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Get the Hack Outta of Here: Use Tech as a Roadmap to Grow, Protect, & Save Money in Your Business!
Introduction
We all know that technology is the driving force of our economy. It’s changed the way we communicate, live, and do business. That’s why it’s important that you use technology to grow your business. By leveraging automation and software tools to scale your company and save money, you’ll be able to scale faster than ever before without sacrificing quality or value.
Use Technology to Grow Your Business
Growing your business is the cornerstone of success. It’s a process that can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or intimidating. In fact, if you use technology as a roadmap for growth, then you’ll find yourself moving forward at an accelerated pace!
So how do we use technology as a roadmap? Let’s take a look at some specific examples:
- Get More Clients – Use marketing automation software like HubSpot or Infusionsoft so that when someone fills out a form on your website asking for more information about what services/products they need help with (or even just inquiring about who you are), they get an automated email reply from YOU within seconds! This saves SO much time because instead of having to sit there manually typing out every single response–which takes HOURS–you can simply set up pre-written responses and send them off automatically without lifting a finger! This also helps build trust because prospective clients know they’ll always receive prompt responses from their vendor(s).
Protect Your Business with Tech Tools
- Use technology to protect your business.
- Use a firewall and virus protection software, like SentinelOne or Trend Micro Business, to keep hackers out of your network.
- Use password management software to create complex passwords for all the websites you access, and then store them securely in one place so that they’re easy for you but hard for anyone else to get at them (like someone who might be trying to break into your computer).
- Two-factor authentication is another way to keep hackers out–it requires two separate pieces of information before granting access (e.g., a username/password combo plus an SMS message). This makes it significantly more difficult for unauthorized users trying either brute force attacks or social engineering techniques on their way into an account because now there’s no single point of failure; even if someone finds out what username/password combination works best against some service provider A then tries using those same credentials with another provider B (which might have different security measures), these additional measures will stop them from gaining access altogether!
Automate Your Business will Help You Save Money & Scale Your Business
Automation can help you save time and money, scale your business, protect it from threats and disasters, and grow your revenue.
Here are some examples of automation tools:
- CRM (Customer Relationship Management) – A CRM is a tool that helps you manage your contacts and communications with customers. It tracks customer data so that you know what they want, when they want it, how much they’ve spent on previous purchases or services rendered by the company–and much more!
- Payment Processing Software – Payment processing software allows businesses to accept credit card payments without having to buy expensive hardware or software systems designed specifically for this purpose. Instead of paying thousands of dollars upfront for these systems when starting out in business as an entrepreneur with limited capital resources available for investment purposes like this one might have been able to do back in “olden times” before technology changed everything forever…
- Become a money-saving machine.
Automate your marketing. Use technology to scale your business. Save time and money in the process, because you’re now able to do more with less!
Use tech to scale your business
One of the best ways to scale your business is by using technology. If you’ve never thought about scaling before, it might sound like a scary word and concept. But trust me when I say that technology can help make your business grow faster than ever–and in a way that protects its integrity along the way!
Let’s take a look at some examples of how technology can be used to scale:
- Automation: Using automation software like Zapier or IFTTT (If This Then That) allows you to connect different apps together so that whenever one thing happens in one app, another happens automatically elsewhere. For example, if someone follows me on Facebook as a customer but hasn’t purchased anything yet from my website within 30 days after following me there…Zapier will send them an email reminding them about my products/services again! This way there’s no need for me personally do anything extra because once they sign up through Facebook they receive all kinds of reminders as needed until they convert into buyers which means less work for everyone involved 🙂
Automate your marketing
Automate your marketing.
Social media and email are two of the most popular tools for automating your marketing. Social media has a wide reach, which can be used to spread awareness about your company or product. Email marketing is another way to reach out to people who have previously expressed interest in what you do, and it also allows you to build relationships with those who have opted in by signing up for updates from you.*
Ensure client loyalty on the road to success
We’ve all been there. You’re at an event, and the speaker is giving a presentation on how to use technology in your business. They talk about how it can help you grow and protect, but they also mention that you should use it to save money–and that’s when things get tricky.
It’s easy for entrepreneurs like us who are struggling with cash flow issues and trying to keep our heads above water (or just stay afloat) feel like we need every penny we have in order to survive another day at work–but this isn’t true! In fact, there are several ways in which using technology can actually help increase revenue while saving money at the same time.
Leverage technology and automation to save time and money.
This is an area where technology can be your best friend. In fact, there are a few ways that automation can help you grow your business, protect it from cyberattacks and save money in the process.
First up: automation saves time and money! If you have ever had to manually update a spreadsheet or create a report for yourself or others at work then you know how much time goes into these mundane tasks. By setting up automated processes (either through software or with tools like Zapier), we can eliminate these manual steps so that our team members can focus on higher value activities instead of spending hours on menial tasks like data entry or reporting.
Second: automation helps protect against cyberattacks by reducing the number of surfaces through which hackers could gain access to sensitive information such as customer credit card numbers or social security numbers because they’re not stored anywhere except where they need them most–in the cloud! This cuts down risk significantly compared with keeping all information locally where it could easily be compromised by malware attacks such as ransomware attacks (which encrypt files until payment is made) etc., just one reason why companies should strive toward moving everything online ASAP.”
Conclusion
I hope you’ve learned some valuable lessons about how to use technology as a roadmap to success in your business. Remember: technology is just another tool that can help you get things done, grow, protect and save money. It’s not magic or sorcery–it’s just another way of getting stuff done!
This webinar provides an overview of Brownfields and the policies that apply in Atlanta
Invest Atlanta Panelists:
Cynthia Freeman, MBA Small Business Loan Analyst
cfreeman@investatlanta.com
404-614-8294
Kelsey M. Maynor Small Business Advocate – Property Manager at iVillage
kmaynor@investatlanta.com
404-474-1520
City of Atlanta Panelist:
Jessica Lavandier Assistant Director, Office of Zoning and Development
jlavandier@atlantaga.gov
404-865-8522
City of Atlanta-Invest Atlanta Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund information:
Other Small Business Recourses:
Your business is ready to grow
ATLinBusiness Marketplace powered by NowNetwork™ is a new marketplace designed to advance equity in the business to business (B2B) space. Connect with the Atlanta metro’s most prominent and eager buyers for your next contract.
Your business is ready to grow
ATLinBusiness Marketplace powered by NowNetwork™ is a new marketplace designed to advance equity in the business to business (B2B) space. Connect with the Atlanta metro’s most prominent and eager buyers for your next contract.
About ATLinBusiness Marketplace powered by NowNetwork™
Recognize the Benefits
How it works
Suppliers and Buyers: register for a free NowNetwork profile today and begin completing your company’s profiles. The process is easy and takes just a few minutes.
ATLinBusiness Marketplace’s artificial intelligence (AI) will assist with forging meaningful
supplier and buyer relationships. Buyers can use ATLinBusiness Marketplace’s robust
services. Suppliers can use ATLinBusiness Marketplace’s extensive company profile to
share information buyers need to know before making a purchase decision
including capabilities, certifications, diversity classification, and more.
Invest Atlanta’s mission is to advance Atlanta’s global competiveness by growing a strong economy, building vibrant communites, and incresaing economic prosperity for all Atlantans. ATLinBusiness Marketplace is one more step we are taking to increase equity and make Atlanta’s buyers and suppliers stronger companies.
 – Dr. Eloisa Klementich, CEcD President & CEO of Invest Atlanta
Connect with Invest Atlanta Team
Invest Atlanta staff is available to meet at our many Small Business Resource Centers. Use the booking tool below to schedule an in-person appointment.
Invest Atlanta’s Small Business Resource Centers are strategically located throughout the city to meet business owners where they are. Resource Centers are staffed by Invest Atlanta small business specialists, who can provide more information about how to access Invest Atlanta’s wide range of grants, loans, and technical assistance opportunities.Â
Employer Tax and Reporting Requirements
There are a few steps that you need to take when you hire an employee. First, you’ll need to verify their eligibility to work and register to pay employer and payroll taxes. Below, you can learn more about how to smoothly onboard your new team.
All businesses in the state of Georgia are required to have unemployment insurance with the Department of Labor.
- Please visit the Georgia’s Employer Handbook.
- Apply for an unemployment insurance tax account for your business.
All businesses in the state of Georgia must have Workers’ Compensation. This is an insurance that pays for an employee’s bills and salary if the worker is hurt while at work or performing a work task.
Finally, you must complete an E-verify form, even if you will not have employees. The form is made up of two parts. You must complete both parts of the form if you have more than 10 employees. You will only need to complete the first half of the form if you mark the option stating that you have less than 10 employees (0 to 9 employees).
Please click here to access the E-verify form.
You must also complete a SAVE Affidavit, which is a form stating that the person who is applying for a business license is a documented citizen/resident/alien or nonimmigrant in the United States. Even if you will not have employees, you must complete this form.
Please click here to access the SAVE Affidavit form.
When applying for a business license with the Office of Finance’s Department of Revenue, failure to present the E-verify form or the SAVE Affidavit (and a copy of a valid state or federal issued ID) will result in the delay or the rejection of the business license application.
Work Force Centers
From job training to job placement, the City of Atlanta can help your business with its workforce needs. WorkSource Centers provide several free services for employers, including posting job openings, identifying and pre-screening eligible candidates, and providing interview rooms for your business.
Understanding Employer Responsibilities
From how to set up basic payroll to how to offer benefits, the SBA provides the necessary information for your business to be in compliance with rules and regulations and to ensure that your hiring and managing of employees is done appropriately. Please visit the SBA’s hiring and managing guide.
Invest Atlanta Small Business Loan Program
Invest Atlanta provides gap financing through various loan programs to small, minority and female owned businesses to expand and/or relocate in the City of Atlanta. The purpose of these loans is to revitalize targeted commercial neighborhood areas, promote business development projects, and stimulate job creation within the city.
Non-Profit and Community Lenders
Nonprofit and community lenders are one option for obtaining loans. Many of these lenders are mission-driven: they have community or social goals to support low-income communities. They may have fewer restrictions than traditional banks when making lending decisions. Examples of community lenders include community development finance institutions (CDFIs) and some credit unions.
These loans are usually smaller, or have fixed interest rates, so that borrowers are less likely to default (fail to repay their loan). In addition to providing loans, many of these lenders also provide services like training or technical assistance.
- Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE)
- Atlanta Micro Fund
- Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (ANDP)
Banks
Bank loans are one of the most traditional ways to finance a business. Unfortunately, they’re also some of the hardest loans to get approved for due to their stricter requirements, such as having an alternate source of income, stellar credit, or being able to provide significant collateral. Have a great business plan to support your case, be persistent, shop around for the lowest interest rate, and keep in mind that you can also try other avenues, such as CDFIs.
Investors
Your investors might be people you know, such as friends, relatives, and colleagues. Or it could take the form of venture capital, which comes in the form of individuals (often called angel investors) or venture capital firms who invest in businesses that they think are promising. Angel investors will often provide capital and mentoring in exchange for equity in the business, and may require certain conditions such as influence over how to run the company.
Peer-to-peer Lending / Crowdfunding
Peer-to- peer lending, also known as crowdfunding, is an alternative funding model in which individual investors provide small sums as personal loans to individuals via Internet platforms. Crowdfunding is a way for businesses to raise money not only from friends and family, but also the public. There are several online crowdfunding platforms where you request a certain amount of money to start or grow your business. People often are interested in supporting small businesses and start-ups, and can use crowdfunding to lend their own money to you at low- or no-interest rates. Because of the highly social nature of crowdfunding, this method of raising money is also a great way to raise awareness of your business or product.
Some popular websites for crowdfunding include:
Site Considerations
- How accessible is the propose location?
- Is the price right?
- Does the site meet your requirements?
- Do you want to operate your business from home?
Understanding Zoning
Find out if any ordinances or zoning restrictions could affect your business in any way. Avoid running into unexpected (and costly) permitting issues by making sure you’ve researched your property’s zoning and know what’s allowed. Zoning Check – learn where your business is allowed.
Find a Location and Permits
Finding a great location for your business is a critical step to set your business up for success. Do your research on the area and think about the needs of your customers and employees. You can also save time and money down the line by learning about zoning and building permits and getting smart about how to negotiate a commercial lease.
Visit the Atlanta Permitting Portal to determine if a location is zoned for your type of business, and contact Invest Atlanta for site selection assistance. You may also visit the City of Atlanta Department of GIS.
Home-Based Businesses
Planning to work out of your home? Home-based businesses are some of the simplest businesses to set up in the City of Atlanta. However, there are a few rules that you’ll want to be aware of to make sure that your business activities aren’t disrupting your neighbors and that your location is safe for your clients.
Permits and ADA Compliance
You’ve found a great building for your business, and now you want to make it your own. Find out if you need a building permit and if there are any accessibility upgrades necessary to become ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.
Building Permits and Inspections
You’ve found a space zoned for your business, but before you start renovating to make it your own, find out if you need a building permit. Building permits are required for building, structural, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing projects. They help to ensure that your space is safe for your team and your customers. Visit the Atlanta Permitting Portal to see which permits you need , and what they cost.
The City of Atlanta Office of Buildings is your go-to place for information about permits and inspections, City of Atlanta Office of Buildings Homepage.
ADA Compliance
Making your business accessible not only helps your customers, it’s also federal and state law. The ADA and Georgia state requirements are in place to ensure that people with disabilities or other impairments have equal access to businesses and other public facilities. Be sure to learn about the requirements upfront to make it easier for your customers and protect yourself from potential lawsuits.
You can find out more about the City of Atlanta’s ADA Compliance activities by visiting the City of Atlanta ADA Compliance.