At Christmas time in 2003 Frankie’s Restaurant on Morehead Street had to close because of a fire in the kitchen. Everybody loved Frankie’s and the loyal clientele of the mainstay hangout waited patiently, passing news by word of mouth until news came that Frankie’s was seating again. Frankie’s was a great place. The crowd was loyal.
But then in October of 2009 the Charlotte Observer ran a shocking headline that read very simply, “Frankie’s Restaurant Closes Its Doors.” Reporter Jen Aronoff said a sign had been posted on the restaurant door saying, “Due to unforeseen mechanical circumstances Frankie’s will be closed until further notice.” But an unidentified man answering the phones on Friday said that Frankie’s was closed permanently, effective Friday. The article created more questions than answers.
A restaurant opens. The food and atmosphere are great, and it doesn’t take long for the place to develop a loyal following. Within a short time, the restaurant is packed every night. Management goes out of its way to make dining there a special experience. They remember customers’ name and special orders. They’re friendly and attentive.
But one night, without warning, the restaurant closes. No one ever printed or proved definitively the riddle of Frankie’s, but word on the street was that the IRS shut them down. Diners that were there that night said they weren’t allowed to finish their meals. Men came in and shut Frankie’s down like a raid.
If the IRS rumors were true, sadly, the situation easily could have been avoided. There was plenty of income to cover the taxes. In fact, profits had been staggering. The owners had been doing very well for years. But while they spent time building a successful business and a grateful clientele, they may have neglected some important business basics.
It’s very hard for a business to recover from such scandal, gossip and embarrassment. A visit from the IRS may have ended a terrific business that had flourished and even survived a fire that closed their doors for a while. Frankie’s provided jobs for dozens for more than a decade.
Could this happen to you? You may well have a list of business issues that you’ve been planning to deal with for oh … it’s hard to remember how long now, right? Every day you start with a to-do list of tasks such as reviewing employee files, double-checking accounting records and developing policies and procedures, but it’s easy to get sidetracked.
Then a customer calls, and you’re suddenly busy with things that must be dealt with right now. Your to-do list gets moved to the back burner. The next thing you know, the sun is setting and the day is gone.
Taking a call from a customer is the right thing to do. Whether you’re an architect, an engineer, a designer or a professional stylist, your customer is your bread and butter, and honestly, the reason you started your business. You make money because you’re good at what you do and you’re available, reliable and dependable for your customers.
But, as important as customer service is, it can be dangerous too. What are you neglecting to address right now? Can shoving those items to the back burner hurt you? The answer is absolutely. Not managing a business properly can spell ruin even if you’re the absolute best at what you do. Bad accounting, inaccurate payroll, incorrect tax filings and sloppy policies and procedures can end a business and get your doors closed overnight, even when your sales are sky high!
Don’t learn a lesson the hard way. Do What You Do Best And Delegate The Rest. Sales are important and so is customer service. Concentrate on what you do best, and hire professionals to run your business operations. DirectPay Payroll can manage payroll, file taxes, and advise you on all HR issues. Call DirectPay today at 704-921-2730 or check out their website at www.directpaypayroll.com.
