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Onsite software and other software solutions for business come with many pre-programmed tools that can help streamline your business and make it more efficient and productive. We detailed several of these tools in our previous blog, including accounting services, information services like blogging, and recovery and backup. Here are a few more business software tools that you can look forward when you purchase or update your business software:

• Calendar: Business software systems provide a comprehensive calendar that allows you to schedule all of your projects, jobs, payments and other such information. You can make it public within your company so that employees at every level can see it, or you can create your own calendar that only you or your managers can access. This helps make sure that everyone within your organization is on the same page and can avoid miscommunications and mistakes.
• Matrixes: Apparel software and other similar programs allow you to store matrixes, including sizes, color, thread count and more, which helps simplify future orders. With these matrixes, you simply have to select options, instead of entering them separately and new each time you enter an order.
• Marketing: Most systems have several marketing tools to help simplify your campaigns, like email marketing. Some integratable systems allow you to host websites on your clients’ pages so that their clients can place orders directly on your site. They also help give your site a consistent interface that allows you to interact professionally with your clients every time they visit your website.

Replacing Out-of-Date Software

The most common reason that businesses purchase new software solutions for business, including entirely new apparel software systems or commercial screen printing software, is because their previous software system has become so out of date that it is now obsolete.

This brings us to one of the most important considerations you should think about when you are purchasing business software: how often is the system updated? Is it the kind of software that is a one-time purchase and doesn’t receive updates? Or will the software company be in contact for updating technology and training you, as new functions and improvements become available? If the answer to the second question is yes, then you want to keep looking until you find a system that will remain current for years to come. If you are going to spend a significant amount of money on a program to support your company, you want to make sure it is being well spent, not wasted.

ShopWorks makes it a point to constantly update their software and make these updates easily available for you. Updates are important, even if they are as simple as new training opportunities to make sure that your employees are using your ShopWorks system to its fullest extent. These training opportunities range from the ShopWorks University and ShopWorks Central premises, training DVDs, On Premises training opportunities, consultation, and more. If you have questions about how ShopWorks remains current in today’s technology-fueled world, or how training and software updates are available, call ShopWorks for more information.

Managing a company takes more than just a good nose for business. Sure, you can be smart and savvy when it comes to accounting programs. You can have a good sense of what customers want. You can be great with advertising. However, even with all of those qualities, you are still only one person. You cannot do more than your mind and your body can handle — and neither can your employees. Wouldn’t it make more sense to streamline your business, to find print estimating software and other software programs that essentially run certain aspects of your business? The answer, of course, is yes.

Here at ShopWorks, we understand that the printing apparel industry is full of many details that must be addressed with each order. We also understand that each order is different. That is why we have worked hard to develop a suite of software that can handle all of these various aspects. OnSite is more than just a program to manage your expenses or help you tweak a design. It is a suite of programs that work in conjunction with each other to help you manage every step of every order from your computer.

You and your employees can monitor every order from start to finish. When tweaks are made to a design, notes can be added, so everyone, including the client, can see the proof. The entire process from start to finish can be monitored. You don’t have to be in the same room to see what is going on with your design team. You don’t have to juggle ten different programs to keep track of an order, a payment, an expense, and marketing. You can keep track of everything with OnSite screen printing solutions.

ShopWorks has spent years developing this suite of software to meet ALL of your business needs, not just a few. OnSite even works with other well-known programs to ensure that all aspects of your business are managed in the easiest manner possible — and you don’t have to spend hours learning new software for every aspect. Contact us today at ShopWorks to learn more about OnSite and how it can be a valuable asset to your business.

As discussed in previous blogs, it can be a real hassle to run your business with multiple systems rather than one integrated business software solution.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software was specifically designed to be just such a solution—it can run your entire business from one platform, keeping track of and coordinating:

• Sales and marketing
• Order processing
• Purchasing and inventory
• Production management
• Shipping and receiving
• Finance and accounting

With all the advantages of ERP software, why aren’t more small and medium businesses using it? The answer is simple: most ERP systems are expensive, complicated, overkill for smaller, simpler businesses, and, most important, are often too generic for vertical industries such as the decorated apparel business.

However, a growing business (i.e., anything beyond a mom-and-pop operation) still generates a ton of information. All that data is often spread over multiple specialized cloud applications (such as cloud-based CRMs), spreadsheets, generic accounting software (Quickbooks), and even paper documents.

This cobbled-together arrangement might work fine for up to a five-man shop, but in a growing business, it far too often allows orders, customers, and finances to slip through the cracks, resulting in lost or delayed business and many headaches.

So an ideal solution would be an ERP system for small businesses that can: (1) Be simple yet powerful, (2) Handle all your company’s data (sales, orders, purchasing, production, and accounting) in one place, (3) Allow you to analyze trends to spot untapped market opportunities, (4) Have just the right balance of power and cost-effectiveness to justify the investment, (5) Fit perfectly with your vertical industry.

As that last point says, the key issue to making an ERP system work for small businesses is how well suited it is for your vertical market. If it’s already customized to your industry’s unique requirements, it will make all the difference. Large businesses may have the budget for customization and integration with legacy systems…but the little guy does not. So their mission is critical to find an ERP that is already close to a perfect fit for how your industry works…preferably coded by people who have actually worked in the industry and have spent years perfecting the system based on feedback from customers just like you.

If you’re in the decorated apparel, screen/digital printing, or trophy industry, ShopWorks has developed the perfect small business ERP solution: OnSite. And these folks have deep industry experience…they’ve worked in the decorated apparel industry for years and have served the industry for years more. Read ShopWorks’ and OnSite’s story to learn about their integrated business technology solutions.

OnSite was made to be the central information hub of your business, fulfilling all the company data needs described above. It’s built on the flexible, powerful FileMaker Pro platform, and it comes either as client-based (self-hosted) software or in the cloud, depending on your needs. Our small business ERP software is made specifically for your industry, with all the quirks and special needs fully accounted for. Call us at 800-526-6702 with any questions you have about our integrated software solutions.

Interested? Schedule an OnSite demo to see if our integrated small business ERP software is right for you!

While we are very confident in our software solutions for business, we also acknowledge that they may not be ideal for every company.  We know this to be true because we designed it with promotional product companies, including apparel, printing and awards companies, in mind. If you are looking for new sign business software, print estimating software, or another type of software, here are some things to look for within each system and company you consider.

• First, look at the SAAS company’s record. You want to make sure you are purchasing software from a company that has a good track record, including high customer retention and customer satisfaction, and a high rate of acquiring new customers.

• You also want to make sure that the company is continually expanding their product and updating it. This means having machinery and applications that allow for enhanced functionality within their software.

• If possible, find a company with low employee turnover, since employees who have stayed with a company for an extended period of time know the products better and are more able to assist customers with problems and questions that may arise.

• The software you ultimately decide to use should have shared data in a single platform, or high levels of integration. Instead of running many different applications separately, they should all integrate seamlessly within a single platform.

• The information flow within your system should be logical and have minimal steps. All of your information and informational archives should be accessible. Your system should also be able to offer you high-level, dynamic analysis reports on information, so that you can examine a single project, machine or employee effectively.

Let’s be honest — businesses in the industry of digital printing systems, such as screen-printing t-shirts and similar endeavors, are hard work. They require more than just your basic computer software systems. They require more than a simple accounting program and other random programs that work independently of each other. Your business needs a software system that is all-inclusive — a suite of programs that operate together to help streamline every step of an order.

That is where ShopWorks can help. Our suite of software known as OnSite is the all-inclusive answer you have been searching for. Instead of trying to balance numerous programs at once, trying to keep track of orders with one program, keep track of payments with another, keep track of expenses with another, and keep customers updated with another, you can do it all from the comfort of one suite of software.

OnSite is more than just a single program. It is several programs put together. Each has a purpose, a primary “job” to perform. Yet, each program works in conjunction with the rest, so that every step is streamlined. From the marketing you need to promote your business, to the orders you take; from delivering proofs to clients, to receiving payments and paying expenses, our software suite will take care of all aspects of your business.

No, this software is not going to do all of the work for you. However, it will free up plenty of your time, so that you can concentrate on improving your business, your products, and your bottom line. Contact us today at ShopWorks to learn more and stop letting multiple programs take over your business — streamline and enjoy less stress with OnSite.

Operating a business that specializes in signs and slogans, such as a t-shirt business, is hard enough without having to worry about managing every tiny aspect on your own. Here at ShopWorks, we understood that need. That is why we worked hard to create a suite of sign business software that takes some of the worry out of your hands with OnSite software suite.

Our OnSite software suite is different from all the rest. It is different because it is capable of helping you manage and monitor every aspect of your business, from the convenience of one software suite. This means that you can check on an order at the same time that someone on your design team is tweaking a design. You can then check the new design, and the software will notify the client of the proof. Every step of the process, from ordering to shipping, is managed by the software. All you have to do is monitor the software at any point in the entire process, and you will see exactly what is happening with a particular order.

This convenience is important to a business owner like yourself. You have your hands full with marketing your business, getting new customers, and keeping your current customers satisfied — not to mention making time for your personal life and your family. With OnSite, you can have the best of both worlds. You can have an almost-entirely automated business, and you can have time for your own life. Contact us today at ShopWorks to learn more about OnSite and how beneficial it can be to your business.

Software for Digital Printing Companies

ShopWorks has developed some of the best digital printing systems available in the country, and the systems have enjoyed widespread use since first being released. The specialized applications and features provide managers and business owners with a wide range of useful solutions.

• The system allows business owners to track the production rates and efficiency of different departments, individuals or machines. Through this, managers are able to pinpoint specific problems in the production line and increase productivity.
• Managers can set inventory and pricing based on square footage, linear feet, square meters and many other variables that are commonly used.
• You can store production and design variables based on imprint locations, file location, material type and more.
• Each item included in a sales order is stored with its own unique set of units that have defaults based on your product settings.

Steps to Start an Embroidery Business in Today’s Competitive Market

Entrepreneurs everywhere are exploring business ideas likely to provide a solid, steady income in the current business environment. While there are a variety of businesses with potential, starting an embroidery business is certainly worth considering. If this is on your radar, there are several factors to consider that are unique to this industry.

Why Choose an Embroidery Business?

Anyone thinking about starting a business today must like the industry. Because any startup will require a significant investment of both time and capital, enjoying what you’re doing is vital to avoid burning out. Before deciding on starting an embroidery business, prospective entrepreneurs are strongly encouraged to carefully research the industry to determine how they operate and the commitments required.

After evaluation, if you’re still interested in pursuing this industry, it’s time to look at the other challenges you’ll face. Taking the time to create a well-thought-out, detailed plan which considers as many variables as possible will make your entire endeavor much easier than it would be with poor planning. Continue reading and learn how to start an embroidery business.

Research the Competition

Far too many prospective business owners fail to look carefully at the current environment prior to opening a business. If there are several direct competitors in a limited market area, the odds of success are significantly reduced.

Online marketing efforts can mitigate the situation to some degree, but also remember the online marketing competition is fierce, suggesting that on-the-ground sales will most likely be needed as well.

Establishing a niche market can help, but that’s generally difficult to do unless a truly unique product line or category is developed. Again, knowing your competition is incredibly important to succeeding.

Another step in starting an embroidery business is carefully identifying a target market is also vital to the long-term success of any business, and the embroidery business is no exception. If your target market is small and products are not quickly consumed and replaced, it can be difficult to maintain a consistent level of sales. That’s why considering all market venues at this point is an absolute requirement.

Develop a Business Plan

While this would appear to be common sense, the majority of new businesses don’t have a plan that addresses all possible contingencies. Business planning takes time and generally requires the assistance of accounting and legal experts.

The business plan must contain solid, accurate estimates of costs for a building to house the business, the embroidery equipment and other materials necessary to begin operations, and the costs of hiring and training employees. While a small embroidery business may not require several employees initially, planning for growth before opening the doors should definitely be included in the plan.

This is an area where the research conducted earlier can help. Look carefully at successful embroidery businesses to see what they’re doing. Also, look at lower-performing operations to see how their practices may be influencing their lack of success. Emulating the successful businesses will enhance a new business’s odds of success.

Explore Financing Options

Financing any business, especially a new one, has traditionally been somewhat difficult. That’s especially true in the years following the onset of a recession. Banks will remain somewhat reticent when it comes to financing new ventures, so looking at all available options is important to ensure adequate financing is obtained.

The term, adequate financing, is important to remember. A large percentage of new businesses fail quickly because they lack the financing needed to become established, not because the products or services they’re providing aren’t needed.

Discussing the proposed embroidery venture with a traditional lender shouldn’t be ignored, but don’t be surprised if they aren’t overly excited with your plans. Being open to different strategies is a requirement. So, what does that mean?

First, look for anyone in your life willing to invest in your dream. While borrowing from family members and friends can cause issues, it’s always an option to consider. Venture capitalists are also an option, with some focusing on helping small businesses get started. Newer options, like GoFundMe, shouldn’t be ignored either. While most people won’t find the level of financing they need from that type of source, they may find a significant percentage of the total amount required.

Another option that’s currently being used successfully around the country is grants. Anyone considering a new embroidery business should certainly consider applying for economic development grants in their regions. While the conditions of those grants will vary depending on the new business’s location, virtually everyone will find there are different types of grants available to aspiring entrepreneurs in their region.

It is likely that no one source of financing will be adequate, suggesting that it’s important to develop a mix-and-match strategy using all the available resources. Of course, it’s also important to make sure repayment terms won’t cripple the new embroidery business before it’s ever established.

Look Ahead

The embroidery business isn’t static. That means your business plan should evaluate both current and future. While online sales still trail brick-and-mortar sales, they are consistently gaining ground. That means a website is essential and an ecommerce site is highly recommended.

Technology is rapidly evolving, meaning new businesses must evaluate the trends prior to investing in expensive equipment. While the newest technology may be more expensive initially than older varieties, opting for the newer technologies may save money in the long term. While making predictions can be difficult, doing the research and looking carefully at what competitors are doing can make the process easier for new embroidery business owners.

Choosing the Right Embroidery Management Software

Even the best hardware available won’t benefit an embroidery business if the right software solutions are not installed and used.

Make sure the embroidery software you choose insures seamless communication between sales and marketing, order processing, purchasing and inventory, production management, shipping and receiving, finance and accounting. This will prevent bottlenecks and minimize quality control issues. Clients will be happier and employees will be less frustrated.

To avoid major obstacles in the beginning and throughout the growth of your embellished product business, don’t overlook the right software.

Getting Started

Opening any new business presents a significant level of risk, but that’s never stopped successful entrepreneurs in the past. Yes, many new businesses fail within the first couple of years, but when a business is carefully researched and comprehensive business plans are developed, those risks are dramatically reduced.

If you’re truly motivated to develop a new embroidery business, get started now. Get the advice needed from accountants and legal professionals and explore all the funding options available. You’re likely to find getting established is difficult and time consuming, but the benefits merit the work involved.

Don’t forget to view our Business Growth Tips.