Way of Improving Business Processes

A Methuen, Massachusetts, professional, Benjy Orbach has a leadership background spanning operations management, sales, and marketing. Benjy Orbach’s expertise includes organizational strategies for improving efficiencies and decreasing operational costs.

One area of emphasis, particularly for smaller companies without large-scale solutions in place, should be on automation through the use of business process management software. Keep in mind that flow charts, Google Docs, and MS Word are tools for organizing data, rather than automation.

For automating strategy, look toward specialized platforms, such as QuickBooks for accounting and other platforms that automate human resources, workflow, customer support, and payroll. These are designed to amplify what human workers accomplish and reduce errors through populating data in ways that integrate with complex processes and decision points. In addition, such systems can bridge reporting gaps between departments and help eliminate the silo mentality that often arises when teams act independently of one another.

Business process automation, while beneficial, requires careful planning, as the division between automated functions and those managed by internal staff must be delineated in ways that make strategic sense. Consider bringing outside consultants on board to assess organizational needs and dynamics before implementing a change.

Ascending Quandary Peak in Colorado Rockies

Benjy Orbach is an entrepreneur in Methuen, Massachusetts who has overseen diverse sales, marketing, and operations management activities. An avid skier, Benjy Orbach also enjoys hiking and has explored mountains in the Colorado Rockies.

One of the classic routes in the Rockies is Quandary Peak, which is the most accessible of the “14ers” that rise more than 14,000 feet in elevation. Twenty minutes from Breckenridge, the 6.75-mile trek starts just to the north of Hoosier Pass and includes a significant climb, from 10,850 feet to 14,265 feet. Despite the elevation changes being within short stretches, there is little exposure to drop-offs along the course.

However, the trail gains a daunting 1,100 feet over the last mile to the summit, which makes the hike strenuous and recommended only for those who are fit. The peak also has the highest number of accidents for any peak of its height, which reflects the popularity and year-round accessibility of the route.

With the Quandary Peak ascent above the tree line, hikers often encounter marmots and hardy mountain goats. With lightning risk in summer months, hikers are advised to climb before midday to avoid the frequent afternoon thunderstorms.

The Secrets to Assembling a Profitable Rental Real Estate Portfolio

A resident of Methuen, Massachusetts, Benjy Orbach is a former sales manager who specialized in warehouse optimization. A real estate professional, Benjy Orbach has a record of matching buyers with their dream properties. He also specializes in helping real estate investors keep rental portfolios profitable.

Maintaining a profitable real estate portfolio boils down to two things, first is getting a great location and second is keeping a lid on costs. A property in a good location has great employment numbers, has low crime rates, and is in a well-performing school district.

You can check an area’s job availability rates from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics or from the local library. You can find data on crime rates at the local library or police station. Similarly, watch out for upcoming developments which may indicate the area is growing and a property’s proximity to public amenities that will appeal to tenants.

Next, consider the costs of owning the property. First, investigate the area’s average rent. Will this be enough to cover your mortgage payments? If not, look for a property that’s selling below market rate. Listing platforms like RealtyTrac.com usually have sections with properties up for foreclosure. Buying below market locks in a profit at the start and lowers your monthly mortgage payments.

Next, factor costs such as average vacancy rates, property taxes, and insurance. Municipality assessment offices have data on property taxes. Other costs include maintenance and repair costs as well as management fees. A profitable property will earn you a lot of rental income, incur little monthly expenses, or do a bit of both. 

Why Companies Calculate Their Expense

A sales and operations leader in Methuen, Massachusetts, Benjy Orbach worked as an operations manager for one of the largest import retailers in the country. Overseeing a territory that consisted of 10 stores and two customer service centers, Benjy Orbach had oversight over warehouse operations and budget preparations. He performed critical financial arithmetic such as calculating the business’ expense-to-sales ratio.

The expense-to-sales ratio, also called the operating ratio, is a calculation that reveals a company’s operational financial health. In simple terms, it is calculated by dividing a company’s expenses by sales and then multiplying the result by 100 to get a percentage. Therefore, if a company’s expenses in 2020 were $100,000 and its sales $200,000, it had an operating ratio of 50 percent.

In practice, however, deriving a company’s operating ratio is much more complicated. For example, only operating expenses are used in the calculation. These are the costs directly attributable to producing and selling a product or service. They include rent, utilities, office supplies, advertising, and salaries. Non-operating expenses like tax and interests on debts are not considered.

For sales, only net sales figures are included. This is the total revenue received in a year minus the cost of returns, discounts, and allowances. Both the net sales and operating expenses figures are derived from the company’s income statement.

Managers, executives, and investors use the operating ratio for comparative purposes. They can compare one year’s operating ratio to another year’s, one department’s or product’s ratio to another’s, or one company’s to another in a similar industry. Generally, a lower operating ratio is a good indicator that the company or department is efficient in how it spends cash to generate cash. A high operating ratio, on the other hand, shows that a company is inefficient in how it uses up cash to generate revenue.