligation and our services are FREE!

3 Tips To Sync Your Home Office With Your Main Office

As more employees are permitted to work from home, remote work has become more acceptable among companies and employers. There’s all the more reason why you should sync your home office with your main office, by setting up your home office in such a way that it would bring out your productivity and creativity.

If you’re planning to set up your home office or do some minor changes to your current one, you might want to start checking out for office desks and gather some ideas.

1. Choose Your Location

In syncing your home office with your main office, the first thing you have to settle is the location inside your house where you’ll set up your home office. As they would say in website design: build around user behavior, and not the other way around. In much the same way, set up in a spot where family members don’t go.

In choosing a location observe every corner of the house and think about which part is least frequented by everyone at home.
As much as possible, choose a spot which has a door you can close or lock. This works both ways. It helps you close yourself in and focus on your work, away from the distractions in the house. It also helps you separate your working hours from your rest hours, by closing your office at the end of each working day.
Another thing you have to keep in mind in choosing your work spot or location is potential distractions from other members of your household. If you have kids, or if there are toddlers inside the house, try to choose a location which they don’t frequent or isn’t likely to be a place where they’d be doing their role-playing or pretend games. If you have pets such as cats or dogs, you’ll also have to think of a place which they won’t frequent or they might inadvertently tear a report or important document.

2. Surrounding That Helps You Focus

The next thing you have to consider when thinking of setting up your home office is, you should set it up in a surrounding which would help you focus. Whether you work in the office or at home, being able to focus on your work and specific tasks at hand is one of the most important things that would help you finish the work you need to do.

Your surroundings should enable you to focus and concentrate on your work. If you’ve worked for quite a number of companies, you’d know which kinds of office set-up works for you and which are those that don’t.
Aside from what you can see in your home office, another thing you need to consider in removing all possible distractions is the noise and other sound distractions which you would be able to hear once you start working in your home office. If at all possible, line your home office with sound insulation materials such as cork boards on the ceiling and around the walls of your home office.
If your work entails exerting your creativity, then you also need to think of setting up your spot in such a way it would help you concentrate when you have to, pull away when you need to see the big picture, and unleash your creativity whenever you think you’re facing an unsolvable problem.

3. Productivity And Connectivity

Another thing you have to take into account when sync your home Office is how your office will enable and help you increase your productivity and connectivity.

One of the first few things on your checklist for productivity is a flat surface or desk. It doesn’t have to be a very large desk. Choose a desk that’s wide enough for you to do the work you have to do, with ample space for your usual clutter when you’re at work.
You need internet connectivity which is enough for your work requirements. If your work entails a lot of video presentations or video conferencing, remember that these things usually take up a lot of bandwidth when you go online. So, make sure your internet connectivity is good enough for what you need to do most of the time.
Part of being productive comes from having the right equipment and devices for what you need to do and being comfortable enough to be able to focus on your tasks without feeling drowsy or sleepy. If your work entails a lot of video conferencing, then maybe it’s time to invest in external cameras if you’re using desktop computers and a good headset if you take a lot of phone calls.

Bringing Your Office Home

As many companies have realized the immense potential of allowing their employees to work from home, more office workers are being placed on work-from-home mode. This may become more standard way companies decide to have employees work.

If you are looking for an office that your employees can sync to from home, contact us. Our local reps can help you, at no cost to you, find the right space at the best price and avoid costly mistakes. Give us a try! No obligation.

Digital Tool For Businesses to Collect Past Due Receivables

All businesses rely on their clients and customers to pay the money that they owe for purchases and services. However, this does not always happen, and many businesses end up with a high level of bad debt from those who have not paid. While businesses can and do pursue this debt, it becomes far more difficult if the debtor cannot be traced because they have skipped town. This then results in these debts being written off and companies being hit hard in terms of their finances.

Fortunately, digital technology has made life far easier for businesses looking to make the process of debt collection easier. This includes the use of skip tracing solutions, which can provide a range of information and speed up the entire process. Digital debt recovery solutions can save businesses in all sorts of industries a huge amount of time and frustration. In this article, we will look at how businesses use digital methods such as skip-tracing to help recover debts.

Digital Technology Proves Invaluable

There are many ways in which this digital technology can prove invaluable to businesses trying to trace people who owe them money. Some of the ways in which businesses use this digital method are:

Find Current Contact Details

One of the ways in which businesses use these digital solutions is to ensure they have the most updated contact details, as the ones on file are often incorrect once the person skips town. By using skip tracing, users can obtain the most current details when it comes to the person’s address, email, mobile number, and other details. With the right details available, it is possible for them to then make contact to chase the debt owed rather than having to give up and write it off.

Learn More About the Person’s Current Situation

There are times when the person’s situation may have changed, and this could have an impact on the debt owed. For instance, if the person has filed for bankruptcy, you may not be able to recover the money and can stop wasting time trying to locate and chase the debtor. If they have passed away, you will have to go down a different route to try and recover the debt. You can find out many details about the person’s current situation including whether they are deceased, have become bankrupt, and even if they are employed.

Make the Process Faster and Easier

Businesses also use modern technology to make the process of locating and recovering from debtors much easier and faster. This is important because it makes the business more efficient and means that less time and fewer resources are used on trying to find those who owe money. Being able to access a wide range of information also means that businesses stand a better chance of getting the money that is owed to them.

These are among the many reasons businesses use digital methods such as skip-tracing to try to recover the debt.

OfficeFinder not only provides assistance to businesses looking for office space, but also information that we hope can be useful in the conducting of business. If you need assistance acquiring office space, contact us today. No cost or obligation!