Business

An affidavit is essentially a written statement from someone that’s sworn to be true. The contents reflect the personal knowledge of the individual making the statement. Courts often use affidavits as evidence in legal proceedings, such as in divorce proceedings, debt cases and property disputes.

It is possible to create an affidavit without a lawyer. Anyone can write and sign an affidavit as long as the person is mentally competent enough to swear an oath, to tell the truth. You can download a template of an affidavit online at Net Lawman and fill out all the relevant details before getting the document notarised. 

Here’s what you need to include in an affidavit. 

1. An affidavit title

You must start your affidavit with a title that captures what it is about, such as “Affidavit of …. Under the title include the name and location of the court. If a court case is involved, you should include the case number, title of the case and names of the defendant and plaintiff. 

2. A statement of identity

After the title and caption, you need to give your personal details. This will include your name, gender, age, place of residence and occupation. For example, you may write “I am Joe Smith. I am a 37-year-old male, I work as an accountant, and I currently reside at 15 Tottenham Court Road, London, England.” If the affidavit is going to be used in a court case, include your relationship to the litigant. 

3. A statement of truth

You need to swear that you are telling the truth to the best of your knowledge. This is like swearing under oath in a courtroom. Keep it short and sweet and it must include your name and be in the first person. 

4. Statement of facts

This will be the longest section but there is no specific length as long as it includes all the relevant information. You have to write your account of events or facts as they happened and try to avoid personal opinions. 

You should write in plain English, rather than trying to use any legal jargon. Use the first person “I” and then outline all the essential facts in chronological order.

Each fact should be in a separate paragraph and you can number the paragraphs.

Other documents, such as receipts, bank statements or photos, may need to be referenced in your affidavit. You need to label them with numbers in the sequence in which you reference them in the affidavit. 

5. Reiteration of a statement of truth

This quickly summarises what you’ve outlined above as true to the best of your knowledge. For the most part, it is quite similar to what you stated at the beginning of the affidavit. 

6. Notarisation

A solicitor, public notary or commissioner for oaths has to sign and witness the affidavit with you for it to be valid. You can prepare an affidavit ahead of time but you must only sign it in the presence of the official who is doing the notarising. Read over your affidavit to make sure all the details are correct before you sign it. 

It must have a date and both parties must sign each page as well as any changes made at the time of notarising. If it is not properly signed, it is incomplete, and won’t be admissible in court. 

If you don’t tell the truth in an affidavit, you are guilty of perjury which is a serious matter when it comes to the law. You can be penalised if you give false or misleading evidence under oath. 

Changing your career is a huge step that can be very overwhelming. This is particularly true when it comes to choosing to work as a remote worker because your choices are limited by the fact that you want to work for a remote location. Here are some ways that you can become a remote worker.

Apply to a Remote Job

This is one of the most obvious options when it comes to choosing to be a remote workers. Look for companies that are hiring remote workers and apply to those jobs. Once you hear about them, simply apply to them.

Take on A Remote Role in Your Company

Some jobs that are in-person can also be done remotely. Contact your employer to see whether such a setup is possible. If your job is only doable in person, perhaps you can inquire about whether your company is hiring for different jobs that are remote.

Look for Freelance Websites

There are a number of websites on the internet that specifically cater to people who are looking for remote work. Websites like Fiverr and Upwork usually provide people with short-term, gig-style types of work. Employers connect with workers and work with them until projects are done. Projects last for various amounts of time, and some are ongoing while others have a very blatant expiration dates. There are also websites out there that work as resources to inform you of more solid, stable freelance opportunities.

Contact People Who You Know

Another great way of working remotely from home is contacting people who you already know who you think may need the services that you offer. Contact the people via various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or whatever else currently exists. Of course, when you contact people, do not spam them. Do not constantly send comments, posts and messages to an annoying extent where people start to block you or not take you seriously.

Talk to a Counselor

It is worthwhile to talk to a career counselor because he/she might know of employers who are hiring remotely. Even if a career counselor does not know much of remote employers, it is still worthwhile to ask. Places like SAHM Jobs Center is a good place to start.

Keep Your Ears Open

When it comes to becoming a remote worker, you really have to keep your ears open to find out about opportunities. Look on forums and see what people have to say about various remote employers. By looking at forums, you might find out about remote employers that you would have never known about, otherwise. Some of the people who you know, in person, may have knowledge of employers who are hiring remote workers.

Before you get involved with a remote employer look up reviews from other people who worked with them. You do not want to accidentally apply to something that is a scam.

Assess Your Skills

Before you become a remote worker, assess your skills. What skills do you have? Do you have a college degree or any certifications? Do you have any special licenses that can land you special types of remote work?

What types of remote work are you able or willing to do? If you are well-versed in graphic design, perhaps you can pursue the remote job of being a graphic designer.

A small business faces amazing growth potential for the owner/manager as well as any employees and investors with equity vested in the business. To achieve these gains, the enterprise has to manage and minimize various types of risk. Here we go over three prominent risks a small business owner must navigate.

Technology

A new product or process can catapult a business to massive success. However, product development and regulatory hurdles can be substantial. Also there is the need to hire experts and buy/lease specialized equipment that can produce the desired technology. Even with these expenditures, success is by no means guaranteed.

Liability

A small business can be held liable to investors, customers, employees/contractors, and the public in general through a variety of laws and regulations. Here, an owner can’t expect to understand the minutae and precise actuarial calculations for each specialize liability type as the business evolves. General liability business insurance, like that issued by Associated Insurance Professionals and many other insurance providers, can be a worthy investment. This approach of “paying off” some of the liability risk has its limits. Clear and overwhelming guilty actions will not be defrayed by an insurance policy, but cases where liability is a gray area can certainly be blunted by commercial insurance.

Financing

A small business can be financed by debt or equity. Very often, both types of financing are used. Each method presents different trade-offs for the business owner. The simpler option is debt: There are clear rates and repayment schedules to be met. If the borrower makes these payments, he has no other obligations to the lender and can direct any excess profits as he sees fit. Of course, nonpayment sets off unpleasant consequences regarding asset seizure, additional fees, and difficulty in securing future loans or credit lines.

Equity financing is attractive at first since the business owner is not on the hook to pay back the invested money in case of sales downturn or even complete business failure. However, any profits are to be split with the equity investor. Likewise, ownership and even controlling stake in the business can be up for grabs with an equity investor who puts up enough funds. The equity investor is taking on a far greater risk than a lender, so will want proportionately larger returns to justify funding your business. This flexibility of not having to repay amount owed vs. partial loss of managerial control and future profits has to be considered carefully.

Summary

Overall a small business is a risky venture. Customers have lots of choice in a free market economy dominated by huge industry leaders that have pricing, reputation, and bargaining advantages built through years of success. If a small business wants to stand out with proprietary technology or other substantial edge in terms of product, pricing, or favorable location, there are inherent costs in developing each of those competitive advantages. The complications of debt and equity financing must be studied in light of likely cash flow and profit margin on a continuous basis. Generating such sales cash is the purview of marketing that, again, must be done smartly since small businesses have limited funds and often a limited timeframe within which to generate positive returns.

Online reputation management (ORM) is all about monitoring your online presence and improving it. Any negative online reviews or no online presence at all can severely impact the success of your business. You need to know how your company is perceived when people search for it online. 

How do I gauge my online reputation?

If you Google your business or product name and you are not in the first five listings, you definitely have room for improvement. Check if you have a Google My Business listing and if the details are accurate.

The number of followers you have on social media channels, how often and what you post as well as how you respond to comments are just some factors that influence your online reputation. 

Searching your hashtags, location and brand name can reveal whether people are talking about your brand and if the conversation is positive. 

Are customers leaving reviews on your social media pages and is your team responding to them? If you have any negative comments from customers, do you respond to them speedily and are other customers coming to your defense? 

Check review sites, like Yelp or Trustpilot and find out what customers are saying about your brand. 

How can I enhance my online presence?

Claim your business

Firstly, you need to claim your business wherever possible, such as on Google My Business, other search engines like Bing, and review sites like Yelp. By claiming all you can, you give more relevant information about your company to search engines. 

Improve your SEO

If searching on Google didn’t yield any first page results, you may need some help to improve your SEO. 

Greenfly will help you to avoid the chaos of trying to create and share content all the time. Using its platform enables you to leverage your community in many ways and share content at scale and in real-time across social channels. For instance, you can improve your sports social media by sourcing authentic content from athletes to engage fans. 

By creating entertaining and authentic content and sharing it widely, your search engine rankings will improve. 

Set up reputation monitors

You need to be pro-active about managing your reputation. Setting up some reputation monitors, such as Google Alerts, can help you to put out sparks before they result in fires. 

Responding to a negative comment in the right way may just turn an angry customer into a brand advocate. Inserting new positive content online can also help to push negative or unwanted content lower in the search results. 

Empower your team

Many businesses are defined by the people who work for them so you need to set up a strong social media presence for founders, owners, executives and other stakeholders. People often search for a person to find a company. 

Source authentic reviews

In the digital world, positive, authentic online reviews are like gold. Consumers today visit review sites, forums and social media platforms before making purchases. If you have many positive reviews, it enhances your brand’s visibility, improves your search results and your chances of making sales. 

Arrange strategic PR events

Some strategic PR events may help if not everything that’s being said on social media about your brand is positive. You could support some community causes, highlight positive happenings within your company or partner with other local organizations with a good reputation to improve public perception. 

Social media is an increasing part of how you position yourself and prospective and future customers will check out your social presence. If you’re not engaging on social media, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to grow your business.

Whether you’re making decent money or living from paycheck to paycheck, there will be those times when you need extra money due to unexpected events. While there are different ways to deal with such a situation, many people turn to payday loans. Does a payday loan make sense and when is it a good option for you?

It is vital to do your research as there are some predatory lenders out there and you want to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable company. Reputable companies will have a state license and are usually also members of trade associations that promote best industry practices. 

Lending Bear is a state-licensed provider of online payday loans and a member of the Financial Services Association (CFSA), a leading trade group of state-licensed small-dollar lenders. 

What is a payday loan?

A payday loan tends to be for a relatively small amount. You pay interest on the loan and pay it back within a short period of time. The approval process is fast and you can have cash in your hands quickly. It differs from a personal loan in that the repayment timeframe is shorter.

When not to use a payday loan

If you have consistent money issues and you’re always running short, a payday loan is probably not the best solution for you. 

If you have no way to pay back the amount you borrow within the required timeframe, a payday loan can get you into trouble. Borrowers need to be careful about using a payday loan for non-essential purchases such as entertainment or vacations.

Common situations where a payday loan makes sense

For customers who can’t get a traditional bank loan and have no emergency savings, a payday loan often makes sense – especially if it can help avoid costly late fees on other bills. 

Medical emergencies

In some cases, such as a medical emergency, borrowers appreciate the quick application process for payday loans. In such a situation, they might need the money right away and can’t afford to wait for their next payday to receive the treatment they need. 

One of the main advantages of payday loans is its convenience and speed. The application is quick and simple. You don’t need to fill in lengthy forms as you do with conventional loans and you get the money in your account within a day or two. 

Unexpected repairs

Other unexpected expenses, such as a badly needed roof repair or a blown transmission, can throw someone’s budget out of whack. Payday lenders offer borrowers an option in such a situation. 

You can spend the cash you get from your payday loan on anything, including repairing your car, whereas most traditional loans are only issued for a specific purpose. 

Costly late fees – A myth

Critics of payday lenders often cite the high-interest rates charged but the typical term of these loans is only a couple of weeks. The annualized interest rate on a payday loan is lower than that on a late mortgage or credit card payment. The cost also pales in comparison to a lost job if a car is out of commission. 

Some argue that payday loans are never really repaid because they are just rolled over and over again. However, most states or payday lenders impose limits. 

If borrowers are well-informed, choose work with high quality, reputable lenders and make responsible decisions on how to spend their payday loans, they are unlikely to regret their decisions. 

Many borrowers testify to having favorable experiences when taking payday loans from reputable lenders who provide fair, responsible and ethical services. 

It’s a basic marketing tenet: the customer is king. The point of your company’s existence is to satisfy a customer need. If you don’t, you’ll be out of business very quickly.

So, how do you find out what your customers want and need? That’s simple enough because all you need to do is ask them. This is where the voice of customer (VOC) practices come into play in determining a marketing strategy.

VOC methods vary, but the most critical thing to remember is that they should form part of an ongoing process. There is no such thing as being finished listening to client feedback.

Online platforms

With new technology, you have online platforms to consult to gauge your customers’ opinions. This is called direct customer comments and might be on social media, emails, or your website.

There are also independent platforms like Yelp and Hello Peter that provide customers a chance to offer their feedback. This feedback gives you an indication of what people are thinking. While these platforms give you real-time data, which is very useful, they have a downside too.

The disadvantage of online feedback is that it’s instant. Once it’s out there, it’s hard to get come back from it. A few poor reviews can be the beginning of the end for a business, especially when the owner does nothing to remedy the situation.

Today, more customers than ever before, rely on online reviews when they are looking for goods and services. A lousy rating means that they might skip over your business and look for another that offers the same commodities. It’s challenging to bounce back from a poor review, so you want to avoid them wherever you can.

While you can’t please all the people all the time, the greater majority of your customers should want to recommend you to someone else. When you see that this is not happening, you’ll need to investigate why.

It might not be your product or your service. There’s a chance that your marketing strategy isn’t working. When this is the case, you’ll need to alter your plan to redirect it onto a more positive path. With a Six Sigma Certification, you’ll have all the skills you need at your fingertips, according to Peter Peterka, who runs www.6sigma.us.

One of the only ways to rehabilitate your company’s reputation after a bad online review is to act quickly. Ignore it at your peril. Feed off these reviews to help you improve your marketing approach.

Market research

There are several different market research techniques. One of the most popular is focus groups. Interviews are conducted, either in person or over the phone, and the information gathered informs the marketing strategies.

This method has some weaknesses. Principally is the idea that people are busy, and they will say whatever they need to if it means they can finish the interview and get on with what they were doing. The solution is to pay people to form part of a focus group. You’ll have their full attention for the session, and the data you gather will be more reliable and authentic.

Surveys

Today, most surveys are conducted online via emails or on social media platforms. You can use an email system to send the survey out to existing customers. Social media allows you to reach potential customers.

The disadvantage is that you’ve got no way of ensuring that people will take your survey. Sometimes, the sample size of people who took the survey is so small that the data gathered is useless. It lacks authenticity, as it does not offer a representative overview.

If you think carefully, when was the last time you replaced your roof? Most people have probably never replaced a roof, and if you have, you might need to do it again. Roofs need replacing every fifteen to fifty years.

The lifespan of your roof depends on the material used to construct the roof, as well as climate. If you are in areas with extreme heat, cold, or humidity, you might need to replace your roof more frequently.

If you are not sure whether your roof needs replacing, it is important to hire a roof inspector annually who can assess the condition of the roof. Once you know when to replace your roof, you need to choose a roofing material.

Wood shakes

Wood shakes are typically made out of cedar and provide a unique aesthetic to the home’s appearance. While wood shakes can add value, longevity and durability to your roof, it is important to sue them in the right setting. 

Cedar shakes are natural insulators and can protect against insects. They typically last twenty to thirty years if they are maintained well enough.

However, since shakes are made out of wood, they tend to be a fire hazard. As a result, many insurance companies will raise your premiums when you install wood shakes. 

That being said, it is possible for wood shakes to be treated, so they become fire retardant. You also need to choose shakes that are treated with chromated copper arsenate to protect against mold and fungus.

Metal roofing

Metal roofing has an extended life expectancy of approximately twenty to fifty years. When installed and maintained properly, metal roofing seals out water, survives strong winds, and easily sheds snow. It is also resistant to fire rot, mold, and insects. The material is lightweight, and its metallic surface reflects sunlight, resulting in a cooler interior.

However, metal roofing can be expensive to install. Despite this, its durability means that you save in the long run. The metal may amplify noise such as rainfall, making it difficult to communicate during storms. 

It is also highly likely to dent in the case of hail storms or debris falling on the roof. If you are considering metal roofing, Austin roofing can provide you with a professional roofing service.

Asphalt shingles

Asphalt shingles are extremely common across North America as a result of their affordability. When properly installed and maintained, asphalt shingles have a twelve to seventeen-year life span. 

While this is short compared to other options, the shingles are so cost-effective that the shortened life span doesn’t seem to matter. The shingles are also available in a variety of styles and colors, and they are easy to install.

However, if you live in an extremely hot climate, asphalt shingles may not be suitable. Asphalt shingles tend to crack when exposed to high temperatures, significantly shortening their life span. 

Furthermore, the manufacturing process of asphalt shingles produces a large amount of greenhouse gasses, which means they are not environmentally friendly.

Tile roofing

Clay tile roofing can last one hundred years if it is installed and maintained in the correct way. It is also beautiful, though it tends to be heavy. Tiles are also resistant to mold and rot, as well as insect attacks. 

Most tiles are made from earth compounds such as clay, making them environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. Tiles also require very little maintenance and leaks are easy to repair.

However, it should be noted that tile roofs come at a high cost. This high cost is offset by the tile’s longevity, but the initial layout may be off-putting. Further, the tiles require professional installation, as they can be difficult to install correctly. Finally, the tiles may break very easily if a tree falls on them or if there is a strong hail storm.

A recent survey of over 1,000 small business owners across the U.S. found that one out of five percent of businesses were not updating their labor law posters. In fact, a number of businesses were not displaying them at all and others didn’t even know that they are legally required to display them.

What does Federal law require?

Federal law requires these posters to be displayed:

• Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
• Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)

Depending on a state’s laws, a business may be required to display additional posters. 

Most of the updates to labor laws take place at the end of the year, going into effect on the 1st of January. However, employers need to be aware that laws may also change throughout the year. On average, there are over 75 state and federal employment law posting changes every year. 

The only businesses that are exempt from displaying posters are those who have no employees. Even those with one employee have to display posters in a conspicuous place such as a break room. 

If you have remote employees, you are still required to communicate mandatory postings to them. You can email electronic versions of the posters to remain compliant and the Department of Labor provides free electronic versions. 

The purpose of posters

The purpose of labor law posters is to keep workers informed about their legal rights, benefits and the procedures they need to follow to report violations. They, therefore, help to make the workplace environment safe and fair for employees. 

Resourceful Compliance has a team of labor law experts who keep abreast of changes in labor law for businesses and supply them with high-quality compliance posters. 

Most agencies or legislatures give at least 60 days’ notice once a revision or new law has been passed. Employers must familiarize themselves with any changes and they may need to get input from those who understand labor law before they go ahead and implement new policies. Being pro-active in order to prevent non-compliance is the right approach for all businesses to take. 

The cost of non-compliance

Many people think that large companies are more compliant than small ones but in fact, the opposite appears to be true. Of course, smaller businesses have fewer stakeholders, which makes implementing changes less complex. However, larger businesses usually have access to legal teams to ensure compliance, so there seems to be little excuse for non-compliance. 

Of course, it is easy for employers to slip up when it comes to updated labor laws but this is where consulting with HR or legal counsel makes a difference. Ignorance can be extremely costly to both small and large businesses. 

If businesses have employment charges filed against them, an investigation involves on-site visits. More often than not, other offenses, such as not displaying the required posters, are noticed during the visit and this simply adds insult to injury 

Each poster that’s not displayed carries its own penalty. Employers with outdated posters or no posters at all will have to pay fines. These can vary from $100 to $10,000 and penalties for willful or serious violations are considerably higher. Aside from the fines, employers who are not aware of their rights may press charges against employers. 

When companies are compliant, they reduce their vulnerability and aren’t easy targets for plaintiffs. Promoting a fair and safe workplace prevents them from being exposed to costly lawsuits. 

Is there anything worse than setting off on your trip only to discover that you’ve left a whole lot of necessary items at home? Once you realize that it’s happened, you either have to turn around and go home, or you’ll need to spend your money replacing them.

The best way to avoid this problem is planning your packing as thoroughly as you plan your trip. While it might be convenient to throw a few things in a bag the day before your trip, it’s a recipe for disaster. Planning your packing with military precision right down to the tiniest detail is the only way to be sure that you’ll remember everything.

Prepare the paperwork

Having the necessary documentation with you is essential for travel, especially if you are going overseas. Write down what paperwork you need for your trip. This will include travel tickets, passports, hotel reservation confirmations, maps, and insurance papers. 

Make copies of all documents, in case something goes wrong and your paperwork goes missing. Have a written list of contact numbers so that you’ll be able to reach loved ones if your phone goes missing.

While they don’t strictly speaking qualify as documents, this would be the ideal time to go through your wallet as well. Make sure your bank cards, credit cards, and driver’s license are there. 

Look at your luggage

Waterproof backpacks are a great idea if you are going hiking or adventure traveling. Everything inside them will remain safe, even if you get caught in the rain. Another great feature of backpacks is that, unlike hard luggage, they can be squeezed into tight spaces. 

When packing for a trip, remember that space is at a premium. The better you pack, the more you’ll be able to fit into your suitcases and bags. The first step is to decide on your large suitcase and what you’ll be using as your carry-on luggage. Have a list of what will go in each.

Take your toiletries

To make sure you don’t forget any toiletries, make a comprehensive list of what you’ll need on your trip. Use travel-sized bottles for items like shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and lotion. 

Packing your toiletries is a great time to sort through and pack any medication you use. Keep your medicines in their original containers for ease of reference for customs officials. Take medication for an extra few days. You need only turn on the news to see how easily flights can be delayed, and you don’t want to be stranded at the airport without your medication.

Collecting your clothes

Have a detailed list of what clothing you want to take on your trip. Lay everything out on your bed and put similar items into piles. This will help you check that you have selected enough clothes. 

Don’t forget to include your shoes when you’re completing this exercise. Shoes are bulky and take up a lot of space in your luggage. Select outfits that you can use the same shoes with.

It’s not all about what you pack; it’s how you pack

Give yourself enough time to pack, so that you can experiment with different techniques to make sure you can fit everything into your luggage. The way you use your space counts.

Some items, like T-shirts and pants, take up less space in your suitcase if you roll them up tightly. They can fit into the corners of your luggage quite easily. However, be warned that they’ll be creased when you take them out. 

As a final step, weigh your luggage before you leave the house if you’re flying. Then you won’t run into unnecessary excess baggage charges at the airport.

Many businesses have found themselves in the dilemma of trying to create a website and not knowing where to start. If you are a small company, you probably don’t have tech gurus in your employ that can help with that. 

In that case, businesses should work on outsourcing the important task of creating a website and getting a reputable web design company. As a business owner, you may face the problem of choosing the best one to undertake this task. 

Here is the ultimate guide on hiring a web design company that will do everything related to website design for you.

Ensure that you have a basic understanding of what to expect

Before you approach a web design company, you have to develop a basic sense of what to expect. That primarily relates to the outcome of the project; you need to research the most important points of a modern and attractive website. 

You can then use those fundamental to set goals for the site that you would like to have developed. The more specific your goals are, the faster the process of designing the site will be and you will get value for the money you invest in it.

Shortlist companies

Once you have developed a basic sense of understanding of what you would like the site to look like, come up with a shortlist. Search companies on the internet with various keywords that will help you find the exact company you need and you will get the best Kansas City web developers at your disposal. 

Once you have a list, try to root out the ones that don’t tickle your fantasy until you have a shortlist. You can also use reviews to omit web designers from the list you have developed. 

Review the companies’ sites

One very important stage of hiring a web designer is checking out the websites of the developers in the shortlist you created. Although you can find a good design company without necessarily having to shortlist many, you still might prefer to look at the best options. 

Once the shortlist reaches about 5 companies, start having a perfectionist’s eye and look at the finest details when reviewing their sites. Check the overall appearance and see if it is something you would like on your site. 

Ensure that you also inspect other features of their site, for example, the responsiveness, loading time and mobile-friendliness. If they don’t have their website in order, it will be extremely hard for them to create the best site for you.

Communicate clearly

Projects fail time and again because of unclear communication between the customer and the service provider. To prevent this outcome, communicate clearly with the web design firm you choose to ensure that they meet the expectations you have in mind. 

To avoid leaving anything out, write what you expect to be on the site and the color scheme you would like to be used and so forth. If you leave out small details and the website is created and you make another recommendation at that time, the project will be unnecessarily dragged on for longer. 

Along with web designing, you will also need SEO services. You need the best Kansas City SEO marketing services, as designing a great website is only a job half done. To make your site visible, give it a high ranking in Google and bring in organic traffic, you need SEO. 

Agree on a timeframe and budget

To set things in motion, ensure that you discuss the budget and payment options and methods beforehand. At those negotiations, also agree on the time it will take for the site to be up and running. You can also sign an SLA to set forth the means of getting your work ready.

Setting that timeframe will create a sense of urgency to the web design firm and might get the site done before the timeframe agreed upon. Also, these negotiations that include the budget and timeframe will ensure that everyone walks out happy from the contract if all parties stick to their end of the deal.