Q. Is it possible for companies to offer fringe benefits to some employees and not others? For example, can they give certain benefits to key executives and sales leaders and not to the rest of the company? Fringe Benefit Programs Generally speaking, it is possible for certain fringe benefit programs to vary by employee category—executive/non…

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Pricing_Increase

Question: I’d like to re-evaluate my pricing schedule, but I am not sure how much to increase my prices. Where can I get a start on understanding the pricing game? Competitive prices are critical in order to maintain customers and market share; however, you still need to maintain adequate profit margins and profitability. We do…

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Cold_Calling_Techniques

Question: What is business etiquette concerning cold calling and how often to follow-up with a prospect if they do not give you a time? How should you toe the line between checking in and being annoying? Cold calling can involve phone calls to set appointments or cold call visits to prospects to have a sales…

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Q: How much should I budget for my marketing costs? General Marketing Expense Ratios For established businesses, the general guideline for a marketing budget is a percentage of sales. However, for a startup business with no sales history, the considerations are: What marketing methods are identified in a business plan? What marketing methods will be…

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Q: How does a person go about getting considered to serve on a corporate board, or as an advisor to other corporate boards? The approach, qualifications, and other considerations for getting a board of directors, or advisory committee, seat vary somewhat based on the type of corporation—nonprofit, privately-owned, or publicly owned. Having contacts and relationships…

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Q: I’m looking to start a new mobile auto detailing business. My biggest concern is protecting my business, particularly from employee theft. What can I do in my hiring procedures? Effective hiring procedures are important for every employer; however, since you will have employees taking company assets off premise, handling customer cash payments, working on…

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