Business

Sometimes, it seems like garages get all the credit for starting businesses. Everyone knows about the garage that birthed the first Apple computer, or the garage where HP initially got its start. However, when you start looking into it, you’ll also find that there are also plenty of companies that got their initial start in basements. Read through these interesting companies that started in basements, then consider a few of the most technically charged ones.

Tech and Other Successful Companies That Started in Parents’ Basements Created By: JES

Kaplan

In 1938, Stanley Kaplan realized that there were many immigrant families in the Brooklyn area that were underprepared for the upcoming NY Regents Exam. To help kids prepare for these upcoming standardized tests, he created a tutoring service in his parents’ basement. It was massively successful, and that success held steady; he eventually sold the company to The Washington Post Company, and in 2018, the company’s annual revenue was $1.5 billion.

Epic Games

You might not recognize the name “Epic Games,” but you almost certainly recognize the name “Fortnite,” which is the company’s most popular title. However, did you know that Epic Games started in 1991 when Tim Sweeney started to design video games in his parents’ basement? The company’s original name, Epic MegaGames, helped to make him sound like a well-established corporation. With the help of Fortnite and the company’s many other hits, Epic Games has a valuation of $15 billion.

Qualtrics

If you’ve never had to gather data and information on your own, you probably don’t know how massively helpful Qualtrics is for that. The company is well-known for being able to help academics conduct field research. However, it got its start when Ryan Smith convinced his brother Jared to quit his job at Google and help build the company’s technical side. It proved to be massively popular, with a modern valuation of $11.1 billion.

Voltage Security

This network security company didn’t start in a parent’s basement; in fact, it started in the basement office at Stanford University. The company was initially a computer science class research project, and after they won the Stanford BASES Entrepreneurs Challenge, they received $150,000 in capital to develop it further. It’s now owned by HP, and it had $39 million in funding before that ownership transaction took place.

FreshBooks

Accounting software is massively important, but it’s something you probably don’t think that much about. That definitely wasn’t the case in 2004 when founder Mike McDerment started FreshBooks. For the first few years, he had only 10 customers, each paying $9.99 per month, and he worked out of his parents’ basement to make sure he used as little as possible to run the business. Of course, it grew from there, and nowadays, the company invoices over $8 billion across its five million users each year.

Bold Commerce

eCommerce is an important part of many businesses’ success; for some businesses, it’s the only tool they have to make sales. Bold Commerce helps companies make the most of their eCommerce tools, and it all started in a basement. In fact, after its founding in 2012, the company cycled offices through three different basements to help keep costs low. One of the basements even had only a moisture barrier sheeting, rather than finished walls.

Conclusion

Basements have done a lot to further technology in every way. Whether you’re interested in starting your own business, you want a second office in your home, or you just want an additional living space, making sure your basement is suitable may be an important part of that process. Make sure you give your basement the care and concern it deserves, and it’s sure to repay the favor.

When considering phone service for your business, you’ll need to think about a variety of things. Many people choose a landline phone service for their business simply because that’s been the norm for many decades now. More forward-thinking or tech-savvy businesses might consider a mobile phone plan because it seems more technological. However, if you want to maximize your opportunities, you need to consider a VoIP. Consider this guide to VoIP phone service to see what benefits a VoIP can provide to you.

1. Price

The first main benefit that many businesses notice about a VoIP is price. A VoIP, on average, is going to be substantially less expensive than any other phone service. For example, a traditional landline usually costs $800-$1,000 per user per year, and a mobile phone is only mildly less expensive at $720-$960 per user per year.

On the other hand, a VoIP can be as little as $239 per user per year through Ooma Office. That means you could be saving up to 76% over a landline. To put that number into perspective, a small business with 15 desk employees could save over $11,000 every year by switching to a VoIP.

2. Workplace Connectivity

Another important concept for workplaces is workplace connectivity. This refers to the way in which your employees can connect with your clients. Landlines are notoriously bad at this; your employees have to sit at desks to make and take calls. However, mobile phones aren’t much better, as they typically require employees to juggle two cell phones.

What’s the answer? For a growing number of businesses, the answer is a VoIP. With a VoIP, you get the convenience of a desk phone when your employees are at their desks, but you also get the benefits of a mobile phone through an app on your employees’ existing phones.

3. Ease of Use

Making your phone service easier to use for both employees and clients is an essential part of building a profitable business. Landlines are difficult for employees to use, as you can’t really move a landline without professional help. However, mobile phones are more difficult for clients, as you can’t transfer calls on a mobile phone line.

The best way to handle both of these problems is with a VoIP. A VoIP allows you to use your existing structure, as almost every company already uses the internet. It also lets you take advantage of many benefits traditionally associated with a landline, which may include call transferring and a toll-free number.

4. Features

There are certain features that a VoIP can offer that may be more expensive with other types of phone service or may not even be available. These are a few of the features that Ooma Office provides for free with its service.

• Toll-Free Number
• Virtual Receptionist for Automated Call Routing
• Conference Bridge
• Call Blocking
• Voicemail Audio Sent to Email
• Main Business Number
• Unique Number for Each User
• Electronic Fax
• Ring Groups

Should You Switch to a VoIP?

Of course, at the end of the day, your choice of whether or not to switch to a VoIP may vary depending on your personal needs. Different businesses need different methods of communication. However, for most businesses, a VoIP provides benefits in all relevant areas, including connectivity, ease of use, and price. Consider switching over to a VoIP to maximize your business’s connectivity and transition into the modern age.

If you can get your digital game on point, you can really make an impact on your chosen industry. Lucky for you, there’s plenty of information to uncover online that will teach you everything you need to know about using the internet to grow your business operation.

In fact, you’ve stumbled upon a valuable learning opportunity. Take a moment from your day to read through this brief summary, featuring a short explanation of some useful digital methods to grow your small business.

Invest in PPC marketing

Marketing your business online should be considered an essential part of your digital campaign. Pay-per-click marketing gives you an affordable outlet for reaching targeted web users. PPC ads are set up in such a way that your business pays a small fee anytime a web user clicks on the ad.

This is an extremely financially efficient manner of digital marketing. Growing your business with PPC is a low-maintenance method of marketing. You may pay two or three dollars per click, but you might gain $60-100 in sales from the web user who chose to explore your ad.

Step into the world of social media

Social media is a playground for making new connections with consumers. You can use social media in several different ways to boost your marketing efforts.

Set up a profile page on two or three popular platforms, and maintain your profiles with fresh information on a regular basis. You should also place social media sharing icons generously throughout your company’s digital content, so web users can help spread the word about your business.

Gather email connections

Always work to expand your email rolodex, and make new connections with consumers whenever you have the chance. Add an opt-in option for visitors to your business website. You may also benefit from adding an opt-in option on your business blog and social media pages.

Always consider mobile users

The web is crawling with mobile users. The culture of today’s tech-driven society makes mobile optimization an absolute must for your online marketing efforts.

Those who use their mobile devices to access the web far outnumber PC and laptop users, so it makes perfect sense that it would benefit your operation to require a standard of mobile optimization.

Create an engaging business blog

Your business blog will create opportunities for your business. However, you can’t just post anything and hope it will draw in new users. Your blog posts should be informative and relevant to the industry in which you operate.

Drawing a pinpointed readership to your business blog is the best way to make meaningful connections. Integrate concepts of SEO in each blog post, and you’ll have a better turnout.

Your company’s digital marketing efforts are vital to the ongoing success of your operation. You have to be able to connect with a wide base of consumers to hit the mark in sales and production, and the internet is a great way to expand your range.

Once you get a firm grasp on your digital marketing efforts, you will find that, simply put, it works. Take a moment now to read a little about some key digital marketing tips, and see where your marketing efforts have room for improvement.

Amp up your social media presence

Social media can add a crucial boost to your digital marketing efforts, as there are several different ways in which you can leverage the various social media channels of today.

Social media gives you the power to more easily target your prospective audience, and you’ll have more control over other details of your marketing tools as well.

Use social media in a less direct manner by adding sharing icons to your business website, your blog posts, and your marketing email content to encourage interested web users to spread the word about your business.

Add quality to your content collection

Adding more content to your digital marketing collection will help to spread your presence further among web users. Add a blog to your business website, and post regular entries to consistently entertain readers.

Make sure the entries you post are relative to your business. If your business is consulting, then your blog should pertain to various elements of business. If you are in food, teach readers interesting facts about nutrition and dietary elements.

Reach out through email

Email marketing is an excellent way to bring a new connection to your customers. Use your email rolodex to send out receipts, confirmations, updates, and even a monthly business newsletter to build rapport with your list of consumers.

Use your business website to gather email participants. Add an opt-in option for email, so interested web users can quickly sign up for more information about your products/services.

Spruce up your website design

Make certain you have all the elements of success included in your website design, so you get the maximum impact out of it. Make sure it has simple navigation, engaging information, and attractive aesthetic additions.

Always design for mobile users

Mobile users are the majority online, and your digital marketing content should always be built to serve the mobile community online.

Versatility in the display and larger links for clicking are two of the most important elements for pleasing mobile users. Your digital pages should easily adjust to display well on a range of digital devices, so everyone can enjoy your digital creations.