Be Wary Of These Business Troubles

Julie Starr • April 21, 2022



When you have your own business you are responsible for anything that happens to go a bit awry. Being prepared for all eventualities will help you manage everything should the worst happen. Here are six common business troubles that you can face and how to work around them.

High Energy Costs 

If when you created your business budget you catered for the costs of energy then you may need to rejiggle this around a bit. It can end up costing an arm and a leg these days when it comes to energy, and the cost only seems to be rising. In order to deal with this then it may be time to start reminding your employees and other workers to shut down their PCs at the end of the day. You should also turn the lights off rather than leave them on, this wastes electricity. 

It may be worthwhile investing in some form of renewable energy such as wind power or solar power. These will help cut your energy bills by as much as half. It may seem like a huge payout initially but it will pay for itself in the end. You can put the money you save on energy towards other aspects of your business such as sustainability programs. 

Security Trouble 

It can be quite common for unruly people to target businesses. This is due to the sheer amount they can actually take from them. Not only physical items but files and data as well. Keeping security tight within your business will alleviate any problems that could arise. There are many options when it comes to your business’s security, these include CCTV, security personnel, and smart locks. 

Continued COVID Concerns 

It might seem like the COVID pandemic is behind us but this just isn’t true. There are a lot of people who are still concerned about the impact of the virus, including long-COVID. This is still impacting a few different business sectors and it’s something that you should keep in mind. As well as this, some companies are still recovering from the knocks to profit that occurred during the pandemic. 

 

Make sure that whoever you choose to look after your business is verified and has reviews from previous customers and clients. You can also ask around your friends, family, or other businesses for recommendations. You just want the best for your business which means choosing the best security team for the job. Of course one of the greatest concerns is definitely cyber. That’s why you should make sure that you have the right insurance in place.   Insurance brokers  will help ensure that you find the best option on the market for your company. 


In the meantime, you can also invest in security solutions like a centralized platform for managing secrets to protect your business against online threats. Imagine a secure vault, accessible only to authorized users, where you can store all your passwords, keys, and other sensitive information. This feature not only makes it easier to manage and access your data but also strengthens your overall security framework. With features like role-based access, control, and automated rotation of secrets, you can rest assured that your data is protected and you’re following the best security practices. So avoid stress and embrace the peace of mind that comes with a centralized secret management solution and improved cybersecurity.

 

Another point to consider is essentially what’s next. Experts are already warning that COVID could just be the beginning. This could be because of constant changes to the environment and that means companies must remain flexible, ready to change for any challenge. 

Running Businesses Remotely 

Many businesses these days operate from home. This is another after-effect of COVID. Businesses were forced to operate from home because it was deemed unsafe for people to work in close proximity. Now, a lot of business employees don’t see why they should return to the office. They want a better work/life balance which is completely understandable. However, letting employees work from home presents other issues including trouble with productivity levels. As such, you will need to make sure that you do take steps to keep people firing on all cylinders. 

Injuries In The Workplace 

 

This can be devastating for your business, especially if the injured worker makes a claim in against you. It is important to be diligent in workplace safety. For instance, if the floor is wet, place a sign stating so with instructions to mind the wet floor with proper signage. This way you are avoiding any injuries from happening. Of course, some injuries are unavoidable but they are not the ones that will get you in trouble. If a worker gets injured then this will lead to them being off work. That could also lead to compensation and the need to fund a structured settlement scheme that leads to managing future payments.   

 

Bad Reviews 

Finally, bad reviews are not helpful for any business. 80% of individuals will check out reviews of a place or business before they go there. If you spot yourself getting some negative reviews then take action straight away. You don’t want one or two bad experiences to tarnish your brand. If the review was left online or on social media, be engaging and responsive by replying in a timely fashion to the consumer. Be authentic and acknowledging by commenting with ways to resolve the matter to the customer’s satisfaction. This proves that you care about your customers’ opinions and want to improve their experience with you next time.  It also helps you learn and grow as a business. 

 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.