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It makes smart business sense to start up and add to a small business emergency fund that you can tap into when times are tough. Companies that have no safety net in place can find themselves in a very tough spot when these unexpected expenses crop up as they do from time to time. Luckily, all it takes is a little knowledge and a lot of shrewdness on your part to build a small business emergency fund. Here’s what you need to do: 

Save When Times are Good 

The easiest way to start building up a small business emergency fund is by saving the excess when you turn over a bigger profit than expected. Sure, you might want to use some of it to invest in a new website or marketing campaign, but be sure to set aside a decent percentage for your rainy-day fund too. 

Use Teleconferencing Software 

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Instead of spending money on American Airlines flights and accommodation for those long-distance meetings, why not invest in teleconferencing software instead? That way, you’ll save a bundle on the cost of traveling, and you can squirrel more away to use on a rainy day. 

Set Up a Separate Account 

If you keep your emergency fund money in your general business account, chances are you’ll end up dipping into it when you don’t really need to. Cut this temptation by opening a separate emergency fund account, and it’ll be easier to build up a tidy sum over time. 

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Minimizing debt, either by refinancing it by taking out a lower interest loan from Swift Financial Partners, or paying much more than the minimum each month, will put you in a better financial situation, and you will be able to redirect your debt repayments to your emergency fund, making it less likely you’ll need more small loans in the future. 

Make it Part of Your Plan 

If you make saving in your emergency fund part of your actual business plan, then it will encourage you to actually redirect some of your funds to your emergency account. Doing this is also smart from a purely business perspective because businesses who have extra funds available as and when needed are much less likely to get into trouble in the future. 

Review Your Expenses 

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Reviewing your outgoings at least once every quarter is a smart move because it will enable you to see where you could be making savings by switching to another supplier or using a freelancer instead of a standard contractor, and it will also help you to see where cash can be diverted into your emergency fund. 

Only Spend It on Emergencies! 

The clue is in the name! If you want to build a strong emergency fund to support your small business, you absolutely must only spend your savings on bona fide emergencies like paying suppliers and settling a debt before the collectors move in. 

As you can see, if you’re determined to create an emergency fund for your small business, it is pretty easy to do so, you just have to set your resolve and keep at it!

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When it comes to making the most of social media for your business, you’d think it would be largely the same strategy. You’d think you could do X, Y, and Z thing - and then everything would clip along and be dealt with. 

Of course, the more you learn about how you use social media for business purposes, the more you realize that’s not the case at all. You soon learn that while we might group all the different services together under the banner of “social media”, they actually have very little in common with one another. 

You soon realize that you need a separate strategy for each one. The way that you run your business Twitter is very different to how you run your business Facebook. Your Instagram usage is incomparable to the methods you need to use for Snapchat. There’s no tried-and-tested strategy that will work across all platforms. 

Still, when you’ve figured that out… you’re sorted, right? You’re going to be able to use social media to promote and bolster your business, you’ve got all your different strategies set out, and then… 

Sorry: There’s Something You Forgot 

Apologies for being the bearer of bad news, but, yes, there’s still something you have forgotten. Social media doesn’t just break down into what “works” for each one, you also have to think about what type of customer you’re going to be able to target. 

Social Media Age Splits 

Let’s take an example. If you’ve got a small business premises that sells recliners and comfy sofas to a target demographic of 50+, then Snapchat geofilters for your store and a hilarious Twitter account isn’t going to be much use to you. 

On the flip side, if you’re trying to sell clothing to 18-21 year old women, then Facebook and Pinterest boards aren’t going to be efficient. 

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Different demographics use different forms of social media. While it’s not wise to ignore entirely the ones that don’t appeal to the demographic you are targeting, you should absolutely be focusing on the platform that’s going to work best for your user base. In those two examples, if you were to flip the options - the geofilters and Twitter for the 18-21 year old women; Facebook and Pinterest for the near-retirees - then you’d have a great strategy. 

There are plenty of charts you can consult which make clear the demographics for each social media platform. 

It therefore makes sense that you find the platforms that are most likely to appeal to your target demo and focus your efforts on those. That doesn’t mean your work up to this point should be ignored, even if you have been focusing in the wrong area. It never hurts to be good at social media! There’s always the people that will buck the trend, too; the grandmas playing with Snapchat filters and the teenagers looking through Pinterest. So you still have a chance of catching those errant, outside-the-stats users. 

However, by doubling down your efforts where it’s most likely to make an impact, your business is going to be in good shape.

Do you really give your car the love and attention that it needs? If you don’t, now is the time to change all that. You don’t need to accept second best from your car. Sure, you might never drive a Ferrari, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience the benefits of treating your car right, even if it is a cheap motor with plenty of miles on the clock. 

Keep Checking Your Oil Levels 

The oils levels in your car make a big difference to how your vehicle performs. If you want your car to remain smooth and efficient, you should check the oil levels regularly. As soon as you notice that they’re starting to run a little low, top them up right away. You can get all kinds of oil, so find the one that suits your vehicle best. 5w30 synthetic oil is a popular choice at the moment, so you might want to consider that. You should pay the same amount of attention to the other liquids that your car relies on to stay functional. 

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Follow the Maintenance Schedule Outlined in Your Manual 

Every car has a maintenance schedule that should be stuck to. This is outlined clearly in your car’s manual. You should do what you can to stick to this schedule because it will help you to make sure that your car is always looked after. There are so many things that can go wrong with your car if you don’t take it to be serviced and maintained by a professional. You will be rewarded with fewer breakdowns and headaches if you do manage to follow the maintenance schedule, so don’t skip over this. It’s not worth it. 

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If you ask anyone that’s married what it is like to have tied the knot with The One they will tell you that it is the most amazing thing in the world. They will tell you they are married to their best friend and that is more than anyone could ask. However, they will also tell you that marriage is hard. If you’ve ever been in a relationship, then you’ll know it isn’t always easy, but marriage is a step up; in the best way possible. You are more responsible for them than you have ever been to anyone else, ever. 

That is why it is so important you experience the following things together, as a couple, before deciding to commit to each other from now until death decides otherwise. Whatever happens, it will be the most amazing fun you’ve ever had. 

Travel As A Couple 

When you travel with your partner you learn so much more about them, about you and about how you are together when you step outside your comfort zones. Traveling has a way of showing one another a more complete you because you’ll get to see how one another reacts in totally new environments; when you are stressed, lost, stranded somewhere or suddenly without money because the bank stopped your card. You get to know each other on an entirely new level.

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Being responsible with your personal finances is tough. When you’re constantly under pressure and worrying about how you’re going to make ends meet, you need to tighten your belt and approach the cost of living with a proactive attitude. You may think that a comfortable life and a tight budget can’t co-exist, but this is completely false. Here’s some of the best advice for living well when money’s tight.

Have a Realistic, Practical Budget 

All too often, people come up with a loose budget in their heads, and then tend to forget about it when it comes to actually putting it into practice. A good budget, even an exceedingly tight one, has to be both realistic and executable. When you’re really struggling to make ends meet, the most important part of your budget has to be areas you can cut down on. If you’ve been coasting along with no real budget in mind, you’ll probably be amazed at the amount of money you’ve been wasting in the past! This should start with you effectively carving up your income and allocating it to meet your expenses, with a long-term view to your overarching goals. Whether you’re looking to pay down debt, pay off a mortgage, or start investing, having an endgame in mind is another important aspect to having a budget that works. 

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Even people who have an extensive background in banking or economics will need to keep on learning about finance to ensure the most comfortable life possible. If you’re having a hard time making heads or tails of your personal finances, then educating yourself is even more important. Yes, learning the ins and outs of equity loans, or the benefits of multifamily homes for rent, isn’t the most thrilling thing in the world. However, if you’re not making a point to constantly broaden your financial knowledge, you’re going to have a very hard time ensuring the comfortable life you want to achieve. While there are certain things that you’ll need to learn from trial and error, don’t underestimate the power of reading! One good habit to get into is setting aside a brief period of your day – five or ten minutes is usually fine, for sitting down and reading up on something you’re a bit shaky about. The web’s bursting with knowledge – start using it! 

Learn to Prioritize 

For better or worse, modern society is characterized by potent consumerism. This has become such a large staple of our culture, in fact, that some people find it tough to separate their needs from their wants! These days, it’s easier than ever to get sucked into all that marketing, and spend money on thing that we really shouldn’t. If you’re trying to provide a comfortable life for your family on a tight budget, effectively prioritizing your budget is absolutely essential. Food, utilities, and other necessities, should all come at the top of the list, closely followed by any long-term savings goals that you have. Ideally, luxuries, big and small, should come as close to the bottom as possible.

Small companies need to be smart with their resources. Indeed, while they need to address every business need in the organization, it doesn’t mean that each requirement has to become an internal job. There is one important thing about small businesses: They are designed around a streamlined hierarchy, where no position in wasted. Consequently, if a specific skill is necessary for the business process to run smoothly, it will have to guarantee full-time or part-time activity for the company to hire new talent. For any business process that doesn’t offer the possibility of an internal job, then the company needs to find an alternative: Outsourcing. 

Outsourcing is extremely common in large organizations where external teams, suppliers, and agencies join for the duration of a project or as recurring service suppliers. However, it is commonly accepted that small companies don’t outsource their work for fear of high cost. This is a myth of the business world. All companies can have access to the outsourcing market. Where there is a need, there is a suitable supplier. 

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Outsourcing Like A Pro 

Small companies need to obey the same rules than large organizations when they decide to embrace the potential of outsourcing suppliers and skills. Indeed, the secret of a successful relationship with your suppliers lies in mutual respect. From a company perspective, it is about respecting the contract and paying on time. This establishes your company as a reliable client. It doesn’t mean that the path to outsourcing will be smooth: You need to lay out a clear and structured plan about what you need. It isn’t always an easy task; it’s not uncommon for companies to be only able to define exactly what they need after they’ve already agreed on a different service package with the supplier. Keeping an open and honest communication will help to sort things out, as, after all, your supplier can’t know what you fail to communicate. The more you talk to them, the better they will support your company growth and understand your needs. 

The most satisfied people in the workplace will not rave about how conducive the working environment is for working or how good their salary and overtime pay are. The happiest people in the office will not go on and on about the shorter periods of time they need work so they can come home early to their families. 

Factors like good pay or a posh office room can very well determine how long a person can stay in his current job, but if you will ask most people from the workforce, it is the good relationship that they keep with fellow workers that almost always determines their length of stay whichever company they may be. Even business owners will attest that a good relationship between their people makes a good team which in turn can determine the success of their companies and businesses. 

It is, therefore, of utmost importance for any business owner to ensure that his people work as a team instead of as individuals. It is also essential to improve camaraderie in the workplace to ensure that employees work together toward a common goal and ultimately a collective success, instead of working independently. 

Here are a few ways you can improve the camaraderie of people in your workplace: 

Exciting Team-building Activities. 

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The increase in popularity of the BPO industry also paved the way for establishments and businesses to offer exciting and creative ways to do team-building activities. If you are planning to host one for your company over the summer and you are located anywhere near, you might want to consider zombie escape Atlanta. There is nothing more exciting than having your team figure out a way to come out of the zombie apocalypse escape room together. It will have all their creative juices flowing as they work together to survive the heart-stopping and thrill-seeking adventure. And, you can bet that even the most hostile of your employees will be best of buddies after going out of the zombie escape room together. 

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Whether you are in a major pileup or just have a minor accident, the costs of being involved in such an incident are a lot more than you might think. In today’s brief guide, we’re going to take a look at all the associated expenses of being involved in an auto accident - let’s get the magnifying glass out and see what you can expect. 

Repairs 

In theory, when you have auto insurance the company who runs your plan should cover the costs of your car if you have an accident, and if it is someone else’s fault, it is their insurer that will pay. But it’s not always the case. Unless you have comprehensive insurance cover, there is a high likelihood that you will need to pay for any repairs yourself. And don’t forget, if you write off your car, you will only receive the amount it is valued at right now - not when you bought the car. 

When you’re new to anything, it’s good to have friends to help you out and assist you in understanding things that you’re unclear about. Most driving tests are fairly comprehensive, but they don’t teach you everything you need to know about car ownership and it’s a lifelong journey that comes with a lot of mistakes, successes and even accidents. However, you could get a fantastic head start on that journey by making some friends along the way. 

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Local mechanics 

If you want to learn more about your vehicle, then there’s no better place to visit than your local auto repair garage. Befriend the mechanics there whenever you visit to inspect your car or repair something and you’ll pick up plenty of tidbits of information. The more interest you show in your vehicle, the less likely the mechanics will rip you off by charging exorbitant prices and the better your relationship will be. 

A more experienced driver 

Everyone needs a mentor in life no matter what they do, and the ultimate mentor for a new driver is a more experienced one. It could be a parent, a friend, uncle or even your driving instructor that you made friends with. Whoever it is, make sure you keep in touch with them and ask them for advice whenever you’re unsure. Perhaps you experienced a frustrating situation where you were sandwiched by two vehicles, or maybe you saw behaviour on the road that you didn’t learn during your lessons and want to know more ways to avoid accidents. Whatever the situation, remember to keep asking them questions when they have time. 

Dogs are much more than just household pets. Having a dog is a commitment. You can’t just introduce some random dog to the family and expect everything to fall into place, especially if you have children. If the new dog doesn’t get along with the kids, your furry new family member could very easily turn into a safety risk. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to prevent this from happening. 

Adopt a Pup Instead of an Adult Dog for Easier Training 

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Welcoming a puppy into your home instead of an adult dog in its peak is easily the best way to ensure your children’s safety. Apart from the fact that they’re small and relatively harmless, domestic puppies less than 16 weeks old are in a crucial stage of mental and emotional development. This is when they’re just beginning to get accustomed to the world around them, including the adults and children in the family or pack that they now belong to. 

Who or what the puppy meets during this formative period is likely to stick with it throughout adulthood. That’s why it’s extremely important to introduce them to the children as well as to the rest of the family while they’re young. The more your kids socialize with the puppy during this early period in its life, the more it will treat the kids as part of its pack. 

Canine experts and trainers swear by the effectivity of this early socialization period in ensuring the safety of children as well as the healthy development of the pup. If a puppy is raised and socialized around children correctly, it will instinctively know how to be gentle with small, young humans, even ones outside its family. 

Some even say that socializing a puppy is more important than picking breeds that are known to be ‘kid-friendly’. As experts will tell you, canine safety and childproofing is more about training than the actual breed of the dog. Even feared breeds like the doberman or the pit bull can learn to be sweethearts when it comes to kids and other family members, you just have to start ‘em young and train ‘em right. 

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While some dogs can be averse to training and discipline, most of them are literally born and bred to be trained - that’s what domesticated means. The dogs that you see now, especially the puppies, are the latest products of generations upon generations of dogs that have been tamed and trained for human companionship. 

Being in a pack led by humans has literally been in their DNA ever since the first wolves allowed themselves to be tamed by humans. But as you already know, this doesn’t mean that all dogs are automatically childproof. It just means that they can be highly receptive to the proper training, whatever domestic breed they may be. 

So if your new dog is not a puppy that can be easily molded and safely socialized, don’t worry. You can teach an old dog new tricks. Even those who are well past the first formative weeks can still be socialized and trained. And the best way to start training both pups and adult dogs are through basic commands and child-friendly habits. 

‘Sit’ and ‘down’ are easy enough for first-time trainees to follow. Reward them with treats as well as love and affection whenever they properly follow commands; this is what’s known as positive reinforcement. 

On the other hand, you can also use negative reinforcement, which, contrary to popular belief, doesn’t need to involve hitting or any other painful punishment. Simply distancing yourself from or ignoring the dog can be a highly effective form of negative reinforcement. 

For instance, when training your dog to stop jumping up on you when it’s excited or when you’ve just come home after work, you can firmly say ‘stop’, and when it insists on jumping, simply walk back out the door. Repeat this until it learns to keep all four legs on the ground when greeting you or any other new person. 

While an excited and jumpy dog is undoubtedly adorable, this type of behavior can be problematic when it comes to children who could be accidentally injured and traumatized by an overly-friendly dog. So train your dog and commit to teaching it some discipline; it’s the only way to ensure that it’s safe to be with children. 

Pick a Dog with a Good Personality Instead of a ‘Good Breed’ 

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If you have no choice but to get an adult dog, it could be easier for you if you pick one from a breed that’s considered by trainers to be child-friendly. This includes dog breeds like the boxer, labrador, golden retriever, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. While training is more important than lineage, dog breeds can often determine how affectionate and non-violent a particular dog can be. 

At the same time, don’t forget that all dogs are basically domesticated wolves. All of them, from the smallest to the biggest breeds, have strong jaws and predatory instincts. And while some domestic breeds are known to be child-friendly, it’s still better to observe their actual training and personality. 

Think of a dog’s breed as a template of its potential. It’s predisposed to certain behaviors, but ultimately, experience, training, and the dog’s personality itself will determine how it follows and strays from that template. Just as a big, muscled pit bull can be extremely gentle with infants, so can a toy spaniel be aggressively mean towards humans closer to its size - it’s all about training, experience, and personality. 

BONUS TIP: Be Ready to Clean Up After the Dog 

Your behavior towards the new dog will greatly influence how well it socializes with your family. In short, you need to be as patient and as friendly with the new dog as you can. This means being ready for any messes that your furry new baby is bound to make. 

Toilet training and basic household discipline is not that easy to instill, especially in curious and excited puppies. Be ready to clean up the carpet, remove new stains, fix tooth marks on wooden furniture, and scoop up some poop. It all comes with the territory.

To be approved for many things in life, from renting an apartment to buying a car, you often need to have a good credit score. Unfortunately, having no credit history isn't the same as having a good score. You might think that never having borrowed money using a credit card or loan makes you look good. However, what most people who check your credit score want to see is that you have proof that you are able to pay back a debt. If you've never borrowed any money, you can't do that. But, you might be thinking, how do you build your credit if no one will give you any without a good credit score? Here's how you can improve your credit history. 

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Apply for a Credit Card 

One of the first things many people do if they want to build their credit is apply for a credit card. Some cards will be difficult to be approved for if you don't have any credit history. However, some are designed to be a first credit card. These cards might come with high interest rates, although some will have a special offer of a low or even non-existent interest for the first few months. Secured cards ask you to put some money up front to make you less of a risk. GoBear allows you to compare a range of cards so you can find the right one. It's important to compare the different benefits and drawbacks of what's available. 

Get a Credit-builder Loan

You can also find loans that are designed to help you build your credit. However, they aren't exactly like the kind of loan you would normally take out. In fact, it's a bit more like a savings plan. The money you borrow is usually held in an account until you have repaid it. This might seem strange and perhaps even sound pointless. But unlike when you save money on your own, the payments you make are reported to credit bureaus. This makes these loans ideal for building your credit, even if they're not really loans. 

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Have Someone to Back You Up 

Another thing you can do is have a reliable person who can vouch for you. By getting someone to cosign for a credit card or loan, you basically have someone who is saying "I will pay if you don't." This is reassuring to lenders who will be able to approach your cosigner if you don't make your payments. However, if you want to stay on their good side, it's best that you try your best to repay your debts. 

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Use Your Credit Responsibly 

Once you've secured some credit, making the right choices is the next step to building your credit score. Simply having the credit doesn't say much if you can't show that you can use it sensibly. Try not to spend too much using your credit, and make your repayments as soon as possible. Try to use your accounts for as long as you can and avoid opening too many new ones too. 

Having no credit history doesn't mean you'll never be able to get any credit. With the right choices, you can soon build a good score.