Anyhow, whatever your reasoning, here is a list of some unique quotes that will just maybe make you a little livelier when it comes to being an entrepreneur. Enjoy, they are some of my favorites.

1. “Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.” Anonymous

2. “You miss a 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretzky

3. “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln

 4. “I am more afraid of an army of one hundred sheep led by a lion than an army of one hundred lions led by a sheep.” Charles Maurice

5. “You’re most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” Bill Gates

6. “I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.”  Warren Buffet

7. “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Confucius

8. “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Thomas Edison

9. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”  Mark Twain

10. “The only real training for leadership is leadership.” Anthony Jay

11. “Whenever an individual or a business decides that success has been attained, progress stops.” Thomas J. Watson

12. “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford

13. “Make it happen now, not tomorrow. Tomorrow is a loser’s excuse.” Andrew Fashion

14. “A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.”  James Crook

15. “The greatest reward in becoming a millionaire is not the amount of money that you earn. It is the kind of person that you have to become to become a millionaire in the first place.” Jim Rohn

16. “The ability to keep cool head in an emergency, maintain poise in the midst of excitement, and to refuse to be stampeded are true marks of leadership.”  R. Shannon

17. “Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.” Sandra Carey

18. “When the teacher tells you to leave the classroom, you know you’ve won the argument.” Anonymous

19. “A man’s worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions.” Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

20. “Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul.” Mark Twain

21. “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” Michael Jordan

22. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Walt Disney

23. “Don’t just read the easy stuff. You may be entertained by it, but you will never grow from it.” Jim Rohn

24. “If you’re not learning while you’re earning, you’re cheating yourself out of the better portion of your compensation.” Napoleon Hill

25. “I shall be telling this with a sigh, Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”  Robert Frost

Rackspace, perhaps the most widely used private solutions provider, fully understands the pain that is internal cloud installation. So much so, that they recently enlisted the help of Redapt, a solutions provider for companies as diverse as Zynga and Citigroup, to deploy their flagship IaaS – OpenStack. Redapt procures the necessary hardware, configures it and then ships it out for easy installation.

From their announcement:

With a click of the mouse, Redapt will deliver the fully configured, powered by OpenStack hardware that can easily plug-in to the customer’s data center of choice. Prior to delivery, Redapt will do integration, testing and configuration at Redapt MergeCenters(™) in North America and Europe.  The hardware will arrive at a customer’s data center of choice in as few as 14 days after ordering, needing only power and network connectivity.  On top of Redapt providing the Rackspace Cloud: Private Edition hardware, Rackspace will provide 24x7x365 support and operations assistance from Rackspace Cloud and OpenStack experts helping customers maximize the technology in their data center.

Public vs. Private: A 10-Second Primer

The private vs. public cloud debate is concerned with one issue: security. If it were based on anything else, all cloud solutions would be public. According to Tom Bittman, Vice President of IT research firm Gartner, concerns over cloud security and privacy are more important than all public cloud concerns combined. As a result, IT departments and firms are actively moving away from public cloud systems in favor of private services where data is managed tightly from within a corporate firewall.

More about the Private Cloud

While potential security risks are diminished in private solutions, implementation into your current infrastructure comes with some unique challenges. The biggest headache comes with trying to overcome hurdles related to operational processes. This includes everything from budgetary concerns to public cloud integration to server reconfiguration to scalability problems. Additionally, private systems must be installed internally. This is a hurdle that many cloud providers are actively seeking solutions for.

Benefits of Going Private

Security – Private Cloud advocates cannot bang this drum enough. If you go the private route, your data will be more secure. Some say that this will result in a deeper sense of trust from your end-users. That has yet to be seen, but the bottom line is private services give you complete control over data management and deployment processes.

Increased Efficiency – Privately hosted services takes the pressure off of your already stretched thin IT department. Instead of focusing on the security and privacy elements of your business, they can simply focus on IT processes that improve your business.

Guaranteed Uptime – When using publicly hosted cloud solutions, there really is no guarantee that you won’t experience downtime. More than that, if your service goes down, your IT department is going to get the most heat. When using privately hosted cloud services, you are protected by an intensive service level agreement (SLA). What does this mean? It means that each time your service goes down; your privately hosted service provider owes you money. An uptime guarantee is naturally built into your SLA.

I am very interested in internet startups and technology in general. And what they means for me is that I am always signing up for different services and websites just so I can try them out. On top of that, I have about 5 different emails that I have to check, a Facebook, a Twitter, a Google account, a Pinterest, etc. The list of sites that I have an account with goes on and on.

But with all of these accounts comes a huge problem: Remembering usernames and passwords. It seems as if each different website has it’s own view on how long your password should be or how many letter vs numbers you use. What that means if you end up with various usernames and passwords that, naturally, get forgotten.

But, what if there was a service that could change that all?

My Social Cloud

When I first found MySocialCloud, I was skeptical as to whether it would be the answer to my problems. However, after signing up, it’s clear that MySocialCloud was built by people who understand the frustrations of forgetting usernames and passwords.

The process at MySocialCloud is easy: Once you sign up for an account, you are directed to your dashboard where you can securely store your login details for any site you have an account with. Then, when the time comes to login somewhere, you can let MySocialCloud login for you, thus eliminating the need to remember your credentials.

On top of that, your dashboard also gives you an overview of what your friends are saying by featuring you Twitter and Facebook feeds all in one place.

And as if that weren’t enough, you can also save and bookmark content and view it later.

How The Idea Formed

MySocialCloud was founded around a year ago when founder Scott Ferreira’s computer, which contained a document with all of his logins, crashed.

Stacey explains that “We stayed up late that night talking about all the things he lost on his computer…That night we started brainstorming ideas of how we could store that information securely on the cloud so that even if people’s computers malfunctioned or something went wrong, they could still access everything online and not have to deal with the ‘forgot password’ buttons”

Today, MySocialCloud is based in Los Angeles, California and has a team of 5 people. Notable investors include Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Group)and Jerry Murdock (Flipboard Investor) who recently invested close to $1 million. I think it’s safe to say they’re on the right track.

How and where did you get the idea for your company?

I wish I could say I always had the idea of starting a PR agency but the truth is, 10 years ago I was flat broke, looking for a job and I couldn’t get anyone to hire me. One company gave me some part-time marketing consulting work. That’s where it all started. I just kept signing more clients and hiring people. All the while trying to figure out what the business was going to ultimately be.

Who’s one person you’ve always looked up to?

My Dad. He taught me by example that you can accomplish anything you want in life – you just have to get up and do it. As a 29 year old Cuban immigrant with poor english, he became a home developer. He had no education or past experience but he didn’t know you needed it so he just did it. As a kid I always lived in neighborhoods where my dad had built all of my friend’s homes. I did not realize how crazy that was until I was in my 30′s. Another time he asked me if I knew where he could rent some violins and cellos. Apparently he was promoting a concert and the band who had flown in from another country needed instruments. He had never promoted a concert but he just did it and it was a big success. So I was always seeing him do these things he had no business doing and he did them well so I grew up thinking I could do the same thing. I had zero PR experience before starting my agency. It just never crossed my mind that it mattered. I would never had done it if I had parents who told me I needed certain qualifications or education to accomplish something. He also taught me the love of work. My Dad worked hard, but it never looked like it because he was having so much fun. So, I never think of work as being hard, I work a lot but I am always having fun. When my kids ask me if I am going to work, I say “No! I am going to play.”

What’s the most important action you took that you believe brought success to your business?

I can name 5 or 6 key things but if I have to pick one it would be the decision to laser focus on Consumer Electronics. When Jack Welch took over GE, he got rid of every business GE was not #1 or #2 (that could become #1 in 5 years). I knew I had to do the same thing. By focusing on something we knew we could be the best at, it allowed us to provide our clients with better results than any other agency in the space. We almost instantly had the competitive advantage. Most agencies think they can do PR for any industry and will accept business from anyone who will pay them. It took a lot of self-discipline to stay focused on CE when other industries were offering us money to do their PR, but I knew it would work out in the long run and it has. We are one of if not the most consistently fast growing agency in the country. This year will mark the 4th year in a row that we are on the INC5000 list of fastest growing companies in America. We represent more consumer electronics brands than any other agency in the world. This doesn’t happen without focus and discipline.

We hit on our “big idea” in 2007 and since then, many more ideas that make us great have come from Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, Jack Welch, Lew Wasserman and other captains of industry. I look for ideas outside the PR industry. That is the only way to build a business that is superior to what everyone else is doing. If you get your ideas from your competitors, you are just following them. I have pretty much ignored what my industry is doing. Most agencies are run very poorly with business models that do not really benefit the client or the employees.

What’s the number one tip you would offer to a young entrepreneur?

Figure out what you can be the best at. It might take a while but don’t give up. Also, never stop learning. I read(or listen to) about 20 books a year about business, management and personal development. If you want to be truly successful, you have to keep learning. College will not teach you what you need to know to be successful in business. All of my best decisions have been inspired by great books.

What are your 6 favorite online tools?

1. Engadget/TechCrunch/Gizmodo/TWICE/Mashable – Great websites to keep current in the tech world

2. Google Docs – It’s simple, but I love the ability to be able to have one master document on a particular project or initiative. I’m able to get a number of minds involved at any given time and not have to worry about who has the latest version. Simple, efficient and perfect.

3. LinkedIn – In our business we’re talking to so many different people. The first thing I try to do is to connect via LinkedIN. This way I’m always current. I can congratulate you on a new promotion and follow you as your career progresses. It’s a perfect networking tool.

4. WordPress – This platform has improved our ability to maintain our website 10 fold. We’re able to incorporate features, including individual client media centers, process tracking systems, multiple blog feeds and a number of other capabilities that would have been impossible in the past. Their functionality and user-friendliness is truly amazing.

5. Webex & GoToMeeting – being a business who only has 2 -3 % of business in our same geographical region, these tools have been critical in our ability to present effectively. We firmly believe our time is best served actually doing PR, rather than spending days traveling for a 3 hour meeting.

6. Skype – This has made teleconferencing simple and easy. It’s so widely utilized in our business that we’d be at a severe disadvantage without it.

1. Post visible reminders
As the old adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. When trying to stay motivated, pictures can actually prove highly useful. If someone is trying to lose weight, he can improve his chances of success by prominently posting pictures of fit and trim people he would like to look like. Seeing photos of strong, healthy individuals on a regular basis can help replace a loss of interest with feelings of inspiration and renewed incentive.

Similarly, an individual working to obtain a job in a competitive industry may find it easier to keep sending out resumes if she creates a Photoshopped image of herself dressed as she would were she working in that industry. It also helps to post the likely humorous—though surely motivational—picture next to the desk where she toils away while trying to obtain this job.

2. Commiserate with others
When struggling to reach an end goal; it’s easy for an individual to feel as if she’s the only one trying to get to that place. In all likelihood, however, she isn’t as alone as she may feel. Struggling individuals can improve their chances of success by spending some time talking to others traveling the same course. If, for example, a student trudging through a years-long academic program speaks to others following a similar academic plan, these people can commiserate over their shared experiences. The opportunity to speak to someone who is familiar with the academic process and is dealing with the same challenges can make reaching the end goal seem more possible and help both parties realize they’re not alone in the battle.

3. Break down the process
Losing sight of the ultimate goal is most common when working through a long and complex process. The longer it takes to reach a destination, the more time available to lose sight of it. Individuals striving toward an overly complex and long-term goal may find it easier to get where they want to go if they break down the process into smaller steps. If, for example, trying to complete a multi-year master’s degree program, it’s more useful to look at what will have to be completed during each year of schooling instead of thinking about the whole process at once. Zooming in and looking at details can make the whole complex task seem much more attainable, decreasing the likelihood of becoming discouraged and quitting before reaching the end.

For individuals to get where they want to be in life, goal setting is a must. Setting these objectives isn’t enough, however. In fact, the setting of the goal is the easiest step in the equation. No matter how well intentioned a person may be when he initially engages in the goal-setting process, if he doesn’t keep his focus on the thing he’s trying to achieve, he’ll never bring his dreams to fruition. By integrating these simple tips into practice, however, goal-setters can substantially improve the chances of making their dreams a reality.

What we can learn from those who always appear to be on the ball is how to incorporate their organizational skills into our own lives. Perhaps the easiest way is through the use of well made To-Do lists. These handy little goal setters can really provide us with an effective method of utilizing our resources and getting things done the right way.

But there is a right way and a wrong way of putting together a To-Do list, believe it or not. These ten tips will help you to get the most out of your own.

Sometimes Not Getting Organized Is More Productive

Sound a little iffy? It’s true, we often procrastinate on actually getting things done by claiming to need to organize things first. We might separate things into a list of what we must do and then put off the more crucial elements. We may even spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to come up with some kind of schedule that we probably won’t use. Usually, this is to avoid doing something we think will be hard.

One thing I have personally learned about this is that the item I am worrying over is rarely as difficult as I think. Also, no matter how reluctant I am to get started, once I finish I am always shocked that I wasted so much time “preparing” for it when I could have just gotten it done and eliminated the stress.

If organization is something you have time for, and that you know could genuinely help you, go for it. If not, just forget about it and move on to the projects. A nice slap in the face and a pep talk are all that are needed for that spark of motivation.

Advanced Software is A Serious Waste Of Time

Let’s say a To-Do list actually is the best thing for you. Now, you have to create a good one that isn’t also a time waster. Many people will turn to online lists for this purpose, and they can work out alright. But, if I am really being honest, I think these are a total and complete waste of time and energy.

Think about what you have to do to use online organization programs: You sign up, sign in, list your goals, and then you have to sign in every time you complete something. Which ultimately puts you on the Internet. Which will inevitably distract you from what you went there to do. I have yet to meet a person who can resist checking their email, social networking profile or cute pictures of kittens while near a computer.

Want to know the best materials for a list? A scrap of paper and a pen. Or, if you want to go really crazy with it, a notebook you use as a day planner. I know, how archaic of me. But sometimes the classics really are better, ladies and gentleman…a piece of paper will not lure you away to a flash game.

If You Aren’t Going To Do It, Don’t Put It Down

I am terribly guilty of this one. I get a little bit overly ambitious and just overload my To-Do list with crap. About 25% of it factors into a reachable daily or weekly goal, and I end up getting it done. The rest just sits there, and I never had any real intention of doing it anyway. Instead, I turned it into a kind of productivity wish list.

Not only does it waste time sitting there and thinking of pointless items to put on a list, but it is discouraging. The list is longer, the workload seems much heavier and at the end of the deadline you are not happy with what you accomplished. There is no end to the list, just things you couldn’t be bothered to complete. What a letdown!

Just sit down and come up with things that really need to be completed and that you know you can finish. Then you can have that heady moment of accomplishment when you look down and see everything crossed off your list.

Add Very Specific Tasks (Never Generalize)

“Clean House” might seem like a good goal, but it is actually pretty general. A house tends to be pretty big, and a lot is involved with cleaning one…presumably. The problem is that it might not be especially in depth, or it could be something as simple as picking up a few things and wiping down a counter. Being general also gives you an excuse to cut out tasks you would have done when you are bored.

So, instead of writing something general, try instead for a more complete list. For example:

• Write post for EpicLauch
• Send assignments to the content editor
• Follow up with Jim on the launch date
• Edit and schedule post at SEOsmarty
• Reply to interview request from Inc.com

Yeah, I know, it seems like a really long list. But is is specific, and you can be sure you hit every one of your marks without forgetting. Even if you get distracted, you just look back at your list and move on to the next task. Plus, the same tactic works for any kind of organization, from work to daily activities.

Aim To Prioritize

What is the most important element on your list? Is there anything time sensitive? Can something wait until the very end? These are important questions to ask yourself when making a list, which should be ordered based on priority. While this might seem like a no-brainer, you might be surprised by how many people instead go based on what is easiest, or what they most look forward to doing.

Keep in mind that some things might be more important, but still shouldn’t be first on your list. One example is that while picking up your elderly mother at the airport is a very important task, it shouldn’t come before walking the dog. Not unless one of the items later on the list is “Clean up mess made by dog”. In which case, feel free to order it in any way you wish.

Speak In Terms Of Action, Use Plenty Of Verbs

It is a little silly, but our mind reacts better to seeing verbs than any other kind of word. We just respond to it, and it is more likely to spark motivation and get us moving. Why? I have no idea, and since one of my goals on my To-Do list is ‘Finish article’ and not ‘Look up complicated neuroscience’, it will have to remain a mystery for now.

In any case, using plenty of verbs in your list as a call to action will help you get started. Instead of saying ‘Lawn’ write ‘Mow Lawn’. If the verb is already in the description, add more. So ‘Running’ becomes ‘Go Running’. It is a small thing that makes a big difference.

Separate Your Goals With Different Lists For Different Projects

You don’t want your list to get too bogged down with information. You especially don’t want to have to try and figure out which task is for which project. No matter how clearly labeled the categories might be, it is always much better to make different lists for different goals. Even if that means making more than one at the same time.

I never keep my work and personal lists together, because I inevitably get discouraged seeing it all plastered there like that. It just reminds me of all that has to be done. The effect is even worse when I combine work project lists, and then I don’t know which to begin first, and have trouble not jumping from one task to another without a beneficial order.

Different lists for different projects: simple, but effective.

Update Your List Often

An old list is a useless list. Priorities change, items are completed and new tasks become necessary. Which is why it is good to make sure you update your lists as often as is necessary to keep you on fresh tasks. Which doesn’t mean you have to spend a huge amount of time organizing them, but instead a few minutes here and there setting your goals and a deadline to complete them.

I like to have a simple list of the day’s work done first thing in the morning, and another list done every Sunday for the week ahead. It sounds like a lot, but the daily list takes me about a minute to scribble down, and the weekly list takes perhaps a few minutes. Certainly not enough time to make it a chore.

Don’t Overload It

We touched on this a bit before, about only putting things on that are relevant and you will complete. But I want to take it a step further and say that you shouldn’t put too much on your To-Do list even when you have a lot that has to get done. I am talking about genuine priorities, as well.

The reason for this is that you will add unnecessary stress by having a To-Do list that is full of so much you will feel incapable of getting it all done. Instead, you should limit it to maybe five or seven items. Once you finish that list, if there is more to do you can make a new one. Doing it this way will make it all seem more achievable.

Customize It To Your Preferences

Once you get past high priority issues that have to be dealt with, you have the rest of your list that doesn’t really match up in importance. That is where you can customize the tasks according to your personal preference.

I prefer to do the harder tasks first and then save the easier items on my list for the very end. That makes it easier to work my way through the list and take it easy as I get closer to the end of my day, when I am inevitably more tired. But other people do it the opposite, or interchange.

Conclusion

Making a To-Do list is an excellent way to keep up with tasks, organize projects and keep yourself on the ball. But sometimes it takes we have a tendency to do it the wrong way, and so there are fewer benefits in the effort. Don’t fall into that trap…try these ten tips to make the most out of your organization attempts.

Growth is important, but you should focus on growing profitably.  Failing to focus on profitable and sustainable growth can actually destroy a great business. In fact, according to post published in the New York Times this past year, out-of-control-growth is the third biggest reason why businesses fail. It’s quite possibly the single biggest reason why great businesses fail.

There are a number of reasons why a great business can fail to grow profitably. When you are growing your company, you must avoid making the following mistakes:

Lack of resources

Many businesses dream that they double their customer base overnight. As tempting as that sounds, you should ask yourself if you are able to serve all these customers. Do you have the manpower, physical capital and cash to serve all these customers?

Sometimes you are just going to have to say no to customers. Telling a customer that you can’t take any new clients now may not be easy, but it is better than doing a shoddy job or missing deadlines when you start spreading yourself too thin. However, I would encourage them to be in touch when you aren’t as busy. They may not need your work by the time you free up, but if they do they will remember that you are in demand and can manage your commitments responsibly.

Expanding into markets with no potential

You can’t suck blood out of a stone. I have no idea where that phrase came from, but I at least understand what it means to entrepreneurs. Some markets just aren’t profitable. You can spend time, energy and lots of capital reaching them. Why waste so much of your time and money reaching a customer base that doesn’t have the need or means to buy your product or service? It would make much more sense to stay small and serve the customers that are going to pay off for you.

Not being able to meet cash flow

You can’t run a business without cash. You can bring in lots of sales with good profit margins. The problem is that many business models depend on customers who will be paying after you have delivered your products. If your business pays on net 60, you will need to wait up to two months before many of your customers pay you. Even longer if they are delinquent on their payments.

You will also need to wait until you are able to finish delivering their work. In the meantime, you will have to pay all your own expenses on time.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is going right for a really big client. While going for the big fish can be tempting, it can also be really costly. Filling the needs for bigger clients usually requires more of an investment and it may take a lot longer to pay off. You may find it takes six months or longer to deliver for a corporate client and they may not give you an advance no matter how much you ask.

You need to plan your cash cycle so that you can meet all your expense obligations while expanding. Sometimes you are going to face an opportunity you can’t say no to. I wouldn’t pass it up, but I must warn you not to take it until you know how you are going to be able to manage your cash flow. If you are going to take on a huge project, you may need to take out a loan to meet your expenses if you know you aren’t going to get paid for a long time.

One other thing: make sure a new account has a track record for paying their bills. Some businesses that promise big payments for your work may stiff you at the end.

Functional limitations with a market

You may have heard that many people in your industry are making a killing serving clients in Japan or marketing to New York commercial real estate brokers. Clearly, you may face some great growth opportunities doing that. What’s the catch?

These are very complex markets to be dealing with. Your competitors may have connections and knowledge about an industry that you are not privy to. Unless you have the money to hire a consultant with the expertise in those markets, you should avoid pursuing them. Going after them will only be a cash drain.

Growing too quickly has destroyed plenty of businesses. As sad as it is for any business to fail, it is most depressing when an entrepreneur fails because they were too good at what they did. Don’t let yourself fall into this trap. Make sure you plan your growth so that you stay profitable and never have to worry about getting in over your head.

Need proof?

Jaime Hopkins of Imagination Yoga, a Portland-based children’s yoga business, shifted to cloud computing last July and now has set her sites on international expansion.

From The Oregonian:

“All of the sudden, in the cloud, it’s a universal thing,” she said. “We don’t have to think about just Portland. I can talk to somebody right now in China with this tool, face-to-face.”

As cloud computing becomes a viable option for small businesses like Imagination Yoga, Oregon is becoming a hub for the behind-the-scenes technologies powering the trend.

Some of the Web’s biggest companies, among them Facebook, Google and Amazon, have turned to rural parts of the state to host their massive data farms, attracted by low energy costs and the mild climate.

Living Social is an application based on social discovery that could not have achieved its impressive growth without the scalability offered by the cloud. Because the application exists in the Facebook framework it can go viral and reach critical mass at any moment. With a standard host, the server could crash when spikes in activity, but with the help of a cloud provider, in this case Rackspace, Living Social was able to move past their problems and grow/contract as needed.

Five Common Misconceptions about the Cloud

1. The Cloud is Only For High Tech Companies – This couldn’t be further from the truth. You would be surprised at the types of businesses trading in clunky old hard disk drives for dedicated servers and virtualization solutions. In fact, Imagination Yoga, a small Yoga studio chain based in Portland, Oregon recently moved all of their data from personal computers to cloud-based management systems. The company that once relied primarily on physical data storage, and face-to-face customer interactions, can now manage large data sets without leaving the comfort of their Portland office. There are plenty of cloud solutions available for any kind of business.

2. The Cloud is a One-Size-Fits-All Business Solution – On the flip side, not all cloud solutions are the same. Just because “Company X” used a cloud storage service to manage sales data, does not mean that is the best option for “Company Y.”

3. The Cloud Isn’t Safe – The truth is that there are risks associated with cloud migration. But not any more than there are in sticking with a traditional infrastructural system. Most concerns with data security is easily addressable in the cloud. Not only that; most reputable cloud service providers go to incredulous measures to ensure your data is protected by their servers.

4. Virtualization and Cloud Computing Are the Same Thing – This is a tricky distinction to make. But it can have a noticeable effect on dedicated server management. In very basic terms, cloud computing is about highly automated solutions, and virtualization is more focused on server consolidation and management.

5. Cloud Computing is Expensive – Historically, in the software and hardware world, new technology that makes your life easier comes at a much higher price than silly, outdated technology. So, you’d think that an emerging technology solution, like cloud computing, that gives you easy and immediate access to your data would be only available to the elite of the elite, right? Wrong. Cloud technology is relatively inexpensive to manage and implement with both basic and complex infrastructures.

Some Obvious Benefits of Cloud Migration

1. Scalability – The problem with many traditional data management solutions is that as your business grows, the technology can’t keep up. The cloud is easily changed, and managed from anywhere in the world, and requires little overhead.

2. Eco-Friendly – We are not entering a revolution of green data management. Electronic waste (e-waste) is a significant problem. Since server technology can become outdated rather quickly, migrating to the cloud protects the environment by requiring much less server processing power than traditional infrastructures.

3. Minimized Downtime – It’s estimated that 50 percent of websites who experience downtime on a regular basis will not recover. This means you can’t afford any downtime. With cloud backup services you can ensure your company’s website users experience the least amount of downtime possible.

License and registration fees

The license and registration fees you’ll be expected to pay will vary depending on the county, city and state in which you plan to operate your start-up. The type of business you’re going to run will also affect how much you’ll have to pay to maintain the proper documents. Federal industry regulations and local policies can affect your start-up costs in different ways. When planning to start a new business, thoroughly review license and registration expectations at the city, state and federal levels. You’ll then be able to use this knowledge to accurately budget for all of the permits and licenses you’ll need.

Surety bonds

Government agencies require most business owners to purchase surety bond insurance before they can get a business license. Government agencies use surety bonds to ensure that business owners do their jobs according to industry regulations. Bonds also reassure customers that they are working with a reliable company.Unfortunately, many new businesses overlook surety bond costs until they find out they have to purchase one.

Depending on the type of bond you need, surety bond premiums can range anywhere from $100 to thousands of dollars each year. Similar to licensing, your business location will influence the bond rate. For example, when purchasing a surety bond in Illinois, you’ll likely pay a different premium than when purchasing one in California. The owner’s personal financial credentials will also impact your surety bond rate. As a general rule, the stronger the application, the lower the rate.

Technology

No matter what industry your business falls under, you’ll most likely need to budget for some technology costs. Entrepreneurs often don’t realize the costs associated with these basic technological services as they’re so often taken for granted. The type of equipment you need for your start-up will vary depending on your specific needs.

At the very least, you’ll probably need a computer or two with online access that allows you to connect with customers. Some other needs might include company cell phones, data entry software and other miscellaneous devices. Although these tools can help you manage your business more efficiently, they often come with a steep price. Not to mention the fact that upkeep can cost more than you might expect, so be prepared when planning your initial budget.

Utilities

Lighting, heating, cooling and water bills can pile up quickly, especially for start-ups that require large facilities. These costs can be even greater for enterprises that operate in harsh weather climates.

Although you need to plan for these expenses when first opening your new business, you’ll also need to be prepared to have funding set aside for these costs on a yearly basis. To minimize financial setbacks, not to mention legal trouble, be sure to keep up with these costs and pay all bills on time. Doing so will save you time, money and headaches later on.