Post office tips to help a home business

Starting a home-based business can be tough. Most entrepreneurs need all the help they can get. That's why it is so important to develop a network of resources throughout your local community. Places like the post office, library, and civic or social organizations can provide great opportunities to get the word out about your products or service.

What can a post office do to help you grow your business? Here are a few helpful tips:

1. The federal post office represents one of the oldest and most reliable forms of communication in our country's history. Billions of pieces of mail are processed each year, although this number has declined slightly recently due to the rise of electronic communication via the Internet. Still, the postmaster general does a brisk business through the numerous branch offices that are open in thousands of communities around the nation. Stop in to take a look at the signage listing the many ways in which you can mail letters or packages.

2. Ask about special services that might benefit your company. For example, depending on the type of business you operate, you may be eligible for non-profit postage for mail. In addition, you need to find out the difference in price and service between bulk rate and priority mail, as well as everything in between. Your company may need a less expensive postal rate than the one you have been using. Learn more about the options, especially for mass mailings and packages that may help to cut costs.

3. Find out about special services. There may be times when you will need to send a letter by certified or registered mail. Ask what these mean and whether they are recommended for the mailing you have in mind. Overnight and express options are more services to inquire about. You can also buy postage that supports or promotes an array of causes, such as the stamp for breast cancer research.

4. Shop for supplemental supplies. Some post offices offer stationery, toys, and other promotional items that feature postal designs. You also can sometimes purchase boxes, cartons, padded envelopes, masking tape, and related supplies for sending packages or special orders. Ask about the availability of such items and if they are not there yet, find out if some might be ordered or kept in stock for customers.

5. Request a post office box for your business. These come in different sizes and cost a relatively small amount each year. You can protect your personal home privacy if you are working from your house or property when you get a post office box. The key to your box will allow you to access mail at times when the post office service window is closed, as long as the building is still open.

There may be additional services you can take advantage of as well. Stop in to see what is available. Introduce yourself and explain your company's business. Perhaps the staff can offer some helpful solutions to your mailing problems or goals.

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Office tips: how to prevent employee theft

Employee theft can be a problem in a small business or a major corporation. It’s a subject we’re uncomfortable to discuss because we don’t want to think of our fellow co-workers as thieves—and most aren’t. Only a small percentage of our workforce believes it’s ok to take what doesn’t belong to them. But it’s the presence of these unscrupulous individuals that force companies and employees to use various means to protect their property in the workplace.

Personal Security Measures

Employees must take responsibility for protecting their personal property. Here are some suggestions:

* Keep your purse or wallet with you at all times, if possible. Otherwise, lock them up at your desk. And make sure you have the only key.

* Secure all personal items when you leave your area. If you have an office, lock your door when you step away.

* Unattended coats and jackets are fair game for dishonest co-workers. Before placing outerwear in closets, or on coat racks, remove cash and other valuables from the pockets.

Departmental Security Measures

Many departments are located in areas with little security. This is ideal for thieves. Here’s how to stop them:

* Challenge strangers loitering in your area and ask to see identification. If they refuse, call security.

* Make sure there’s staff around to challenge strangers wandering into your area, especially during meetings and lunchtime.

* Some departments allow employees to have direct access to office supplies. This may be convenient, but certain workers will take advantage and steal supplies to use at home. Therefore, choose only a few individuals to be responsible for distributing office supplies to their co-workers, and have them maintain accurate inventory records.

Organizational Security Measures

Companies should have certain measures in place to combat employee theft. Here are some effective ones:

* Document the company’s policy on security and communicate it to all employees. As a deterrent, each worker should know the penalties involved with committing employee theft.

* Issue identification badges to all employees, contractors, and visitors, and require everyone to wear their ID while in the workplace.

* Conduct extensive screening and background checks on all employees and contractors.

* Install security cameras throughout the workplace.

* Create a security awareness program that teaches workers how to prevent employee theft.

* Appoint employees as security managers for each department. Managers should hold periodic meetings to update employees on changing policies.

* Allow only authorized individuals to access rooms where computers and other expensive equipment are stored. Rooms should remain locked when no one’s inside, and the names of all employees, and their times of entry and exit, should be written in a log book.

* Record serial numbers for all expensive equipment issued to employees.

* Make sure terminated and retired employees surrender any equipment issued to them, and have them turn over their ID to security.

Stealing in the workplace will never be eliminated, but it can be greatly diminished if companies are proactive and tackle the problem. Organizations must involve their staff by developing clear and effective measures and policies regarding the prevention of employee theft.

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Time management tips for the office

At home or in the office, we all strive to do one thing—save time. Time is critical when trying to put the finishing touches on the monthly reports, or when trying to reach your deadlines. Fortunately, there is hope for even the most disorganized people. By making a few simple changes, you can save the time you need to be able to focus more on the important tasks in your office.

1. Perhaps one of the most frustrating ways we waste time occurs while flipping through phone books or piles of paper as you try to locate numbers that you use on a regular basis. An easy way to avoid this is by having a list of the numbers you frequently use near your phone. You could make up a small list and tape it to your desk, or you could try using a roll-o-deck to keep them in order.

2. Why put off until tomorrow what you can get done today? Don’t let the little things accumulate until there is just so much to do that it will take you hours to get caught up. For example, filing is a small task that when not done regularly, adds up to major time loss in the office. File those papers as needed.

3. Keep the clutter away. Maintain a clean work surface on your desk. If this means having a drawer to keep papers or projects in that are incomplete, then that’s fine. A cluttered work surface is overwhelming. Looking at all those projects that need finished can immobilize you in the office and can make it nearly impossible to get anything done. All you can think about is how you are ever going to get it all done, or where you are going to begin.

4. Take it one task at a time. When you are feeling overwhelmed by all you need to do, order your projects by priority. Stick to the most important project and give no thought to the others until that one is done. For example, if you have reports due the first of every month, and it is the 29th already then make those your priority. Don’t worry about the project that is due the middle of next month.

5. Get into the habit of using a desk clock. Use it for those projects that you are really procrastinating on. Tell yourself that you will work on it for a half hour and stick to it. This will help you motivate on things you aren’t really excited about doing.

6. Don’t be afraid to say no if you already have more than you can handle. If your office mate comes up to you and asks you to file some papers for her because she is short on time, just be honest and tell her that you are too. Often we get more stressed than is necessary because we do not know how to say no.

7. Finally, do whatever you can to make your office as stress-free as possible. Light relaxing scented candles like lavender to make you feel at ease at your desk. If you have a knack for growing plants then set a couple on your desk or somewhere nearby. Plants are surprisingly therapeutic. Just having something close that is alive and growing can bring some sunshine to your day. Bringing pictures of loved ones and decorating for the seasons will also make your area a little more cheerful. The less stressed you are, the better you will be able to focus on your tasks.

If you are disorganized, as many are, you will be amazed at how much these small changes will help you to save more time—leaving room in your day for the more important undertakings you are responsible for.

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Making Your Home Office a Success

These days there is an ever-increasing trend of people working from their homes. And it is easy to see why; working at home is cheaper and more convenient than commuting to an office.

However, as can be expected with this thriftiness and convenience, working at home comes with a certain risk: that of distractions and temptations to laze around the house having fun or relaxing.

When it comes to working out of a home office, there are many things that can stand in the way of your productivity. This article will outline a few of them and recommend ways to avoid them and get the most out of the time you spend working at home.


Avoid Distraction at all Cost

The most important thing to avoid while working at home is distraction. This can come in many forms, but will always detract from your working abilities. The most common source of distractions, unsurprisingly, is you.

Since so many at-home jobs these days involve computers, it is easier than ever to spend a few minutes here and there surfing the net or listening to music. But a few minutes here and there can add up to more than expected.

It is important to keep your workplace free of entertaining distractions. For many people this means having two different personal computers: one for work and one for play. This will help you stay focused on the task at hand. You will be amazed at how much more work you get done when you spend the entire day working with no messing around!


Home Office Organization Techniques

Another way to ensure that you get the most out of the time you spend working at home is to make sure that your office is optimally organized. Simply having the most expensive desk, chair, and shelving available is not enough; your home office’s furnishings have to mesh with one another.

In other words, you should consider things like how much space they occupy before purchasing them. Doing so will help you come up with an office layout that is maximally efficient. In these days where people are either tight on money or tight on space, or both, something like the Techni Mobili Computer Desk is a popular choice.


What Room of the House to Use

Another factor that will contribute to the efficiency of the time you spend in your home office is its location. You should make sure the area you have set aside to do at-home work is not used for other purposes, if possible. It does not take any more than a person walking by to distract you from your work and require you to spend extra time refocusing your attention.

As far as time is concerned, every little bit adds up, and, as the saying goes, “time is money.” There are other factors associated with your home office’s location that you should also consider. For example, how much sunlight gets to your office during the time you work?

How many electrical outlets are available to you without using a surge protector? Do you have space to perform all the working actions you need to perform? And finally, do you feel comfortable working in the area you have chosen?


The All-Important Office Desk

The office desk you choose to use is one of the major factors determining how comfortable your working area will be. For this reason, it is important to put a large amount of planning into the purchase of your office desk. Available models vary according to available features, quality of materials used, storage space, etc.


It is important to know your needs before beginning to shop for a desk. For example, you should not buy a desk with four drawers intended to store paper files if your work does not involve keeping any kind of paper records. Office desks can be expensive, and picking one that suits rather than exceeds your needs is a great way to save some money.


Sit on It for a While

Women at a deskPicking the right office chair is another great way to save. It can be tempting to buy the most expensive, comfortable chair on the market, justifying it as a “business expense,” but ultimately you should consider how much time you plan on spending sitting in the chair each day.

If your back can handle sitting at a cheap chair for the few hours per day you spend working at home, you can save serious dollars by purchasing an inexpensive chair or using one you already have around the house. All things considered, the most important thing to consider when planning the layout of your home office is practicality; does your design allow you to complete the work you need to complete in a clutter- and stress-free environment?

If not, try to come up with a plan for reducing the elements involved with your home office that are cutting into your efficiency. And remember, your home office is yours; there is nobody to blame for things not getting done but yourself.

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