As a business, you will interface with other businesses all the time. It is simply part of being a fish in a pond – there are others like you, and you will need to both support and rely on them.
One humble online business with a simple office space will require many businesses to keep them in operation, for example.
From their web hosting service to the firm they hire for security purposes, to those who design their branding efforts and in even more fundamental terms, keep the lights on. Sure, said business hires or purchases all of this with the power of their revenue, but they rely on that labor or provision just the same.
This means that you have a responsibility to other firms, the way they have to you. It’s important to be known as a firm that keeps careful track of your responsibilities, exercises goodwill where you can, and are generally pleasant to deal with.
This can help your presence as a business become just that little smoother, which is what most of us are searching for at the end of the day. Consider our advice to this end here:
#1 Pay Invoices Immediately
It is customary for most businesses to offer you a grace period of payment when completing a service for you. In some cases, this can be from 90 up to even 180 days.
Of course, as a business, you understand the need for healthy cash flow, and so to wait up to the limit of that notice can sometimes be considered bad form, if completely legal.
While a business cannot charge you an excess fee or hurry you up with aggression, they do hope that you’ll pay sooner rather than later, just as you might hope the same. As such, pay it now, preferably the moment work is completed.
This can help services know that you are a reliable source of worthwhile payment for their cash flow, and they will prioritize working with you at every junction.
#2 Understand Goodwill
Goodwill is an important part of business diplomacy and could help you forge the right business connections. For example, it might be that you decide to run a mutual promotion for your audience.
Perhaps the signup fees that many of their own audience is incurring with your payment processor is something you usually have your customers pay at checkout. In this case, it might be worthwhile to waive that fee.
Additionally, if a business is ordering a good amount of products from you, it could be that giving them a discount for the bulk order, and perhaps even a little sweetener could help them wish to order again. Goodwill comes in charitable acts, appreciate notes, and return business.
#3 Be Careful & Do Your Research
There are many businesses out there, and so you cannot always be completely sure what they are doing, or if something you are hoping to run with is similar to another’s approach.
For example, you might be rebranding and accidentally utilize a motto that looks entirely similar to another firm in your industry. Using legal ops software, you can manage your flexibility well.
Understanding the risks here and trying to do your research ahead of time can help you avoid stepping on other’s toes, or help you become apologetic if necessary.
With this advice, we hope you can upkeep your responsibilities well.
