Chances are you started your company because you love what you do. You opened your doors because you have a strong product that you believe in.  You probably did not start a business because your paperwork abilities were unmatched.  Paperwork is a vital and necessary evil for any business owner and proper invoicing can’t be ignored. We all need cash flow to keep our businesses adrift, so using a good invoicing system can help us keep cash in the bank and our customers happy!

Invoicing help online

Fortunately, there are lots of online invoicing services designed to make life less complicated for the small business owner. By using one of these services, you can quickly — and depending on your clients, automatically — send out your invoices each month. It’s one less task for you to handle. Below is a quick look at some of the better online invoicing services:

A free but powerful invoicing service

Sometimes the word “free” is synonymous with “not very good.” Fortunately, that is not the case with the free system, BillingBoss. Ideal for most small businesses that want to automatically invoice customers on a monthly basis and occasional once-off invoicing, BillingBoss packs a big punch at no cost!

A power tool

AcceptPay isn’t free. It costs $30 a month, but it’s a robust program. Offered by American Express, AcceptPay works with QuickBooks, will accept online payments, and of course, gives you an array of options when it comes to sending out invoices and collecting payments. The $30 investment is a small price to pay for such a effective online invoicing tool.

Invoicing for the tech-savvy

If you want more control over your online invoicing, you might look at downloading BambooInvoice. This is another free service. What sets it apart, though, is that small business owners host it on their own servers, not in the cloud. Because it’s an open source program, tech-savvy entrepreneurs can personalize it to fit their business’s unique needs.

We haven’t even mentioned the best part yet. These three services are only a drop in the very full bucket of available online invoicing services. Many are free or exceptionally low cost, but can greatly improve your workflow and ease the pain of that frustrating stack of paperwork.

Often, in business, concentrating on the strategy of the company is the main focus.
Is that because it’s the most important aspect to concentrate on? Many businesses think so, but exclusively concentrating on strategy may lead a company into stagnation. People make up a company and they collectively create the culture of the company. Culture does not just affect the employees in your office, it has effects on your brand, marketing, and how the public in general views your company. Without a healthy prospering culture a brand has little possibility of long-term success.  When we look at brands like Apple, Google, or Starbucks we not only recognize the brand, but we associate a number of feelings and thoughts about these companies. This is mostly due to the culture of these companies.

Why Culture is so Important

If people work in a place where they feel ownership, pride, and empowerment they will put their hearts into the work they do. They will take more risks and be more willing to think outside of the box. A healthy culture fosters creativity and innovative thinking. When individuals feel like they are being stifled by their work or they have no control over their duties, they will do the work assigned to them with no extra effort. This can not only result in a sad individual but a sad atmosphere where every task put toward your brand is given the minimum level of effort. Instead, you want a energetic and alive environment so that your brand stands out from the rest. Nurturing a healthy culture is the responsibility of everyone in the company, from the CEO to HR to the receptionist.

A healthy culture has many benefits. Take a look at a few and the reasons why they could have such a significant impact.

• Focus – When individuals are focused on the same goal, that goal is much more easily attained. Companies that have a healthy culture, have employees that care about the collective goal and genuinely endeavor to reach it. Unhealthy cultures can result in cynicism because individuals do not feel connected to the goal. Their goal is to merely get through the day.

• Cohesion – For a team to have cohesion they should have strong communication. Companies with a healthy culture find that the communication of both success and failure happens more often and more quickly.

• Motivation – A motivated workforce gets things done. That might seem obvious, but companies that don’t pay attention to the health of their culture may be suffering with regards to efficiency. Being motivated to work hard is a trait that ought to be present in every person in the company if the culture is healthy.

Measuring the Cultural Health of Your Company

You should evaluate your company’s culture a few times a year. How can you do this? First, consider how your employees are managed. It is true that a few people may never be happy but, in general, if the opinion is unfavorable begin thinking about adjustments to improve the culture to help your business. Tune in soon for some tips on making your company culture more positive.

Our previous blog focused on company culture and the effect it can have on your brand. Your company’s culture, good or bad, shows up in your brands reputation. We discussed how to measure the cultural health of your organization, but how do you give your company a cultural transformation?

The first step is to ask yourself a couple of questions to get an idea of the “feel” you’d like your company to have:

• How do you want your company to feel? Fun, creative, open, accepting, respectful, etc?
• What are your company’s values and how can the culture mirror them?
• How is information currently distributed in the company and just how does this affect the culture?
• How are employees presently recognized? 
• Does everyone feel noticed in the company? Do people feel free to state their ideas and offer their opinions?

More questions than answers may arise, so brainstorming with your co-workers is a great way to find creative answers. Here are a few ideas to start with:

Suggestion/Thought box – This is an easy way to enable people to share thoughts and opinions regarding the current events within the company. The employee could choose to make the suggestion anonymous or not, and any suggestions or concerns could be addressed in monthly company gatherings.

Empower employees – Let your employees make decisions. Treat the employees as peers; allow them to have a say and listen to their suggestions. Also be a transparent leader. Don’t just tell your employees when things are great, but also inform them tactfully when things aren’t going very well.

Flexible hours – Trusting your employees to get their work done is key. Don’t constantly hang over or micro-manage them. Trusting your employees to get their jobs done gives you less stress, as well as make the general company culture more respectful.

Dress code – Long gone are the days of the suit and tie on a daily basis (at least for most fields), so let employees express themselves with their clothing. This can make them feel free and accepted. Another idea is to have themed clothing days. Examples of this are: wig day, silly t-shirt day, hat day, etc. Let employees make suggestions for themes. A little silly goes a long way.

Celebrate – A company is composed of the people in it, so celebrate together. A monthly movie day, a catered lunch, or lunchtime board game days are just a few ways you can get your employees together to celebrate.

Below is a list of things that real companies do to add some fun to their culture:

• Spontaneous Nerf gun wars
• Painting inspirational quotes on the walls
• Hitting a loud gong when there is a success to let the whole company know
• Foosball tournaments
• Lunchtime Yoga
• Lunchtime Crafting Club
• Monday Mad Libs, whoever wishes to contribute, does, and then the completed Mad Lib is emailed to the company

The Tokyo Motor Show showcased some of the most exciting concept cars of 2011. Many companies had efficiency in mind with their eco-friendly designs while others pushed their ideas to the limits of creativity. Here we will examine some of the more intriguing and eccentric designs of 2011.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen unveiled their newest Beetle and it is ready to rock. Teaming up with Fender, this Beetle is equipped with a sound system that includes a 400W 10-channel amplifier, a subwoofer, and two sets of tweeters, one set in the front and one in the back. This car is great for anyone who is ready to rock out!

Honda

This year Honda debuted this an ultra tiny electric car they call their “micro commuter”. This eco-friendly vehicle is only 98.4 inches long, 49.2 wide, and 56.3 tall and brings a video game feel to your morning drive. Two joysticks control the car. Its top speed is only 37 mph and carries three people. While this may seem like a disadvantage, for those navigating a crowded city, its tiny size is perfect.

Daihatsu

This design may look like a bus; it is actually the FC Sho Case fuel cell car. Daihatsu’s revolutionary design contains no rare earth metals, which makes it more affordable to make then other fuel cells. The LCD screen on the outside play soothing wave patterns, but when getting into the car, passengers must step high over these to get in, making it hard for elderly people or those with injuries.

Toyota and Yamaha

As people look for fuel-efficient ways to get around, we have seen the popularity of mopeds increase in the past years. Toyota partnered with Yamaha to take this one step further with their electric tricycle the EC-Miu. This scooter can be recharged at charging stations used by other electric vehicles and will be embedded with Wi-Fi capabilities. Talk about high-tech.

The cars debuted at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show were extremely imaginative and focused on energy efficiency. I can’t wait to see what will be unveiled next year.

One of the greatest benefits of Android smartphones is that they are extremely customizable. You can customize everything from your home screen to the way you access documents and download apps. Luckily, customizing your Android smartphone is not very difficult. Follow these suggestions to design your smartphone to fit your life.

One-Touch Dialing
There are unquestionably certain numbers that you dial more frequently than others. With Android smartphones, you can set up one-touch dialing for those people whom you call the most. Simply press an open space on the screen and select the “Shortcuts” option. Then press Direct Dial and pick the right person out of your list of contacts. Now you can call that person by simply pressing a single button.

Saving Time Searching the Web
Your Android phone can be customized to include your most often visited Web sites on the home screen. This is done by pressing and holding the desired site in your browser’s bookmarks. A list of options will pop up. Select the “Add Shortcut to Home” option. This will add the Web page to your phone’s home page.

Organizing with Folders
By creating folders on your Android phone, you can better organize everything from your contacts to your most important work documents by grouping these items into their own folders. For example, if you’re working on an important project for work, you can create a new folder that’s reserved for documents, Web addresses, and contact numbers relevant to this specific project. To make folders, press on a blank space on your phone’s screen. When your list of options pops up, press “Folders.” This will enable you to make your own folder and name it. You can then drag and drop important documents, images, and files into these folders.

Phishing scams continue to be one of the most profitable crimes for online cyber criminals. News reports of sensitive data from large corporations like Sony being jeopardized are increasing at a troubling rate. But contrary to popular belief, these phishing scams are just as dangerous for small business owners.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (partners with the FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) have reported more than 300,000 cases of online phishing scams and other Internet related crimes.

To give you a better comprehension as to why your small business is of great value to a cyber criminal, let’s take a look at what phishing is exactly. 

What is phishing?

What does “phishing” mean? Phishing is the attempt to access private data, such as financial information, usernames, and passwords. This is achieved by making false websites, graphics, email accounts, and phone numbers. The subject is convinced, by one method or another, to reveal these types of information that may be used to steal their identity (social security numbers are a popular target). For small businesses, phishing scams may attempt to get access to customer credit card information. 

Examples of small business phishing scams

There are many models of small business phishing scams.  For example, bogus emails have been sent to thousands of smaller businesses that are highly authentic looking from the IRS and even including the IRS logo.  These emails explain that they must fill out tax forms or W-4 forms and return these forms by fax.  Many business owners trust this information was sent by the IRS and fear that they will be audited if they do not do what the email said was requested of them.

The IRS states on it’s website at IRS.gov, that it will not initiate any contact by email and that you should never click any links on an email sent to you asking you to send anything to the IRS.

Your company email can be a target

Company emails are easy access for thieves.  They can target an individual by sending him or her an email that looks legitimate, however when they open it, it can release a virus or malware infecting the entire network.  The thieves will then have access to employee’s private information and company data.

Phone phishing

There are also several “phone phishing scams” where fake messages from your bank, for example, ask you to call a phone number and enter your account information.

How to protect your business against phishing

APWG.org is the Anti-Phishing Work Group, and their mission is to provide wonderful advice on how to guarantee your business does not fall victim to phishing. Listed here are some of their tips:

• Make sure your employees are aware of what phishing scams are, and are cautious when reading and responding to suspicious emails.  Always err on the side of caution.  Instead of clicking a link, open another browser window and go to the official website.
• Never give out company financial information such as bank routing numbers to an inquiry made via email.  Your bank does not need you to confirm your account information…they already have that. An email like that even if it has your bank’s logo is a fake. Make it a habit to check your accounts regularly for suspicious charges and withdrawals.
• Make sure every computer used has up-to-date virus and malware protection.  Schedule regular full system scans.  Never download “anti-virus” software from an unknown entity. It’s better to stick with trusted brands.

The best way to protect oneself and colleagues from these scams is to be aware of the methods one can use to identify a scam and stay on top of the latest news on the issue.

Business trends differ from year to year and sometimes even month to month. One of the most debated about trends is telecommuting. There are many of views concerning Telecommuting; unfortunately, as it is a fairly recent trend there isn’t much info around it. Does it make employees more efficient or not? Does it make them happier, lonelier, disconnected, or more connected? What about the cost for the company? Does it cost more or less? These are a few of the many questions businesses must consider when deciding if allowing employees to telecommute fits their company’s structure and style.

Some studies show there are remarkable benefits to telecommuting. We’ve laid out several pros and cons below:

Pros

• Telecommuters work longer hours, as they aren’t wasting time commuting.
• Telecommuters have more control over their lives, which leads to less anxiety, more happiness, and more productivity.
• Telecommuters can adjust their working hours around their lives and the hours they are most productive – even if that is at three a.m.
• Telecommuting is fantastic for those who do not thrive in the standard structured nine-to-five work environment.
• Telecommuting encourages self-reliance and problem solving, and develops time management skills.
• Employers can hire highly skilled individuals without having to pay for moving costs.
• Both the telecommuter and the employer save time and money.

Cons – the other side of the coin

• Telecommuters may suffer burnout if they work excessively.
• A lack of socialization for many who crave social interaction may result in depression and loneliness.
• Poor time management skills may lead to a lack of productivity
• Telecommuting can lead to a break down in communication due to distance.
• Telecommuting can require a more time than usual to put together a home office.

For both manager and employee, successful telecommuting takes strong communication, time management skills, and clarity of job responsibilities. We are seeing more and more people desiring an independent working environment. But in the end, whether telecommuting will work or not, depend on the company’s culture and the employees’ mindset. Tell us what you think; will telecommuting be the way most businesses are organized in the future or will it fade out?

As the holidays quickly approach, advertisers appear to be pushing smartphones and tablets as the only tech gifts available this season. However, there are thousands of other good high-tech gift ideas that will make that tech savvy relative happy without breaking the bank, and many of these are flying below the shopping radar. Some are great for the eco-conscious, some are good for that inner geek in all of us, and some are even perfect for those lucky ones who already own a smartphone and tablet.

Gadgets make great gifts – whether they’re practical or not

Who doesn’t like getting gadgets? While you may not love the 40-in-1 Swiss Army knife, the 6-in-1 key chain may suit your purposes. Either way, a true gadget lover will find a use for them. So, the Starship Enterprise Pizza Cutter or a set of crocheted headphones might just delight that tech geek friend of yours.

Gadgets for the hard-to-shop-for individual

Much depends upon their tech savvy-ness, of course. But you ask a quick question first: do they care about the earth? For those individuals who do, plenty of eco-friendly devices are available, from hand-powered paper shredders to solar-powered tiki torches. It depends on how much you’re prepared to devote to the recipient, but the options are many.

Tablet or smartphone owners

For those who already own a smartphone and tablet, there are several terrific accessories to brighten their day, from iPhone “wallet cases” to iPad docking stations. As most tablets and smartphones don’t have separate keyboards, here are two accessory ideas, one for the iPad, one for the iPhone. These gadgets should have an immediate effect on the user’s experience!

The best part about gadgets and the reason they’re continuously sought after is that they’re always at hand. Gadgets, simply put, make our lives easier. Although you may not feel that there are more gift items out there apart from phones or tablets, hopefully we’ve expanded your view to incorporate some that are under the radar!

While many shoppers won’t be battling the crowds this year by buying all of their gifts online, many more will be in line waiting for the doors to open. Armed with their smartphones and tablets, customers will be using apps which offer up great gift ideas, methods to comparison-shop, as well as opportunities to buy online while in the store. So, for those of us who fearlessly venture out to the mega-mall, take a look at a few ways technology will influence how we’re shopping this holiday season.

Mobile Apps

Perhaps the newest trend is the availability of apps on smartphones and tablets that are specifically designed to make your holiday shopping smoother. One enables you to scan a barcode to see if it’s the best bargain while another allows you to take a picture of the product and it gives you comparison prices. One app even lets you beat other customers to the punch by locating the aisle holding that sought after gift.

Smartphone Marketing

Another interesting trend this season is in the strategies taken by marketers to hook us even when we’re not tied to our computers. Smartphone marketing could be the next big step in reaching consumers, and this holiday season will basically be the beta test. Many marketing agencies have set out to contact shoppers while they’re waiting in long lines, and offering big deals and discounts in “mobile-only” purchases.

Economical Technology Trends

Not only will we be using technology to make our shopping lives less difficult, but we will also be on the lookout for the next big development. The trend in technology itself is seen in the battle of the tablets—at half the cost, the Kindle Fire is posing a threat to iPad’s dominance, and a new iPhone competitor seems to be entering the market every day. Rightly so: the consumer is wary of the economy, will most likely spend less this year, and will be looking for both bargains and value.

For those of us intent on visiting the brick-and-mortars this season, technology can be a great help, from finding great prices to gift ideas. Apps can help us while we’re in the store, and our mobile phones may ring signaling that we’re paying too much! But the trends that make our shopping easier may take a backseat to those that signal the sign of these times: only the technologies that offer the best value will be the hot commodities as the economy continues to stumble along.

The Intel 4004 was the first CPU on a single chip and the first available to the commercial market. This week it celebrated it’s 40th birthday! We wish to say thank you to the microprocessor that grandfathered the CPUs we have today. A CPU is the brain of a computer. Known as the central processing unit, every piece of information in or out of a computer goes though the CPU. Just imagine what the Intel 4004, a tiny yet powerful CPU, did for the computing world in 1971. CPUs have come a long way since then, but they continue to be a huge part of our everyday lives.

The Intel 4004 was originally created for a calculator, but it quickly led to technological leaps in computing. Many common devices would not exist if it weren’t for the powerful CPUs born from the Intel 4004. These devices include laptops, streetlights, and cell phones. The Intel 4004 quite literally grandfathered many modern technologies. Here is a great article showing the evolution of technology due to the CPU.

We can’t acknowledge the Intel 4004 without introducing the engineers responsible for developing it. Federico Faggin, Ted Hoff, and Stan Mazor made up the team in command of the design and development of the Intel 4004. It’s easy to lose sight of the humble origins of today’s technological world, but the Intel 4004 reminds us of how far we have come.

So lets take a moment to show our esteem for the little microprocessor that grandfathered the present day CPU.