How to Manage a Small Business
As an independent professional, achieving work-life balance can often feel like a hard reach. When you run your own business, you have to balance the demands of multiple clients while staying on top of all of your back-office tasks and planning for the future. Without a good balance between your work life and personal life, you…
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Many freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners call their home office—or wherever their workplace may be—their sanctuary. An office is a place that should generate creativity, promote health and well-being, and offer both a comfortable and efficient environment. This holiday season, we’ve compiled a list of our top home office gifts that are perfect for…
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Owning your own business means taking responsibility for every aspect of running your company. That burden will likely include tasks that are not directly related to your actual expertise, but are necessary for continued growth, such as personal branding and marketing. An effective way to market yourself online is to establish yourself as an industry…
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The holiday season is always one of the busiest times of year, and taking time to find the perfect little something for your client can be an added stress. Rather than settling for a last-minute gift card or fruit basket, take advantage of our annual holiday gift guide. We’ve scoured the web and polled our…
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As an independent business owner, you’ll inevitably encounter a roadblock, situation, or circumstance that make it difficult to successfully perform your work. It’s not uncommon to struggle with knowing when to speak up or when to make your client aware of issues or limitations. When it comes to client relationships, the prospect of having that difficult…
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When you run your own business, you’ll quickly learn that putting in long hours without seeing immediate payoff is pretty normal. The pressure of doing it all yourself can be a lot and it can be easy to lose steam. Find inspiration, keep on task throughout the day, and maintain focus on your goals by…
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As an independent professional it’s important to understand key financial terms. There will be a financial component to every part of your job, from the beginning of a project when you are negotiating with a client about your rates and writing a contract, to the end of a project when you are invoicing a client…
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Every interaction you have with your clients slowly informs and builds your relationship. In order to create the positive experiences needed to be successful in your field, you must provide great service and be a great communicator as well. We sat down with the MBO Partners Customer Experience team—the team responsible for making sure independents…
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Billing clients is an important part of your job as an independent professional. Without a good system in place to track your hours and bill your clients, the financial side of your business can quickly get messy and stressful. If you’re just starting out, you’ll want to ensure you are charging the right amount for…
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In order to set yourself apart and remain competitive in your industry, it’s important to keep your skills and knowledge current. Expanding your education and expertise can help you can land new clients and build lasting relationships with current clients. Go beyond the basics and gain a professional advantage with these five ways to stay sharp…
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