Chicago is a city full of opportunity, culture, and nonstop energy—and DePaul University sits right at the heart of it. Whether you’re starting your college journey, transitioning to a new apartment, or relocating for a job after graduation, one thing is universally true: moving in a big city like Chicago isn’t easy.

Between navigating tight alleyways, parking restrictions, unpredictable weather, and third-floor walk-ups with no elevator in sight, relocating in the Windy City can feel like a daunting task. But with a little planning and the right support, moving doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive.

Life Transitions Are Inevitable—Make Your Move Smarter

At DePaul, students are constantly on the move. From dorms to off-campus apartments, from Lincoln Park to the Loop and beyond, every school year brings a new set of logistics to figure out. And it’s not just students—many faculty and recent grads are relocating to or within Chicago as they pursue academic careers or settle into new jobs.

These transitions come with plenty of excitement—but they can also cause anxiety, especially when it comes to transporting furniture, timing leases, or coordinating with roommates. That’s why more people are opting to hire professionals to make the process smoother.

One service growing in popularity among students and young professionals is Three Movers in Chicago, known for their affordability, flexibility, and local know-how.

What Makes Moving in Chicago Unique?

Unlike smaller towns, moving in Chicago comes with some distinct challenges:

• Permit-only street parking, especially in high-density neighborhoods
• Tight staircases and older buildings with no elevators
• Weather complications—from lake-effect snow to humid summers
• High traffic zones that can affect timing and access
• Coordinating with landlords or building managers on tight schedules

That’s why hiring movers who know the city is essential. Chicago-specific movers experience means fewer surprises and better solutions when those inevitable challenges arise.

Affordable Help for Students and Budget-Conscious Movers

Moving services might sound like a luxury—but they don’t have to be. Three Movers offers student-friendly pricing and customizable packages that allow you to choose just the services you need: whether that’s help with packing, loading, or just transporting a few pieces of furniture.

They also cater to:

• First-time movers living away from home
• Students relocating internationally or out-of-state
• Roommates moving in or out mid-lease
• Faculty or staff relocating within Chicagoland
• Graduates starting new jobs and settling into long-term homes

With a straightforward booking process and transparent pricing, Three Movers makes it easy to plan your move—so you can focus on class schedules, internships, and actually enjoying your new space.

Tips for a Smooth Campus-Area Move

If you’re planning a move in or around DePaul, keep these tips in mind:

• Reserve your building’s elevator or loading zone in advance
• Label boxes clearly—especially if you’re sharing a space
• Donate or sell what you don’t need before packing
• Get parking permits early if you’re moving into a busy neighborhood
• Consider moving mid-week to avoid weekend congestion and higher rates

And most importantly: don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s from friends or a professional crew, moving doesn’t have to be a solo mission.

Final Thoughts: New Place, New Chapter

Moving can mark the start of an exciting new chapter, whether it’s the beginning of college life, a step toward independence, or the next stage in your career. While the city may be big, your move doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

 

Introduction: Why Temporary Fire Watch Services Are Essential

When a building’s fire protection system fails or is under maintenance, the risk of fire hazards escalates significantly. In such cases, temporary fire watch guard services become a legal and life-saving necessity. These services are mandated by fire marshals and local regulations to prevent potential disasters. This article explores the duties, requirements, and importance of hiring a professional Fire Watch Guard for temporary coverage.

What Is a Temporary Fire Watch Guard Service?

Temporary fire watch services refer to short-term deployments of trained personnel tasked with maintaining fire safety in locations where existing fire protection systems are compromised. These guards perform systematic inspections and ensure immediate reporting and mitigation of fire risks.

Common Scenarios Requiring Temporary Fire Watch:

• Sprinkler system malfunctions or repairs

• Alarm system downtimes

• Construction and renovation zones

• Large events with high occupancy

According to OSHA, fire watch personnel are required when hot work is performed or when fire hazards are present without fully functional protection systems.

Legal Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

Local fire codes, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines, and building insurance mandates often dictate when fire watch services are necessary. Failing to implement a fire watch during required periods can lead to severe fines, business shutdowns, and legal consequences.

Regulatory Highlights:

• NFPA 101 outlines the Life Safety Code, mandating fire watch presence during fire system impairments.

• Local authorities (AHJs) can issue citations if no guard is present during required times.

For example, Los Angeles Fire Department mandates a fire watch for any building with a fire alarm or sprinkler system outage exceeding four hours.

Key Responsibilities of a Temporary Fire Watch Guard

A qualified Fire Watch Guard performs a series of duties to ensure the safety of the premises. Their vigilance fills the gap created by a disabled fire system.

Daily Responsibilities Include:

• Patrolling all affected areas at prescribed intervals (usually every 30 minutes)

• Maintaining detailed logs of observations and patrol times

• Notifying fire departments and onsite personnel during emergencies

• Ensuring exits and evacuation routes remain clear

• Reporting safety violations immediately

Who Needs Temporary Fire Watch Services?

The need for temporary fire watch extends across various sectors:

• Commercial buildings undergoing system repairs

• Construction sites with flammable materials and no installed suppression system

• Schools, hospitals, and senior living facilities during safety system upgrades

• Manufacturing plants conducting high-heat operations

In each case, fire watch is not merely a precaution—it’s a legal obligation.

A properly deployed Fire Watch Guard can mean the difference between a manageable incident and a catastrophic fire.

How to Choose a Reputable Fire Watch Guard Service

When hiring temporary services, it’s crucial to evaluate the provider’s credentials, experience, and compliance record.

Key Considerations:

• Certification & Training: Guards should be NFPA-certified or trained per local fire codes.

• Experience: Choose companies with proven experience in managing temporary deployments.

• Availability: Ensure 24/7 service capability for high-risk periods.

• Reputation: Check reviews and verify licensing with regulatory bodies.

You can explore this Forbes security guide for insights into selecting quality security services.

Costs Involved in Temporary Fire Watch Services

The cost of hiring temporary fire watch guards depends on several factors:

• Location and local labor costs

• Duration of coverage required

• Complexity of the site (e.g., multi-level buildings)

• Number of guards needed

Typical hourly rates range from $25 to $100 per guard, depending on the region and emergency status.

Investing in reliable Fire Watch Guard services can help avoid exponentially higher costs due to fines, lawsuits, or property damage.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Fire Watch Guard

Beyond regulatory compliance, there are multiple strategic benefits to having professional fire watch in place:

Tangible Benefits:

• Immediate risk detection and response

• Maintained insurance coverage during system outages

• Peace of mind for business owners, tenants, and facility managers

• Comprehensive logs for legal or insurance purposes

Moreover, employing a reliable guard service showcases a commitment to public safety and operational integrity.

The Role of Fire Watch in Business Continuity Planning

Business operations cannot always pause during fire system maintenance. Temporary fire watch allows critical services and workflows to continue while ensuring safety compliance.

Having a Fire Watch Guard on duty protects not only your property but your business reputation as well. Read more about fire safety planning on NFPA.org.

Conclusion: Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Temporary fire watch services are not just a checkbox for compliance—they’re a proactive step in safeguarding your property, people, and business operations. Whether it’s for a few hours or several days, hiring a professional Fire Watch Guard ensures that safety isn’t compromised when systems are down. Ensure that you assess your building’s needs and partner with certified providers who understand the gravity and responsibility of fire prevention.

Valuing a business can feel daunting, especially if numbers and finance aren’t your strong suit. Yet understanding what your business is worth is a crucial skill for anyone involved in building, buying, or selling a company. Whether you’re preparing to take on new investors, ready for retirement, or just want to set long-term goals, knowing your business’s real value gives you the power to make smarter decisions.

This guide will break down the basics of business valuation, dig into why it matters so much, review the most common methods used, explore the key factors that drive valuations, and walk you step-by-step through the process. You’ll come away with the confidence to start a valuation conversation or even tackle the foundational calculations yourself.

Why Business Valuation Matters

Before jumping into calculations and formulas, it’s important to pinpoint why business valuation is such a big deal.

Making Better Decisions

Understanding your business’s value guides big-picture choices—from securing financing to succession planning. Lenders, investors, and even partners often require a valuation before making significant commitments.

Raising Capital

When you want to attract investors, you need to show them the worth of what they’re investing in. A realistic valuation helps set fair investment terms and can make negotiations smoother.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Thinking of buying or selling? Both buyers and sellers need an accurate business valuation to negotiate price and terms. Overvaluing your business can scare off buyers, while undervaluing could cost you money.

Estate and Tax Planning

Taxation, estate settlements, and even divorce proceedings often require a current, defensible value for a business. A professional business valuation keeps you compliant and prepared.

SBA Lending

If you are in the market to get a SBA 7a or SBA 504 Loan.

Common Business Valuation Methods

Determining what a business is worth isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Several tried-and-true methods exist, each with strengths and best-use scenarios.

Asset-Based Approach

The asset-based approach looks at everything your business owns (assets) and subtracts what it owes (liabilities). This gives a net asset value.

• Book Value relies on the value of assets listed on the balance sheet after depreciation.
• Liquidation Value considers how much you would get if you sold all assets quickly.

Asset-based valuations are handy for companies with significant tangible assets. Service-based or tech firms might find this less useful.

Income-Based Approach

This method focuses on your business’s ability to generate profit.

• Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analyzes expected future cash flows and discounts them back to present value using a “discount rate” that reflects uncertainty.
• Capitalization of Earnings calculates value based on expected annual earnings, divided by a capitalization rate.

Income-based approaches work well for businesses with steady cash flows.

Market-Based Approach

Market-based valuation compares your business to similar ones that have recently sold.

• Guideline Public Company Method looks at ratios (like price-to-earnings) from comparable publicly traded companies.
• Precedent Transactions Method reviews real sales of similar private businesses.

This is useful when there’s solid data available on comparable sales.

Factors Affecting Business Valuation

A business’s value is shaped by a mix of financial and non-financial factors. Here’s what professionals look at most:

Financial Performance

Revenue, profit margins, debt levels, and historical cash flow are foundational to any valuation. Strong, consistent financial performance typically leads to a higher valuation.

Industry Conditions

Market trends can drive up or suppress business values. A tech startup might boast a higher valuation multiple than a traditional manufacturing operation, simply due to market excitement.

Growth Potential

Projected future growth can boost value. Investors often pay premiums for high-growth businesses, even if current profits are modest.

Customer Base

A diverse, loyal customer base makes a business more valuable. Overdependence on a few customers is a red flag for many valuers.

Management Team

A skilled, stable leadership team increases desirability and value. Conversely, a business that depends heavily on the owner can see its value dip.

Location and Operations

Physical location, distribution networks, intellectual property, and unique processes also play roles in shaping value.

The Business Valuation Process

It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but the process becomes manageable with a clear structure.

1. Define the Purpose

Are you valuing the business for a sale, investment, divorce, or internal planning? The reason influences the best approach.

2. Gather Key Information

Collect recent financial statements, tax returns, ownership documents, business plans, and details on assets and liabilities. The more accurate your data, the stronger your valuation.

3. Choose the Best Valuation Method

Consider the industry, available records, the business lifecycle stage, and your specific purpose. It’s common to use more than one method for cross-checking results.

4. Adjust for Risk

Assess operational risks, market competition, economic conditions, and legal challenges. Adjust your numbers or discount rate to reflect real-world uncertainty.

5. Calculate and Analyze

Run the numbers using your selected method(s). Don’t just rely on a single value; most professionals present a range.

6. Review and Document

Clearly document your findings, calculations, and assumptions. Transparency is key, especially if others will review your valuation.

7. Seek Expert Help (if Needed)

Not comfortable crunching the numbers or want extra credibility? A professional business appraiser can add value and peace of mind.

Taking the Next Step With Business Valuation

Learning the basics of business valuation gives you a huge advantage, no matter where you are in your entrepreneurship journey. Valuation isn’t just a box to check for big events; it’s a strategic tool for tracking your business’s health and planning for the future. Using a technology enabled Business valuation calculator can help

If you’re ready to dig deeper, consider resources offered by professional valuation associations, business brokers, or your local small business development center. Online calculators provide a rough starting point, but a reliable valuation almost always benefits from expert guidance and up-to-date market insights.

Remember: A well-understood business is a well-run business. Start your valuation process today and set a strong foundation for every decision you’ll make down the road.