Author: EricG

3 Benefits Of A Web Based CRM Software

EricGJuly 29, 2019Leave a Comment

Many companies do not have considerable marketing experience and are not exactly sure where to start when it comes to marketing their products. As a result, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software has become a growing part of marketing suites across the country. This software does many things that individuals have done at companies for years. But it is still a powerful tool that can aid with a company’s bottom line and help it gain an advantage over its competitors.

Automated sales campaigns

CRM software helps companies launch automated sales campaigns. These campaigns can greatly aid the bottom line of a particular company. CRM software can design and then send ads to hundreds or thousands of email subscribers. It can create paper advertisements that can be mailed across the country or around the world. This process reduces the need for companies to have marketing professionals with graphic design experience. It also reduces the human element from a sales campaigns. Human workers can become busy and forget about an important sales email that has to be sent on a particular date to meet a deadline. CRM software helps those companies keep track of their sales campaigns and ensure that those campaigns are frequent and held to high standards.

Manage relationships

Pest control CRM software is essential for managing relationships in the pest control industry. It can display all of the reviews that a company has along with the contact information from those individuals. CRM software can provide reminders and templates for how to respond to individuals. It can also send out regular emails on designated days. This management is imperative for companies in the 21st century. A company in the pest control industry can be devastated by a single negative review left at the wrong time and worded in the wrong way. The best way to fight back against those reviews is to respond to them quickly and in a polite manner. A vigorous, friendly response is the best way to convince the original power to take down the negative review.

Reduce sales and management stress

The sales process contains a considerable amount of stress. Individuals have to contend with customers that leave a company or cannot be easily contacted. Vendors often charge more than anticipated and marketing campaigns can fail. These problems distract marketing employees and take them away from the personal relationships that cannot easily be automated. Pest control CRM software can increase the amount of time that marketers have to do other aspects of their job. It can reduce the time that it takes to launch sales campaigns and respond to customer concerns. Marketers can have more time building relationships and meeting with upper management to determine funding levels and the overall structure of marketing campaigns.

Any company considering CRM software needs to see if the software can meet their budgetary constraints. This software can sometimes be expensive. But if the company has enough money, they should look at their marketing functions and strongly consider enlisting its help. CRM software may mean the difference between success or failure for a company that is looking to build its brand and customer base.

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5 Tips from Trout Associates That Will Make It Easier to Pay off Your Existing Debts

EricGJuly 24, 2019Leave a Comment

If you are currently dealing with debt, you are far from alone.

Via Debt.org, the total amount of consumer debt held by people in the United States is at $13.51 trillion. The bulk of that debt is a result of money owed on mortgages (over $9 trillion), but the figures also indicate that Americans collectively owe in excess of $3 trillion due to auto and student loans.

Owing money is inevitable sometimes and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. As financial experts such as Trout Associates note, the real problems arise when you are unable to make payments.

For those eager to learn how to manage their debt better, the pointers listed below should prove quite helpful.

1. Secure Stable Income

For many people, the reason why they are unable to pay off their debt isn’t because they are irresponsible or because they don’t want to fork the money over. It’s simply because they may not have the money to pay in the first place.

If you don’t have a reliable source of income, securing the funds needed to make those scheduled payments on your loans will prove nearly impossible.

It won’t be easy, but you should try to find a stable source of income if you want to be capable of consistently paying off your loans.

For those entrepreneurs still trying to get their business off the ground, it’s not a bad idea to apply for a day job with a fixed income. You can then use the income from that job to make debt payments.

2. Curtail Your Spending

Old habits really do die hard, don’t they? Even if you’re aware that your financial situation has changed after taking out a new auto loan or perhaps a mortgage, you may still end up maintaining your spending habits.

You simply cannot afford to continue down that path though.

It’s time to wake up to the realities of your current financial situation and make the adjustments necessary. If you went out on the weekends together with your friends or family prior to taking out the new loan, you should trim that back to once every two weeks or something more reasonable.

You may also be able to cut down on living expenses by shopping for food and other supplies smarter. For instance, buy tougher cuts of meat. Even though they take more effort to cook, they can still be filling and the best part is that they are usually more affordable.

Making those financial sacrifices are tough, but they are necessary if you want to climb out of the hole created by your debts.

3. Use Extra Income to Pay Off Debts

Every now and then, you may end up with some extra money in your pocket. Maybe your performance at work proved exceptional recently and thus you were rewarded with a well-deserved bonus, or perhaps your small business had its best month yet.

With all that surplus money, you may be thinking about getting something nice for yourself. An occasional treat is welcome, but don’t overdo it. That extra money you earned is still best spent paying off your existing debts.

In the moment, spending your bonus that way may be unappealing, but your finances will thank you later on and that’s what really counts.

4. Improve Your Credit Score in Underutilized Ways

Improving your credit score may not seem to have anything to do with paying debts since the loans have already been taken out, but they can indeed be connected.

To improve your credit score, there are things you can do such as simply paying on time, but there are other underutilized methods of increasing a credit score.

For instance, leaving an account open even after you’ve cleared the debt previously linked to it can help to boost your credit score.

You can also take the time to check out your credit reports to see if they are completely accurate. Mistakes on your reports can lower your credit score. Addressing those errors and having them fixed can do wonders for your credit rating.

5. Consider Consolidating Your Debts

How will improving your credit score make it easier for you to pay off debt? For starters, that improved credit rating can help you secure a lower interest rate on your debt consolidation loan.

Debt consolidation makes it easier for you to keep track of your debts because they are now bundled together into one payment. You don’t have to set aside money for different times of the month for your debt payments.

Furthermore, if you can land a debt consolidation loan with a lower interest rate, you may end up having to pay a smaller amount of money monthly than you did previously.

The Balance notes that there are four types of debt consolidation options, with those being a debt consolidation loan, a debt consolidation credit card, a 401k loan, and a home equity loan. Debt consolidation loans and debt consolidation credit cards are the preferred options because they are accompanied by less risk.

Trusted minds in the financial industry such as Trout Associates always remind people that debt is something that can be properly managed. Debt won’t be able to ruin you financially if you remain responsible and utilize all the tools at your disposal.

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Colby Lee Burke Hilton Head Resident Discusses The Island

EricGMay 23, 2019Leave a Comment

Colby Lee Burke Hilton Head resident discusses the island and more.

I focus on cultural activities as well as restaurants, accommodations, and natural features. Most of my readers are culturally savvy and they appreciate tips on the newest museums, music performances, and city festivals around the world… Hilton Head is a fantastic place. The atmosphere is so relaxed. I enjoy being there because it feeds my soul.
Colby Lee Burke on Primopreneur Interview

To read the full interview please visit: https://www.primopreneur.com/interview-with-travel-writer-colby-lee-burk-hilton-head/

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Dr. Pierre Courchesne Shares How to Build Long-lasting Relationships with Customers

EricGMay 19, 2019Leave a Comment

Every entrepreneur starts a business to see it grow and succeed. One of the factors that plays a great role in business success is the ability to win customers and earn their loyalty. While it may sound easy theoretically, it can be very daunting to not only acquire your first customer but also to convince them to come back for more. You may invest a lot of time and money trying to market and win your customer’s trust, but these efforts may end up as nothing but frustration at the end of the day. However, all is not lost because there are several tactics that you can rely on to build strong relationships with your customers. Some of these tips include:

1. Effective Communication

Communication is important in all relationships, whether personal or business related. If you want to build a strong relationship with your customers, talk to them when need be but concentrate more on listening to them. Being a good listener to your customers will help you have productive conversations and therefore win their trust. People who trust you will be delighted to work with you on a long-term basis. Dr. Pierre Courchesne, a successful cosmetic surgeon in Quebec, advises that you should also train your employees on how to communicate with customers effectively at all times. Good customer service is easily achieved when communication with customers is perfected.

2. Engage Them Through Online Platforms

Technology has changed a lot of things in the business world, and this includes consumers’ behavior. They spend most of their time on the internet. If you want to build and maintain a good relationship with your customers, you must ensure that you have an active online presence whereby you can interact with them. Have a well-designed and updated website, maintain active social media accounts and utilize email messaging. Technology has made it easy for you to connect and interact with customers in real-time. Take advantage of it. However, avoid leaving your customers hanging with unanswered questions because they will start doubting your loyalty to them.

3. Appreciate Your Customers

Everyone loves being rewarded, and appreciation encourages someone to do more of the deeds that earned them the reward in the first place. You can establish loyalty programs and provide loyalty cards to help you track and appreciate long-lasting customers. Every customer would be enticed to transact with you more to earn more reward points. Also, give discounts or branded items to your most loyal customers. While these may seem to be small gestures, they usually make a big difference because the customer knows you were thinking about them.

4. Use Customer Feedback to Improve Your Service

Any time you provide a service, either face-to-face or online, always remember to ask them to leave their feedback about your product or your customer services. Customers will feel valued that their opinion counts and that you are willing to do anything to ensure that they are satisfied. It also shows that you are listening and caring partner and it will encourage them to want to do more business with you. According to Pierre Courchesne, it doesn’t matter whether your client’s feedback is good or bad because you will need to attend to them all and in a positive way. After all, this feedback will always help you understand your customers’ needs and therefore improve your service to them and help in the growth of your business.

5. Surpass Their Expectations

One of the things that keep customers coming back for more is a reputation for high quality service. While all other tactics may be good, poor quality will only drive customers away. Therefore, the first thing to focus on is delivering exactly what you promised to them. Secondly, exceed their expectations by providing something better than they expect. You can also focus on delivering your orders earlier than promised, and your customers will be impressed by these surprises and therefore remain by your side.

6. Focus on Customer Success

Nothing will impress a customer more than showing that you want them to succeed in their endeavors. Follow up with their businesses, support them when they are launching new products and share important business knowledge with them. This is a strategy known as customer success, and it has proven to not only attract new customers but also help in retaining them. Share information about your business products and processes as well, and this will boost their trust and confidence in you and whatever you are selling to them. Show them you care about their well-being apart from earning profits from the sales you make with them.

A business without customers is as good as dead and a business that cannot retain customers has no future. Use these tips to help you build your client base and maintain it. There are numerous benefits of building and maintaining strong business relationships, and this is the reason why you should do anything possible to enjoy these benefits.

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Jeff Broudy, CEO Of PCI HIPAA Featured On Rookstool Interviews

EricGApril 03, 2019Leave a Comment

When Jeff Broudy was asked on Rookstool Interviews about the raving PCI HIPAA reviews and what kind of business ideas excite him the most, he replied, “The ones that change people’s lives. What personal or business needs can we solve really well? How can we take a pain point that is not being solved well and solve it easily and affordably? That’s what we are thinking about every day. That’s what’s exciting.”

You can read the full interview and learn more about PCI HIPAA by visiting:
http://inspirery.com/jeff-broudy-pci-hipaa/

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6 Common Mistakes Every Law Firm Should Avoid

EricGApril 01, 2019Leave a Comment

criminal-defense-attorney-michael-g-law (1)

Law firms can be complicated, but the most simplified description of their duties is to offer advice. However, in order to give advice, you also need to be willing to accept it. Even if you know the law inside and out, you still need to cognizant of what it means to operate a law firm. These are six common mistakes every law firm should avoid.

Making Unreasonable Promises

The one thing a law firm should promise to its clients is that they’ll fight for them. It might feel good to guarantee your client that you’ll be able to win their case or get their charges dropped, but you can’t promise these things. Treat them like adults and let them know that you will do everything in your power to give them the best representation possible. A law firm needs to treat its clients with the utmost respect and stay away from making unreasonably ambitious declarations.

Lack of Diversity

Your law firm should be made of people who not only know the law but who also represent a multitude of experiences. If everyone is from the same background, you’re going to only be able to help certain clients. Make sure you hire as diverse of an array as possible. A young black female attorney can be just as essential as an older white male one. You should also make sure that everyone feels like they’re being treated as equals.

Rushing Through Cases

Law firms need to take their time with the cases they take on. If you get too ambitious and take on more cases than you can handle, you’re going to end up sloppy and rushing through them. Take on as many as you can and go at a reasonable pace. Before you commit to a case, ask yourself if your firm will be able to devote the time and energy that it entails.

Forgetting the Human

Your clients aren’t just there to make you money. They’re there because they need you. Remember to not see them as just a means to an end. Get to know them on a personal level, even if it’s mostly small talk. Your clients will feel much better knowing that they’re enlisting the services of a law firm that values them as human beings.

Lack of Specialty

If you have a law firm that tries to do everything, you’re going to end up with one that can’t do much of anything. While you might have all kinds of legal knowledge, it’s best to put your energy into a handful of fields. People who need relevant legal counsel will be able to find your law firm more easily this way. You’ll also be able to become an expert in a specific field, helping to make you even more in demand.

Lack of Cooperation

Not only do your employees need to work with their clients, but they also need to work with each other. Everyone doesn’t have to be best friends, but they should definitely be able to cooperate. There should be encouragement to share any concerns about the work environment. You can give your law firm an atmosphere of professionalism by focusing on the importance of cooperation among all employees, whether they’ve been there for years or recently hired.

No law firm has achieved success without guidance. When you are aware of the fallacies that other law firms encounter, you can be all the better at avoiding them. Then, you can put your energy into making sure your law firm runs as smoothly as possible. As the office of an expert criminal defense attorney in Tampa, we can show you exactly what a law firm should provide.

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Reasons Why You May Need a Top Notch Divorce Lawyer

EricGFebruary 13, 2019Leave a Comment

It can be tempting to go through a divorce without a lawyer. After all, a divorce is a time in your life that you need to save as much money as possible. However, going through a divorce without an experienced and successful attorney at your side can cost you much more than money. It can put you at a great disadvantage, especially if your spouse did have the foresight to hire an attorney.

Protect Your Rights

There’s no law that says you have to hire an experienced Tampa divorce attorney, but, if you don’t, be aware that you may be risking the outcome of your case. While family court judges will allow you to represent yourself, you shouldn’t expect any special treatment. You’ll be expected to do your homework and develop a strategy that conforms to your state’s laws. While the judge may be lenient in some matters, he’s not going to help you with your case. Any mistakes you make may end up working in favor of your spouse.

Get Custody of Your Children

Child custody is no simple issue to resolve. To begin, there is physical custody, which involves where the children will live, and legal custody, which determines who has the right to make parenting decisions for the children. If you attempt to represent yourself, you may find yourself reduced to an unfair custody arrangement or you may only be granted weekly visitations. You need a lawyer to help put on a strong case for granting you a fair custody arrangement, which will give you physical and legal custody rights.

Obtain Fair Support Situations

Whether you’re petitioning for child support or trying to avoid overpaying support, a Tampa divorce attorney can make a big difference here as well. Your lawyer will know how to present a case that will show the judge why your position is valid. This can go a long way toward helping to gain a favorable outcome. Each side in a support petition must protect their rights and ensure the final solution is equitable. Without an attorney, you may not know how to establish a strong case and you may either end up receiving less support than you need or, on the opposite side, you could end up paying more than is reasonably fair.

Protect You from Yourself

Regardless of the specific circumstances that led to your divorce, it’s going to be a highly emotional experience. You’re both going to have very strong feelings about one another, but, when you let intense emotions guide your actions, you often end up making disastrous mistakes. This, in itself, is an excellent reason to hire a divorce lawyer. Your attorney will represent you in court in a rational way, using his expertise and his knowledge of your situation to present a strong case. This keeps you from making emotional outbursts that would reflect badly on you and may end up costing you your case.

Help You Get the Outcome You Desire

There may be certain things you want that far outweigh the concern you have for other issues. For instance, you may have a family heirloom that was left to you upon your mother’s passing. Your attorney can compromise with your spouse’s attorney to ensure you can keep that item. Similarly, custody arrangements can be negotiated more fairly with two dispassionate attorneys rather than leaving the matter up to you and your spouse. When you outline what’s important to you, your attorney will work towards those goals more than anything else. Since you won’t get everything you want, getting what matters to you the most may be especially important.

If you and your spouse can’t come to terms via mediation, a divorce hearing may become necessary. While the ultimate decisions in this situation are left up to the family court judge, how you present your case will affect his decision. Hiring a lawyer will help you put on a strong and convincing case that will improve your chances for a favorable outcome.

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4 Mistakes To Avoid In The Courtroom

EricGOctober 16, 2018Leave a Comment

Personal injury lawyers handle dozens of cases at once and cannot devote all of their energy on your particular case. They are bound to make mistakes every now and then. It’s your duty as the client to help them prevent making human errors. Here are four mistakes to avoid in the courtroom.

Letting the Lawyer Do All of the Work

It’s human nature to put all of your faith in a professional and sit back so that he or she handles the entire situation. Whether you’re a student, patient or legal client, it’s important that you learn to take over the driver’s seat.

Do not allow your lawyer to do all of the research and planning while you make the minimal effort. This case directly affects your life, and the lawyer is working with you to make money. You may be better equipped to gather evidence and prepare for the case than your lawyer.

In the courtroom, take on a more participatory role, even though you cannot perform as a lawyer. Whisper or pass notes over the table whenever you have a new idea. Do not allow any idea to remain hidden because you think that it’s not your place.

Not Listening

When you hear something that’s undesirable, you tune it out. There are some things that a lawyer says that you’ll want to tune out. However, it’s necessary to listen and remain attentive.

When you don’t listen, you don’t pay attention and fail to develop your case properly. Listening is more important than talking. It’s very important that you listen actively in the courtroom because this is where people tune out the most. Sit up straight, remain attentive and pretend like you’re a lawyer yourself by preparing rebuttal statements.

Underestimating the Defendant

A lot of personal injury attorneys underestimate the power of their defendants. As the plaintiff, do not assume that the defendant doesn’t have enough evidence and his or her attorney is willing to give up easily.

Many defense attorneys have resorted to extreme measures to win cases for their clients. They may lie, deceive or cheat to prove their points. These tactics are immoral but perfectly legal and admissible in court. Make sure that your attorney has the same amount of or more evidence than the defendant’s attorney does.

Having a Preset Attitude

It’s good to have a positive attitude about the outcome of your case, but do not automatically assume that you’ll win. Don’t assume that the case is clear as day, so the judge and jury will automatically believe everything you and the lawyer say. Some personal injury cases have had solid evidence in favor of the plaintiffs, but because of one technicality, the defendants won.

There are a few, common mistakes that everyone makes in the courtroom. The biggest mistake is to be passive throughout the entire case. Your attorney does not know everything, and your case only gets stronger when you become more interactive. Take on a bigger role and look for personal injury attorney Tampa services that fit your budget and legal needs.

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5 Ways Investing Can Help You Get Out Of Debt

EricGJuly 27, 2018Leave a Comment

Financial success has long been attributed to one’s ability to invest in the right assets. But as much as investing can help you accumulate wealth, it can also be the arm you need to pull you out of the financial ditch that you’ve fallen into. Sure, it doesn’t sound as exciting when you’re trying to generate ROI to pay off debt, but it is a faster way of achieving the financial stability that you seek. Here are five ways to do just that.

Earn Capital Appreciation

The initial amount you invest in a financial market, such as stock or currency, is your capital. Over time, if you have the knack and eye to find and select assets that are undervalued, your wealth will appreciate in value. This is your return on the investment or ROI. By positioning yourself in the right direction of financial markets, you can accumulate a high ROI that can be used to repay outstanding debt including credit cards and mortgages.

Claim Investment Losses on Your Taxes

If things don’t pan out the way you expect them to and you start to accumulate losses on your investments, you can declare these losses as deductibles when filing your taxes. Investment losses also referred to as capital losses, can only be declared if they are “realized” or, in other words, when you liquidate the losing position. If you plan on deducting the stock into this year’s tax form, make sure you sell the asset before December 31 otherwise it rolls over to next year.

Earn Dividend Yield

Some companies pay out a dividend, or portion of profits, to their shareholders. The amount is usually small and is expressed as a percentage of the present value of the stock. Nonetheless, with enough shares in a company, the dividends you earn from your portfolio can reach a substantial sum. Fortunately, these days it’s quite easy to find companies that pay dividends to their shareholders on a regular basis. With a bit of online research on sites, like Finviz, you can narrow down options based on dividend-paying companies and other investing criteria you may have.

Boost Your Financial Confidence

According to Sean Seshadri, an experienced investment specialist, most people who suffer from vast amounts of debt usually also suffer from lack of financial confidence and responsibility. Lacking self-confidence in your ability to manage your finances can then create habits that lead to debt, such as failing to develop and follow a budget and overspending. By deciding to invest your money, you are taking better control of your finances and acknowledging the fact that you want to improve your financial situation.

Turn it Into a Career

Most investors with years of experience under their belt choose to sell their highly refined skill set in finding profitable investment opportunities to others who are less experienced. If you manage to build a good investment track record, you can join social investment platforms and sell your investment signals to your followers.

Investing has helped millions of people, like Sean Seshadri, create sustainable wealth for themselves. If you want to get out of debt and become financially free, start investing your savings rather than have it parked on a savings account that pays a measly amount on annual interest rates.

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How to Reduce Overhead and Stay Compliant

EricGJuly 19, 2018Leave a Comment

To stay compliant, it’s important to take full ownership of every aspect of your data.

Reducing your business’ overhead costs can be challenging in itself, but trying to do so while staying compliant with government regulations is a whole new level of difficulty that most entrepreneurs and business owners are often unprepared for. Nonetheless, there are ways to reduce your business’ expenses and, as a result, widen your profit margins. In fact, here are seven of them:

Go Digital

Your business’ paper trail isn’t only environmentally irresponsible; it’s also costing you money. Reduce paper consumption by emailing invoices rather than sending traditional snail mail. You will save on office supplies as well as postage costs. Going digital can also save you from needing to buy and maintain office equipment, such as printers, copiers, and fax machines. Keep in mind that it is important to fully understand and honor government record retention laws. If regulations allow you to and you do decide to store your documents digitally, make sure you can retrieve them for the required time frame.

Lower IT Costs

Your business’ computing needs can and should be switched to the Cloud ASAP. Doing so can give you a wide array of up-to-date software solutions without having to purchase the hardware. You can save a significant amount of money from pricey data storage and inefficient server design. Web-based programs don’t require tedious installation or maintenance procedures thus removing the need for full-time IT support. If you do run into technical issues, most cloud computing service providers have in-house IT support staff who can assist you 24/7.

Minimize Office Space

Businesses allocate a great portion of their budget on leasing office space, but in today’s digitalized world, you don’t need that much physical space to operate; you don’t even need to be in the office in many cases. You can virtually be anywhere in the world and still keep in touch with your employees, keep track of inventories, and manage sales and marketing campaigns. Move to a smaller office and/or allow your employees to work from home. Keep property maintenance costs low by switching to low-cost Energy Star-certified lightbulbs and using draught excluders. If you do need to maintain a physical brand presence, work with a virtual office service provider.

Use MDM Software

Both redundant and vital information lands on your doorstep on a daily basis, making it inefficient to try and separate the gold bits from the rest of the dirt. From sales transactions to customer information, the longer you stay in business, the more data you accumulate and the higher the tendency for redundancy. Using Master Data Management software, such as that of Profisee, offers several benefits including elimination of redundancies and bottlenecks, effective and accurate analysis of business data, and consistency in data sets. Backing up sensitive information is also quite easy with a single centralized data source.

Rent Equipment

Renting equipment makes more fiscal sense than buying it. Renting requires less capital investment and allows you to get a much better tier of equipment while saving on repair and maintenance expenses. To save more with your rental equipment, go for Energy Star-certified equipment.

Involve Your Employees

Employees are at the frontlines of your business operations, whether it’s on the floor talking with customers or in the backroom managing your IT infrastructure. They hold valuable advice as to how you can improve cost savings and improve efficiency at work. Granted not all of these suggestions might be compliant to regulations, but it does give you a good starting point from which to expand ideas.

Rent Out Your Assets

Your under-used assets, like company trucks or commercial kitchen equipment, are costing you money on a daily basis, whether you’re renting, leasing, or buying it. By renting them out to other businesses who need them, you alleviate the financial pressure on your budget while also potentially building an income stream for your business. Equipment isn’t the only thing you can make money from; you can also rent out storage or office space that you rarely use. Of course, before doing so, make sure you check your lease terms first to see if subletting is allowed.

By partnering with companies like Profisee, involving your workforce, and being smart about how you use your business’ assets, you can effectively lower overhead costs and accelerate your business’ growth rate.

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