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Federal technology leaders offer insights and thought leadership on a sharp rise in cyberattacks, the shift to hybrid work and much more.
An Information Technology and Innovation Foundation report found federal agencies need to make more progress on digitizing forms. 

Phil Goldstein is a former web editor of the CDW family of tech magazines and a veteran technology journalist. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and their animals: a dog named Brenna, and two cats, Grady and Princess.
It’s 2021, not 1991, yet many federal government forms are still stuck in the analog era, according to a recent report. The reliance on paper forms has only grown starker amid the coronavirus pandemic, when some government offices were shuttered for long periods, nixing in-person interactions.
According to a recent report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a technology policy think tank, many government forms are not fully compliant with the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA), a law passed in 2018 that required agencies to transition from paper forms to accessible, mobile-friendly, web-based forms within two years.
In a random sample of 1,348 forms, ITIF found that 1,052 (78 percent) were partially compliant with the law, and only 24 (less than 2 percent) were fully compliant.
“Digital solutions hold enormous promise to transform U.S. government services,” Ashley Johnson, policy analyst at ITIF and co-author of the report, tells Nextgov. “These solutions can streamline outdated processes and provide Americans with faster, more convenient, and more personalized access to their government.”
The report makes several recommendations to the executive branch and to Congress to increase the pace of digitization of forms, including that the federal CIO Council “should create a web-based-forms task force to track and expedite compliance, prioritizing forms the general public uses the most.” ITIF also recommends that Congress “require agencies to report detailed information on their compliance with 21st Century IDEA’s forms requirements.”
Under 21st Century IDEA, agencies are not required to provide information about their transition to web-based forms. Of the agencies that have provided specific numbers on how many forms they have made available in a compliant digital format — the Defense, Treasury and Veterans Affairs departments — “all report significantly lower numbers than the total number of forms our assessment found associated with each agency, indicating that agencies use a narrow definition of which of their forms are ‘related to serving the public,’” the ITIF report found.
For example, while ITIF’s assessment found 1,159 total forms associated with DOD, the DOD “claimed in its most recent 21st Century IDEA report that it has digitized all 139 of its forms related to serving the public,” ITIF states in the report.
ITIF found that only 2 percent of government forms in its sample are “fully compliant as an online form” and that “78 percent are partially compliant as a fillable PDF.”
“Most executive agencies have made significant progress toward making their forms available as fillable PDFs,” the report states. “But, although users may be able to fill out and submit these forms without printing, as long as the forms have e-signatures enabled, which most did not, this format does not fully comply with 21st Century IDEA’s mobile-friendliness requirement.”
The fault may not be entirely with the agencies themselves, ITIF suggests, noting that the Office of Management and Budget has not produced guidance for agencies to comply with 21st Century IDEA, as required by the law.
The law required OMB to issue implementation guidance by June 18, 2019, and members of Congress again asked on May 6, 2021, for guidance by June 20, 2021, according to ITIF.
“Both of those deadlines have now passed. It is likely that, without implementation guidance, agencies will continue to struggle to fully comply with 21st Century IDEA’s requirements,” the report states. “Moreover, as agencies continue to create forms without guidance, they will likely create many that do not comply with the law, which will create more unnecessary work for them in the future to recreate those forms in a mobile-friendly and accessible format.”
ITIF recommended that OMB issue implementation guidance for the law and that Congress hold oversight hearings on agencies’ compliance with 21st Century IDEA. ITIF also recommends that the Technology Modernization Board should issue grants to incentivize agencies to use login.gov, and that OMB should direct federal agencies to discontinue the use of fax machines.
RELATED: How did the U.S. Census Bureau carry out the first all-digital census?
Various technologies can help agencies accelerate the process of digitizing forms and making them accessible to government users and citizens alike.
Document management involves the “use of a computer system and software to store, manage and track electronic documents and electronic images of paper-based information captured through the use of a document scanner,” according to the Association for Intelligent Information Management.
An electronic document management system lets agencies store, access, index, search, retrieve, archive and delete documents. An EDMS is designed to let agencies convert physical documents into electronic forms that can be stored and accessed quickly.
Longstanding tools can also help agency IT teams transform paper forms and legacy processes into digital ones. As Adobe notes on its website, its Adobe Acrobat tool can help in this regard: “Whether it’s a scan of an existing manual document or a simple line form made with Microsoft Word, you can use the Prepare Form tool to create digital forms from your existing documents. Acrobat automatically recognizes form fields for things like text entries, checkboxes, radio buttons, and signatures.”
Adobe also points to its Adobe Experience Manager Forms solution as a way to enable agencies to author “web and mobile-responsive forms and documents via a create once, publish anywhere experience,” according to a 2018 report from the company and research firm IDC.
Adobe notes that while AEM Forms can be used for simple, transaction-based interactions, the solution can also be used “to simplify and streamline the complex transactions seen in regulated industries and government services,” with typical use cases including customer enrollment and onboarding, employee onboarding, customer service, and customer communications.
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News » Topics » MYOB’s cloud focus continues with the acquisition of document management startup Nimbus
The value of the deal was not revealed by MYOB.
MYOB chief financial officer, Caroline Rawlinson, said the company’s investment was a move to accelerate the delivery of a cloud solution that had widespread customer demand and appeal.
“We know how important it is for our accountant and practice customers to have solutions which help their teams collaborate efficiently in distributed work environments, improve their client engagement and meet their document storage compliance obligations – Nimbus ticked all these boxes in spades,” she said.
 
The announcement follows a year where MYOB has made good on its promise to improve the connectivity capabilities, efficiencies and security of its Practice Solutions offering, and follows the acquisition of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution, Tall Emu.
Tall Emu delivers full end-to-end management of business operations, offering a customer relationship management tool with additional capabilities to link in key sales processes, providing a seamless, real-time view of the business operations.
Tall Emu’s unique functionality includes the ability to see and track multiple sales flows including marketing and lead management, quoting and selling, online payment, back-order handling, fulfilment and delivery and post-sales services.
The acquisition follows hot on the heels of MYOB’s purchase of practice management software GreatSoft, last year.
MYOB is owned by US private equity firm KKR in a $1.6 billion takeover that saw the company delisted from the ASX in 2019.

Cec Busby is a digital media professional with over twenty years experience. She is the editor of Kochies Business Builders and a fan of startups and small business.
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Organization is a key element of managing a successful business. Although every company has unique organizational needs, how you track, store and manage your internal documents can greatly impact the efficiency of your operations. Many small businesses turn to document management systems (DMS) to streamline these business processes. 
There is a wide variety of small business document management systems available to business owners, including free and paid versions. However, the best document management software for your business will primarily depend on which features you need. 
To help you choose a document management system, we spoke with small business owners about what benefits and features you should look for. 
 
Editor’s note: Looking for the right document management system for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
A proper filing system is essential for any business, regardless of size or industry. According to Jim Collins, principal at Datamation Imaging Services, the key factors of proper filing are location, access and order. 
“Files should be in a location that ensures proximity to the employees who need to access them,” Collins said. “Files must be organized for efficient access and productivity, which includes how they are identified and how long they will be kept. [They] also must have structured order to ensure the desired content can be located reliably.” 
Although the general process of filing is similar for all businesses, you’ll need to evaluate specific factors, such as whether you should file documents by name, numerically or in chronological order. This filing system may differ across departments, but once you set a system, follow it consistently. 
Erica Gilliand, founder of Peachy Los Angeles, suggests developing a systematic process that you can stick to, like creating folders by specific categories. She provided examples of categories you can use for your filing system: 
Regardless of the filing system you choose, Jared Weitz, CEO and founder of United Capital Source, said it is important create a standardized template for labeling and files for consistency and compliance from all employees. 
A document management system is an integral part of your filing system. It is comprehensive software that helps you convert your office into a paperless one. This is better not only for the environment, but for your business. Having a single point of access for all your documents can streamline workflow and increase productivity. 
Document management platforms often include scanning capabilities to convert your physical documents into digital files. This saves you time that would otherwise be spent manually inputting information into a computer. The best software even has formatting capabilities to quickly convert your scanned documents into preferred or industry-specific templates. 
In addition to scanning documents, most document management systems let you import your current digital files into one unified system. These documents can be word processing files, spreadsheets, PDFs, images and more. 
After you have successfully imported a physical or digital document into your management system, anyone with the appropriate permissions can access it. Most document management software allows you to set permissions and restrictions for access and editing. This allows your team to collaborate on documents and track updated versions. 
Document management systems are beneficial for small businesses in more ways than one. With paperless document management, small businesses can streamline their operations, save time and reduce errors. Collins listed some of the primary DMS benefits as better security and backup for disaster recovery. He also said businesses can benefit from lower rent costs due to less required office space, and an increase in productivity due to immediate access. 
Document management systems can benefit your team by instilling an organizational flow for everyone to follow. Weitz said this organizational and paperless process can bring small businesses freedom and peace of mind. Weitz, among other business owners, also listed scalability as one of the biggest benefits of a DMS. 
“Your business will grow in time, and having proper documentation established will make this growth more fluid,” said Weitz. “The same goes if you plan to sell your business to a new owner or go through an acquisition. Having everything in a single system takes time to establish but will save you countless hours of work in the future.” 
Even if you can comfortably manage your filing by hand right now, that may not always be the case. You will likely need a document management system as your business scales up, and converting to a paperless office early on will simplify your process later down the line. A proper document management platform can also ensure you don’t lose records or damage important documents, as they will not be hard copies.  
Before choosing a document management system for your business, you should assess your document management needs. Not every document management program will fit your business, so identifying which features you need will help you narrow down your options. 
In addition to your current needs, be sure to list which advanced features you will want to implement later as your business expands. It is essential to choose document management software that can grow with your business, or you will eventually have to switch your software. 
The No. 1 feature to look for in a document management system is security. The last thing you want is to digitally file all your documents and then suffer a data breach. Look for software that places high emphasis on protecting your information. 
“Find a solution with a security plan that is established, yet flexible when needed,” said Weitz. “If you are [in] a heavily regulated industry such as finance or medical, you need security as a top priority. This looks like having the option to extend access to certain employees or groups.” 
In addition to security, Collins listed ease of use and uptime as key features. You should be able to easily access, manage and navigate your files as needed. Be realistic about the resources you can dedicate to manage your DMS. If you don’t have a lot of resources, Collins recommends researching web-based document management systems instead of using an in-house management solution. 
Since you will likely have multiple departments using your document management system across your company, Gilliand said a DMS should have collaboration and integration capabilities. Look for features like real-time live editing, file-sharing tools, integrations with other plugins, and the ability to add or restrict user access to certain documents. 
Gilliand also listed version control as a key aspect of document management. It is important to always have the latest versions of a document on file, whether you are viewing or editing. 
“Having the ability to download documents in other formats and going back to older versions in ‘history’ is super important for small businesses, because oftentimes someone will delete something, and going back to revert to the old version can save time and headaches,” said Gilliand. 
Weitz added that small business owners should be sure there are check-in and check-out files to track who last viewed or edited the content. This can reduce the potential of business errors. 
“The last thing you want is an old copy of [an] engineering drawing to be shared with a supplier and built off of by mistake,” Weitz said. 
The pricing for document management software varies by the type of hosting you need and how many people require access. Small businesses can choose between cloud-hosted and on-premise software; each option has its advantages and disadvantages. 
 
The number of users who need access can greatly affect your total cost, since monthly subscriptions are typically priced per user, per month. Most DMS companies offer tiered plans with varying levels of features and support, so the best plan for your business depends on your needs. 
Although many DMS features are necessary for businesses of any size or industry, there are a few notable features that small businesses should especially look for: 
As a small business, you probably don’t have a full IT team ready to troubleshoot and support your document management system. Find document management software that has a comprehensive support team to accommodate your support needs. 
Weitz said you will need software that can quickly upload all your information and support your expected growth. 
“Manually typing in all the files that you currently have would be a nightmare, so it is best to find a solution that offers scanning capabilities or an easy way to update what you have now with what you are moving towards,” he said. “Be sure that what you invest in today will support you as you reach your goals. I have seen many businesses invest in a small option only to outgrow it immediately.” 
Mistakes happen – your business needs to prepare for them. Since a poor reputation can destroy a small business, it is essential to find a secure DMS that has good security and disaster recovery features.   
“A DMS can provide a cost-effective disaster recovery system for critical information and data so you can be back on your feet faster than your competition,” said Collins. 
As your business grows, you will need to train new hires on your document management system. Employee onboarding will be a lot easier if your DMS is simple to implement, navigate and understand. 
“There are many misconceptions about document management systems, and the main misconception is that they’re complicated. This is simply not true,” said Collins. “A good DMS is very simple and easy to use. It is a tool to help employees find important content or documents when needed. If you’re using a cloud system, it’s a great way for employees to access content from anywhere, whether they’re remote or traveling.” 
To find the best document management system for your small business, it is important to do your research. Weitz recommends making a request for proposal (RFP) for the top vendors you are considering. 
“Once you have this information, schedule a demo with each one so that you can be very clear on how the software functions from a usability perspective,” he said. “Everything might sound great on paper, but the system may not be intuitive or easy to navigate.”
 
KangeStudio / Getty Images

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Tony Fyler
@more__hybrid
fyler@hybrid.co
Teams can open up a whole new world of integrations.
If you run, or make decisions in, a small business, the chances are high you don’t think regularly about Teams integrations that can help make your life and business run more smoothly.
But #1, you probably should, because:
#2, they probably can.
But what are the “best” integrations out there that can turn Teams into more than it already is – a fairly revolutionary workplace communication and workflow planning tool?
This is where a disclaimer is necessary. There will be integrations that are of phenomenal use to your particular small business, that won’t help the business next door at all, and vice versa. So there needs to be an understanding that “your mileage may vary” when compiling any list of the best integrations for small businesses.
We’ve chosen a handful of reliable integrations that can deliver benefits to most small businesses, and one that’s specific to the technology sector.
One of the most important aspects of managing a small business is workflow and deadlines. If you’re not on top of your workflow, you’ll miss deadlines, and that could cost you a good reputation, as well as business both now and in the future.
Trello is a seemingly simple, user-friendly workflow management system, that’s actually more sophisticated than it first appears.
Based on a system of “cards,” it can help you keep track of who’s doing what, where they are in the process of doing it, how many people are working on any given project, and when they’re due to deliver it.
Integrating Trello with Teams allows not just management, but the teams and team members themselves to keep an eye on their workflow and productivity, and to form groups to talk projects through, to make sure they’re on top of the needs of each assignment.
That means integrating Trello with Teams combines an easy-to-use workflow management system and a communication tool that can go beneath the black-and-white of the workflow, to make sure work remains on target and improve both delivery, communication, and even in some cases, the mental health of team members, who can feel supported by the integration.
It’s worth differentiating Zoom.ai from the Zoom known by the world as the video connectivity service that swept the world during the pandemic. There’s room for both that and for Microsoft Teams in the world (and a Zoom-Teams integration is a powerful combination in its own right), but Zoom.ai is something slightly different.
It’s effectively a work-based equivalent of an Alexa or Siri. It may not play your favorite tracks for you, but once installed, it lives under the skin of your productivity software, like Teams.
And once it’s there, the AI is natural, so it acts as a virtual PA. You give it naturalistic typed commands and it can organize your day, your week, your month – or as far ahead as you care to go. Schedule meetings, book slots, rooms, or other spaces, set reminders of tasks, even give Zoom.ai your effective To Do List, and it will do what you tell it to do. It will schedule your meetings, sending invitations to others. It will find you slots for particular spaces or activities. And it will find you the files you need to be properly briefed.
That’s a powerful workplace efficiency tool, and integrating it into Teams gives it access to the data you need it to have – the documents, the contacts, etc – so that it can do its job. Which means so can you, with less stress or panic than you might previously have expected.
 
Everybody knows Twitter can be a great marketing tool, especially for small to medium businesses, who can use it to get themselves better known, and to connect and communicate directly with their users and even fans.
But you can also integrate Twitter into Teams, so that you don’t have to sit on Twitter, waiting for responses from clients or customers. The integration will send responses to your Twitter stories direct to you in Teams.
That means you can manage your Twitter feed and your customer feedback effectively, without needing to assign a member of staff to the job and pay them for it. The Twitter Teams integration can save you staffing expense and put you more immediately in touch with feedback from your clients or users.
Business and employment often depend on a signature on the dotted line. DocuSign is a 21^st century application of the principle, that allows for documents to be legally signed and binding in the electronic world.
That’s useful in its own right – especially in a world trying to limit its needless use of paper. With the DocuSign Teams integration though, you’re not waiting around for confirmation that any contract or agreement has been signed. DocuSign will send you a notification within your Teams account to tell you the document has been signed.
That’s important in the fast-paced world of modern business, because it allows you to move forward with plans, projects, even employment processes immediately, cutting down on stress and uncertainty within your small business. It can even make an enormous practical difference to your fortunes.
If you’re waiting for a funding decision and, for instance, you don’t get a phone call all day Friday, you could be facing a miserable, uncertain weekend. But getting the DocuSign notification at 4.55 means you can breathe again, and begin to plan how you take the business forward on Monday. That’s an integration worth having in your Teams arsenal.
GitHub is a collaboration tool for software designers. It helps them share code to work through, find issues and smooth out the development process. That’s a powerful tool to help small software businesses, especially with dispersed coders and designers, to pull their products together effectively and on time.
But you can also integrate GitHub into Teams, where you get notifications of changes to any of your shared code, and also a company-wide way to share code between specific development teams – and discuss it through chat groups or video calls as necessary.
GitHub is a highly effective tool in its own right, but by integrating it into Teams, you can create a double-stranded implementation that builds team spirit and can speed up the development of the software product into the bargain.
 
Microsoft Teams is a well-regarded communication and workflow tool in its own right. But by integrating it with a handful of other apps and programs, small businesses can multiply its practical impact on the way they work – and their bottom line – hugely. Just choose your integrations based on how you need to improve your own small business’ performance, and Teams will help you achieve your goals.
Tony Fyler
@more__hybrid
fyler@hybrid.co
7 September 2022
7 September 2022
7 September 2022

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A three-way collaboration between a blockchain company, an investment bank and a law firm led to Hogan Lovells’ new document management system, which utilizes blockchain technology to secure and automate repetitive processes.
April 11, 2022 at 08:02 AM
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Global firm Hogan Lovells on Monday became one of the first Big Law firms to launch its own document and contract automation technology, powered by the blockchain. 
The technology, dubbed DriveChain, allows for interoperability of document and contract management software. DriveChain specifically acts to turn PDFs and word documents into “smart documents” enabling data to be extracted in seconds to increase the efficiency of data processes and accuracy of document review.
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When it comes to embracing technological advances, the translation services industry can be considered to be among the list of quick adopters. Translation technology has a long history in parallel with major advancements in tech in general, the most significant being the rise of computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools in the 1990s with the public and commercial boom of the internet. Today, language technology has become an essential component of how the industry operates.
Being an early adopter isn’t without its challenges. Translation services tend to collect and work with massive amounts of linguistic data. In Canada, this puts them in the crosshairs of attempts to modernize national privacy policy through its Consumer Privacy Protection Act (CPPA).
Before we can talk about where translation services fit into the picture, we need to understand what the CPPA is, and where it currently stands.
The CPPA is one of the major components of 2020’s Bill C-11, or the Digital Charter Implementation Act. The other is the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act (PIDPTA). Taken together, these two documents would serve to replace the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Canada’s existing legislation on the collection and use of personal information by private institutions and businesses, which passed into law on April 13, 2000.
Bill C-11 was tabled in the House of Commons on December 2, 2020. The bill was polarizing from its original iteration, with critics pointing out that its provisions appeared to be designed to give individuals less control over their data than in existing legislation. Daniel Therrien, then Privacy Commissioner, called Bill C-11 “a step back” and “needs significant changes if confidence in the digital economy is to be restored.”
At the time, endeavours to modernize Canada’s privacy laws were under heavy scrutiny in the wake of the Cambridge Analytics scandal in 2018, where personal information of tens of millions of Facebook users were used without consent in the election campaign of Donald Trump for President of the United States. Several data firms in the UK and Canada were implicated in the scandal.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner submitted a number of proposed revisions to the bill in order to address a number of issues, including:
Despite continued parliamentary discussion, Bill C-11 died in late 2021 with the fall election. Plans are underway to reintroduce the bill for further discussion under the new administration, but these have yet to move forward. For now, PIPEDA remains in effect as the authoritative legislation on data privacy.
Canada holds 10 per cent of the global market for the translation services industry, despite constituting 0.5 per cent of the world’s population. Translation services accumulate massive amounts of data in the form of text, audio and video as part of the course of business. As such, the industry is one among those likely to be hardest hit by changes to Canadian privacy policy.
As such, the Canadian government’s efforts to reform PIPEDA through the CPPA are of great interest to companies offering translation services within Canada.
The CPPA is modelled after the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Because of the aggressive stance by the EU when it comes to data privacy and protection, GDPR is now seen as the gold standard when it comes to privacy and protecting the data of citizens. PIPEDA is not as strict as GDPR. In fact, the European Commission only considers PIPEDA to be partially adequate when it comes to data protection.
But with the introduction of the CPPA, all of that might be changed. It would create new obligations for companies when handling data of consumers, and also impose harsher penalties for those who violate it.  
Just how harsh are the proposed penalties under the CPPA? Under the proposed legislation, the most serious offences may be fined up to five per cent of the global revenues of a company or C$25 million, whichever of those two options is larger. Those are the most drastic of penalties imposed by any G7 country to date for privacy violations if it becomes law.
Translation technology and service providers that are working in Canada must ensure that the personal information and documents of their clients must stay safe. Under the PIPEDA, Canadians must give their consent to have their personal data collected, and this is likely to become even more affirmed through the CPPA. They should also be informed as to how their personal data will be used. Consumers can also demand from the organizations that collected their data documents showing how their personal information will be used. They can also check if the information collected about them is accurate.
Companies offering translation technology and services to Canadians must keep these things in mind whenever they are gathering data from users and when using those data. 
One of the major provisions of the PIPEDA is to ensure that businesses and organizations get consent from consumers when getting data. There are several important aspects of getting content that organizations must not forget.
These are just some principles that companies providing translation should keep in mind when giving privacy notice to consumers. 
The Canadian government takes data privacy seriously. The PIPEDA may not be as strict as Europe’s GDPR, but it is still quite rigorous when it comes to how the personal data of Canadians will be collected. Any company offering translation technologies and services working with people in Canada should take heed of what this law is all about. Once the CPPA becomes law, Canada will become at par with Europe when it comes to data privacy.
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Looking for information about how to open a Snapology franchise? Here’s what you need to know.
Snapology Franchise Information
In 2010, sisters Laura and Lisa Coe founded the Snapology company as a creative play program for children ages one to 14 using Lego, K’Nex, and iPads. Snapology, part of the Unleashed Brands family, has over 170 franchise locations in the United States and is the premier option for year-round STEAM programs (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math). Snapology aims to teach science, technology, engineering, robotics, art, and math in a playful, no-pressure environment. STEAM education teaches children to think outside the box and provides a multitude of benefits, including the development of soft skills like problem-solving and increasing motivation and engagement. Kids love Snapology’s activities because they are fun and involve building toys, iPads, and laptops, and parents love the programs because their children are being introduced to educational concepts that will better prepare them for their future.
Because children are our future, Snapology is doing our part to use creative play and these programs as building blocks to prepare them for life’s challenges. We design our curriculum to assist kids of all education levels and backgrounds, from gifted to special needs, including those on the autism spectrum. Our educational franchise has received countless awards and recognitions and has been the No. 1 ranked children’s enrichment franchise in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 for the past two consecutive years (2021-2022). Here are a few great reasons you should consider franchising with Snapology:
How much does a Snapology franchise cost?
To open a Snapology franchise of your own, here are the financial requirements, cash required, and ongoing franchise fees associated with business ownership (see the franchise disclosure document for more details):
Initial franchise fee: $40,000
Initial investment: $60,000 – $276,000
Net worth requirement: $75,000
Cash requirement: $50,000
Veteran incentives: 10% off franchise fee
Royalty fee: 6%
Term of Agreement: 10 years
Snapology has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll.
Snapology support and training
For over a decade, Snapology has been helping entrepreneurs build businesses they can be proud of. We provide our owners with everything they need to deliver for their customers. Because our continued success is dependent on the success of our franchise owners, we provide comprehensive support every step of the way. We offer daily operations tools and ongoing corporate support that will help franchisees seamlessly run their business, tailoring our support to meet the needs of each of our owners. Just as a Snapology franchise sets kids up for the future, we do the same for our franchise owners with our initial training program. Consisting of both classroom and on-the-job training, this program will cover everything you need to know to run your children’s education franchise and takes place in Pittsburgh, PA. Some of the topics that will be covered during this franchise ownership include:
We conduct all of our training under the direction and supervision of Snapology’s president, Laura Coe. We will provide you with the necessary training materials, including our written Operations Manual, access to our Snapology Manager Business Management System, and more.
Why you should think about starting a Snapology franchise
Snapology is so much more than just an education franchise. We are a provider of kid-friendly programs and camps that enhance the lives of children. We also offer compassionate entrepreneurs the opportunity to build a better future for themselves and their communities.We designed our business model to foster a collaborative environment among our owners and a supportive environment for families from under-served communities or with special needs children. As you’ll discover, Snapology’s value proposition sits at the intersection of collaboration and community.
Franchises and small businesses that cater to children can be quite competitive, but the Snapology franchise opportunity has three key differentiators designed to give their owners a clear advantage:
We build strong bonds with our franchisees by offering continuous support and encouraging a collaborative environment. Our franchisees are more than just business owners, they’re family.
Snapology provides owners with a roadmap to success using tested methods and proven systems, yet we allow you the freedom to put these plans into action. Because every market is different.
We tailor our support services to each of our owners’ needs. From systems support to curriculum support to general business support, we’ll make sure you have everything you need to succeed.
How to open your own Snapology franchise
The Snapology Discovery Process helps you learn more about our franchise system while we learn more about who you are, your experience, and your goals. It is our mission to match your goals with our education franchise opportunity. A strong franchisee/franchisor relationship is critical, and this process will help us determine just that. Our Discovery Process consists of eight steps and generally lasts between 60 and 90 days.
If you’ve been thinking about becoming your own boss, taking your work and your future into your own hands, now might be the perfect time to consider owning a Snapology franchise location of your own. Snapology offers the opportunity to fulfill your dream of business ownership, with the flexibility and freedom to live on your own terms. Whether that means spending more time with your family, traveling, or getting more involved in your community, the possibilities will be open to you when you join our children’s education franchise. Getting started is easy. Getting started is easy. Simply click here to begin your journey to become a franchise owner with the Snapology family!
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In a digital-first world, law firms are realizing the many benefits of using law practice management software. The ABA has even created guidelines and recommends the use of such legal technology to support how law firms practice.
There are several law practice management platforms available to law firms, but there are key features firms should be aware of when adopting new legal technology. It’s important to remember that any new solution a law firm implements should relieve issues, not create new ones.
Having an all-in-one solution is the easiest way to ensure a law firm’s data is secure and accessible from anywhere. Continue reading to learn more about why it’s essential to manage your practice in a central location.
Law practice management software is a comprehensive software system that helps law firms manage business operations. An all-in-one solution offers features for managing cases, calendaring, document management, tasks, time tracking, billing, payments, contacts, client relationships, communication, and accounting.
Traditionally, law firms would implement multiple solutions to address each of these needs, such as accounting software, a calendar application, and more. With a law practice management solution, all these features are in one place and integrate with existing solutions, such as Google Drive and Dropbox.
All-in-one practice management solutions offer many benefits covering vast areas of your practice, especially when it comes to security. Here are the main reasons an all-in-one practice management platform is more secure:
Cloud-based software solutions have numerous advantages over on-premise solutions. The latter is a more traditional model that allows law firms to purchase licenses for staff members and install the software through a download or a disk. Each staff member needs the software on their individual computers, and it’s all stored in the same place, creating information silos.
With on-premise software, information can be shared and retained within the firm, and the firm can back up data from all the staff members’ computers to a centralized location that the whole firm has access to. The network is only within the firm itself, so the staff can only access it in the office.
The best thing about cloud-based software is that it can be accessed wherever you have a secure wifi network. This is a helpful option for remote and hybrid teams of lawyers who are often in the field and need to access client or case information quickly.
Law practice management software ensures the security of sensitive client or firm information at multiple levels. The parties that can access, view, edit, or delete the documents are limited, internally and externally, and the data is encrypted to ensure airtight security.
In addition, cloud-based systems are more secure than on-premise solutions, which can have data wiped from a virus or a technical problem. The cloud can be secured using geo-redundant servers that ensure data is always safe and backed up in the event of a natural disaster or power outage.
Pro tip: With the increase in remote and hybrid working models, creating a cybersecurity plan is a proactive measure firms can take to protect their information no matter where staff is working. 
Traditionally, law firms would take payments using cash or checks. More recently, law firms have begun to accept online payments through payment processors, allowing clients to pay for their services using a credit card, debit card, or online bank transfer.
With many lawyers working remotely or on the go, having a cloud-based solution enables any staff member to access documents and communication with clients efficiently. Using automated communication, payment, and organizational tools, lawyers can communicate with clients using two-way business text messaging to schedule meetings, and send automatic SMS or email reminders.
Clients can also share files and respond to invites to events or tasks with the customer relationship management (CRM) software. Law firms can collect contact information and case details through automated client intake forms and share communication and documents using the portal.
Law firm practice management software stores all documents digitally, so they can be accessed in the office, on the road, or at home. 
All documents are stored in a centralized source for better organization, and files can be created, edited, archived, and managed in real-time. This also assists with tracking hours with templates that are automatically completed in one click for faster processing.
Cloud-based all-in-one software solutions are the best options for law firms to save money and time while getting the functionality and features they need most.
About this Author
Nina Lee is the Senior Marketing Manager at PracticePanther, an all-in-one law practice management software company. She leads the marketing department to create engaging campaigns that help legal professionals understand the power of legal technology.
 

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