Business Fitness Kit

Practical Action

• Refuse To Lose – Floral Management's December 2008 feature article, based on the 2008 convention presentation by floral industry financial advisor Paul Goodman, CPA. Information and advice on how to fight the economy by not losing a single cent to bloated expenses, sagging overhead and fatty pockets in your facility.
• Survival Tool Kit: Financial Dos and Don'ts – Tips from "Thriving in Today's Economy," the down-to-earth 2008 convention presentation by floral industry financial advisor Paul Goodman, CPA.
• Retail Pricing Worksheet Download this handy excel spreadsheet – it can help you choose the most effective pricing structure by understanding your cost-of-goods-sold and breaking the COGS down into various levels.
• Floral Accounting 101– Two series of articles on accounting for florists and their accountants. Exclusively for SAF members, these free articles can help your accountant become familiar with floral-specific accounting elements, so that they become a true partner on your business team.
• Discounted Business Services– special member-only savings on Fedex shipping, payroll processing, credit cards, fleet and car rental, health insurance and more.
• Human Resources Toolbox– human resource management tools tailored specifically for the floriculture industry. Download and customize an employee handbook, job descriptions, OSHA information materials and view a collection of SAF articles on various HR issues.
• Credit Card Compliance – Credit card companies created PCI DSS, a comprehensive set of payment-security best practices, to combat the growing risk of electronic (and paper) credit card fraud. The deadlines have passed, so, if you're not compliant, now is the time to get there.

Ideas and Insight that Boost the Bottom Line!

Grab insight from experts and read how other companies are staying profitable in the pages of Floral Management magazine. Read the latest issue online, or download these articles from past issues.

• Budgeting
• Cost Control & Profitability
• Healthy Holidays
• Increasing Sales
• Labor
• Planning
• Pricing Strategies

Professional Advice

• Small business legal expertise.Through a partnership with the law firm John S. Satagaj Attorney At Law, SAF offers members the opportunity to get answers to simple legal problems at no additional cost. Attorney John Satagaj is available for 15 minute consultations on employee related matters. Satagaj may be reached at 202-639-8888, or by fax at 202-296-5333.
• Floral business consultant – Sam Viviano offers a free 30-minute consultation. He can be contacted by phone at 800-684-1645 or e-mail to sam-viviano@att.net. Website: www.svfloralconsulting.com.

Food for Thought

Brainstorm online with peers or just check out these Discussion Forum conversations:

• Idea Swap including Cost-saving and efficiency... Smart, money-savers and more
• Increasing Local Traffic,
• Creating Buzz About Your Business
• Direct Marketing Ideas