Problem Customers Send That-a-Way!

Do what the sign says and send your problem customers on over BusinessBeware.biz (well don’t send them to us, put them on the site so others can know about them). 

**also we don’t give out free donuts, wouldn’t that be awesome though? we do accept donations though

Collection Agency? Use Business Beware to get Customers to pay up

How many of you (businesses) have invoices that are overdue?  Okay how many of you have late notices for invoices that you sent out and people still have yet to respond? (yes I see all of your hands up still…)  Face it, as a business when it comes to everyone paying on time that is a joke.  It’s like someone hires you and then they think “oh I have decided not to pay for that work that was done, they don’t need the money,” but on the contrary, we do!  Yes the economy is a stink right now but a customer should know if they have the funds to call you to do renovations or construction work on their house, if not then don’t make the call.

Sometimes there are so many late invoices in your Quickbooks that you forget and put them off because you don’t ever hear back from the customer.  There are some you can send two or three late notices and they still don’t get the hint or attempt to contact you or send a payment for that matter.  As a business you think “well I could send them to collections and get some money back (even though you pay a nice little percentage to the agency IF it gets collected).”  That is a last resort usually but what if you could use some leverage with the customer before resorting to a collection agency?  You know what I mean by leverage too… like when a customer writes back to you or calls you saying how terrible you were and they threaten to complain about you to the Better Business Bureau, this is leverage to them.  Well your leverage is Business Beware.  Why you say?  Well if you file a complaint against a customer on the site, a letter is sent out to that customer letting them know they are on the site and you don’t think it won’t make them say “okay where do I sign?”

We have had many companies/businesses that have used this site to their advantage with even just using the name to let customers know “hey we have a site we can put problem customers on…”  So hmm, you use this as leverage for your benefit and you don’t have to deal with a collection agency or pay them for the help?  That’s how I would do it and have done it!  Customers like the fact that they can use the idea of complaining about you as a business, but turn the tables on them…ha it’s a different story my friends.

Why Certain People are Business Owners

For a long time I thought well anyone can be a business owner… I saw my father run his businesses and everything seemed fine, but what I didn’t see (also considering I was young and ignorant) was the behind the scenes of being a business owner.

What I mean by “behind the scenes” is that no one sees all the hours you put into making the business stand on its own.  Most see the paycheck they receive from you or how it’s running in that moment.  You don’t see the moments where at times you scrape to make ends meet to keep it barely floating above water as you gasp for air hoping you can hold your breath just long enough.  You don’t see the hours the owner is up at the office or warehouse working after everyone has gone home for the day while they stay up there tying up loose ends or figuring out how to get more business.  Did you ever think for a second that your paycheck may have been from the owners savings because they didn’t have enough in payroll to pay you?  If you think about it, the company is slow and you are not doing much work but they still keep you on board with the same pay and somehow you still have your consistent paycheck…

Even with small businesses they don’t have someone come clean their bathrooms in the office, they are cleaning them on the weekends or when they have a spare minute.  It’s amazing how some look at you like you’re crazy when you clean the bathroom, but oh the look they would give you if you said to them “well would you like to clean it?”  The response never goes over very well (yes I know first hand).  One of the biggest ways you can tell that there is a difference between an owner and an employee is that they will not clean a bathroom.  You do what you have to do to make it work (that is the biz owner and entrepreneurial spirit). 

It takes certain people to be able to delegate but also work hard side by side with the employees.  Most small business owners (yes are the owners) work long hours at their business.  I think some think “oh you own a business, well I bet that is awesome, you can tell everyone what to do and do what you want,” umm no my friend it does not work that way (well maybe for some). 

Dedication has to be in your blood if you want to be a business owner.  When your employees decide they don’t want to mess with a customer or they caused problems it all comes back on you and you have to deal with the customer (because usually they ask for the person in charge if they are pissed by this point).  You have to not be afraid to take risks.  A business is a journey on its own it’s a roller coaster ride just as much as life is.  But if you don’t take risks with the business you will never grow or learn from your mistakes on how to make the business better.  Many don’t like to take risks so it takes a certain person to be willing to do that. 

Now I am not saying that everyone can’t be a business owner, I’m just simply saying that there are things you need to realize before you jump into owner mode.  It’s not as easy as you think or in books where you see the people smiling (behind the smile they are stressed out going oh man I have so much to do!).  Don’t let me scare you from being one because it’s fun, an adventure, rewarding, challenging and well you get the point.  Let’s put it this way though, are you willing to clean your office bathroom?  If you can answer yes to that then sure go for it. 

“A business is a great thing to own, just don’t screw it up” 

Happy Veterans Day!

Small Business Economic Recovery (TPE)

Hey all!  Just wanted to let you know about this great article ( that we had the chance to comment on!)   The article is on Mike Michalowicz TheToiletPaperEntrepreneur.com  Mike asked fellow businesses and entrepreneurs what they thought about small businesses being the backbone of the economy.  Check out what everyone said and our comment about small businesses as well! 

Here is the article link: Small Business Economic Recovery

Make sure to check it out and to comment on it and RT it on Twitter!

Consumers in Control… or Out of Control?

I was just browsing the internet a little while ago and I came across this site called Consumers in Control also known as Complaints.com Sadly I have heard of the site but never took the time to go visit it until today.  Okay first let me say that even though our site Business Beware is for the business side, I still think that it’s cool that consumers have an outlet as well.  Face it, we all are consumers at some point anyways…

Well I searched a bit (since it’s free and open to the public) from states to different dates and just looked at a few of the complaints that were filed.  I have to mention this one that I found though because it’s too funny not to.

(this was filed in FL) “I went to Burger King and ordered a whopper.  When I pulled up to the window I saw the guy who was handling my burger was not wearing gloves when he prepared it and I saw him wiping his hand on his pants.  I am sitting here with diarrhea at the moment and I think it was from that boy not wearing gloves.  This is unsatisfactory from the Burger King’s store and policies….”

Ha, okay do you see why I had to share that with you?  Too funny right or should we say a little too much information…  As I searched more of the complaints filed against businesses I came across more and more posts just like this one, where you think to yourself “get a life people.”  For someone to take the time to write this is crazy.  So what good is it doing to tell people this?  Is it helping them out?  I do have to point out that this is what happens when sites are free, you get crazy people who have nothing better to do but to fill your emails or sites with nonsense.

I would not say that the person who wrote that is out of control, maybe a bolts short up there but not out of control.  What is out of control?  Well to me it’s when your customer calls you up and says (or screams into the phone) “Your business is crap and you are crooks who stole money out from under me! I am reporting you and putting you on the Better Business Bureau!”  As you sit there and take it or try to get a word in, they keep going on and then a quick hang up before you can at least say one word.  (if this has never been said to you, be thankful but doesn’t mean it won’t happen) And let me note that the reason the customer called so upset and said these things was simply because we charged him for one extra part that was three dollars that he agreed to while standing outside of his house.  Out of control?  Ugh yeah, I would say so.  People, this is exactly why you have Business Beware so you can warn others about these customer experiences!  Take advantage of it!

Consumers in Control is a site for consumers by consumers or course.  While I think the concept is good and something maybe consumers can benefit from, I would not be inclined to really take some of the complaints seriously and partly because it’s free.  There are some crazy people out there that just want to blow off some steam.  If you are going to post on a site to file a complaint, be classy about it and use a site like Business Beware where our members are serious about helping out fellow businesses steer clear of out of control consumers…

What Small Businesses Teach Us

You know when you travel or go on a road trip and stop through the smaller towns with random places to eat or shop?  I promise some of the best memories I have are stopping at these places and the people that were there running them.  Yes some of them were in some small country towns with a few of them with strong accents but being from TN it always makes me feel at home to hear that southern accent.  The reason I ask this is what do you remember about these small businesses when you encounter them?  Do you notice how nice they treat you and care about what you have to say?  Do they treat you with respect and warm your heart with kindness?

I grew up around the family owning small businesses and when I was younger I never understood it all and why they worked so hard for sometimes to get nothing.  I would watch my grandfather and dad work day in and out to try and make their business the best it can be.  I always said when I was in high school (of course these are the dark days we refer to when all we tend to think about is ourselves and friends) that I would never work for the family businesses.  Well of course you know what happened…. I went to college on a volleyball scholarship and received a great education while receiving a degree in Communications and Marketing.  I thought of all the things I wanted to do and where I would go, etc. until after college things were slow and jobs were scarce here with the economy.  My dad called me after a few months of working odd jobs to make ends meet to try and apply for jobs and told me about another small business he was going to purchase.  Of course I knew what was coming but after he told me about it I thought about it and was like you know it won’t be that bad and I can go ahead and start working.  I had no idea what I was about to get into and what all I would learn over the next few years.

A few years have gone by now and as I sit here and look back on them I realize just how much I learned from working with a small business.  It taught me about life, how to treat others, customer service and most of all how much hard work it takes to run a business.  It’s amazing what you don’t know about how much a business owner has to do to keep the business afloat sometimes.  I would see the accounts drain so quick as payments came in from all the materials used that it barely covers your labor.  There were many times that my dad would have to dip into his own savings just to keep the business rolling at times.  So many people would say why on earth would you do that?  Well it’s because of the passion and determination that they have to keep their business going and it’s a part of them.  Life is one big journey but your business is a large part of that journey as well.

Being a part of the business made me into a stronger and more determined person.  I have always believed that anything is possible, especially with playing sports but after seeing the ups and downs of business you start to realize that hard work truly pays off for those who keep going.  Every day I am inspired by the people I meet that have small businesses whether it’s their story or the person they are because of that business.  Small businesses teach us that no matter big or small success comes in all shapes and sizes.  If we limit ourselves we don’t know what we are missing.  I never knew that I would benefit so much from working in a smaller business or that I would not trade one day of it to have started or done something else.  My determination is unstoppable and I know that the sky is the limit.  Small businesses inspire me and make me want to inspire others to tell them that anything is possible with hard work!

Small business owners, my hat is off to you.

10 Worst Things to Say at Work

I stumbled on this article this morning that I thought was a good one to share with you.  It was written by By Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer

1. “That’s not my job.”
If somebody comes to you with an issue, there’s probably a reason. It might be your responsibility to deal with it or your input is valued. Either way, use the situation to prove you’re a team player and a problem solver. Plus, it pays to earn some good office karma because you never know when you’ll need help from other colleagues.

2. “Yeah, no problem.” (If you don’t mean it.)
If you take on a task with a smile but have no intention of actually completing it, you’re going to earn a reputation as an unreliable person. If you know you can’t or won’t complete the project, be honest about it. Your colleagues are relying on you, so your decision not to follow through impacts their jobs, too.

3. “Don’t tell anyone I said this, but … ”
If it’s really a secret, keep it to yourself. Whether you know someone’s about to get fired or what the boss’ salary is, you’re going to get credit for spreading the news. You’re not exempt from being the subject of office chatter, either. Don’t expect your gossip-loving co-worker to suddenly have tight lips when it comes to divulging your secrets.

4. “I haven’t had a raise in four years.”
“Most savvy supervisors don’t think longevity merits a raise – only high productivity does,” Lampton states. Asking for a raise because of how long it’s been since your last one will tell your boss only that you want more money, not that you deserve it. Instead, highlight the accomplishments you’ve made in the last four years, Lampton suggests. Prove the raise is merited.

5. “It’s not my fault.”
When your boss comes to you with a problem, the last thing you want to do is to deflect blame to someone else. Maybe it isn’t your fault, but remember that you’re not in a courtroom and nobody’s looking for the culprit right now. All that matters is making sure the problem is solved and doesn’t happen again. You can deal with the real issue later, but you’ll just make yourself look worse if you spend more time finger-pointing than problem solving.

6. “To be honest with you … ”
First, any time this phrase is used, you know something negative is going to follow. More important is the message it sends to others. “Does this colleague have to identify when he or she is being honest with you? When that phrase is not used, should you then doubt the integrity of the statement?” Lampton asks. Instead, without being rude, say what you need to say in a straightforward manner.

7. “Whom did you vote for?”
The old adage that you shouldn’t discuss politics is as true today as ever before. While it’s great that you’re an active citizen performing your civic duty, save the political talk for your personal blog. Even if the conversation doesn’t result in an argument, you never know whom you’re making uncomfortable or who will hold your views against you. In a sea of cubicles, there are more people listening to your conversation than you think.

8. “I got so trashed last night … ”
You’re probably not the only person in the office to indulge in a drink (or a keg) now and then, but you’re probably the only one bragging about it to your boss. Although your night of binge drinking didn’t force you to call in sick this morning, it can create the image of an unreliable partier who forgot to leave the beer bong in the dorm room.

9. “I just didn’t have enough time for that.”
In case you didn’t realize, everybody’s pretty busy these days. When your boss asks you to do something, chances are it’s not really an option. If your main concern is accomplishing the task on time, Lampton suggests you explain the situation. Mention how busy your schedule is but that you can accommodate the request if some other projects are rearranged. You’ll show that you take each assignment seriously and only want to turn in your best work.

10. “. . . or else.”
Giving anyone in the office an ultimatum rarely ends in success. Whether you say it to a colleague or your new intern, you’ll only gain enemies and earn a reputation for being difficult. If cordial requests don’t work and threats are the only way to get things done in the office, you need to re-evaluate your work environment.

 

To see the original article click here

Business Beware is Barbara Weltman’s Idea of the Day!

We at Business Beware are honored to be on Barbara Weltman’s Idea of the day.  Quick info about Barbara:

Today, Barbara is a respected corporate speaker, contributing editor, author of more than a dozen books from major publishers, sought-after expert media source, newsletter publisher and more than ever a trusted advocate for small business owners.  The newly re-designed BarbaraWeltman.com is destined to be the first choice for entrepreneurs to get the small business ideas and information they need to succeed now and in the future.

Make sure to check out Business Beware on her site! http://www.barbaraweltman.com/idea_of_the_day/idea_of_the_day_view.asp?id=416

Check out her site at http://www.barbaraweltman.com

Some Tips for Greening Your Office

We are getting ready to have a page dedicated to making your business green.  We all want  to do what we can to save but also to conserve energy.  As a a business there are numerous things you can do to help even with just a few simple things.  We will also have some great sites and articles for you to check out.  So make sure to check back at our site soon for the new page!  And of course we will give you a heads up when it’s ready Visit us at www.businessbeware.biz

Here is a great article to start off with on SmallBiz.com

Quick Tips: Turning Your Office Green…

Publix, Now They Have My Vote…

So the other day I was at the grocery store Publix and I was waiting in line behind an older lady that had a TON of groceries.  While I waiting on her there was a lady that came up behind me and I reached to get the separator for her and was handing it to her as the cashier went to pull some of my groceries in front of her.  While she did that, the lady in front of me was at the end putting her groceries in the basket so I thought with her pulling my food and her packing up that it was my turn to swipe my card.  Well turns out that the cashier goes “Oh!  That is her total!”  She says this as I’m swiping my card and I look at the amount going Whoa! I did not spend that much!  Well as I realized what happened I was like “oh I am so sorry to the woman that was in front of me (of course she could not hear me…)  But since I did not put my card as a debit, or my pin they said it shouldn’t go through.  So they swiped her card and she was off.  The lady at customer service was like “oh that was such a nice gesture,”  Umm yeah not a $100 dollars worth though.

So as I pay for mine, the cashier checks the tickets and looks at them saying oh you should be fine because yours was a debit and hers was a credit.  I was like ok, well thanks!  Later on that week I checked my account and it showed pending and then the next day it went through as well did my actual purchase from there.  So I went in to tell them what happened (turns out the lady goes “oh I heard about that” Ha great, now I’m a celebrity at Publix…)  The customer service was very nice, the manager came out there and got all my information and said it should be credited within a day.  Needless to say he was right and I got a letter in the mail from them letting me know that they had done so.  Here is the cool part, they sent me a gift certificate for the trouble!  Let me say, I was impressed!  I mean I was not mad because it was just a complete misunderstanding and they were as nice as could be about the whole thing and getting it fixed.   But Publix definitely has my vote as a great business.

Enjoy your weekend!