Business Butler

Business Blog week 3- Making a prototype  Now it’s time to covert that brilliant business idea into an actual product or service. This stage is vital in collating all the research that you have made and then collaborating it together to form a prototype. What we mean by a prototype is  a  sample, drawing, presentation or a replica of the final product design itself. A prototype can be: ·        A website  ·        A product  Many business ideas require lots of time, money and effort to properly develop. So, when making a prototype it is advisable to initially develop a basic version, with the aim of satisfying that visionary idea. Whether the intended design is just made of cardboard or drawn on a piece of paper it is still a step in the right direction.  Another step to making a prototype is getting into contact with the necessary players of the business. When develo...

How to avoid procrastination? Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task that needs to be accomplished by a certain deadline. It is normal for everyone to suffer from procrastination. By focussing completing task more effectively and efficiently you can reduce your levels of procrastination, and there are several methods to help you achieve this.     Firstly, break your work into little steps. Simply separating the task into smaller more manageable and approachable stages will make you more motivated to complete that task; because the task becomes more achievable and less daunting. Secondly, change your environment. This can be as simple as moving around the office which will help you eliminate boredom and keep your mind focussed on the task in hand. Make sure the new environments are exciting because if they are gloomy and dark it can enhance the levels of tiredness, which leads to decreased levels of productivity.     After...

Week 2- What to do once a business idea is created? At some point, everyone will come up with a business idea, but the key is to think of how to turn that idea into reality. The first step for creating a new business is to thoroughly research your idea. To begin with, identify the market you’re targeting. This might sound simple, but this can shape many areas of the business. As say your aiming to sell your business offerings at a high price, all aspects of the product will need to support this business framework. If your business idea is an improvement of an existing product or service, ensure you research how that particular business functions. You can then help develop new adaptations to your business functions which can help to direct your efforts for success. Another aspect of research that is vital at this early stage of development is gaining understanding of your business offering. Research into the development is gaining understanding of your business offeri...

Coworking is becoming an increasingly popular option for small businesses and freelancers, but why should you consider coworking rather than working from home? Check out these advantages to find out if coworking is the right option for you and your business... 1) Join a community Working from home can be very isolating and you may go for days at a time without any face to face contact, working in a shared office space allows you to join a community of likeminded people in a similar situation to you, have people to chat to and socialise. 2) Create a work-life balance Whilst working from home can be great, the lines between your work life and your home life often become blurred. Hotdesking in a coworking space can allow you to create some separation between work and home. 3) Use professional meeting spaces One of the key benefits of coworking is that many spaces have dedicated meeting rooms that can be used. Inviting clients or prospects to a meeting room shows pr...

With political and economic uncertainty and ever changing technology, all UK businesses are facing a tough time and running a small business can be particularly challenging. Many businesses are struggling to survive and further challenges lie ahead. Amid a changing business landscape it’s key that small businesses are successful in overcoming challenges and avoiding mistakes others have made in the past. Key challenges that need to be considered by those running small businesses are… Recruiting and retaining employees Recruiting and retaining employees can often be costly and time consuming for small businesses. Writing contracts, conducting interviews, training employees and ensuring all necessary HR processes and policies are in place are amongst the requirements for businesses and can be challenging, especially when resources are limited. Regulation and compliance One challenge when running a small business is ensuring compliance with government regulations. Am...

No matter the size of an organisation, it’s important for all business to ensure human resources are considered and any necessary steps are taken and policies put in place. Human resources (HR) is used within organisations to maximise employee performance to help achieve company goals and is primarily concerned with managing the people working within an organisation in line with the organisation’s policies and to ultimately reduce organisational risk. Some small businesses and startups choose to ignore some of the basic principles of human resources so we have put together this short guide outlining key HR considerations for new businesses. Recruiting employees The mistake that many new businesses make is thinking that they don’t have to follow various employment laws that are in place to protect both employees and employers. When recruiting you must ensure that formal employee contracts are in place defining the role and the terms and conditions of the persons employm...