For the past couple of years, the economy has certainly been a challenge for many businesses in Houston, Texas and beyond. Employers have had to lay off workers, trim expenses, and create a culture of “do more with less.” Now that it seems things are easing up a bit, this is a good time to evaluate your firm’s current health and plan for future growth. To do that, here are some questions you should ask yourself:

What were the company’s sales last year compared to the year before?

In a bad economy, flat sales are certainly better than a dip in sales. However, now that the economy is beginning to improve, it may be time to aim higher and improve sales in 2011.

What’s the company’s percentage of repeat business?

Retaining customers is a lot easier – and a lot less expensive – than winning new ones. So what can you do to increase your percentage of repeat business in 2011?

What can the company do to better serve customers?

This question goes hand in hand with the previous question. Customer satisfaction is critical to the success of your business. And you need to determine what your company is doing well and what areas needs improvement. So make a plan for your customer service team to contact current customers and ask them how well you’re performing.

How are competitors performing?

In other words, what are your competitors doing in terms of new products, hiring, pricing, and expanding into new markets? If competitors are well outperforming your company, you’ve got a problem.

What new products or services should the company be offering?

If you’re not expanding, you’re contracting. And if you don’t innovate you won’t survive. So now’s the time to think about the kinds of new products and services that would enhance your customer’s experience with your company.

Has the company experienced recent turnover?

As the economy improves, more and more employees are starting to quit their jobs and move onto greener pastures. And as you’re trying to grow your business, the last thing you need is top performers jumping ship. So what are you doing to reduce turnover?

Is it time to hire?

If lack of help is forcing you to turn down new opportunities, then it may be time to hire. If you’re uncertain about adding to your overhead, then consider using temporary workers in the meantime.

And if your Houston, Texas company needs some help with hiring in 2011, please contact Murray Resources. As a leading staffing firm in Houston, our top priority is delivering exceptional job candidates for temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire positions.