Ryan Quinn - The Brothers Bloom

Can a Home Warranty Protect Me in the Case of a Plumbing Emergency?

Owning a home can be expensive. From the initial realtor fees to regular maintenance and upgrades, homeowners will spend significant amounts of money when they occupy the house. If you own a new home or maintain an older one, hidden expenses will arise with any dwelling. If a refrigerator goes out or the water heater malfunctions, a homeowner could incur thousands of dollars in repair or replacement costs. If something significant happens, such as a plumbing emergency, the expense could be even higher. In these situations, a home warranty could protect your budget and home.

A home warranty and a home insurance policy both provide financial protection and peace of mind for homeowners when something goes wrong. While both kinds of policies provide security, they offer coverages for different things. In simple terms, an insurance policy covers structural issues and loss of personal property, while a warranty can assist with home systems and appliances. If you have requisite insurance, there are a few things to consider when looking at warranties. Should something arise, such as an emergency with the plumbing system, you’ll want to make sure that you’re covered. Let’s take a look at how a home warranty might protect you.

What is a home warranty?

A home warranty is a supplemental agreement in addition to insurance that covers a home’s major systems and appliances. For example, a warranty will step in to help cover the costs associated with the replacement or repair of air conditioners, refrigerators, washers, and dryers that have broken due to normal wear and tear. Additionally, your insurance usually won’t cover the cost to repair a septic system or HVAC ductwork; however, a home warranty will. To find the best home warranty, search for something like “top home warranty in Arizona” and browse available coverages and plans. The best home warranty company will provide comprehensive coverage for all of your home’s major systems and appliances.

Does a home warranty cover plumbing emergencies?

Your plumbing system is quite delicate and could be a significant cause of damage if something goes wrong. While pipes can burst due to cold weather, your plumbing system could become clogged or incur other issues at any time. Water lines are usually pressurized and can build up pressure that can burst pipes and lead to other problems. Such plumbing emergencies can cause issues or damage to your sinks, drains, toilets, showers, and even dishwashers. A plumbing system issue could also cause problems with your water heater and septic tank. In these situations, your walls, floors, and cabinets could become soaked. While your insurance may cover physical damage, it usually won’t cover the cost to fix burst pipes or plumbing problems. Fortunately, a home warranty will.

Since homeowners insurance covers the structures of your home, if your plumbing system develops an issue, you might be out of luck and have hefty out-of-pocket costs. A home warranty is a plumbing warranty for your home, however. A home warranty can cover little things that can go wrong with your home’s plumbing system, such as leaks, worn-out valves and faucets, or broken pumps and motors. It will also protect against major issues such as burst pipes and septic tank back-ups. A home warranty can provide coverages so that your plumber can correct the problems and get your home back on track.

In addition to providing a protection plan for your plumbing system, a home warranty can extend coverage to all of the essential systems and appliances throughout your house. From your electrical system to the HVAC, a home warranty provider can make sure that you’re covered. The average price of a good home warranty ranges from $300 to $600 per year. When you consider the cost of a plumbing emergency, however, the cost could be well worth the peace of mind and protection.

Redesigning Your Kitchen? Let Us Help

Deciding that it’s time for a kitchen remodel is a big step, and many homeowners don’t know where to start. Some get inspiration by looking at kitchen appliances or by collecting interior design inspirations. Others know it’s time to build additional space, while others want to upgrade their way into a new kitchen. Whether you are tearing out your old kitchen and starting fresh or taking on a smaller scale kitchen remodel, the key to a successful renovation is good kitchen design.

The Work Triangle

The foundation of kitchen design is the work triangle or the geometric flow created by the sink, range, and refrigerator. Most work in the kitchen centers around these three appliances, which is why a smart kitchen design creates comfortable distances between them. Placing these appliances too close together creates a cramped space while having them too far apart makes it tiresome to move back and forth. There are three main layouts that homeowners use for the work triangle. A u-shaped kitchen creates a triangle with the sink, range, and refrigerator each on a wall. An I-shaped kitchen situates one appliance alone on a wall and the other two along another wall. A galley kitchen design arranges all appliances on the same wall, similar to a sailing ship.

The best way to bring your dream kitchen to life is to work with an award-winning kitchen designer in your local area every step of the way. Kitchen Distributors, for example, have decades of experience delivering exceptional kitchen remodeling in Denver, CO. From high-quality tiles for a custom backsplash, granite or quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a new floor that creates a focal point, these interior designers can bring your unique design to life. In addition to kitchen renovation, these remodel experts can also bring your closet and bathroom remodel to life.

The Necessary Appliances

The work triangle will need to be surrounded by a sufficient amount of flooring and counter space. The refrigerator door needs enough clearance to open and close. Cabinetry needs enough room to open without interfering with other doors. Ideally, the sink should be installed beneath a window to allow for natural light and a view. It’s important to include enough counter space in your kitchen design for your usage needs. A standard kitchen layout features an 18-inch run of counter beside the refrigerator for staging, and 36 inches and 24 inches of counter on either side of the sink for dirty and clean dishes. The longest stretch of the counter should be on the side of the sink closest to the range.

No matter how you design your kitchen, you must keep up with the regular maintenance of your home appliances. Routine maintenance ensures your appliances are working efficiently so that you can avoid the surprise of breakdowns and costly repairs. The last thing you want to find out in the cold or hot months is that your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system isn’t working properly. Sun City Plumbing & Heating has years of experience providing HVAC maintenance, repairs, and installations. Their trained technicians offer 24/7 emergency service calls and their HVAC maintenance plan includes a warranty on your unit. This HVAC contractor offers an HVAC maintenance agreement and pre-season tune-ups for all makes and models of HVAC systems.

Storage Space

Many homeowners use a remodel project as an opportunity to create more functionality. Having sufficient storage space is important especially when designing a small kitchen. It’s a good idea to locate drawers and cabinetry close to the sink or dishwasher but out of the work triangle. Your dream kitchen should complement your usage. Think about the location and size of the kitchen cabinets. If your existing cabinetry is in good condition, you can repurpose the doors by repainting them and changing out the hardware to save money. Building a pantry is an efficient and inexpensive way to create storage. A pantry can double as both food storage and a utility closet.

Tap water contains contaminants and particles that aren’t good for your health. A water filtration system is a smart way to ensure you always have clean water at home. Another great option is to purchase a water cooler that can be conveniently placed in the kitchen for easy access. Sparkletts bottled water delivery service brings beverage products right to your front door. They deliver a variety of bottled water, coffee, tea, and flavored drinks from a variety of popular brands. You can find water delivery near me and order a range of gallons of spring water for any size water cooler and enjoy free delivery.

It’s important to remember that renovations and remodels don’t happen overnight. Whether you are doing a DIY kitchen renovation or hiring a professional contractor, it’s important to stick to your renovation timeline. Sticking to your schedule is the best way to ensure you stay on budget. The more work you can do yourself, and the more materials you can salvage and repurpose, the less expensive your remodel project will be.

How a Ductless Mini-Split System Works

For homeowners in the United States, there are many options when it comes to new air systems for their homes. As technology evolves, bringing energy efficiency and cleaner fuels to the forefront, modern alternatives to traditional HVAC units and heaters have come to the market.

One of the most popular types of HVAC units is the mini-split ductless system, also known as a heat pump. For many reasons, this single unit has become a go-to for homeowners looking to save on space, as well as lower their monthly energy bills. Here we will look at how a ductless mini-split system works, and if the recent technology is right for your home.

How a Ductless System Works

The truth of the matter is that many homeowners may have heard the term “ductless system,” or “mini-split” when it comes to an air conditioner and heating systems, but are unaware of the meaning. Simply put, a ductless system is a type of air system that functions as the term describes, allowing for the exchange and transfer of cool or warmed air without the need for ductwork or traditional ventilation. But the innovative nature of the design is much more intricate, as well as convenient.

Although the ductless system requires both an outdoor compressor and an indoor air-handling unit, the system itself acts like a single machine that replaces both the home’s air conditioner and heating systems. This means that with the installation of a ductless mini-split “heat pump” unit, your family will have a new HVAC and furnace in one shot.

With a heat pump system, both the indoor unit and the outdoor unit work together to either cool or warm the natural air from outside the home. Unlike a traditional HVAC system, the main components of the mini-split system utilize the fresh air from outdoors during the summer months, cool it, then transfer the converted air into your home for distribution and your family’s comfort.

Likewise, during the winter, the cold air from outside is warmed in through the outdoor compressor and transferred throughout your indoor living space with the aid of the indoor air-handling unit, taking the place of a furnace, radiator, or gas burner.

Since the ductless heat pump can adjust the air temperature for the whole home, along with manual controls for directing the air to individual rooms as needed, ductless air conditioning has quickly become a popular alternative for many homeowners and homebuilders looking to boost energy efficiency and modernize household operations.

The Benefits of a Mini-Split Unit

The installation of a ductless heat pump has two primary advantages over traditional air systems, both of which add to the technology’s recent popularity. First, as a single unit that has a quiet operation that doesn’t require the familiar duct system of older units, a mini-split unit saves the homeowner on space. While the indoor and outdoor units do require a new installation, both units are relatively small, allowing for more overall floor space within the home.

Additionally, a ductless system is a great solution for both financial and energy savings. The installation of the unit does come with its own fee, yet by replacing both the air conditioner and heater, less electricity is used. This means that from the very first month following the installation, your home’s monthly energy bills go down. In addition, incorporating modern technology geared towards energy efficiency is a valuable investment that boosts the household’s property value.

If you ever decide to put your home on the market, the dual advantages of having lower utility bills and leaving a smaller carbon footprint behind can be very attractive to potential homebuyers. For those homeowners looking to save on money now, while investing in their home’s long-term value for future sales, a ductless mini-split system is the ideal solution as a replacement for traditional air conditioning and heating sources.

4 Issues Caused by Dirty Air Ducts

Most buildings have heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to regulate their internal temperature. Many buildings have HVAC systems that use ducts to move air. Ducts connect return vents to the HVAC system, enabling it to pull in the air that needs to be heated or cooled. Ducts also connect the HVAC system to supply vents that distribute hot or cold air throughout the building.

Ducts play a critical role in maintaining a building’s temperature and air quality. Your air quality, HVAC system, and energy bills can all be affected by air ducts that aren’t cleaned properly.

1. Dirty ducts can cause health issues.

Moisture can build up inside your ducts and cause bacteria to grow. It’s possible for ducts to harbor mold, pet dander, pollen, biological pollutants, and insects. Your return vents can draw these toxins into the duct, which means they may be pulled into your system’s filter and redistributed throughout your home. Forced air traveling through your ducts can distribute these toxins and allergens throughout your home, infecting family members with viruses and triggering asthma attacks. Pollutants can cause several health issues, including sore throats, runny noses, headaches, and allergic reactions.

You can minimize the risk of developing health issues from dirty ducts by hiring a certified HVAC technician to inspect and clean your HVAC unit and ducts regularly. Duct cleaning removes debris, toxins, allergens, and other pollutants from your ducts, improving airflow and indoor air quality.

2. Dirty ducts can lead to expensive repairs.

Your dirty air ducts could harbor toys, jewelry, or other small items that fell through your system’s vents. Children’s toys, pet toys, and small tools or materials could be pulled through the vents and enter your HVAC system. Although these items may be small, they could still cause significant damage to your HVAC system. If you hear banging in your HVAC unit, it could be a sign something’s in your ducts that shouldn’t be there. Cleaning your ducts or hiring an HVAC technician to inspect your duct system can ensure you locate hazardous items before they damage your HVAC unit.

Dirty ducts can also be a haven for rodents. Mice and rats may make nests inside your ducts. Viruses from rodent feces and allergens from their dander can contribute to health issues. Rodents also damage heating and air conditioning systems and ducts. They may chew through the ducts to build nests and chew through wires in the system, preventing your system from working correctly and increasing the risk of an electrical fire in your home.

3. Your energy costs could increase if you have dirty ducts.

Your heating and air conditioning system must draw air in and distribute air throughout your home to work correctly. Your ducts can be obstructed by rodents, dead animals, debris, toys, jewelry, and other unwanted items inside the air ducts. When obstructions block the ducts, your heating and air conditioning system can’t move air. Your system will work harder to draw in air and redistribute the air, but its inability to move a sufficient amount of air through the air ducts means it will run for more extended periods. When heating and ventilation systems run longer, they work harder and use more energy. Consequently, uncleaned air ducts can cause high energy bills.

4. You won’t be comfortable in your home if your air ducts are dirty.

You won’t enjoy your home if you have air ducts that are dirty. You may be forced to spend time away from your home to protect family members with asthma, autoimmune diseases, or respiratory issues. You may also incur expensive medical bills, which could cause you to have negative feelings about your home. Your family home should be a sanctuary where you feel safe, and issues with critical home systems can cause emotional distress and discomfort, as well as health issues and financial problems.

Dirt in your air ducts can cause several issues. You or your family members may suffer from serious health problems caused by uncleaned air ducts. You may also incur expensive repairs and have high energy bills. Ultimately, issues with uncleaned air ducts may prevent you from feeling comfortable and safe in your home.

Why You Should Consider New Construction

Homes available on the housing market have varying styles, sizes, price ranges, locations, and ages, enabling home seekers to select the one that matches their needs and preferences the most. While most people can successfully choose the right home, others may not be so fortunate—they may not find a property on the market that’s exactly suited to their desires or needs.

One effective solution for future homeowners who don’t want the existing homes available on the market is to have their homes built. By having their new home built from the ground up, home seekers will be able to customize their property and ensure that it comes complete with amenities and features suited to their lifestyle, habits, and preferences, and those of their families or prospective roommates.

The idea of owning a brand new property—especially a custom-made one—may be appealing and exciting to some individuals. Others, however, may be unsure if they should go with new construction because they may have concerns regarding the building project. Would a custom-made house cost more? How long does building a house take? Choosing between purchasing an existing home or having a new property built just for you can be an overwhelming decision to make. Described below are reasons why new construction can be beneficial and why you should consider it.

You can choose the location of your new property.

As part of the home buying process, people typically have to decide if they prefer larger cities and more accessible neighborhoods or smaller towns and quieter communities. People who have their homes built will face these same decisions, and neighborhood size and accessibility may be factors that help them determine a good location for buying vacant land and serving as the site of their new home.

People searching for acres of land to own can examine the neighborhood they want to live in and determine how suitable it is to their lifestyle and preferences. Considering the distance between your land and your job, school, hospitals and medical centers, stores, restaurants, other essential establishments, and your family members’ and friends’ homes can be beneficial.

Finding acres of land to buy isn’t an easy task, especially considering that vacant acres typically don’t show up on popular online real estate marketplaces. Due to the exclusion of vacant land from online real estate sites, it can take land buyers more than nine months to locate the perfect piece of land to purchase. However, utilizing a web resource like AcreBin enables land seekers to overcome this gap in the real estate technology marketplace. By connecting with the top U.S. land brokerages and displaying the best land listings available, AcreBin helps people locate the best land worth owning to serve as the site of their new property.

Newly constructed homes allow for more customization.

As the first occupants of the home, people may provide input into their home’s design. For instance, some home builders may let future homeowners choose the type of flooring to use throughout the house or the location of the bedrooms and bathrooms. Likewise, homeowners may get to design their home’s outdoor living space, which could ultimately help them increase their property’s curb appeal.

Homeowners who want to add a patio to make their outdoor space more comfortable or include a fountain to enhance the property’s exterior beauty, for instance, can consult contractors and make such external transformations happen. By relying on the furniture retail store that provides the best outdoor furniture, such as modern outdoor fountains, fireplaces, or tables, new homeowners can make their backyard and home exterior more visually appealing.

A new home is more likely to have efficient systems and technology and require fewer repairs.

Another advantage to new construction is that contractors and other professionals now work with more efficient, durable, and advanced materials when they build properties. A new house with no previous occupants will have a newly built roof, new plumbing systems and pipes, and unused appliances. Essentially, a new construction won’t need the same repairs in the coming years as an older home.

Builders are more likely to equip new properties with features like energy-saving heating and cooling systems, security systems, programmable thermostats, and efficient showerheads. Showers can contribute significantly to residential water consumption and energy use, so an energy-efficient showerhead installation can help people save water, energy, and money. If you can afford more transformations, don’t stop there—consider getting the best shower, shower space, and tub around altogether. For the best shower replacement, revamp your shower walls’ tiles and have your bathrooms equipped with Lux Bath Kohler showers. All Kohler showers have a sleek design that can give your new home the style it deserves; the Kohler Luxstone Shower is the perfect solution for enhancing efficiency and bringing a luxurious feel to your custom home.

Choosing new construction requires patience and planning, but ultimately allows people to prioritize their wants and must-haves for their home’s functionality and exercise their creativity when transforming a new house into a home.

Why It’s a Good Idea To Open a Franchise Location

It seems like everywhere you turn these days, someone is launching a startup and praying that it’s a unicorn, like Facebook or Uber. It’s the age of the entrepreneur, and it’s an exciting time to be alive if you have big business ideas. With that being said, not every startup will make a profit. Actually, most small businesses fail within the first five years, leaving the entrepreneurs who launched them without much to offer the lenders who backed the project.

How can you make sure that your startup is a success and even see some serious profit margins sooner rather than later? One part of it is pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, but another part is hedging your bets in a smart way. Did you know that you don’t have to start a small business from scratch to be a business owner? It’s true. Franchisees are business owners, too, and they have an easier time getting venture capital for their projects. If you’re considering getting into a franchise, here are some reasons why that’s a great idea for a successful startup.

It’s easier to find lenders to cover cash flow.

The first and most important, reason why it’s a good idea to be a franchisee is simply that it’s easier to do. Lenders, whether traditional financial institutions, the SBA (Small Business Administration), or other lenders are more likely to back your project because it’s not a brand-new concept. Many startup entrepreneurs spend ages searching for an angel investor in the early stages of a startup, while franchisees can turn to dedicated franchise revenue loans to get off the ground. This means that you don’t have to put as much of your own money into the launch, and you can still be the founder of your own business. That’s not to say that starting a small business that’s a franchise isn’t hard work—it is. It just means it’s easier to get a leg up on your startup.

You can rely on the wisdom of the franchisor.

You’re not starting from scratch, and that’s great for a lot of reasons. The franchisor has already figured out a business plan that works. They have a successful business. You’re just joining the party, and you can rely on the wisdom of the franchisor to serve as a compass. Instead of perusing a guide to bootstrapping a business, you can leave your bootstraps where they are and learn from the playbook the franchisor gives you when you buy into the business.

There are tools to keep your own business safe online.

If you’re concerned about online safety for your new business, that’s good. There are far too many crooked folks online just waiting to steal sensitive information from you and your customers. Any advisor would tell you that investing in IPv4 addresses will keep you safer than relying on the IP address that comes with your laptop. Actually, the most updated IP addresses are IPv6, but IPv4 addresses are still in high demand—as long as they’re scrubbed clean. When you buy an IP address for your business, it’s like owning your startup office space instead of renting it—it’s just more secure. It’s worth spending money on the kind of security you can buy with an IPv4 address block.

Starting a business will take hard work and a lot of money. That’s just the way it goes. However, you don’t have to go the hardest route and put all the business cash flow on your credit card. Be smart. Turn to a dedicated franchise lender, and get a business loan to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true.

Common Ways To Streamline Manufacturing Operations

When it comes to running an effective manufacturing business, efficiency is key. The speed with which you can produce goods is only part of the equation when it comes to creating an efficient manufacturing pipeline, however. Accuracy and precision are just as important to consider, as is volume. All of these factors come into play when it comes to scaling up your business in the midst of a large order or impressing a new client with just how productive your manufacturing plant is. Especially if you have tight turnaround times when it comes to the distribution needs of your clients, efficiency becomes even more important.

So, how does one go about streamlining their manufacturing workflow in order to effectively accommodate all of these different factors and tasks? A good way to think about streamlining is to focus on a different step of your production process at a time. Focusing on individual components in development, packaging, or formulation, for example, can be a huge help in wrapping your head around how to best transform your manufacturing efforts. Read on to learn more about a few different strategies and concepts that can play a vital role in helping you streamline your manufacturing operations.

Before you begin, ensure that your goals are realistic.

Goal setting is an important part of any business, and if you have manufacturing goals it’s a good idea to ensure that you’ve clearly defined them and know that you’ll be able to realistically achieve them. For example, if you need to speed up how you package your products, knowing what your machinery is capable of is important before you decide that you’re going to implement a new system in order to streamline this aspect of your production pipeline. You may decide that it makes the most sense to pick a specific methodology or framework for goal setting as a way of splitting up specific goals across each quarter and aligning all aspects of your process towards a larger goal.

The OKR system of goal setting is one such methodology to achieve these sorts of strategizing. The OKR framework stands for objectives and key results, the two details that must be defined in order to ensure that your KPIs are aligning with your desired outcomes. If you want to learn more about how to go about implementing the OKR process in your production process, it might be useful to listen to an episode or two of a WorkBoard OKR podcast. An OKR podcast can give you a lot of information about whatever platform you’re using for goal setting, regardless of whether or not you’re using WorkBoard or another software solution.

Search for end-to-end solutions to cut down on the time between production steps.

When it comes to good manufacturing practices, who you’re using for each step is just as important to streamline your workflow as any of the other suggestions on this list. For example, if you’re a supplement manufacturer creating capsules and powders, you may have a few different businesses you work with in order to create quality products. If you contract to manufacture your products, the more companies you contract with, the bigger the chance of a company holding up the entire process. As such, it’s important to pay attention to the companies that you work with if you really want to increase your results velocity.

Continuing with the example of a supplement manufacturer, whether you’re producing beverages, gummies, or other dietary supplement products, an end-to-end solution can make your entire process much more streamlined since you’re only managing one account with a single dietary supplement manufacturer instead of jobbing out different aspects of the development your nutritional supplements to other companies to handle packaging, order fulfillment, graphic design, or quality testing products for any defects. Especially in industries where you need to comply with regulations from agencies like the Food and Drug Administration, having one company handle all of your manufacturing operations means that even for high-scale companies like large enterprises, it’s much simpler to tackle new approaches or focus on continuous improvement since you only need to stay in touch with only one account manager on a daily basis.

Don’t be afraid to consult with experts about how to best proceed.

Even the best business leaders can benefit from talking to other experts, so don’t think that it’s a sign of weakness if you want to consult with a different business about finding new results management solutions for revolutionizing your business. While a common method for working with consultants is to speak with them one-on-one, another option to consider is attending different training programs in order to gain greater clarity about best practices as you work to streamline your business.

One type of training that might make sense is a 5s program. 5s lean training programs help you eliminate waste in your business and become more sustainable in your practices moving forward. The 5s methodology is a helpful way to look at restructuring your existing work environment so that you can be confident that your employees are having their own needs met while you pursue other best practices to ensure that your products are of the highest quality and you’re able to adequately measure results.

As you can see, there’s no one size fits all approach to streamlining your production pipeline. While some industries, such as the supplements field, may find end-to-end solutions helpful for the production of capsules, tablets, powders, and more, other industries may not be able to find such specialized services for your business. That being said, the above ideas are certainly helpful when it comes to brainstorming different ways to streamline your manufacturing process since most of these concepts are helpful at least in some part for a broad range of industries. The important thing to remember is that if you make a plan and work to achieve it, you’re bound to find success when it comes to streamlining any operation in your business, regardless of whether or not you’re looking to improve your manufacturing process or a different aspect of your company’s workflow.

3 Reasons Why You Should Consider Starting a Business in Oregon

Oregon is known for its lush forests, rainy climate, artisan breweries, and quirky Portland hipsters. But what most people don’t know is the state is booming with entrepreneurship. With a thriving start-up scene, more than 320,000 small businesses, and big-name brands like Adidas and Nike, Oregon is the nation’s best-kept commercial secret.

So what makes Oregon so desirable for businesses? The reasons abound as to what makes the Beaver State a business-friendly capital. From a highly educated workforce to low operating costs, the state gives you access to a talented network of potential employees and inexpensive means to set up shop. Oregon also has an impressive business climate that welcomes and rewards small businesses and motivates investors. The state’s largest city — Portland — cracked the Top Ten in Inc.’s recent list of the 50 best places in America for starting a business. Beaming with a range of industries, Oregon will make any business feel like home. Portland’s foodie scene is brimming with possibilities for potential bars, restaurants, and cafes. Outdoor and athletic apparel will certainly attract attention to Oregon’s outdoor enthusiasts. With cannabis legal for medicinal and recreational use, businesses focused on the plant are sure to be popular. Tech and software companies are growing in the state’s budding start-up community. And health care and electronics and computer manufacturing companies are expected to prosper in the coming decade in Portland.

So if you are an entrepreneur thinking about starting a new company, but are not sure where would be the ideal location for economic growth, look no further than Oregon for your business venture.

Flourishing start-up community

Oregon is fast becoming the quintessential home for start-ups. And Portland, specifically, is on the rise to rival the pricier areas of Seattle and Silicon Valley in terms of an impactful start-up scene. With a variety of industries from bio diesel recycling to commercial roofing in Oregon, any entrepreneur can find success in Oregon. Both Portland, and the state as a whole, boasts numerous resources, groups, pages, events, and training programs for new business owners. Oregon’s culture encourages business independence, collaboration, and a do-it-yourself attitude that speaks to start-ups.

Business-friendly tax system

Oregon’s tax system is not just friendly to consumers, but to businesses, as well. Known for not having a sales tax on its products, the Beaver State provides retailers with copious profits. The no sales tax policy makes stores the biggest recipients of Oregon’s generous tax system.

So whether you are selling expensive outdoor power equipment in Gresham, OR or a small cup of coffee in Portland, you will be reaping the full profit.

Big incentives for small businesses

Oregon offers several opportunities for emerging businesses to take advantage of. The state’s Emerging Small Business certification program gives priority to new businesses with various government contracts, including municipal and city contracts.

The state also offers the Oregon Investment Advantage, a program that helps businesses start or locate operations in counties across the state. If your company creates at least five full-time jobs in the county and sets up new facility operations that are the first of their kind in the state, you could deduct or completely erase your state business income tax liability for up to ten years.

Oregon might be a skeptical choice for some entrepreneurs who assume California would be better suited to their needs. But don’t judge a book by its cover because with Oregon’s favorable business atmosphere, variety of industry markets, and a cheap office space surrounded by redwood trees and water, the more business savvy decision could be where you least expect it.

3 Maintenance Services Your Business Needs in the Winter

Your business, no matter its size, is similar to your home and automobile in that it requires special maintenance depending on the season of the year. While all the seasons present their own unique challenges, it can be commonly agreed that winter is the season that requires the most preparation and maintenance for many things. People head out to winterize their car tires and get their windows and doors ready to handle heavy drafts of cold air.

Just like this preparation, your business requires certain maintenance services in the winter. To ensure your business’s success, you must invest in this type of upkeep. If you need to know what you need to keep in mind as a business owner this winter, keep reading for three major maintenance services.

Make Sure Your Heat Is Running Properly

The biggest enemy for your business in the wintertime is going to be the cold temperatures. Not only can extreme cold freeze water and damage pipes, but it’s also downright uncomfortable to be in buildings that are not properly heated.

To combat the dropping temps, you’ll need to make sure your HVAC unit is in good working condition before winter hits. Seasonal HVAC problems are all too common and can make your space very uncomfortable for clients, customers, and employees. With the days shortening and outdoor darkness becoming the new norm in the wintertime, your employees and customers will be seeking warm comfortable places to escape the outdoors and provide them a small sense of happiness.

Keeping your filter clean, scheduling regular maintenance visits throughout the year, and making sure your thermostat is working are all great ways to exercise good “HVAC health.”

Get All Your Finicky Machinery Serviced

Just like getting your automobile serviced specifically for winter, you should make sure any heavy or extremely necessary machinery for your business is serviced before and during the winter. Think critically about all the equipment your business uses in its day to day activities, and leave no machine out of a checklist.

Even warehouse equipment that is typically only used inside could be susceptible to winter damage, so it is a good idea to invest in forklift engine maintenance when you can. Similarly, all outdoor equipment, such as mowers and tractors, should be seen by a mechanic to ensure they are winter-ready. Having these types of service checks on your equipment can help you avoid costly repair or replacement in the future.

Brace Yourself For Snow

Another big part of the winter season is the likelihood of snow, extreme wind, and other damaging weather conditions. You will want to go into the season with a plan to make sure you are ready to face these issues. Knowing who you will contact for snow removal or to report a fallen tree due to wind are both practices that are part of this preparedness. Having a heavy snowfall can damage your business property if you leave it too long, as snow builds up and weighs down on sensitive structural points like roofs.

Make sure you also know the number or contact information for the electrical companies in your area so that you can report any fallen power lines in the event of a winter storm or cold snap. You should also make sure that you are using ice melt to remove any slippery ice at your business so as to avoid unseemly accidents for your employees and customers.

Keeping your business clear of dangerous weather effects can make it seem a lot more inviting for clients and customers to visit and to escape the climate.