I hope you will prioritize them in the order you feel is best for you and your business and plan to do one per month. To begin implementation of each will only take about an hour. I really believe that if you do each of these things, your business will be improved significantly.
Key Resolutions
The two suggestions from the previous column were to set up a long-range planning meeting for your company to plan your course over the next three to five years and, second, to look at your physical facility and make sure it is as clean and up to date as is practical. The other suggestions are as follows:Although it's wise to make some phone calls to see what your competitors are charging, the bottom line is you have to charge an amount that allows you to be profitable. Remember, especially in service, the customers would rather pay X amount for good service than half of X for bad service. So charge what you need to charge to provide quality service at a profit.
OK, I Can't Count
I know, this article only lists 10 suggestions, and I said implement one per month. However, there are going to be two months this year when your business is so good you won't have time for a resolution. That's why there are only 10.I strongly urge you to keep this list and really do one a month and see how much benefit you gain.
Guest columnist Butch Welsch operates Welsch Heating & Cooling in St. Louis. He can be reached by e-mail at Welsch1@primary.net.
Publication date: 02/09/2004