Mona Bushnell

“Visual IVR” is another term you’ll see on some IVR company websites. Visual IVR moves the first part of the customer interaction from the phone (e.g., listening to a recording and pushing buttons) to a device like a smartphone or a computer.

By allowing customers to enter their information online and indicate what type of customer service they need, calls can be routed instantly without going through a touch-tone or voice-activated menu. Instead, clients can connect with a customer service representative directly on the business’s website, receive a call back from a qualified rep, or get a number to call that will connect them with the right individual.

The callback option may especially benefit your small business. With a small team, each employee only has so much time, yet they likely have no shortage of tasks. Callback systems let your employees conduct customer outreach when they have the time and focus to deliver the most effective service and support possible. Excellent customer service can be a major selling point for a small business in a sea of large competitors.

How does IVR work?

Since the early 1960s, telephones have relied on a digital touch-tone system to dial phone numbers. These tones, generated by each key press, emit a dual-tone multifrequency (DTMF) signal. For a computer to understand those tones, most IVR technology requires the use of an additional telephony card installed on a computer’s motherboard. That add-on turns those signals into a trigger for IVR software to work.

But some modern solutions are more sophisticated. Many providers have since moved on to voice recognition or artificial intelligence (AI) when using IVR systems to respond to callers. In these instances, the IVR platform uses voice-extensible markup language to handle a phone call. With this style of IVR, systems no longer need a caller to enter data like their credit card number using the keypad, since they can just say the number out loud to the system.

In response to a caller’s requests, the IVR can use text-to-speech to automate messages. This saves time and effort, as taking the time to record every potential response would be impossible. The IVR can easily generate basic information like minimum payments, due dates and account balances, then deliver them to the caller.

Why do businesses use IVR?

The IVR system best suited for your company depends primarily on your call volume and the way you want to use IVR in your business. Here are a few common uses for IVR that may help you decide which kind of platform to implement.

Customer service

Small teams often find themselves unable to provide adequate customer service. IVR systems alleviate the costly need to hire employees to field customer questions and route calls. For general customer service needs, an inbound IVR system (for incoming calls) is usually sufficient, but if you foresee requiring outbound IVR (for partially to fully automated outgoing calls) in the future, choose an IVR company that offers comprehensive services.

Payment processing and collections

Automating payment transactions is a common use for IVR systems. In addition to outbound collections calls, IVR services make it possible for customers to call companies to obtain their billing information or account balances and then make payments themselves. IVR systems that offer credit card payment processing are typically more expensive than those that don’t, but for many B2C small businesses, the cost is still lower than hiring individual customer service representatives to process payments.

Marketing and communication

Outbound IVR can be used for marketing purposes, such as alerting potential customers about a new sale or product, as well as communicating with existing clients. For example, a dentistry office might use an outbound IVR system to make automated calls reminding patients of upcoming appointments, while a call center might use IVR to make sales pitches to potential clients. If marketing your small business is the driving force behind your company adopting an IVR system, look for vendors that specialize in call-center IVR and predictive dialing. [See our picks for the best call center services.]

What are IVR features to consider?

When selecting an IVR system, look carefully at the kinds of features being offered. The IVR solution you choose must fit your company’s specific needs, and many IVR features aren’t necessary for new or small businesses. Expect to find some of the following features on the market today, and aim for a service tier with only the features you need — extras raise your costs.

Cloud or on-site setup

With hosted IVR systems, the platform resides in the cloud, and the responsibility for maintaining and managing telecommunications and servers falls on the vendor. Onsite IVR systems, on the other hand, integrate with a business’s existing telephone system, and the maintenance of those platforms falls on the company using the system.

The vast majority of new and small businesses lack an existing telephone system, making hosted IVR systems the obvious pick. Unless your business has specific reasons for maintaining a system on-site, it’s probably best to opt for a hosted service.

Inbound and/or outbound services

The two basic types of IVR services are inbound and outbound. Inbound IVR systems handle incoming call volume, while outbound IVR systems make calls on either a total or partially automated dialing basis. Many vendors offer both inbound and outbound IVR services, but inbound-only systems tend to be less expensive.

Speech recognition

IVR systems with built-in speech recognition allow users to speak aloud in response to questions rather than only using their phone’s keypad. If all your business needs is an elementary IVR system to route calls among your team and give out basic information like your location and hours of operation, a simple touch-tone platform will serve your needs. Speech recognition tools are often pricier than touch-tone systems, but they’re worth the cost if your IVR needs are more complex.

Self-service

When an IVR vendor offers self-service IVR, it usually means the product is intended for basic use for inbound calling. Many providers sell comprehensive IVR services and also have separate, lower-priced self-service IVR options. If your small business only requires simple call routing or bill paying, and you don’t need outbound calling, self-service is probably the way to go. Note that many self-service options do not have speech recognition.

Text-to-speech

It’s always worth asking vendors if their IVR packages include any text-to-speech services. Text-to-speech is exactly what it sounds like: To set up your IVR system prompts using text-to-speech, you type in the prompt (like “Please press 4”), and select from a menu of voices to say that prompt.

This type of service gives your IVR system a professional and consistent sound and negates the need to hire a voice actor or to do the recordings in-house. The latter isn’t something the average small business can afford, but a professional-sounding automated voice gives an impression of humanity that can go a long way in scoring your business new customers.

You should ask if there are limitations to any included text-to-speech services. Determine whether there are caps on how many recordings you can make and how often you can change your menus.

Integrations

Many IVR providers facilitate full integration with existing databases, websites and CRM systems. As you might expect, vendors that offer integration are often higher priced than those that don’t, but they bring a lot to the table. Consider that not all integrations are necessary, though. For example, a B2B (business-to-business) company with a team too small to serve lots of businesses might not need a CRM to adequately keep tabs on current and prospective clients.

That said, for B2C businesses, with an IVR system that’s not integrated, a caller that’s routed through to a live person will have to relay to that customer service rep who they are, their customer ID, and other pertinent information. That representative will then have to look up the customer’s history in the company’s CRM or client database. With an integrated system, a customer calling could say (or type) their name or password, and the IVR system would instantly access their information, giving the rep the details immediately.

Integration is also essential for automated bill-paying through IVR services, but it’s really helpful for delivering a higher level of customer service in general since it makes it easier for customers to convey information and more effortless for representatives to access information for the client they’re speaking to. [Read related article: How to Provide Customer Service Like a Luxury Brand.]

Dashboard and analytics

Before you sign up for an IVR service, ask potential vendors for a demo of the platform’s dashboard and inquire about options for viewing analytics and pulling reports. Viewing the dashboard ahead of time should give you some idea of how easy it will be to operate the system and change it as needed.

Additionally, consider any data reports that might be useful for your company and inquire about those types of reports before making a final decision. It’s entirely possible, though, that reviewing call data is a misuse of a small team’s time. As long as you can intuitively tell that your customers seem satisfied, that’s more important at this stage of your business than drilling into the numbers.

What are the advantages of using IVR systems?

If you’re a small business owner, juggling daily operations while managing the phones can be a struggle. When you implement an IVR system, you not only add a sense of professionalism to your operations, but you also welcome the following advantages into your company as well.

Faster answers

When people reach out to a small business with questions, they want answers as fast as possible. Once a caller goes through the IVR prompts, the service can quickly transfer the customer to the individual in the company who can answer their questions — if the system can’t handle the request itself.

More effective customer service

As a piece of technology, an IVR system helps customer service representatives address the questions they’re best equipped to answer in a timely manner. By connecting the right agents with customers’ requests and queries as needed, IVR can improve effectiveness and increase customer confidence in your business.

Cost cutting

Rather than hire a customer service team member whose sole job is to transfer requests to the right people, you can implement an IVR solution that automatically handles that task. As a result, that’s less you have to pay in employee salaries and employee benefits. When every penny counts, these savings are invaluable.

Increased customer satisfaction

Many companies rely on IVR systems to serve as a high-tech receptionist, letting the system greet callers before transferring them to the right employee. Since IVR systems are usually easy to navigate, customers can get where they need to go without much trouble. That will leave them more satisfied with their experience.

Improved performance

IVR connects your customer service agents solely with calls they know how to handle, so your team will likely feel more confident during customer interactions. This can lead to higher morale among your representatives, which, in turn, can boost agent performance. The better everyone on your small team performs, the more you’re getting your money’s worth from your labor costs, which are among your highest expenses.

24/7 availability

If you have an IVR system, customers who contact your company when your staff isn’t on call will still be able to interact with your business. No matter who is or isn’t working, your IVR platform can help customers start getting the answers they need. In some cases, your IVR solution can execute simple customer requests without any employees around.

Error reduction

When customers deluge you with calls, it becomes easy for agents to improperly route them or make other mistakes. Since IVR systems are automated, they lessen the risk of these errors. For example, if your IVR tells a customer seeking a refund to press six for returns, your caller will know exactly what to do. Gone are the days of agents trying to rapidly reroute upset customers — IVR solutions handle this without any mistakes.

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What are the disadvantages of using IVR systems?

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Even though IVR systems can address several telephone-related issues for small businesses, they also come with some disadvantages.

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Complicated menus

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The way you set up your IVR system is important. For many customers, one of the worst things that can happen is getting lost in an automated phone system’s menu. You can mitigate this by taking special care of how your menus are laid out.

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Overwhelming to callers

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If you front-load too much information in your IVR system, you risk confusing and bewildering customers. Rather than hitting callers with as much information as you can in the initial moments of an IVR call, offer only high-level information first. That way, customers can decide how far down the rabbit hole they want to go.

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Impersonalized customer service

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This problem is a symptom of IVR technology itself. Though IVR can be a great tool for small businesses, some customers may find it off-putting or difficult to understand. Others don’t want to deal with a digital system and would rather speak to a human.

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If you find this is the case with your customers, you may want to include a way for people to bypass the system so they can speak with the next available agent. Small businesses have somewhat of a reputation for being more friendly and approachable than large operations, and giving your customers an easy way to get human help goes hand in hand with this perception.

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How much does IVR cost?

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Like many technology solutions, there is a vast price range for IVR systems. The most expensive IVR platforms are onsite telephone systems. The process of implementing an in-house system may include fees for installation, server and phone rentals, ongoing maintenance, and software.

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On-premises solutions often cost thousands of dollars in setup charges alone, in addition to high monthly fees. Most small businesses opt for hosted services because they’re less expensive and faster to implement. Plus, a physical office or storefront isn’t required to use one. Even so, there is variety in the service charges and pricing structures among hosted IVR services.

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The lowest-cost cloud vendors typically offer IVR for a monthly subscription fee, with rates starting at around $50 per month per user and going up to more than $100 per month per user. Pricing structures like these typically don’t have contracts, so they can be terminated or changed at any time. The level of service you opt for typically correlates with how many features you want and how many minutes of IVR time are included in your subscription (watch out for overage charges).

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Higher-priced cloud services, which offer integration, analytics, speech recognition and other sophisticated tools, are typically contract-based. The prices and terms vary depending on the features included and the number of lines being provided. If you’re leaning toward a more comprehensive system, request a price quote on the company’s website. Remember, though, that your business might need only what the lowest-cost vendors provide.

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How do you get started with IVR?

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Before you can get started with IVR, you’ll need a cloud-based business phone system or a business phone number. In many cases, if you choose a VoIP system instead of a landline, you’ll get immediate access to IVR tools.

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A big part of getting started with IVR is choosing the right business phone system. This means deciding whether you want a landline, VoIP or virtual phone and whether you prefer onsite or cloud-based hosting. Then, consider your budget, your potential for business growth in the future and your internet signal’s strength. Confirm that the systems you’re considering include all the features you need along with easy access to customer support.

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Once you’ve selected and purchased a product, you can typically use the platform’s IVR portal to write out text prompts for the IVR to read aloud to customers who call your business. For example, you could write, “To speak with a representative, press three now.” After that, you’d save your IVR prompts, test them out, and then enable them. You may also be able to set fallback actions for when a caller doesn’t choose any of the numbered options.

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What are the top IVR services?

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The following business phone providers offer IVR services. Visit our overview of the best business phone systems to learn more about these platforms, as well as other great options.

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1. Nextiva

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Nextiva’s VoIP system includes an IVR service powered through conversational AI. This way, customers can tell your IVR what they need as though they’re already speaking to an agent. The AI can rapidly connect your customer with an actual agent as well. Additional innovative features make Nextiva one of the top business phone systems for multisite healthcare and retail needs. Read our full Nextiva review to learn more about the product’s capabilities.

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2. RingCentral

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Some RingCentral plans include multilevel IVR. With this feature, you can create IVR menus in different languages or route callers to your business’s location nearest them. You can use text-to-speech, file import or self-record to create up to 250 IVR menus. Other tools make RingCentral one of the best phone systems for collaboration. Check out our full RingCentral review to learn more.

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3. Dialpad

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Dialpad makes implementing IVR within your business phone system especially easy. You can access your call routing module to direct callers to agents, voicemail, prerecorded messages or automated menus. Dialpad also stands out as a great choice for businesses prioritizing voice intelligence features – see our full Dialpad review to find out why.

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4. Ooma

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Ooma combines IVR features with an automatic call distributor (ACD) to perfect your call routing. Your ACD will connect callers with the right agent based on caller data, agent specialties, business hours and IVR. Multilevel IVR is quick to set up, and the vendor’s transparent pricing is one of the reasons it’s so ideal for small businesses.

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Our Ooma review has all the details.

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5. 8×8

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Intended primarily for large-scale businesses, 8×8 offers IVR systems that are specifically designed with call centers in mind. CRM integration, contact center analytics and multichannel communication (phone, web, email and chat) make 8×8 popular with big corporations, but smaller companies will also enjoy its entry-level plan. Learn more via our full 8×8 review.

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Getting your customers where they need to go

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Robust IVR tools within your business phone system can eliminate caller confusion about where to direct questions. An IVR can boost customer satisfaction since it’s good at directing customers to speak with the right agents. Plus, when your team primarily does the work it’s qualified for instead of getting stuck redirecting calls, they’ll perform better as well. Combine these benefits with IVR’s financial upsides, and you’re looking at a highly valuable technology for your small business.

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Max Freedman and Andrew Martins contributed to this article. 

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Buying and maintaining equipment is expensive, and new equipment is coming out all of the time. Leasing equipment offers advantages that owning does not, including monthly rental payments and the ability to upgrade to the latest equipment as it comes out.

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If your business needs new equipment or technology but you can’t afford to buy it outright, leasing may be an option to consider. However, leasing could be more expensive in the long run, making it a tough decision for many businesses. This guide explains how equipment leasing works and what to consider when deciding whether to buy or lease equipment for your business.

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What is equipment leasing?

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Equipment leasing is a type of financing in which you rent equipment rather than purchase it outright. You can lease expensive equipment for your business, such as machinery, vehicles and computers. The equipment is leased for a specific period; once the contract is up, you may return the equipment, renew the lease or buy the equipment.

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Editor’s note: Looking for information on equipment leasing? Use the questionnaire below, and our vendor partners will contact you to provide you with the information you need:

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Equipment leasing is different from equipment financing – taking out a business loan to purchase the equipment and paying it off over a fixed term with the equipment as collateral. In that case, you own the equipment once you pay off the loan.

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With an equipment lease, the equipment isn’t yours to keep once the leasing term is over. As with a business loan, you pay interest and fees when leasing equipment, and they’re usually added into the monthly payment. There may be extra fees for insurance, maintenance and repairs.

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Equipment leasing can be much more expensive in the long term than purchasing equipment outright, but for cash-strapped small business owners, it’s a means to access necessary equipment quickly.

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How does an equipment lease work?

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If you decide to lease equipment for your business rather than purchase it upfront, you enter into a lease agreement with the equipment owner or vendor. Similar to how a rental lease agreement works, the equipment owner drafts an agreement, laying out how long you’ll lease the equipment and how much you’ll pay each month.

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During the lease term, you use the equipment until the deal expires. There are cases in which you can break the lease – and these instances should be spelled out in the contract – but many leases cannot be canceled. Once the lease is up, you can often purchase the equipment at the current market rate or lower, depending on the vendor.

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The rates you pay to lease the equipment vary by leasing company. Your business credit score also plays a role in the rates you’re quoted. The riskier you are in which to lend, the more expensive it will be for you to lease equipment. An equipment lease can be approved online in a few minutes. Leasing companies tend to specialize in specific industries, so it’s important to do your homework to find the right financing option for your business.

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Equipment leasing terms are typically for three, seven or 10 years, depending on the type of equipment.

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Equipment leasing is not a loan, which means it won’t show up on your credit report or hurt your ability to borrow. In many cases, the IRS lets you deduct your equipment lease payments if you’re using the equipment for your company.

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Benefits of equipment leasing

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Leasing equipment offers many benefits to cash-strapped small businesses. While not all equipment leases are the same, and there are many ways to finance a lease, here are some advantages to leasing your equipment:

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• It’s cost-effective to get started. Many lessors don’t require a significant down payment.
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• You can update your equipment. If you often need to update equipment, leasing is a good option because you aren’t stuck with obsolete machinery.
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• It’s easier to scale. If you need to upgrade to more advanced equipment to handle a higher work volume, you can do so without selling your existing machinery and shopping for replacements.
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• It may offer tax credits. Equipment leases are often eligible for tax credits. Depending on the lease, you may be able to deduct your payments as a business expense by taking advantage of Section 179 qualified financing deductions.
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How to get started with equipment leasing

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Before you start the equipment leasing process, answer the following questions. It may seem like a lot of effort upfront, but without answering these questions as they relate to your business, you can’t make an informed decision on leasing or buying equipment.

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What is your monthly budget?

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Leasing offers substantially lower monthly payments than purchasing, but you still need to factor the costs into your monthly cash flow. Start with what you can afford and work from there; don’t work the other way around by getting price quotes and trying to squeeze them into your budget.

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How long will you use the equipment?

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For short-term equipment use, leasing is almost always the most cost-effective route. If you’ll use the equipment for three years or more, a loan or standard line of credit may be more beneficial. Factor in your business’s growth too: If your company is rapidly growing and evolving, a lease may be a better option than buying.

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How quickly will the equipment become obsolete?

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Technology becomes outdated more quickly in some industries than others. Consider obsolescence before deciding whether buying or leasing makes sense for you.

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Can the equipment be leased?

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Equipment that qualifies for a lease is practically limitless. But there are a couple of conditions.

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• Purchase price: Equipment leases enable your business to obtain equipment and machinery with a high dollar value. This includes costly single items – like heart monitors and extraction machinery – and smaller items needed in bulk, like kiosks, software licenses and telephones. For this reason, it’s uncommon to find a lease agreement for purchases under $3,000, and many large lenders require a minimum purchase of $25,000 to $50,000.
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• Hard assets: The equipment you lease must be considered a hard asset – anything that could be listed as personal property and not permanently attached to real estate. Soft assets, such as employee training programs and warranties, do not qualify for lease programs.
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Leasing vs. purchasing

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While many companies benefit from equipment leasing, an outright purchase is more cost-effective in some instances. When comparing purchasing and leasing options, consider these factors:

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• Purchase price
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• Amount to be financed
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• Annual depreciation
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• Tax rates and inflation
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• Monthly lease costs
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• Equipment usage
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• Ownership and maintenance costs
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Pros and cons of equipment leasing

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A lease is ideal for equipment that routinely needs upgrading – for instance, computers and other electronic devices. Leasing gives you the freedom to obtain the latest machinery with a low upfront cost, plus with a fixed rate, you’ll have monthly payments you can budget.

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At the same time, leasing provides a wider range of equipment options for businesses. Leasing makes it financially possible for you to afford equipment that would otherwise be too costly to purchase.

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There are some drawbacks, though. Leasing requires that you pay interest, which adds to the overall cost of the machine over time. Sometimes, leasing can be more expensive than purchasing the equipment outright – especially if you purchase the equipment when the lease term has expired.

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Additionally, some lenders enforce a certain term length and mandatory service packages. This can add to the overall cost if the lease term extends beyond how long you need the equipment. In this scenario, you could get stuck with a monthly payment and storage costs associated with unused equipment.

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Pros and cons of buying equipment

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When you own a piece of equipment, you can modify it to suit your exact needs. This isn’t always the case with a lease. Similarly, buyers aren’t bound by the limitations an equipment lessor imposes.

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Purchases also enable you to resolve any issues more promptly because you don’t have to obtain approval from the leasing company to schedule a repair or order a replacement part. In addition to the depreciation tax benefits available through Section 179, you can recoup some money by reselling the equipment when you no longer need it.

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Like leasing, purchasing has its drawbacks. The biggest is obsolescence; with a purchase, you’re stuck with outdated machinery until you buy new equipment. Also, market competitiveness and the availability of tax incentives with leasing are often enough to dissuade many business owners from purchasing equipment outright. The costs to maintain and repair machinery, plus a steep purchase price, may put too much of a financial strain on your company.

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By some estimates, businesses budget 1 to 3 percent of sales for maintenance costs. This is a rough estimate, though. The equipment, service hours, ages, quality and warranty determine the actual maintenance costs.

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Equipment leasing vs. other financing options

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A purchase isn’t the only alternative to leasing. In fact, it’s not even the most common. Some of the best business loans can cater to your small business’s equipment needs. Lines of credit and factoring services are also popular ways to finance equipment acquisitions.

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Business loans

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Like a purchase, business loans provide more ownership of the equipment. With a lease, the lessor holds the title to any equipment and offers you the option to buy it when the lease concludes. A loan enables you to retain the title to any of the items you purchase, securing the purchase against existing assets.

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Unfortunately, terms can be a loan’s major drawback. Unlike a lease, which provides fixed-rate financing, a loan or line of credit’s interest rate may fluctuate throughout the loan term. This can make budgeting problematic, depending on the size of the loan. Furthermore, banks and other lenders often require a much larger down payment – 20 percent of the total cost of equipment by some estimates.

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Invoice factoring

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Factoring is another way to purchase costly equipment and is often faster than applying for a loan. By leveraging your accounts receivable, you can quickly turn outstanding payments into cash by selling these invoices to a factor. Factoring is an ideal alternative to leasing and loans for startups and small businesses, often paying up to 90 percent of the total value of your accounts receivable – depending on the creditworthiness of your customers.

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Funding is usually available in a matter of days. This makes factoring a popular resource for smaller manufacturing operations, the transportation industry and businesses that routinely handle contracts with a fast turnaround.

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The leasing process: What to expect

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When applying for a lease, you can expect the process to include these steps:

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1. You complete an equipment lease application. Be sure you have financial data available for your company and its principals, as this may be required upfront or after initially completing the application.
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2. The lessor processes your application and notifies you of the result. This usually happens within 24 to 48 hours of submitting the application. Some lessors may not require financials or a business plan for applications on dollar amounts ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. For financing over $100,000, expect to provide complete financials and a business plan.
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3. Once you receive approval, you must review and finalize the lease structure – including monthly payments and the fixed APR. You’ll then sign the documents and resubmit them to the lessor, typically along with the first payment.
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4. When the lessor has received and accepted the signed documents and first payment, you are notified that the lease is in effect and that you are free to accept delivery of the equipment and commence any necessary training.
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Equipment lease types: Operating and finance

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There are two primary types of equipment leases: operating leases and financial leases. Here’s a breakdown of both.

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What is an operating lease?

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An operating lease allows a company to use an asset for a specific period of time without ownership. The lease period is usually shorter than the economic life of the equipment. At the end of the lease, the lessor can recoup additional costs through resale.

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Unlike an outright purchase or equipment secured through a standard loan, equipment under an operating lease cannot be listed as capital. It’s accounted for as a rental expense. This provides two specific financial advantages:

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1. Equipment is not recorded as an asset or liability.
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2. Equipment still qualifies for tax incentives.
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Dealers’ rates may vary widely, but in general, the average APR for an operating lease is 5 percent or lower. Average contracts last 12 to 36 months.

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With the prevalence of leasing, accounting regulations set in 2016 by the Financial Accounting Standards Board require companies to reveal their lease obligations to avoid the false impression of financial strength.

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In fact, all but the shortest-term equipment leases must now be included on balance sheets. While leased equipment does not have to be reported as an asset under an operating lease, it’s far from free of accountability.

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What is a finance lease?

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Sometimes known as a capital lease, a finance lease structure is similar to an operating lease in that the lessor owns the equipment purchased. It differs in that the lease itself is reported as an asset, increasing your company’s holdings and its liability.

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Commonly used by large companies – such as major retailers and airlines – this setup provides a unique advantage, as it allows the business to claim both the depreciation tax credit on the equipment and the interest expense associated with the lease itself. In addition, the company may choose to purchase the equipment at the end of a finance lease.

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Given the financial edge this provides, the APR for a finance lease is higher. Standard interest rates are currently between 6 and 9 percent, while contracts range from 24 to 72 months.

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Lessee responsibilities

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Additional responsibilities can result in expenses above and beyond your monthly lease payment. These typically include the following items:

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• Liability insurance: Average estimates for liability insurance range from $200 to $2,200 annually, with many businesses reporting costs of $1,000 or less.
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• Extraneous costs: Depending on your lease structure, you may be held liable for some maintenance and repairs. Extraneous costs can include any legal fees, fines and certification expenses.
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• Shipping charges: This includes transportation and shipping costs to return the equipment.
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• Added fees: Read your contract carefully. Fees can be added for a one-time documentation fee (which is sometimes as much as $250) or late payments (which run from $25 to 15 percent of the amount overdue).
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Comparing equipment finance providers

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Given the costs and considerations we’ve addressed, comparing several lease providers is essential to ensure you get the best rate. Before beginning your search, you familiarize yourself with these three types of equipment finance providers and the benefits each provides:

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Lease broker

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A lease broker serves as an intermediary between you and any prospective lessors. The broker will present you with the offers and submit your requests for financing, handling much of the paperwork for you.

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Brokers represent only a small segment of the leasing market, and their services do not come cheap. Brokers reportedly charge 2 to 4 percent of the equipment cost to negotiate a deal.

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The benefit of using a broker is realized in their extensive relationships. Often industry-specific, they specialize in obtaining a wider range of equipment, sometimes at better prices than would be available through standard channels.

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Leasing company

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A leasing company is often the subsidiary leasing arm of a manufacturer or dealer. Also known as a captive lessor, a leasing company’s sole aim is to facilitate leases with its parent company or dealer network. For this reason, you will usually deal with a leasing company only when working directly with a manufacturer.

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Independent lessor

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An independent lessor encompasses all third-party lease providers. Independent lessors include banks, lease specialists and diversified financial companies that provide equipment leases directly to your business. They differ from leasing companies in that they typically specialize in equipment remarketing, a skill that enables them to group products from multiple manufacturers and offer more competitive APRs.

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Tips on choosing a lessor

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The best advice for choosing a quality lessor is to examine the company with the same level of scrutiny with which you and your company are being scrutinized. Give preference to those willing to partner with your firm. This may be represented in the level of background and experience they have in relation to your line of business or their willingness to work with you on certain terms.

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Some fees specified under the lessee’s responsibilities – particularly application fees and late fees (at least on the first late payment) – may be covered or waived altogether depending on the lessor.

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Also, take time to research some key items about the lessor.

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• Business information: Look into the lessor’s payment history, credit history, business summary, corporate relationships, financial statements and any public filings.
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• Pending litigation: Search public records for any notices of pending litigation.
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• Payment system: Is it simple, or does it require mountains of paperwork?
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Questions to ask a dealer

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Before choosing a dealer, get price quotes from at least three companies, and ask all the dealers on your list these questions. Asking the right questions is half the battle for getting a fair deal for your company’s services and goods.

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1. How much money is required upfront? Lease financing often provides 100 percent of the dues required for an equipment purchase. Loans do not, often requiring up to 20 percent of the total as a down payment. If a down payment is required, consider reassigning capital to cover any upfront costs.
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2. Who takes advantage of the tax incentives? Under a loan structure, your company can claim depreciation. However, you will have to provide a down payment, and the interest rate is higher. Under a lease, the lessor claims depreciation. In exchange, it offers a lower APR – often half that of a loan. If the depreciation credit is important to you and you still want to lease, ask about the availability of finance or capital leases.
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3. Are the financing terms flexible? Leasing is often viewed as the most flexible financing option, especially compared to loans. Depending on the lease structure, you can start with low payments and increase them as time goes by (known as a “step-up lease”), defer payment to give yourself an extra window before the first payment is due, and even add more equipment onto an existing lease under a “master lease” structure.
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Lease-to-own agreements

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If you’re interested in keeping the equipment you lease for your business but don’t have the cash to purchase it or the credit to qualify for a traditional loan, consider a lease-to-own option. Lease-to-own agreements require businesses to make scheduled payments for a specified time frame before gaining ownership of the equipment.

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A lease-to-own agreement has four primary components:

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1. The lessee enters an equipment leasing agreement with the option to purchase at the end of the contract.
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2. The lessor applies a percentage of each payment to the equipment’s purchase price.
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3. At the end of the contract, the lessor pays the remaining balance to gain ownership of the equipment.
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4. If the lessee decides not to purchase the equipment, payments made and equipment are forfeited to the lessor.
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It’s important to note that if you enter a lease-to-own agreement, your business will likely pay a price above fair market value for the equipment. On the other hand, once payments are made, your business has complete ownership of the equipment.

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Typically, lease-to-own contracts last the same amount of time as other equipment leasing agreements. The main difference with an equipment leasing option is that a percentage of your payments is applied to the equipment’s purchase price. If a business can’t purchase the equipment at the end of the contract, the lessee may, in most instances, request an extension, ask for a renewal or opt to return the equipment.

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While a lease-to-own situation may be convenient for many small business owners, it’s not without risks. If your company isn’t capable of purchasing the equipment at the end of the agreement, you forfeit the equipment and all payments, which can be a major financial loss for a small business. The most important factor in this type of agreement is to consistently communicate with your lessor and ask to renegotiate time frames if necessary.

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Lease-to-own agreements are best for heavy machinery, production equipment or any other type of equipment your business would typically need a traditional loan to purchase.

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To lease or buy equipment is a key consideration

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Depending on your budget and circumstances, leasing your equipment may offer your business important advantages. However, there are drawbacks, such as higher costs over time, interest payments and lack of control over the equipment. It can help you reduce maintenance costs and stay up to date with the latest equipment, though, since you won’t be sinking a lot of money into a piece of equipment you can’t easily replace. Consider all of these factors before leasing or buying new equipment to set your business up for success.

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Tejas Vemparala and Dachondra Cason contributed to this article.

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If your current career doesn’t align with your long-term goals, you might consider going back to school so you can switch to a job that makes you happy. However, you’ll need to weigh many factors before you start filling out applications.

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Many people who are unhappy in their jobs believe that going back to school – whether for a graduate or undergraduate degree – will guarantee them a career in their dream industry and solve their work woes forever, but that’s not always the case.

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Make your decisions about higher education in an unemotional, logical way. This guide will provide the tools you need to make the best choice for you, your future career and your financial life.

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1. Determine whether going back to school is necessary.

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Going back to school requires a considerable investment of time and money, so you should only undertake this massive challenge if you’re moving toward a clear goal – not just away from an unsatisfying job.

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Here are a few questions to ask yourself when figuring out if more school is necessary.

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What does ‘better’ mean to you?

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Many people toy with the idea of earning an additional undergraduate degree or a master’s degree so that they can transition into a “better” field. Some define “better” as making more money; for others, it may have more to do with their quality of life, impact on the world or interest level.

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Daren Upham, vice president of academic operations at Western Governors University’s College of Health Professions, noted that several of his students returned to school to pursue a career path that allows them to leverage their current expertise differently.

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“We often see scientists and engineers who, after successful careers, want to become math and science teachers,” he said. “This also happens with successful businesspeople. These people want to give back by sharing their knowledge and experience with students.”

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What are you passionate about?

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If you want a complete career overhaul, select a field that has excellent growth potential and that you’re genuinely passionate about.

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“What are you interested in?” said Angel Diaz, senior recruiter at Cubic Corporation. “Choose something that you are going to stick to through the end.”

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“Identifying what it is that you love to do is so critical before you make a move,” added Heather Monahan, founder of career mentoring group Boss in Heels and author of Confidence Creator. “Journaling can be a fantastic tool to help you see what it is you like to do with your free time. If you are someone who loves to paint but is stuck at a computer running numbers all day, it isn’t shocking you are considering making a move. Discover what your superpower is and lean into it.”

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What do you hope your career change will accomplish?

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Understanding the particulars behind your desire to change careers is essential.

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If your main goal is to strike a better work-life balance, be in a different type of work environment, or have more autonomy over what you do, consider other ways to attain these goals. For example, you can change your career path by switching roles within your field, applying for a related job at a different organization, or working as a consultant.

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On the other hand, if your reasons for going back to school involve entering a particular field or industry to which there is no current path, investing in more education may be the right move.

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2. Investigate alternative routes to the job you want.

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Higher education is a business. Unfortunately, people often believe the only way to get ahead is to take on more debt and earn more degrees, but it is possible to change careers without going back to school.

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You may not be able to get the job you want without earning additional degrees. For example, law school is a must if you want to be a lawyer. However, just because you have an undergraduate degree in psychology doesn’t mean you also need a computer science degree to work in technology.

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Most people don’t end up working in the field listed on their undergraduate degree, and the average worker changes careers multiple times throughout their working life. So the idea that you must get a formal degree in a new field to change careers is a modern one, and it only benefits the business of higher education.

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Many in-demand skills are highly transferable and can be rounded out with online resources and previous job experience. If you are willing to put in the work, possibly take a temporary pay cut, and put yourself out there, you may find that you can move into your dream field without going back to school.

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Here are some tips for getting into a new field:

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• Ask other people about their jobs. Talk to people who have the job you want. Ask them about their backgrounds and what they studied in school. If you can’t talk to them, speak to headhunters or even HR representatives in the field you’re pursuing. Another idea is to find a mentor in your chosen field who can help you reach your professional goals.
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• Research your potential new field. Seek out free online resources to help you understand a new industry and its opportunities, and look for professional development opportunities, such as workshops and webinars.
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• Find other ways to demonstrate your capabilities. Find out if there are straightforward ways to demonstrate your abilities other than a degree. For example, you can build a portfolio, find an internship opportunity, land an apprenticeship, or pursue advanced certification.
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• Start at the bottom. Look at entry-level jobs in your dream industry and see if you can swing a few years of a lower income to get closer to your goal. Taking a pay cut may seem like moving backward, but paying for college is its own type of pay cut. It may be cheaper to take a pay cut in an entry-level job for two years than to pay for tuition for the same amount of time.
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3. Research the alternative career before quitting your job.

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Think about whether you’ll have time to work during your degree program (to help offset costs right away) as well as the earning potential of your new career (to offset student loan bills after graduation).

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Here are some factors to consider:

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• Know your new career’s earning potential. Make sure your long-term goals are realistic and informed by research. For example, not all STEM jobs pay a huge amount of money.
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• Be aware of the job market in your area. The region you live in has a massive impact on the job market, and it’s not always straightforward. For example, living in a major tech hub doesn’t mean you’ll be all set with a tech-related degree. In fact, sometimes the opposite is true. Often, cities with a wealth of tech jobs (Houston, for example) also have a surplus of highly educated professionals with tech degrees, so the job market is far more competitive.
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• Do your research. Look at statistics on employment options, salary ranges and workforce demographics that are recent and specific to your region. You can find up-to-date career-specific data in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
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4. Plan your finances for going back to school as an adult.

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If you decide that your career path requires additional college education, determine how much you’ll spend.

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When you choose a college, its financial aid office is a good place to gather information about tuition assistance and financial aid. But remember that financial aid offices serve a broad student population; they’re focused on disseminating basic information, not offering individualized counseling.

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Here are some tips for personal financial planning and other things to consider when you’re going back to school on a budget:

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• Look at your specific financial situation. Come up with a plan for financing your education and figure out how long it will take you to repay any student loans. If you take out student loans, factor in how much you’ll end up paying in interest.
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• Weigh the educational costs against the potential starting salary. Weigh your educational financing costs against what you can expect as a starting salary. Many people go back to school for degrees that cost a lot of money and don’t see much financial return. While long-term career goals are important, so is being financially self-sufficient. If you need research assistance, the College Scorecard compares schools’ costs, graduation rates, and average salaries for graduates.
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• Consider an associate degree. If you’re set on enrolling in higher education, one of the best ways to save money is to get an associate’s degree at a two-year college first, and then transferring to a four-year school to complete your bachelor’s degree. Community colleges are far less expensive than four-year colleges on a per-credit basis. Plus, many states offer discounts for nontraditional students (GED or equivalent) and discounted in-state tuition for bachelor’s degrees if students earn above a certain GPA in community college.
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• Look into community college. If you’re concerned about how a community college might look to future employers, it may surprise you to know that when you graduate with a bachelor’s degree, your degree lists only the four-year institution you attended and not the community college. Of course, the credit you get from community college classes will count toward your final degree, but your diploma will look identical to that of a student who paid full price for a four-year program.
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• Minimize costs with an overall strategy. It is possible to minimize your student loans by attending only public institutions, targeting high-income fields so you can pay off loans quickly after graduation, working while you’re in school, or a combination of all of these. While it’s typical to take on debt when advancing your education, a strategic approach can help provide the funds you need to move to your first job location, purchase housing or start a family.
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• Go to school during interim and summer terms. You can reduce your cost per credit by taking winter interim classes and summer classes. Winter and summer classes are more intensive and shorter in duration, but they’re cheaper, even at private four-year schools.
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5. Research colleges and programs.

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Once you decide to go back to college and know how much you’re willing to spend on your education, research different programs carefully. Online degree programs are popular with nontraditional students because they offer remote learning options and flexible course schedules, but ensure the program you choose is accredited, whether it’s an online or brick-and-mortar school.

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The best way to find out if a college is accredited is to visit the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs. If the college you consider is not in the government database of accredited institutions, do not apply, regardless of the promises you hear from college staff. At some unaccredited institutions, workers are treated like sales associates and get commissions for recruits, so research thoroughly before providing any money to a school.

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You should also look up the following statistics for any college you consider attending. If you can’t find these stats about your desired program on the school’s website, contact someone to ask. You’ll learn a lot about the school by asking difficult questions:

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• What percentage of students in your program are employed in their fields within one year of graduation?
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• How many courses are taught by teaching assistants as opposed to professors?
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• How many courses are offered in the evenings and on weekends?
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• Can any classes be completed online?/
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• Does your program offer opportunities for work experience before graduation?
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• What percentage of professors in your program are adjunct versus full-time?
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It’s also wise to look up the school’s deans and professors and do a little digging into their backgrounds. Find out if they’re all lifelong academics or if they have work experience in the fields they teach.

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Above all, do not be shy about asking anything you want to know. Your education should suit you, and you deserve to know everything upfront before you pay a cent of tuition.

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6. Follow this 10-step checklist for nontraditional students.

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Here’s a helpful checklist for people embracing more education as they navigate a career change. If you need additional support, College for Adults provides resources for those navigating going back to school.

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1. Define your motivations for going back to school and know your long-term goals.
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2. Consider alternatives to paying for a degree, and determine whether or not college is right for you.
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3. You will need a high school diploma or equivalent to start a college program. If you need a GED or certification, research your state’s requirements online before starting your new career journey.
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4. Explore career options at CareerOneStop, or speak with a counselor at a local college to determine your next steps.
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5. Choose schools based on recommendations from employers, colleagues and friends who are familiar with your chosen field of study. If you don’t have a go-to person, use College Navigator to locate your best choices.
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6. After narrowing down your college picks with an accredited degree in your field of study, schedule a campus tour if you plan on in-person learning, or ask the admissions office about the equipment you’ll need for online courses.
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7. Ask the school if it accommodates nontraditional students with night and weekend classes or part-time options.
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8. Search for scholarships and grants.
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9. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA will help you budget for education costs and is required for federal loans, scholarships and grants. Use the deadline guide for FAFSA applications to ensure your financial aid is available when you need it.
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10. Look into additional financial resources, including education tax credits, employer tuition reimbursement, low-interest home equity loans, retraining programs in your geographic location, or even community resources that can help you with day care for your children, textbooks, transportation, and tutoring.
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Julie Thompson, Nicole Fallon and Sammi Caramela contributed to the writing and reporting in this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

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California’s answer to the FCC’s 2018 repeal of the Open Internet Order (OIO), often referred to as “net neutrality,” survived an appeals court hearing on Jan. 28, 2022, restoring the concept of net neutrality in the Golden State. The survival of California’s net neutrality rules in SB 822 recall the battle over the nationwide repeal by the FCC a few years ago – but what does it mean for small businesses, and how has the internet changed since the FCC reversed the OIO?

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If you’re trying to wrap your head around the topic and its developments, here’s some background on how net neutrality came to be, what the internet was like before net neutrality, how the approach to net neutrality changed over time, and what the state of the internet is today.

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Background on the fight over net neutrality

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In 2018, the FCC ruled to repeal the OIO, which was adopted in 2015 and classified broadband as a telecommunications service rather than an information source. The new Restoring Internet Freedom Order reversed the classification and established the internet as a Title I (“information”) common carrier, effectively repealing what many refer to as net neutrality and giving large internet service providers (ISPs) an immense regulatory power.

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However, California opposed the cross-state imposition of the ruling and defended its own set of net neutrality rules, also known as SB 822 – the law that was backed up by the decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in January, setting a precedent that allows for state-by-state net neutrality laws.

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Defenders of net neutrality believed that the FCC’s 2018 decision threatened free speech and competition by pushing certain content to the fast lane, banishing other content to the slow lane and blocking content at will. Meanwhile, supporters of the FCC’s decision believed a lighter-touch approach to the regulation made it easier for large companies to innovate and for small internet providers to expand their reach in rural and underserved communities.

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The Californian net neutrality rules made it unlawful for Californian ISPs to block, degrade or impair internet traffic, receive money for prioritizing certain sources, or interfere with a user’s ability to access the internet. While the local law was unsurprisingly challenged by national ISPs like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon, the appeals court’s ruling halted their efforts. The decision creates an opportunity for other states to adopt net neutrality legislation of their own.

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The internet before net neutrality

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“Net neutrality” is a casual term for the OIO. The aim of the OIO was to make sure ISPs enable access to all content and applications regardless of their source, without favoring or blocking a particular product or website.

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If you’re wondering why the OIO didn’t pass earlier, it’s because the FCC didn’t have jurisdiction over ISPs. To pass the OIO, the FCC had to reclassify ISPs as common carriers under Title II, as a public utility like water, electricity, and sewage. That action also brought them under the purview of the FCC and allowed for greater regulation to maintain net neutrality.

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While this regulation of broadband to ensure the free flow of data had been previously considered, it was historically dismissed by Republicans and Democrats alike. For instance, in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, President Bill Clinton and Congress made a distinction between lightly regulated “information services” such as ISPs and heavily regulated “telecommunications services” such as phone carriers. They explained the rationale for this distinction by stating that “internet and other interactive computer services have flourished, to the benefit of all Americans, with a minimum of government regulation.”

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This past decision was often cited by the supporters of the 2018 OIO repeal as a reason to deregulate the actions of ISPs. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai often pointed to the 20 years preceding significant FCC oversight and the success of startups founded during that time as proof that no additional regulation was actually needed. Supporters of the FCC’s move reportedly referred to the OIO as a solution to a problem that hadn’t existed.

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The birth of net neutrality

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The desire for increased FCC regulation over ISPs was not born overnight. In 2007, Comcast was accused of (and subsequently found guilty of) throttling, or deliberately restricting, BitTorrent traffic. Two nonprofit organizations, Free Press and Public Knowledge, filed a complaint with the FCC, claiming that by throttling service, Comcast violated the 2005 guidelines set forth by the FCC.

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The FCC responded by trying to enforce the order via a censure and stated that Comcast’s methods violated federal policy. In 2010, Comcast took the FCC to court to fight the ruling, claiming that the FCC did not have adequate jurisdiction over ISPs and therefore couldn’t enforce rules. The courts sided with Comcast, citing its designation under Title I as the reason the FCC had no grounds.

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Following the 2010 ruling, the FCC set out to establish clearer broadband guidelines and published the first draft of the OIO. In 2011, Verizon sued the FCC, claiming it had no legal jurisdiction over an ISP and that the OIO was therefore unlawful.

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In 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld Verizon’s assertions, stating that the OIO could only apply to common carriers and not to Title I organizations such as broadband providers. However, since the FCC was the organization that designated broadband providers as Title I in the first place, changing that designation was considered to be within its purview.

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In 2015, the FCC officially made ISPs a common carrier, or Title II organization, which meant they were subject to the rules of the OIO. The OIO mandated that there be no blocking, throttling or paid prioritization by ISPs.

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It’s important to understand this chain of events because in 2018, proponents of net neutrality pointed to incidents like Comcast’s throttling as evidence that more regulation had been necessary and that the OIO had been a reaction to a very real need and not, as detractors often claimed, regulation for regulation’s sake.

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What has changed since net neutrality’s repeal?

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In 2018, ISPs became free to offer prioritized services to some clients and limit services to others, so long as those decisions were made public. In other words, a major ISP was allowed to offer fast-lane service (at a price) to a large client, like Amazon, and then slow down service for all of Amazon’s competitors.

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The caveat of making such deals known publicly did little to assuage the concerns of the pro-neutrality set, as they feared that the details of arrangements like these would have been hidden in the fine print of user agreements that largely went unread. There was also concern that pay-to-play ISP services would make it harder for startup companies to gain a foothold, and that free speech itself could be threatened.

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For small business owners already competing against online goliaths, there was trepidation and confusion surrounding this prospect. Initial reports of small business confidence surrounding net neutrality, like the Paychex Small Business Survey, underscored this fact, with 44% of respondents stating they believed the repeal of the OIO would negatively affect business. A matching 44% said they were not sure how these policy changes would affect business, and just 12% of business owners said they felt that the FCC’s move would be beneficial.

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Polls of the general public, not just business owners, showed a more stark response; the highly publicized survey by the University of Maryland found that 83% of the 1,077 respondents opposed the new changes.

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The Biden administration weighs in on net neutrality

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In July 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that encouraged the FCC to restore the net neutrality rules and nominated Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and OIO advocate Gigi Sohn to the FCC’s leadership team. Both previously expressed support for net neutrality and the necessity for the FCC to reestablish federal authority over broadband carriers.

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In addition, the Californian net neutrality law sets a precedent for instating local rules for internet regulations. It serves as yet another indicator of the potential shift in associated policies. The fact that the pandemic has widely transformed the internet into a necessity on par with water and electricity – the notion expressed by 76% of American internet users in a Consumer Reports survey – adds another argument for net neutrality and unrestricted access.

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Many small businesses in California have already seen the impact of Biden’s order and the local legal precedent. Other states are likely to follow in its footsteps. While it’s hard to establish a clear timeline for the expected change, the move toward net neutrality has clearly begun.

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Those who supported the FCC’s ruling, like members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, believed very little would change for internet users, and that only major internet companies would be affected (by being forced to pay for the bandwidth they consume). But the return of OIO sentiment suggests that net neutrality may not be dead and buried just yet, and a return to previous policies could be on the way – either federally or state by state.

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Time will tell how small businesses will adapt to what may become an even more competitive online landscape, but one thing is certain: Discussions surrounding ISP regulation are not over.

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Nadia Reckmann contributed to the writing and reporting in this article.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"2746","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/11024-crm-for-sales-department.html","displayModified":"2024-09-19T17:32:41Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"11024-crm-for-sales-department.html","id":"2746","ID":2746,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2018-08-30T22:00:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"CRM software is an excellent tool for marketing and sales teams, but you need a product everyone wants to use.","subtitle":"CRM software is an excellent tool for marketing and sales teams, but you need a product everyone wants to use.","title":"Adopting a CRM? How to Get Buy-in From Your Sales Department","author":{"displayName":"Mona Bushnell","email":"mbushnell@business.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/18115738/mona-bushnell.png","type":"Senior Writer"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Find A Solution","slug":"find-a-solution"},"sub":{"name":"Marketing Solutions","slug":"marketing-solutions"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Using CRM software in your business requires your sales team's input. Learn how to choose and implement the right CRM software for your team. "},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04072505/CRM_shironosov_Getty.jpg","caption":"shironosov / Getty Images","alt":""},"content":"\n

It can be a challenging process when choosing a customer relationship management (CRM) system. One of the most critical aspects of implementing a CRM solution that works for your business is ensuring your sales team is on board with the product. Without buy-in from your sales team, you could end up investing in a product no one wants to use.

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Plan ahead to avoid this pitfall, and involve your sales team in the decision. After all, they will be the ones who rely on the CRM software you use every day.

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How to get your sales team’s buy-in for CRM software

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Employee pushback to CRM adoption is usually the result of poor implementation rather than unusable systems. If you build your adoption process with your sales department in mind and follow the proper steps to get early buy-in, you can avoid future pushback and ensure widespread usage of your new CRM.

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Consider the following tips to get your sales team on board in no time.

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1. Choose a CRM that aligns with the sales department’s current processes.

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Unfortunately, some SMBs adopt technology without considering how new software will affect daily routines and processes. Without a comprehensive understanding of your sales department’s current process – who does what and how job roles will change with a new CRM – you run a high risk of user pushback.

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It might be easier to make the final CRM purchase decision within a small group, but failure to consult senior managers in the sales department can have long-term consequences.

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Zach Hendrix, co-founder of GreenPal, experienced this type of pushback after acquiring a new company and finding that its CRM implementation didn’t go as planned. After a costly implementation process, he found that the sales department wasn’t using the system at all, opting to maintain their own records across a combination of legal pads, Post-its, emails and spreadsheets. In short, it was a mess.

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“We basically purchased the software and paid an IT professional to install it, and [the] result after six months was that nobody used it,” Hendrix said. “In retrospect, what I didn’t realize was that I was just adding one more task to our salespeople’s list of things to do. It was like … ‘OK, on top of everything else that you’re already doing, put all of the information into the software so we can track it later at some point if we want to.’”

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Hendrix didn’t give up, of course. He analyzed his first approach and tried a different angle.

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“Ultimately, after trying several different solutions, we went with a cloud-based CRM,” he said. “To ensure a successful implementation this time around, I broke down the existing tasks and workflows that our salespeople [were] already conducting and replaced [those] tasks with new software-related tasks … we ended up getting the needed buy-in because we replaced one by one the analog tasks with digital tasks.”

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2. Involve your sales department early in the adoption process.

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All the experts we consulted agreed on one thing: Failure to involve the sales department in the implementation process will cause problems in the future. Of course, high-level purchasing decisions aren’t typically made democratically, nor should they be. But choosing a few tech-savvy sales department members to sit in on demos can help you get buy-in from other associates.

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Additionally, having senior sales staff and managers on board early creates a great built-in support system for associates who are more resistant to change.

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Michael Tuso, co-founder and CEO of Callypso, said he’d experienced both good and bad CRM implementations and that a positive outcome is closely linked to early involvement from the sales department. He told Business News Daily that, in addition to having a small group of technically skilled sales staff pilot the project, he relied on them to get other staff members on board.

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“Because I had looped some of the most tech-savvy reps in early in the process, I had five salespeople saying this was a good idea – plus our VP of sales, other sales managers and the entire tech department,” Tuso said. “This made selling [the other sales staff] easy and enabled me to focus on delivering the very best training and implementation plan possible.”

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Pilot groups are considered a best practice in adopting any new software system. And since sales departments use CRM tools heavily, it only makes sense to include sales staff in the process.

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Additionally, the tech-savvy early adopters of the CRM are likely to feel ownership over the implementation process, which can be helpful when other sales staff members express frustration or distrust of the new system. Hearing a colleague say a CRM system’s features will improve the sales process is more powerful than getting the same message from a higher-up who won’t even be using the product.

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3. Appoint a CRM manager.

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While you’ll want your entire team to be well versed in your CRM solution, you should appoint a high-performance user to serve as the CRM manager. This manager should be someone who is:

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• Tech-savvy
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• Resourceful
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• A strong communicator
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• Organized and able to set up employee training sessions
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A CRM manager will serve as the liaison between your teams and the new software, so make sure they understand the technology and can explain it to others clearly.

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4. Publicize value early and often.

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Pushback on a CRM can occur for a few reasons. Staff members who are set in their ways or uncomfortable with technology may resist a new system because they’re concerned it will be hard to learn. Additionally, if your salespeople believe a new system will add to their workload and make their jobs more difficult, they are likely to be uncooperative during the implementation process.

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Preemptively combat pushback like this by “selling” the CRM internally and highlighting its specific sales staff benefits, including its CRM analytics tools. Once your team realizes a CRM tool can streamline lengthy, tedious processes and potentially increase their sales, they’ll be much more open-minded.

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Byron Matthews, CEO of Talent Inc., said supporting data is key to selling a product in-house. “Most sales reps view tools like a CRM as a mandate, distraction and administrative burden. For sales technology to be embraced, it must be backed by proven sales methodology that guides the actions of sellers on the ground and helps sales reps improve their win rates.”

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Fahad Shoukat, VP of operations at Allocate and an expert in successful CRM implementation, told us communicating value early and often is key.

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“There is no perfect CRM out there,” he said. “The best strategy I have found is to start the discussion early and highlight the shortcomings of the current system.” Indeed, several of the experts we spoke to mentioned that outlining current inefficiencies and how a CRM can eliminate them helps get sales department buy-in.

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Like Matthews, Shoukat said that getting select staff on board early is vital to selling a system’s value internally. “[Before an implementation] I strategically task a few salespeople – old-timers and new ones – to evaluate new options and help them understand the benefits … prepping sales way in advance and highlighting the need for a new system before implementation has proven successful every time. The questions that come after launch are more about training and learning the new CRM than opposing it. The experience becomes a team-building exercise.”

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As part of communicating value early and often, get your team excited about a CRM solution’s benefits. Some may see the software as an extra tool they need to learn or another project to add to their already-cramped work schedules, but they need to understand a CRM is meant to help them — and make their jobs easier.

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5. Use a rewards system to encourage adoption.

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When you make CRM user adoption fun and filled with perks, you’re bound to get less employee pushback. To encourage employees to get on board right away, introduce a CRM rewards system upon the software’s launch. Start with a short-term rewards system, and then assess its need as time goes on.

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Offering rewards even just for the first month may be enough to get your employees’ enthusiastic participation. For example, you could offer cash bonuses or gift cards to employees who:

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• Generate the most new leads in the CRM
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• Send 20 or more quotes to prospects
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• Earn 10 or more electronically signed proposals through the CRM
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• Send 50 text follow-ups to prospects
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• Are most active on the CRM chat feature
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• Use automated email templates for email marketing to 50 or more prospects
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If you follow these tips, your CRM implementation should go smoothly with enthusiastic buy-in from your sales team. Whether introducing a new CRM system or transitioning away from legacy software, be sure to include your sales team in the process to maximize your CRM rollout’s success.

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Benefits of implementing a CRM system

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CRM solutions can positively impact businesses, bringing benefits like higher productivity, increased revenue and a better customer service experience.

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Higher productivity

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According to Salesforce statistics, implementing a CRM solution can enhance sales team productivity by 34 percent. CRM solutions reduce the manual work involved in the sales process so that it takes less time to close sales.

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Increased revenue

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Salesforce also reports that businesses using a CRM tool can boost sales by up to 29 percent. Using a CRM solution can boost revenue at the individual sales employee and company levels.

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Better customer service experience

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A CRM solution improves customer service by equipping sales teams with the tools they need to have easy, ongoing and meaningful relationships with prospects and customers. CRM software can improve a sales team’s ability to identify which products and services customers need and to build strong, lasting connections.

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How to encourage CRM system usage

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After your sales team is on board with your CRM solution, it’s critical to maintain your user adoption rate and ensure everyone continues to embrace the system.

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Consistently using the CRM system and refraining from falling back to old data collection and storage methods are vital to seeing the benefits of your investment. Consider the following ways to ensure your team continues to use the system.

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1. Demonstrate the daily benefits of the CRM system.

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A CRM system is meant to make your sales teams’ lives easier by automating mundane or repetitive processes. Ensure your sales and marketing teams understand precisely how the system can ease their daily workloads. When everyone is clear on how the software frees up their time and helps boost productivity, adoption will remain solid, consistent and even enthusiastic.

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2. Address user feedback.

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It’s essential your users feel comfortable and empowered to offer suggestions about the CRM solution’s implementation and processes. When a primary CRM system user can provide feedback that management thoughtfully considers, the team will become more invested in the system’s success.

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Consider setting up regular reviews where your team can openly discuss the CRM solution’s workflow issues and listen to creative suggestions on improving the implementation.

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3. Get team leaders on board.

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Your sales team must see managers and other company leaders adopting and using the CRM software consistently. Ensure your leadership team demonstrates the software’s usefulness to the entire company. Seeing an executive vote of confidence will assure team members that the CRM system isn’t some passing trend. Company leaders’ enthusiastic and visible CRM system engagement can motivate your team to stay engaged with the software.

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Sales team buy-in makes all the difference

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When adopting a CRM system, the new tool is only as effective as the way in which salespeople use it. In order to ensure your team gets value out of the new system, you need to include them in the decision-making process. From gathering information on their existing workflow, identifying opportunities to automate repetitive tasks and inviting them to take free trials for a spin, including sales representatives early and often is key to a successful CRM implementation.

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Hannah Tayson and Jacob Bierer-Nielsen contributed to this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

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You don’t have to be an experienced tech shopper to buy the right tablet to support your business needs. Whether you need a powerful PC tablet with a detachable keyboard or a rugged, waterproof device with a high-resolution screen, this guide will help you make informed buying decisions.

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Follow these five steps to choose the best tablet for the job at hand.

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Step 1: Define your tablet use case.

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The best way to narrow your tablet options is to identify a clear use case. Hold off on the purchase if you’re unsure exactly how you and your employees will use the tablets you’re buying.

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• Media consumption: Many people, even business users, use tablets as media-consumption devices. If you want a tablet primarily to catch up on the news, read e-books, watch movies, listen to music, and occasionally shoot off an email, you’re in the media-consumption camp. Users in this category can skip flashy, expensive, two-in-one machines in favor of low-end or midrange tablets with high-quality displays and good speakers. Examples include older iPads, Amazon Fire tablets, and low or midrange Samsung Galaxy Tabs.
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• Payment processing: If you’re buying tablets for customer-facing uses such as inputting orders and processing payments, you’ll likely focus on credit card processing and point-of-sale (POS) accessories. Durable, waterproof cases and space-saving mounts are essential for tablets replacing old-school cash registers and desktops. iPad POS systems are popular choices for retailers.
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• Work on the go: Some entrepreneurs and small business owners prefer to work on the go with a tablet instead of a business laptop. If you want the portability of a tablet with the functionality and protection of a secure business laptop – complete with keyboard and stylus capabilities – then a two-in-one or hybrid machine is the way to go. Examples include the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 and HP’s Spectre x360 14. These workhorse tablets tend to be pricier than their lighter counterparts, but they come close to replacing your laptop while maintaining a tablet’s flexibility.
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• Field work: Tablets are essential for field workers, including police officers, loggers, farmers, factory workers, and construction workers. If your tablet is primarily for field work, skip consumer tablets and look at rugged tablets built to take a beating. Rugged tablets come with plenty of vehicle mounts and cases. They can be used in heavy rain and are built to withstand dust and drops. Many have extended battery life or come with external battery docks. The easiest way to maintain your fleet of rugged tablets is to purchase them from one manufacturer, so choose carefully. Examples include the Oukitel RT1 rugged Android tablet and Panasonic’s Toughbook A3.
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• Notetaking: If you or your employees typically take a lot of notes at work, most tablets will be handy tools. Taking notes on a tablet can reduce the sticky notes and papers scattered across your desk. With a tablet, you can effortlessly search for a specific note and edit or add to it without a pen or pencil. Typing can also be much faster and less strenuous than writing. However, if you enjoy the classic feel of jotting down notes, use a stylus and one of the best handwriting recognition apps to jot down legible, handwritten notes on your tablet and easily search for them later.
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Step 2: Set your tablet budget.

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When budgeting for your business, your tablet use cases can determine how much to allocate to these devices. Tablets intended as primary devices – particularly rugged tablets – will cost much more than supplementary devices intended for checking emails on the go.

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Here are three general tablet use categories so you can set an estimated budget.

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• Supplementary tablets: Many affordable tablets are suitable for supplementary purposes. If you’re buying tablets for employees who already have reliable laptops or desktops, you can get away with spending around $150 to $300 per device. Understand that devices in this price range are most suitable for web browsing and accessing apps. They’ll provide a highly portable online experience for business users on the go, but don’t expect these inexpensive tablets to have SD card slots, extended battery life or high-resolution screens.
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• Primary device tablets: If you’re buying a tablet to replace or stand in for your laptop, expect to pay low to midrange laptop prices. The price range for this category is broad because it depends on how much storage you need (more storage equals higher cost) and the quality of other specs, such as the display. Expect to spend anywhere from $400 on the low end to $1,200 on the high end. If you intend to purchase removable keyboards or covers, factor that into your estimation.
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• Rugged tablets: Rugged technology is almost always more expensive than its standard-issue business or consumer equivalent, and rugged tablets are no exception. Expect rugged tablets to run you at least $800 per device, possibly much more. This cost estimate does not include external power packs for extending battery life, vehicle mounts, apps or software. The best way to get a reasonable price for rugged devices is to work directly with a brand or reseller specializing in rugged tech. You can often get lower per-device rates in exchange for ordering in bulk from one OEM or reseller. Consult a sales rep to get a realistic idea of how much you’ll spend.
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Step 3: Choose an operating system for your tablet.

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App usage, cost, familiarity and preference should drive your operating system choice. If you have an IT department or outside tech consultant, ask their opinion before shopping. If you’re on your own in the tech department, this operating system guide should provide some clarity.

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There are four primary tablet operating systems to consider.

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• iPadOS: If you’re an Apple devotee, you’re already well acquainted with its proprietary iOS operating system, which is beloved for its clean design and ease of use. Modern iPads use an iOS variant called iPadOS that prioritizes multitasking. Choosing an iPad means gaining access to a massive app selection via Apple’s App Store. iPadOS is also very secure because the platform is locked down – you can’t install applications from outside sources, and App Store apps are rigorously screened. iPads are very popular for business users in client-facing roles, especially creative or image-related jobs.
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• Android: Android is an open platform; hardware manufacturers are free to put their spin on the OS when they release Android devices. For this reason, your Android experience will vary depending on which tablet manufacturer you choose. Tablet makers like Samsung release tablets with a slightly modified version of Android that includes extra features. Amazon’s tablets run on Fire OS, a heavily modified Android version with an easy-to-use interface. If you’re apprehensive about the Android flavor you’ll be getting on your new tablet, make an in-store visit to test the device.
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• Windows: If your business has high compliance or security needs, Windows may be the best choice because of the operating system’s security features and mobile device management (MDM). If you already use a Windows PC for business, your desktop applications will run on your Windows tablet. While you’ll likely find excellent alternatives to many of your favorite programs for Android and iPadOS, Microsoft’s platform might be your only real option if you depend on a specific piece of Windows software.
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• Chrome OS: Chrome OS is built on Linux and was only used for Chromebooks initially. In May 2018, Acer changed the game when it released the first Chromebook tablet. Now, there are excellent Chrome OS tablets on the market, including the high-end Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 and the Google Pixel Slate. The Chrome OS tablet market is growing, but there aren’t as many devices available across various price points as other operating systems.
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Step 4: Compare the tablet specs that matter to you.

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Many business tablet buyers find technical specs confusing. But you don’t have to know what every spec means. Once you get to this step, you’ve likely narrowed your tablet choice to a few devices, so focus on the specs you care about most.

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Here are the specs most likely to impact daily business use:

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• Accessories: Accessories add flexibility and utility to your tablet. Narrow your tablet choice by looking at available add-ons for the devices you’re considering. Consider options like a charging dock, case, stylus and detachable keyboard. Keep in mind that your keyboard can hugely impact the user experience – a small, flimsy keyboard, though compact, is unlikely to get much use.
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• Battery life: If you’re a frequent traveler and anticipate heavy tablet usage, battery life may be a high priority. However, if you usually work closer to home, the battery may be a nonissue. Keep in mind that published battery life specs are typically optimistic, so use them only as a guideline. For field workers using rugged tablets, vehicle docks with rechargeable batteries are an excellent investment; some can even extend the tablet’s battery life to days instead of hours.
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• Processing power: The processor is a device’s brain; an inadequate processor can render an otherwise acceptable tablet unusable. A basic processor will do if you’re only going to use your tablet for basic browsing and watching movies. If you want your tablet to be a true work machine, opt for something more powerful. The latest iPads run on an A13 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture, newer Samsung Galaxy Tabs use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and a top-of-the-line Advantech rugged tablet runs an Intel Core i3/i5/i7.
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• Size: Android and Windows tablets come in various sizes, while the iPad product line has offerings from 8.3 to 12.9 inches. If you’re buying tablets for a team, ask about their tablet size preferences. When you read a spec sheet, keep in mind that screen size is measured diagonally. If you can’t gauge a tablet’s size, consider visiting a store to see them in person.
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• Storage space: A tablet’s storage space is measured in RAM. About 4GB of RAM is standard for a quality tablet, but you can find offerings from 2GB to 16GB and higher (if you’re willing to pay). Consider how much you’ll store on the tablet and if you’ll supplement with cloud storage. If you’re unsure of what you need and already have a work laptop as your primary device, 4GB of RAM will likely be enough.
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• POS add-ons: If your tablet will act as a POS device, you’ll need some add-ons. For starters, you’ll need a credit card reader to accept payments. A model with an integrated chip reader can add an extra layer of security to your payment process. You’ll need a POS application to track and manage payment information. A tablet stand can make taking payments effortless. You’ll also need to work with one of the best credit card processors to complete credit card payments.
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Step 5: Buy your tablet.

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After working through the steps in our tablet buying guide, you’ll be able to make a decision before visiting a store or entering your payment info online. When you shop based on your needs, utility and budget, you avoid overpaying for bells and whistles you don’t need and underpaying for an inferior device.

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Shayna Waltower contributed to the writing and research in this article. 

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The hundreds of laptops on the market differ tremendously, and only some are truly suited for business use. For example, some laptops might not have enough processing power or memory to handle extensive web browser usage. And even if they perform well, other laptops might be too heavy for frequent travelers.

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This guide will help you navigate the laptop market with these considerations in mind. Once you know the nuts and bolts of what makes a good business laptop, the shopping process will be much less overwhelming.

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How to buy a laptop for your business

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Many small businesses don’t have a chief technology officer to handle tech purchasing decisions, which is why we created this buying guide. It is designed to be followed step by step and considers general hardware best practices, budget considerations and deployment concerns.

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Step 1: Set your technology budget, and optimize your shopping strategy.

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Optimize your tech spending by setting a clear budget before shopping. Consider how much you’re willing to spend overall and how many laptops you need. Without a budget, it’s easy to overspend or underspend. Not every business needs a fleet of top-of-the-line machines, so it’s a waste of time to consider high-cost options if they don’t suit your bottom line. On the other hand, you shouldn’t cheap out on your business laptops because you could end up spending more in the long run if they don’t perform as needed.

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Consider these tech budgeting tips:

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• Adopt different device tiers. One popular tech budgeting approach is to adopt different device tiers based on user needs. For example, it may be worth springing for luxury Dell machines for your C-suite execs and dev team, midrange Dell laptops for your professional staff and entry-level Dells for support staff.
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• Minimize manufacturers. Try to stick to one or two manufacturers to simplify maintenance and mobile device management in the future. The easiest management approach is to have only one original equipment manufacturer and two or three model variations. However, if you have creative pros on board, you’ll likely end up adopting two types of machines because creatives often require pricey Macs (which are not typically necessary for other employees).
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• Select only a few purchasing decision-makers. To streamline the decision-making process and future device management, it’s best to keep tech purchasing decisions in the hands of a few high-level employees; opening the conversation to your entire staff may complicate the process.
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Laptop budget ranges

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If you’re unsure of how to strike a balance between cost and quality, check out our breakdown of laptop budget ranges and recommendations:

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• $300 and under: In the $300-and-under range, you’ll find only low-end Chromebooks and Windows machines. We don’t recommend laptops in this price range for business users; they typically have cheap build quality, limited storage and slow performance. Even for light business use, you can do better.
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• $350 to $599: In this price range, you’ll find mediocre Windows laptops and good business Chromebooks. Chromebooks are better than Windows machines in this range because they have far less storage (which is expensive), so they can stay at a low price without sacrificing on the build and display. Either way, you should purchase a work laptop in this price range only for team members who perform basic tasks, such as using Microsoft Office, posting on social media and browsing the web. This price range may be adequate for support staff with limited needs, like receptionists and assistants.
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• $600 to $999: Most business users’ needs can be met in the $600-to-$999 price range. Users should have no trouble getting the memory and storage they need and a powerful enough processor for business multitasking. Work laptops in this category often have business-class laptop security features, such as fingerprint scanners. They also tend to have good battery life, comfortable keyboards and nice displays.
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• $1,000 and up: For $1,000 or more, you can get a laptop that’s much more powerful or portable than those in the lower brackets. Premium ultraportable models, such as Dell’s XPS 13 Plus, offer fast performance in an extremely sleek package. Bulky, powerful workstations also fall into this category and range from $1,500 to $3,000 (or sometimes even more). This is the best price range for power users, like your developers, design team and C-suite executives who want to project a specific image.
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Step 2: Choose an operating system.

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Unless you can spend at least $1,000 per laptop, you’ll likely choose between the Chrome and Windows operating systems. However, there are three primary operating systems; you should know their features and differences. After reading these descriptions, choose Windows if you’re still unsure which operating system to select. Windows is still the business standard worldwide, and you likely won’t regret the decision.

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macOS

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Laptops that run Apple’s macOS carry hefty price tags. However, many die-hard Apple fans are willing to pay a premium for a beautiful machine with a well-designed interface. Historically, creative professionals have favored Apple laptops for their high-quality screens, function keys, and ability to run high-octane programs such as Avid, Maya and Dreamweaver.

\n

Many creative pros still purchase laptops from Apple. Still, it’s no longer considered the go-to brand, especially since recent MacBook Pros have featured less storage than previous models and seem more focused on appealing to a mass audience than to a niche customer base.

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Whether you should opt for a machine running macOS is mainly up to personal preference and how much you’re comfortable spending, unless you use a specific business software product that can run only on a Mac. While this scenario is becoming less common, you should always ask IT experts about possible operating system and software compatibility issues before buying new laptops.

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Some businesses also choose macOS machines for the image they project; if you’re in a field where looks matter and cultivating a luxe vibe is important to your clients, that may be a valid choice.

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Windows 11 

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As mentioned, Windows is the standard operating system for work laptops. If you go with Windows 11, you’ll have more laptops to choose from than with ChromeOS or macOS. Windows machines are available in every configuration and price range possible, so you can be pretty picky (within your budget, of course).

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Windows 11, the latest version of the operating system, has a handful of new features that can improve productivity. For example, with Task View, you can set up multiple virtual desktops for easier multitasking. Windows is also known for its highly adjustable sleep and power settings that preserve your computer’s battery life and performance.

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The main benefit of choosing Windows is familiarity. It’s highly unlikely that your employees have never used a Windows laptop before, and most IT pros (even those with relatively little experience) know how to provide support for Windows devices. Ease of use is crucial in business tech adoption, and the average office worker is comfortable with Windows.

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ChromeOS

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Google’s ChromeOS is the newest operating system, so if you’re unsure of what to expect from a Chromebook, you’re not alone. When Chromebooks first hit the market, they were created primarily with students in mind because of their superlow starting prices.

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Today, Chromebook offerings are more diverse, and some business-focused laptops run ChromeOS. Chrome is a great choice for an entrepreneur or small business owner who is comfortable working in the cloud (you can’t download programs on a Chromebook) and doesn’t want to worry about updates.

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Chromebooks are built to download and deploy updates automatically, which is a great time-saver for busy entrepreneurs. Thanks to an increase in cloud-based product suites such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365, Chromebooks are growing more functional for a broader range of business owners.

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Step 3: Select a laptop design.

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The key to choosing the right laptop design is to consider how you and your team work. Here are a few questions to ask yourself (or your employees) before shopping.

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Do I want a hybrid laptop or a traditional laptop?

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You’re likely already familiar with traditional laptops that open on a hinge. However, there’s now another breed of laptops to consider: Hybrid laptops, also called convertible laptops or 2-in-1s, are laptops that double as stand-alone tablets.

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Some hybrid laptop screens detach completely from the keyboard. Others have hinges with a 180-degree range of motion, allowing you to fold the laptop inside out and use it as a tablet. Employees who travel frequently or switch back and forth between a laptop (for typing) and a tablet (for stylus and touchscreen use) may be a good match for a hybrid design. However, note that a 2-in-1 with high specs will cost more than a standard-hinge laptop with the same specs.

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Is a comfortable keyboard a high priority?

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When you’re busy looking at laptop designs, it’s easy to forget about the basics and be dazzled by gorgeous chassis and high-resolution screens. However, keyboard comfort is a crucial factor for most business users. In fact, an uncomfortable keyboard can kill business productivity much more than a slightly unimpressive pixels-per-inch (PPI) resolution or a bland design.

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While you shop, remember that the smaller the laptop, the smaller the keyboard — and typing on a miniature keyboard for hours at a time can be tiresome.

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If possible, test out keyboards to get a feel for what you like. If you can’t do that, at least take note of the size of the keyboard on any laptop you consider. If you choose a laptop with a less-than-optimal keyboard, you can invest in an external keyboard for long typing sessions, but this is not ideal.

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Will I be traveling with my laptop or primarily working in one place?

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Portability is a significant concern for some business owners and a nonissue for others. If you travel frequently or work in different business locations regularly, it may be worth sacrificing screen and keyboard size for a lighter computer. You can always check a laptop’s dimensions and weight under its technical specifications online.

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Keep in mind that laptop screens, like television screens, are measured diagonally (corner to corner) and that, generally, any device lighter than 3 pounds is portable enough for business travel. Before choosing an ultraportable laptop, though, ensure the device has the ports you require and decent battery life.

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Do I need a touchscreen or stylus support?

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Touchscreens are a nice feature if — and only if — you use them a lot. Laptops with touchscreens and stylus support are nearly always more expensive than similar models without these features.

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Computers with touchscreens also use significantly more battery power than those without, even if you don’t actively use the touchscreen. To top it off, touchscreens are heavier than regular screens.

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If you need a touchscreen or stylus support, you should absolutely look for that feature in a laptop, but don’t spring for it just because you think it seems like a cool add-on.

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Do I need a rugged laptop?

\n

While most companies don’t need rugged laptops, these devices are essential for specific industries and businesses, especially those that employ workers in rugged or remote conditions. The Panasonic Toughbook is the highest-profile rugged laptop line. It’s very popular with public service professionals (such as police, fire departments, EMTs and conservation experts) and private companies that require ultra-resilient laptops (such as oil, fishing, agricultural, construction and delivery businesses).

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Rugged laptops and tablets often offer accessories you can’t get for mainstream laptops, such as vehicle mounts and vehicle battery packs. (Some rugged laptops can operate for days at a time with these packs.) Rugged laptops are also typically waterproof and drop-proof and can be used with gloves (even if they have touchscreens). However, they’re also usually larger and clunkier than consumer or business laptops, and they can be expensive once you factor in accessories.

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Step 4: Compare CPUs, memory, storage and battery life.

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By now, you’ve probably found a few laptops that fit your budget, run the OS you need, and have the design features you want. At this point, choosing between your front-runners comes down to comparing crucial specs. These laptop-buying factors can be overwhelming when you’re unfamiliar with tech talk, so we’ll break them down in straightforward, real-world terms.

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CPU

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Under the laptop’s technical specs, you’ll see its CPU (central processing unit, also called a processor). The CPU is the first thing you should look at when comparing laptop options.

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If your laptop were a car, the CPU would be the engine. As you can imagine, the quality of your laptop’s processor has a massive impact on the computer’s usability. That said, many people overspend on top-of-the-line processors when they don’t need them. An equivalent would be someone who buys a Porsche but never drives more than 40 mph.

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As you compare CPUs on the laptops you’re considering, keep these general guidelines in mind:

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\n
• Low-end CPUs: CPUs best suited for very light use include the AMD E-Series, Intel Atom and Intel Pentium. If all you plan to do with your laptop is type and browse the web, a low-end CPU may be fine. However, we generally don’t recommend these for business use.
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• Midrange CPUs: These include the Intel Core m3, m5 and m7. You will likely see these CPUs only in lightweight and hybrid laptops. These CPUs are OK for basic work tasks. If the laptop you’re buying is a secondary machine for travel or something you’ll use occasionally to take notes and send emails, this range should suit your needs. But if your business requires you to run robust programs regularly, spring for more power.
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• Ideal business-use CPUs: The Intel Core i3 and i5 processors are suitable for most businesses; they’re like the reliable four-door sedans of the laptop world. If you regularly multitask on your machine — like running QuickBooks while managing massive spreadsheets in Excel when your browser has 15 tabs open — a Core i5 is a better choice than a Core i3. If you’re a standard business user who sends emails, creates documents, streams media, stores photos, and posts to social media, a Core i3 will suit your needs just fine.
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• High-end CPUs: When they first came to market, Intel’s sixth- and seventh-generation Core i7 processors were found exclusively in high-end laptops. As with most technology, the price has decreased somewhat; you can now find laptops with i7 processors for less than $1,000. While there’s nothing wrong with purchasing a laptop with a Core i7 processor, you probably don’t need one.
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• Luxury CPUs: If you gave yourself an unlimited budget for business laptops, you may encounter a few that feature the Intel Xeon. The Xeon is necessary only for professionals who regularly do hard-core business analytics, vector-based processing, and other intensive data science and analytics tasks. If you don’t do those things, you don’t need an Intel Xeon. If the i7 is a fancy pickup truck, the Xeon is a high-end sports car, like an Aston Martin or a Porsche. There’s a very small population for whom buying a sports car is a financially sound decision, and the same is true for a luxury laptop with an Intel Xeon. In Macs, look for the M1, M2, M2 Pro, and M2 Ultra.
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Many think a powerful processor equals better performance, and everyone wants the best performance possible. However, this idea is both true and false. Here’s an analogy: Imagine loading a bag of groceries in the back of your four-door sedan (your Core i3 or Core i5). You can easily drive that bag of groceries home, right? Now imagine putting that same bag of groceries in the back of a high-end pickup truck with way more horsepower. Was it easier to drive the bag of groceries home in the more expensive truck? No, it didn’t make a difference because the task you were performing was so lightweight that you didn’t even tap into the benefit of the pickup truck’s extra horsepower (the ability to haul massive loads, attach a snowplow, use four-wheel drive, etc.).

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The same is true for high-end processors. If you’re not going to do video editing or 3D modeling, you don’t need a high-end processor, and having one won’t improve your laptop experience. If those demanding tasks are part of your daily business, a Core i7 will be well worth the money.

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Memory and storage

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Long-term storage and short-term memory are also crucial factors to consider in business laptops. For short-term memory, there’s random-access memory (RAM); for long-term storage, there’s your hard disk drive (HDD, also called a hard drive) or solid-state drive (SSD). Some computers have an SSD and an HDD for long-term storage, while others have only an SSD for long-term storage.

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SSDs are newer than HDDs and are increasingly popular for storage because they’re faster than HDDs. SSDs don’t have moving parts, so they’re more durable and compact than standard hard drives, which is why rugged laptops almost always have them.

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Here’s how to determine if the laptop you’re looking at has enough memory and storage for your business use:

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• RAM: Skip any laptops with 2GB of RAM; they’ll be frustrating to work on. Instead, aim for laptops with 4GB (good) or 8GB (even better). Some laptops come with 16GB; while this amount of RAM was previously seen as a luxury, it’s increasingly recommended for all users.
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• HDD and SSD: Unless you plan to do a lot of video editing (and store tons of footage on your machine), you should be OK with a minimum combined storage capacity of around 256GB. Remember that if you opt for a Chromebook, you will have far less hard drive space (which is fine if you’re OK with working in the cloud and running mobile apps). The storage suggestion here is primarily for business users purchasing Windows or Apple machines.
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Battery life

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Battery life is the last significant spec to evaluate before you make your final decision. Battery life is a nonissue for some business owners and a make-or-break factor for others. You’ll need to consider how often you’ll use your laptop without access to power.

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In any case, it’s a good idea to glance at the battery life of any machine you purchase. Bear in mind that laptop manufacturers use different metrics to measure battery life, so consider each reported number an estimate.

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Some laptop manufacturers offer add-on batteries for an extra cost. While these batteries can massively extend the battery life of a work laptop, they also add considerable weight to the machine — so consider the combined weight before you opt for an extra battery pack.

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Most popular business laptops

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Once you’ve fully acquainted yourself with the above considerations for the best business laptops, you should feel more prepared to browse the vast market of options. However, even with all you’ve learned, you might still face a bit of decision fatigue as you navigate the seemingly countless options in front of you.

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To give you a good starting point, we’ve listed a few of the very best business laptops and summarized their features below.

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1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 Laptop

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• Screen size: 14 inches
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• Dimensions: 12.43 x 8.76 x 0.59 inches or 12.43 x 8.76 x 0.60 inches
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• Weight: Starts at 2.8 pounds
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• Starting price: $1,089.50
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• Features:\n
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  • 13th-generation Intel i5 or Intel i7 processors
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  • Roughly 13.75-hour battery life, with charging rates of 80 percent in one hour
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  • 16GB of RAM
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  • SSD capacity range of up to 2TB
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  • 1920 x 1200 screen resolution
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  • Standard USB and HDMI ports, as well as USB 3.2 and USB-C
  \n
  • Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1
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  • Webcam with physical privacy shutter
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  • Fingerprint reader
  \n
  \n
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The Lenovo ThinkPad has long ranked among the most popular business laptops, and the 11th generation promises some of the laptop line’s most advanced features to date. With immense memory and battery life, the newest ThinkPad is among the best business laptops for both on-the-go and office use.

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2. Asus ExpertBook B9450

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• Screen size: 14 inches
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• Dimensions: 12.60 x 7.99 x 0.59 inches
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• Weight: 2.23 pounds
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• Starting price: $1,769.99
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• Features:\n
  \n
  • Intel Core vPro i7 processor
  \n
  • Maximum 24-hour battery life, with charging rates of 60 percent in 44 minutes
  \n
  • Up to 32GB of RAM
  \n
  • Two SSDs up to 2TB
  \n
  • 1920 x 1080 screen resolution
  \n
  • Standard USB and HDMI ports, as well as micro HDMI, USB 3.2 and USB-C
  \n
  • Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
  \n
  • Infrared camera for facial recognition sign-in
  \n
  • Webcam with a physical shutter
  \n
  • Fingerprint reader
  \n
  • Spill-resistant keyboard
  \n
  \n
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The Asus ExpertBook is designed for business travelers. Its calling card is its “featherlight” 2.23-pound weight, which is among the lowest laptop weights. And you won’t sacrifice quality for scale: The ExpertBook has the same top-notch features as its heavier (but sometimes less expensive) competitors.

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3. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch

\n

\n
• Screen size: 16 inches
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• Dimensions: 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches
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• Weight: 4.7 to 4.8 pounds
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• Starting price: $2,499
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• Features:\n
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  • 12-core CPU featuring eight performance cores alongside four efficiency cores
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  • Maximum 15-hour battery life for internet use or 30 days of standby
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  • Starting memory of 32GB, which can be configured to 64GB or 96GB
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  • Up to 8TB SSD
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  • 3456 x 2234 screen resolution
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  • Three USB-C ports
  \n
  • Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
  \n
  • Touch ID fingerprint reader
  \n
  \n
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For macOS users, the MacBook Pro line continues to rank highly among the best business laptops. The new 16-inch MacBook Pro’s screen resolution is unparalleled, and many would argue that its operating system is, too. It’s also a good choice if you prefer to keep all of your business devices connected, as all Apple products — MacBooks, iPads, iPhones and Apple Watches — signed in to the same Apple account can receive the same messages and notifications.

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Ready, set, buy

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Now that you’ve successfully narrowed down your business laptop choices based on what you need and what you can afford, you can confidently make your purchase. The basic approach outlined in this laptop buying guide can be used to buy other technology, too, such as the best business phone systems. We also have various helpful guides to advise you on software buying decisions.

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Max Freedman contributed to this article.

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Artificially intelligent chatbots aren’t just for Fortune 500 companies anymore. Thanks to a slew of innovative bot ventures that focus on the user experience, small business owners are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve daily operations, connect with clients and increase sales. Well-known tech executives such as Mark Zuckerberg and Satya Nadella have publicly touted the value of AI chatbot technology. And since the COVID-19 pandemic, AI chatbot adoption has further quickened as businesses pivoted more of their operations online. Now, roughly one-quarter of companies use chatbots for their customer service.

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That said, tech adoption tends to take time for small and midsize businesses, especially when the emerging technology is unfamiliar to most users. Today, the use of chatbots is heavily influenced by business size: While micro businesses and small businesses currently employ chatbots at higher rates than larger businesses, significantly more midsize and large businesses plan to deploy chatbots. However, across businesses of all sizes and types, chatbots appear to be a dominant technology trend moving forward.

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What is a chatbot?

\n\n\n

Chatbots are computer programs designed to provide a realistic conversational experience for humans. Chatbots can process human language (written or spoken) and provide responses of varying complexity. At one extreme are simple text-based chatbots that may only answer simple, one-line questions, such as providing business hours or store locations.

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At the other end of the chatbot spectrum are proprietary virtual assistants, like Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant and Cortana. These chatbots can provide a significantly wider variety of functionality than text-based chatbots can. Each of these chatbots can understand conversational language and are not reliant on text-based input.

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How are chatbots used today?

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Chatbot usage varies greatly based on the complexity of the software and how it is deployed. Chatbots such as Alexa or Siri are used routinely by individuals for a wide variety of routine tasks, such as asking for the weather forecast, creating calendar events, or writing and sending text messages. These types of personal AI chatbots are virtual assistants and are unlikely to be used by businesses beyond employee personal use.

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Simpler AI chatbots, though, are being increasingly deployed by businesses across the e-commerce and online spaces. These chatbots typically appear as window pop-ups in a web browser to ask if a visitor needs help. These simple chatbots are already common: A recent survey found that 22% of micro businesses, 20% of small businesses, 11% of medium-size businesses and 12% of large businesses use these chatbots. Over the coming years, this deployment will significantly increase: 43% of micro businesses, 60% of small businesses, 80% of medium-size businesses and 71% of big businesses are planning to deploy chatbots, the survey found.

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In a business setting, chatbots are widely used to help customers find answers quickly without requiring human intervention. Typically, businesses deploy chatbots to answer common questions or to provide support outside typical business hours.

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According to chatbot and customer service company Tidio, business owners’ top three reasons for using chatbots are to facilitate faster replies to customer messages (26%), offer round-the-clock customer support (20%) and provide automatic replies to repetitive or common questions (18%). Essentially, business owners view chatbots as a means to improve productivity and provide more efficient service to customers.

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How do customers respond to chatbots?

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Customers’ responses to chatbots vary greatly. The reason the customer is interacting with the chatbot in the first place, along with the other means of assistance available, greatly affects their overall opinion of it. For example, Tidio found that 62% of customers would rather use a chatbot than wait 15 minutes or more to speak to a human representative. [Read related article: Small Businesses Provide the Best Customer Service.]

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Similarly, regardless of wait time, customers would rather use a chatbot than speak to a human representative for a range of simple activities. Consider these findings from Tidio:

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• 71% of customers would prefer to use a chatbot to check an order status.
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• 67% would prefer to use a chatbot for help searching for products.
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• 62% would rather use a chatbot to get information and deals.
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A survey from the chatbot company Botco.ai found similar responses within the marketing industry. According to Botco.ai, 70% of survey respondents said chatbots answer all or most questions satisfactorily. According to this survey, customers likewise cited using chatbots most frequently for resolving simple issues. Consider these findings:

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• 18% of respondents used chatbots to find business hours.
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• 17% used them to request product information.
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• 16% used them to find nearby store locations.
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• 16% used them for customer service requests.
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Although chatbots are effective for simple tasks, customers do not like using them for complicated requests. According to a report from Verint, most customers found chatbots ineffective for detailed requests. Here are some more findings from the Verint report:

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• 32% of respondents said chatbots rarely or never understood them, while 28% said chatbots always or often understood them.
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• 30.5% of respondents said chatbots rarely or never fully answered their questions.
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• 54.5% of respondents said they always or often had to speak to a human representative after using a chatbot.
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Are chatbots really AI?

\n

Depending on the complexity of the chatbot, these programs may or may not employ AI technologies. For example, simpler question-answer chatbots do not employ AI. Instead, these chatbots provide certain answers based on preprogrammed rules determined by the software developer.

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More advanced task-orientated, or declarative, chatbots use some amount of natural-language processing (NLP). NLP allows the chatbot to process the input from the customer, as well as to formulate their responses. In this way, NLP is used in combination with preprogrammed rules to create a chatbot that can answer simple questions or conduct simple transactions in a conversational and natural way. These chatbots also can use algorithms to sort through past recorded conversations to arrive at the best answer. These chatbots are the ones most commonly employed by businesses.

\n

The most advanced chatbots are the digital assistants created by large tech companies. These chatbots are data-driven and predictive. In addition to using NLP and preprogrammed rules, these chatbots leverage a wider range of AI-associated technologies, such as machine learning and natural-language understanding technologies, which allow the chatbots to understand human speech, provide recommendations to customers and anticipate user needs.

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What is the future of chatbots?

\n

Chatbot adoption is likely to increase rapidly. Consulting company Mordor Intelligence found that the North American chatbot industry is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 24.6% between 2021 and 2026. During this time, the cost of chatbot adoption is likely to fall as additional companies enter the market. Additionally, the capability of chatbots is likely to increase as NLP and machine learning technologies are further refined.

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The further development and implementation of natural-language understanding also will further expand chatbot use cases and overall adoption rates. Globally, consulting firm Juniper Research predicts that the chatbot industry will be worth $142 billion by 2024. This change will be further influenced by demographic shifts. Tidio found, for example, that Generation Z survey respondents would rather use chatbots than interact with service representatives. Additionally, 56% of Gen Z respondents thought more companies should use chatbots in general. [Read related article: How to Empower Your Customer Service Team.]

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Overall, increased customer demands for chatbots, customer expectations of what chatbots should do, and an overall increase in chatbots’ technological capacity will cause large shifts in this market. Adoption rates are likely to increase significantly, and chatbots will be better equipped to handle a range of human interactions, making them useful beyond predetermined scenarios.

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Chatbot adoption is on the rise, and so is sophistication

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Chatbot adoption increased 426% in April 2020, following the first round of lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further adoption of chatbots by small and midsize businesses is likely to be driven by three factors: lower costs, improved technology and growing demand. Already, though, the chatbot market has undergone a round of normalization, as large numbers of customers and business owners believe chatbots fill certain business needs.

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How far chatbot adoption ultimately goes depends on how much the technology improves. If chatbots offer a seamless customer experience across a range of functions, their continued adoption is almost certain. And, with increasing numbers of chatbot service providers, it seems very likely that more businesses will continue to adopt this technology and that greater numbers of customers will come to expect it.

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Working from home, setting your own hours, being your own boss and earning high commissions – who wouldn’t want to work in direct sales? If you’ve been listening to friends, relatives or social media influencers sing the praises of their newfound careers in direct sales, you’re probably wondering if you should get in on the action.

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On the flip side, though, every few years it seems like there’s a hugely publicized news story about multilevel marketing (MLM) scams and their unwitting victims who thought they were embarking on a new career path.

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If you’re confused and curious about how direct sales careers work, how to tell if a company is legitimate, and how to decide if a career in sales is right for you, check out these FAQs.

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What is the difference between multilevel marketing and a pyramid scheme?

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Multilevel marketing companies are not illegal in the United States, but pyramid schemes are illegal, and many pyramid schemes are MLMs. MLM businesses are also often referred to as affiliate marketing, direct sales, network marketing, independent sales and home-business franchising companies.

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In a legal MLM company, independent salespeople receive stock and sell it to consumers directly, without a storefront. The salespeople in legal MLMs make most of their money based on commission from their own sales as well as the sales of downline associates, or associates they recruited to join the business. In an illegal pyramid-scheme MLM, the primary way the company makes money is through recruiting more salespeople, not by selling a product or service.

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Why are so many MLMs a scam?

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The reason so many MLMs end up being uncovered as illegal pyramid schemes is because it’s very difficult to prove intent in a business’s internal operations. It isn’t illegal to have a failing business where independent sales contractors find themselves unable to move enough merchandise to make money. However, it is illegal to intentionally create a business knowing full well that selling the merchandise will not be the primary source of revenue, relying instead on heavy-handed recruitment and investment money from new sellers to keep things going.

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The legality of multilevel marketing is hotly contested, specifically because the structure makes it so easy for upper-level recruits to exploit their downlines, promising unrealistic sales commissions in exchange for an initial investment in goods (and a bump in their own paychecks). To help differentiate legitimate direct sales companies from those that take advantage of sales associates, the Direct Selling Association was formed. The DSA not only allows companies it deems legitimate to join its organization, but also offers public guides on ethics within the industry and consumer protection resources. Additionally, consumers and employees may file code complaints through the DSA.

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How come it seems like so many people are making money in MLM jobs?

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If lots of direct sales jobs are scams, or simply not worthwhile, why are so many people out there boasting about making a boatload of cash selling everything from leggings with bold prints to household soaps and cleaners? It’s a good question, and there are two main explanations.

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For one thing, even in a pyramid scheme some people make money. The earliest and most prolific salespeople to join the team can bank some cash (before the scam falls apart) by recruiting lots of downline sales associates. People who are good at this have a habit of skipping from MLM to MLM in the early stages (when there’s still money in recruiting) and then jumping ship just before things go belly up. If you are being recruited by someone who has worked at lots of MLM-type companies in the past, that’s a red flag. Additionally, if the real money is made from recruitment and not from sales, of course the associate you’re talking to will say they’re making a ton of cash, even if that’s not true.

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The second way people make money in direct sales is by selling merchandise. However, the way such sales are publicized can be extremely misleading. For example, a sales associate may tell you they sold over $1 million in goods in their first year selling supplements. At first glance, that makes it sound like they made over $1 million, but all it means is that the MLM company valued the goods they sold at $1 million. It doesn’t even necessarily mean the associate’s clients spent that much.

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Plus, the sales associate still had to buy the goods (so subtract that from the total sold), pay their upline manager (subtract that too), pay for storage if necessary (subtract that), and put in the time selling (figure out their hours per week spent doing so, mileage, etc.). All in all, it’s possible to “sell a million dollars” and only make a few thousand bucks for full-time work over the span of months. Additionally, many MLMs don’t quote dollar amounts when boasting about sales, but instead have their own “sales levels” like Silver, Gold or Platinum, making it even harder to discern how much money associates are actually bringing in.

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How can I find a real direct sales job at a legitimate company?

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The Federal Trade Commission offers valuable insight for evaluating direct sales opportunities. If you’re seriously considering an independent sales job, you should follow the guidelines outlined by the FTC, which include looking into the company’s history (such as lawsuits), asking for written details on the compensation structure and individual expenses, and avoiding any company that offers higher compensation for recruitment than for sales.

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Additionally, it is wise to be discerning when it comes to the stock your potential MLM is selling. Many direct sales companies that are scams sell low-quality goods, for which there is not a great demand, at an inflated price. Checking out online customer reviews and researching the social media presence of other local direct sales associates can give you an idea of the quality, desirability and market saturation of a product. If you notice lots of direct sales associates in your area, that may be a red flag.

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MLM scams prey on close-knit communities, because they contain many people who trust each other, as well as a high percentage of unemployed or underemployed adults. So, even if a close friend or relative is recruiting you, don’t take their word for it. Look the company up on the Better Business Bureau website to peruse complaints and pending lawsuits. A simple search can save you and your family thousands of dollars, so don’t skip this step.

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How do I know if I’ll be good at direct sales?

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There’s a simple saying that “sales is sales,” which implies that if you can sell one thing, you can sell anything. With the exception of highly technical or specialty goods that require advanced knowledge, this usually turns out to be true. The best indicator that you can be successful in sales is past success selling. If you are being pitched a high-commission sales job and have no proven sales track record, that’s a massive red flag in an employer.

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In fact, since the world of direct sales is so fraught with fraud, people who are serious about building a legitimate career in sales are likely better off becoming in-house sales representatives rather than independent contractors.

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How is a direct sales job different from other sales jobs?

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In direct sales, you are kind of like a franchisee, but without the support system. You are responsible for buying merchandise (and in some MLMs, you have very little say as to what merchandise you get) and for marketing and selling it. Most direct sales associates leverage social media and IRL family and friends to make sales. If you sell enough, you can make some money, but if you don’t, you are stuck with merchandise you’ve already paid for. Additionally, most MLMs do not offer complete compensation packages, benefits or base pay. Many people who participate in MLMs end up in debt at the end of their sales experience. [Interested in CRM software? Check out our best picks.]

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In a regular sales job, a company hires you to be a salesperson, and your sales may take place over the phone (telemarketing) or in person (traveling or in a store). You are not required to front any money or buy product yourself, and your boss does not take a direct cut of what you sell. In jobs like this, you typically get a base salary or hourly rate, and then a commission on top of that. Many standard sales jobs have targets that employees must hit to maintain employment, and failure to hit those sales numbers can result in termination. However – and this is a key difference – when a regular salesperson is fired for not making enough sales, they don’t leave indebted to the company, or with storage rooms filled with unsold goods; they simply move on. There is no reverberating negative effect of losing a legitimate sales job, other than job loss.

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I want to land a real job in sales. Where should I start?

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If you want to be a salesperson and don’t want to get wrapped up in direct sales, the best option is to find something you know a lot about and try to get a job selling it at the entry level. If you understand financial products, apply at banks. If you know cars, apply at car dealerships. If you know jewelry, apply at jewelers. Anywhere that sells something you understand and offers commission is a great starting point.

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Once you have a proven track record, even if it’s just selling inexpensive used cars at a local lot or basic banking products at a local branch, you can use that as a jumping-off point for scoring higher-commission sales jobs. Learning to utilize social media marketing, online research and customer relationship management systems can also boost your marketability in the legitimate sales world.

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Editor’s note: Looking for CRM software for your business? If you need help choosing the one that’s right for you, use the questionnaire below to have our sister site, BuyerZone, provide you with information from a variety of vendors for free.

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Venmo makes it easy to split a check with a friend or even pay back your roommate for your share of the rent. But Venmo isn’t just a peer-to-peer payment app; it’s a major part of the B2C world as well. In fact, PayPal Holdings Inc., which owns Venmo, has made the platform an acceptable payment method on nearly every mobile site where PayPal is accepted.

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If your small business is looking for an alternative to PayPal, it’s worth examining what Venmo can add to your company. Below, we break down everything you need to know about Venmo, from how it works to frequently asked questions.

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What Venmo is and how it works

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Venmo is a mobile banking app where customers can link a credit or debit card and send money to friends and businesses. Once a payment is complete, it appears on an overall feed and a user’s feed, unless they’ve changed their privacy settings. This allows users to easily track their payments, just as they would with mobile banking apps, and to like and comment on friends’ payments.

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Venmo offers many features for businesses, most notably instant payments and a social presence. But, just like with credit card processing and other online payment processors, there is a fee for merchants: 1.9% plus 10 cents per transaction. [Learn more about credit card processing for small businesses.]

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Venmo’s best business features

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Small business owners are jumping on the Venmo bandwagon for good reason. We interviewed a few entrepreneurs and checked out Venmo’s business features ourselves. Based on our research, here’s the best of what Venmo offers companies.

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Online integration

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Because it integrates easily with e-commerce platforms, Venmo is a great way for online retailers to drive sales. It provides a familiar, easy-to-use payment method that younger customers are already comfortable with.

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“We decided [to use] Venmo … after a few customers asked and told us they were more comfortable using Venmo versus using their card to swipe,” said Raeka Morar, founder of Raeka Beauty. “Venmo is easy, fun and safe. Clients feel protected and comfortable not having to share their credit card [or] debit card data with online stores.”

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Venmo is also ideal for limited sales at a storefront where an expensive POS system isn’t necessary. Tyler Browne, the owner of To the Cloud Vapor Store, said that while Venmo accounts for only about 1% of his store’s sales, it’s a vital tool for in-store purchases.

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“We are primarily an e-commerce store, but our SEO gives us many local customers who will pop up at our office,” he said. “Rather than turn them away or install a pricey POS for a small amount of transitions a month, we just use Venmo.” [Related guide: How to Understand and Use POS Systems]

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Speed

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The biggest draw for both customers and businesses is how quickly users can transfer money to their banks. The business version of Venmo provides instant transfers, allowing companies to receive money and issue payments on the same day.

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Sarah Zurell, former executive vice president of peer-to-peer parking service Pavemint, told us that a lot of Pavemint’s clients use Venmo because it is quick, easy and familiar.

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“Venmo has allowed Pavemint to provide our hosts – those renting parking spaces – a payout option that many of them use already,” Zurell said. “Venmo is also faster than paying hosts via their bank accounts.”

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Venmo’s speed is also advantageous for business owners who need to pay freelancers. Zack Bates, CEO of Private Club Marketing, which has an established network of freelance photographers and videographers around the nation who collaborate on projects to promote private members’ clubs, said that most of these freelancers are millennials who want to be paid as soon as possible, so he transitioned from PayPal to Venmo. [Follow our tips for marketing to millennials.]

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“Venmo offers an instant solution for us to accommodate their requests and get projects turned around fast,” Bates said. “We work on projects all over North America, [and] it makes it so much easier for us to get vendors paid for … To not have to mail checks and cut checks and deal with reordering or ordering those through our banks, it allows us to access a much bigger network of freelancers.”

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Effortless marketing

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When customers complete purchases through Venmo, the sale is visible to their friends’ networks, making them potential ambassadors for your brand. In other words, the feed is essentially free marketing for your company. Unless their settings are private, every time a client pays you on Venmo, all their followers and friends will know they support your business. The Venmo feed creates digital word of mouth, which research has repeatedly shown is the best way to land new customers.

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Connection to customers

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Venmo’s comment and like features give businesses the opportunity to interact with customers. You can break down barriers and encourage clients to interact with your company through the social-style platform.

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“The social media features on Venmo are great,” Morar said. “When we can engage our clients and interact, they feel more comfortable reaching out to us with questions and are more likely to purchase again.”

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Indeed, Venmo’s social features can be a big draw for businesses. Josh Criscoe, former head of communications for Venmo and now senior director of corporate affairs at PayPal, said millions of Venmo users can view the social feed.

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“Accepting Venmo payments allows a merchant to welcome Venmo’s millions of highly engaged users who love sharing their purchase activity on Venmo’s social feed, a powerful recommendation engine to other Venmo users,” he added.

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Security

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Venmo, much like PayPal, is serious about security. While some consumers may be wary of linking their bank accounts to an app, Browne said most of his millennial customers have no problem using it.

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“The ones who use Venmo are younger customers who show up at our door and already have Venmo installed. They love it as we do. We tell older customers about it, and they are very skeptical. None of them download it and do not want their bank account hooked up to an app.”

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But Criscoe said that Venmo is a safe and secure payment method, pointing out that it uses an encryption system to protect users and their sensitive data.

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“As a service of PayPal Inc., Venmo has the benefit of [more than] 20 years of experience in payments security and fraud prevention. Personal and financial data is encrypted and protected on our secure servers to guard against unauthorized transactions.” [Learn more about this security measure in our small business guide to computer encryption.]

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How to set up Venmo

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Venmo with PayPal

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If you already accept PayPal, you have the built-in option to accept Venmo payments on your business’s mobile website (it is available only on mobile sites right now). When you accept Venmo via PayPal, there will not be a Venmo button on your website. Instead, your customers will select “PayPal Checkout” and see the option to “pay with PayPal or pay with Venmo.” Customers can then choose to pay through their Venmo account, and if they do, they will receive a Venmo-branded receipt.

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There is no additional fee if you accept Venmo payments through PayPal, and there isn’t any additional implementation to set it up. You’ll receive the same level of protection for payments you accept via Venmo as for those you accept directly via PayPal.

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Venmo without PayPal

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Venmo, like many other software-as-a-service (SaaS) products, is part of a massive ecosystem of interconnected products and brands. Because of that, Venmo’s setup instructions when you’re not integrating it with PayPal can be confusing at first.

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To accept Venmo payments as a business without PayPal, you first need to get Braintree, another PayPal brand, and start the implementation process through that service. Think of Braintree as the engine and Venmo as the sleek body of the car: Braintree is the one actually processing the transaction, so you can’t accept Venmo without Braintree, much like a car can’t run without its engine.

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Because of this web of products, before you even log in to Venmo to set up a business profile, you will be directed to check the Braintree compatibility list. This list explains customer requirements for the app, merchant requirements, processing fees and testing options, and allows you to view a replica of your Venmo integration before you go live. Once you’ve set it up, you can access Braintree and Venmo through a control panel. As with most other SaaS products, you can create different accounts to access that panel, allowing various employees to monitor and manage customer transactions.

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Ross Mudrick, Sammi Caramela and Matt D’Angelo contributed to the writing and reporting in this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

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New Year’s resolutions provide a great opportunity to brainstorm short-term goals and set your priorities for the year ahead. However, a majority of people don’t keep the resolutions that they set at the beginning of the year. Many will abandon them as early as February or sooner. Keeping your New Year’s resolutions often requires a strategy and a way to hold yourself accountable. Luckily, these apps can help you devise a plan and stick to it.

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New Year’s resolution apps to change your habits

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Most New Year’s resolutions are big goals, such as losing weight or starting a business, but those goals require you to perform lots of little steps every day for a long period of time. Because of that, apps that help you change your small daily habits can be useful for implementing big life changes.

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Habitica

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One of the cutest gamifying habit-tracker apps out there is Habitica. Your 2-bit throwback avatar, which you can design yourself and whose livelihood is affected by your progress toward your goals, makes for a fun app experience. You can level up and unlock rewards and quests by increasing your health, experience and mana points, which you achieve by completing goals consistently. You can create to-do lists, customize goals and connect with other users through a social chat feature.

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stickK

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Designed by behavioral economists from Yale University, stickK allows you to set goals, create a “commitment contract” and apply a monetary incentive. According to literature from the app, the company’s “10+ years of experience show us that you are 300% more likely to achieve your goal if you put money on the line. Add Stakes to your Commitment Contract and you’ll increase your chances of success. If you’re unsuccessful at your goal, you choose where that money goes.”

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The money you pledge can be sent to your friends, charities or what the creators of stickK call “anti-charities,” which are organizations you vehemently oppose, to motivate you. The app makes it easy to connect with others and maintain accountability ― you can designate another user as your referee (with their approval) to help you stick to your goals.

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Fitness apps to help you stay active

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Practically every survey about New Year’s resolutions shows that getting physically fit is a popular goal. Whether you’re looking to gain muscle, lose weight, improve your endurance or increase your serotonin levels and heart health, getting active can make a big difference to your overall health and wellness.

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MyFitnessPal

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One of the most popular calorie-counting apps around, MyFitnessPal, makes it easy to log the food you eat throughout the day. While you can use it to track nutrients or increase your calories, MyFitnessPal was built to help people lose weight, so that’s its best use.

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You can save your current weight and your goal weight to get a recommended calorie count. You can then select foods to add to your log from the app’s massive library, scan barcodes to add packaged foods and create custom recipes for homemade fare that you eat regularly. If you’re more into nutrition than weight loss, you’ll be happy to know that MyFitnessPal also calculates daily vitamins and nutrients, so it’s a good fit for the weight loss and overall health-focused set.

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Fitness Blender

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If your New Year’s plans include getting off the couch and trying new physical activities, Fitness Blender is a great online destination. This free website offers thousands of fitness videos that you can sort easily by body focus, duration, difficulty, equipment and more. There’s also an online Fitness Blender community where you can post about your goals, ask questions, share tips and connect with others.

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Skulpt

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If you’re already an athlete and looking to get to the next level of fitness, check out Skulpt. This innovative handheld device gives you the power to analyze your body fat percentage overall and by body part. If you opt for the $99 bundled plan, you’ll receive a custom-tailored workout plan automatically to address your weakest areas and build more muscle overall.

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Fitbit

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There are lots of wearable fitness bands out there, but Fitbit is the gold standard. Fitbit bands come in various designs and sizes and the Fitbit app is excellent. Through the app, you can track your physical activity and calories burned, log your weight and food eaten and view your trends over time, including sleep trends. If you have a New Year’s resolution buddy who also has a Fitbit, you can engage in physical challenges with them and, if you don’t, the Fitbit forum is a great community to keep you motivated.

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Apps to help you quit smoking or drinking

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Bad habits are tough to kick, but a new decade is the perfect reason to switch things up. The most common vices people want to toss out when the calendar year changes are (unsurprisingly) alcohol and cigarettes and these resources can help you do that. (Note that some of the alcohol-related apps listed here aim at those who want to quit drinking entirely while others are also good for people who would like to reduce the amount of alcohol they consume but not necessarily abstain entirely.)

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AA Meeting Guide

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An official app from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the Meeting Guide app will help you find local AA meetings anywhere in the country. More than 100,000 AA meetings are currently searchable on Meeting Guide. The well-designed app also includes daily reflections in line with the AA recovery ethos of reliance on a higher power, faith and the belief that alcoholism is a self-diagnosed, lifelong disease.

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AlcoTrack

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If you want a pared-down app to track how much you drink and monitor your likely blood alcohol content, AlcoTrack is it. This app is all about stats and information; it’s judgment-free and label-free, making it a good option for those who want to test the sobriety waters, cut down on excessive drinking or just gauge their current behaviors around alcohol.

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Daybreak

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You could say Daybreak is the younger generations’ nonreligious, label-free, diagnosis-free answer to AA. The Daybreak program is for anyone who would like to reexamine their relationship with alcohol for any reason and either cut down on drinking or quit completely. The Daybreak method, which exists outside of the app as well, is effective by Australia’s National Drug Research Institute at Curtin University. The program is funded by the Australian government. The Daybreak app offers resources, community and personalized coaching to users anywhere in the world.

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QuitGuide

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Recommended by Smokefree.gov, QuitGuide is a free, all-in-one smoking cessation app that helps you identify your smoking triggers, track your smoke-free progress, create journal entries and get tips and inspiration for the early stages of quitting smoking.

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EasyQuit

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A friendly and well-designed app to help you quit smoking, EasyQuit uses encouragement and positivity in the form of badges and icons and it’s one of the highest-rated smoking cessation apps out there. There’s a motivational health section that shows how your body begins to repair itself from the time of your last cigarette, a day counter that you can display on your smartphone home screen and a fun memory game to help you through cravings.

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Apps to help you pay off debt and save money

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YNAB and Acorns are both great apps for people who want to get their finances in better shape. Whether you’re looking to pay down debt, create an emergency fund, invest or save up money for a new business venture, these tools help track your progress. Here’s how they differ.

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Acorns

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A great option for investing and saving your money in the new year is the Acorns app. Through this elevated digital banking app, you can invest, earn, grow, spend and save your earnings. The app provides professional insights and financial guidance to those who are new to investing. Not only that, but you can also earn bonus investments from top brands while you shop. Acorns uses your spare change to invest in recommended, diversified investment portfolios of exchange-traded funds that work best for you.

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YNAB

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A popular choice among hardcore personal finance enthusiasts, YNAB (You Need a Budget) not only makes it easier to track your spending, but it also provides a sort of toolkit to help you stop overspending and start planning for the future. The YNAB program covers all the basics on how to budget and prioritize spending and the company offers additional classes on personal finance if you want to dig deeper. YNAB is free for the first month and $6.99 a month after that. According to the site, “On average, new budgeters save $600 by month two and more than $6,000 the first year.”

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Apps to help you start a business

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Yearning to be your own boss and start a business? There’s no time like the new year to put your dreams into action and technology can help. Online communities and apps can help new entrepreneurs find their footing. Here are a few of our favorites.

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LinkedIn

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The LinkedIn app is a no-brainer for aspiring entrepreneurs. It’s not only a great way to connect with other local entrepreneurs, but also a good place to gain visibility for your business. Entrepreneurs use LinkedIn to publish original content, make new connections and showcase their services.

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Coach.me

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This cross-platform system includes a mobile habit tracker (free), one-on-one habit coaching from more than 700 live coaches (starting at $15 a week) and career-focused leadership coaching (starting at $249 a month). Whether you want to start a new business or just change careers, Coach.me can help you get there.

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Apps to help you find inner peace

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Being more at peace and growing your gratitude muscles is a noble goal for the new year and these apps can help you do it.

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Happify

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The Happify app hopes to help people overcome negativity and stress and become more resilient and grateful. This science-based app starts you down the path to happiness by giving you an assessment that assigns you a current “happiness score.” Then, the app uses the information you provided in the test to create a program intended to boost your happiness through games, tools, information and coaching. By helping users gain perspective and focus on the positive, Happify aims to boost their long-term happiness. According to Happify, based on user happiness scores before and after using the app, “86% of frequent users get happier in two months.”

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The Mindfulness App

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With a five-day guided introduction to meditation and dozens of guided and silent meditation sessions (ranging from three minutes to 30 minutes), The Mindfulness App is an excellent fit for veteran meditators as well as those just starting out. The app can send you mindfulness reminders and affirmations and it’s free to use (but there is a paid version available with additional features).

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Apps to help you read more books

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According to multiple surveys over the past five years, reading more is one of the most frequent New Year’s resolutions. In that vein, here are three great tech tools to help you crack open a few classics and get your read on.

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Hoopla

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Do you love audiobooks but hate paying for them? If you are in a participating library district, Hoopla allows you to check out and stream books directly on your mobile device.

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Kindle

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If you don’t have a Kindle already, get one. There’s no easier way to download books and stay on top of all your favorite publications in one convenient place.

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Audible

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Audible is a fantastic app for finding and listening to audiobooks. The selection is huge and the prices are competitive with other audiobook apps. You can try Audible for free for 30 days and subscriptions start at just $14.95 a month.

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Goodreads

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Goodreads is the book lover’s social network. It’s a stellar place to discover books you might like, review books you’ve read and follow friends and celebs to see their book recommendations. This site is especially valuable for New Year’s resolution readers who want to get more into reading but aren’t sure where to start.

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Apps to help you learn a new language

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Learning a new language can help you stay sharp, improve your marketability and be personally rewarding. Here are a few apps that can help teach you new languages in an easily digestible way.

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Duolingo

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Duolingo became so popular that the company created an educational version of the app for classrooms, but this free, fun app is nothing like the language software that was around when you were a kid. It gamifies the learning experience and helps you learn to read, speak and listen at the same time.

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Babbel

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Babbel is a great language app for business learners and frequent travelers because it focuses on conversation. Each lesson is broken up into digestible 10- to 15-minute chunks, making it easy to squeeze in between meetings.

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Get started with your New Year’s resolutions

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It’s never too early — or too late — to start pursuing your New Year’s resolutions. First, you must define your objectives and identify which are most important to you. Then, you can break down each resolution into actionable goals to strive toward. With the help of the above apps, you’ll cover all your bases. Whether you’re prioritizing your finances and wealth, physical health, mental well-being, career or spiritual goals, there is likely tech available to support your progress.

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Sammi Caramela contributed to this article.

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There’s no denying that Macs, and Apple products in general, have an aesthetic that Windows PCs have a hard time matching. This premium appearance, along with the promise of seamless integration with other Apple products, can act as a major lure when you’re purchasing a new computer. However, many users find that high-end Windows PCs can achieve equal or better results than a Mac, depending on their personal or professional needs. 

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If you’re thinking about switching from a Windows computer to a Mac, this guide will answer some of your initial questions so you can make an informed choice and, if you decide to switch, make a seamless transition. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing computers, but having all the facts is imperative to finding the best machine for your business and personal use.

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Before switching from Windows to Mac

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Before making the leap from a Windows PC to a Mac, consider your use cases and why you want to switch operating systems. While businesses and users may have strong reasons for wanting to switch, some users may find that they would be better off upgrading to a higher-end PC. Before taking the dive, consider the following questions to determine if a Mac is right for you.

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Why are Macs more expensive than PCs?

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There is a common misconception that Macs are categorically more expensive than Windows PCs. Yes, Macs are expensive, and there isn’t a lot of variety in terms of build. But basically, Apple doesn’t make low-end or midrange machines, which is why you can’t find a new Mac for $700. However, there are high-end PCs that are just as expensive as most Macs and even more expensive than entry-level Macs, so it’s not entirely fair to say that Macs are always more expensive than PCs.

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Before you switch from Windows to Mac, you should get a realistic idea of what the price difference will be. If you currently use a low-end PC, the price difference will be substantial, but if you use a luxury PC, the difference may be negligible. Businesses can find highly rated budget PCs for around $550, although more powerful and capable PC laptops still typically start at around $1,000, which is comparable to the price point for an entry-level Macbook Air.

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Can I transfer Microsoft Office from a PC to a Mac?

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Yes, you can use the entire Microsoft Office suite on a Mac, and if you have a Microsoft 365 business account, you should be able to transfer your information seamlessly. If you’re not using Microsoft 365, you should reach out to your Microsoft rep (or in-house IT pro) for guidance on switching. [Looking for free alternatives to Microsoft Office? Check out the best free Office suites.]

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Why businesses may switch from Windows to Mac

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Business owners and individuals switch from Windows to Mac for all sorts of reasons. One of the primary reasons businesses may switch to using Mac devices is the rise of remote work. According to a survey from Dimensional Research and Kandji, 56% of IT leaders feel more confident remotely managing Apple devices in a secure and efficient manner, while only 37% of IT leaders feel the same way about Windows devices. The survey found 75% of IT leaders felt Apple devices, while more expensive in upfront costs, were less expensive to maintain in the long run.

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Additionally, 84% of survey recipients said Apple devices were more secure than devices from other vendors. This may be particularly appealing as cyberattacks become an increasingly expensive and common threat to businesses. [Learn more about cyberattacks in our cybersecurity guide.]

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Lastly, individuals who are fully invested in the Apple ecosystem may want to switch to a Mac because of the seamless integration with other Apple devices.

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Can I use all the same programs and apps when I switch from Windows to Mac?

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If you use any software that’s downloaded on your machine’s hard drive (as opposed to software that’s accessed online via the cloud), you should check for compatibility. Mainstream software and software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings are usually compatible with both PCs and Macs, but some niche industry and legacy software runs only on Windows. If you use any software that is highly industry-specific or that you adopted years ago, check its compatibility before you even consider switching to a Mac. [Related article: Industry Software vs. General SaaS Solutions]

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If you use any business apps, you should also make sure those are available on Macs. The best way to do that is by checking the Apple App Store. The App Store works the same way as Google Play or any other app marketplace, so just do a quick search to make sure whatever apps you need are available for Mac. If an app you use isn’t available on Apple devices but you still have compelling reasons to make the switch, do some research for a replacement app.

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How to switch from Windows to Mac

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Once you’ve decided to move from Windows to Mac, you need to organize and prepare for the switch. Follow these steps for a seamless transition:

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1. Anticipate the learning curve.

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The first thing you should do is prepare for the learning curve associated with switching operating systems. If you are transitioning a full staff from PC to Mac, you should begin the process long before you set up your new Macs.

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Flood your employees with reminders about the upcoming change, and make sure you have buy-in from the most important players before you start the transition. You should also assemble an easily digestible packet of resources for employees who are nervous about the upcoming changes and lend extra support to those who are most anxious about the learning curve. It’s also vital to remind your team members that a learning curve is temporary and that once it’s complete, they will find plenty to love about their new Macs.

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2. Transfer data from your old PC to your new Mac.

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Chances are, you have a lot of data on your old machine. Transferring data from a PC to a Mac isn’t complicated, but it does require Windows Migration Assistant. These step-by-step instructions make it simple to move all your files. Once you’ve transferred all your basics, you can get to work downloading the software for your business’s needs.

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3. Save this Mac keyboard shortcut cheat sheet.

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One of the most common complaints PC users have when they switch to Macs is that their favorite keyboard shortcuts don’t work. The good news is, Macs have many of the same keyboard shortcuts as PCs; you just access them differently because of the keyboard setup.

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The following printable chart (it’s a JPEG) is handy to keep nearby when you’re first making the switch.

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Source: Apple

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For a comprehensive list of more advanced Mac keyboard shortcuts, check out Apple’s guide.

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4. Relearn how to “right-click.”

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If you’ve used a Mac keyboard before, you’ve probably noticed some differences in the keys, but the trackpad (or mouse, if you have a desktop machine) is a little different, too. Macs don’t have a right and left button on the mouse or trackpad, but you can still do the equivalent of right-clicking on a Mac. To “right-click” on a Mac, hold down the Command key while clicking the mouse. Or, on a MacBook, tap the trackpad with two fingers instead of one to produce a right-click effect.

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5. Discover Finder.

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Finder is a great way to get to know your new Mac. The Finder icon is accessible from the main desktop dock (the bar of icons at the bottom of the screen), and it looks like this:

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Source: Apple

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You can use Finder to organize your documents, photos and files and to locate things when you misplace them. Within Finder, you can change the view of your files and move items to iCloud Drive or AirDrop.

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To quickly search for something on your computer without opening the Finder app, you can use the Spotlight tool in the upper-right corner of your screen. It looks like this:

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Source: Apple

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All you do is type and search, just as you would with Microsoft’s AI assistant Cortana or an online search engine, but you can delve deeper if you want. Finder has a lot of features most people don’t know about, including the ability to build Boolean searches and save them for future use. In addition to its search tools, you can use Finder to change your view of files and documents, and to access shortcuts to AirDrop and iCloud. For a briefing on everything you can do with Finder, check out Apple’s comprehensive guide. [Compare Cortana vs. Siri vs. Alexa vs. Google Assistant in our AI faceoff.] 

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6. Get to know Mac applications.

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Source: Apple

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All Apple devices come preloaded with a range of Mac productivity applications. Safari is for surfing the web, though you can also download Chrome or another third-party browser.

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Numbers is Apple’s version of Excel, but it’s not as powerful as Microsoft’s spreadsheet software; Excel power users probably won’t be satisfied with Numbers. And don’t even think about doing data analysis or using it in tandem with Python or R. But if you use Excel primarily for basic budgeting and revenue tracking, Numbers should suffice. Pages is Apple’s version of Word, which is totally serviceable, and files can be exported to Word docs or PDFs. Keynote is Apple’s version of PowerPoint, which is clunky at first but a good program overall. [Looking for other PowerPoint replacements? Check out these engaging presentation options.]

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All in all, switching from a PC to a Mac isn’t difficult. It just takes a little time, know-how and patience.

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Jeremy Bender contributed to the writing and research in this article.

"}},{"_index":"wp-index-bnd-prod-content","_type":"content","_id":"1610","_score":2,"_source":{"canonical":"https://vaylees.com/5466-successful-flex-work-program.html","displayModified":"2024-10-30T19:10:44Z","docType":"article","editorsPick":false,"href":"5466-successful-flex-work-program.html","id":"1610","ID":1610,"isSponsored":false,"published":"2019-11-10T18:00:00Z","site":"bnd","stream":"Here are some tips for how small businesses can use work-life-balance policies to remain competitive.","subtitle":"Here are some tips for how small businesses can use work-life-balance policies to remain competitive.","title":"How to Make Flexible Work Policies That Attract Top Talent","author":{"displayName":"Mona Bushnell","email":"mbushnell@business.com","thumbnail":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/18115738/mona-bushnell.png","type":"Senior Writer"},"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Grow Your Business","slug":"grow-your-business"},"sub":{"name":"Your Team","slug":"your-team"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Here are some tips for how small businesses can use work-life balance policies to remain competitive."},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://images.vaylees.com/app/uploads/2022/04/04074629/Freelancer-working-outside_jacoblund_Getty-Images.png","caption":"jacoblund / Getty Images","alt":""},"content":"\n

Small businesses often have a hard time competing against larger businesses when it comes to hiring and retaining talented employees. Fortunately, a flexible work policy is a low-cost way to make your workplace stand out from the competition.

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Work-life balance is a big draw for a majority of today’s workers — 58% of workers surveyed in a Workable survey said flexible work arrangements were a priority for them when looking for a job. Even if small business owners can’t always compete with the salaries of large corporations, they can make their offers more attractive by providing a good work-life balance, because most employees want workplace flexibility.

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Editor’s note: Looking for a time and attendance system for your business? Fill out the questionnaire below to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.

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Flexible work policy ideas

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If you want to start drafting a flexible work policy for your business, check out these five ways to make your workplace more flexible and appealing to employees.

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Telecommuting days

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Remote work isn’t just for tech companies or overseas workers anymore. Giving your regular staff the option to work remotely is a great way to improve morale and compete with other employers. Many companies offer full-time and part-time employees the option to work from home on certain days, which can be instituted company-wide (e.g., everyone has the option to work from home on Fridays) or managed departmentally, with each manager approving their staff’s requests (e.g., different people work remotely on different days).

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Offering telecommuting days around holidays, when many employees are likely to be traveling or spending extra time with family, is also a great idea. Allowing your staff to work remotely several days before and after your winter holiday break or Thanksgiving, for example, will help create a work atmosphere that shows you care about work-life balance as well as productivity, and that makes for happy and loyal workers.

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Flexible work hours: 3 options for workday schedules

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Flexible work hours aren’t feasible for every business, but don’t write off the idea without considering all of the options. Something as simple as giving your staff the choice of three workday schedules can make your company an attractive place to work. For example, many offices allow their staff to choose to work 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. These three options help tie a workplace together with set core hours.

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Flexible work schedules like these don’t need much hands-on management and may require employees to work onsite, which could make these policies more attractive to human resources departments. If you anticipate pushback from your HR division, it might be smart to emphasize that employees will still be in the office 40 hours a week.

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Summer Fridays

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Summer Fridays are a nice way to let your employees know your company cares about work-life balance. If your business’s busiest time is the summer, you could consider adopting Winter Fridays instead. This benefit can take many forms. Here are some common Summer Friday schedules you can consider:

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• Employees do not work on Fridays and do not have to make up the lost time.
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• Employees do not work on Fridays, but they work 10-hour days Monday through Thursday to make up the time (also known as compressed workweeks).
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• Employees leave work one to three hours early on Fridays and are still paid for the full day.
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• Employees work half days on Fridays and can choose to work in the mornings or the afternoons.
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Some employers will also offer a combination of these benefits. Brian Klingensmith, director of human resources at Brunner, explains why his company offers multiple flexible work options.

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“We offer flexible work schedules all year long but do implement half-day summer Fridays as well as a summer and winter break,” said Klingensmith. “By closing the office, we find this encourages employees to take time off. This takes away some of the ‘guilt’ that employees, who don’t often take PTO, may feel.”

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Compressed workweeks

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Some employees jump at the chance of a four-day workweek, even if it means longer hours on working days. The option of compressed workweeks could be a major draw for talented professionals seeking a flexible work experience. There are a few ways to set up your employees to work four days a week, and you can choose how much flexibility you offer your staff.

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One option is for eligible employees to work 10-hour days for four days in a row and then get either Mondays or Fridays off. You could also offer a nine-day cycle in which employees work four nine-hour days (Monday through Thursday), work eight hours on Friday and then get the following Friday off work. This schedule is a little confusing to explain at first, but it’s a great option because it doesn’t necessitate a 10-hour day and has the added advantage of keeping plenty of staff in the office on Fridays (since not everyone will be off every week).

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Part-time staff with telework options

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You don’t have to restrict flexible working hours to full-time staff. In fact, you might be surprised at your company’s ability to attract top talent simply by offering part-time positions, especially if they’re also remote. There is a largely untapped market of seasoned professionals who do not or cannot work full-time in an office but are happy to be productive members of a company for years on end as long as they can do it part-time.

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Some part-time job seekers eschew full-time and onsite jobs because they’re busy raising children, running side businesses or traveling, while others don’t need a full-time salary but want to keep a foot in their industry. People with physical disabilities often seek out part-time remote employment as well. These aren’t all entry-level folks, either; many of these professional part-timers have advanced degrees and decades of experience but lack the ability or desire to work a 40-hour week.

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In addition to being extremely loyal employees (since so many companies do not offer part-time or remote accommodations), workers who are employed for fewer hours don’t cost as much in salaries or benefits. If they work remotely, they don’t even require desks or office space. You might be surprised by the output possible from part-time staff members, and you might be able to afford a higher-caliber employee for part-time hours than you would if you restricted your search to full-timers.

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When it comes to instituting a flexible work policy, small businesses may have an edge over large employers because big organizations often have legacy rules and red tape that make it difficult to institute flexible work policies. Small businesses, on the other hand, may be able to roll out these policies more quickly and easily.

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How to implement a flexible work schedule

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Although small businesses may face fewer obstacles than larger companies when instituting flexible work policies, the implementation still requires careful planning and proper execution. You need to do your due diligence when communicating the new schedule by publicizing clear guidelines, getting buy-in from the right people and anticipating snags.

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When asked about the key to successfully implementing flexible work arrangements,  Stefan Chekanov, co-founder and CEO of Brosix, emphasized the importance of communication and a results-oriented mindset.

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“Setting clear expectations. I always make sure we clearly explain what flexibility looks like for us. It’s also essential to focus on results instead of just the hours people put in,” said Chekanov. “This shift takes a bit of a cultural change—one that prioritizes accountability and discipline.”

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Follow these tips to make sure your new work perks are well received and implemented correctly and work for your company.

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1. Get buy-in early

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Although one of the main goals of offering flexible schedules is to make a workplace more appealing, remember that the implementation means extra work for some people in your company. Seeking early buy-in from your HR department and key managers will help them see the big picture.

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“Getting HR and management on board shouldn’t be difficult,” said Chekanov. “It’s in their best interest to retain talent and keep people happy to be a part of the company. Always emphasize the main benefits of flexible schedules—less time spent commuting, happier employees, and cost savings.”

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Be sure to listen to and note their concerns, and clearly communicate why you want to implement the new policy. Let them know that you appreciate their work and that you’re aware of how such policy rollouts can be challenging.

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2. Train managers far in advance

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Managing a flexible workforce, especially remote teams, isn’t the same as managing a traditional one. Train managers to ask questions, challenge their team and be available through a variety of communication methods. Make sure they schedule regular phone meetings, or face-to-face meetings if possible. For more tips, consult our comprehensive guide for how to manage remote workers.

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3. Devise a trial run

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Before fully committing to a flexible work policy, it’s important to test the waters with a phased approach. A trial run can help identify potential challenges and opportunities for improvement early on.

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“For small businesses considering flexible work policies, our biggest learning has been to implement them in stages,” said Akinola Falomo, co-founder and CEO at PeopleBeam, a performance management platform. “We recommend starting with a tiered system and rolling out the policy over a quarter or two. This allows management time to assess what’s working and what isn’t. While this approach may not be directly applicable to large organizations, it has proven effective for our small organization of 50+ employees.”

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If you are nervous about starting a flexible work program or are facing tremendous resistance, a trial run might do the trick. Before launching a full-scale flexible work program, create a trial program using one department or a small group of employees from different departments. Plan to run the trial for a good length of time — one month or longer — to work out the kinks and gather real data.

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“Try starting with a pilot program,” Chekanov suggested. “Testing things out with a smaller group before enrolling all employees should help managers figure out what works and what doesn’t. Maybe kick things off in just one department for a few weeks and use their feedback to refine your company policy.”

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4. Know that not everyone will be a good flexible worker

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Telecommuting and working flexible schedules require specific traits that not everyone has. But don’t shut down the entire flex work program just because a few people aren’t cut out for it.

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“When it comes to implementation considerations, we’ve learned that flexible work policies are not one-size-fits-all,” Falomo explained. “Our current strategy involves a tiered system where Tier 1 employees enjoy more flexibility, while Tier 2 and Tier 3 have progressively less flexibility. This approach allows us to better manage underperformers and provide full work-from-home benefits to employees requiring minimal supervision.”

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For those who find it hard to work from home, consider other perks you could offer to employees who aren’t a good fit for flex work while continuing to let most employees take advantage of work flexibility.

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“Some people simply enjoy the office setting, and that’s okay,” Chekanov added. “Offering extra resources, like training or improving their home office setups, can really help. If some people continue to have a tough time despite your efforts, think about finding alternative arrangements that better suit their working style. A hybrid approach is probably the best option in this scenario.”

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Embracing flexibility for long-term success

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Implementing flexible work policies is an innovative way for small businesses to attract and retain top talent, despite limited resources compared to larger corporations. Offering remote work, compressed workweeks or customizable schedules provides employees with a better work-life balance, which many may prioritize over higher salaries.

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These flexible arrangements can enhance job satisfaction and productivity, and position small businesses as competitive employers in the evolving workforce landscape. With careful planning, early buy-in and adaptability, small businesses can create a work environment that fosters loyalty, reduces turnover and supports long-term growth.

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Amanda Clark contributed to this article. 

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When you started your business, you were probably preoccupied with cash flow, staffing and growth. At some point, though, investing in business insurance becomes essential. This insurance protects your assets and acts as a safeguard against personal lawsuits.

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Unfortunately, many small businesses think they are protected from lawsuits simply by forming a limited liability company (LLC). While these entities do protect the business owner’s personal assets in the event of a lawsuit, they do not always offer protection in cases of intellectual property law violations and employee lawsuits.

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This guide will answer your preliminary questions about business insurance and help you find the right plan and provider for your company.

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Editor’s note: Looking for the right liability insurance for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.

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Why do businesses need insurance?

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Owning a small business means expecting the unexpected. One day, your business could be thriving, and the next, it could be the victim of a cyberattack from which you must spend tens of thousands of dollars to recover. Or your employee could be injured in a car crash while driving a company vehicle on your behalf. In both cases, your company is on the hook for the costs involved — and without appropriate insurance plans in place, you’ll have to pay these costs out of pocket. [Read more about SMB issues: Report Examines SMB Pandemic Challenges, Tech Trends and Future Planning]

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What types of business insurance are there?

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Small businesses can be insured in many ways, and not every business needs every type of coverage. Here’s a brief rundown of the most common ways business owners insure their companies, though there are other types of plans as well.

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• Business income insurance: A business income insurance plan covers your company if it loses income when physical property damage leads to a decrease in output or a suspension of your standard services. Business income insurance typically does not cover weather damage, as commercial property insurance usually covers this need.
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• Business liability insurance: Ideal for small and midsize businesses, including single-person operations, business liability insurance protects your personal assets in the event you are sued. An LLC alone will not provide this protection.
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• Business owner’s policy: A combination of property and general liability insurance, a business owner policy (BOP) is useful for SMB owners who work in a space they own, such as their primary residence. If you regularly see clients in your home or work out of a home office, a BOP may work for you.
\n
• Commercial property insurance: For small and midsize businesses with a lot of physical assets, commercial property insurance is usually necessary. The cost and structure of a commercial property insurance policy depends on the specifics of your assets. The more property you cover, the higher the cost of the plan, so before you go insurance shopping, do a full inventory of the property your business owns.
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• Contractors professional liability insurance: If you start a business that has to do with construction, building or related services (such as engineering, architecture or subcontracting), you will need some type of professional liability insurance, most likely contractors professional liability insurance. This insurance typically covers errors that can result in a lawsuit as well as liability claims for environmental impact.
\n
• Cyber insurance: If your data is breached and bad actors obtain your customers’ sensitive information such as their credit card numbers, Social Security numbers or HIPAA-protected health records, your company can be held liable. A cyber insurance policy covers the costs associated with this liability.
\n
• Employment practices liability insurance: SMB owners with employees may purchase employment practices liability insurance, which protects them in cases of wrongful employment practices, such as discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
\n
• Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance: Sometimes also called professional liability insurance, E&O insurance covers businesses that provide professional services (often to other businesses), protecting them from claims that their services caused financial distress for their clients. Consultants and financial services professionals usually seek out E&O insurance.
\n
• General liability insurance: A general liability insurance policy protects your company if you are sued for claims involving property damage, personal injuries or advertising injuries. General liability insurance typically does not cover the liabilities covered by cyber insurance.
\n
• Workers’ compensation insurance: A workers’ comp plan can help to cover your employees’ medical bills and lost wages resulting from on-the-job injuries or illnesses. Unlike the other insurance types listed here, workers’ comp is mandatory in every state except Texas.
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\n\n\n \n\n\n

What is the difference between general and professional liability insurance?

\n

Most businesses should buy general liability insurance, whereas professional liability insurance is mostly a concern for consultants and finance professionals. That’s because general liability insurance covers your company in the event of property damage, personal injury or advertising injury claims — all circumstances that any business could experience. Professional liability insurance is more specific, covering your company if a client claims that your services led to financial hardship for them or their clients.

\n\n\n \n\n\n

How do I know what type of business insurance to buy?

\n

The type of insurance you choose should depend on the way you conduct business, the types of products and services you offer, the size and physical setup of your business, and various other factors that are impossible to flesh out in a short article. However, these basic steps should help you find the right type of insurance coverage for your unique small business — we recommend doing all four.

\n

\n
1. Consult a lawyer. The best person to illuminate weaknesses in your business, in terms of liability, is a lawyer who specializes in serving small business owners. A relationship with a lawyer whom you can consult from time to time on issues such as these could be invaluable.
\n
2. Consult an accountant. If you already have a trusted accountant (and if you don’t, perhaps you should), ask their opinion on types of business insurance coverage. They are likely to shy away from offering you direct advice on this, but they may share some types of insurance that small and midsize businesses can invest in to avoid financial ruin from a lawsuit or a natural disaster.
\n
3. Ask a peer or mentor. Local small business owners are your best resource for advice on choices like business insurance or hiring and firing guidelines. If you don’t already have small business connections in your area, network more, starting with your local chamber of commerce.
\n
4. Dive into the research. In addition to asking the advice of others, do exactly what you’re doing now: research. Read about the types of plans that best apply to your business, and draw your own conclusions.
\n

\n\n\n \n\n\n

How much does insurance cost for small businesses?

\n

No two small businesses will spend the same amount of money on insurance. Costs depend on company size and especially industry, as certain insurable events are far more likely in some sectors than others. Despite these variables, small business insurance provider Insureon lays out some average monthly costs for a useful reference point:

\n

\n
• General liability insurance: $42 per month
\n
• BOP plans: $57 per month
\n
• Workers’ comp: $45 per month
\n

\n

These average numbers add up to $144 per month. As you add more insurance policies, your monthly costs may reach into the higher hundreds or perhaps low thousands of dollars.

\n

How should I choose an insurance provider?

\n

Once you know the types of business insurance you plan to purchase, you can get quotes for price comparison and choose a provider from those. If you already have a preference, it’s fine to continue doing business with the same institution you use for other products, but we recommend getting at least three quotes as a best practice.

\n

Comparison shopping can pay off in the form of better coverage as well as lower rates. It’s also not a bad idea to let the reps you’re talking to know that you’re shopping around. Plus, during the sales process, you can vet each company by paying close attention to not only their prices but also their general level of customer service.

\n

The right insurance protects you against the wrong outcomes

\n

Although the vast majority of your business activities will lead to great outcomes, things can occasionally go wrong. Rarely, they’ll go very wrong — and just one of these moments can expose you to tremendous liability. Business insurance is worth obtaining to minimize or eliminate your financial obligations in these stressful times.

\n

Editor’s note: The contents of this article do not offer legal, business or insurance advice related to the needs of any specific business. Please consult your attorney and/or small business insurer to discuss your situation and coverage.

\n

Max Freedman contributed to this article.

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