Atricle Dump - Business

Business Stress and its Causes
What is Business Stress? Business stress is felt during times of conflict, pressure, loss, illness or anxiety. It describes the frantic pace of business life. Everyone reacts differently to stress. Some people can cope and take it in their stride; others find the pressure too much and buckle under. Much of the stress, anxiety, and the sense of overload that people carry is because they feel their lives are out of control. Stress seems to come from the perception that our life feels overloaded.In medical terms, stress is your body's physical reactions to change, which is not always bad. It is said that a little bit of stress is good for our well-being and exercises our faculties. However today's stress caused by business activity can have a detrimental, psychological or emotional effect on our health.What Causes Stress? Business stress is a common result of fear - fear of uncertainty and insecurity. When working within a large company your fear may come from dealing with your boss, or from handling requests from management. It may arise from the uncertainty about your job and what performance expectations are required of you. It manifests itself in the feelings of insecurities that your job may not even exist tomorrow.Many people experience business stress in large organisations. Often they will look at going into business on their own account, to reduce this workplace stress. Before you can free yourself from workplace-induced stress, you need to identify the source of the stress and explore ways of dealing with it. You cannot attribute stress to the fact that you have a difficult boss or that management do not understand the needs of workers.Workplace induced stress arises from 2 sources: Psychological. It is often said that some people are just born worriers and it would

costs between ?5 and ?10 per car per year depending on the size of the fleet.

You can contact the RLA by calling 020 7211 0211 or by clicking on www.radio.gov.uk

Radio equipment

Small operators may wish to dispense with the cost of any two way radio equipment and just use mobile phones.

It is however far more cost effective in the long run to use two way radio as unlike a mobile phone contract there is no monthly line charge associated with such systems

Make sure you get the right equipment for the area you cover. VHF is good for long range communication and is best over long straight lines. Be sure to purchase radios that are data compatible as many radios being offered at bargain prices are not. For further information on data compatibility phone Diplomat on 01256 381656

To take the next step up to cover a wider area, you would need to lease a line on one of your area's telephone masts. Space on these transmitters is owned by companies such as NTL and Crown Castle, who then lease out space to local operators.

New technology

With new technology you can track your cars using specialized software that knows the destination address and automatically places the car in the rank when they are clear. In addition to this GPS can be used to accurately pinpoint a car and jobs can be sent digitally to onboard computers or even text messages to mobile phones..

Previously high tech software and GPS systems have been out of the price range for most start-up minicab firms, but now there are firms that specialize in startup packages such as Diplomat which offer a single seat of their software complete with National street data for less than ?1.00 a day. This package can then integrate with SMS dispatch or full vehicle data systems complete with GPS for under ?300.00 per vehicle.

Once your fleet is fitted with a data system you can talk to them in the conventional way and send them text details about pick ups and so on. The drivers have five or six standard responses that they can send back to you, ranging from 'Picked up and on our way' to 'Help! I'm being attacked!' or please call me I need to talk to you.

Making a profit

Getting the right equipment and licenses doesn't provide a guarantee that your private hire firm will be successful - your whole enterprise can survive or fail due to public perception, so it's essential that you get this right.

It is important that 'word of mouth' is on your side. Carding (putting business cards through letterboxes) is also very important. Research shows that most customers make their judgment on a minicab or private hire firm after just one journey.

Even if you are operating just two cars from out of a cramped spare bedroom in your house, if your drivers make a good impression, you could see a loyal custome

Dimensions of Job Satisfaction
There is some doubt whether job satisfaction consists of a single dimension or a number of separate ones. Some workers may be satisfied with some aspects of their work and dissatisfied with others. There does, however, appear to be a positive correlation between satisfaction levels in different areas of work. This suggests a single overall factor of job satisfaction. However, it seems there is no one, general, comprehensive theory which explains job satisfaction.Today is still considered by a number of critics to be, a complex concept and difficult to measure objectively. A wide range of variables relating to individual, social, cultural organizational and environmental factors affect the level of job satisfaction. Specifically:- Individual Factors include personality, education, intelligence and abilities, age, marital status. Orientation to work.- Social Factors include relationships with co-workers, group working and norms, opportunities for interaction, informal organization.- Cultural Factors include underlying attitudes, beliefs and values.- Organizational Factors include nature and size, formal structure, personnel policies and procedures, employee relations, nature of the work, technology and work organization, supervision and styles of leadership, management systems, working conditions.- Environmental Factors include economic, social, technical and governmental influences.These different factors, all affect the job satisfaction of certain individuals in a given set of circumstances, but not necessarily in others. The various studies of job satisfaction have some validity and have served the businesses in times of need and performance appraisal.A strategic way of achieving job satisfaction is to establish a corporate culture that encourages communication and is directed towards quality wor

Setting up and running your own taxi or private hire firm is by no means simple as there are regional differences and management styles are very different in different parts of the UK.

2005-2006, the private hire and taxi industry was worth approx ?2.6 billion. Over 500,000 drivers in the UK. Taxi use has steadily increased over the last 20 years - 32 per cent of the public use a taxi every month, compared to just 16 per cent in the mid-1980s.

What's the difference between taxis and private hire vehicles?

Although both serve the same purpose (to transport paying customers to their destination, help with their luggage etc.), taxis and private hire vehicles have significant differences.

Hackneys

Hackney Carriage taxis (black cabs) are able to pick up people off the street (flag down) without a prior booking. Mostly found in urban areas, black cabs are highly regulated, with fares controlled by local councils and numbers restricted by many local authorities.

Drivers of black cabs are essentially self-employed and have to go through rigorous checks and tests before they are awarded their license. Some Hackney Carriage operators form co-operatives and drive saloons and MPV's, However most Hackney drivers prefer the traditional London style MetroCab or TX1 and TX2 Vehicles made by LTI.

Private Hire

Private hire vehicles, or minicabs, have to have a prior booking when picking up passengers.

Minicab owners will be prosecuted if they are found touting their business or behaving like a Hackney or Taxi.

Most private hire drivers are self-employed owner drivers and pay a minicab company a circuit fee for taking the bookings and scheduling the work. The minicab operator charges for the call centre and in most instances they will probably rent the radios end even provide data terminals or PDA dispatch systems if they have computerised booking and dispatch software.

If you want to be self-employed and make profit on your own without having to pay minicab circuit fees, become a licensed black cab driver and go it alone. Some black cab owners form co-operatives where they team up with other drivers to increase profits and run operations much like a small business. Computer Cabs in London, was built around a small fleet of black cabs. They now boast a fleet of over 3,500 taxis, taking 10-20,000 bookings a day. They also have one of the most advanced computer booking and dispatch and data systems in the City, they can process credit cards and track their vehicles by GPS.

It is possible to mix fleets, Hackney Carriages can cover private hire bookings if the street hires are quiet. It is however illegal for the Private hire vehicles to stop if a member of the public attempts to solicit them.

Rules and regulations

There are over 400 council licensing authorities in the UK and as there is no central body the regulations for each council will vary according to their particular management style. There are however basic regulations that are common to all authorities..

Private hire car regulations

Minicabs have suffered a bad reputation in the past due to the previously unregulated nature of their work. Rogue drivers would pick up stray passengers and charge them extortionate prices or worse. It is estimated that at least one woman a week is raped in illegal minicabs in London alone, a shocking statistic which blights the good name of the industry.

Some manufacturers of taxi booking and dispatch systems have features such as Text back www.textback.me.uk which ensures that just prior to the private hire vehicle arriving the passenger is informed by SMS the vehicle registration, description and driver name. These essential passenger personal safety features are likely to make you more popular with the female clients.

In 1998 The Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act, handed the responsibility of regulation of minicabs and private hire to the Public Carriage Office, which until then only looked after black cab licensing.

Minicab and private hire firms must now hold a private hire operator license before they can accept bookings - your company will not be able to trade without one. In order to get a license, you will have to prove that you are 'a fit and proper person'. Any criminal convictions, bankruptcy or breach of health and safety rules will count against you.

You should also prove you hold any relevant radio licensing or insurance documents and you must diligently ensure that your drivers vehicles and documents are in order. Some software packages will provide a comprehensive record of all driver and vehicle documentation and automatically lock drivers out if the documents have expired. For further information look at the Diplomat Navigator product on the website at the bottom of this article.

Your home address can be your operating centre, a licensing officer may be sent to inspect the premises.

An application fee which runs for five years will be charged by the local authority.

Private hire cars are not required to have meters but may choose to install them. If they are installed they will have to prove they are compliant when the vehicle attends its regular road safety check 3 times a year, there is no restriction as to what a minicab or private hire operator can charge.

Except for exceptional circumstances the vehicles must be less than 5 years old. Drivers must have held a full EU driving license for 12 months, pass a medical and make a declaration in relation to any criminal convictions. In some areas, drivers have to pass a 'knowledge' test, similar to black cab licensees, in order to operate.

Hackney carriage (black cab) regulations

If you are planning to go it alone in a black cab, you need to meet certain requirements. To get your license, you need to be 21 or over, have a full EU driving license for at least 12 months and be able to drive a taxi competently. you will need to prove that you are a 'fit and proper person', and you will be checked by the criminal records bureau .(minor crimes may not automatically disqualify you.) and will require a full medical, A 'knowledge' test may also be required.

London's black cab laws are slightly more complex. You need to decide to apply for a 'green badge' (which allows you to operate in central London) or a 'yellow badge' (which allows you operate in the suburbs.)

The Public Carriage Office allows two years for applicants to pass their central London knowledge test, and six months to pass the suburbs knowledge test.

Training

There is currently no compulsory training programme, although in 2000 the Intermediate Certificate in License Education for Taxi and Private Hire was introduced to provide a nationally recognised qualification for drivers.

To get involved with a training programme, contact the Private Hire, Hackney Carriage and Chauffeur Training Organisation on 0191 296 0814.

Useful contacts

The National Private Hire Association represent over 400 private hire firms. To find out what they can do for you, call them on 0161 280 2800

If you are thinking of becoming a taxi driver, you should firstly contact your local council to find out their particular fees. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association will also be able to help you out - you can contact them by calling 0207 286 1046.

Startup costs

As with much to do with the taxi industry, where you live and what sector you are working in (black cab or private hire) greatly affects the costs involved in setting up your own firm. You should contact your council to get exact figures, although there are some solid estimates that you can work from.

Hackney Carriage costs

From last year, the Disability act requires black cabs have to include wheelchair access and induction loops for the hard of hearing, although the timetable for compliance with the new regulations has been put back pending an announcement by the government.

Nevertheless, it could cost you several thousand pounds to modify second hand black cabs to keep up with the new rules. Brand new cabs currently cost ?25,000 for a manual, ?27,000 for an automatic.

Taximeters are obligatory for Hackney Carriages and cost around ?150-?300, although it is possible to rent them out on a monthly or yearly basis. For further information contact Diplomat on the link at the bottom of the article.

As well as the cost of a license, drivers also have to pay for an additional driving test and area knowledge test - again, these costs vary according to the licensing body. The outlay doesn't stop there - a medical examination will cost you between ?60 to ?80.

Private hire costs

As with Hackney Carriages, the costs of getting your private hire fleet on the road will vary depending on which licensing authority you are dealing with. You will need to pay for operator, driver and vehicle licenses before you can get your Certificate of Compliance from the council, which allows you to start taking bookings.

A private hire operator's license costs anything between ?250-?300, while a license for your vehicle will range from ?75 to ?300. A license for your drivers will cost between ?25 to ?200.

Insurance

You must be insured, Cars, drivers and third parties (i.e. passengers) must be insured, with special private hire insurance available to minicab firms. It is also worth getting your operating centre (if it is not your house) and any equipment (radios, GPS, PDA's and computer booking and dispatch systems etc.) insured too.

Premises

This can be any building you like as long as it conforms to Health and safety and has all the appropriate licenses for equipment.

If you are going to be operating a VHF two way radio system try to choose a site that is on high ground so as to maximize your transmission coverage area. Some companies will provide you with computer coverage predictions before you even talk to the potential landlords. For more details on this service please contact Diplomat.co.uk

Your operating centre should be easily accessible to customers who wish to walk in and make bookings, rather than call.

What equipment is needed?

Modern cab companies have state-of-the-art radio equipment, this often integrates with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) so the vehicles can be tracked on the booking and dispatch computers using the bespoke dispatch software to co-ordinate the jobs and vehicles. Another useful feature is to have full data so that the job details are transmitted in digital form to the cars and can appear on pocket PC's mounted in the cars or simply texted to the drivers phone. This enables a few operators in the office to control a large number of cars and it also prevents confusion when people may be of different nationalities and have widely changing accents. Once the vehicles have Pocket PCs fitted then the drivers can also choose to have in vehicle navigation systems such as Tom Tom and destinator.

Radio licensing

Almost all private hire firms have some sort of radio communication, ranging from simple hand held mobile devices to complex computerised systems that are able to track and interact with drivers. Before you consider your options, however, you must get a proper license from Ofcom

The licence costs between ?5 and ?10 per car per year depending on the size of the fleet.

You can contact the RLA by calling 020 7211 0211 or by clicking on www.radio.gov.uk

Radio equipment

Small operators may wish to dispense with the cost of any two way radio equipment and just use mobile phones.

It is however far more cost effective in the long run to use two way radio as unlike a mobile phone contract there is no monthly line charge associated with such systems

New technology

Making a profit

Even if you are operating just two cars from out of a cramped spare bedroom in your house, if your drivers make a good impression, you could see a loyal custome

10 Ways to Build Your Prospect List through Activities
Your schedule can get pretty full if you are calling ten people a day, following up on leads and doing the work required. You have to make sure that the work you are providing is of the best quality possible or you will lose the customer in the long run. It is also of prime importance that you schedule ten activities per week. It may seem like a lot but if you think about how you spend your time during the day, you only need to schedule two things per day. As you likely eat lunch everyday, you can attend networking meetings or special events during those time slots. You can do the same for breakfast although eating out all the time can exhaust you. Activities do not necessarily mean you need to leave the office. You can create your own activities such as an informational session, a teleconference, a few meetings, the list is endless. An activity is anything you do that gives you touch points with your customers and with others in a network environment. You can schedule 10 meetings a week if you wish, but I suggest that you only schedule six or eight at the most. You will want to include at least one networking meeting per week. You should also put a service organization into your schedule. I belong to Rotary and we meet once a week for a lunch on Fridays. The Chamber also has events that I like to attend and sometimes those are once every couple of weeks. I do other volunteer work as well and therefore I usually have four activities covered through these meetings and the other six with customers.It would be very easy to get out of balance with ten activities a week but if you include all the places where you meet with people then it is a little easier. Do not over-crowd your schedule as you also have to make time for the work.

authorities in the UK and as there is no central body the regulations for each council will vary according to their particular management style. There are however basic regulations that are common to all authorities..

Private hire car regulations

Your home address can be your operating centre, a licensing officer may be sent to inspect the premises.

An application fee which runs for five years will be charged by the local authority.

Hackney carriage (black cab) regulations

The Public Carriage Office allows two years for applicants to pass their central London knowledge test, and six months to pass the suburbs knowledge test.

Training

To get involved with a training programme, contact the Private Hire, Hackney Carriage and Chauffeur Training Organisation on 0191 296 0814.

Useful contacts

The National Private Hire Association represent over 400 private hire firms. To find out what they can do for you, call them on 0161 280 2800

Startup costs

Hackney Carriage costs

Nevertheless, it could cost you several thousand pounds to modify second hand black cabs to keep up with the new rules. Brand new cabs currently cost ?25,000 for a manual, ?27,000 for an automatic.

Private hire costs

A private hire operator's license costs anything between ?250-?300, while a license for your vehicle will range from ?75 to ?300. A license for your drivers will cost between ?25 to ?200.

Insurance

Premises

This can be any building you like as long as it conforms to Health and safety and has all the appropriate licenses for equipment.

Your operating centre should be easily accessible to customers who wish to walk in and make bookings, rather than call.

What equipment is needed?

Radio licensing

The licence costs between ?5 and ?10 per car per year depending on the size of the fleet.

You can contact the RLA by calling 020 7211 0211 or by clicking on www.radio.gov.uk

Radio equipment

Small operators may wish to dispense with the cost of any two way radio equipment and just use mobile phones.

It is however far more cost effective in the long run to use two way radio as unlike a mobile phone contract there is no monthly line charge associated with such systems

New technology

Making a profit

Even if you are operating just two cars from out of a cramped spare bedroom in your house, if your drivers make a good impression, you could see a loyal custome

What is a Notary Signing Agent and How Do You Start a Business?
A Notary Signing Agent is a Notary Public who has acquired a familiarity and understanding of mortgage loan documents either via experience or training. This individual will work as either is hired as an independent contractor for signing agencies, or as a self-employed person receiving assignment through his/her own marketing and advertising efforts.The job consist of ensuring that real estate loan documents are properly executed by the borrower(s), notarized, and returned promptly for processing to the title or escrow officer. This is an important and vital service for borrowers and closing agents, without which a mortgage loan transaction would not be able to be consummated.The Statue of Frauds and the Patriotic Act seek to maintain integrity of a signer’s signature to authenticate a document, and to identify the borrower for tax reporting and anti-money laundering regulation. This is significantly role for a notary very important, now that so many more transactions are being conducted online or by telephone.A Notary Signing Agent will travel to the customers home or office at their convenience to execute loan documents instead of having the borrower interrupt their busy schedule to drive to a the title company, or escrow agent’s office.This convenience allows all parties to the transaction be more productive and in any cases reduce the settlement cost. Closing agents have discover this is a much preferred means of doing business, allowing the borrower to review the documents in the privacy of their home or office while increasing the volume of loan a closing agency can handle.Your primary duties will include: answering phones, customer service, some filing, notarizing documents, networking and marketing your services. You will be required to pass a test or exam sponsored by your state's governing agency to obt

Hackney carriage (black cab) regulations

The Public Carriage Office allows two years for applicants to pass their central London knowledge test, and six months to pass the suburbs knowledge test.

Training

To get involved with a training programme, contact the Private Hire, Hackney Carriage and Chauffeur Training Organisation on 0191 296 0814.

Useful contacts

The National Private Hire Association represent over 400 private hire firms. To find out what they can do for you, call them on 0161 280 2800

Startup costs

Hackney Carriage costs

Nevertheless, it could cost you several thousand pounds to modify second hand black cabs to keep up with the new rules. Brand new cabs currently cost ?25,000 for a manual, ?27,000 for an automatic.

Private hire costs

A private hire operator's license costs anything between ?250-?300, while a license for your vehicle will range from ?75 to ?300. A license for your drivers will cost between ?25 to ?200.

Insurance

Premises

This can be any building you like as long as it conforms to Health and safety and has all the appropriate licenses for equipment.

Your operating centre should be easily accessible to customers who wish to walk in and make bookings, rather than call.

What equipment is needed?

Radio licensing

The licence costs between ?5 and ?10 per car per year depending on the size of the fleet.

You can contact the RLA by calling 020 7211 0211 or by clicking on www.radio.gov.uk

Radio equipment

Small operators may wish to dispense with the cost of any two way radio equipment and just use mobile phones.

It is however far more cost effective in the long run to use two way radio as unlike a mobile phone contract there is no monthly line charge associated with such systems

New technology

Making a profit

Even if you are operating just two cars from out of a cramped spare bedroom in your house, if your drivers make a good impression, you could see a loyal custome

Authority Obsessed People
I've been working at a supermarket at a part-time basis and my managers have annoyed/bugged every once in a while, I guess they did it so I wouldn't slacken off. During the last few weeks of my role in the supermarket (some coincidence this is) one of the managers that I wasn't familiar with started picking on me. Of course from my past experience I know people can make mistakes so I gave him a few chances, oh yea did I say his name is Lance? At first I thought he was picking on me because I came from a European background, later I found out he treated majority of the junior staff this way and I finally understood that he was doing it just because he could. It is people like these that can't be pitied.What I did?He had used up his last chance and it was the last day I was working at the store and I had a plan if he was to come up to me looking for a fight. Nothing happened up until I was going home where he asked me a question and I unknowingly lied (due to fatigue), it wasn't a big deal, it was only an empty box that I had forgotten to put away. As I passed by the box I realized what was going to happen and what I was supposed to do. After 5 seconds of seeing the box Lance too saw the box and called out my name in a loud manner. Of course what worse torture is there for someone who is obsessed with authority to not get a response from a junior staff especially when he's not bothering to turn around to face you? By this time he was so mad that he was literally jogging to my back, he tried to threaten me once more by asking me when I was going to work again and I responded by saying "never", as soon as I said that he was smiling thinking that I had quit because of him, I wonder how he has reacted assuming that he has already found out that I resigned 2 weeks before!My recommendation to others

l driving test and area knowledge test - again, these costs vary according to the licensing body. The outlay doesn't stop there - a medical examination will cost you between ?60 to ?80.

Private hire costs

A private hire operator's license costs anything between ?250-?300, while a license for your vehicle will range from ?75 to ?300. A license for your drivers will cost between ?25 to ?200.

Insurance

Premises

This can be any building you like as long as it conforms to Health and safety and has all the appropriate licenses for equipment.

Your operating centre should be easily accessible to customers who wish to walk in and make bookings, rather than call.

What equipment is needed?

Radio licensing

The licence costs between ?5 and ?10 per car per year depending on the size of the fleet.

You can contact the RLA by calling 020 7211 0211 or by clicking on www.radio.gov.uk

Radio equipment

Small operators may wish to dispense with the cost of any two way radio equipment and just use mobile phones.

It is however far more cost effective in the long run to use two way radio as unlike a mobile phone contract there is no monthly line charge associated with such systems

New technology

Making a profit

Even if you are operating just two cars from out of a cramped spare bedroom in your house, if your drivers make a good impression, you could see a loyal custome

Pounding Nails Or Building A Home?
One of my favorite shows is the Extreme Home Makeover. I think the show is so popular because it tells a story of how a very “in need” family gets a wonderful new home with the help of hundreds of strangers. And each week these “strangers” eat and sleep very little, to complete the home in just 7 days. And what drives these strangers to want to work so hard? Because they are helping to better the situation for a family in need. They know that they are not just pounding nails or painting a wall, they are changing the lives of others.In Leadership, it is important that we find ways to show our people that what they are doing is a vital part of the bigger picture, no matter what their role. Making people feel valued and appreciated is what a leader does. Each of us has a higher need to feel that we are contributing to the overall good of the organization. And if you can identify when your people do make these contributions, and publicly praise them, you will see this behavior repeated over and over.So I would challenge leaders at every level to take time to look at the various roles, and come up with ways to communicate to each and every team member just how they are making a difference in the organization and to your customers. It’s the individual action combined together that equal success.I hope you all have a successful week.Kreg EndersonLeadership Mentor/CoachLeadershipMentor.net

costs between ?5 and ?10 per car per year depending on the size of the fleet.

You can contact the RLA by calling 020 7211 0211 or by clicking on www.radio.gov.uk

Radio equipment

Small operators may wish to dispense with the cost of any two way radio equipment and just use mobile phones.

It is however far more cost effective in the long run to use two way radio as unlike a mobile phone contract there is no monthly line charge associated with such systems

New technology

Making a profit

Even if you are operating just two cars from out of a cramped spare bedroom in your house, if your drivers make a good impression, you could see a loyal customer base build up, thus enabling you to take on more drivers and vehicles.

Factors such as turning up promptly, treating the customer with courtesy and having a competitive pricing policy is vital in building up repeat customers so invest in booking and dispatch software and always be polite and courteous on the telephone.

A good way to attract customers is to offer new features such as online internet bookings and text bookings, this appeals greatly to the younger generation as they can book entirely by SMS, modern booking and dispatch software will instantly translate the text to a job and bypass the telephonist all together.

Please contact WWW.DIPLOMAT.co.uk for further information.

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