The Startup Magazine

Why Virtual Bookkeeping Will Save your Startup
Why Every Startup Must Invest In A Custom Mascot
Top Tips to Give Your Startup a Boost

Why Virtual Bookkeeping Will Save your Startup

Posted: 22 Nov 2021 02:08 PM PST

Starting a business involves a lot of work and planning. You need to have an idea, a realistic business plan, and build your team. One of the positions you will need to fill is that of the bookkeeper. You can hire someone to your team, do it yourself, or hire a third party virtual bookkeeper.

virtual bookkeeper

The thing is, if you try to do it yourself, it can take you away from everything else you need to do for your business. Depending on the size and complexity of your startup, there may be many hours of work involved in doing regular bookkeeping. You probably aren't going into business just so that you could do bookkeeping. If that were the case, you would just get a job as a bookkeeper.

Every moment that you spend bookkeeping takes away your focus on your core business. You could also certainly hire someone, but then you would have to pay a salary and invest in training. All of these costs in time or finances could sink your business. However, virtual bookkeeping could save your startup and keep you on the road for success. Here's how.

It's Less of an Investment

Yes, hiring a virtual bookkeeper does involve an investment. You will pay for their time that they are working on your company. However, it can be significantly less than if you hired someone to your team, even if it's just part-time.

When you hire someone, you need to go through a recruitment process, which takes up a lot of your time. Then, once someone is hired, you have to train them. You may not pay them any more than you would a virtual bookkeeper, but you will have to account for things such as vacation days, benefits, and any other costs involved with employing people. Plus, if the employee doesn't work out, you have to go through the entire process again.

With a virtual bookkeeper, you don't have to do any of that. You pay for their time, and that is it. They are already skilled, and already know how to handle the finances of a business. On top of that, if a virtual bookkeeper doesn't work out for you, you can always hire another one without much hassle.

Up-To-Date Data

If you are handling the bookkeeping yourself, or you have another team member doing it as part of their job, then there may be times when you get behind. If your books aren't updated, you can end up going over budget, or not realizing when you have a shortfall. Running a startup is hard enough as it is, and not having up-to-date information can be a death knell. With a virtual bookkeeper, they will update your information as quickly as possible in a cloud file. That way your data is always available when you need it so you can make informed decisions with accurate information.

Data Backups

Let's say something happens to your local server or your cloud-software and you lose vital financial data? This might be something that sinks many businesses. However, with a virtual bookkeeper, you can be assured that you will always have a data backup off-site. Yes, they will update to your cloud-based software, but they can also keep a hard backup. That way, even if something happens at your central office, there will still be a copy that is unaffected, and your business will be protected.

You Can Focus On What You Do Best

To find success with a startup, you need to be efficient and effective. If you are spending a lot of time as a bookkeeper, especially if it is not one of your skills, then you are not being efficient with your time. By outsourcing your bookkeeping, you can spend your time doing what you do best, and what you need to do. That is growing your business. Instead of entering numbers into a database, you can be calling prospects, following up with suppliers, and making the connections you need to reach the next level. Don't get bogged down by the details involved with bookkeeping yourself.

Unbiased Opinions

When you hire a bookkeeper to your team, they may be unwilling to give you an honest opinion of your business if they fear for their job. Or, they may be so invested in your mission that they ignore some warning signs. With a virtual bookkeeper, you can get opinions you can trust about your business, so that you can make better decisions that aren't informed by bias.

Running a startup is hard. There is a lot of work to do both to get it up and running and to make it successful. Your bookkeeping is an important function, but it's one that you can safely get someone else to do. Hire a virtual bookkeeper to keep accurate records and to potentially save your startup.

The post Why Virtual Bookkeeping Will Save your Startup appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

Why Every Startup Must Invest In A Custom Mascot

Posted: 22 Nov 2021 01:55 PM PST

The business landscape is more competitive than ever, and launching a successful startup is easier said than done. You can imagine how challenging it can get to carve a niche in the tight market. Everything boils down to reaching the audience and connecting with them at a deeper level. You also need to hold their attention and retain them for the long haul. It takes more than a mediocre marketing strategy to achieve these goals. Custom mascots are real game-changers that make your new brand stand out. Let us explain why every startup must invest in one.

Improve connection with the audience

Creating loyalty for your brand takes a lot of work, even more, when you just start. The best way to do it is by sending the right message to the target audience. You also have to establish a connection so that they come back again and again. A conventional advertising strategy can pass the message across, but it may fail on the connection front. A mascot gives your brand a friendly face and personality that your customers empathize with.

Create a positive image

Beyond giving your startup a face and personality, custom mascots replicate a positive image. Customers stick with brands that share their values, and you can invest in a mascot accordingly. For example, businesses dealing in kids’ products can choose a superhero image to create a positive feel. The target audience is likely to love your new brand just because it resonates with them.

Stand out in the crowd

The biggest challenge for newbies is to be visible and stand out in a crowded market. The struggle gets bigger because you run on a shoestring marketing budget. Thankfully, Custom Mascot Costumes do not cost a fortune, and you can use them more than once. It is easy to compete with the established businesses at events and promotions with a character that sets you apart. The best part is that it is a one-time investment that lasts for years.

Be memorable

Custom mascots go beyond extending your visibility and reach. They also make your brand memorable as your audience tends to remember a character more than a logo or tagline. Being remembered by your customers is a big feat for any new business because it can boost sales and build awareness. You can win over customers and expect them to spread the word because you are on top of their minds, thanks to the interesting character they connect with your brand.

Consolidate your social media presence

A robust social media presence is the secret to startup success. A mascot can take you ahead on this front too. It serves as a powerful social media tool that can engage with followers and create interest in your products and brand. You can get creative with the character while using it as a part of your social posts. Not surprisingly, it can keep your followers hooked with the entertainment factor.

custom mascots

Startups need to keep pace with competing brands, but budget constraints often stand in the way. Luckily, mascots serve as an affordable marketing tool that enables you to achieve more with less. So custom mascots deserve to be a part of your startup branding plan.

The post Why Every Startup Must Invest In A Custom Mascot appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

Top Tips to Give Your Startup a Boost

Posted: 22 Nov 2021 01:40 PM PST

Getting your startup business off the ground and running is an achievement in itself, and you now have the foundations to build on to make it even more successful. This may entail changing your plans slightly, and you are going to need to keep working as hard as you did at the beginning. However, this hard work will pay off and you will be on the path to success with your startup launch. Here are some top tips to give your startup a boost.

Financial Boost

Taking your business to the next level will mean you are going to have to invest more. Whether it be new employees or expanding your office space, you are going to have to find the funds. One option is to crowdfund, which is an excellent way to sell your vision and gain new investors. Another is to invest in yourself and continue your education in college, gaining experience and knowledge that will put you ahead of your competition. You can take out a student loan with a private lender to pay for your graduate degree and this will pay dividends in the overall success of your business.

startup launch

Review Your Goals

Now is the time to review your startup launch goals as they will have undoubtedly changed since you began. You should have a better idea of where you will be able to take your business and how you want to get there. Some aspects of your initial planning will now be redundant, so you may need to adjust your budgeting accordingly. Constantly reviewing your goals is a crucial part of creating a successful business, so don't neglect this even if you are on the right track.

Talk to Your Employees

Your employees will be able to give you insight into areas of your business which you are not aware of or simply don't have the knowledge base for. Asking them for their opinions gives you the opportunity to build a loyal and motivated workforce as they will feel they are a part of the company they are helping to build. You should address any problems or potential issues they may foresee and ensure they feel listened to. Watch for signs of poor team member communication also ask you engage with your staff. Your employees are vital to your success, so make them feel valued.

Work on Marketing Campaigns

Marketing is an essential part of any business and having got your business off the ground you will have some knowledge and success already. However, marketing strategies change as a business grows. Now could be the time to employ an experienced marketing team so that your marketing campaigns are successful and are not wasting money. This is an opportunity to capitalize and build on your existing brand awareness, so make the most of it.

Network

You probably already have some form of network, but now is the time to start building on it. You should never stop networking, especially if you are looking to take your business outside of your local area or even globally. Attend conferences and trade fairs and make connections. Entrepreneurship centers that host incubators and accelerators are great places to meet mentors and collaborate with peers. You should also be taking advantage of the opportunities given by remote conferencing. Your network will help you solve the problems you will come across as your business grows further beyond your startup launch, so make it as strong and wide as possible.

The post Top Tips to Give Your Startup a Boost appeared first on The Startup Magazine.

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