Staffing your small business is an ongoing and sometimes arduous task for owners. How the staff of a business works to complete all the tasks required to run it is the most important aspect to success. When employees do their jobs well, the business runs well, makes a profit, and continues to provide jobs for the employees. Attracting quality employees can be difficult for small businesses. Their budgets may not allow them to pay more than the competition or offer the same types of benefits. There are some things you can do to give yourself an advantage, especially with some cash to get you started.
Benefits Package
Most employees want or need medical benefits with full time employment. Offering benefits to even part time employees is a way that companies like Starbucks have been able to attract high quality employees, but this practice isn't typical of most businesses. Other benefits you can offer include paid vacation, family leave, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, and disability insurance that replaces some of your income if you become disabled on or off the job. Offering unusual benefits like free sporting events and concert tickets, free meals, or time off to attend kids' special events can give your business an edge over the competition.
Positive Work Environment
According to workplace consultant David Lee, creating a work environment where employees are encouraged, given opportunities to grow, and made to feel like part of a community is an important way of attracting and retaining quality employees. Showing respect and treating others as you would want to be treated are keys to happy employees that anyone can accomplish without much money. Remembering to show appreciation for your employees is an essential part of a positive work environment. This can be done through a formalized employee appreciation program or just by making it a point to be courteous and thank your employees for all that they do to keep the business going.
Positive Company Image
People want to work for companies they see as having a good reputation and image. Making sure your company has a professional image and protecting your reputation can give quality applicants one more reason to say yes to a job offer. To cultivate a professional image, make sure your signage and marketing efforts are professional quality. A quality website is also necessary. Hire professional help if you don't have the skills to do a top notch job yourself. There are also companies who handle reputation management if negative information about your company has appeared online.
Retention
Staffing is a constant struggle for most small businesses. Time is spent training employees just to have them move on shortly thereafter. Being understaffed is common, and not having cash flow to hire enough staff to function optimally is even more common. This put the onus on retaining quality employees. Longevity has a significant impact on the bottom line and keeping your best employees happy should be a priority. Furthermore, creating a company culture that promotes creativity and engagement will largely depend on employee satisfaction.
Paying for the means to attract quality employees can be difficult, but owners should consider it an investment that will yield a good return. Quality employees will make the business more successful and profitable, which will more than enable businesses to pay for benefits and rewards that such employees deserve. In many cases small business owners lack the credit or collateral to access the money needed to remain flexible. Quikstone Capital Solutions provides cash for businesses. A merchant cash advance from Quikstone Capital Solutions is a business loan alternative that can help your business thrive and prosper, whether you need cash to buy equipment, cash to renovate or expand, cash to purchase inventory, cash to advertise or cash for emergencies. Quikstone Capital Solutions can help. Contact us for a consultation today or simply click below.
