November 2016

28- Nov2016
Posted By: Terrance
1754 Views

3 Tips for Buying Used Restaurant Equipment

If you are a restaurant owner who is looking to cut costs while buying the equipment that your business needs, you might be thinking about buying used kitchen equipment. This can be a good option for any restaurant owner, but there are a few tips that you will want to keep in mind. These are a few helpful tips that can help you get the best results when buying used commercial kitchen equipment.

1. Look for Modern Used Equipment

First of all, even though you might be able to find cheaper prices by buying older used equipment, you should know that there are some perks to buying newer models of the various types of equipment that you need. Many restaurants end up selling newer used equipment because they either update or go out of business, so it’s not a lost cause. By looking for newer equipment, even though you might spend a little more money on it, you’ll be able to enjoy the better safety features and other features that you might not find with older equipment. Plus, newer equipment is often certified and is up to code, so you won’t have to worry as much about issues with local inspectors saying that the equipment is outdated and unsafe.

2. Choose Gas Over Electric

Whenever possible, it’s a good idea to look for gas equipment rather than electric equipment, especially when you are buying used equipment. For one thing, many people find that gas-powered equipment is more eco-friendly and more affordable to operate. However, there is another reason why this is the best choice when you are buying your equipment used. Basically, gas equipment has less complicated parts than electric equipment, in general. This means that there is less of a chance that the equipment will malfunction after you purchase it. Since this can be a big concern when you are buying used equipment, it is something to pay attention to.

3. Test it Out

It is never a good idea to buy commercial kitchen equipment without trying it out. This is not always an option, but if you are buying equipment that you can’t try out, you will generally only want to do so if you are buying it from a dealer that you can trust or if there is at least a short-term warranty attached.

As you can see, there are a few things that you should keep in mind when buying used equipment for your restaurant. By looking at these three things, you can help ensure that you score great deals on equipment without buying commercial kitchen items that you will not be happy with. Find more information at Silver Chef Canada and learn from the available resources.

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25- Nov2016
Posted By: Terrance
2372 Views

Should New Entrepreneurs Wait Before Obtaining Small Business Insurance

New entrepreneurs are usually working with a tight budget. Since they are just getting their business of the ground, they may only have enough funds to buy tools, supplies, and promotional materials. With no established client base, it would be difficult for them to pay a small business insurance premium each month. For this reason, most would rather operate without insurance until they get more customers and a loyal following.

This seems logical, but what would happen if an incident occurs while the entrepreneur is in the process of building their business? Legal matters and accidents can occur at any time, whether you are selling a product or offering a service. Anyone with just cause can file a claim for any reason, and the matter doesn’t even need to be that serious. The cost to fight this claim is usually far more expensive than obtaining insurance for small business.

Business Liability Insurance for New Entrepreneurs

If a business owner sells someone a faulty product, or gave someone bad service, the person has the right to file a complaint and/or a lawsuit. This doesn’t necessarily mean the person is going to win, but it still costs money and time to appear in court and present a defense. If the matter is not serious, the entrepreneur may be able to afford the cost with no problem. However, if a lawyer is necessary, the entrepreneur may have a hard time paying them if their business is still generating capital slowly.

Liability insurance may seem like an unnecessary expense, especially when you are new to business. Unfortunately, an incident can occur at any time, whether you’ve been in business for 6 months or 10 years. The small monthly cost of obtaining liability insurance can save you thousands in the long term. The protection you will receive will cover accidents, negligence, errors, and claims (false or warranted).

Health Insurance for New Entrepreneurs

New entrepreneurs may have the longest working hours of any individual. They are usually up pretty early and they will work well into the night if they need to complete a task. This lifestyle can be hard on the body and mind, and it can cause health problems over time as well. Even if the person is in good health, it would still be a good for them to obtain health insurance in case of an emergency. When a person is working this hard, they are usually not aware of the issues that may be going on in their body.

Insurance Quotes for New Entrepreneurs

Small businesses started by new entrepreneurs may only have one to five employees. Insurance quotes for new businesses with few employees are generally affordable. If you are a new entrepreneur, you will need to obtain insurance quotes from several companies to get an idea of what you should be paying. This will allow you to make an informed decision so you can protect yourself as your new business grows. You can always learn more at the TruShield Insurance website.

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21- Nov2016
Posted By: Terrance
2591 Views

How to Make Your Start-Up Fund Itself

If you want to open a small business but lack the necessary funding, you should know that there may be ways to make these efforts fund themselves. The Internet is a dynamic and incredibly powerful medium. It has created countless opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to finance their projects without having to saddle themselves with debt or compromise their visions.

 

Start The Brand-Building Process Early and Monetize Your Content

 

One of the best ways to create a self-funding start-up is by advertising your brand and your business, long before you’ve even opened your proverbial doors. This will give you the chance to generate excitement about the service or products that you’ll soon be offering while giving you plenty of opportunities to establish yourself as an industry authority. You can do this by writing articles or blog posts that answer common questions and that help consumers better-define their purchasing goals and needs. When you do have sufficient funds for kicking your small business operations into high-gear, you will have already created market awareness and trust. Best of all, each of your posts can be monetized with in-content links or links that surround your content, and that lead to third-party websites. Any time one of your readers uses these links to complete an off-site transaction, you’ll be generating a modest amount of revenue. These monies can be saved up and later used to implement more aggressive marketing campaigns.

 

Use Video Hosting Sites to Generate Revenue

 

Video content can be far more valuable than written content when it comes to funding a start-up. That’s because web users can watch videos while on the go much more easily than they can read through lengthy, heartfelt essays on any subject. Create a channel on a popular video hosting platform and then use this to talk about your niche. Your content can be purely creative or wholly informational. The more engaging it is; the more viewers it will attract. Advertisers will pay you top dollar to air their ads just ahead of your most popular posts. You can use video descriptions to share links to your company website. You can also use some or all of the revenue from your video campaigns to fund your business.

 

Get Paid by Targeting a Specialty Niche

 

There are countless grants for small businesses that are awarded based upon the relevance of the targeted niche and the demand for the services or products supplied. There is also a lot of needs-based funding that company owners can appeal to as well. The key to making optimal use of this funding is to target a niche that is heavily supported by grant monies. For instance, significant increases in demand for senior health care services have prompted a number of government agencies, private companies and private consumers to offer grants for small businesses that intend to service this niche. Grant monies are rarely unlimited and they’re usually issued on a first-come, first-served basis. As such, it makes sense for company owners to target areas of industry that are currently the best-funded in this respect.

 

Insufficient funding should never be sufficient cause for failing to pursue your dreams. Savvy entrepreneurs can get their ideas off the ground with limited out-of-pocket spending. Best of all, they can even use funding strategies that match or even outperform the earning abilities of their small businesses. For additional resources, you may be able to learn more at the Ontario Centres of Excellence website.

18- Nov2016
Posted By: Terrance
2898 Views

Essentials of IT Management Software in Running Your Business

To many businesses, the Information Technology department is an expense. Due to the high costs involved in purchase and installation of infrastructure as well payment to staff and other processes, it is easy to think of IT as a necessary evil. However, the introduction of IT management software seeks to dispute the notion, instead insisting on the need for IT to be operated as a business.

IT management involves the use of different software aimed at enabling enterprises manage their IT assets and portfolio, improve efficiency and security and gain control over IT processes. In addition, the software helps businesses manage their spending on IT and other related resources in line with their priorities. Since todays data centers are complex and multi-layered, you need to utilize an IT monitoring platform from which you can manage your IT services with ease and high efficiency.Remote IT Management

Whether your business is small or large with branches in different locations, you can still use IT management software to ensure that your IT department runs smoothly and gives you its worth. Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) software is one of the best ways of troubleshooting and solving any issues with IT devices and servers located in remote places. It enables managed services to simultaneously monitor the IT functions of multiple clients while saving on the costs of labor and travelling.

How It Works

Managed Services Providers (MSPs) install a software, usually known as an agent, on the clients endpoints including servers and mobile devices. The agent then relays information about the functionality and status of the IT machines back to the MSP. Through this automated reporting, the MSP is able to provide the necessary services to the client. There is no need to travel to the client’s location since everything, including automated maintenance and automated setup, can be done from any location or distance.

The Cost

Most MSPs base the pricing of their RMM services on flat rates which their clients pay every month. Some of the factors put into consideration when pricing is the number of devices and the nature of needed services. The MSP may also offer you additional services of your choice at a la carte pricing. Keep in mind that you will be charged according to the number of devices to be monitored or the number of the device users in your business establishment.

Conclusion

The latest IT management software, which includes RMM, is one of the best initiatives in handling all IT operations of small and medium sized businesses. Apart from greatly reducing the cost of keeping their IT departments in top form, businesses can raise their profit margin and thereby earn loyalty from customers as a result of uninterrupted services. Moreover, businesses can always acquire top talent, improve retention rates of employees and increase their productivity through automated onboarding which can be paid as an additional service provided by MSPs.

17- Nov2016
Posted By: Terrance
1012 Views

Deli-Style Trends Expected to Last

Unfortunately, lunch meat and the delicatessen that sells them receives a fairly bad reputation. People rarely correlate a deli with a cutting edge trend, usually because they are unaware of what these establishments really have to offer. Rather than pulling a number and waiting in line to receive the same, dull bologna, consider the fads sweeping the industry and the field of catering services in general for a more riveting approach to eating.

Expanded Flavor OptionsMost are able to understand why delis receive a fairly dull reputation because they are often affiliated with simple options. However and in recent years, these establishments have expanded their flavors to be more international, exciting, and perfect for a multitude of occasions. A professional caterer understands the need to incorporate tastes like Daniele Bresaola, which is beef that has been cured for three months, and Mortadella Pistachio, an Italian bologna filled with chunks of fat and fresh pistachios, into their business.

Upscale Sides and Soups

Typical potato salad and tomato soup are hard to come by in delicatessens nowadays; more intricate sides, including fresh chowders, robust pasta salads, twice baked potatoes, house salads with crisp vegetables, and even homemade potato chips are what’s trending today. These classy sides make it possible for catering services to provide solid meals for a vast array of events opposed to small luncheons.

A Focus on Desserts

Granted, desserts are always popular, but when it comes to delis, these sweet treats are rarely mentioned, a reality that makes the process of hiring professionals more difficult. Because of this, a current fad is to play dessert up by incorporating new ones into the overall menu of the establishment. Instead of a typical deli-style cheesecake, the industry is baking cookies, cakes, brownies, homemade ice cream, fried sweets, and even international favorites such as crepes, macaroons, and cannolis.

Smaller, but Filling

Surely there is an emphasis on eating healthy, specifically when the topic of portion control is presented. Though these services are known for crafting rich foods, an understanding on monitoring the portions is being used. Balanced meals are presented, which is excellent when wanting to sample multiple menu items without feeling any of the guilt. This concept greatly coincides with the smaller plate trend that has been heavily appreciated in the industry for years as well. Lesser portions are ideal for events that encourage dancing or any other physical activity, too. You can learn more by visiting Greensville Gourmet.

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16- Nov2016
Posted By: Terrance
2441 Views

What the Future Holds For Mapping in Indoor Navigation

Trust technological innovators to come up with something that is out of this world and immediately transform a bitter struggle into a walk in the park. Several years ago, you had to rely on the goodwill of strangers to find your way through unfamiliar territories. Thanks to whatever guiding spirit that inspired the invention of Global Positioning System (GPS), you can sit back and enjoy your ride, unsure of your route but confident of your destination. Unfortunately, traditional GPS is hardly efficient in indoor navigation and the innovators had to go back to the drawing board and come up with GPS for indoors.

 

The Setting in of Indoor Mapping

In the recent past, indoor maps were simply floor plans that served as the only means for people to find their way in buildings such as shopping malls and stores. However, the introduction of indoor radio maps ushered in a new era in indoor localization marked by the use of smartphones to navigate through the indoor environment and view floor plans. Thus, it is now easy to find a product in a large store full of various different goods. This not only saves the customers’ time but also leaves them more satisfied and increases the possibility of the customers’ returns for more.

 

Challenges of Indoor Mapping

Like outdoor GPS, indoor localization has been on the lips of many positioning enthusiasts. Nevertheless, radio fingerprint mapping has been hounded by several challenges including lack of ease of use and consumption of too much time. Keep in mind that the indoor mapping process involves the measuring of WiFi signals at different points in the building in question for the purpose of accuracy in navigation and positioning. This is different from visual orientation floor maps. However, the two can easily be combined for maximum benefit of indoor navigation and well-designed maps.

 

The Future of Indoor Mapping

Only a few years ago, you had to make data recordings in just a few meters interval. In addition, you would need to move between the various points in the building, a tiresome and time-consuming affair, especially if you are taking the measurements of a very large building. With the invention of latest technology, there is a sure hope for elimination of most of the challenges including the cumbersome manual work with a tremendous reduction of the time taken in the mapping process while improving the quality of the results. In place of spending long hours walking through the building, all you will need is a predefined route along which you walk at a uniform pace while recording the ground truths only when there is change of direction.

 

Conclusion

Nothing is permanent in the world of technology. There is always someone working round the clock in an effort to come up with new improvements even when it seems the available technology is the best that can be hoped for. Like in every industry that relies on technology, there have been great improvements in all aspects of indoor navigation with a promise for even more.