Tips to Help Improve the Employee Review Process

At Corporate Business Solutions , we have the expertise to help your small to medium – size business access the knowledge that is often needed to achieve success.  

In order to maintain a positive workplace, we recognize that employees must be cohesive while working towards similar goals. One way that business owners can help streamline this is to implement and / or improve upon their employee reviews and make them into an effective communication, goal setting and development tool for their workforce.  

Here are five tips that business owners can use to help improve their employee review process:

1. Use the review document at least quarterly to assess employee progress. The review document is a useful discussion starter since it provides a running record of employee performance discussions all year. It also offers a picture of the employee's accomplishments and progress throughout the year.​
2. Provide feedback to employees regularly - not just in the annual review.  Employees like regular feedback and effective business owners take time every day for employee feedback. 
3. Engage the employees in a two-way discussion whenever their performance is the topic. You can improve the review process by involving the employee in the discussion all year long. Then the official review is just an extension of the normal performance discussion.
4. Improve reviews by using an employee self-appraisal prior to the review. This way, you can also see the employee’s feedback on their progress and struggles. 
5. Set goals in a way that reinforces the employee's ability to plan and implement the steps necessary to reach the goal. The review must support and strengthen the employee's empowerment, his or her ability to chart the course to successful accomplishments. 

To learn more about us and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the business experts at Corporate Business Solutions, call us at 877-357-9366.

Determining a Fitting Charity to Partner With

The business experts at Corporate Business Solutions know firsthand that small businesses looking to be philanthropic have many options today. Our business experts can help business owners navigate the world of charity. 

If your business is looking to establish a new corporate giving program, we have some tips that may help you determine a fitting charity to partner with:

1. Research charities: 

• Identify what factors are important to you and your business, such as the environment, education, animal welfare, children, etc. 
• Decide if you want to partner with a charity that does work in a specific area, including your neighborhood, region, the nation or internationally.
• Determine if you want to support a large or small charity, a new or an old one.
• Review the mission. Are their goals in line with the goals of your philanthropic endeavors?

1. Evaluate your list of charities:

• Check a charity's legitimacy. Does the IRS recognize the organization as tax exempt? If the organization is faith-based, you can ask to see its official listing in a directory for its denomination.
• Obtain the facts. A reputable organization will define its mission and programs clearly, have measurable goals and use concrete criteria to describe its achievements.
• Be sure to compare charities that do the same kind of work, especially if you're looking at their finances. The type of work a charity does can affect its operating costs dramatically.
• Avoid charities that won't share information or pressure you. Reputable nonprofits will discuss their programs and finances and are willing to send you literature about their work or direct you to a Website.

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the experts at Corporate Business Solutions, call us at 877-357-9366.

Note-taking Apps for Small Businesses

The business professionals at Corporate Business Solutions are renowned for solving the complex and unique business challenges our clients are experiencing in the multifaceted business world.  We are committed to bringing the positive change that your business needs to have sustainable growth and profits.  

We review and analyze your business so we can create protocols to improve functionality. Our experts will help your staff become more productive and efficient.  Often, we help employees integrate apps into the workplace. 

With the right program, a smartphone or tablet can be multifunctional.  Many entrepreneurs especially appreciate note-taking apps. Digital notes have many advantages over the traditional pen-and-paper counterparts, including eliminating loss and adding convenience.

If you’re considering adding a note-taking app into your workplace, here are three free options:

• Papyrus is a multiplatform app designed to let you jot down notes and sketch out ideas on your mobile device using a stylus or your fingertip. The notes engine lets you cut, copy and paste items between pages, and features touch gestures so you can zoom and pan around your notes easily. Once you're finished, you can sort your notes by category, and export them to share with colleagues, co-workers or employees. For iOS, Android and Windows Phone.
• Evernote lets you dictate or manually enter notes, snap photos, create to-do-lists and more. The app features text identification, which can recognize and index printed — and even handwritten — text. That means you can search for specific words, whether they're in a PDF, a typed memo or a photographed note scrawled on a scrap of paper. Evernote is available for a wide range of platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Mac and PC, so you can access your notes on any machine and stay organized. 
• Simplenote prides itself on being a simple app. It excludes most of the extras that you’ll find in apps like Evernote , but the tradeoff is that it’s a lot easier to use. You can quickly create new notes and add bullet points. It also allows you to search through your notes with keywords.  Compatible with iOS and Android.

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the experts at Corporate Business Solutions, call us at 877-357-9366.

Marketing Ideas for Entrepreneurs

The business professionals at Corporate Business Solutions are renowned for solving the complex and unique business challenges our clients are experiencing in the multifaceted business world.  We are committed to bringing the positive change that your business needs to have sustainable growth and profits.  

As a small business, you may think it's impossible to get the word out about what you do. That's no excuse. And you don't need fads or gimmicks. Follow the proven, timeless tips and techniques to help get the word out about your business and watch it grow.

• Attend Networking Events – Small business owners should research relevant organizations and then attend and present at events in town. Your contribution to the overall community makes you relevant.
• Volunteer to Lead an Organization - The secret to getting the most out of a group or organization is not just to attend but to lead. Become an authority and people will automatically associate your name with success.  
• Start a Podcast – Launch a podcast and interview other business owners.  People love to tell their story, and by highlighting them on a podcast you make an instant and meaningful connection. It's also a great way to get an education on a topic you are interested in.
• Send a Weekly E-mail - If you want to stay in relationship with your customers, there is nothing simpler than creating a weekly e-mail that provides something of value. 
• Support a Cause- Successful philanthropic endeavors are built steadily over time. The impact comes not just from which organizations receive funding but also the development of positive, lasting relationships between companies and their communities.
• Create a Cool Giveaway- When determining what your company will give away, make sure it's something valuable that won’t be thrown out or lost!

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the experts at Corporate Business Solutions, call us at 877-357-9366.

Negotiating a Business Lease

Whether it’s an office lease, sales terms or a contract, negotiating is part of every small business owner’s life. But unless your former work experience required you to engage in negotiations, you may not feel overly confident in your negotiating skills.  Business owners can turn to the experts at 

Corporate Business Solutions for help with this daunting task. 

Our mission is to deliver amazing outcomes for clients based on professionally set expectations.  This means we solve the complex and unique business challenges our clients are experiencing in the multifaceted business world, including negotiating a business lease. 

If you’re considering negotiating your business lease soon, here are tips to help you improve your negotiating skills:

1. Perform due diligence. Know the average cost of the type of commercial space you’re seeking—retail, office or industrial. A commercial real estate broker can show you historical data for the region, and you can research prices online. 

2. Define your needs. Consider location, space, infrastructure, parking, storage, etc. Create a checklist of your needs and wants, specifying which are optional and which are essential.

3. Obtain professional help. Real estate brokers work for landlords and receive commission on the lease’s value, so while they can offer a lot of useful information, it’s also important to consult an unbiased professional experienced in commercial real estate.

4. Understand the law. Make sure you clearly define what uses the property is permitted for and that there are no zoning regulations or laws that could adversely affect your business.

5. Put it in Writing. Before viewing properties, make a list of questions to ask the broker and landlord. Never negotiate based on a verbal offer. Get terms in writing and have your attorney review them. Commercial landlords generally expect you to make a written counter-offer, too.

6. Discuss potential developments. If you need to remodel the property to suit your business, be sure you know what improvements can be made to the space, who will pay for them, who will oversee the work, and whether you’re expected to restore the space to its original state if you move.

7. Ask about subleasing. Getting the rights to sublease part or all of your space to another tenant protects you from breaking the lease if you must move unexpectedly. It also helps you cover costs if you’re leasing more space than you currently need in anticipation of growth.

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the business consultants at Corporate Business Solutions, call us at 877-357-9366.

Business Trends in 2016

The experts at Corporate Business Solutions  understand that the business marketplace today is quickly evolving. This is why we offer custom solutions, developed onsite, for small to medium-size businesses.  We are committed to bringing the positive change that your business needs to have sustainable growth and profits.  This often means building relationships with customers, adding technological avenues and getting products quickly to market. 

When you’re ready to take the next step to grow your business, we are ready to be your trusted partners. In the meantime, here are 5 business trends we are seeing in 2016. 

1. Creative Financing –Financing trends are continuing to expand in 2016.  While some entrepreneurs are again looking for traditional loans from banks and credit unions,  many modern business men and women are looking for more creative ways, such as crowdfunding, angel investors and venture capitalist. 
2. Mobile Marketing – Mobile visitors will continue to have a huge impact on franchises, so smart franchisees are optimizing their websites for mobile devices. With the increase in smartphone and tablet usage, it is imperative that your business’s website can be easily seen via a smartphone’s browser. 
3. Online Retargeting - You may have noticed ads online that show products you recently searched for. Retargeting is the practice of displaying ads on popular websites, like Google and Facebook, to people who have already visited your website. Marketing that relates to what a customer is interested in is always more effective, and retargeting is taking the place of older online marketing practices like email newsletters.  
4. Multigenerational Partnerships – The trend of pairing baby boomers with younger millennials is leading to many successful partnerships within business.  The fresh, passionate and technological savvy millennial who is eager to completely ditch the corporate ladder is often the perfect counterpart to the baby boomer who wants to be their own boss and has the experience and financial stability to manage a business. 
5. International Selections - The internet has assisted in opening up a new global market. Consumers, especially located in developing markets, often see international brands as symbols of superior quality and status, unlike the more common, local domestic brands. International companies are utilizing this status and starting new companies abroad.  

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the business experts at Corporate Business Solutions, call us at 877-357-9366.

The Strategy of Social Giving

In our modern marketplace, many corporations are turning to corporate philanthropy to increase corporate social responsibility, attract top talent and increase their loyal customer base.  Although philanthropy is a critical and age-old tradition, it can also be a confusing practice.  It’s no surprise that entrepreneurs can turn to the professionals at Corporate Business Solutions for help in establishing corporate giving. 

Adding charitable work is very valuable if done properly. If you are a business owner who is considering  integrating philanthropy into your business, it is crucial that you understand the potential negative side effects of doing so without a strategy. 

1. Budding social butterflies – Often, a company's leadership ends up becoming overly focused on the social side of philanthropy and consequently can lose track of the business platform.
2. Direct donations can hinder company goals – Charity through pure monetary donations can make it difficult for a business to actually reach its goal of change. A donation to a nonprofit agency may put control of the funds beyond the reach of the business. There is no guarantee that the agency will improve the community or offer any of the benefits that the business can gain from philanthropy.
3. Time, cost and decisions - If a business decides to take a longer route and invest money in the community itself, then there are other disadvantages. The business must form a team and decide how much money to give and where it should be given to produce the most impact. Decisions affect not only the length of the project, but also any marketing that goes along with it. In the end, the company must be prepared to spend time, money and human resources on a project.

To learn more and / or to schedule your complimentary appointment with the business experts at Corporate Business Solutions, call us at 877-357-9366.