What Is Risk Management? – Find Out How To Manage Risks in Business
What is risk management? – Simply put, it is the process by which businesses identify, assess, and control the various risks that threaten the growth, capital, and earnings of the organization. The risks for the organization can come from a variety of sources, both internal and external. These can be financial problems, legal problems, management errors, accidents, tech issues, economic problems, disasters, and many more.
In this article, you will learn about risk management in general and will get a good understanding of its essentiality in business. Furthermore, you will also learn the importance of risk management and how it can shape a business. Finally, we will share with you some of the best practices of risk management, with the help of which you can ensure a proper risk management system in place.
What Is Risk Management?
According to IBM.com,
“Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing and controlling financial, legal, strategic and security risks to an organization’s capital and earnings. These threats, or risks, could stem from a wide variety of sources, including financial uncertainty, legal liabilities, strategic management errors, accidents, and natural disasters.”
Risk management is important for situations when an unforeseen event (internal or external) pushes the organization into a threatening situation. It can also be an economic situation where an unexpected surprise in the market can heavily impact your business. Hence, having a risk management framework for your business is really essential.
The risk management framework will help you mitigate the risks in a better manner. Even if the risk affects your business, the risk management system will enable you to deal with that risk better.
External risks are out of your control, and you cannot do a lot to receive the impact of the risks. However, you can do many things to stop and mitigate the internal risks for your business. You will need to anticipate and prepare for the risks, despite the size of the business or the level of impact of the risk in the business.
Read More: Intrapreneurship – Definition, Importance, Duties, And Responsibilities
Why Is Risk Management Important?
According to Investopedia,
“Risk management has always been an important tool in running any business, particularly when a market experiences a downturn. In any economic environment, an unexpected surprise can destroy your business in one fell swoop if you don’t have the right risk management strategies in place to prevent, or at least mitigate, the damage from that risk.”
There are many risks that have enough potential to destroy the business and its operations. Hence, as a manager or CEO of the organization, you will need to identify what are the risks that pose threats to the operations of your business.
It does not matter whether the business is a startup or an established one. Risks can impact the business a lot. Even if a risk starts impacting a business, a business that is well-prepared can minimize the impact of the risk on the business’s earnings. With the impact of the risk, the business can also lose a lot of time, productivity, and even customers.
Hence, the identification of the risks of the business should be a key part of the business’s strategy and planning. You can identify risks in a number of ways once you implement a proper risk management system in the organization. What strategies you will employ to identify those risks should rely on the specific business activities of the company.
What Are The Best Ways To Manage Risks?
Having a proper risk management system in place is one of the major necessities. However, people still have their own biases.
According to Harvard Business Review,
“Multiple studies have found that people overestimate their ability to influence events that, in fact, are heavily determined by chance. We tend to be overconfident about the accuracy of our forecasts and risk assessments and far too narrow in our assessment of the range of outcomes that may occur.”
Here are the steps that you will need to take to ensure that you have a proper risk management system in place:
1. Risk Prioritization
If you have multiple risks, prioritizing the top ones will help you to deal with them as per their impact and possibility of impact.
2. Having A Business Insurance
Once you purchase insurance, you are transferring the risks of the company to insurance companies. Furthermore, you are not paying a lot of costs.
3. Becoming An LLC
If you do not want to be personally liable for the debts of the company, change your company’s structure to a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Corporation.
4. Quality Assurance
Quality assurance of products and services will help your business in increasing its reputation. Ensure to test them before customers purchase them. This will allow you to make all the necessary adjustments beforehand. Also, ensure that your testing methods are foolproof.
5. Get Away From High-Risk Customers
Implement a policy in your organization that the company will not entertain customers with poor credit. Even if the company deals with them, the customer must pay ahead of time. This shall lower the complications for the business in the long run.
6. Growth Control
Training your employees is of the highest importance here. To sell your products and services, if you set big goals for your employees, they shall be tempted to take uncalculated risks. This can make things go wrong and damage your company’s reputation.
7. Risk Management Team
Apart from paying an outside company to manage the risks in your business, consider having a risk management team of your own. To do this, you can appoint some of your current and experienced employees to work in risk management.
Read More: Entrepreneur : Who Coined The Term ‘Entrepreneur’?
Final Thought
What is risk management? – Risk management basically creates insurance for the company from within and is really important to ensure the success of the organization. If you want to implement a system within your company, consider following the aforementioned steps.
To shape a better strategy for your business, you will need to get a better idea of the business and the industry by diving deeper. Do you have any more recommendations regarding better risk management strategies? In that case, consider sharing your thoughts and views with us in the comments section below.
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6 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Hiring A Workplace Cleaning Company
A fresh and well-maintained workplace can improve the mood and productivity of your employees. However, it’s not that easy to maintain a clean work environment. When the day is hectic, it’s impossible not to make a mess.As a business or property owner, the best thing to do is hire a professional cleaning company. Hiring a professional cleaning company is as important as running the 10 panel drug test for new recruitments. Why Hire A Cleaning Company? You could be contemplating whether hiring a professional office cleaning company is worth it. After all, you also have the option to hire employees who can handle cleaning duties instead. Plus, some businesses utilize a chore chart to delegate cleaning duties to their employees on a regular basis. So, what's the point of hiring a professional cleaning service? One significant benefit of hiring a workplace cleaning service is that you don’t have to screen and hire your own cleaning staff. This saves you a lot of time, effort, and resources. Additionally, you don’t even have to provide training since the cleaning company will take care of that. With a cleaning company, you’re assured that the cleaners you get are skilled, professional, and well-equipped to handle any kind of cleaning or disinfecting job. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about buying vacuums, mops, and any other cleaning equipment since professional cleaning companies can provide them. Common Mistakes To Avoid When Hiring A Cleaning Company Hiring a cleaning service is advantageous for both employees and the company. However, because of time constraints, most businesses make mistakes in choosing and hiring a cleaning company. The following are the most common blunders companies make when choosing a cleaning service and how to avoid them: 1. Failing To Check Licenses And Certificates There are plenty of fraudulent companies out there. Many businesses end up hiring cleaning companies that don't have the right paperwork, licenses, and certifications. Because of this, the cleaning staff and service they get are unsatisfactory. What Should You Do: Double-check the company's certificates and licenses. Inquire about their insurance, experience, expertise, certification, and licensing. In the end, hiring background cleared cleaning services will ensure you only get trained and well-equipped cleaning staff for your workplace. Aside from getting superior cleaning services, you don’t have to worry about possible theft and damages caused by ill-intentioned cleaners. 2. Neglecting To Read And Fully Understand The Service Contract An agreement cannot be deemed void simply because one party did not read or comprehend it. As a business owner, you know how important it is to have a service agreement with another company. Both sides need to know what their responsibilities are and what they can expect. If you don't know what's in the contract before signing it, you're at a disadvantage, specifically if a problem arises while the agreement is in effect. What You Should Do: Make sure to read the agreement and understand everything in it. Look for parts of the contract that talk about the cleaning service's scope as well as the company's involvement when accidents, loss, and other kinds of damage occur. Be sure that the payment terms, completion date, and other specifics of the cleaning service are all laid out in the contract. Lastly, don't hesitate to express and share your concerns if some terms and provisions are unclear. Communication is essential in every business relationship. 3. Hiring Low-Priced Cleaning Services As a business owner, you're used to looking for ways to make more money and cut costs. But when it comes to finding the right cleaning company, cheap doesn't always guarantee better services. Not all low-cost cleaning services are guaranteed to do a good job. So, instead of saving money, you wind up shelling out extra cash to hire another cleaning company to redo the job until you're pleased with the results. What You Should Do: Consider the cleaning service your company needs, and plan accordingly. Then, get estimates from several cleaning companies so you can evaluate their services and prices. From that, you can choose the best cleaning service that suits your business needs and budget. As a business owner, you may not have sufficient time to keep your office clean and tidy 4. Disregarding A Cleaning Service's Specialization Not every cleaning company is the same. Some can offer highly specialized cleaning services while some cannot. Some cleaning services focus on specific industries, such as hotels, factories, and restaurants. What You Should Do: Take the time to conduct research. The time and effort you put into research will pay off. You can easily find a cleaning service's specializations by visiting their company website. This is important, especially if you’re in the food and retail industry. Restaurants, groceries, and shops have to be cleaned and disinfected more thoroughly than a regular office establishment because the health and safety of customers are a major concern. 5. Skipping Reference Checks References can attest to a cleaning firm's dependability, competence, and expertise. Regardless of what kind of services your company needs, asking for references is a great way to learn more about the services and standards of a cleaning company. This is also a fantastic way to determine whether and how problems were resolved if a past client had any problems with the firm. This information might reveal whether the organization is dependable and professional, especially under difficult circumstances. What You Should Do: Conduct a reference check by calling the cleaning company's previous clients to learn about their cleaning skills and level of service. Check the company's website or social media accounts for client feedback and comments. If you can personally locate some of their clients, it is best to reach out and ask them for their thoughts about the company. 6. Rushing Decisions You might be in a rush to find a cleaning service so you can get back to running your business. However, picking the best cleaning service isn't something that should be rushed. It's important to carefully select a professional and reliable cleaning service for your company as they'll have access to your premises, valuable technologies, and office equipment. What You Should Do: To avoid making hasty decisions, you don’t have to hire a cleaning company right away if it’s not that urgent. If your workplace just needs general cleaning and maintenance, you may enlist some of your employees and give them additional compensation for agreeing to perform some cleaning duties. But do remember that this should be a temporary arrangement. Eventually, you need to hire a professional cleaning company for your workplace since most employees won’t like performing duties that are outside of their job description. Final Thoughts As a business owner, you may not have sufficient time to keep your office clean and tidy. After all, cleaning the entire workplace is a difficult undertaking that demands both expertise and consistency. But since your employees deserve to work in a clean and sanitary workplace, the best solution is to hire a professional cleaning company that provides trained and professional staff, along with reliable cleaning equipment. Additionals: Top 5 Types Of Businesses That Are Giving More Profits To The Sellers
Aug 18, 2022
How To Start A Concession Stand Business? – A Complete Guide
Do you want to commence your Concession stand business? Are you ready with your business plan and its prospect? If not, you have to understand the basics of this business to grow your business in the correct direction. You have to work on your plans well before establishing your business. One of the beneficial aspects of the Concession business is that it requires lower startup costs. Now, If you want to increase your profitability in the food service industry, then the application of the concession stand can work well in your friend. The Concession stands location will determine the ongoing success of your business. You have to chalk out a full-proof strategy to increase your profitability. How Much Does A Concession Stand Cost? Its cost depends on two factors:- Do you want to buy a used cart or, You want to build it from scratch. A new medium-sized concession stand will cost you around $11000 -$21000. On the other hand, if you want to use or purchase a well-equipped concession stand, it will cost you around $6000-$45,000. How Can You Start Your Concession Stand Business? You can follow specific lucid and straightforward steps to start your concession stand business with ease. Write your business plan first before standing your foodservice business. Keep the business plan as simple as possible. 1. Develop A Concession Stand Concept Your Concession stand concept and the menu will help you determine what type of cart you require to get the ideal location for your business. A concession stand can help you get pre-made snacks and creative gourmet cuisine for your business. You must have arrangements in your concession stand to sell the fresh cuisines, and the gourmet stuffs to your buyers. Try to keep your food items in proper condition. 2. Write A Concession Stand Business Plan Once you get a general idea about what kind of business you want to operate, now it’s time to figure out your business plan. For your concession stand, your business plan will act like a blueprint upon which the growth trajectory of your business will depend. It will help you make the right kind of investments without wasting too much money and time. A solid business plan for your concession stand will help you to gain most of the crowdfunding and other investors as they can gain a clear insight into your business growth in the upcoming days of your business. Also Read: How To Create A Powerful Business Models For Your Business 3. Arrange Funding For Your Concession Stand With a proper business plan in place, you will get the right idea of how much money you require for your business. If you want to launch a small concession stand business, your funding is enough to finance it. On the other hand, you will require money from outside sources if you want to start an extensive concession stand. Some of the best sources for the concession stand funding are as follows:- Investors:- You can pitch your business plan to your investors to arrange money. Crowdfunding: It allows a large group of people to make investments in your business if it sounds profitable and worth investing. Loans: You can collect the funds or the loans from the banks or from other sources that make loans available for investments. 4. Make A Purchase Of Your Concession Stand You can purchase your concession stand after having your business plan and funding in place. Now you need to decide whether you want a trailer, short-range, and stationary stand for your business. It will affect several factors, such as what kind of stand you purchase, the type of location you want, and the laws applied to this place. A place where there is lots of rush of people like a sports stadium or movie theatre can help you get more customers for your business. 5. Get The Essential Permits & Licenses Like any other business, you also need permission and licenses for running your concession stand business successfully. Here I will mention some of the standard licenses and permits you require to start your business. Some of them are as follows:- Food manager certification. Certificate for food handling. License for Food Vendor. Employer identification number. Sales & Use tax permit. These are some of the standard permits and licenses you will require for starting your concession stand business. Depending on your jurisdiction of the place, the law may change or alter. You can take a note of that thing for your own good. You can also incorporate your business with an LLC and you would require a registered agent in your state. For instance, if you are in Texas, you will require a registered agent in Texas for all kinds of legal correspondence. 6. Select The Food Storage & Preparation Equipment Depending upon the menu and the type of food you will serve to your target audience, you have to select the types of equipment which will suit you better. Some food items require the perfect temperature and pressure to keep the food quality intact. Some of the standard equipment’s which are primarily required for the business are as follows:- Warming & foid holding equipment. Sausage and Hot dig equipment. Ventless Fryers. Griddles. Popcorn machines. Cotton candy Machines. These are some of the types of equipment you may require for your concession stand business. Also Read: Top 7 Best Startups Revenue Model That Will Grow Your Business 7. Prepare A Concession Stand Equipment List To make your foodservice business run smoothly, you have to prepare the concession stand equipment list. There are certain everyday disposable you will require in the daily affairs of your business like cups, bowls, trays. Fryer baskets, cutlery, and many more. Some standard equipment which all types of concession stand require are as follows:- Cash registers. Coin Dispensers. Aprons. Snacks & Drinks. Signs. Cooking equipment. Serving equipment. Final Take Away Hence, if you want to run your Concession stand business properly, you have to make the required arrangements mentioned in this article. Then, you can feel free to share your views and opinions about the important deals for commencing a concession business. It is quite natural that we may have missed some of the crucial points essential to running these types of business smoothly. You can share your comments with us to provide you with better information on this business later. More Resources: Top 5 Types Of Business That Are Giving More Profits To The Sellers How To Start A Business In 2022 – Best Business Strategies? 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Jan 24, 2022
The Resources You Need To Start Your Business
What do you need before launching your business? If you've been working toward it for a while, you might be wondering whether the simpler question is what don't you need? While the run-up to starting your company might feel increasingly frantic as you get closer to opening your doors, whether they are physical or virtual, if you've done your research, have a solid business plan, and have made sure that you have ample supply of the resources below, you should be ready to go. Details About Resources You Need To Start Your Business 1. Knowledge There's really no limit to the amount of knowledge that can be useful to you as an entrepreneur, but at some point, you do have to set aside the research and take those first scary real-world steps. Think of knowledge acquisition as an ongoing thing. There's a reason that some professions have continuing education requirements. It would be best if you never stopped learning about your industry, about business in general, and about ways you can improve. But what about the necessary elements in order to get started? First, you need to know your industry. Ideally, you've already got some experience in it; if not, then you'll have a much steeper learning curve. You can take courses, read books, look at online talks, and chat with other entrepreneurs to help you learn more. You need to know about basic business concepts and structures. This can help prevent a situation where you take a very circuitous path to solve problems that actually have fairly standard solutions. Knowledge really is power, and being well-informed about your industry and the forces that act on it will put you at the head of the pack. 2. Funding Having enough funding is critical for every new business, but you also need to know the types of funding and how much you need. Don't underestimate. Even a home-based endeavor will have costs such as setting up a website, physical or virtual storage and printing up business cards and similar items. There are a variety of funding sources that may be available to you, including loans, grants, and investors. Keep in mind as well that funding can be a staged process. You may need a certain amount just to get up and running, and after that, you can look for additional money that is accessible with the aid of Philippine debit cards. In fact, some loans and grants are only available to entrepreneurs who are already in business. 3. Location And Equipment When you hear the word resources, physical items may be the first thing that you think of, and you can't start your business without a place to operate from and things to help you do your job. If your enterprise is virtual, you still need to carve out a space online and have someplace to work, even if it's only a corner in your house or bedroom. If you're selling a product, of course, you will also need to have that actual product. Some resources will be specific to the type of business that you're running, but don't assume that because you are small, you don't need to have certain tools. In fact, you probably face the same challenges that larger companies do, albeit on a smaller scale. This can be the case for companies that have a small fleet. You might think that just because you only have a handful of vehicles, your fleet management challenges will be smaller. However, fleet tracking for small businesses is just as important as it is for large ones. A great way to simplify your operations and increase efficiency is with GPS tracking. In general, the process of accumulating the necessary equipment can add up to big costs, so you need to carefully evaluate your needs. However, don't make the mistake of trying to skimp on necessary hardware and software. This may look economical in the short run, but it will catch up with you eventually. Read Also: 6 Tips For Growing Your Small Business And Boosting Your Bottom Line 4. People Human resources usually refer to employees, and this is certainly one important element of success if your company is big enough to employ more people than just you. Find great candidates through personal referrals or working with a recruiter, and make offers that will attract top talent. However, people will be useful to you in other ways as well. Finding a mentor with who you can bounce ideas and who can offer guidance is invaluable. People extend to the support systems in your life as well. You'll need both professional and personal support. Are you involved with any local professional organizations? Are your family and friends on board with what you're doing? These sources of support can provide ideas and encouragement and can help keep you on track when your energy is flagging. Read Also: Top Signs Your Boss Is Threatened By You Effective Ways To Track Your Employees’ Work Is Natural Gas Distribution A Good Career Path?
Jan 18, 2023
Ways to Attract More Customers to Your Pool Business
Owning a pool business can be a rewarding venture, but attracting and retaining customers is crucial for long-term success. With the right strategies in place, you can create a thriving pool business that attracts customers year-round. In this article, we'll explore proven strategies to help you attract more customers and grow your pool business. Enhance Online Presence In the modern era, establishing a robust online presence is imperative for the success of any business. Start by creating a professional website that showcases your pool services, facilities, and pricing. Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and optimized for search engines to improve online visibility. Utilize social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to engage with potential customers, share updates, and promote special offers. Offer Special Promotions and Discounts Attracting more customers to your pool business can be achieved by providing special promotions and discounts that they can enjoy. Everyone loves a good bargain, so this is a great way to entice them to choose your business over others. Consider introducing seasonal promotions such as early bird discounts for summer memberships or holiday specials. Provide referral incentives for existing customers who refer new clients, such as discounts on future services or complementary pool accessories. Additionally, offering package deals or discounts for group bookings or events can help attract larger groups of customers. Host Events and Activities Hosting events and activities at your pool facility can attract new customers and keep existing ones coming back for more. Organize poolside events such as pool parties, movie nights, or fitness classes to create a fun and engaging atmosphere for your customers. Partner with local businesses or organizations to host joint events or promotions, such as a poolside barbecue with a local restaurant or a fundraiser for a charitable cause. Offering swimming lessons or water safety courses can also attract families and individuals looking to improve their swimming skills. Provide Exceptional Customer Service Providing exceptional customer service is key to attracting and retaining customers in any business. Train your staff to deliver personalized and attentive service to every customer, greeting them warmly and addressing any questions or concerns they may have. Respond promptly to inquiries, complaints, and feedback to show customers that their satisfaction is your top priority. Consider offering added amenities such as complimentary towels, sunscreen, or refreshments to enhance the customer experience and set your pool business apart from the competition. Implement a Referral Program A referral program can be a powerful tool for attracting new customers to your pool business. Incentivize existing customers to refer friends and family by offering rewards or discounts for each referral. Create referral cards or codes for easy tracking and redemption, and make sure to thank customers for their referrals with personalized messages or exclusive offers. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews and testimonials online, which can help attract new customers and build trust in your pool business. Highlight Specialized Pool Designs A great way you can attract customers to your pool business is through showcasing your unique and innovative pool designs. Moreover, you can also showcase your special installations like infinity edges, vanishing edges, unique tiling, or special water designs. If you highlight these features, you will see that your pool business will attract more customers in the long run. Moreover, make sure these new designs and innovations are showcased on your pool business’s website, social media platforms, and to potential clients. This is done to attract customers to your pool business for your exquisite designs. We suggest that you make use of the spotlight on your unique designs that will set your pool business apart from other competitors and attract more customers. Collaborate With Local Influencers If you want your pool business to flourish, then you must collaborate with local influencers to boost exposure to your business. They will allow your pool business to flourish by posting pictures and testimonials featuring your pool designs, which will be communicated to thousands of viewers on social media. This is a win-win situation for you as a business owner and them as a social media influencer. Leading to more customers in your pool business and also allowing the influencer to gain some more likes and followers. Moreover, this strategy will not only improve your pool business but also improve your online presence, which is a must-have strategy for modern businesses to flourish in the digital age. We also advise that you create long-lasting relations with the influencers to have a better buzz around your pool business. Showcase Customer Testimonials Having happy customers is the best way to have your pool business flourish. Happy customers are also the best marketing assets you can have. Sharing their testimonials on your website and social media pages will go a long way in building trust and credibility with your potential customers. Make sure you highlight their positive experiences and showcase to them the beautiful pools that you have built or renovated to serve them. By sharing true customer experiences, you will foster trust among your potential customers and inspire them to take your pool business into their next consideration. Implement Geo-targeted Advertising By using geo-targeted advertising, you will be able to focus on your marketing efforts to your potential customers in specific locations. This will help your pool business increase efficiency on the capital that you might make use of to attract customers. Additionally, it is also crucial that you target your local customers first before expanding to regional advertising. As said by many seasoned business owners, having a local customer base always allows the business to flourish in the long run. We think by smartly allocating your marketing budget towards hyper-local advertisements, you will be able to effectively target the customers you are seeking to attract to your pool service. Conclusion Attracting more customers to your pool business requires a combination of creativity, consistency, and exceptional customer service. By enhancing your online presence, offering special promotions, hosting events and activities, providing exceptional customer service, and implementing a referral program, you can attract new customers and grow your pool business successfully. Implement these proven strategies today and dive into success with your pool business. Read Also: Business Continuity Plan – What Is It, And How Does It Work? Upcoming Business Challenges In USA For Small Businesses To Note
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