The reasons for operating in multiple locations are many. You could be a local restaurant or style salon that starts a chain store or two in other diverse parts of your city. Or you could be a business with an industrial location that manufactures your goods, another retail location that sells them, and a third location to house your office and administration needs.

Whatever the case for having multiple locations, your staff and employees can suffer from being separated and lose that necessary interaction that makes a cohesive and solid company culture.

So what can you do to keep your company unified and share a common culture? Here are a few helpful tips:

Write a Weekly Staff Letter

Having multiple offices can have an isolating effect on staff, even if they are in the same city. Having the main leadership in a distant office with irregular visits or communication can make employees feel like they don't matter or that they just don't make a difference.

If your business has multiple locations, consider writing a weekly staff letter. Hearing from the "Big Cheese" on a regular basis can keep morale high, and your words of encouragement will be very welcome.

Create a Company Intranet

Just because your company operates on separate and multiple geographic locations doesn't mean you can't have a unified computer network. Consider publishing a company-wide intranet that is only accessible by employees logged onto your network.

Your business intranet can have a section for each of your departments. Publish updates and highlights from different stores. Keep a photo directory of employees, and keep employees equally abreast of company news and events.

Hold Friendly Competitions

There is nothing like a friendly competition to spur imagination and enthusiasm among employees in different locations. Consider having a decorating competition during the holidays. Or even a sales competition between your chain locations. And don't forget to organize a softball or other sporting tournament between location employees at the company picnic.

Be Consistent with Policies

Be sure you keep consistent HR policies among your multiple business locations. How does it look if employees at one location get to go home early on Fridays while other offices are working until 5pm and beyond?

Sure, you have to take into consideration the needs of the location. For instance, you may have a manufacturing location that works both day and swing shift or even multiple restaurant locations that are open until 2am. Of course, it's important to set the hours of each office location and keep them.

However, work hours are just an example. Other policies such as attendance, time off requests, holidays (or holiday pay), etc., are just as important.

Form Traditions

Why not create traditions that create a sense of family and unity? It could be something as simple as organizing a happy hour meetup one Friday a month. Keeping the company picnic tradition each summer. A quarterly blood drive. A holiday party with carolers. Or better yet, forming a caroling group of company singers. This is a category where you can let your imagination run.

Company-wide Celebrations

If you have a reason to celebrate, be sure all employees at all locations get to participate. For instance,for your 10 year company anniversary, you want to provide a catered lunch to all employees. Coordinate the catering to all locations, not just the main headquarters. And avoid jealousy by getting fine cuisine catering at home base and sending sandwiches to the satellite shops. Provide the same quality meal to everyone.

Your business is not just selling products or services. It is made up of a company culture consisting of your valued employees and staff. Be sure you take necessary steps to keep your small business culture unified if you operate in more than one location.

In this article, we assume you already offer the list of usual employee benefits such as paid vacation, health/dental, 401(k), etc. What really can solidify a long-term relationship with employees are the additional employee perks not found elsewhere, even in the corporations.

Here is a potential list of employee perks and additional company benefits you could integrate into your total compensation package.

1. Flextime

   Whether employees work a full-time schedule or part time, one very attractive employee perk is the ability to be flexible in scheduling those hours. Flextime means that you and the employee agree on a schedule that fits both your business needs and the employee's needs. For instance, in many small companies, the accountant is not required to be at the job during all business hours. She may prefer a 6am to 3pm schedule to accommodate her children getting home from school. As long as the work gets done, the time could be flexible.

2. Telecommuting

   In some cases, employees may not even have to be on-site. Many people would enjoy an employee benefit of staying home to work, or telecommuting. It would require a remote computer network set up and telephone. However, in most cases, an employee could get the same work done at home as at the office. Ultimately, this could save you money on the size of space you rent.

3. Instant Monetary Rewards

   Workers love monetary employee benefits. You could issue $5 or $10 gift cards to employees who accomplish certain tasks. Or even a larger $250 cash bonus reward for suggesting a new and more efficient process.

4. Child/Pet Care

   Other uncommon employee perks is actually having on-site child or pet care. Child care is an absolute necessity for young parents, and this service on-site could really help attract and retain your best employees. Even on-site doggy day care has been adopted by many small businesses to help employees stay in touch with their pets while at work.

5. Interest-Free Computer Loan

   This employee benefit has been adopted by many companies, including small businesses. Though the cost of personal computers has dropped considerably since the beginning of the 21st century, they can still be difficult to purchase as an initial cash outlay. Consider an employee perk where you offer to pay for the computer and then take small installments out of regular paychecks for 6 months until the loan is paid off.

6. Free or Discount Products/Services

   Many small business owners have no problem giving steep discounts or even free products or services as an employee benefit. For instance, if you are a CPA, you could offer free tax preparation service to your five employees. Or offer "employee prices" on your retail products.

7. Parking/Transit Discount

   Most workers must commute. And free or reduced prices on parking or transit fees are always a welcome employee benefit. If you're in the 'burbs and have plenty of parking, this may not be an issue. However, if you are located in a central business district or downtown in a major metropolis, this employee perk will be attractive to current and potential employees.

8. Paid Community Volunteer Hours

   Some people like to give back. Consider an employee benefit where you will pay up to 3 to 5 hours a week/month to volunteer. This would allow employees to volunteer for SMART reading programs or to help with their local charity.

9. Errand Service

   It's difficult to complete errands while at work. Consider hiring a local "errand" concierge service that your employees can use once or twice a week for picking up dry cleaning, getting the dog to the grooming service, etc.

However, there are ways to ensure that your next company meeting runs smoothly and allows you to meet your objectives faster. Read these tips on meeting improvement to find out how you can gather your employees more effectively.

1. Find Alternatives to Company Meetings

   A business meeting, as most people know, can often be a colossal waste of time. Most people can remember sitting in a meeting where the discussion quickly trails off-topic, becomes unfocused, and concludes without ever reaching a resolution. Everyone leaves the meeting wondering why they even had one in the first place.

   To avoid this, your company meetings should have a direct purpose and objective for a group gathering. First, ask yourself whether the meeting agenda can be resolved through an email broadcast or a memo. Perhaps you can simply stop by the office of a few staff members to get their input without a full-blown company-wide meeting.

   Whenever possible, try to avoid setting a meeting in the first place.

2. Draft a Meeting Agenda and Set Objectives

   If you do find that a company meeting is necessary, your meeting improvement journey starts with writing an agenda and setting clearly-define objectives.

   • What is the purpose? - First, ask what is the purpose of this business meeting? Do you need to accomplish a goal? Get a process solidified and understood? Improve your next meeting by simply having a goal or objective in mind.
   • Write the meeting agenda list - When you have set your purpose and objectives, you should organize a list of topics that need to be discussed into a meeting agenda. You can gather input from attendees on what they need to discuss to help determine the agenda as well.
   • Map a timeline for the company meeting - Your staff will applaud your meeting improvement efforts if you can stay on track and on schedule. Map a timeline, estimating an approximate and reasonable amount of time for each topic. This will help you stay on track and spend only the allotted time in discussions. There should be some flexibility in the timeline, as it is likely that some discussions may end up requiring more or even less time than what was allotted.

3. Delegate Meeting Agenda Items Beforehand

   You will have more productive meetings if you delegate agenda items beforehand. Assign someone to prepare an agenda item. This helps in two ways. First, it gives meeting attendees more ownership of the meeting so they have something at stake in being there. Secondly, it helps relieve you from having to prepare everything on your agenda.

4. Be the Moderator to Stay on Track

   A simply business meetings improvement is to assign a moderator or take on the responsibility yourself. This will happen keep the rest of the attendees focused and on track with the meeting agenda. As mentioned, segues into unrelated topics can happen frequently. You can avoid this by:

   • Help discussions stay focused - when a discussion begins to wander, or even if too much time is being spent on a particular item, it is the moderator's job to pull back the discussion and keep it focused.
   • Use a timer, or assign a timekeeper - use the clock as a dictator. Everyone's time is important. Don't let discussions go too long. Keep it only to the allotted time.

5. Use Visual Aids

   When possible, use visual aids during a company meeting. A media inclusion such as a Powerpoint presentation, a photo slideshow, or even a short video can help get your attendees more involved and engaged with the meeting process. It can also help spark creativity and aid in the brainstorming process.

6. Ready, Set, Action!

   Never let a meeting agenda item go by without some assignment of action. Even if it is determined the agenda item is completed, someone needs to file papers, inform others via email memo, etc. Make sure someone is assigned to follow up on the task.

7. Set Regular Meeting Times When Necessary

   Depending on your industry and your business needs, it may be necessary to gather a group of your management team or other staff on a regular basis. If this is the case, set up a defined meeting time, say once a week on Wednesday morning at 9am. That way you don't have to "find" time among the regular attendees. Rather, they have to work around the set meeting schedule.

4. Consider a Side Business

   Is there something in your small business you do that creates by-products? Or even equipment you can use to develop additional products or services?

   For instance, Roger owns and operates a delivery and cleaning service for commercial restaurant uniforms and linens. He has a fleet of 5 trucks he uses for his business that all use biodiesel fuel. As an avid environmental proponent and amateur scientist, he has designed a biodiesel fuel conversion station that makes the eco-friendly fuel out of spent cooking oil. He gets the oil for free from local restaurants, and he has the chemicals and equipment to convert the oil into bio-diesel at his business warehouse.

   He makes enough biodiesel not only to power his trucks, but has a surplus he can sell to other auto owners with biodiesel engines. He sells the fuel to a small clientele for about $1.50-$2 per gallon and makes a nice income to offset the cost of chemicals and equipment to produce the biofuel. Essentially he runs his trucks at zero fuel expense.

   Think outside the box and consider something along these lines in your business. Is there something else your business can do to make extra revenue in the space you occupy? Be creative. You're sure to come up with at least one idea.

5. Make and Show an Art Gallery

   In Portland, Oregon, the trendy Pearl District near the downtown area holds a "First Thursday" art event every month. There are a number of art galleries in the area that started this event years ago, but other non-art related business joined the trend as a way to promote their own location. Companies like architecture firms, fine restaurants, upscale furniture stores, and more all open their doors each First Thursday night and display their art collection, provide wine & cheese or other small hors d'oeurvres, and end up finding additional business through the networking event.

   Consider using your attractive and convenient space as a way to promote local artists. Find out how you can join with other local businesses and galleries to make a regular viewing event. Then make a call for art submissions. Choose a different theme each month or quarter. It could be paintings, sculptures, photographs, or whatever you think may fit your business "personality". Not only can you make additional income through the networking and additional foot traffic, but you could work out an arrangement to split the sale of art in a consignment deal.

6. Offer Storage Space Rental

   Do you have a great small business space that happens to have additional empty space? It could be a basement or even an empty unused garage. Consider offering this ample empty space as a storage space to select individuals or other businesses.

   However, be picky. You don't want every average Joe coming to your place of business asking to store his "stuff". Your arrangement should be made through word-of-mouth in an arrangement such as storing a local performing theater's costumes, storing an extra vehicle for another company, or even allowing a non-profit to store extra materials for a tax advantage deal.

7. Share Your IT Space

   Do you have a slick IT room for your server use? Consider offering a shelf and internet connection to other local businesses to house their internet server. Professional web hosting companies will house a server owned by another business, and it's termed "co-location". And you could do the same for another local business if you have the qualified IT space and staff to monitor it. This type of co-location arrangement could be a great and easy way to utilize your high-tech space and add revenue to your company.

The ideas listed here are just ideas that have been proven effective for many small business owners. Consider some of these, and brainstorm your own. It is your duty as a small business owner to do the best you can to operate at full efficiency, and sharing your space could be one of those ways.

There are many ways you can help offset your total yearly office expense. In fact, there are strategies you can put to use right now to help start earning extra revenue for your business. All it takes is a bit of imagination, brainstorming, and the right marketing.

To give you a place to start, here are seven things to consider as ways to bring in revenue with your commercial business space.

1. Lease out Extra Desks/Office Space

   Perhaps just like you, there are many small business owners who are starting a small business on a shoestring budget. They may simply be using their kitchen table to do the daily business or finding that they are on a first-name basis at the local Starbucks. They need a better place to do their business, and you could be the answer.

   It is not uncommon for small business owners who find success to rent or buy a space that they can "grow into." That perfect space may be utilized for your business sometime in the future, but now you have a couple hundred or even thousands of spare square feet. Why not lease that space to others?

   Set up that extra office as a rental. Or lease empty desk space in the back of the office. You can even make arrangements to have renters have use of your office equipment like fax, copier, wi-fi, and meeting rooms. You could even arrange office use during weekends or evenings when you and your staff are not in the office so as to avoid conflicting use of space.

   You could bring in an extra $300 to $400 per individual and offset your monthly rent expense considerably.

2. Hold Training Classes, Seminars, or Workshops

   Do you have a room suitable for training or learning? Perhaps a classroom setup with marker boards and projector screen display? Why not design workshops, seminars, or even training in that room? It could be a seminar on how to better handle finances, a home decorating workshop, or possibly training for clients to come in and learn how better to use your product.

   Charge your participants a fair rate, usually $100, $300, or even up to $1,000 per seat depending on the value of the seminar or workshop.

   Another idea if your space is suitable and desirable as a training center is to rent it out to other businesses for their training or seminars. Using this option for extra space utilization could bring in considerable extra revenue to your business.

3. Rent Your Machinery/Equipment

   Do you own special equipment or machinery? Perhaps you use special woodworking equipment. Or you make candles. Or you even have a high tech kitchen setup for your catering company.

   The equipment you use could be useful to others as well. Perhaps there is another catering company just starting out that specializes in wedding cupcakes. They only need a space once a week to do their baking. Perhaps you could rent your kitchen during off-hours. You help another small business owners succeed and bring in additional revenue. This goes for any other type of individual or small business who needs access to special equipment that you may have.

Now, read more in PART 2 of this article to learn more ways you can offset your rent expense and earn revenue for your small business.

Merriam-Webster defines innovation as "the introduction of something new", or "a new idea, method, or device". While there may be people who say, "we've always done it this way in the past...", innovation is just the opposite. It helps keep things fresh, stimulates creativity, and prepares a small business for inevitable change.

So how do you foster creativity and innovation in your business? Here are a few tips:

Include Innovation In Your Core Values

When a small business puts creativity and innovation at the top of its core value list, then all employees know that is a top priority in the business model. The tone you set with the emphasis on innovation will help fire up your employees.

Be sure you avoid vagueness in your core value statement. A simple statement like "we strive to innovate" does not contain enough detail. Innovate what? Products? Processes? Use a more specific statement like "we find ways to make our efficient systems better."

Open Innovation From Everyone

Innovative ideas do not always come from the minds of engineers. A great innovative product or service idea can spring from the mind of an accounts payable specialist. Or at the very least, he or she may come up with a better way to process invoices and purchase orders. You never know where the next big idea or improvement will come from, so encourage an environment of open innovation that includes everyone on the ladder.

Develop a Creative Working Atmosphere

Do your employees work in an environment of cold, blue walls and harsh overhead fluorescent lighting? Or do you set up inspiring colors, hang art, and even provide creative activities for your employees?

The type of environment you provide your employees can make a big difference in their creative output. Many creative types of companies like architects and advertising agencies will provide stimulating games like pool, foosball, and other activities to help workers get creative juices flowing.

Allocate Creativity Time

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Take a page from Google's book, and don't forget to allow time for your workers to dwell on their innovative ideas. You could allocate a group outing one Friday each month. Encourage a half day off here and there. Promote a few hours of the day to sit in your resource room (or visit the local library/gym/etc).

Keep in mind that you may want to reserve this type of innovation incubation to employees who are employed as creative types such as salespeople, advertising reps, etc.

Reward Innovation

Do you positively reinforce your employees to give you their creative ideas? What good does it do them to share an idea if you get all the credit and they get nothing?

Be sure you encourage innovation with rewards. Rewards can be in the form of money or even gift cards. But it doesn't have to be money. While a financial bonus may be welcome, even a simple recognition in front of everybody for their effort and contribution may be all a person needs.

Provide the Resources

The technology you supply can contribute highly to the success of innovative ideas. Be sure you provide the tools and resources needed, especially when it comes to software. Tools like Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, CAD software, Illustrator, web design programs, digital animation, and even video editing software can all be helpful tools for your employees to create the products that sell to clients.

Don't let your small business get left behind when it comes to beating the competition, growing a fledgling business, or simply staying ahead of a recession. Allow your employees to find their creative side, and foster that innovation that exists in everyone.

How can you as a business owner be a part of the solution for the Boomer generation as they reach their sunset years? It's easy: hire them!

Hiring Boomers near retirement may at first give you pause. Why hire someone who is not destined to be a long-term employee? Interestingly, many businesses are hiring more near-retirement employees. In fact, a recent study performed by the HR consultancy firm, Hewitt Associates, shows that 61 percent of US companies have or will establish employment programs that are targeted at near retirement workers. And just under half of respondents claimed to have a "phased retirement" program in place for their employees.

Reasons to Hire Boomers

Why should you hire or retain an employee from the Boomer generation? Here are a few good reasons.

• Experience - The number one reason is experience. The Boomer generation has had a full generation of experience that spans through the conservative '50s, the shaky and revolutionary '60s, the preppie '80s, and the progressive '90s. These are the people who have seen it all. You can expect that their experience in the workplace can certainly benefit your small business.

• Courteous and Respectful Service - As the Boomer generation was brought into the mid-20th century, they grew up in a tradition of respect. This was a time when children learned to say "yes sir" and "yes ma'am." Folks now in their 50s and 60s are experienced in talking to people in a respectful manner, making eye contact, and communicating with results and resolution in mind. Your hires who are near retirement can be your best front line when it comes to your customers.

• Fill Staffing Gaps - Many small business owners experience staffing gaps, especially when they run a business that is seasonal, runs in cycles, or has a high turnover rate. Those citizens who are near retirement may be at a point in their career when they can handle part-time and cyclical work as needed by an employer.

How You Can Utilize Boomer Staffing

As you analyze your staffing needs, whether it's full time, part time, or seasonal, here are a few good ways you can utilize the experience of Boomers near their retirement.

• Experienced Managers - Don't ever discount the benefit of a 50-something, or even 60-something, manager. These men and women have experience through times when they were a changin'. Count on them to lead your employees with wisdom.

• Part-Time Staff - Many Boomers are wanting to retire, but cannot fully afford to stop working. Many look for part time or even seasonal staffing to help earn additional income as they wait for full Social Security or other pension benefits to begin. They are fully willing to meet your employment gap needs if you need someone part time each week or even during peak production or sales seasons.

• On Call Staff - Many Boomers and near-retirees may not want steady employment, but are satisfied to work "as needed." Consider putting Boomers and other near-retired workers on the books as staff to call when the demand is needed.

• Customer Relations- Consider hiring a worker near retirement to help handle your customer relations. r Wal-Mart is a prime example. Everyone is fond of the "greeters" this retail giant hires who say 'hello' to customers walking into the store. They offer a kind smile and a helpful countenance, and they are there to simply point the way to the departments where the big sales are. Consider hiring a Boomer to talk to your customers, not just as a "greeter," but as someone who asks them survey questions that can help improve your business. Or a boomer could be someone who handles incoming customer service calls.

Give consideration to those close to retirement as a way to help your employment needs. Not only do you get the benefit of staffing, but you'll also benefit from the experience from these wise workers.

Email marketing is a delicate business. Without a good strategy, you could potentially lose customers, gain an unfavorable reputation, and ultimately lose business. With this in mind, what do you need to have an effective email marketing campaign?

1. Make Your Email List And Check It Twice

   Having a strategy to collect email contacts is great. However, you should also have a process in place that checks email addresses for accuracy. Sort your list and take out addresses with info@, or support@ emails. If an email is returned as undeliverable to certain addresses, see to it that those addresses are removed from your list.

2. Pay Attention to Your "Subject" and "From" Lines

   Your email should be recognizable. If recipients do not know from whom an email is sent, they will likely delete it. The same holds true for your subject line. If it does not capture their attention and engage them to read further, consider your email deleted.
   Avoid vague subjects like "Big Sale!" or "Huge Savings!"

   Be sure that your subject line is in line with your email message. Tricking readers to opening an email with a catchy subject and changing the subject in the body of the email only frustrates your customers.

3. What to Include (And Eliminate) In the Body of the Email

   Your email should include a note as to why the reader is receiving the email, such as an opt-in choice or a request after a product purchase. You also should include a procedure for the recipient to unsubscribe if they choose.

   The rest of your email body should contain your well-written message. To avoid getting trapped in spam filters, avoid phrases like:

   • Free
   • Savings
   • Free trial
   • Special offer
   • Limited time only
   • Winner
   • Anything regarding mortgages, bad credit, or debt

4. Follow Up After Each Email

   Remember to continue to follow up your list after sending an email. Check again for any undeliverables, and look for complaints about your emails.

   As you continually improve your email list and message content, you will find that an email campaign with a sound strategy can bring great rewards.

Wearing the boss hat is not easy, and many small business owners have a tough time adjusting to the role. Rather than focusing on selling their product or service, much time is spent searching for and interviewing potential staffers, dealing with current employee work issues, and sifting through all the tough human resources issues, such as personality conflicts and even layoffs.

So what is an entrepreneur to do when employees are involved with the business? Here are some tips to help you with the role of "boss."

Put the Right People in the Right Job

You'll get the best results from your staff if you hire the right staff. Hire the most qualified candidate, but also the one who fits with your company's style. If you are not absolutely sure about hiring someone out of a batch of candidates, don't feel you have to choose. Take the time to obtain another round of resumes in order to fill your staff positions with 100% confidence.

Include Your Team

One important strategy to help your staff feel connected to the company is to include them as much as possible. Tell them your strategies for business success. Share the positive (or negative) financial results of last quarter. It also means including everyone in a celebratory party for a big company success. Employees who feel connected are more productive.

Coach and Lead

Many entrepreneurs don't realize that when they become bosses, they aren't just leaders, but they are coaches as well. That means encouraging your employees, teaching them about their job, and providing the tools they need to advance their own career, as well as your business.

Hire an HR Manager

Sometimes the duties of managing employees simply become too great for a single business owner to handle. If that happens, it is time to hire a person who can be in charge of most employee matters. That frees up considerable time for you as the business owner. Don't hesitate to delegate the roll of boss to an HR manager if you feel overwhelmed. In addition, you enjoy the perk of a human resources manager who is versed with employment law and ensuring that you are hiring, managing, and even firing the right way.

Meals

The IRS allows meals to be expended if they serve a business purpose. For instance, if you take a client out to lunch and discuss points of a contract, the meal counts as an entertainment expense. But what if you and the client discussed the contract in your office then went out to lunch? That's acceptable as well. You can still qualify the meal as an entertainment discussion since there was direct business occurring directly before or afterward.

Other Entertainment

Can you take a client out on the golf course? Of course. Although the cost of the greens fees is allowed as an entertainment expense, the full price of your country club dues is not. The same holds true with sporting events. Your season subscription is off limits, but you can take a client out to a game, as long as business is discussed during, before, or after the event.

How Much Can You Deduct?

Keep in mind that your entertainment expenses are only 50% deductible. For your $500 meal, only $250 will be eligible as a small business tax deduction, and the same goes with other entertainment receipts.

Many small business owners ask about including other staff employees, spouses, and even spouses of the client. Employees are absolutely eligible to be included with the entertainment deduction, as long as they are associated with the business at hand with the client. Your friends or spouses are not eligible to be included with the total receipts. Spouses of the client are treated the same.

But what if you sponsor a large banquet where you, your staff, staff spouses, and clients and their spouses engage in a big meal? This might be an acceptable situation, but you should always check with a tax professional for full rules on this type of situation.

Entertainment is expected in business transactions. Be sure you get the full tax deduction coming to you, but avoid the temptation to deduct more than you are eligible.