Start a New Business

How Efficient Project Management can Help Your Business Grow

Does your project management system meet your expectations? Project management systems that are flawed slow down the progress of a company. They can cause a loss of money, time, and even customers. If a business doesn’t have an efficient project management system, it may just be spinning its wheels trying to manage too many little projects or even projects that are just too big for the business to manage.

These days businesses have to save time and money and accept as much work as possible. Most businesses will tackle any job that comes their way, even if it is really too big for them to handle. You can get help to conclude your projects quickly whether the problem is having too many jobs or too little staff.

Project management software is helping many businesses manage their own projects. You can find a number of different types of software to help you stay on top of a project with deadline. This software offers spreadsheets and printed reports that can support information presented at weekly meetings. If you already have some project management experience and you have a little time to learn, this kind of software can be really useful.

A project management consulting firm can help businesses that have taken on too much work or have jobs that are really too big for their staff to manage. A competent project management company will supply project managers with years of experience and training in a variety of management areas. With a successful project management system, you can expect your projects to be organized, your deadlines to be met, and a weekly audited report of the progress of all your projects.

Project managers who work with a successful project management firm are well-trained to demanding standards. A successful firm will have a solid background of successfully completed projects of every type and size. They can help you manage large construction projects as well as facilitate IT project management. They will help you work on bigger projects that you might hesitate to take on with your current project management software, and they allow you to organize your projects and keep them current.

When you get help from a professional, experienced project management consulting firm, you can breathe a little easier. You will have less of a burden to bear, and you will be secure in the knowledge that your projects are being handled quickly and efficiently. As a result of this, you will be able to accept more projects that you might otherwise skip, helping to grow your business.

Ao Narrowcast Inc. Begins Operations and Targets the #1 Position in the Digital Signage Management Software Market

AO Narrowcast Inc. began operations on March 7, 2008, headquartered in Sunnyvale California. Sunnyvale, CA has been the center of the semiconductor industry for decades and has now evolved into the technology capitol of the United States.

In knowing this AO Narrowcast Inc. set up operations in Sunnyvale to utilize the immense educated work force and leverage the knowledge gained through the rich technology history of the Silicon Valley.

AO Narrowcast Inc. has focused their resources on developing a revolutionary web based digital signage management software solution to the growing digital signage industry within the United States. This Software as a Service (SaaS) will incorporate all the functionality of current comparable solutions into one centralized web based digital signage management program. AO Narrowcast Inc. will also add new to market functionality to meet the growing demands of the digital signage industry.

In creating this software AO Narrowcast Inc. realizes that there is a lack of scalability and functionality with current digital signage management solutions. With that knowledge AO Narrowcast Inc. will deliver a digital signage solution which can be scaled up from one device to thousands while still adding functionality that out paces all contenders.

About AO Narrowcast Inc.
AO Narrowcast began in early 2008 focusing on next generation digital signage management software. With the spotlight of scalability, reliability, and functionality AO Narrowcast Inc. understands that it will soon become the number one provider in the web based digital signage management software marketplace. AO Narrowcast is well funded and is quickly outpacing its expectations. AO Narrowcast is currently targeting complex application development, including intranets, extranets and web-based software. AO Narrowcast will launch a beta version of its digital signage management software application by the last quarter of 2008.

How to Choose the Right Project Management Software?

Project management software can help you in a number of ways. In fact, if you are looking for a simple way to organize a group on a particular project, this is definitely something you need to use. Project management is an important function of business and can be a contributing factor towards the success, or lack of success in a company. Tasks and projects need to be aligned with strategic objectives. Sounds easy, but many companies miss the mark on this key issue. Using a reputable software suite can mean higher profitability and increased accountability by helping to efficiently schedule objectives and tasks.

Project management technologies used correctly will bring an organization closer to success, and help them compete better within their industry. It also brings simplicity to the process of managing teams and projects. Project management software used in the right way also helps to determine if an issue is urgent or not, who needs to be contacted when, and how important a particular task is within the project. Essentially, it takes the complexity of project work, which typically involves many different people in various locations, and makes it easier to manage.

But there are lots of choices when it comes to selecting project management software. Do you go with a product that is recommended by a friend or choose the top selling brand? Do you have to spend a lot to get the features you need? What are the specific things you need to look for when choosing project management software?

• Does the software automate all workflows? – If so, this can reduce cost. Typically, time is reported in unique spreadsheets by many different company employees. Someone collects the spreadsheets, and someone else uses the schedules to map them in the spreadsheets. In order to create a summary, you have to use different software altogether. It shouldn’t have to be this hard! When you are looking for a good project management software product, make sure it has this capability.

• Does the software offer project reporting and tracking? – With the best project management software, you can view all projects and the project status in one easy view. In addition, you can create, run and save custom reports based on project data for your individual needs. You should also be able to generate project, or task level reports. This makes it easy to see how the project is progressing over time. When you are looking for project management software, make sure it has highly functional project reporting and tracking capabilities.

• Does the software offer team collaboration features? The best software will help brings the idea of the virtual office into true reality. It should make it seem like it no longer matters if you have each team member in a totally different place around the globe. Everyone should be able to access the project by just logging onto their computer and jumping online. It should be simple. When you are looking for a good project management software product, make sure it has high quality team collaboration capabilities.

Guangdong denim industry status and development

Reform and opening up 26 years ago, Guangdong, Guangdong textile industry as the country’s reform and opening up with cutting-edge formed by first-mover advantage, adjacent to the geographical advantage of Hong Kong and Macao and overseas Chinese compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao popular with many advantages, access to high-speed development of the golden age of industrial output in 1978 the development of the country ranked No. 15 to the first three, seven consecutive years of export Wenju first in the country; while knitting, denim two sectors of production volume and export volume ranking first in the country. Guangdong is now on the denim industry, the status quo and development of the next report to the National counterparts.

First, the industry status quo

Since Guangdong did not produce cotton, spinning than weaving, weaving a long time to knitting, yarn-dyed main varieties are primarily the yarn-dyed plaid and denim. The early eighties, the Guangzhou No. 1 Cotton Mill first in the form of compensatory trade Weelock Textile Co., Ltd. from Hong Kong to the introduction of air spinning, denim pulp dyeing, weaving and finishing equipment, to produce denim fabric and Buffalo Jeans; from 1985 began, has launched a joint venture of state-owned enterprises, foreign-owned, private and other multi-channel development of manufacturing enterprises denim craze.

1,2003 denim industry in Guangdong’s industrial output value, sales revenue, total profits and taxes, export and production capacity, product yield were highest in history, in which denim annual production capacity of approximately 1.5 billion meters, yield 1.2 billion meters, about accounting for about 40%, were ranked first in the country.

2, denim industry, advanced equipment in the country a leading position in production levels and product quality continuously improve

Denim processing enterprises in Guangdong mainly products are mainly exported, in order to adapt to the international market demand, companies invest a lot of money to introduce advanced equipment. Adoption of new and continuous technological innovation, has formed a group from spinning – pulp dyeing – weaving – Finishing – Clothing – Wash denim full supporting large-scale enterprises, and gradually form a large-scale industry, the cowboy.

The existing open-end spinning equipment, 50000, 80% is the introduction of advanced equipment; the province is about 600 jeans enterprises, 30,000 looms, shuttle-less rate of more than 95%, of which 2 / 3 for rapier weaving machine; pulp dyeing line of not less than 200, pre-shrinking line 100 (the United States Morrison and the French doors Fuji about each 50%), special finishing line (silk, woven velvet, punching, coating, etc.) about 30 . Advanced equipment to improve the denim product grade, quality, and lay a good foundation.

3, denim industry has begun to take shape design, development, production, marketing, brand a combination of various related industries industry chain, have their own denim brands and new products.

4, forming a group of denim industry clusters town, effectively pushed the local economic development

Industry cluster development of textile industry in Guangdong Province, the structural characteristics of denim industry cluster is particularly prominent. China Textile Industry Association, by the end of 2002 and early 2004, has released two batches of 69 industrial clusters in the pilot units, a total of four bases in Guangdong cities (counties), 15 characteristics of the city (town), accounting for 27% of the total, while the Guangdong 15 characteristics of the city (town), the given name of the town of China, there are jeans by New Urban Town, Zhongshan City, Tai Chung Town, Shunde Junan and the Town of Kaiping City, three in four, in addition to production and sales were relatively denim also focused on Xiqiao Town, Foshan City and Guangzhou City, Huadu District, Xinhua Zhen and so on.

These industrial clusters upstream and downstream industries not only played an active role in stimulating, but also a strong impetus to all levels of government (cities, counties, towns) To implement policies conducive to the development of industrial clusters, effectively promoted the rapid development of industries and enhancement of the industrial capacity for sustained development.

5, denim, denim clothing market coverage of the world’s major countries and regions, marketing and sales network has been formed

According to statistics, Guangdong, denim, denim garments are mainly exported to the United States, Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean region; Europe, Russia; the Middle East, Southeast Asia; South America, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong. Internal control of the South China region, leading southwest and northeast regions, the central, northern and eastern regions of radiation. Are concentrated in Guangdong Province, Guangzhou City, Station Road, Garment City, the large regions Xintang areas; Foshan City Shunde Junan area, the South China Sea Ping area, Xiqiao areas; Humen, Dongguan City, area; Zhongshan City Bay area ; shops in Shenzhen City in 4000.

However, Guangdong’s denim industry there are the following main issues, constraints denim industry to further the development of a higher grade:

1, the product structure is irrational, can not adapt to market needs

Over the years, Guangdong’s denim, apparel since the material, sample processing-based, independent research and development capacity is weak, the lack of intellectual property brand.

Denim products industry cluster mostly middle and low, the product identical, 70% of thick products, 30% for thin and light products, middle and low products accounted for more than 85% of total output, especially small and medium enterprise quality, grade, variety and international level there is more than obvious gap; competitive edge is low, profit margins small, basically rely on the creation of production efficiency. In today’s denim oversupply, the domestic cotton price rise and the post-quota era of international markets, a variety of restrictive measures taken by the importing country’s situation, small and medium enterprises have emerged denim reduced orders or no orders, in a semi-shutdown or shutdown situation.

2, the use of advanced technical equipment needs to be improved

Guangdong Enterprises has a large number of advanced denim shuttle looms, but before and after the equipment is not complete, failed to give full play to its effectiveness, there is middle and low advanced equipment to produce only products, such as pulp dyeing equipment, mostly pulp dyeing combination machine, using the device The dyeing process could easily lead to color flower, color, species and changes in the market can not meet demand, while the bundle of good quality dyeing dyeing process, but the bundle of Guangdong have little dyeing machines, accounting for about 1% of pulp dyeing equipment, less than 5 production lines.

3, businesses small and scattered, low management level, state-owned and private enterprises were granted international certification denim little information technology is not perfect

4, the shortage of talent

In recent years, cowboy, the rapid development of garment enterprises, a number of large enterprises gathered a group of highly educated, high-quality personnel; state-owned enterprises in general a higher proportion of people, but the loss of serious; small and medium private enterprises to production and technology management, product design and development, and marketing, and other advanced degrees, high-quality personnel are extremely scarce.

Second, the future development of

Denim Garment Industry Development in Guangdong in the future the guiding ideology is: fully implement the Party Shiliu Tai proposed path of sustainable development path, establish and implement the scientific concept of development, rational use of both domestic and foreign resources, and through technological advances, institutional innovation, structural adjustment, supporting the development and rational distribution, out of a high technological content, good economic returns, low resources consumption, little environmental pollution and the development of denim fabric, apparel new ways to achieve from the denim fabric, apparel province to province changes.

1, to accelerate the pace of reform to improve the ownership structure

The first concerns the public enterprises should speed up the withdrawal of state-owned capital, the pace of reform to achieve the ownership structure adjustment and optimization, such as Foshan East Asia such as the domestic stock companies have greater visibility of the business, should accelerate the pace of conversion mechanisms; The second is the joint road to market-oriented, capital as a link to the leading edge enterprises, through joint, mergers and joint ventures and other forms of foreign investment, promoting strong alliance, the formation of internationally competitive large enterprise groups, the enterprises bigger and stronger; 3 is the number of product features, the development potential of small and medium enterprises, strive to cultivate them on a “small and specialized, small and specialized, small but excellent” path of development.

2, enhancement of training in jeans town to play industrial cluster effect, promoting local economic development

Denim apparel industry is a high degree of dependence on foreign export trade, for the current problems in denim apparel industry, the need to strengthen industry self-regulation, guidance, standards, constraints, cowboy business investment, redevelopment projects, can no longer blindly follow redundant construction, low-level expansion old.

To this end, we must strengthen the training jeans town, we should take the industrial upgrading of the main theme, to improve industry cluster level, integration of resources, focusing on sustainable development, industrial innovation platform for product research and development to enhance and improve value to their products, give full play to industry the comprehensive advantages of the cluster to improve the attractiveness of the cluster to attract superior enterprises in the surrounding area to attract international capital and technology to become bigger and stronger industry cluster. According to the comparative advantages of industrial clusters would also benefit the transfer of some industries to form a reasonable gradient, to improve overall economic efficiency.

3, emphasis on green production, the implementation of brand strategy

“Green Fort” will become one of the greatest post-quota era of non-trade barriers. Through local government, industry associations, industry clusters and other promulgated relevant preferential policies, regulations, and vigorously promote the enterprises to develop international standards for consulting, certification, prepared to deal with “green bastion” of the preparatory work to meet the challenges of the global green revolution.

4, speed up the pace of personnel training

Denim apparel industry, according to the present situation, to strengthen personnel training and the introduction of the province should make full use of existing resources in the textile colleges and universities to develop textile and specialized personnel; give full play to the advantages of the province adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao, through the recruitment of overseas talent to absorb, especially in marketing and management personnel.

Not only should pay attention to the training and the introduction of high-quality personnel, but also through the Provincial Textile Association and jointly established Wuyi University, Jiangmen, received the approval of the Provincial Labor and Social Security Department, Guangdong Province, will monitor workstation textile vocational skills to enhance the training of personnel in three areas: First, fabric and clothing design, development, and raising the grade of denim fabrics and garments; second is the training of marketing personnel; third, senior technician. But also continuously improve the key processes of production line quality and level of skilled workers.

5, enhancement of information-based construction

Information is an important means to promote industrial development. Accelerating the transformation of traditional industries, industrial upgrading process, the need to speed up the building of information technology to improve information technology application level, the use of information technology-driven industrial restructuring jeans, development and industrial upgrading.

First to guide enterprises to establish information technology, organizational forms and management practices of a modern integrated development of three modern thought; followed an information network among the industry cluster interconnection, etc.; key enterprises are also encouraged to develop information technology in the overall planning, sub – step by step and capabilities, seek practical results.

6, to play the role of trade associations to foster intermediary service system

Bugging Threats To Business

Whilst advances in technology have brought many benefits to businesses, the downside is that this same technological advance has also brought new threats.

In a competitive business environment, an organisation’s information is perhaps its most valuable valuable asset in remaining ahead of the pack. This is why unscrupulous competitors are turning to covert surveillance techniques to steal this vital resource.#

Some of these techniques are as simple as bribing internal employees to steal or copy unattended confidential documents. Others rely on more sophisticated electronic spy equipment to reach straight to the heart of a company’s confidential communications.

Understanding the types of technical bugging threats to businesses is the first step in dealing with them.

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Devices

GSM based bugging and tracking devices are amongst the most commonly used bugs and pose a real threat to business information security. They are small, simple to deploy, use very little power and can be accessed remotely from anywhere in the world.

GSM devices work by using the mobile telephone infrastructure to relay conversations being held in one location, to an the eavesdropper who could be based on the other side of the world.

A real problem with GSM bugging devices are that they are so difficult to detect. Their signals can be lost amongst legitimate GSM and mobile phone traffic. To have any success dealing with the threat GSM devices poses, it is therefore vital to turn to professionals with expertise in counter surveillance techniques.

Radio-Based Bugging Devices

Radio based technology is used to eavesdrop on telephone lines where a bug will transmit both sides of a conversation to an eavesdropper or recording device.

The advantage of these bugs is that they allow the eavesdropper to receive high quality intelligence in real time. They can also be made quite simply by modifying existing technology such as radio intercoms, analogue cordless telephones and baby monitors.

Whilst the quality and stability of this technology has steadily risen, the cost of this technology has dropped significantly.

Keystroke Loggers

Keystroke loggers work by either recording the key presses on a keyboard or by storing information on the activity on a host computer.

These tiny devices can have large memory capacities, capturing tens of millions of key presses. A year’s worth of average computer use equates to less than 4 million key presses so keystroke loggers aren’t likely to miss anything.

The particular danger of keystroke loggers is that as they record actual key presses they will record user name and password combinations.

Software versions of keystroke loggers are even more sophisticated and can email screen shots of computer activity to eavesdroppers, as well as keystroke and user information.

As with other forms of bugging devices, the only way to effectively discover and deal with installed keyboard monitoring devices is through a specialist physical search of affected computers by a counter surveillance professional.

Liverez Improves Online Vacation Home Rental Experience

LiveRez, the emerging leader in online vacation rental software, expands its website offering by including a new ‘Compare Properties’ feature in all standard websites.

LiveRez is focused on increasing bookings and making property managers fully operational to maximize online bookings. LiveRez offers best-in-class websites, a booking engine, property management system, and online marketing services.

We never develop anything in a vacuum. We work closely with property managers and vacation shoppers

The ability to empower shoppers with the most complete vacation information and best tools to make decisions among several vacation rental properties has been identified as a key factor into making guests out of shoppers. LiveRez has developed this new feature in close collaboration with industry leaders and a wide array of shoppers to ensure smooth usability and high effectiveness.

“We never develop anything in a vacuum. We work closely with property managers and vacation shoppers,” said Tracy Lotz, president of LiveRez (www.LiveRez.com). “That assures us that what we deliver to the vacation rental property industry will meet the needs of both property managers and the consumer.”

LiveRez has a unique business model for the vacation home rental industry; LiveRez is only paid when vacation rental property managers make a booking. This aligns LiveRez’s interests with the interests of property managers and motivates LiveRez to continually deliver enhancements to its online vacation rental software solutions, as well as offer marketing consulting services to property managers.

“We know that when we enhance our solution and services, our customers will benefit,” says Lotz, “And when our customers benefit, we benefit.”

About LiveRez Inc.LiveRez drives more online vacation rental bookings. LiveRez provides the most complete online vacation rental property management solution available, enabling property managers to fully utilize the power of the internet in driving guest bookings, guest satisfaction, and the management of their properties. LiveRez takes a unique online-centric approach through its partnership with property managers, and is focused on making the online shopping experience pleasant, trustworthy, and complete. Successful partners include ALL STAR Vacation Homes  and High Country Resort Properties. LiveRez is headquartered in Boise, ID.

Car Hiring in Uk

Using a car rental is a fine option for many urban residents instead of car buying. Lots of people living in cities find car rental UK much more affordable and much less hassle than buying a car, using the rental on an as needed basis.

The increase in discount flights and competitive prices for car hire has made car rental a much more attractive option in recent years. When you are looking for a car hire the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time on the web or on the phone, looking around for the best car rental deal. The cost of a car hire is sensible and considering public transportation within a city is usually pretty good.

As all know, the City of London is not exactly the best place to drive a London hire car. However, if you are fed up with the busy city life, a car hire in uk may be just the thing you need to relax. Stop being bothered by the tourists and become one yourself by renting a London car hire and take a drive in the Country! With so many car hire suppliers to choose from, you are bound to find a deal on the car you need to get out of town.

When it comes to choosing car hire UK, there are several key factors to consider. Deciding on the type of car hire UK, picking the right company to go with, and planning your travel itinerary will definitely save you headaches in the long run and will give you piece of mind. When people think of good value for car rental money, they think Thrifty. Most of the Thrifty car rental locations in the UK are franchised, so you get individualised attention for your car rental needs on a great rental deal.

Airport Car Hire UK

Keep in mind that most car hire UK is managed at the major airports—in the London area, this would be car hire Heathrow Airport car hire Luton Airport, car hire Gatwick Airport and car hire Stansted Airport. The City Airport, although very convenient for European travel, is considered a smaller airport and, depending on the time of day, can be very difficult to get to. Never the less, if you hire a car at one of these airports, chances are you will be able to drop off the car hire UK at an alternative airport while avoiding a one way charge.

Tips for driving in uk

It is important to note that a car rental in the uk includes insurance. This is something you will have to pay on a yearly basis for a purchased car. While driving if you are lost in yourLondon Car Rental, stop and ask directions from a Black Cab Driver. Sometimes the best way to get across town, especially if you don’t know where you are going in your London Car Rental, is to follow a Black Cab. You need to pay for your London Congestion Charge every weekday that you have your London Car Rental.

Pre employment background screening company ? A Reliable hiring outsource for Human Resource Departments

According to FBI, the fastest growing crime in the U.S. is Employee theft; billion dollars are lost annually due to employee theft and fraud according to the U.S. chamber of commerce. As a result, 20% of all businesses fail due to the same reason.

Unfortunately, inflating education credentials is a common practice due to increasing recession worldwide since 2007. According to a current analysis there has been 43% of the job seeking persons are found with the exaggerated resumes. With such increasing forgery, hiring personnel becomes a tough job for the human resource. These fraud candidates may not only deprive the morale of the original candidates who have originality in their documents but also play a role of parasite to a company. So it’s important for the employers to realize that running employment screening background checks isn’t just an option, it’s mandatory.

Primarily a background screening process is the task given to the human resource departments by their respective companies. But if we see through an example that almost 80% of the American companies are hiring professional background screening companies to do the job for them, because there are many super reasons to hire a professional background screening company. In this piece of writing, I am going to discuss what type of advantages a human resource department can get by hiring the services of a professional pre employment background screening company.

An important aspect of hiring a firm to perform your employment screening is longevity and repute in the business. In background screening, experience really counts. You want a company with a track record that can be verified with numerous references from clients who have had varied situations over the years. These companies have a sound profile including all the checks like employment verification, criminal background screening, educational document verification etc. Hence it’s evident that these companies have expertise which is not found in human resource departments.

The second best aspect is that companies offering background screening services, any hiring personnel can have all of the pertinent information at their fingertips. Every HR department is willing to process the employment application on fast track basis but background screening slows the whole process. Hence they rely on background screening companies as they are fast and accurate.

Furthermore, the most important reason of hiring a professional background screening company is that they are truly cost-effective. They have dedicated investigation and research teams to do the targeted work for you in no time. Otherwise a human resource department has to hire a team specially designated for pre-employment background checks which may increase the expenditure to an intense level. Their Strong tactics, previous practices and access to worldwide data makes them superior at all ends.

Wrapping up with some facts and as mentioned earlier that almost 43% of those seeking employment misrepresent info on resume, and 8% of applicants have criminal history records. A shocking rate of, 1 out of every 10 employees have used drugs in the workplace.

Background screening is an invaluable contribution to mitigating the risk of hiring candidates with backgrounds that expose you to liability. With a complete array of employment screening services including (employment verification, educational document verification, criminal record verification or credit risk verification, etc) professional background screening companies can perform faster, better, more cost-effective criminal background checks with a matchless customer support. I hope the entire written concept will evoke human resource departments why they need background screening companies.

Business Relocation Budget – How To Make It Work For You

Not only does a budget control you from over spending, but when you sit and plan out your expenses you will not forget to include funds for something vital. So do not scoff at the idea. In fact, even if you are not the kind of person who generally lives his life on a budget, do take the effort to make a budget at least for your relocation. This does not mean you are being stingy. It means you are planning every aspect of relocation in advance. When you put your expense list down on paper, you will not overlook any aspect of the move, and that’s good planning isn’t it?

Some of the items on your relocation budget for a business may be, printing of fresh business cards and letter heads, relocation funds for your employees if any, one time expenses like movers and packers, and transportation of office material. When you plan all this out, do leave some room for error under ‘miscellaneous’. You never know when something unexpected could crop up, and so it is always good to have funds kept aside for such an event.

Being a business man or woman, you will already be used to planning your moves ahead. Take this aspect of planning into your relocation as well. In fact, any major venture in life requires planning and prior visualization and why should relocating your business be an exception? When you plan all aspects of your move before hand, you will no doubt have the least stress when you actually make the move. Do include the finest of details on your list, such as expenses for stationary, internet connections in the new office and furniture relocation/fresh investments. All the best with your business relocation, and we hope you have a pleasant and profitable experience when you do relocate.

Small Business Coach or mentor – which is right for me?

The terms small business coach or business mentor are often used interchangeably within the business world, but what do people really mean when they talk about small business coaching or business mentoring? And how are they different from executive coaching or life coaching?

Countless articles and text books tell you that mentors use coaching skills and that coaches can act as a mentor – not much help is it?

The reason for this is it is actually very difficult when you’re a business coach or mentor NOT to utilise both techniques because when you’re working with a client on building their business you often have to be a supporter or coach, an experienced guide or mentor and also to provide one on one training in business skills and soft skills such as leadership skills, communication skills or negotiation skills.

The best business coaches are able to help you to:

* think strategically and so can assist with business planning and strategy

* work out how to increase business through offering guidance on sales and marketing techniques

* be a better manager or leader by helping you with communication skills, dealing with difficult people, confidence and assertiveness

* manage your stress levels through more effective time management, delegation and giving you back a sense of work/life balance

However, not all business coaching organisations can offer this in one person and if you go to a specialist life coach they might be able to help you with the soft skills and life planning aspects but won’t be able to offer you guidance on building your business because they typically use what’s called a ‘non-directive’ approach, i.e. they won’t offer advice or suggestions but help you to draw the answers out from within yourself (assuming of course that at some level you DO know the answer!).

So as a potential user of small business coaching or business mentoring services how on earth do you find a suitable coach?

Ask around and be prepared to devote some time to talking to a few suitable business coaches. Don’t just ‘jump into bed’ with the first person you speak to (unless they meet all of your criteria) and have an initial discussion with them to work out if the two of you can work together.