As a small business there is nothing more important than keeping your cash-flow moving and that means understanding and having a good credit control system. When I started out in business there were three things I wish someone had made me do.
1. Get a proper accounts package
2. Do a business workshop or course
3. Join a business network
At Damson Technologies we use Freshbooks the online invoicing system. We have been using it since 2008 and it has done wonders for our business and cash-flow. It has given us access to the information we need when we need it. In one click I can see exactly how much I am owed and how long it has been outstanding. As the software is web based I can check this information from any internet enabled computer or smartphone.
A few years ago we did a growing your own business course run by the county enterprise board and I am always on the look out for new workshops or courses that can build my own knowledge of sales, marketing, accounts or business. I am hoping to attend the Keep Your Credit Control Under Control Workshop which is being held on the Thursday 3rd March 2011 in Johnstown Business Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare. Whenever I see events like these on I feel it is a good opportunity to both learn something new that can help my company and network with business owners.
Finally, I am a member of BNI (Business Network International) and the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. I joined the BNI over 2 years ago and as well as receiving tens of thousands of euro worth of business for Damson I have also found it a wealth of knowledge and support for our business. We joined the Dublin Chamber of Commerce this year and have already seen the benefits. The combination of these two organisations is a powerful network for any business when used correctly.
So in summary stay organised, keep educated and get networked!
Fintan speaking on - Cloud Computing&Google Apps (photo by Amanda Webb)
Bizcamp Dublin was held this weekend, Saturday 29th May 2010. The venue was the amazing Guinness Storehouse. What is Bizcamp?
“It’s a chance for us all to lift ourselves out of the gloom of the endless bad news stories. It’s based on the fact that each of us as entrepreneurs have loads to learn from our peers. And we have a lot to share with them as well. There are a lot of great things happening in the Irish Economy – especially in small and medium businesses and this day will be a celebration of those. And a great place to come for people who have lost their jobs and are actively looking at starting up.”
I was lucky enough to be speaking at Bizcamp this year on Cloud Computing and Google Apps. My talk was aimed at the non technical user who wanted to learn about ‘The Cloud’ and its possibilities, but I knew I would get a few technical minds as Bizcamp does tend to attract us geeks.
There is an increased interest in cloud computing from the business community this year. My talk covered everything from what is cloud computing to an overview of Google Apps, one of the worlds leading cloud computing products. Even for the more technical I think they got a greater understanding of the full potential of the Google Apps suite. It can be a challenge to keep up with Google’s many updates to the product, so it’s interesting for people to check out the updates from time to time. I hope everyone learned something from the talk, I know many people were surprised by the number of larger businesses now using Google Apps as their core email solution. There are now over 2 million organisations using Google Apps; including Trinity College, GAA, DCU, Gaiety School of Acting, Telegraph Media, Guardian and Jaguar Landrover
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the organisers Keith Bohanna, Emily Tully, David Scanlon, Alan O’Rourke, Paul Browne, Keith Shirley and Jason Roe for organising this years Bizcamp Dublin. Also a thanks to Amanda Webb for taking some snaps at Bizcamp. You can see the rest of them here and here is a link to Amanda’s site http://www.spiderworking.com
Below I have published the slides of my presentation for those who are interested (on Google presentation of course). If you have trouble viewing the slideshow <<click here>>
