For many small businesses, "the office" is wherever the work is. And that, of course, requires travel – often, by car. Whether you and your employees drive your own vehicles, your business has company cars, or you rent a car to get around, knowing what kind of commercial auto insurance...
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Entries tagged 'business-insurance' ↓
Drive Carefully – and Drive Covered
Thursday, June 24, 2010 - Small Business
Answers to Small Businesses’ Top Five General Liability Questions
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - Small Business
Commercial general liability insurance is one of the most commonly purchased types of small business insurance. But many small business owners still have lots of questions about what it is, why it’s needed, and how it works. Here are answers to the top five questions we hear from our small business...
When Disaster Strikes, Business Interruption Insurance Keeps Businesses Alive
Friday, June 11, 2010 - General Insurance
It’s a small-business-owner’s worst nightmare: a fire or natural disaster wipes out your business’ headquarters, leaving you and your team with no computers, no office equipment and nowhere to work. Although the right property insurance policy would cover the physical losses and damage...
What Is an Insurable Risk?
Tuesday, May 04, 2010 - General Insurance
Business insurance is designed to protect your IT company against risk, or the likelihood of a loss. But it’s important to understand that even the most comprehensive insurance policies don’t cover every type of risk, and don’t offer unlimited compensation in the event of a claim. When...
Beyond IT Staffing: Honesty Is the Key to Managing Customer Expectations
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - IT Staffing
There’s much more to IT staffing than just providing talent to meet a client’s short-term needs. Doing the job right requires a thorough understanding of what a client hopes to achieve, and then developing a valued partnership with a shared goal of helping the client accomplish those goals...
Ongoing Quality Testing Cuts IT Project Management Risks
Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - IT Staffing
Because risk management and IT project management go hand-in-hand, experienced IT project managers never start a project without a risk-management strategy in mind. Often, at the heart of that strategy is a strong focus on quality control. Before the ink on your IT consulting agreement is even dry, it’s...
Software License Agreements Protect the Value of Your Hard Work
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - Computer Programmers
As a software developer, you know how important a good software license agreement can be. Without one, there’s nothing to stop the purchaser of your software from redistributing the products of your hard work with no profits to you. The agreement also protects you from being sued for unlimited...
Change-Control Process Reduces IT Project Surprises and Delays
Friday, November 06, 2009 - IT Staffing
Scope changes are so common in IT projects that many IT project managers have learned to expect them and simply take them in stride. But there’s no reason to let “project scope creep” slow your implementation down. Starting out with a good plan for managing scope changes can help you...
No. 1 Rule for Working with Subcontractors: Put It in Writing
Monday, November 02, 2009 - Systems Integrator
Many growing IT companies find that working with subcontractors a great way to keep clients happy and overhead in check. Without having to bring on a full-time employee, IT companies can hire independent contractors on a per-project basis, extending their company’s scope and geographical reach...
Clear Documentation Equals Better Results From Your IT Project Subcontractors
Friday, October 16, 2009 - IT Staffing
Many IT project managers find that using subcontractors is an excellent alternative to hiring full-time staffers. IT project managers may choose to hire independent contractors to assist with one project, or bring them on-board on a long-term basis. Either way, using subcontractors gives clients the...
Employment Contract Can Be a Valuable Part of Your Hiring Process
Friday, October 16, 2009 - Small Business
For many small businesses, success goes hand-in-hand with the need for more employees. While growth is something to celebrate, adding people to your team also adds a new level of risk to your operation. Most small businesses don’t have a legal or human resources department to protect the company’s...
Protect Your Interests When Hiring Subcontract Management Consultants
Friday, October 16, 2009 - Management Consultant
In an ideal world, management consultants would be able to do it all. But in reality, no one can be in two places at one time. For some engagements, it makes good business sense to hire a subcontracted management consultant to assist with specific aspects of the project. Using subcontractors can be a...
Two Key Words When Providing Ongoing Software Support: Be Specific
Friday, October 09, 2009 - Computer Programmers
Once you’ve developed and installed software for a client, your work may not be done. In many cases, software developers provide ongoing software maintenance and support for their clients. Offering this service is an excellent way to build a longstanding relationship with your client while potentially...
Project Timelines for Marketing Engagements: Keep It Realistic
Monday, October 05, 2009 - Marketing Consultant
As a marketing consultant, you know that timing is everything. To keep your consulting engagements on track, you need a good project management strategy centered around a solid project timeline. But as many marketing consultants know from experience, developing and adhering to a timeline can be tough...
Got Subcontractors? Protect Your Interests with a Subcontractor Agreement
Friday, September 25, 2009 - Independent Contractor
It’s hard to find a talented independent contractor you can trust to represent your company when working with a client. Once you do find a good one, however, it's a person that you want to keep on your team for future projects. The downside is, your favorite independent contractor is more than...
Placing Temporary Personnel With a Client? You Need a Staffing Contract
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - IT Staffing
Placing personnel at a client company to perform IT services can be a great solution for everyone involved. Your people get work, you get income, and your client gets the service it needs without the expense of hiring a full-time employee. But before your contractors report for their first day on the...
Creating an IT Project Timeline You Can Stick To
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - IT Staffing
Developing a project timeline is a cornerstone of any project management strategy. But as many IT project managers have learned, developing and adhering to a timeline isn’t easy. From technical glitches to human resource problems, unexpected complications can pop up at any time, quickly throwing...
Mastering the IT Project Timeline
Friday, September 11, 2009 - Systems Integrator
The project timeline is a cornerstone of project management. But as most system integrators and computer/software programmers know, developing and sticking to a timeline can be easier said than done. From technical issues to personnel problems, unexpected complications can arise at any time, throwing...
Mastering the Management Consulting Project Timeline
Wednesday, September 09, 2009 - Management Consultant
A project timeline is a central component in any good project management strategy. But as many management consultants have learned the hard way, creating and sticking to a timeline is not as easy as it sounds. Depending on the type of consulting engagement, many project elements – from people to...
Contracts Protect Management Consultants from Liability
Friday, August 28, 2009 - Management Consultant
Before beginning work on a consulting engagement, smart management consultants protect their business interests and reduce their liability with legally binding contracts, signed by their clients. During the initial stages of project development, management consultants may tend to rely on informal documentation...
Got Marketing Clients? You Need Project Agreements
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - Marketing Consultant
Before beginning work on any consulting engagement, it’s a good idea for marketing consultants to protect their business and reduce their liability by getting their client’s signature on a comprehensive marketing consulting contract. During the initial stages of project development, marketing...
Smart IT Project Managers Get It in Writing
Friday, August 21, 2009 - IT Staffing
Before establishing a formal business relationship, wise IT project managers protect their business interests with appropriate legal contracts. During the initial stages of project development, IT professionals often rely on informal records based on e-mails sent back and forth with the client. While...
Creating Project Agreements - System Integrators and Computer Programmers
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - Systems Integrator
Before engaging in a formal business relationship, system integrators and custom computer/software programmers need to protect their business interests with appropriate legal contracts. During the initial stages of project development, IT professionals often keep informal records by hanging on to e-mails...
Creating a Web Site Development Agreement
Friday, August 07, 2009 - Website Developers
Developing even a simple web site can quickly become a complex job, so clarifying expectations at the beginning of the project is always a good idea. That’s why an experienced web developer's first move is to get the client’s signature on a comprehensive website development contract before...
Translating Customer Needs into Projects: Tips for Marketing Consultants
Wednesday, August 05, 2009 - Marketing Consultant
More than ever before, companies are hiring marketing consulting businesses with one important criterion in mind: “How can this marketing consultant help me get the most out of my marketing dollars?” With increasing pressure to maximize the return on their clients’ marketing investment...
Why Clients Require Insurance - Architects
Monday, July 27, 2009 - Architects
Why Clients Want Their Architects To Have a Strong Insurance Foundation If you're working in the architecture field, you've probably run into situations in which a client requires you to carry business insurance. Maybe you run a small architecture firm with a few employees, or perhaps you're a solo architect...
Translating Customer Needs into Projects - Website Developer
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - Website Developers
Behind almost every web site development or graphic design project is a set of business requirements. The hard part is making sure that the site you build meets those business needs, 100 percent. It’s easy for a web site developer or designer to listen to what the clients say they want for their...
Translating Customer Needs into Projects - Management Consultants
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - Management Consultant
Every management consulting project is driven by a business requirement. Often, management consulting businesses are called upon to meet those business requirements by enhancing the productivity, management, delivery or performance of a company’s information technology investment. Investing in...
Software Development Agreement
Monday, July 13, 2009 - Computer Programmers
Congratulations! You’ve been chosen to do a software development project, and you’re almost ready to get started. But before you jump in, you need both your and your client’s signatures on a contract that clearly defines all aspects of the project. A good software development agreement...
Translating Customer Needs into Projects - IT Managers
Friday, July 10, 2009 - IT Staffing
Every IT project is driven by a business requirement. For an IT project manager, the hard part is translating that business requirement into an end product that fully meets that business need. It’s easy for a project manager to sit in a meeting and listen to what the clients say they need their...
Translating Customer Needs into Projects - Systems Integrator
Monday, July 06, 2009 - Systems Integrator
Behind almost every IT project is a business requirement – but how do you ensure that the end product truly meets that business need? It’s easy for system integrators, computer programmers or software programmers to sit in a meeting and listen to what their clients say they need a system...
Why Clients Require You To Carry Insurance - Engineers
Thursday, July 02, 2009 - Engineering
If you’re in engineering, you’ve probably encountered plenty of situations in which you’re required to carry some level of insurance. Maybe you run a small engineering consultancy with a few employees, or perhaps you’re a solo professional engineer. Either way, you might wonder...
Why Clients Require You to Carry Insurance - Marketing Consultants
Friday, June 26, 2009 - Marketing Consultant
If you’re a marketing consultant, you probably have at least one client company that requires you to carry some type of insurance. Maybe you run a small marketing or market research firm with a few employees, or maybe you’re an independent Internet marketing consultant or media professional...
Why Clients Require You to Carry Insurance - Management Consultants
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 - Management Consultant
If you’re in the management consulting business, you probably have clients that require you to carry some level of insurance. Maybe you run a small firm with a few employees, or maybe you’re a one-person shop. Either way, you might wonder if you’ll ever actually use all that coverage...
Why Clients Require You to Carry Insurance - IT Staffing
Friday, June 19, 2009 - IT Staffing
IT staffing agencies are familiar with their clients’ requirements for insurance coverage, and know that they have to have the insurance to get the business. But you may wonder if all that coverage is really necessary. The good news is that in almost all cases, the insurance coverage your client...
Why Clients Require You to Carry Insurance - Systems Integrators
Friday, June 12, 2009 - Systems Integrator
Whether you’re working directly with a client or through a staffing firm, if you’re a systems integrator or custom programmer, you’ll probably have at least one client who requires you to carry some level of insurance. Maybe you have a few employees, or maybe you’re a one-person...
