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Create a Landscaping Business at Home

Ever thought about creating a landscaping business to become self employed? This is only one of many self employment ideas which entrepreneurs can use to create their own home-based businesses. For those who are good with their hands, enjoy the outdoors and want to work on their own terms, landscaping can be a great fit.

Self Employment Ideas

There are a lot of self employment ideas that revolve around envelope-stuffing, Internet-surfing, telemarketing and varied online tasks. But let’s face it: everyone just wasn’t made to work on a computer all day. Professionals who want to get their hands dirty aren’t completely out of the self employed loop, and even those who want to create a home-based business can do so without logging hours and hours every day online. Create a landscaping business like Moreno Landscaping from home, and potentially create a whole new lifestyle as a result.

Create a Landscaping Business

Landscaping, the art of beautifying outdoor property, can be an ideal endeavor for entrepreneurs who enjoy working with their hands. Professionals with a bit of an artistic eye, a desire to work hard and the dream of being self employed may find that running their own landscaping business is the perfect self employment idea. Though landscapers will travel to many different locations in the line of work, it’s possible to run this type of business out of the home, making this profession a good choice for entrepreneurs who want to establish their own home-based business.

Home-Based Businesses

Running a home-based business of any sort takes dedication, hard work and no shortage of self-promotion and endurance. For landscapers who are trying to not only establish a business but their own reputation, it may be a good idea to offer to do a local project for free. Promote the project, take pictures and try to drum up local publicity for the event. Parks, schools, churches and other locations are a good place to start. After this free project catches attention, it will be much easier to find paying local gigs.

No matter how great the self employment idea may be, it’s incredibly important to be extremely thorough and keep very careful records. Whether the business is landscaping or plastic surgery, all business owners have to know exactly how much money they’re making and how much they’re spending- so keep track of everything. Remember, too, that modesty doesn’t have a big place in self employment; always promote to stay successful.

Helpful Hints on Kitchen Remodeling

If you are planning on undergoing Cook County kitchen remodeling, there are a few things to consider before getting started. You can make your cabinets and floor look new again on your own or with the help of professionals.

Helpful Hints on Kitchen Remodeling 

Cook County kitchen remodeling 

Usually there are various reasons which make you want to consult an Cook County kitchen remodeling company. It is usually the room in the house that is the most used and it might be in desperate need of a bit of care. Many times the house could be old and you might just want to make it look and feel like new again.

There are many different ways to renovate a room. If it is badly damaged or you are just tired of it as a whole you might want to completely redo it. If however you just feel that the floors need to be redone or perhaps the paint work needs another coat then you might consider just modifying one or two places.

When you have decided that it is the time to renovate you might want to look into ways of doing it yourself. Many people want the ease and convenience of hiring a granite contractor. Whichever way you prefer to get your room done there are many different places to get ideas or find that professional that you need.

The internet is generally considered the easiest and most efficient place to begin. You can get many different ideas and lots of advice on doing it yourself. If you are searching for someone to assist you then you should find many websites possibly even with reviews and testimonials which will help you to choose. If doing it yourself there are many books also available that can assist you in making the right choices.

If you hire someone that will be coming into your house on a daily basis you should confirm that they are trustworthy and reliable. You are giving them access to your home and you need to know that it is a reputable company with good reference. You might want to get advice from family or friends as they could be able to refer someone to you.

You will generally begin your renovations with a plan. A checklist can be an extremely helpful way to make sure that you have included everything that needs to be done. Stand in the middle of the room and slowly but steadily move around the room taking into account everything that needs to be replaced or if it can be salvaged.

Once you have your plan in mind and know what you need you should decide on a budget for the work. Once you are ready to begin you should take everything out of the room. You can put what you will still need into storage and throw the rest away. Choosing the paint that you will use is also important. Small rooms should be a light color however you can use different colors when painting a larger room.

When you decide on changing your flooring you might want to choose laminate flooring depending on your budget that you have available. If you can afford it then you might want to invest in hardwood flooring. No matter what reason you have for choosing an Cook County kitchen remodeling professional you should always compare before deciding on one.

The bathroom is usually the first place you visit in the morning, and the last stop before bed. Since the bathroom is where we spend a good amount of valuable time, why not turn it into a relaxing spa retreat type getaway?

Some bathroom remodeling can change the mood is as simple as re-decorating, changing the lighting, or even applying a small amount of paint. Spa retreats are known for their relaxing colors, soothing smells and calming environment. With a few supplies, or trip to the local home decor store, you can bring the essence of a spa retreat right into your home.

The first thing you want to do is get rid of excess clutter. Spa retreats have a sense of organization; so in order to feel that way at home, don’t have bottles and products lying about the bathtub or the room. The best use of money would be in storage, because that helps eliminate clutter without getting rid of everything useful, such as electric appliances or extra towels. Serene Retreats tend not to have an abundance of decorations, which in turn create the ‘Zen’ that we all go searching for.

The color palette of the bathroom should be peaceful, and most people opt for warm browns, beiges or cream colors. These colors allow the room to appear as though it was wide open and clean. If you prefer to have color in your spa retreat, choose earth colors to lighten up the room no matter what the size. Paint colors can open up a small room, or even lighten up a room without natural light.

Colors have a calming effect. Tones in a soft blue tends to be relaxing and cooling, cream is inviting and warm, and sea greens create a soothing experience. Keep bathroom accessories, like towel racks, mirrors or sink top decorations to a minimum. By having only a modern simplistic amount of accessories, the room takes on a spa retreat-like atmosphere, in that it is visually calming and clean.

If your bathroom has no access to direct or natural light, skylights are an option to bring in sun throughout the whole day. Skylights brighten up the room with natural light, and are also a decorative feature perfect for you own spa retreat. If light fixtures already exist in the bathroom and are adequate, tone down brightness by changing to a softer light bulb, or find upward facing light fixtures.

The final steps to creating your very own spa retreat are to add decorations that calm and sooth you while you relax. Add candles around the tub or sink top, have a basket of bath salts nearby and add a bath pillow to the tub. Aromatherapy is also a great way to unwind. Lavender and vanilla scents are great together, as well as juniper or eucalyptus oils.

Everyone can use a little rest and relaxation, but can’t always find the spare time. By making your very own spa retreat in the bathroom, you can spend every day unwinding in the comfort in your own home.

If you are looking for a bathroom remodeler in Phoenix, AZ – Please call AZ granite & Remodeling Today at (602) 759-9000.

You should never feel obligated to tip especially if you can’t afford to but if you feel that you should tip something for a job well done, in order to show your appreciation why not tip with a meal? After a long day’s work tired workers may enjoy a nice, hearty meal complete with both food and drink such as tea, coffee or soda.

Ahead of time you may ask each individual worker where they would like to eat and take a hand raised vote on the most popular pick of fast food chains or restaurants. Once the place of business has been chosen, print out a menu from a computer or go to the fast food chain or restaurant and pick one up. Using the menu, take an order for each individual. Place the order at least half a day to a day early depending on how many workers you have. If you have a good many workers you may have to place the order a week ahead unless their services were less than a week. When you place the order provide an expected pick up time if you order carry out or the delivery time for which you would like your order to be delivered.

Placing the order ahead of time will give the fast food chain or restaurant an advance notice so that they’ll have time to prepare your food. In other words, they can prep early enough for your order just in case they get too busy to handle it at the time that you desire the food. Or to order enough food from their supplier if you have a big order and have called it in a week or more ahead of time.

Another nice gesture would be to have a meal catered. A catered meal is something that the workers would appreciate and remember long after they’ve moved on to the next job. Plus if you ever need their services again like painting, flooring, or drywall repair, they may go out of their way to perform an even better, exceptional service than before.

Tipping with a meal may cost you anywhere from five to ten dollars a person. It can run even more than that. So a meal won’t necessarily be a cheap tip. If you place a big order at a fast food chain or restaurant they may give you a discount. If they don’t voluntarily give you a discount ask them if you can have a discount or if they have combos, which will feed several people. Sometimes combos are cheaper than buying an individual meal. Find out about discounts or combos at the time that you are placing your order so that you can get a good deal.

Earth Friendly Cleaners and Cleaning Equipment for Businesses

With a growing number of companies transitioning to more environmentally responsible business models, sustainability has become an important focus for cleaning and maintenance professionals. This has spawned increasing demand for non-toxic, biodegradable cleaners and for equipment options that provide more eco-friendly cleaning capabilities. Fortunately, both new and well-established suppliers are rising to the challenge by providing innovative solutions that are helping many achieve their goals of providing cleaner, greener workplaces, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities.

In the last decade, states, cities, counties, and public institutions across the United States have initiated bans on toxic cleaning products, and some are now mandating the use of nonpolluting cleaners. This trend is most certainly to continue as overall environmental standards continue to be set higher. As well, it has become substantially more common for businesses to implement green cleaning programs as a tactic to remain competitive and profitable.

Once a goal has been set to become more sustainable, cleaning and maintenance professionals have many resources to help them develop comprehensive plans of action to initiate green cleaning programs. Among the best of these resources is the U.S. Green Building Council which administers the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program. The organization’s website provides detailed checklists, processes, and strategies for maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing the environmental impact in existing buildings.

Green Cleaners

Besides switching to recycled paper products and biodegradable trash bags and garbage can liners, one of the most significant ways to increase a cleaning program’s sustainability is to switch to safer, less toxic alternatives to standard cleaners. There are now eco-friendly options for almost every type of cleaner. Everything from floor strippers and degreasers to glass cleaners and hand soaps are now widely available with formulas that are better for the environment.

While there are many cleaning products that are safe, non-toxic, and better for the environment, some are just marketed as “green” alternatives and hardly offer any improvement over standard cleaners. Thus, it’s always a good idea to specifically look for products that are certified and meet the environmental standards of Green Seal, Ecologo, Design for the Environment (DfE) or other independent evaluation and testing program.

Core Products Co., Inc. (www.coreproductsco.com) one manufacturer that has been developing cleaning solutions for over three decades, offers a complete line of low toxicity products that are highly effective but free of acids, alcohol, amines, ammonia, chlorine bleach, glycol, ethers, phosphates, quaternary ammonium compounds dyes, and perfumes. Although the company’s hydrogen peroxide-based Hydroxi Pro products are concentrated, they have low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are biodegradable.

According to Brent Crawford, president of Core Products Co., Inc., “Forward-thinking vision keeps green cleaning at the forefront of new product development. Core was one of the first manufacturers in the industry to introduce Green Seal certified and DfE approved products. With quality products that stand up to traditional cleaners in both performance and price, there’s no reason not to choose greener alternatives.”

Why do green cleaners play such an important roll in achieving environmental goals? EPA studies have shown that human exposure to air pollutants can be two to five times higher in a workplace than outdoors. Poor indoor air quality contributed to cleaning supplies has been proven to cause a variety of attendance and productivity reducing ailments including headaches, asthma, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. The impact on cleaning personnel who have long-term exposure to cleaning products at high concentrations can be even more serious. Exposure can even lead to chronic conditions such as cancer, neurological illnesses, and reproductive disorders.

Besides inside air quality issues, the overall impact of standard products on the outdoor environment is also significant. With over six billion pounds of chemicals being used by commercial and institutional buildings in the United States each year, large volumes of phosphates and other toxic chemicals are polluting the water supply and harming algae, plant, and animal life.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Equipment

To create a well-rounded, sustainable cleaning program, equipment must also be evaluated to determine eco-efficiency. With improved options available for mops, brooms, buckets, and even rags, there is no shortage of ways to decrease a facility’s environmental footprint.

Brush & Clean is one such cleaning product manufacturer that provides eco-friendly, commercial carpet and floor cleaning solutions that offer improved air quality, lower costs, and reduced consumption of chemicals over traditional cleaning systems. Brush & Clean’s hybrid cleaning machine effectively scrubs clean and dries hard floor, tile, carpets, and upholstery with a environmentally safe, biodegradable, phosphate-free compound. Unlike traditional carpet cleaners that leave carpet wet, contributing to mold growth and decreased air quality, this combination carpet and floor cleaner utilizes renovator technology to hygienically remove soil without adding moisture and toxic chemicals to the carpet.

“Our system provides a number of sustainable features that can help facility managers meet their environmental goals,” says Richard Bertossa, executive vice-president of Brush & Clean. “Not only does our system significantly reduce mold growth on carpets and scrub floors with an effective, yet eco-friendly cleaner, it also provides a two-in-one solution that eliminates the need for purchasing multiple pieces of equipment. At Brush & Clean, we truly believe that the most sustainable products are those that help save the environment while also saving money and time.”

There are now also many environmentally friendly vacuums on the market which are worth considering as part of a green cleaning program. The newest models are more energy efficient while still being powerful enough to get the job done. Most range between 4 and 12 amps and offer features such as HEPA filters, multi-cyclonic technology, Microban antibacterial protection, and Green Label certification.

Undoubtedly, as more facilities transition to greener practices, manufacturers will increase their focus on developing cleaners and equipment that support sustainability goals. This will inevitably lead to more choices, lower prices, and better products that will ultimately improve the conditions within these buildings and the environment as a whole.