What Should You, As A Business, Charge?

wsyaabOf the many skills needed to stay in business, knowing how to set fees for your services is one key to successful marketing. Yet the underlying methods and issues on setting fees are too often unfamiliar to service providers, trade based companies, consultants, and other entrepreneurs.

Pricing plays a central role in how much (or little) you earn for the work you do, and in the psychological subtleties of your business relationships. Set prices too high, and you may lose valuable business. Lowering prices may garner you assignments and projects you’d otherwise miss. But too-low prices can also translate to working unnecessarily long hours, to earning less than you should for your efforts, and, in the worst case, to earning less than you need to turn a profit.

According to Launchscore.com, a site that offers startup business data to fledgling entrepreneurs, pricing is a major, major factor in the success of any regionally focused business. Basically, if you don’t price it right, you could fail before you begin.

FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGIES

There are several strategies you can use to set fees, ranging from asking for the going rates to raising your rates until clients say ouch. But …

Posted in Money at December 15th, 2015. No Comments.

Recovering Data with RAID Recovery

RAID or Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks is a giant leap in the sphere of data storage and data recovery. RAID technology was developed because of the rising costs of high capacity drives in the servers for storing data. Added to it was the fact that the amount of data that needed to be stored was also increasing. In today’s world, where everything is computerized and the servers are getting overloaded, buying more and more high capacity drives is out of the question. The solution to this problem is the incorporation of raid hardware.

As the acronym RAID suggests, raid recovery uses an array of low cost drives to replace singular high capacity drives, mostly for redundancy and protection. This is because a collection of these inexpensive drives has greater capacity than a single costly drive or large capacity storage device and also can recover easily from system hazards like a circuit problem. In cases of a system failure in the server environment, raid recovery can easily be performed without shutting down the system. The success of the data recovery depends on the version of RAID that is used. Over the years, different versions have come on Read More…

Posted in Business at December 10th, 2015. No Comments.

Internet Still A Thousand Times Bigger Than We Would Have Thought

What is changing now that’s relevant to this discussion is the communications infrastructure. It may not matter how much capital Cisco, US West and others invest in the next stage of high-speed Internet access. Instead, it will be the smart group of vendors, telcos, ISPs and, yes, military conversions that will drive the next generation of global networks. For example, it is no secret that submarines can already communicate with optical transmission up to 4000 miles, and have been able to do so for some time. Could this mean that optical amplifiers will play a big role in the next-generation Internet? The “magic” will come to the applications that require high-speed access and microbrowser capability.

Too many corporate intranets are already tied to costly, slow portals that get bogged down in messaging traffic, much like AOL can with consumers on a busy e-mail day. However, as this generation of AOL “newbies” gets used to online services and begs to have the Web subsume their growing data appetite (more – for less money!), will these end-users really want to have their telephone, mail, TV, movie rental, virtual meetings and classroom-based education bogged down on one portal?

Posted in Business at December 3rd, 2015. No Comments.

Calculating Internet Costs Of Email

Taking the free hours included in the basic rates of America Online (AOL), CompuServe, or Prodigy and considering a daily mail exchange of 10 minutes a day, times five days a week, times four weeks, I get an on-line hour count of 3 to 4 hours per month. Now, before the flame mail starts again, this assumes that users are composing and reading messages off-line.

The extra 20 percent I added (taking the total to $12 to $14 per month) for perusing other areas of these services is predicated on the typical usage of a bunch of these nontechie users here at my office. Several of you suggested my math wasn’t based on an apples-to-apples comparison. Well, if you run any of the commercial services for 40 to 50 hours per month, yes, you are likely to get a whopper of a bill. I’ve had my share of $200 CompuServe bills in the past, but in my experience, most folks won’t use the services like this.

Of course, it is possible that they will. Give a user a free (or company paid-for) account and the old who-cares-what-the-charges-are attitudes appear. But this is pretty rare,

Posted in Business at November 30th, 2015. No Comments.

Keeping Your Data Storage Safe

There are usually indications that should alert you to the fact that the storage locations for you files may be in a dangerous position. There are sounds that will signify to you that if you do not take the chance to have a proper back up for your documents then you might have to resort to the services of computer data recovery.

The first sign that you should watch out for is the presence of sounds that do not seem normal. These include sounds like clicking and scratching. When you hear these, you need to take appropriate measures to have your documents stored in other locations as well. Usually, you may notice too that the computer may shut itself down unexpectedly. This is an indication that soon, you might lose your hard drive.

A hard drive recovery service can help.Also, when you suspect that you might have lost some files, or even worse, if you have water damage on your hard drive, read this, and then contact an expert as soon as possible. Resorting to issues like refrigeration may just result in even more complications. Consequently, trying out some recovery methods that have not been proven to work will only make the work of computer data recovery a hard nut to crack. You may make the process even harder by trying to get to the hardware parts of the storage system.

Server data recovery comes as a result of loss of data. Data loss is one of the worst nightmares one can experience especially for the person who uses their computer all the time. In the present world, computers are a very essential part of everybody’s life, from the businessperson Read More…

Posted in Business, Money at November 26th, 2015. No Comments.

Have You Paid Your Home Property Taxes?

Having a home of your own comes with many benefits. You are required to pay property taxes every year as you enjoy the many benefits that come with having a roof over your head. You can learn how to file tax online to meet set deadlines. It is vital to consult a tax professional for back tax help to ensure the home remains yours. Penalties and late charges can accumulate if you do not observe set deadlines. You can call the IRS office to be advised how to pay off back taxes. It is important to be vigilant to ensure you file the right tax amount.

If you are struggling to pay your property taxes, talk to a tax professional to find out if you are eligible for a compromise. Paying your taxes in installments is possible when you request for back tax help from the IRS office. You must have a credible reason to be considered. Be careful when you approach companies that promise tax relief to avoid being swindled. Furthermore, you should never pay upfront to receive help; get in touch with a tax attorney to be advised further, if your local IRS …

Posted in Money at November 25th, 2015. No Comments.

How To Stop Snoring – Devices And Remedies

“Sleep–it was all I could thing about,” recalls Michael, a computer programmer in Chicago, IL. “I was so tired that I couldn’t do my work, and I would collapse on the couch when I got home. My wife thought I was just lazy. My fatigue was literally ruining my life until my doctor diagnosed my sleep apnea. It was such a relief to know it wasn’t all in my head.”

Michael is far from alone in dealing with sleep apnea, which is one of many types of sleep disorders – it’s known to most of us as snoring. Medical experts in sleep disorders report that 80 million Americans have serious sleep problems, and, of these, about 10 million have sleep apnea that needs treatment.

Steve Birch, product manager for Healthdyne Technologies in Marietta, GA, agrees that the impact of sleep apnea can be devastating. “With severe sleep apnea, patients are excessively sleepy during the day. It affects their work, personal lives, and activities such as driving and operating heavy machinery. They may wake up with a headache, lack energy, and even experience personality changes,” he notes. “Lifestyle and quality of life can be seriously affected.”

And, there can be serious health consequences. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, an estimated 38,000 cardiovascular deaths occur each year due to obstructive sleep apnea. The commission also states that individuals with obstructive sleep apnea are seven times more likely to have automobile accidents as the general population. The commission has also noted that obstructive sleep apnea, and snoring in general, can be treated effectively with snoring mouthpieces.

How to stop snoring?Another complication is the need for additional physician information on sleep disorders. Recent reports indicate that 95% of patients with sleep disorders remain undiagnosed. If your doctor suspects that you have sleep apnea, you may be sent to a sleep lab, or you may be equipped with a sleep apnea monitor to use at home. From the results of these tests, your doctor can determine if you have sleep apnea, and, if you do, what type you have and the best method of treatment.

Types Of Sleep Apnea

There are three forms of sleep apnea:

Read More…

Posted in Health at November 8th, 2015. No Comments.

Email Privacy On Everyone’s Watch

“Invasion of Email is more of a threat today just because so many more people are using Email,” says Phoenix attorney Michael Lechter, a specialist in intellectual property law at Meyer Hendricks Victor Osborn & Maledon.

“It used to be that everything was on paper and tucked away in a drawer someplace,” Lechter says. “Someone browsing through such information is much easier in its electronic form. Sure, there are passwords, but passwords can be broken.”

Another local intellectual property law expert in Phoenix is Sherman Parrett of Snell & Wilmer.

Intellectual Property HandbookParrett says, “There are very few Email installations that can’t be invaded by a devious computer hacker. If the system is totally internal to the company, it’s relatively easy to protect it with passwords and levels of access. If you want to interface with outside networks, however, it becomes more difficult.”

Various technological mechanisms can be built into one’s software program that tend to prevent their being copied, Lechter says in his “Intellectual Property Handbook,” published by TechPress Inc., an affiliate of the Meyer Hendricks law firm. These mechanisms can include encryption and non-standard formats.

Lechter writes, “Any physical security mechanism must be capable

Posted in Business at October 19th, 2015. No Comments.

Hard Drive Failure Issues Strike Cebit Despite New Progress

There is little doubt at all that the Internet is changing the nature of communication. Some of the change is positive, such as (he says, modestly) Datamation’s CeBIT Online effort, which will let you visit the biggest computer show in the world without trekking to Hanover, Germany. I only hope our CeBIT effort adds a bit to the huge cache of valuable information awaiting IS professionals on the Internet.

But there are some disturbing communication issues with the Internet as well, which make me worry about the decline of civilized dialogue and the troublesome condescension of some fanatics-those with e-mail access but no manners.

MINDLESS FLAMES. Our Paradigm Shift columnists Sarna and Febish thought that the truly rude flak they were taking for suggesting that OS/2 might fail even though it’s a technically superior product was caused by OS/2 itself. Perhaps it’s something in the config files (SET ATTITUDE=CHILDISH.DLL). But no, it turned out it had nothing to do with Warp. It has to do with people who spend time on line obsessing in special interest groups.

In this case, a partial quote of what Sarna and Febish actually wrote was posted followed

Posted in Business at October 12th, 2015. 4 Comments.

The Availability of Snoring Devices

When researching the topic snoring devices, we first source information on how they work and information about how effective they are. We learn that certain devices will not work in certain circumstances and that other snoring devices, no matter how effective, can be harmful to your health. Finding the best treatments will save you a lot of pain.

Also, we need to take a look at availability, where we can purchase these stop snoring devices and how consumer friendly these devices are. The CPAP mask, adjustable bed and dental appliances seem to be the more expensive and less popular products for the consumer. The nasal valve dilator, stop snoring pillows and stop snoring sprays all cost under $100, which makes then the cheaper option. Although they are cheaper, the price has little influence on the consumer’s choice to opt for these devices.

So where can we buy these products? These products can be found and purchased online, and at your nearest pharmacy. Depending on the retail stores, some of the products can be found in the health section.

Considering that some of these products are not very expensive, and that the availability of the products …

Posted in Health at October 4th, 2015. No Comments.

13 Tips That Can Help You Get A Business Loan

gablIf you’ve outfitted your business about as far as you can on funds scraped together from checking-account float, birthday money, and your MasterCard, it might be time for a loan.

Maybe you’ve already asked your banker how to get a loan, and he or she has suggested that the whole process would be much easier if you put up your house as collateral, call it a home-equity loan, and forget about getting past the killer business-loan committee.

It’s true that business loans, especially for small, home-based businesses, are not easy to come by in this credit-crunch environment. But they’re worth the trouble: The sooner you start building a business credit history, the easier your borrowing will be down the road if and when you need big bucks for a major expansion. For that reason, even a small, more obtainable loan is worth pursuing.

When you start the loan-application process, your banker will probably give you the standard, but valuable, information about how to prepare a business plan. Follow those directions, but realize that it’s the inside tips your banker won’t mention that can win you the edge.

GET A LOAN

Here is a baker’s …

Posted in Business at October 3rd, 2015. No Comments.

Eliminating the Bad Assumptions About How to Stop Snoring

People who do not understand snoring are sometimes quick to assume that people who have the disorder are disgusting. Instead of making premature judgments, the right thing they should do is to have an open mind about this medical condition. In addition, they must help the people they know to find out how to stop snoring. The disorder becomes a serious condition if it begins to affect the lives of sufferers in a lot of ways. There are cases of snoring that are easy to address depending on its origin. The best way of obtaining treatment is through medical intervention of qualified professionals.

Some individuals assume that snoring will eventually go away or fade and these assumptions are dangerous. Instead of holding on to this myth, it is more appropriate to look for the available treatments for stopping snoring. There are thousands of qualified medical experts who have studied the disorder and most of them have found the cure. Nonetheless, there are shady characters that would victimize poor sufferers by promoting false claims on how to stop snoring. To be spared from these people, patients must seek the help of credible institutions, which have …

Posted in Health at September 25th, 2015. No Comments.

Cashflow: How To Forecast It

cfhtfiLast summer I taught an adult-education seminar entitled “Running a Home Business with Your Computer.” Some studens wanted marketing ideas, some business-development ideas, and one person even wanted to know which computer to buy. But there was one thing they all wanted to know–how to manage their finances.

“My business is growing fast and I want to get control of my finances before it gets too big,” said one woman, who sells health and nutrition products. The man who hadn’t yet bought a computer was fretting about his shoe box full of invoices and receipts. He wanted to scan them into his computer and let the microprocessor take over. “You’d laugh if you saw my accounting system,” he said.

I could identify with these voices, since I spent five years gearing up to automate my financial record-keeping before finally computerizing last January. Hearing the high lonesome cries of manual accountants wandering in a forest of paper, with guesstimates as their guides, reminded me that I’ve still got a ways to go myself.

I started using Quicken to write checks and record withdrawals and deposits for three reasons: (1) I wanted to keep more accurate records, …

Posted in Money at September 10th, 2015. No Comments.

Tips to Stop Snoring

Snoring is a common issue that is a major problem for many people. An occasional snoring habit is not something to be worried of but if you are snoring frequently during sleep, then you need to be conscious about it as it is a big hindrance for you to achieve a peaceful sleep at night. Now you might wonder how to stop snoring and this question has a wide range of answers, many of them at this site.

How do you stop snoring? The first thing that you should keep in mind is that snoring is not a disease condition or disorder, but it is a pathway for many other diseases as it can affect the quality of your sleep. Do always make sure that you have your dinner at least three hours before you kick off to bed. Make your bedding comfortable and sleep in the proper position, often sideways. Your body weight too can impact your habit of snoring. Take concern of your body weight and do regular exercise. If you continue to snore regularly, then you need to meet up a doctor and get advised as to how to stop snoring …

Posted in Health at September 8th, 2015. 2 Comments.