Andrew Rogerson's Blog, page 39

Small Business Management Issues of 2016

Small business owners had to think about many issues last year—including some that could impact the cost of running their businesses.

Despite their concerns, a recent survey says that about 73% of small business owners feel successful, and just over half (52%) are optimistic that the economy will improve in 2016. This is according to The Hartford’s 2015 Small Business Success Study.

The Hartford’s study found that small business owners identified several issues that are challenging their businesses. Here’s a discussion of those issues and some ideas to help owners successfully deal with these issues this year.

Minimum Wage Increases. With cities like LA approving a $15 minimum wage and discussions of a national pay hike, minimum wage increases are a big concern for many small business owners, according to the study. Aside from local wage increases, this issue is impacted the most by the type of industry the business is in, as many industries, such as technology see most employees already paid above the minimum wage. However, in non-unionized types of businesses like restaurants and some retailers, owners frequently have limited profit margins and pay less than the suggested minimum wage hikes.
Taxes. Roughly 29% of small business owners put taxes as a top concern. One way that small business owners can make certain that they don’t overpay taxes is a pre-year-end tax review with their accountants. Owners can review whether certain business expenditures can be treated as expenses to reduce their tax liabilities. Further, business owners can look at estimated tax payments to be sure they’re in line with their business performance.
Healthcare Costs. Over a third of small business owners said they are concerned about healthcare reform and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Beginning this year, the ACA requires that business owners with 50 to 99 full-time employees start offering healthcare coverage or by subject to a penalty. Along with this is the continuing high cost of healthcare.One option is to pass the cost of a wage hike on to customers, or possibly offset higher wages with gains from reduced employee turnover, increased productivity, and greater consumer purchasing power.
Data Breaches and Cyber Fraud. Small business owners said that the potential costs of cyber fraud and data breaches were a significant concern for about 15% of small business owners, according to The Hartford’s study. Nonetheless, every small business owner must be aware of security and take steps to protect their businesses from attack. A popular idea is to move data processing to the cloud, which protects it from physical harm. It can also offer more robust protection from cyber threats in that cloud hosting providers usually provide greater security against data breaches than an individual small business can set up on their own.
Mobile Payment Technology. This was another concern, as indications are than interest in mobile payments in 2016 will continue to increase to represent 50% of the total U.S. digital commerce revenue by 2017. Many owners concentrated on the October 1, 2015 deadline to accept EMV cards (Europay, MasterCard and Visa, which created the standard) equipped with computer chips that increase security against fraud. Only half of small business owners knew about the deadline, the study reported. Small business owners can be liable for losses caused by credit card fraud if they don’t accept the new EMV cards.

Small Business Management Issues of 2016

Even with these concerns, small business owners as a whole have a positive outlook for this year with an improved economy and renewed optimism. Owning and operating a business is all about recognizing opportunities and being ready to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.

Andrew Rogerson is an expert of small businesses in Sacramento. He understands these issues and can help you with managing a business. He can also assist you with selling or buying a business, buying a franchise, or a related service like valuing a business.

If you would like more information about selling a business, buying a business or buying a franchise, please visit my webpage Services and choose from the drop down menu the information you would like.

For more immediate help, you are welcome to send an email to Andrew Rogerson or give me a call on 916 570-2674.

The post Small Business Management Issues of 2016 appeared first on Rogerson Business Services by Andrew Rogerson.

Annual Budgeting, Quarterly Budgeting…Which is Better

The last recession had a huge negative effect on business and warranted a change in business operations. With ever-changing regulations, more global competition and constant technological updates, response time must be quicker if a business wants to thrive. But how does that affect your financial projections through budgeting? Let’s take a look at the differences between annual and quarterly budgets, and what this may mean for businesses now and in the future.

Annual Budgeting

Annual budgets are a staple of every American business. Every company needs a map to plan where it wants to go. The biggest downfall of budgets is the amount of resources they take to plan. This business forecasting process may involve most employees and can take anywhere from three to six months to complete.
Employees are compensated based on annual goals set by the budget. Ask any salesperson or department head and they will tell you they don’t want a moving target or a timeframe too quick to reach their goals. It is common practice to set goals that are reachable if your mortgage depends on it.
Wall Street also has a lot to do with the way budgets are currently planned. Public organizations’ worth are determined by meeting annual goals. Even private organizations have to answer to their investors or owners. Moving to a shorter-term budget could put even more pressure on a company to focus on short-term goals and miss opportunities for long-term growth.
How will department interaction be affected if goals are not on an annual basis? Already, departments can be suspicious of giving up any budget dollars to another group. Will it help morale if that possibility exists three more times a year? How will you get any group to participate willingly?

Quarterly Budgeting

The benefit of looking at your budget more often, of course, is the flexibility. Trends can be spotted, both good and bad, so a company can react quicker and make adjustments. Businesses need to be more responsive in a shorter amount of time.
Another benefit is the ability to use actual results, not forecasts, every 3 months or so. By the time a budget has been signed off on after several months, most of the forecasts are outdated. Updating the budget more often means real results can be used to adjust strategies and take advantage of quicker growth or change direction to lessen negative results.
Evaluating results more often means more communication. Departments often live in a silo and focus only on their part of the organization. With more updates throughout the year, each department will have a better idea of what’s going on elsewhere in the company. This means more accountability.
Resources should become more efficient as they can be more effectively allocated. No more spending up to the budget maximum, the old “use it or lose it” mentality. Everyone will see where the money is needed and where adjustments should be made. Some departments or revenue areas may warrant zero-based budgeting or something close to it, saving the company resources to be used to respond to the market and competition.

Which to Choose?

The flexibility of planning more than once a year is obvious. But re-evaluating the company direction and long-term goals is still a crucial part of planning. Many companies either do both an annual budget and quarterly updates, or use a rolling 12-18 month forecast that gets updated no less than quarterly. To keep the planning time from multiplying, companies turn to technology, updating the original forecasts to actual results, which then updates future projections.
Keep track of your KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), and use forecasting software to run potential scenarios such as different market rates, competition changes, or a percentage of sales lost, so that the most crucial variables have been considered. You could also cut the amount of detail in an annual budget, cutting the time to produce it and only follow the most crucial items, as determined by your KPIs.
You will need to work on buy-in at every level to change the corporate mindset. Department heads will be held accountable on a real-time basis that they may not be comfortable with. Change compensation models to reward for company goals: customer satisfaction, cost measures, market share, and outperforming competition.

Changing the budgeting process can be just that, a process. Some companies have switched from annual to quarterly evaluation periods. But most organizations see a need for both quick response time and an eye on long-term success. To be proactive, take a look at both simplifying your annual process and becoming more responsive by using budgeting software. Use the time saved on forecasting company goals toward actually achieving them.

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This is a guest post written by Melanie Valenzuela. Melanie has been writing about business topics for several years and currently writes on behalf of the budgeting software experts at True Sky. When not writing, she can be found working on her world perspective through travel; or challenging her heart rate through tennis, running or attending a Kansas City Royals baseball game. You can find her on LinkedIn.

The post Annual Budgeting, Quarterly Budgeting…Which is Better appeared first on Rogerson Business Services by Andrew Rogerson.

Time to sell your business in 2016

If you’ve been thinking about selling your business, now may be the time. Of course, this is a big decision, and one that you’ll want to consider thoroughly. However, if you feel like you need a few reasons to tilt yourself in that direction, think about these:

The Economy is Picking Up

Most economic analysts believe that the economy is looking good right now, but that it may not be as great in the future for small- and medium-sized businesses. Are you up for that, or would you rather pass your business to someone else?

You’re Ready to Retire

How much is enough and when to you say “enough”? A great many entrepreneurs work tirelessly at a business and enjoy a high level of success. They are able to create a valuable company and acquired some wealth for their families. If you’re at that point, you may be ready to stop running the business and begin enjoying time with your family and doing things that you like doing.

Another Opportunity

If you’re bored, tired of running a business, and not ready to retire, it may be time to look at other opportunities that have come about since you started your business. With the success you’ve achieved with your current business, perhaps you feel ready to move on to the next challenge.

It’s a Seller’s Market

The market in Sacramento and across the country has been very favorable to sellers in the past year. This might allow you the opportunity to get more for your business than you might have otherwise anticipated. That additional capital could be put into another business opportunity, go in a different direction, or added to your retirement savings.

You Just Don’t Feel the Excitement Any More

One of the most common reasons that many entrepreneurs sell their businesses is that they are just bored. They love the thrill and excitement of seeing an enterprise take off, after that, over time, the day-to-day of running the business has become a little mundane. It’s the same thing every day—no more turning on a dime and feeling the surge of adrenalin from making slit second decisions. The fun is in keeping your interest piqued. That may mean moving on to a new venture.

This Decision Takes Some Thought

The reasons discussed above for selling your business may give you pause to consider whether it’s time to sell. On the other hand, there may be other reasons that apply to your situation. If you’re think about selling, give the decision the amount of time it deserves. Andrew is available to discuss this with you and to point out options and strategies that may help you with your decision.

Time to sell your business in 2016?

There are many steps to sell a business. Because there are many steps they take time as there is a need to get those steps right.

For information about selling your business, visit our website Services and choose from the drop down menu the information you would like.

To speak with Andrew, contact him via email or call the office at (916) 570-2674.

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Franchises that offer a discount to CA Veterans

If you are a Veteran, living in California and looking to own your own business you have the same options available to all of us. Those choices are to start a business from scratch, buy an existing business or buy a franchise.

There is no right or wrong way to go. At the end of the day, if owning your own business is important to you, you have to choose the option that makes the most amount of sense. It’s that simple. If you’d like to know some of the main criteria to help you make that decision, click on this link – Business ownership – what are my options.

What if you need finance?

If you need finance to help live your dream to own and operate your own business and you are a Veteran, or the spouse of a Veteran and living in California, there is a program available from Veteran Launch to help you. Veteran Launch is a program sponsored by the SBA or Small Business Administration and they offer loans from $25,000 up to $250,000.

To qualify for a loan, not only will you need to be a Veteran and living in California, you will need a downpayment of 20% of the purchase price. The good news is that there is no application and you can use the loan for different options including buying a franchise. There are other qualifying criteria such as not having a bankruptcy in the last three years.  The best news of all is that the loan doesn’t require any collateral.

Benefits of buying a franchise

If buying a franchise is one of the options you are considering, here are some of the benefits.

A wide variety of franchise concepts to choose from in a wide variety of industries. That is, there is something right for you.
A proven concept working in the market so it increases your chances of success.
Initial and ongoing training from the franchisor.
Once you learn the system; follow it and build your success.
An established brand and reputation.
A clear understanding of how much you need to invest.
Quicker starting time so your business becomes profitable sooner than starting your own.

Franchises with Discounts for Veterans

To recognize the sacrifices made by Veterans, some franchisors offer a discount to a Veteran that buys their franchise. Here’s a brief summary of some of the franchisors. Notice the huge variety of industries the different franchises are in.

Above Grade Level In-home Tutoring – In-home tutoring for children.
Advanta Clean – providing indoor air quality.
All about people – a professional staffing franchise.
All American Ice-cream and frozen yogurt – its name says it all.
Allegra – a commercial printing franchise.
Alta Mere – provides the best products and services in the aftermarket auto industry.
American Prosperity Group – advising retirees how to invest their wealth for the future.
Archadeck – providing outdoor solutions for backyards.
Bio-one – providing crime and trauma scene clean-up.
Blue-frog Plumbing and Drain – provides business systems to the plumbing industry.
The Brothers that just do Gutters – as you’d guess, specialize in gutters.
Budget Blinds – a home-based business that helps homeowners with their window blinds and covers.
CertaPro Painters – provides residential and commercial painting internal and external painting solutions.
Closets by Design – provides storage closets for the home and garage.
CMIT Solutions – provides mission critical computer technology solutions.
Comforcare Homecare – provides home care services for people of all ages.
Complete Nutrition – provides nutritional supplements from a retail store location.
Concrete Craft – is a home based franchise that focuses on all things concrete.
Cruise One – provides dream vacations for those that love to cruise.
Elements Massage – provides therapeutic massages.
EmbroidMe – provides marketing solutions with the making of embroidery products.
EnviroClean Drycleaners – provides dry cleaning solutions that are sensitive to the environment.
Executive Care – provides in home care to seniors.
Farr’s Fresh – provides ice-cream and yogurt desserts for all ages.

There are many other franchises available to you. If this is a franchise concept that’s appealing to you, don’t be afraid to ask if a franchise discount is available to you.

What other franchise concepts are available

As a member of the IFPG I have access to over 360 different franchise concepts for you to choose from in 39 different industries.

If you would like to see the range of franchises available to you to choose from, click the following link and it will take you my website where you can conduct your own search and see the different franchise choices available to you.

If you find a franchise choice that is of interest to you, give me a call so I can find out from the franchisor if there is a territory available where you live or want to own and operate your franchise.

Next steps to buy a franchise

If finance is holding you back from buying your franchise and you are a Veteran living in California, here is someone to help you.

Mike McGrane is a loan officer at Veteran Launch.  In fact, all of his team are Veterans.  He will answer your questions and help get your financing approved so you can get into business.

Veteran Launch is an initiative of the ODBC Small Business Finance which is a 37-year-old Community Development Financial Institution based in Oakland, CA.

The mission of Veteran Launch is to help Veterans who live in California with attractive business loans with low fees and competitive interest rates to start or grow their business.

If you are a veteran and would like more information about borrowing $25,000 up to $250,000 to start your own franchise or business, please click this link to visit Veteran Launch

If you would like more information about buying a franchise, please visit my webpage Services and choose from the drop down menu the information you would like.

For more immediate help, you are welcome to send an email to Andrew Rogerson or give me a call on 916 570-2674.

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Do Due Diligence or End up in Do-Do

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What is Due Diligence?

Due diligence is simply the homework that one does when they are contemplating the purchase of a business. It’s the detailed research and analysis of a business and it’s related factors that’s conducted in preparation for the sale by the buyers.

If you are considering buying a Sacramento business, you’ll need to do this homework. You’ll want to make sure that this enterprise is squeaky clean and shipshape, top to bottom. In order to do this, you’ll want to have an experienced business broker who knows the economic conditions and business environment in the Sacramento area. You should talk to Andrew Rogerson.

Complete Inspection

Andrew Rogerson will help you do a complete inspection of the business you want to buy in Sacramento, CA starting with the lease, financial statements, loan application process if the buyer needs an SBA loan and help identify the key components that make the business successful.  Andrew wants you to buy this business; if it’s right for you, but he also wants you to have every aspect of the business operation uncovered so that you know all of the details in case you should need to re-negotiate or walk away from the deal.

Financial Data

The due diligence will cover all parts and functions of the business. One of the most critical areas of concern are the company finances.

This review should be conducted by the buyers CPA or licensed professional so if any errors are made, both legal and financial recourse is available.  This will include a meticulous review of the company’s financial statements, balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and business tax returns which Andrew will assist in getting from the seller including any other related documents.

Some of the things your CPA or licensed professional will be examining include the company’s collectables, bad debt written off, profit margin, any outstanding liens, current debts and liabilities, as well as a schedule of inventory, accounts receivable, and accounts payable.

There are many more numbers to review, such as the depreciation and amortization methods and changes in accounting methods, fixed and variable expenses, the general ledger, and their internal control procedures.

Employee and Employment Information

In addition to help investigating all of the financials, Andrew will also ask the business owner for the employee handbook, any employment agreements, salary information, employee benefits plans, as well as any non-compete agreements in effect and confidentiality agreements. This will provide a sense of whether there are any potential legal issues with employee policies or practices that put the business at risk. California regulations are pro-worker, and employers must ensure that they adhere to these state rules.  If this uncovers any areas of concern, they will be brought to a licensed attorney representing the buyers interests for their opinion and further action.

Business Operations

Another important type of due diligence concerns running the business. Andrew will ask for customer lists, vendors, and sales processes. This will help determine if the company’s inventory and infrastructure are sufficient, and if there are any issues in the supply chain. Information on the customers will help determine current and future sales projections and growth strategies.

Talk to an Expert Certified Business Broker

There’s a lot to look at, and you most likely don’t have the time and expertise to do thorough job. It’s also very difficult to do if you are the buyer as your emotions and motivations get caught in the deal making process.  By talking with Andrew Rogerson, seasoned business broker who knows the economic and business climate in the Sacramento area; we’ll make sure to dot all the i’s and cross the t’s so your investment in the business you buy is a success.

Andrew specializes in private equity transactions and is a needed resource during the purchase of your new company. He will help minimize your exposure during the sales process and give you the benefit of his many years of negotiating business deals in the Capital City of California.

There are many steps to successfully buy a business with completing due diligence just one of those steps. Click this link if you would like a one page summary of the Many Steps to Buy a Business.

If you would like more detailed information about buying a business please visit my webpage Buy a business or buy a copy of my book Successfully buy your business.

For more immediate help with buying a business you are welcome to send an email to Andrew Rogerson or give me a call on 916 570-2674.

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Sales of Privately Held Businesses in 2015

According to the most recent IBBA and M&A Source Market Pulse Survey Report, ‘individual’ buyers still hold a small lead in acquiring businesses with $1 to $2 million in value.

The Market Pulse Survey Report is a quarterly survey conducted by the International Business Brokers Association and the M&A Source.  The reports are completed quarterly by active members of both association with the support of the Pepperdine University Professional Capital Markets Project and the Graziadio School of Business and Management.

Other findings in the report include:

Once enterprise value increases to $5 million, however, it is more common that the buyer is someone who either currently owns or has owned a business in the past. There are many possible reasons for this, but the key take away is that owners need to be prepared. Accurate and timely financial records and management reports are expected by the more sophisticated buyers and their bankers.
Deals took longer to close across all sectors with closing times jump up to nearly four months.  Typically, the larger the deal, the longer it takes to close.
The top three industries for businesses sold in the $5MM to $50MM range were manufacturing, business services, and construction.
‘Retirement’ continues to dominate sellers’ motivations for selling their businesses.
Transactions over $1 million in value take an average of 11 months to close, which is up from an average of 6 months in Q4 2014.
Many sellers believe that once they receive a signed LOI their business is ‘sold.’ But quite a bit of legal and due diligence work still needs to be done. It’s important for sellers to understand this is a process and the sooner they become prepared, the better the results.
Buyers in the lower middle market are more often purchasing in order to expand an existing business through a horizontal or vertical add-on.  Q4 saw an increase in “growth through acquisition” motivated purchases across almost every market sector.

Are you thinking about selling your business?  Would you like to know the value of your business?

If you would like more information please visit my website Certified Business Broker Sacramento.

For more immediate help you are welcome to send an email to Andrew Rogerson or give me a call on 916 570-2674.

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Keys to the Franchise Agreement

A franchise agreement is a written contract between the franchisor and the franchisee that describes the franchisor-franchisee relationship. A franchisor grants the franchisee the right to use the franchisor’s system and proprietary intellectual property (think golden arches) to operate a franchised business.

As a Franchisee, you need to thoroughly understand all of the terms of the agreement which in legal jargon is called the Franchise Disclosure Document or FDD.

Here are some of the keys to the Franchise Agreement or FDD:

The Franchise Term

This part of the agreement states the duration of the agreement, as well as renewal conditions and the circumstances in which the franchisee may purchase the franchise. This will say whether he can do so before the agreement expires or if there’s the right to renew.

Franchisee’s Fees

All of the fees that the franchisee must pay to the franchisor are detailed in this section. This can include an initial franchising fee and the benefits that the franchisee is to receive for that fee, royalty calculations and payment schedules, and any other fees for things like authorized supplies or franchisor services.

Obligations and Duties

This section will states the responsibilities of the franchisee like required training, operational standards, maintaining and submitting records, and other parameters of the franchise.

Trademarks & Intellectual Property

A big benefits of getting a franchise is the ability to use well-known trademarks of which the public is aware and that they accept (again golden arches). This part of the franchise agreement will list trademarks, service marks, and logos that the franchisee can use, as well as any restrictions on their use by the franchisor or franchisee.

Location

This will stipulate the area or territory granted to the franchisee and whether those rights are exclusive in a specific territory.

Restriction on Offered Goods and Services

This is a description of restrictions on the goods or services that the franchise offers, such as quality standards, authorized suppliers, marketing and advertising, hours of operation, and pricing.

Renewal, Termination, and Transfer of the Agreement

This section will spell out the rights and obligations of a franchisee upon termination, details of the transfer of the franchise agreement, and information about the franchise agreement renewal.

Use a Franchise Expert

Without a strong understanding and experience with the franchising process, you can run into issues. You should seek the advice of a knowledgeable certified business broker like Andrew Rogerson in Sacramento, CA. As a long-time business broker in Sacramento, CA, Andrew will be able to instruct you on selecting the right franchise opportunity, franchise negotiations, review of the franchise agreement, and walking you though the entire process.

Many Steps to Buy a Franchise

There are many steps to successfully buy a franchise and they all have to make sense. Click this link if you would like a one page summary of the

Many Steps to Buy a Franchise

If you would like more information about buying a franchise, please visit our webpage Buy a franchise or buy a copy of my book – Successfully buy your franchise.

To speak with Andrew about purchasing a franchise or about your franchise questions, email Andrew Rogerson or call (916) 570-2674.

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Hit Your Sweet Spot Selling a Medical Practice

Find Your Sweet Spot

The sweet spot in baseball is the spot on the bat where the hitter tries to make contact so that he can transfer the most power to the ball, sending hopefully over the fence for a home run. It’s not easy, and that’s why when you’re at a baseball game, you see so many balls fouled off by a batter at the plate.

When talking about selling a medical practice, the sweet spot is when the greatest strengths and the best aspects of your practice are brought to the forefront. Just like selling a house, physicians need to make certain to showcase their practice’s features and strengths.

In addition to a strong client base of paying patients, a medical practice may have physician extenders like a nurse practitioner or a PA (physician assistant). This is a selling feature to highlight in the practice. Perhaps the practice also has ancillary services, such as allergy therapy, in-house lab testing or what was of huge interest to buyers with a practice I just sold; clinical trials. Again, these need to be promoted to potential purchasers as additional sources of profit. Other features such as a unique role in the community such as a team physician for a basketball, football, athletics or baseball etc. are also worth communicating to potential buyers. Anything that differentiates your practice from others is valuable information to help make the sale of your medical practice as lucrative as possible.

Another important factor is working with a local business broker. Andrew Rogerson has been in Sacramento, CA as a Certified Business Broker for many years and has helped many physicians sell their practices for top dollar. Let Andrew help your prepare your practice for sale.

Make Sure You’re in Your Sweet Spot

These are just a few suggestions on how to best position your medical practice for sale. There are many more, and this type of preparation is critical to realizing the best return on investment.

It takes an investment of time for physicians to have a sense of the market, the value of their practice, and to map out a solid strategy for displaying the practice’s sweet spot.

Andrew Rogerson isn’t a hitting coach for the Sacramento River Cats baseball team, but he’s a coach of a different pursuit, coaching healthcare professionals through the sales process to hit a home run in the sale. If you are thinking about selling your medical practice, speak with Andrew today. He is happy to consult with you on the valuation of your practice and how to position it in its sweet spot to receive the best price.

There are many steps to successfully sell a medical practice. Click this link if you would like a one page summary of the Many Steps to Sell a Medical Practice.

If you’d like more information, please visit our website Sell a Medical Practice,. You can also contact Andrew directly via email or by calling Andrew on (916) 570-2674.

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Business loans for CA Veterans

Starting or buying a business is never easy. It’s even harder if you are a Veteran and have served your country and would now like to use the training and experience from being in the military to apply it to owning and operating your own business.

For those Vets that live in California and need to borrow money to start a new business, be it their own business idea from scratch or buying a new franchise, there is now a new business loan underwriting service available from Veteran Launch.

Veteran Launch is an affiliate of ODBC Small Business Finance which is a 36 year old Community Development Financial Institution based in Oakland, CA.

The simple mission of Veteran Launch is to help Veterans who live in California with attractive business loans with low fees and competitive interest rates to start or grow their business. Veteran Launch operates to support both returning veterans aspiring to start and grow a business as well as those veterans who currently operate a new or established business.

Ways Veteran Launch can help

Business loans for start-ups or existing businesses with loan amounts from $25,000 up to $250,000 with interest rates currently at 7.5%. These loans are amortized over 10 years and come with no prepayment penalty.
Business education courses to help veterans learn financial management and loan-readiness.
A free loan-readiness assessment so a veteran can fine-tune their business plan and projections so when they start their new business or franchise, they hit the ground running.
Assistance with accounting system set ups, quarterly check-ins to help ensure the success of the business.
Flexibility using telephone and web conference technology for those veterans who live outside the San Francisco Bay area and Sacramento area with classroom instruction and peer group learning.
The loan funds can be used to buy a franchise, furniture equipment, working capital, business debt refinancing and business acquisition.

Owning and operating a business is not for everyone. However, for those with an entrepreneurial flair and the willingness to do the hard work including the ongoing learning it takes, this loan program for veterans could be the answer you are looking for.

Everyone on the Veteran Launch team is a Veteran.  Mike McGrane is one of the loan officers at Veteran Launch. Mike was delighted to recently approve a loan for a veteran in Yuba City who wanted to start their own business. After looking unsuccessfully for business finance for over 12-months, they finally came across the Veteran Launch program and were amazed to have their business loan approved in a very short time.

If you are a veteran and would like more information about borrowing $25,000 up to $250,000 to start your own franchise or business, please click this link to visit Veteran Launch

If you would like more information about buying a business or buying a franchise, please visit my webpage Services and choose from the drop down menu the information you would like.

For more immediate help, you are welcome to send an email to Andrew Rogerson or give me a call on 916 570-2674.

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Cloud Contact Center Benefits to a Business

Bad customer service is costing American businesses billions of dollars. A 2016 report by Forrester Research found that 73 percent of respondents said valuing their time is the most important thing a business can do to provide exemplary customer service, and 53 percent of customers will not complete an online purchase if they can’t get quick answers to their questions.

A crucial tool businesses can use to make the customer service process more efficient is a cloud contact center. This comprehensive software runs a contact or call center, and users can access it from any device, including desktop computers, tablets and smartphones. Cloud contact centers allow businesses to offer immediate support, giving customers satisfaction that the business is listening and working on a solution. Since two-thirds of consumers will spend more with a company they feel provides excellent customer service, according to the 2012 Global Customer Service Barometer for American Express, wowing your customers is an essential component of maintaining and growing your business. Voice and digital response units that work with cloud technology can also help provide stellar customer support in various ways.

Better Organization

Storing customer service interactions and customer information in the cloud allows a team to operate 24/7 to monitor query progress and more accurately update support queues. A cloud contact center allows customer support members to keep track of every interaction, so the next person who communicates with the customer is fully aware of all their needs and can better assist them.

A cloud contact center also automatically backs up customer data, so even in the event of hardware theft or damage from a natural disaster, all information is stored safely and securely and is accessible from any device, so support never has to be stalled.

Improved Analytics

Cloud contact center software builds your customer care capabilities for you, including inbound, outbound and blended voice interactions. Since all communications are stored in one place, including the amount of time spent completing tasks and results driven from interactions, a cloud contact center allows businesses to analyze areas for improvement and better optimizes future successes. The cloud allows businesses to store and analyze customer support provided in areas such as in-person interactions and social networks, giving businesses a way to synthesize data across all channels in one interface.

Customer service in the cloud also provides powerful demographic data, showing businesses when customer service is contacted the most and from where, allowing enterprises to better staff their teams. The cloud contact center allows businesses to input preferred languages spoken by the customers who called, preferred times of days they want to receive customer support and preferred methods of contact, so future customer support interactions can provide personalized results that achieve a more positive sentiment.

Cost Savings

Moving your customer care data to the cloud helps save on costs, since the cloud contact center is managed on secure servers by professionals, requiring less in-house IT support. The software has automatic backup for hardware devices that may be lost, damaged or stolen, and it gives employees the ability to work on their own devices, saving money on additional tech costs.

Because of improved efficiency and work-from-anywhere capabilities, a cloud contact center also allows businesses to train remote customer care team members and outsource tasks. This saves on training and physical space costs, without sacrificing immediate customer support capabilities or the security of precious customer data.

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