What are internal controls and how do they affect my business?
As a business owner, you know it’s important to have systems and procedures in place to help protect your company from financial mismanagement, fraud, and other risks. These are what we call internal controls. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what internal controls are; outline the reasons why they are important to your business; and […]
4 Communication Styles in Business
Communication makes your business go ’round. It helps you manage relationships, score clients, and engage your staff. Forbes describes intentional and purposeful communication as powerful enough to shift a business’s culture and engagement. However, they specify that while employees have some responsibility in communicating — that responsibility starts with leaders. If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur, […]
Fraud During Economic Recession: Why It Increases and What You Can Do
With the threat of a looming recession, businesses don’t only need to prepare for slower sales — they also need to anticipate and prepare for more fraud. In 2009, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) studied the relationship between economic downturn and fraud prevalence — the two had a positive correlation. The study specified three […]
How to Pick a Profitable Niche for Your Online Business
You walk into a restaurant, and the menu is eight pages long. It features Mexican, Italian, French, and American soul food. But you wouldn’t trust that place for authentic Mexican chilaquiles. Why? Because Mexican isn’t their niche. A restaurant chooses a clear niche will impress with specialty dishes much more than the all-around amateur. While we’re talking […]
What is a playbook and how can it benefit your business?
Think about the way you carry your business. You might have a clear picture in your mind about your company values, processes, goals, techniques, and intricacies — but your team won’t. Not unless you create a company playbook. Here at Creative Clan, we help our clients file their taxes and document their brand guidelines, process […]
Why Time is the Most Valuable Resource
Why Time Is The Most Valuable Resource Do you ever create a to-do list for the day’s tasks and feel absolutely defeated when you can’t finish it? Sometimes, that feels worse than losing a sale. Why? Because time is the most valuable resource. And that rings especially true for today’s entrepreneurs. Business owners know more than anyone that […]
Business Risk Management: What to Know
Business Risk Management: What to Know “Fortune sides with him who dares” — Virgil would have made a great businessman, right? Risk is an unavoidable part of business, both in the beginning and throughout (but mostly in the beginning). It’s hard to know how much risk is too much risk, especially if you’re a new startup […]
Types of Business Automation
Types of Business Automation Think of every tedious task on your to-do list. Responding to emails, scheduling meetings, approving social media posts — the list goes on and on. Today’s entrepreneur is bombarded by endless administrative chores that take up time they could otherwise spend on growing their business. The solution? Help, for starters. Outsourcing work to […]
What is the purpose of standard operating procedures?
What is the purpose of standard operating procedures? What does a typical day look like for an innovative business owner? If you’re an entrepreneur, you don’t need us to tell you how many moving parts there are. You’re managing cash flow, hiring staff, evolving your vision, managing client relationships, finding new business — and the list […]
14 Business Terms Every Entrepreneur Should Know
14 Business Terms Every Entrepreneur Should Know Do you ever get lost in business lingo? You know your stuff, yet feel lost when listening to industry speakers or chatting with a new client: Incubator? KPI? UVP? Huh? Do these buzzwords actually mean anything? Here at Creative Clan, we know how many moving parts a business […]