Enterprise Podcast Network

Enterprise Podcast Network

By EPNBusinessBusiness News
Download on the App Store

Enterprise Podcast Network episodes

  • 5 Ways to Keep a Struggling Business Afloat - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN
    Many businesses go through rough periods. When your business is struggling financially, you need to have a plan in place to turn the business around. The five tips below can help put your business back on track and back on the path toward business success.
    Evaluate and Revise the Business Plan
    Image via Flickr by Informedmag
    When you first began your business, you probably created a business plan. Whether the business plan was to obtain financing, gain a partnership, or advance your own business goals, that plan outlined the business objectives, processes, and profit expectations.
    If your business is now struggling, you need to revise certain elements of your initial business plan. Turning around a business requires a solid business plan. Additionally, a revised business plan may be required to obtain additional funding, especially if you are pursuing funding from investors.
    Keep a Positive Cash Flow
    Businesses that are struggling need to improve their cash flow. You can find many ways to improve cash flow including revising payment requirements, increasing the convenience of payment to customers, and evaluating inventory pricing. The bottom line is that cash flow is more important than ever to a struggling business. Funds can help keep a business from going under, and without a positive cash flow, your business cannot meet this requirement.
    Find the Largest Problem
    While multiple problems could possibly be contributing to your business struggles, finding the largest one is important. Dealing with this low-hanging fruit can produce the fastest results. Evaluate each department of the business including operations, finances, purchasing, training, and human resources. Communicating with both employees and customers can give you a better idea of where the largest problem lies.
    Meet With Vendors
    Image via Flickr by Wonderlane
    Word spreads fast when a business is struggling. Vendors may begin to worry that they will no longer receive payment.
    Since your business supplies are crucial to not only your business success but also to successfully turning around your business, you need to communicate openly with your vendors. Set up a meeting and inform vendors of the steps you are taking to correct the business’s mistakes. It can be helpful to create a prepared statement to respond to your business vendors.
    Use Rentals to Accept New Jobs
    You generally need money to make money. When your business is already on a downward spiral, accepting new clients, especially when you require expensive tools or machinery to complete a job, can be difficult. Renting large construction or warehouse equipment can prevent you from having to turn away new jobs because of a lack of equipment. Renting also allows you to keep more cash in your pocket.
    Cash is king, and having more of it can make a business turnaround easier. Equipment rental rates are affordable, and equipment can be rented by the day, week, or month, giving you plenty of financial options.
    Owning a business takes work. You are likely to have both business successes and business struggles. If your business is currently struggling, the tips above can help you stay afloat until you can successfully turn your business around.
    0 min
  • 5 Tips to Funding Your Business Responsibly - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN
    Starting or expanding a business without funding is difficult. This is because you can’t acquire inventory and cater for business expenses without money. As a matter of fact, most people have good business ideas but fail to implement them due to lack of seed capital. Besides that, businesses that are already up and running experience major hurdles when they want to expand because the owners lack sufficient funds to open new branches. Without funding, any business is bound to fail.
    On the other hand, an entrepreneur has to be careful when seeking business financing. This is because illegitimate funds will haunt your enterprise to its grave. At the end of it all, you don’t want to step on other people’s feet as you go up because you expect them to hold you when your business crashes. Below are ways that can help you get funding for your business responsibly.
    Borrow from Friends and Relatives
    You can get money to start a business or expand an existing one from your relatives and buddies. All you have to do is share your idea with them. It’s easier for relatives and friends to lend you their money because you have already build rapport with them.  And although they may not want you to pay them back with some interest, you should mention that you intend to settle the debt with an interest. This will convince them to lend you the money that you need so much. The advantage of borrowing money from friends and relatives is that they won’t rush you to pay them back. However, you should commit yourself to repaying the loan because you might ruin your relationships by not fulfilling your promises.
    Sell Some of Your Assets
    Disposing some of your properties is definitely the best option when you are looking for seed capital. If you have several assets such as cars, land, stocks and old home appliances, you can sell a few of them to raise funds for your enterprise. The advantage is that you will not be owing money to anyone. This will enable you to work in your business without a lot of pressure. Whether your business succeeds or fails, you don’t owe anyone an explanation. You can actually buy some of the assets that you had disposed earlier when business starts recording consistent returns.
    Get an Angel Investor
    You can get funding by partnering with an angel investor. There are actually many people who have a lot of money but they don’t have investment ideas. You can actually pitch your idea to such individuals and secure start up capital. However, you must be ready to share your earnings with them. Before you approach such investors, it’s recommended that you first prepare a business plan. If the business is already in operation, you should prepare balance sheets, tax returns records and cash book statements. This is because you will have to convince angle investors that you have a viable business.
    Crowdfunding
    You can get funding by sharing your business idea with a Crowdfunding community. Kickstarter.com is the most popular Crowdfunding platform. All you have to do is elaborate on your idea and people will start donating money. You can reward your donors by giving them some of your products. For instance, if you want to publish a novel, you can send them a free copy of the book in digital format.
    Search for Microloan Lenders
    Getting business funding from a bank is never easy. This is because they can’t give you the loan if you don’t have an asset to secure it. On the other hand, microloan lenders can give you seed capital without asking many questions. The downside is that their loans come with high interest rates. But that should not be a problem as long as your enterprise is profitable. Moreover, they might be able to refer you to other creditors with favorable terms.
    0 min
  • Bridget Scarr discusses the development of high-end drama television series and how to leverage your creative potential - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN

    Bridget Scarr, Chief Creative Officer at Colibri Studios, a company focused on development of high-end Television drama series joins Enterprise Radio to discuss how to leverage your creative potential.
    Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Bridget Scarr discuss the following:

    * How did you get into creative development for high-end drama series?
    * What is it that attracted you to this career?
    * How do you create a popular drama series?
    * Do you focus on any genre or a specific type of story in the TV series you develop? What does the development process for TV series look like?
    * What have you learnt in your career that is relevant to other industries?

    Bridget Scarr is a writer and creative producer who has an affinity for developing compelling content which extends across platforms. From television to digital content, virtual reality, augmented reality and interactive exhibition, her projects resonate with large audiences both intellectually and emotionally.
    Bridget is also a seasoned Exec producer with over 15 years production experience in advertising, television, and animation. Over her career, Bridget has been responsible for overseeing the creative development as well as creative and technical production output of teams (from 5-220 people) across numerous productions spanning drama, children’s animation, entertainment, lifestyle, and factual entertainment programming.
    Bridget currently heads up the content development, strategy and partnerships at Colibri Studios where she is focused on drama and is involved with daily development collaborating with international broadcasters, production partners, and creative talent to bring high-end drama series to life.

    Websites: www.colibristudios.tv | www.bridgetscarr.com
    Social Media Links:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/colibri_studios

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colibri_studios
    People also listened to this: Leverage Videos to add a new revenue stream
    12 min
  • How to Run Your Business More Efficiently - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN

    Starting a business is easier today than it ever has been. Efficiency is essential to stand out from the crowd. Good ideas and dedication aren’t always enough – obstacles can surprise you and cause minor to major setbacks. Avoid these roadblocks through preparation and efficiency; you can guide your business to greater success and make life easier for yourself while you do it.

    1) Set Goals

    When you start your own business, it can feel like a fruitless endeavor until you see the reward for your hard work. Sometimes it can take a long time before you even notice a hint of success or see a return on your investments.

    Have patience and set goals to look out for as you work. Whether these are sales goals or growing your team, you can track your business’ progress much easier by taking note of the changes that happen when you aren’t necessarily searching for them. Keeping a business diary is always a good idea, but to make sure you meet your milestones, you should also take note of quantifiable pieces of information that can outline the trajectory of your business. This way you can spot flaws much quicker and implement corrections more efficiently.

    2) Embrace Change

    The world is being shaped around new and innovative technologies, and it’s unlikely for a business today to survive for long or reach enough customers without, at the very least, having a website. Marketing your business is a minefield of good and bad choices, but outsourcing your search engine optimization and web design can take the pressure off yourself. Take advantage of web design DC to help you professionally market your business and achieve the furthest reach possible. Embracing new technology and techniques that come with it will set your company up for a much more efficient path to success.

    3) Make Connections

    It is more efficient to allow others to help you than take on every task yourself. While you can usually find quality companies to outsource jobs to, it is equally important to make real-life connections with people both inside and outside your industry. You never know who might have a useful bit of knowledge for you or a skill that may drastically improve your business. It is more efficient to actively network and discover these connections than it is to spend hours trying to achieve it all on your own.

    By setting yourself practical goals you can watch your business’ progress and more effectively make important changes. Resist the urge to undertake all the work by yourself and find qualified people to help you reach these goals. Accepting the input of others will smooth out any rough edges in your business and help it to run much more efficiently.

    0 min
  • 5 Tips to protecting your identity after losing your wallet - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN

    It’s the something that happens every day, but never dreamt of happening to you. You’ve lost your wallet, and the second you realize it, you start to panic. How can you not? Your wallet not only contains cash but also a number of identification cards like driver’s license, credit cards, ATM cards, security cards, and more. You could be the next victim of an identity theft. But you have to resist the urge to panic at this very moment. Instead, you should wisely do the next moves in order to protect your identity.

    Here are five tips for protecting your identity after losing your wallet.

    1. Contact your Credit or Debit Card Company.

      2. One of the most common forms of identity theft is credit card fraud. If your wallet goes missing, the first thing that you need to do is call the bank or financial institution that issued your credit/debit card. Thieves can do a lot of damage to your credit card in a short time. You can put on a fraud alert or credit freeze on your accounts so that any creditor will have to verify your identity before any credit is approved. It makes impossible for a thief to run a huge chunk of a bill on your behalf.

      1.    Report the loss or theft to the local authorities.

        2. It is important that you report the loss of your wallet. This way, you have an evidence in favor of you should you become a victim of identity theft. In worst case scenarios, you do not want to end up explaining why you did not report the loss in the first place. After you have reported your case, make sure to keep a copy for your own records.

        1. Replace your Social Security card.

          2. One should never carry their Social Security card in their wallets. Thieves can easily apply for loans or lines of credit in your name with the information contained in your Social Security card. However, if you made a mistake of keeping your card in your wallet, you will have to replace your lost social security card. You will not be given a new number, but you will be given a new card. This may not help you in terms of fraud and identity theft but you still have to inform the social security administration to reduce your risk of identity theft and so you can get help from the right authorities.

          1. Get a new driver’s license.

            2. You need to get a new driver’s license if your wallet is stolen. Otherwise, you could face a large fine if you are driving without one and you are stopped by a police officer. Get in touch with your local DMV as soon as possible to report the loss.

            1. Consider getting an identity theft protection if you still don’t have one.

              2. This comes in handy once you have lost your wallet. Getting an identity theft protection membership will make the process faster. The company will help you immediately cancel or replace your cards and other items in your wallet.

              0 min
            2. Personal Finance Tips for the Traveling Nomad - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN
              It doesn’t always take a fat bank balance to start a business. For businessmen like Ken Langone from Roslyn Heights, all it took was hard work and a keen understanding of what the customer wants. With that, he formed Home Depot, one of the most successful home renovation chains in the world. But for those who plan on being a little more mobile, it will require being savvier with cash to remain in business. For those who run a one-man show which is often the case with nomadic businesses, the personal and business finances are often intertwined. Discover some healthy finance tips for the traveling nomad.
              Don’t Work for Free
              The lure of traveling is often enough to get traveling nomad off their couch and into a plane, but this lifestyle needs to be sustainable. There are instances where accepting goods in exchange for services work; however, that can’t be the only source of income. Bloggers, journalists, traveling writers, photographers and others who find themselves jetting off to distant locations may find themselves in a financial pickle if the only form of payment is their accommodation.
              Know Where to Go When Finance is Needed
              As a traveling nomad, it might be a good idea to do some research on the banking options within the country that is visited, especially if the tenure of the project is more than just a few months. There will likely be differences in what is available to you depending on whether you’re based in Asia, Africa or Australasia. For example, when looking for a Loan Singapore based nomads might find a wide variety of financial products with favorable interest rates, but there may be less choice available in parts of Africa. There are many other online loan application options that nomads can try from their home countries as well. Sometimes a little bit of finance goes a long way, especially if it enables that digital nomad lifestyle to grow.
              Learn to Save
              As with any business, it’s important to realize that some months will be better than others. From seasonal projects to fluctuating budgets, it’s important for the nomad to stay on top of their cash flow. The incorrect use of cash flow kills one out of four businesses every year, which can be avoided if managed properly. A good way to ensure a consistent level of cash in the business is to save the surplus. This will allow a bit of a buffer during those quieter months. If there is no quiet period, the business can then make use of the reserve for better equipment or marketing. Owners who save in their personal capacities will be less of a burden on the business.
              The importance of money management is not just important for corporates and those who operate from a fixed premises. Nomadic businesses also need that extra care and attention in order to remain relevant and healthy. Those who have their personal finances in order will also place less stress on the business.
              0 min
            3. Florida Foreclosures Residences & Homes for Sale - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN
              As now the Florida foreclosure lands and properties continue to reach, different investors are seeing the Florida as a good location to invest in. So as anticipated Federal assistance to ease the property insurance burdens and Florida contemplating elimination of the tax on the property has led home buyers and dealers to focus their attention on Florida Foreclosures.
              Every person need home to live and mostly people finds various places which are beautiful actually. Some kind of the market for foreclosure properties is very attractive and competition can also be as violent. Some kind of the internet is also proving to be a good and valuable source of information as like the investors and home buyers look for the updating.
              Importance of Getting Interest in Florida Foreclosures
              Several of these factors contributed to a complete building huge in the Florida during the starting few of the years and after the start of the new millennium. So the bubble burst with the different other country’s economy recession. So as high unemployment is resulting from the economic crunch resulted in lots of the home mortgage are going sour in the Florida as well as in the rest of the developed countries.
              As declining the trend in the prices of the existing houses in the reason ample enough to encourage looking into Florida Foreclosures can be apple of the eye of the most astute of the home buyers. People who are thinking you had enjoyed living in the Florida or just to see the complete wisdom of owning Florida Real Estate as some kind of the investment.
              Florida Foreclosures What Are the Best & Hot Properties
              The bank will be typically putting the home back on the different market at the discounted prices and rates. Now the size of the different discount offer will depend to a large extent on the location and condition of the different homes. So as Florida Foreclosures affects lands and properties statewide so as defaults are also likely to occur in the upscale neighborhoods as they are poor ones.
              Main thing is that first stop you should make in the search for Florida Foreclosures is the internet or as online. Various websites have also listed of the Florida Foreclosures classified by the city and even the different location codes so you can also easily get the foreclosure in the desired area or in the interested location.
              How to Get Free Florida Foreclosures Schedule
              Like the US economy just continues to struggle and Foreclosure rates in Florida continue to reach records highs with the higher homes filing for foreclosure in the past years. Homes, condos and the property of the all types across all of the Florida in the cities and counties like the Jacksonville, Ft Lauderdate etc. with the driving around we can get good locations and places for obtaining right place for us.
              Such things are no doubt that the American real estate markets is still in some kind of the unstable state with the millions of the troubled homeowners on the brink of the foreclosure. The best way to browse free some of the Florida Foreclosure listings are to use one of the main three online places. Now the Florida Foreclosures which looks good on the papers and in the news.
              Florida Foreclosures Law to Get the Cheap
              People who get to find the Florida then should definitely get some acquainted with the Florida Foreclosure Law so let’s face it no one is like immune from the different risks of the foreclosure which is the need.
              0 min
            4. NaturallySweet Desserts Is Becoming A Pioneer In The Vegan Industry - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN

              Sherimane Johnson the Owner & Baker of NaturallySweet Desserts with a mission to increase consumption of plant-based foods and empower customers to make healthy food choices joins Entrepreneurial Fit Radio.
              Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Sherimane Johnson discuss the following:

              * Why did you start a vegan bakery?
              * What did you do before you started your business?
              * What are the challenges for artisan businesses like yours?
              * How are your vegan desserts different from your competitors?
              * I hear you have exciting news to share. Tell us about the Kensington StoreFront Challenge.

              Sherimane Johnson is the owner/baker of NaturallySweet Desserts. Her mission is to increase consumption of plant-based foods and empower customers to make healthy food choices. Her method is delicious vegan desserts. NaturallySweet Desserts create delicious dairy-free (vegan), soy and GMO-free and low-glycemic artisan pastries made with locally sourced fruit, vegetables, and herbs.
              Sherimane is a testament to the healing power of a plant-based diet having been diagnosed with Type II diabetes. After searching for alternatives to traditional pharmaceuticals, she discovered that her diabetes could be controlled by changing her diet to one that was non-meat and dairy free. Becoming vegan literally saved her life. Her goal now is to pay it forward by using her knowledge the healthy benefits of a plant-based diet. In addition, her desserts being 100% vegan, 100% delicious, they are also used as a teaching tool.

              Websites:
              www.naturallysweetdesserts.com

              https://insomniavegan.com

              https://ywevegan.com

              https://soundcloud.com/ywevegan
              Social Media Links:
              https://www.facebook.com/naturalsweetsbaker

              https://www.facebook.com/insomniavegan

              http://twitter.com/veganndelicious
              People also listened to this: HercuLean Meal Prep’s Co-Founder Ben Canary Discusses How They Got Cookin’
              12 min
            5. How to Improve Your Company’s Security - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN
              Digital security is a funny thing. For one, many people don’t take it seriously. This is because their computer or access point like a phone or tablet are locked safely in their homes. They equate physical safety with doing their best in protecting virtual data, when in reality their data is more valuable than they realize, and can be hacked even behind closed doors. This is even truer for companies. As a company, your data is your lifeblood. It is what keeps you going, because without that data, you don’t have the information needed to operate. In some cases, your entire company is built on data and digital products and services.
              That is why you need to make your company’s security a priority. This mean improving, training, and implementing new tools to ensure your digital data is safe, backed up, and secured. To do that, follow this guide:
              Have an Offline Backup 
              Having offline backups can be expensive, depending on how much data you have, but they are worth it. Further, even small businesses can purchase 4TB hard drives for an affordable price, so backing up your whole system can be done, and should be done. That’s because, in the worst-case scenario that a hacker begins to delete your files or holds them for ransom, you haven’t lost anything. Not money, nor the information; you may even be able to keep a firm grasp on your reputation.
              Note: The key here is offline – if your backup is online then it is vulnerable to cyber-attacks like the rest of your data.
              Use the Best Safety Practices 
              In the best-case scenario you never encounter a cyber-attack, and one of the ways you can help prevent this is to use the best practices for AWS security or whatever your cloud hosting system is. Follow these practices, and more importantly, ensure that everyone else in your company follows these practices. This means training each and every employee, so that they cannot jeopardize your data in ignorance.
              Train Your Employees 
              To be safe, you need to all uniformly work together towards that safety. Digital security should not be left up to the IT department alone. Instead, train all of your employees on how to recognize cyber-attacks in the form of phishing attacks or malware, and how to use the system so that it is as secure as it can be. Similarly, training your employees will ensure that a virus they have downloaded at home will not be uploaded through the cloud into your company’s data.
              Use Stronger Authentication Methods
              If there are two-or-more factor authentication methods, use them. The more loops a person must go through in order to log in, the harder it will be for a hacker to access your accounts.
              Keep Programs Updated  
              All programs, plugins, and data must be updated. Outdated programs have security holes that hackers can exploit to gain access to other areas of your computer or data.
              Digital security should be every company’s priority. Being hacked or infected with malware or ransomware can be the end of your company. Never underestimate the power of your data. Protect it, and protect your company.
              0 min
            6. Baby on Board – 6 Factors to Consider When Buying a Family Car - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN
              For most of us, buying a car as a single adult was based on a search for the brightest, sexiest machine on the market.  By the time we have placed our foot on the road to parenthood however, that zippy little sports car that went from 0 to 60 in five seconds, may not be the ideal carrier of our new precious cargo.
              Preparing a list of key criteria is a great way to begin your move to a safe and suitable family car.
              Loan Star
              Few of us have the ready cash on hand to buy a car without some kind of financial assistance.  Loans through car yards can be expensive so look for affordable, established car loan providers, such as Latitude Finance, who offer the advantages of:
              Secured and unsecured loans
              Flexible payment periods
              Cheaper interest rates compared to the big banks
              Safety smarts
              One of the most important issues surrounding a family car is safety.  Safety features are not always obvious to the uninitiated when inspecting a prospective vehicle.  Fortunately independent companies such as ANCAP can offer valuable insights into the safety of a wide range of vehicles on the road today.
              Vehicles are rated in a number of key areas including:
              Adult Occupant Protection (AOP)
              Child Occupant Protection (COP)
              Pedestrian Protection (PP)
              Safety Assist (SA)
              Vehicles are scored through a rating system and their safety features outlined clearly.  The final star rating provides prospective buyers with a clear and concise way of appreciating the safety of the vehicle for both occupants and pedestrians.
              Size Wise
              The move to SUV’s by many parents, has been propelled in part by the ability to store large items such as prams, baby bags and fold-up cots easily in the sizeable boot.  They also provide a flexibility with many having the ability to remove or flatten rear seats.
              Look for substantial interior space. Reverse facing seats require considerable room between the back and front seat.  Note how wide the doors open to make access to the baby capsule or seat, easier.
              Easy access
              A parent with bags of groceries under one arm and a baby under the other, needs a car which is easy to access – enter keyless entry.
              Many vehicles now have foot activated lift gates which provide the capacity to open the boot simply by waving a foot under the rear bumper.  This marvellous technology has been a boon to parents everywhere.  Do your research and read online reviews as not all ‘kick open’ boot access operates to the same level.
              Fit for purpose
              Unless absolutely necessary, it is advisable to invest in a four door car or SUV, with a young family.  Access to minivans, trucks, utes and sports cars is usually limited and the safe installation of car seats make most of these vehicles inappropriate for carrying children.
              In situations where a car only has a front seat, never use a rearward-facing baby seat when there is an airbag installed.  There is risk associated with the powerful release of the airbag causing fatal head and neck injuries in infants whose heads are immediately in line with the airbag.
              Extra mile
              While the above strictures have narrowed down the field somewhat, it still leaves a wide range of vehicle options to choose from.  Look for cars which carry extra features such:
              Rear reversing cameras as a safety precaution when baby gets bigger
              Parabolic mirrors to keep an eye on baby in rearward-facing position
              Air conditioning
              Adjustable speakers from rear to front to avoid loud music affecting baby’s hearing
              Window tinting with high UV protection
              The new car market has evolved over the years to provide parents with a range of technological features which raise them to a new level of efficiency and safety.  Investing in a car which will carry your family through every stage of life and grow with them, is money well spent.
              0 min

            About Enterprise Podcast Network

            From the publisher's feed

            Inspiring & informing entrepreneurs and business owners