Running a small business does not mean that you are exempt from keeping your office (or offices) clean. While your premises might not be as huge as other companies, the task of keeping a clean office is still present. It might even be a bit more difficult for small businesses because of the intimacy of the office. No one really wants to be the “mom” at work, right?

It is important, however, to realize the effects of having a pristine office. Psychologically, it helps with efficiency in the work place. More than that, if you have clients and customers coming in, the cleanliness of your place will speak for itself. Who would want to deal with a business that is housed in an unsanitary place?

The first thing that you need to do to keep your premises clean without having to spend extra money on more cleaning personnel is to establish house rules. Make sure that everyone understands the importance of keeping their areas clean, and that picking up after themselves is a must. Personal accountability is the premier consideration here.

Another thing that you can do is to minimize clutter. The less tables and other surfaces that you have around the office, the less you will need to maintain. More so, set a good example by keeping your own office and desk clean and tidy. If your own work area is cluttered and unkempt, why should your employees keep theirs clean?

Again, the bottom line is to make everybody aware of their responsibility – and that includes YOU.

If you think that the swine flu pandemic is over and done with, then you should think again! The swine flu, or H1N1, virus is still around and it seems that it continues to be a cause of concern. As a matter of fact, federal officials released a statement on Monday to the effect that small business owners should prepare for the scenario wherein their employees might be affected by the virus.

As we usher in fall, the Department of Homeland Security warns that many more people might contract the virus, and since about half of the workers in the private sector are employed by small businesses, this is a pressing matter. Janet Napolitano, chief of Homeland Security said:

“They play a key role in protecting the health and safety of the country but also their own employees and also helping us limit impact of an H1N1 pandemic on our economy and our country.”

The Department of Homeland Security has released a guidebook with the aim of helping small businesses prevent complications arising from swine flu infections. In addition to this, the guidebook also helps with coming up with contingency plans in case staff members do contract the virus. Some examples include allowing employees to work from home, carrying out operations with leaner staff, and so on.

While there is no indication that the swine flu problem will take a turn for the worse, the CDC is preparing itself for whatever may happen. It is but logical that small business owners do the same.

Technology is very much part of any business today. For the small business owner, expenses on technology may not be that large, especially when compared to companies that operate on a larger scale. Still, these expenses can comprise a significant chunk of a small business’s budget. As such, any savings that can be made is welcome!

What are some ways by which you can save on your technological expenses?

One, when purchasing technological equipment such as computers and printers, you might want to check out extended warranty programs. Even though computers become obsolete so quickly, they can last for many years and be useful for just as long – especially if you do not need cutting edge technology. Getting the extended warranty can help you save on additional costs involved in purchasing new equipment. If you did not avail of extended warranties for your existing computers and they are still under warranty, why not call the manufacturer and see if they can extend the warranty? Some big names such as Dell and HP offer this.

Two, look for free or open source software. Microsoft Office can cost you an arm and a leg, especially for commercial use. Why not look at software like Open Office? It’s totally free and works just fine! For antivirus and antimalware software, try AVG and SpyBot. There are a lot of products online available for download which will not cost you a cent – just look.

Three, perform regular maintenance work on your computers. Virus scanning, defragmentating, deleting of unneeded files, backing up of files – all these should be part of a routine and will save you time and money in the long run.