How to Get Clients in Real Estate: Top 10 Tips & Tricks

If you are thinking of buying a business, congratulations! Owning your own business is a fantastic way to achieve the American Dream. However, before you hand over any cash or start checking out the banks that could assist your future business, it's essential to ask the right questions first. In this article, we will discuss the essential questions you need to consider when buying a company. These questions will test your readiness to venture into a new business. They will also extract everything you need to know about the seller's business practices, successes, and risks. Let's delve into questions to ask when buying a business. Questions About The Business Itself Besides asking questions about the financials and the company's history, the first order of business is to ask those that provide information on how the company that’s up for sale is currently operating. These questions will give you an idea of what it's like working in this particular industry and help guide your decision-making process regarding the purchase of the business.  Why Are You Selling Your Business to Me? The best way to start a conversation with the seller is with a direct question. It might appear blunt to ask the business seller why they are giving up on their hard work. That said, when buying a business, questions like this can reveal a lot about it. The seller could be honest and say that they achieved the maximum they could with the company and felt it's time to move on to something new. They might be in a situation that requires a different business plan. If the seller gives you an unclear answer, they may be hiding something. Trust your intuition here, but don’t be afraid to ask the seller some follow-up questions, too. When Did You Purchase This Business? By analyzing the past, you can gain excellent insight into how long your newly acquired business will last. It should be one of the first questions to ask a seller when buying a business. That is why checking a company's history can give you hints about its longevity on the market and is a good indicator of your chances for continued success. That said, just because the owner had a long-lasting business doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to work the same way for you. Why Did You Buy It in the First Place? With this question, you can see how the seller's mind works. It will also help you clear up your incentive to take this company upon yourself, especially if it will involve plenty of your time investment.  What Is Your Current Business Plan? If you ask about business plans, the seller can divulge planned expansions and business development ideas. If you’re stumped on what questions to ask when buying a business, checking the scope of the seller's business plan can tell you why they are abandoning their current company or small business. How Does Your Company Generate Income? Time is money; hence you'll need to find out how you'll get compensated. Specific businesses have out-of-the-ordinary methods of creating income. It could be through a subscription, one-time fee, or something else entirely.  Can You Tell Me About Your Crucial Employees? It's tough to find good help, and hard-working employees with a good performance track record can help kickstart a new business venture. You'll want to keep these employees working for you. It is one of the good questions to ask when buying a business, as their knowledge and years of experience can add a lot to the growth of your business. How Fast Does the Business Get Paid for Goods and Services? You have to consider many factors when deciding if you want to buy a business. One of the often-overlooked ones is the time to get paid after finishing a job. If the previous business owner had a significant delay in getting paid after delivering the goods, it could indicate a supply chain problem. Questions About the History of the Business  It's always wise to ask the seller about any previous events or circumstances that may have impacted the business. These include anything from a natural disaster to a lawsuit. It is one of the most important things to consider when buying a business if you don’t want to be unpleasantly surprised when combing over the books at a later date. The goal is to understand how well the company has weathered past storms. With the right questions, the seller might just give you invaluable tips on avoiding the company's past pitfalls. Am I Picking Up Any Liabilities With This Business? You'll need to make sure you're not inheriting any undisclosed debts when purchasing a business. Ask about the property mortgage rate, long-term commitments, contracts with clients, or "buy now, pay later" equipment purchases. Keep in mind that when you take over someone's business, you're also taking over their debts, so this should be one of the questions to ask when acquiring a company. If the seller tells you that they'll pay the debts later, it should be a giant red flag. Are There Any Earlier or Unresolved Lawsuits? Another red flag is if the company has any active lawsuits which could put your finances in peril. Legal expenses and previous damages done to the business' name may be too much to ever successfully recover from. Do I Need To Acquire Any Permits or Licenses? A good number of companies have an ongoing industry-based license or a permit. Hence, one of the legal questions to ask when buying a business is whether there are any licenses or permits that you need to purchase or renew. Otherwise, you could land in legal hot waters if you don't care about this issue. Who Are Your Competitors? One of the biggest mistakes you could make is to skip on investigating the market competition prior to your purchase. Do your own research first, but also check with the seller - they may be able to give you some handy tips. Can You Offer Advice on Conducting This Business? The previous owner has a unique experience and perspective on running a business. Feel free to ask them for an honest opinion about conducting this business and how to make it grow in the future.  They might reveal problematic suppliers or ineffective marketing strategies they tried out, which is invaluable info. This should be one of the initial questions to ask when buying a business after inquiring about the company itself. Questions About the Financials Next, you want to focus on financial questions. One of the most critical ones is how much money the company is making and where that money comes from. In order to make an informed decision about purchasing a business, it’s essential to have a complete understanding of how its finances work. What Is the Company's Yearly Gross Revenue? You have to know how much you can earn through your chosen business and what the ongoing company expenses are. A seller needs to be forthright with this data by showing you profit margin figures, making this one of the most important financial questions to ask when buying a business. If they seem cagey and try to deflect your question, it’s a sure-fire sign that this business may not be worth purchasing. What Was the Profit Margin in Recent Years? If the profit margins are slim compared to gross revenues, the business most likely has significant active expenses. Don’t settle for just asking the current owner, though: getting a professional and independent auditor to check the financial books and tell you the company’s situation should be your highest priority. What Is Your Asking Price for This Business? The aim is to get a ballpark figure and haggle with the owner if the price is worth negotiating over. As simple as it sounds, this is one of the first and best questions to ask when buying a business. The asking price should generally be up to three times the yearly profit figures. Also, be sure to research similar companies in the area, price range, and market to get a feel for how realistic the asking price is. Why Are You Asking for This Much? This is another very direct question that will help you determine how the seller thinks, providing they are honest. It will also tell you whether you trust this person enough to conduct business with them. What Company Assets Will I Acquire? You'll need to evaluate everything you're getting when purchasing a business, preferably with a good task management tool. For this reason, one of the questions to ask the owner when buying a business should be regarding asset acquisition. The answer needs to tell you about the assets in detail:  equipment, a client list, and delivery or business vehicles. It should also include intangible assets like social media accounts and goodwill. Did You Run an Independent Business Appraisal? The seller can do their own business evaluation to get an idea about a fair asking price. Otherwise, an independent auditor can comb through their finances and assets to determine if the asking price is too high. You can be much more confident in a  seller who doesn’t mind an independent evaluation. That's why it's one of the more important accounting questions to ask when buying a business. Both the seller and the buyer may ask for an independent appraisal at any time before the transaction is concluded. Can My Auditor Check Your Books? An honest seller won't mind if you hire a competent and independent auditor to run a financial analysis on their business. That includes checking the finance books for balance sheets, tax returns, investments, active leases and contracts, income and cash flow statements. An ideal analysis should cover at least three to five years of prior business operation, up to the current date. Questions To Ask Yourself You've done an extensive study of what you were getting yourself into when you decided it’s time to buy that arcade shop or manicure business. However, the list of questions to ask before buying a business shouldn’t include only those directed at the current business owner.  Buying and investing in a new company is no small feat. You need to take a good look at everything and think long and hard about whether becoming a business owner is the right career path for you. Asking the following questions and giving yourself an honest answer can help with that. Why Do You Want To Acquire This Business? Take some time to run through all the obvious and hidden reasons for buying a particular business. These reasons must be compelling enough to motivate you to put the maximum effort into running the company properly.  Maybe you like working in a specific industry, or it looks like a sound investment. Or it could be an online store you loved visiting and now want to take over and improve by increasing conversions and giving it your own unique spin. On the list of questions to ask yourself when buying an existing business, your motivation to buy a particular venture is perhaps the most important one. Whatever the reason is, it must be strong enough to motivate you to push through any difficulties that running it in the future may bring. Why Don't You Start Your Own Business? You need to be sure you’d rather tackle running an existing business than do your own thing from the ground up. Perhaps you want to continue the company's legacy and values, or you want to change it into something new and exciting. If you like the niche but feel that the business itself would need a complete rework, maybe starting your own venture is a better idea. Do I Have a Solid Financial Plan To Present to Potential Lenders? Having a bullet-proof financial plan is crucial to developing your business and making the company profitable. As such, this is one of the most helpful questions to ask yourself when purchasing a business. A solid financial plan will attract potential lenders to assist you, especially if you end up needing a loan on a suboptimal credit. Who Else Do I Need To Contact? If buying the business goes well, you need to start thinking about the next steps. Do you have a list of people you want to reach? Will you be using customer relationship management software? Scheduling a meeting with employees, suppliers, clients, customers, and other business-related contacts will help alleviate any potential concerns they may have about the new management.  Further Reading https://www.smallbizgenius.net/knowledge-base/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business/ https://www.smallbizgenius.net/knowledge-base/how-to-start-a-bookkeeping-business/ Conclusion The questions listed above are just a starting point. Be sure to ask other questions specific to the business you're interested in and the industry it operates in. Buying a business is a big decision, so make sure you have all the information you need before moving forward. By asking the right questions, you'll be able to make an informed decision that will go a long way towards making your next business venture a success.  

Business opportunities that allow a significant amount of freedom are few, and those that literally let you go where you want are even fewer. Luckily, starting a food truck business is the magic combination of these things. You can be creative, and still become a part of a billion-dollar industry growing further with every passing year. Between 2015 and 2020, the food truck industry grew by 7.5% every year! Of course, creating a successful business is not as straightforward as just purchasing a truck and getting cooking. There is a lot of planning and preparation needed; we’ll show you how to get started: The Essential Preliminary Research The process of getting a food truck set up can take between three months and a year, and requires several key steps: Understanding Your Competitors When starting any company in the food industry, it's important to remember that your goal is to fill a gap in the market and create demand. When you look at the food truck scene, this seems impossible, since the diversity in offerings is already enormous. Still, your best bet is to look into the trucks in your area and get a feel for what works, as well as what’s missing. When sizing up your potential competition, make a note of the following: Food Choice Choosing a type of food that's not been done by other trucks in your local area is a great way to differentiate yourself. But at the same time, you need to pick a style of food that has almost universal appeal. For example, while pizza will always be popular, a pizza truck would not only have to face competition from other trucks, it also has thousands of restaurants and kiosks with already established customers to contend with. On the other hand, a more niche food truck has a better chance of profiting from scarcity. The Cost Staying competitive in this area is essential: Most food trucks serve food within a specific price range, so charging more would not benefit you. Additionally, you have to make sure you don't undercharge too much, as this could cause issues with your monthly turnover later. Location If you look at where food trucks tend to park, that will give you an idea of the more truck-friendly neighborhoods. Squares and public spaces are usually a better bet than regular streets and back alleys. Service Hours Identifying the peak times is essential. For example, if you live in a location where people commute to work via public transportation, serving a breakfast or lunch option would benefit you more. Having a comprehensive idea of your competition will give you pointers on how to differentiate yourself, but also learn the lessons of setting up a successful business. Researching Food Truck Laws Starting a food truck and working with food, in general, comes with stringent regulations. Typically, food truck regulations fall under three key categories: Health Health standards for food trucks cover what equipment the truck needs to have, the permits you need. Staying up to code can be pretty expensive, but since this is a no-compromise area, you might even have to find a commissary kitchen to prep food in. Vehicle Requirements These regulations concern the type of vehicle you can use, where you need to register it, the emissions regulations, and if you need to have a commercial driver's license. Zoning As the name suggests, zoning regulations for your area determine where you can park the vehicle, the permitted neighborhoods to sell your goods in, and where you can store your vehicle overnight. You’ll need to undertake specific research to address the regulations on street vending and food trucks. As mentioned, most cities require food trucks to have a contract with a commissary kitchen and not actually prepare the food inside the vehicle, so you need to look into those at your disposal in the area of your choice. Name and Concept Once you have an understanding of your competition and the regulations, you can narrow down a concept and name that work with what you are trying to achieve. A food truck business is usually a passion project, so it’s important to ground your brand in personal experiences, rather than looking for something that caters to the masses. You may want to look to your heritage, in combination with your interests. For example, if you have a burning passion for health foods, you can find the healthy recipes your family makes and incorporate them into your menu. The same goes for any other type of food. Once you've settled on a concept, it’s time to choose a name. The name will be pivotal to your brand, since your logo, social media handle, and general memorability will depend on it. Some general pieces of naming advice are worth bearing in mind: Make it Unique A unique name is not just memorable: If there’s already a food truck or restaurant with the same name, you could accidentally violate a trademark. The best thing to do is to search any name you come up with with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) online search tool to check if it's not in use already. Make it Easy to Pronounce As food trucks rely on word-of-mouth, it's important to avoid lengthy names that are hard to spell or pronounce. The shorter, the better - just make it memorable. Make it Descriptive The name should describe the cuisine concept, so your customers know what to expect. Additionally, avoid words tied to a specific location; if your business suddenly booms, the name needs to stay intact. The Finer Points of the Business Your Business Plan While you may want to get your business up and running as soon as possible, starting a food truck means having a detailed and well-thought-out business plan. This provides a solid structure for your company and becomes a guide you can refer to if you’re ever tempted to veer off course. A proper business plan leaves no stone unturned. It should encompass methods to acquire funding, while also laying out rigid details on promoting your shop. It should also identify market trends in the industry using what’s called competitive analysis. Of course, it should outline how you intend to run your business, detail the ingredients and menu, highlight the relevant financial requirements, and make projections based on the info you have. Choosing Your Legal Structure You will need to choose a way to operate: For example, you may become a sole proprietorship, one-person LLC, or, if you are looking to start trading with someone else, a partnership may work better. Choosing a structure impacts your business in a number of ways: For the vast majority of food trucks, an LLC is the most sensible option, as it will protect your personal assets if there is a lawsuit or the business goes bankrupt. An LLC structure also shows external entities such as vendors and insurers that you are a legitimate company. To help you set everything up, you can find an LLC formation service to arrange all the paperwork you need. Register the Company You will need to register your chosen name, file your state or federal taxes, and acquire an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. If you opt for an LLC structure, the cost of forming one can range between $40 and $500. The process of registering a company can be complicated, but if you need additional resources, legal websites can give you insight into each step of the process. Get a Business Bank Account A business bank account is absolutely essential because anybody starting a company in any format needs to separate their personal funds from their business ones. This doesn't just help you organize your finances; it limits the temptation to dip into your personal finances to pay vendors and licensing fees, or use business funds to cover personal expenses. Many small business checking accounts have plenty of incentives for fledgling businesses, so choose the one with the best options. Getting Funding for Your Food Truck  Funding a business is usually one of the biggest hurdles, as most people don't have immediate access to a significant sum of money required to start a food truck. What’s more, most lenders require a solid business plan, so you need to make sure that you have one in place. Of course, don’t borrow over the amount you need, and keep your credit history as clean as possible. Another way to get money is to find investors, or go the crowdfunding route. You’ll need to create a compelling pitch, and get an understanding of how many people would be willing to pay for your service. Some mainstream financial options you could try include: ROBS (Rollover for Business Startups) This option is available to those with retirement savings. Through this program, you can use that money to fund your business without paying any early withdrawal penalties, interest, or taxes on it. You would essentially be buying your own stock, and you’ll have to set your company up as a C-corporation. Personal Loan Personal loans to fund businesses are tricky at best, but might be viable if you have a good credit score and need less than $50,000 to get started. Equipment Loan Financing Program You may be able to acquire finances to purchase the truck via equipment financiers. Again, a good credit score and not overreaching with the borrowing amount would serve you well here. Business Credit Cards Business credit cards might be a good option if you can realistically pay off the debt quickly. You might even make use of cards with a 0% introductory APR period to finance your setup needs and pay things back before any interest accumulates. Investors Finding investors requires a significant amount of preparation, including crafting a solid business plan, compelling story, and comprehensive financial forecast. Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloans The SBA offers microloans for less than $50,000, which could be enough to cover the costs of your food truck startup. However, SBA loans are notoriously difficult to get a hold of, due to their incomparably favorable terms. Acquiring Licenses, Permits, and Insurance  As stated, starting a food truck involves getting a slew of licenses, permits, and insurance. The coverage you need will depend on your location, but you’ll always need a general business license, food service license, and vehicle license. The cost for each permit ranges between $100 and $500. General Business Requirements DBA (Doing Business As) registration Employer Identification Number (EIN) State sales tax permit Resellers license Food Service Licenses Your county or state health department usually issues these: Health permit Food safety managers certification Food handler permits for employees Mobile food facility permit Commercial kitchen contract Food Truck Insurance This would include the following: General auto insurance Workers comp Property insurance General liability Commercial vehicle insurance Purchasing a Food Truck The biggest purchase throughout this process is the food truck itself. You can find a bargain second-hand trailer for as little as $3,000, or you could invest 10 times the amount for a brand new custom-built food truck. When investing in a food truck, you need to make sure it has the appropriate equipment that's up to code, which would include: Working refrigerators and ovens Fire extinguishers and first aid kits Adequate storage for food items Running hot and cold water Other essential equipment that needs professional installation Additionally, you may need to purchase extra upgrades for the truck, like truck wraps (decals for the outside of your vehicle), and supplies such as awnings and tables. Where Can You Buy a Food Truck?  You could go to an individual seller on a website like Craigslist or eBay, or find directory websites listing used food trucks for sale. If you are purchasing a truck online, it's advisable to use an escrow service, which is a service that holds your funds in trust until you receive the truck and are happy with it. This is an extra bit of protection for buyers and sellers. Purchasing Equipment and Supplies With everything in place, you now need to get some extras. Even if the truck is fully outfitted with all of the cooking and refrigeration equipment, you will now need to set up accounts with food suppliers and purchase sales equipment. This is where generators, registers, and even condiments tables come in. A food truck POS system is an investment worth considering to appeal to people who are going cashless. A POS is not just for cashless payments, either: It can help you track inventory and cash transactions, and even remind you if your stock is running low. Opening accounts with wholesale suppliers is another critical aspect to consider. You can always work with big distributors, but local wholesalers might also be a good option: You can build closer relationships with them, to mutual benefit. You also need to factor in the overall amount of admin you would need to do every month. The fewer suppliers you work with, the fewer invoices you need to process. Hiring and Training Staff Starting a food truck usually means doing a lot of the work by yourself. However, you may need extra support, especially if you are operating at a food festival or your business starts snowballing. Most food trucks operate with a skeleton staff of two to four employees. The people you hire should have skills that complement your own, as food trucks operate on a shoestring budget most of the time, so you can’t afford to overextend your payroll. It's important to be honest with yourself, especially at the outset; if you aren't a people person, it may be a good idea to hire someone that can bring more people in with a friendly and welcoming approach. Likewise, if you are excellent at cooking, you need to hire people to act as cashiers. These are some of the key roles you may want to fill: Truck Cook Prep Cook Window attendant Once you have acquired the relevant staff, you need to familiarize them with the menu and how you operate the truck. They will need to adhere to health and safety procedures, and know how to use the safety equipment. It's also essential to give each staff member due attention and teach them about specific food items. For example, if the burgers contain wheat, they cannot be made as a gluten-free option, and they need to know what to tell the customers in this case. Marketing Your Business Even when you’ve got everything else up and running, you’ll constantly need to think about marketing your food truck. A great food truck marketing strategy involves combining traditional and online marketing methods. Some of the essential practices include the following: Starting a Website This is your first port of call. This way, customers can look up who you are, what type of food you provide, and where they can find you. It’s a way to control the framing of your brand. Still, for a successful website, you’ll need to invest in a distinct design and consider the running costs. Many hosting services can let you register a domain name, host and build a site, and get a business email address for an affordable fee. Social Media One of the best ways to connect with your local community and find your target audience is social media marketing. The key is posting professional-looking content regularly and using local hashtags. As tempting as it is to just post food photos, think about your personal story, and give people an insight into your personality. Social media is also the gateway to working with influencers. There are many food accounts and fans on social media, and you can easily send messages to local foodies offering a free meal in exchange for a review. Take Part in Local Events Festivals are a fantastic way to get customers during the spring and summer months. Participating in these events can generate great word-of-mouth about your business. There are also many festivals dedicated purely to food trucks, and booking as many events as possible is the perfect way to build a reputation. Further Reading Opening a Liquor Store: A Short SBG Guide How to Start an Airbnb? 11 Steps for Beginners How to Start a Candle Business: Step-by-Step Guide   Conclusion  Food trucks are a popular way to earn money. While this industry is demanding and time-consuming, it is rewarding, as long as you go into the process with a careful business plan, an understanding of the regulatory processes, adequate capital behind you, and are ready to knuckle down and work hard!

When running a modern SME, it’s essential to gain every possible advantage over the competition. Employing the best small-business packaging ideas is one of the most effective ways to make that happen. Whether you’re shipping clothes, toys, electronics, or beauty goods, this guide to packaging design for small businesses will enable you to finally unlock the full potential of your shop. Why Packaging Ideas Matter While exploring packaging ideas for your small business, every SME should keep the primary benefits of having a personal packaging solution in mind. Customer experience statistics show that people are willing to spend more with businesses that deliver excellent services, and personalized packaging for a budding eCommerce platform is a great example of excellence. The right materials and designs can have a massive influence on how your company is seen as a whole. Considering the value of a great first impression, getting this aspect right can be hugely rewarding. Other stats to highlight the importance of mastering the small business packaging aesthetic include: 3 in 10 businesses report increased revenue after improving their product packaging. 81% of consumers have purchased an item because the product packaging caught their attention. 61% of consumers say they are more likely to buy again from a luxury brand if a product arrives in luxury packaging. 4 in 10 consumers will share photos online if the packaging is exciting and unique. 7 in 10 consumers agree that product packaging influences consumer decisions. Suitable packaging can turn a brand from bland to grand while simultaneously making a statement about your USPs, product quality, and company values. At a time where eCommerce is thriving, consumer expectations are growing, even when dealing with local firms, so you shouldn’t waste any time getting in on the action. Top Tips and Packaging Ideas for 2022 and Beyond ECommerce is a complex industry, so there are many factors to consider before embracing new small-business packaging ideas. It’s important to recognize that there is no one right solution for everyone. A number of variables will determine which packaging choices are right for your company: Are you a luxury brand? What’s your sales volume? What industry are you in? Who is your target audience? Where are you located? Do your products need improving first? With consumer demands and habits evolving faster than ever, now is the time to invest in the correct shipping supplies for small-business ventures. Not all of the following ideas will be applicable to your company, but those that are can become an essential part of your strategy for 2022. Tip #1. Adopt Eco-Friendly Packaging Materials Two-thirds of all consumers take eco-friendly packaging into account when choosing products. Therefore, one of the best ways to improve your brand in 2022 is to go green. Aside from impressing customers, your employees can feel good about working for an eco-conscious company. Cute packaging boxes made from cardboard can be customized with logo stickers or prints to make the designs look less bland. Corrugated cardboard, recycled paper, and plant-based materials are also very popular. Compostable and recyclable packaging will make customers feel happier about their reduced carbon impact, and they will associate that happiness with your brand. If you are planning to adopt eco-friendly packaging materials, you should couple them with smarter courier choices, too. Tip #2. Try Cheap Customized Materials for Clothing Shipping clothes can be difficult, as you need to protect them, but unnecessarily large or heavy packaging is not the way to go. As such, you probably think you’ll have to stick to tried and tested options, like cellophane. However, cute packaging ideas for a small business that sells clothes involve switching the plastic for something with a professional and unique vibe. Custom tissue paper and inner packaging are cheap and cheerful ways to wrap individual items. It will protect them while also aiding the personalized brand experience, even more so if you use custom logo tags. These are another inexpensive idea for adding an extra something-something to your products without expensive customized outer packaging. Using cute branded (or at least color-matched) tissue paper may also increase the likelihood of your customer sharing snaps to social media, giving you free exposure. Tip #3. Make Your Words Count They say a picture says a thousand words, but the reality is that the text on your packaging is the first thing people will read when receiving something. They will read the name of your business along with any slogan. You can make a big statement with just a few words. Something like “let the magic begin” or “open for a surprise” works well. Of course, the exact wording will depend on the products you sell. Toy packaging, for example, should display different wording than a beauty box. As well as building excitement, your words can celebrate things like “made from 100% recyclable materials” or “made with love and sustainable materials.” Choose the font size and color, so they feed into your branding, and your packaging will help your small business stand out from the crowd. Tip #4. Opt for User-Friendly Packaging Consumers demand fast results: In fact, 44% of them will wait two days maximum for a delivery, while under 25% will wait four days. As you can probably imagine, they don’t want their patience tested further with fiddly packaging. Even though they might protect the products better, durable plastics may actually distract from the experience of opening your goods. Therefore, it’s wise to choose creative shipping boxes with easy-opening features. Lose unnecessary cable ties or sealed plastics if it can be helped. Corrugated cardboard with flaps that fold and support each other’s weight can work well. You can seal the outer parts with tape if required, but use it sparingly. Thanks to 3D printing, it is also possible to print packaging materials designed specifically for your products. Tip #5. Be Compact Size matters, but bigger isn’t always better. Whether picking a product up from the shelf or receiving it at home, an unnecessarily bulky package can detract from the quality of the product. Moreover, eco-conscious consumers will think it’s a waste. It is, therefore, far wiser to focus on compact packaging. Custom packaging can be made specifically with your products in mind. From jewelry packaging boxes, to art or toy packaging, this will reduce the amount of internal packaging needed. It also helps keep your parcels user-friendly, and the matching of products and wrappers shows a sense of professionalism. As a side note, compact packages are easier for workers to load onto trucks, so if you have bigger shipments, you’ll be able to send more products in one go. Perfect, right? Further Reading The Best eCommerce Platform - Find Customers Globally eCommerce Shipping Best Practices and Solutions Best eCommerce Website Builder: Our Top Picks Conclusion The best packaging designs and materials won’t deliver success on their own. After all, you still need to create the right products and promote your brand. Nevertheless, the best small-business packaging ideas can help your products stand out on the shelf or social media, while building stronger customer connections. The right packaging choices can additionally drive business efficiency, not least from a financial perspective. If there’s only one aspect of product design and branding you need to upgrade in 2022, this is it.