Sarah Lerche

You're beginning a new company and as such, you're most likely looking for funding. This is where venture capital comes in.What is venture capital? It's the financing that is invested in startups. It's usually a high risk investment with the potential for unlimited growth.Most people who provide venture capital do it on an ongoing basis. In other words, that's their business. To help you decide whether or not you should seek it out, we look at the five advantages of seeking venture capital. ...

One of the best things about starting a new business is picking out an office location and setting it all up.It solidifies your position as a growing startup and puts you on the path to success.In this article, we look at how startups can approach office design to maximize your space and the potential of your staff.Why is office design so important? One study shows that the design of your physical workplace is one of the top factors affecting employee performance and job satisfaction.Because of ...

Are trade shows worth it for your startup?The answer is yes. While many businesses forgo trade shows for other forms of advertising, if you do this, you're leaving money on the table.Trade shows create an incredible opportunity for your startup to be seen. It's a great place for people to try your product and see it in person.What's more, Meeting Professionals International found there's a 40% close rate for meetings you have in person. Let's say you're selling hot tubs at a trade show – that's ...

As a standard business practice, most companies survey their customers. You may have even sent surveys of your own. Businesses survey their customers to gauge customer loyalty, see how likely customers are to refer a business to family and friends, and to measure their overall satisfaction with the products and services they are using.Customer surveys provide powerful data that can help your startup improve. So, it stands to reason that asking your employees for their opinions can even further y...

The job market is tight, and the number of voluntary separations by employees is rising year over year. It's an employees' market, and it's more important than ever to take care of your staff. What does this mean for your startup?To be successful and retain the best employees, you want to put the professional development of your team at the forefront. The most talented workers want to enhance their skills.This is good not only for your team but for your startup. Here's how startups can offer car...

You may not think your employees are feeling overworked, but the reality is that many staff members are at risk of burnout.That's the word from a Gallup poll conducted last year, which found that 23 percent of employees felt burned out at work either "always" or "very often," while another 44 percent described themselves as being burned out "sometimes." This leaves only about a quarter of full-time employees not at risk of burnout.If you're of the mindset that staff members are replaceable if th...

 Did you know that nearly 80% of adult Americans don't get the recommended amounts of exercise each week? This is a set up for many different types of problems.What's more, many people spend most of their day sitting in uncomfortable chairs in front of a computer. This can lead to back, wrist, neck, and hand pain.Ultimately, without a workplace wellness plan, your startup may end up with unhealthy and unhappy team members. But you can help. Let's look at five ways startups can encourage hea...

Going through the hiring process for a new startup is not only time consuming but costly. You've put forth a lot of effort to create a top notch team, and you'd like to retain them into the future.To create employee loyalty, you want to help them feel engaged with your company. In this article, we look at how to help your employees feel more engaged at work.When they're more engaged, they're more productive and more committed to your startup.Model communicationOne way to create an engaged workfo...

As a new startup, you can set your company culture and employee morale right from the outset.You've worked hard to hire the right people for your business. This may mean you have people of all ages, races, genders, religions and political affiliations sharing a space.In addition, you want them to feel comfortable and happy so you can build a cohesive team. To do this, they must all be welcomed.Here are five ways startups can help employees from all backgrounds feel welcome. #1: Startup at t...

When it comes to staffing your startup, the price is high. In fact, your hiring decisions are vital to the success and upward trajectory of your startup.In this article, we look at five reasons why bad hires are so costly to startups. From the actual cost, to your time, your reputation, lost opportunities, and the culture impact, you can't afford to mis-hire.#1: The costThe straight up costs with putting your job on job boards, culling through applications, interviewing candidates, calling refer...

When it comes time for startup valuation, you may wonder just how you can work out the value of your startup.The methods are important because you may not have a huge revenue stream which makes valuation a bit harder.In this article, we look at five tips to help you determine the value of your startup. After all, you want to earn this highest valuation from your investors, instead of being undervalued. #1: Talk to your accountant, lawyer, and investorsYes, you are most often worth what the ...

If you think your new business is too small for a human resources (HR) department, think again.Many new startups think they're too small for HR to matter, but this couldn't be further from the truth. You might think you can handle issues as they arise, but this leaves you open to conflict and even legal trouble.As a new startup, it's best practice to set get HR onboard in the beginning. In this article, we look at why your startup isn't too small to develop HR policies and processes from the sta...

With unemployment rates at record lows, many large companies are recommitting chunks of their budgets to employee training.Why? This is to increase retention rates and enable their companies to keep their best and brightest team members.Yet, small businesses and startups may find themselves reluctant to provide employee training. Let's look at five reasons why not providing employee training costs your startup money. #1: A more competitive workforceIf you want to be competitive in your chos...

Many startups and small businesses think offering their employees a 401(k) plan isn't in the cards. The budget is tight, most startups think they're too small, and they don't think they can afford the administrative care.This is no longer true. It is possible for your startup to provide a retirement savings plan, and it can be affordable.In this article, we look at why startups should offer retirement plans to their employees. You'll attract top talentYou're more likely to recruit and hire ...

As a new startup, some of the biggest decisions you are going to make for your business are who to hire and who not to hire.Why is this so important? First, it may mean the difference between your startup succeeding, and it failing. And, second, it will play a role in determining your company culture.Because your hiring is so essential and impacts your business in so many ways, let's look at how improving your assessments can help your hiring process. What are assessments?These are pre-empl...

Startups are uniquely poised to create their own company culture right from the outset.As a new business, you can set the tone for your culture through your own employee morale. There are many things you can do to set the tenor of your business, and one such way is through your feedback process.Let's look at how startups can provide feedback to employees.Why feedback is importantFrom the beginning days of your startup and in your employee onboarding, it's important to let your new team members k...

As a new business, you've spent many hours creating job descriptions, plowing through resumes, interviewing candidates, onboarding them, and training them for their new positions.That's a lot of time and money invested, so you want to retain your new staff for the long haul. One way to help create employee loyalty is to provide them with a mentor.In this article, we look at how startups can develop a mentorship program for employees. Define your objectiveBefore you begin your mentorship pro...

Sure, there's an "official" Employee Appreciation Day, but why wait? Showing your staff appreciation every day goes a long way towards improving employee morale and creating a top notch company culture.This not only improves employee retention, but when word gets around about what a great company you are to work for, your hiring chances explode.There are many ways you can make your employees feel valued every day. In this article, we look at seven ways startups can show appreciation for their em...

To defend our country, military service members have some unique qualities that translate well into the general job market when their service is complete.Active duty military are most often the hardest workers in the room. They are also usually motivated and exceptionally ethical. As a startup, these are just the kind of employees you want to recruit.Let's dive into this and look at why hiring veterans is a great idea for startups.They are natural leadersThe military trains their people well. Se...

As a small business, you know that the process of finding the right team members is costly and time consuming. Job postings, recruiting, interviewing, hiring and onboarding add up quickly.In addition, you know that keeping your employees around is vital to the survival of your startup because going through the hiring process over and over zaps your budget and your energy.One way to boost both your business and employee morale is with learning opportunities. In this article, we look at the benefi...

Did you know that more than 30% of new hires quit a job within the first six months?This is a pretty staggering number considering that you run a startup. The hiring budget is tight, and you've spent a lot of time hiring the best available talent. The last thing you want is to lose them.So, how do you increase your chances of keeping the top talent you hired? The answer is onboarding.What is onboarding?For many business owners it means giving new employees a tour of the facilities, showing them ...

According to the Harvard Business Review, nearly 90% of American workers would take a lower paying job if they had the option for a flexible work schedule.Those numbers are sure to be similar across the globe. Why? In today's digital age, employees understand that for many jobs, they are able to work remotely. It provides a certain freedom not traditionally found in the workplace.What's more, when they work remotely, they are happier, and their productivity soars. Flexible work schedules are goo...

Whether you are about to launch your startup, or you already have, you've probably had many ideas about what your office would look like and feel like.After all, it's quite common to think of the startup office as the cool place with the ultra-hip and chic vibe, and you might want that feel for your own space.So, how do you create the perfect office where people have the freedom to move around, the flexibility to work where they are most productive, with design elements that are attractive to st...

According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, three million people have voluntarily left their jobs every month since June 2017.If you're an employer, that is worrisome news. As a startup, you're going to spend some money and a whole lot of time hiring new staff and onboarding them. You want employees who stick around.To help you with employee retention, we look at five tips to help you reduce employee turnover.#1: Analyze turnover ratesIf you've been in business long enough, you can...

Of all the marketing methods for your startup, email is one of the most powerful.What's more 59% of marketers say it is the number one ROI-generating marketing method. Many companies, in fact, are increasing their spend on email marketing because it simply works.Because email marketing is a great tool for you, let's look at how startups can use newsletters to accelerate growth. Build your listOne of the hardest parts of email marketing in the beginning is growing your list. You can do it wi...

When looking for new employees, you want to set your company up for success. This may mean several things for your business when crafting your job posting ads.It turns out that according to Career Builder nearly 75% of job seekers begin their search online. What does this mean for your hiring potential? It means you want a clean, respectable online reputation.What's being said about your business online is vital not only to your revenue stream but to your well-being as an appropriately staffed b...

As a new company in the early stages, you may not have an excess budget for recruiting and hiring employees.Yet, like any other company, you want the best talent. So, how do you compete for the most competent new hires without a big budget?Let's look at how startups can maximize their recruiting budgets so they can compete with established, larger companies.Focus on the webIt's a given that before anyone submits a resume to work for your startup, they've done a bit of internet research.They can ...

As a startup, you face different challenges than more established companies face.Many of these challenges have to do with staffing and human resources. Let's look at some unique HR issues faced by startups.Lack of management buy-inSometimes startup management teams don't care enough about HR policies and ignore them. They go so far as to think HR is only about hiring when it's about so much more.Make sure your leadership team buys in to your policies. Your human resources team will set your comp...

You probably know your employees dread performance reviews, but did you know that most managers are uncomfortable with them, too?If you fall into this category as well, it's good to know you aren't alone. Performance reviews are difficult to do, but they are the basis of a happy, well-trained staff. That is, if they are done right.In this article, let's look at performance review options for startups.Ditch the annual review​Who really wants this hanging over their head all year long? Plus, when ...

You've thrown everything you have into your startup. You've been the one in charge from the start, making things happen, and gradually leading your startup to growth.In the beginning, you probably had your hand in a little bit of everything – you were product developer, human resources manager, marketer, fundraiser, and several other jobs in-between.At some point during this time and now, you might be thinking about transitioning your role into something more specific.In this article, we look at...