Calling All Sole Proprietors -

March has arrived in the Fraser Valley! And although the crazy drawn-out snow this winter may have kept you from attending work or other activities – one thing that it won’t work as an excuse for are taxes. Yes, April is just around the corner, and as a sole proprietor small business owner, you need to be prepared for your fiscal year to wrap up.

For sole proprietors nearing their year end, it’s best to get a jump start on tax season if you haven't already – both mentally and physically. Here are some tips that will keep your head on straight, and your books in order:

 

Ensure that you are organized!

 

Book your appointment with your accountant early.

Hand over everything to your accountant.

Get help from a professional!

So, are you a sole proprietor with a new business, but still don’t have an accountant? Lucky for you, here at the Downtown Business Centre we have an incredibly hard working and passionate company in our building, Hilltop Accounting Ltd. Chad Eros with Hilltop Accounting has just recently moved into our building in the Downtown Chilliwack area, and is accepting new clients. Please contact him or check out his website for more details or to schedule an appointment.

Business Goal Setting For 2017

Business Goals 2017.  A very successful man once said that “a bad strategy will fail no matter how good your information is, and lame execution will stymie a good strategy”. The name Bill Gates may perhaps ring a bell, as he is a remarkably successful, world renown business man; and a wise one at that.
Your talent, ambition, and skills are only as useful as your method to deploy them. That is why planning  and setting yourself goals is so crucial to your business. And with the New Year already underway, what a better time then now to set them? Here are 5 tips on how to set yourself productive goals for the year.

 

SWAT
Set realistic and attainable goals for the year.
Giving yourself goals that you know that, deep down, cannot simply be achieved within your given time frame will only set you up for failure and disappointment. Start the year off with small goals, and make the challenges slightly greater as you complete each one.

Allow yourself to adjust your goals as needed.
Life happens. There will be times when things get in the way of your goals. Whether those things be family issues, financial problems, or simply just bumps in the road... so you must to allow yourself a little bit of wiggle room. Let your goals be adjusted if and when you need them. Perhaps a time extension, or maybe a lightening the load a little bit can make all the difference between letting a goal fizzle out, and taking a step closer to achieving it.

 

https://infocus.emc.com/frank_coleman/simple-ways-to-use-statistics-for-your-business/

Set yourself measurable goals.

Although not all goals need to be tracked with numbers and statistics, they sure do help. Make yourself goals that can be analyzed, and allow you to see on a clear scale how your business strategies have been measuring up. This way, adjusting your plan for success becomes a lot more organized and straightforward.

 

Make your goals descriptive and detailed.

If you are setting goals that are vague and lack direction or specificity, you’re really just setting yourself up for failure. Without detailed guidelines on where you’re planning on going or what you’re planning on doing, you allow yourself far too much room for things to fall between the cracks and lay either forgotten or only halfway achieved. Or, even worse, these things end up being completed with poor quality and a poor work ethic. Keep yourself on track by making sure things are mapped out specific and accordingly!

There is nothing quite like a fresh start to a brand new year. Follow these tips on setting business goals for the year, and you will be sure to wrap up 2017 with outstanding success and achievements.

Holiday Lull - Use The Time Wisely!

It's that time of year when the focus changes from the structured day to day to the Holiday Season and the New Year!  Unless your in a Retail Business that is directly affected by the holiday retail rush your probably seeing a bit of slow down as we wind up the year.

It is nice to be able to come up for air after a really economically interesting 2016.  But during this lull, while the focus is on the festivities and even booked holidays, it is a great time to re focus yourself and take a good look at things within your own business that need adjusting.  It's a great time of year to look at whats working or not working, where perhaps there is  more potential for growth and of course its a great time to freshen up your brand.

 

Office Christmas

So while the office slows a bit, make a plan to:

Lastly...

take some time for yourself.  It has been a crazy hectic year and a little time spent enjoying the season and relaxing is time well spent.  It will allow you to feel refreshed and come back to 2017 refocused and ready to reach your 2017 goals!

Happy Holidays!

 

 

Downtown Core Host To Fall Community Events

Downtown Chilliwack is not only home to the DBC, but is home to some of the best events in the Fraser Valley. Here is our list of “must-see, must-be-there” events for the upcoming month of September!

Goods for the Soul: August 3 – September 10
What? Goods for the Soul is an art & sculpture exhibit put on by local talents Diane Mackenzie (artist) and Michael Ray (sculptor).
Where?    O’Connor Group Art Gallery, Chilliwack Centre
Web?    Check it out on-line here for more information.

 

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Bicycle Trek for Life & Breath 2016: September 10-11
What?    The Bicycle Trek is a fundraiser where participants will ride from South Surrey to Cultus Lake and back in support of the BC Lung Association's fight against lung disease. There are 2 ride options for participants, a 1-day, 50km ride and a 2-day, 200km option. Proceeds from this event will be used to fund lung health research, various clean air campaigns, and provides patient education and support.
Where?     South Surrey – Cultus Lake
Web?    Catch all the details here on their web page

Fall Creations: September 15
What?     A three-day series in which visitors may use a variety of media to create art pieces inspired by the arrival of fall.
Where?    Chilliwack Community Arts Council – Arts Room
Web?   Check out this event and more on their event page.

Teen Wii Trivia Showdown: September 15
What?    6 pm – 7:30 pm - Why not come to the Chilliwack Library for a rousing game of trivia to test your wits, have fun and get to know someone new? Bring your friends for a most excellent and semi-competitive time! And we’ll eat some pizza while we’re at it!
Where?    45860 First Avenue
Web?  All the details are found here

 

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Parkinson Super Walk: September 17
What?    Over 20 communities across the province will be participate in organized walks to raise money and pledges to support research for a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.
Where?     Evergreen Hall
Web?    Be sure to Register!

 

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Terry Fox Run: September 18
What?     The annual Terry Fox run in order to raise money to discover a cure for cancer. This year’s run will be dedicated to Terry’s father, Rolly Fox.
Where?     Landing Sports Centre on Spadina Avenue
Web?    For more information or to register click here.

Fire & Ice Science Show: September 24
What?     Bring your children out to be enchanted by the works of the Mad Scientists. Children will be entertained by various experiments such as dry ice storms, floating beach balls, and will learn about chemical reactions, air pressure, and the states of matter.
Where?    Sardis Library
Web?    Get all the information here.

To view the entire list of community events happening here in Chilliwack in September as well as the remainder of the year, be sure to visit the City of Chilliwack Events Page.

3 Tips For Creating A Productive Office Space

It is so important to productivity to design a space that is functional and sets the tone of your work environment. No matter how big or small your space we have 3 tips for creating the most productive space possible to help you get through the day.

Keep things light.

First off, one of the best things that you can do for yourself, your employees, your clients, and your business is to ensure that your office has as much light as possible. Natural light, in particular, can be the most important decorative feature of your space. Natural light has proven to allow for increased productivity and levels of focus as it enables us to see details more clearly. Furthermore, natural light keeps us awake and focused as it is known to have a decrease in headaches and eye strain, as artificial light or dimness often provides. However, if no natural light is available in your space, try opting for lamps and lighting that emits a warmer glow. This way, the sharpness of typical, florescent lights doesn’t give off that harsh vibe in the environment that you’re trying to make appear welcoming. Avoid dark and dim offices unless you are attempting to create such an atmosphere, as a counselor may. Other than that, light it up!

 

natural light for the office
CCR Events Green Initiatives shows off their natural light solutions in this office.

Invest in updated furniture.

We know you love that old, creaky, spindly office chair that you’ve had since you started your business ten years ago; however, that rickety piece of furniture behind that outdated desk may give off the wrong impression to your clients. Invest in some new furniture! Not only will some modern updates give off a fresh feel to your office, your employees will thank you for the positive change. Keep it comfy, stylish, and presentable.

     modern office space
We found this modern office on Houzz.com

Tidy up!

Nothing gives off a bad vibe to a client like walking into an office for a meeting that is an absolute mess. Papers strewn all over desks, coats hanging haphazardly off the backs of chairs, and dying plants over in the corner – doesn’t make the best impression, does it? Keep things clean and tidy! Make it a habit to vacuum your space once of twice a week, and wipe your desk down at the end of every day. Furthermore, invest in a filing cabinet or two. A disorganized office can lead to the impression of a disorganized business, which does not reflect well on the potential client! Straighten things up, and you’ll see a much more productive and successful working space.

Anchor Your Business

Drop that anchor and show the market place you mean business.

Lets be clear, "working from home" and "running a business from home" are two very different things.  Working from home is a option that some employers offer their employees.  Running a business from your home is a completely different idea and must be handled with care.

Running a business from your home sounds great in theory; you can write the space off at tax time along with a portion of your utilities,  you don't have to pay rent - or at least formally.  With that comes an endless supply of distractions:  dogs, kids, door bell, home phone, along with a few other temptations; I think Ill just go make a sandwich, or I should flip that laundry.  For the very disciplined the later can be tamed for the most part.  For those easily distracted, those little moments that you cut out of your day can become a big productivity sucker which can spiral as you become frustrated with the workload and lack of concentration.

 

cat

One of the biggest concerns about running your business out of your home is the perception of not being 100% committed.  People seeking your services or products may instantly have a preconceived notion that your not 100% committed to your business and that you can pull up anchor at any moment and just sail away.  It's a genuine prejudice, as many businesses start out in basements or back bedroom offices just to test the waters.  Those testing the waters often find that their business model doesn't float and no harm no fowl, they just stop operating out of their home. Businesses that are not going to make it fail within the first two years.  With many reasons for a failed business;  like a poor business model, unable to create systems, lack of preparation, etc. you can see why some opt to start their business at home, but often that is part of the problem and not the solution.

 

sail away

 

Be an individual, just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean you should.  A tangible commitment to proper office / business space can give you much needed incentive to succeed along with a competitive edge. It also shows your potential customer that you have committed to your business by having a space designated to do business.  Nothing says "I'm not doing well enough to make a financial commitment to  my company" like a home office.  Or at least that is how it is often perceived by potential clients.

If you have done your market research, know you strengths and have defined your weaknesses (so that you can fill them), have a niche place in the market that makes sense to consumers and you believe in your business, don't make the mistake of not investing in space.  If your confident, know your business model is sound, then don't cut the one corner that could help solidify your success.

 

open

 

Lastly, the work from home office trend has since begun to fizzle.   Business has not  moved into the residential suburbs of small town anywhere.  If your running your business from the basement, who are you engaging with? Who are you running into at random (other than the cat) that could be a potential lead to your biggest client?  It is a chain reaction that happens everyday in the business word.  Engaging with other like minded people can grow your business in ways that may be missed if your not there to engage.  Alan Gregerman, a business consultant and author of the book, The Necessity of Strangers, says "we can be most successful when we connect with more people.” There’s “a lot that’s cool about collaboration”

 

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So if you have a strong business model, have done your homework and are confident in your success, show the market place you are committed to your business. Its time to drop  anchor, find a space that shows your potential clients, customers and network referrals that you mean to do business and be in business for the long haul.

Downtown Business Centre Holds History

This Building Holds History!

The newly renovated Downtown Business Centre has history and the downtown business community is happy to embrace that.  Locals came to know this building as the Envision Building as a centre piece of the downtown business area that held and still holds many other financial institutions. Even the old vault is still present on the main floor of the building and is something of great interest to visitors and guests at the DBC.

The building on the corner or Princess & Young has had a big reno since the co-share office space concept was introduced. With several years as a hub for the Sutton, now Select Real Estate office it has been a flurry of daily activity with a busy lobby and gathering space for local and independent businesses accessing the facilities.

Under the direction of the Matheson Family,  the Downtown Business Centre has evolved as a dedicated business centre with a diverse community of small businesses. The co-share concept with big office perks offers multiple boardroom settings, shared and private office spaces, shared administration and all the perks of a big office including reception, administrative staff, printers & copiers, integrated phone reception, security, janitorial service and more.

 

With the recent move of the Select Real Estate Group to their new space on Yale, the Business Centre is evolving again as it makes room for even more businesses looking to thrive in a Co-Share setting. Renovating to suit specific business models, the space is seeing growth as small business expands here in Chilliwack.

The two story building has something for everyone, including a great space for waiting clientele to relax in the spacious downstairs lounge area that includes a fireplace, coffee station, high end furnishings and full time reception.

 

Many of you may remember this space as the Envision Building prior to the Downtown Business Centre Renovations and may not have been by to check out the space recently. When chatting with Joe Matheson he explains that many first time visitors often compliment the space by saying “I had no idea this place was like this inside.” Admittedly a little deceiving from the outside as being in a building with history people just don’t realize that the space has changed over. Hosting a multitude of small to medium sized businesses with varied space needs the Downtown Business Centre has managed to create a congruent work space that brings the business community together and offers access to amenities that other wise would be out of reach for many of the small businesses in the area.

 

With the ability to host “event like” business conferences, meetings and workshops the business centre makes sense to those businesses that benefit from offering these types of services to their clients and staff. A space that can be rented by the hour for client meetings, to an individual space with privacy and security for permanent tenants, the business centre has many perks and plans that are designed on an individual businesses needs.

 

Currently the Downtown Business Centre is offering space to those looking for simple to very specific needs, and is not afraid of creating the perfect space for a business that is looking to join the DBC.

Come check out the new Downtown Business Centre Community and see how this space might be the right choice for your business.

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