Posts Tagged ‘Business’

Cut Costs and Increase Efficiency!

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

cut-costAs the nation fights to pull out of this economic crisis businesses must be prepared to take an objective look at their bottom line. By eliminating unnecessary overhead, companies can concentrate on building and expanding their foundation, placing the emphasis on their core product or service.

With the advancement of technology there are many cost effective strategies entrepreneurs and small business owners can implement to leverage their enterprise and increase efficiency.

Most small business owners wish they had more time to focus on growing their business, but are too often bogged down with tedious tasks that are so time consuming they prevent and/or slow down their growth. The solution is outsourcing; whatever your companies requirements, you can literally outsource almost anything.

Human Resources (HR) - Depending on the size of your business and how much control you want to maintain over HR functions, you can either outsource all your HR needs or contract for individual services.

The basic services offered by HR outsourcing firms:

  • Overseeing organizational structure and staffing requirements
  • Recruiting, training, and employee development
  • Personnel File Maintenance
  • Tracking Department objectives, goals, and strategies
  • Benefits administration
  • Employee orientation programs
  • Ensure compliance with all State & Federal labor laws & informational posting requirements

Payroll- Many employers outsource some of their payroll and related tax duties to third-party payroll service providers. They can help ensure filing deadlines and deposit requirements are met. If your business does not keep accurate records you could be fined. California passed a law that imposes a $750 payroll fine on small businesses that aren’t able to quickly produce accurate payroll records upon an employee’s request; it is rumored that other states will follow with similar legislation. Outsourcing payroll will greatly streamline business operations.

The basic services offered by Payroll outsourcing firms:

  • Processing payroll and record maintenance on behalf of the employer
  • Reporting, collecting, and depositing employment taxes with State and Federal agencies.
  • Timely filing of Quarterly State and Federal Employer Tax Returns
  • Provide Calendar Year-end services such as issuing W2s, reconciling 941s & DE7

Information Technology (IT) Services – Remaining adaptable to the market is crucial to any small businesses success. In the majority of industry, 100% of business functions are run on computers. Your business relies strongly on your network which requires a strong IT infrastructure.  StoneHill, an Industry leader, recognizes the importance a business’s health and offers a free Technology Review. By outsourcing these services you can convert fixed IT costs to variable, significantly decreasing overhead and creating an increase in service availability and overall efficiency.

The basic services offered by StoneHill and other IT firms:

  • Maintenance Plan
  • Managed Services
  • 24/7 Emergency Support
  • Online Disaster Recovery
  • SPAM & Virus Filtering
  • Special Projects
  • Communication Network Set-up & Maintenance

The New Face of American Business

Monday, November 16th, 2009

The Net Generation, commonly referred to as the Net Gen, is a generation of young people who have never known life without the internet. Information Technology is a way of life for this generation. Exposure to IT begins very young; children age six or younger spend an average of two hours each day using screen media (TV, videos, computers, video games), which nearly equals the amount of time they spend playing outside. Over two million American children six to seventeen have their own Web site.

With Technology at their fingertips allowing them to access people, information, products and ideas from across the globe; the Net Generation is the new face of American business. Entrepreneurialism is on the rise and has become a trend amongst this generation and the many to follow. In a survey conducted by the Kauffman Foundation of 2,400 young people, 4 out of ten said they wanted to start their own business. In another survey of 2,000 Americans, nearly 80 percent of respondents said that entrepreneurs are critically important to job creation. The Net Gen is predicted to integrate technology innovation and entrepreneurialism that will enable solutions to create new jobs and markets, pulling businesses out of the current economic crisis.

Technology is imbedded in our society and evolves more and more everyday producing endless amounts of opportunity to build an enterprise. The Net Generation is at the forefront of this revolution, but the generations to follow will assist in the transformation of commerce. Disney has joined the movement by partnering with the Kauffman Foundation in the development of the award winning Internet simulation game that gives millions of children the chance to run a business in Opportunity City at Disney.com. Our economy may be caught in the storm, but as the world embraces technology and encourages the entrepreneur; our youth will capitalize on their ideas and widespread access to technology, there is sure to be a rainbow in sight.

By: Amber Bowker

Small Business Team-Building on the Sands of Newport

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

newport-sea-baseArguably one of Orange County’s best kept secrets is the $6.8 million Newport Sea Base, where children learn how to navigate mini marine vessels and executives can steer their company to the Newport Beach Harbor for a day of rejuvenation away from the office. The Sea Base boasts a history dating back to 1937 and recently completed the multi-million dollar construction project. The new architecture is beautiful, modern and sits along 400 feet of water’s edge in the Newport Beach Harbor. Not an exclusive yacht club, this is a facility for everyone.  The folks at the Sea Base, also called the Sea Scouts base (the Sea Scouts are a division of Boy Scouts of America), have extended an invitation to small businesses to utilize the facility for team-building functions, parties and other social and professional events.

 The Newport Sea Base was originally host  to the youth of and Sea Scouts of Orange County, with the intention of developing character and instilling a love for maritime in the hearts of youth, according to the Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America. Part of the plan in building the new sea base was to reach out to the small business community of Orange County. The Newport Sea Base offers a uniquely coveted venue where orange county small businesses have the opportunity to revitalize company morale and engage with their employees in fun team-building sessions.

Small businesses are known for being efficient and streamlined. The few employees they do have are highly valued and keep their organization running. Small businesses do not have layoffs, usually; their doors are either open or closed. They typically leverage the skill sets of their few but strong employees, and small business owners understand the value in rewarding their people. Savvy entrepreneurs periodically invest in the vibrancy of their people. What a difference a half a day can make: When small business owners reward their employees by breaking free from the office and heading to the beach, everyone will see each other a little differently, noticing employees and owners both shine brighter in the sun.

Click here to contact the Newport Sea Base today and schedule your company’s team-building event.

Author: David Meacham

Budgeting for IT: Budgeting to Win

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

tightening-budgetEvery successful company has a budget. What’s in your budget? More importantly are you budgeting to win? Winning means maintaining existing, and forging new, sustainable business relationships. And if you don’t yet have a budget, get one for free, courtesy of Intuit. If you are not budgeting for IT you are not budgeting to win. In the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression, most businesses today are drastically cutting costs, according to a recent New York Times article. But at what cost have these cuts come? How is your business performing? According to the NY Times article, a beneficial cost cut is moving away from in-house operations and toward contracted relationships.    

Never before have companies depended so much on technology for their day-to-day operations. When this technology fails them what do they do? Who do they call? StoneHill Technical Solutions partners with small businesses to insure their IT environment is maintained at the most optimal performance level. And it is StoneHill’s winning combination of performance and customer service that makes them a coveted team member and outsourced computer services business partner.

By budgeting for IT you are investing in a critical component of your company’s operations. What does your workplace look and feel like in the event of a computer crash or a server crash? What happens when e-mail is down? StoneHill Technical Solutions is your winning relationship. You can’t afford a monthly expense for computer service? Can you afford to go without use of your computer or deal with a failed network for a day? What you probably cannot afford is long-term contracts and non-performing partners. StoneHill Technical Solutions is the partnership that will keep your business infrastructure running smoothly and efficiently, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Take advantage of StoneHill’s free network review today and let them share their findings with you and help you to win!

Author: David Meacham