• Death
• Moving
• Divorce

All in that order! Of course there are many other things but those are the most stressful. If someone would ask me I would suggest that moving should be #1 on the list. Until recently I would have only based that on moving homes. Recently I moved offices and I can tell you from experience that not only should moving be number one on the list – but If I have to do it again soon, I will probably get divorced and then die from the stress of moving.

I was happy to be moving to my new office but, the new space was not ready and I had to get out of my old space. I called a company Store To Door, their whole business is moving and portable storage containers, so it made that part a bit easier. I also hired a designer to plan my new office setup and have already hired a commercial cleaning company to come once a week.

Lesson learned: Moving can be stressful, but try to hire as many people as possible to handle all the things that contribute to the stress.

Trust me, it’s worth it!

If your small business has yet to adopt VoIP technology, you may want to give it some serious consideration. The following are some of the benefits of upgrading to a VoIP system:

Cost Savings: For many small businesses the biggest draw to VoIP is its low cost. At the most basic level, VoIP has minimal hardware requirements: a sound card, speakers and a microphone. For more advanced services you may need headsets, IP-enabled phones, and a physical IP-PBX box.

Calls made over VoIP are dramatically cheaper than those made via a PSTN phone service. Businesses can use VoIP between computers with downloadable free software like Skype or Asterisk. For more feature-rich services, there are several commerical options, such as the Asterisk Business Edition, but even the cost of these for-pay services are generally much lower than the equivalent standard phone service.

Simplicity: The combination of an IP PBX system with a VoIP telephone service allows voice and data to be handled by one set of network protocols and wiring. As a result of this unified system, your company can benefit from lowered expenses, simpler management and greater functionality in general.

Features: Many VoIP systems are rich in features. Some common features include: off-site call forwarding, extension dialing, voice-mail boxes, audio conferencing, and auto attendants to answer the phone and direct calls.

Flexibility: VoIP will give your employees the ability to work from anywhere that has a fast and reliable Internet connection. You can use VoIP to make both national and international calls from one PC to another or from a PC to a landline. You can even have a VoIP account on your mobile phone.

HP is making it easier (and more affordable!) for small businesses to create their own low cost marketing materials. Recently, HP introduced two new color laser printers, HP Color LaserJet CP2025 Printer and the HP Color LaserJet CM2320 MFP that were specifically designed for the small and growing small business. These machines are the latest in HP’s line of low budget equipment and tools that includes a series of Officejet All-in-One devices, an online community called the Marketing Impressions Portal with helpful marketing tools, guides, and templates, as well an In-House Marketing Starter Kit.

According to a recent study of printing costs in the US, HP claims that small businesses can save as much as 50% with in-house printing as opposed using professional printing services.

In-house marketing is also brings to smaller businesses an added measure of flexibility and versatility that gives them a competitive advantage over bigger businesses.

 With benefits such as these, it’s definitely worth looking into.

All this brouhaha is for good reason. Cloud computing represents a fundamental change in the way consumers and businesses are using their computers and mobile devices, and it is a trend that small businesses cannot afford to overlook.

The following is a simple guide to cloud computing and how it can be used to enhance your small business:

What is cloud computing?

First of all, the “cloud” is just another name for the Internet, and thus cloud computing really refers to any services and applications that are hosted and accessed via the web.

It came about as a convergence of several technology trends namely, software as a service (SaaS), Web 2.0, open source software, and grid computing.

How can cloud computing be used in the small business?

Cloud computing allows small businesses to remotely manage and store information, and access customized software or services from virtually any device with Internet access.

Popular small business SaaS applications involve customer relationship management, finance and accounting programs, human resource management, and document collaboration

Small businesses can also use cloud computing technology to boost their storage capacity via online storage services and create online backup and archiving accounts.

What are some popular applications currently being used by small businesses?

Google Apps- for “…a custom email address, tools for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations, a shared calendaring system and access to a flexible intranet system.”

Salesforce.com- specializes in on-demand customer relationship management (CRM) software and services

Infusion CRM- provides a web-based, centralized customer management

Netsuite- offers “integrated web-based business software suite, including Accounting software / ERP software, CRM software, and Ecommerce software.”

QuickBooks Online- “Online accounting software for small businesses–keep track of expenses, invoice clients and manage payroll…”

FieldOne offers full management suite for service professionals and businesses with industry specific applications, such as HVAC software in addition to general order tracking and other broad business automation.

Also check out…

SAP recently unveiled its own software package called Business ByDesign offering a range of on-demand enterprise applications via a dashboard.

What are the benefits of cloud computing?

• Reduce hardware and software expenses: Cloud computing allows small businesses to save on expensive hardware, software, and maintenance costs since data and applications are being held on remote servers. (This may be particularly attractive to new small businesses since it reduces start-up costs). Most companies have affordable monthly rates so expenses can be spread out comfortably over time.

• Increase ease and flexibility: Users can access their business services and applications through almost any device with an Internet connection including laptops, mobile phones, and PDA’s. It is also easy to add new users to the system when you need them.

• Streamline your IT department: Cloud computing allows your in-house IT department to focus on projects that can enhance the business and be free from the more mundane tasks, such as dealing with glitches in the software or maintaining the company’s servers.

What are the drawbacks or concerns with cloud computing?

The two biggest concerns for small businesses are downtime and security. If your service provider’s network is down, it can bring your whole business to a grinding halt. And many are still wary about the security of data stored and accessed in the cloud.

Coming in the wake of its informative Server How-To Center, bMighty has created another guide for small and mid-sized businesses that offers practical information on using document imaging to save money and maximize workflow efficiency.

The site contains several free downloadable guides, with titles such as “Document Imaging, Simplified,” and “7 Steps to Document Imaging” as well as a growing collection of pertinent articles and resources culled from the Web, case studies, videos, and other useful information.

If you are thinking of bringing document imaging into your business this site is definitely worth checking out.

But in order to maximize the benefits of having off-site workers, small businesses must set up a solid infrastructure with an emphasis on up-to-date technology, adequate IT support for their remote workers, and network security.

To that end, you should check out Michael Healey’s article in InformationWeek 6 Top Technologies for Remote Office Support… and 2 to Avoid, in which he examines server virtualization, desktop virtualization, IP telephony, WAN optimization, UTM (unified threat management) appliances and Instant Messaging. With each technology he offers its “promise” and then provides a “reality check” of sorts, detailing the technology’s limitations and the things you should consider.

If your small business is or will be relying on a remote workforce, you can save yourself a headache or two by doing things right from the beginning.

But businesses must do more then merely keeping tabs on their equipment. Wherever sensitive data is stored, it must be protected since it can easily fall into the wrong hands.

One of the best ways to protect this valuable information is through data encryption, and now you can do it for free. TrueCrypt which is distributed under an open-source license, is one of the best encryption programs available on the Web. It is also easy to install and use on your computer.

So now there really is no excuse for proper data protection.

Corporate spending on IT has slowed down just as numerous studies and forecasts predicted earlier this year. And according to John Chambers, Cisco Systems Inc’s Chief Executive, we can expect the slowdown in tech spending to drag on for several more months.

This trend belies a struggle that countless small business owners are facing as they try to run a successful small business in a cooling economy. Small businesses must strike a delicate balance between investing in the IT solutions that will keep them competitive, productive, and efficient, while tapping into a drying well of resources.

In an effort to conserve capital, many in the small business world are becoming their own IT experts, getting their education from the various free tutorials, primers, and articles offered on the Web.

One company to recently enter the fray is bMighty.com with its new Server How-To Center- a free collection of tips, tricks, and hints for everyone from beginners to experts on how to choose and install a server.

For the determined business IT expert wanna-be there is certainly no shortage of information.

The question is, however, if this strategy pays off in the long-run as IT solutions get more advanced and integrated, yet more vulnerable. Making a mistake in network security, for example, can lead to devastating breech of sensitive information.

Every small business should examine their own unique circumstances before choosing how (and on whom) to spend their IT dollars.

Whether you are looking for a pickup truck, van, or a standard car; a hybrid gas and electric vehicle, or one that uses diesel, ethanol or regular gasoline, the only way to cut through the confusion is by doing your research.

Check out the EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide where you can search for vehicles under a variety of factors such as fuel economy and air pollution score by make, model, and availability by state. You can also download the EPA’s 2008 Fuel Economy Guide to get tips on fuel conservation and see their picks for the overall top automotive performers on the market today.

Another site worth checking out is that of the US Department of Energy. This informative site has comprehensive collection of tips, news, and information regarding fuel economy. Be sure to also look up their list of the 10 best and worst automobiles in fuel efficiency.

When designing a home office, acquiring equipment and other furnishings, that are ergonomically sound should be made a priority- even if it means paying a little more for these items. Not only will it help to increase job efficiency and performance, but it can also positively effect a worker’s attitude on the job.

Here is a list of the major items in a home office and what you should look for in terms of essential ergonomics:

The Office Chair: Look for a swivel chair that can be adjusted for height, arm height, lumbar and lower back support. The chair should be adjusted so that your feet can rest flat on the floor or on a footrest.

The Desk: If you are using your desk for writing or drawing, look for an inclined surface as opposed to a flat one. If you will be placing a computer on the desk then choose one with an adjustable keyboard shelf. A matted surface will also help to reduce eyestrain from glare.

The Telephone: To reduce neck strain invest in either an handsfree head set or a speakerphone. Alternatively, you could fit your phone with a shoulder cradle to support your head and neck.

Lighting Fixtures: Use halogen or other bright lights as task lighting making sure to direct it away from your computer screen to eliminate glare.

The Computer Monitor: Flat panel screens are known to reduce glare. Make sure your monitor can be easily adjusted for height and tilt.

The Mouse and Keyboard: If you need to use your mouse a lot then look for alternative input devices such as a trackball or a touch pad. Look for a keyboard that ergonomically designed and add a wrist pad for extra support.

The Laptop: Make sure to use your laptop on a hard, flat surface (preferably an ergonomic desk!) If you mostly work from a laptop and not a desktop computer the consider getting a docking station. This will allow you to plug your laptop into a full-sized monitor and keyboard.