It is officially that time of year when motorcycle and moped enthusiasts are everywhere on the road. Finally, the sun is out, the blue skies are endless, and the freedom of the open road has returned once more. But like every other year, the question of motorcycle and moped parking lurks in the back of our minds. What are the rules? Do you have any parking spaces for smaller motorized vehicles such as motorcycles or mopeds? Motorcycle/Moped drivers & parking property owners: if you are looking for a parking solution that is safe and secure, check out this quick read on motorcycle & moped parking with ParqEx.

Advantages of Motorcycle & Moped Parking With ParqEx for Property Owners

ParqEx’s motorcycle and moped parking Marketplace allows parking owners to list and rent their parking spaces to motorbike riders looking for hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly parking. Once these spots are listed on ParqEx’s Parking Marketplace App, cyclists can reserve parking at their desired location on the app. As everything is done within the app, riders can choose the length of their stay, communicate with the parking owner regarding any questions, and even process payment entirely through the mobile app. So if your property has designated parking spots for motorcycles and mopeds, list those motorcycle and moped parking spaces on the app to rent them out for the short-term or long-term. Motorcyclists have difficulty finding parking, so they could be returning customers at your property if your locations fit their needs.

ParqEx’s motorcycle and moped parking Marketplace works exceptionally well with ParqEx’s other product and service offerings that could also improve security on your property. The ParqEx’s motorcycle and moped enforcement app allow parking owners to quickly check vehicles parked in the parking spaces at their property, including those with two-wheelers. Through the app, all the vehicle & parking activity on the property can be closely monitored at all times of the day. Additionally, ParqEx’s varying lines of access control augment security ten-fold. ParqEx’s Access + and Access + Premium with License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology allows transient motorists seeking to park the ability to access secure gated or garage parking. Learn more about the Enforcer App, Access +, and LPR technologies and see how they will aid with motorcycle and moped parking with ParqEx.

Advantages of Motorcycle & Moped Parking With ParqEx for Motorcycle Enthusiasts

To all motorcyclists reading this, we are working on making motorcycle and moped parking more accessible and affordable! Unfortunately, there is an underwhelming amount of parking designated for your sized vehicles. This can prove to be inconvenient for short-term and long-term storage of your vehicle. But, as we are sure you already know, you can park in both regular and motorcycle-designated parking spots.

Alternatively, do not shy away from the regular parking spots for fear of upsetting other drivers seeking parking! If Mini Cooper and Fiats can do it, you certainly can too!

BEST PARKING SOLUTION FOR RIDERS:

ParqEx’s platform already has properties nationwide that have designated parking for motorcycles and mopeds. These spaces are fairly priced and designed for motorcycle and moped parking! ParqEx has fairly priced parking spaces available for short-term and long-term storage for motorcycles & mopeds. So go ahead, download ParqEx’s motorcycle and moped parking app, search for your location, and reserve your secure spot!

Designated motorcycles and moped parking can be challenging to find. But it does not have to be. Are you a property owner with parking spaces that can be used by motorists to park their bikes? If so, then book a meeting with our sales team to discuss our motorcycle and moped parking solution. Why would you forgo potential new customers that can increase your parking revenue? Let us help you list those parking spots available to all motorists throughout the year. Rent the parking spaces for short-term parking or for long-term storage! And for all motorcyclists, remember to download our app and book your motorcycle and moped parking. Remember, you can pre-reserve the space before starting on your bike.

The post Motorcycle & Moped Parking With ParqEx appeared first on ParqEx.

The post 3 Tips for Back-To-School appeared first on ParqEx.

ParqEx loves featuring guest writers, especially when they have a mission to share on the nature of the car industry. If you’re interested in finding some travel preparation regarding a road trip you’ve come to the right place! This week, we’re proud to feature a blog on Steps To Wax Your Car Like a Pro from Dan at Carbibles. Car Bibles discusses an array of topics regarding vehicles ranging from the best products and care for your car. If you’d like to author a guest piece for ParqEx, let us know at marketing@parqex.com

SaveSave

The post 5 Steps To Wax Your Car Like A Pro appeared first on ParqEx.

ParqEx loves featuring guest writers, especially when they have a mission to share on the nature of the car industry. If you’re interested in finding some travel preparation regarding a road trip you’ve come to the right place! This week, we’re proud to feature a blog on Auto Care Steps For A Stress -Free Road Trip from Peter at Car Ninja. Car Ninja discusses an array of topics regarding vehicles ranging from small compact vehicles to SUV’s. Peter as a writer is an ardent car lover, he writes almost everything about cars ranging from Product Reviews, Automobile News & Beginner Tips for learning any new Car Technology. If you’d like to author a guest piece for ParqEx, let us know at marketing@parqex.com

SaveSave

The post Auto Care Steps For A Stress-Free Road Trip appeared first on ParqEx.

Valentines Day is a holiday that is about celebrating time with loved ones. The toughest decisions usually faced by individuals is how they will show their affection whether by giving a gift, taking their significant other out for dinner, or just spending quality time in their humble abode. Valentines Day has become an almost $20 billion dollar industry and it will not be getting any cheaper any time soon. We have provided some cost alternative ways to be the best significant other you can be. Impress this Valentines Day without breaking the bank.

For the meat lovers in the room you can never go wrong with a steak or tenderloin roast. Indulge in the buttery, delicious beef tenderloin roast of your dreams with simple spices and rosemary prepared in less than an hour. Want to cut the cost of having to order or what would be to prepare and appetizer? A Caprese steak offers you the best of both worlds add your favorite seasonings and spread some fresh mozzarella, Roma tomato, and basil on top and you will be good to go. Need to spice it up combine spinach and artichoke into a roll up with a nice skirt steak.

Catch A Movie

SaveSave

The post Best Alternative Ways To Celebrate Valentines Day appeared first on ParqEx.

ParqEx loves featuring guest writers, especially when they have a mission to share on what ParqEx is and how it is great for communities. If you’re interested in finding workplace Q & A stories you’ve come to the right place! This week, we’re proud to feature an interview with Vivek from Ioana Ginsac at Commercial Cafe. Commercial Cafe discusses Real Estate News and Q & A sessions with Founders or C-Level Execs to its readers from stories across the country. Commercial Cafe is apart of the Yardi Network Systems spanning multiple cities across the United States. If you’d like to author a guest piece for ParqEx, let us know at marketing@parqex.com

Q: Where is your office space located and what did you consider when searching for it? Did you use a third-party company?

A: Our office is located in the River North neighborhood of downtown Chicago.  As a startup, cost and flexibility were our most important considerations. We were previously based in a co-working space, which was ideal for our earliest stages. However, it started to become too expensive and unwieldy, as our team grew. We, therefore, needed to find something that was furnished and wasn’t a long-term commitment, on relatively short notice. In other words, we needed to find a quality sublease. Location was also part of the equation, but the other factors were always going to dominate.

We used Transwestern to help us with the search and to negotiate the sub-lease terms. They helped us identify an office that met all of our immediate needs, and, luckily, it was also located in a great part of the city.

Q: What do you think is the most important thing when searching for office space?

A: It is really important to have a clear understanding of the difference between your “needs” and your “wants.” We knew what we needed in terms of size, cost, and timing, and those factors drove the decision process. When you’re out looking at potential locations, it is easy to visualize how a certain space could work or how certain features would be really neat—so if you’re not grounded in the couple of key needs for your organization at that time, it is easy to make a decision that you may later regret.

Q: What challenges did you encounter in the process of leasing/buying the office space and how did you deal with them?

A: Timing was difficult for us because we needed the process to happen much faster than it usually does. We had to be out of our co-working space by a certain date and had started our search process late, so we were under the gun. This is where our Transwestern broker was extremely valuable because he brought relationships and knowledge that helped streamline the process for us.

Q: How do you feel about co-working spaces?

A: Co-working spaces are a great option for certain working situations. They provide smaller organizations with a “plug-and-play” setup that offers the type of flexibility that a traditional office lease simply cannot. That is huge for early-stage startups, independent contractors, and regional expansion teams of larger companies. Many co-working spaces also help to foster the type of collaboration that these smaller entities crave, by encouraging both social and professional interaction. We both enjoyed and benefited from our experience at WeWork and would do it all over again if we could.

Q: What would you recommend to other start-ups looking for office space?

A: Early-stage start-ups should really think hard about whether they’re ready to take on the commitment of signing a lease of their own, or whether the flexibility of co-working is a better option for them. If they know they’re ready to take the plunge, they should be careful not to bite off more than they can chew, because the monthly lease payments can add up quickly and shorten the company’s runway.

SaveSave

The post Q & A: How Chicago’s ParqEx Found Its Perfect Space appeared first on ParqEx.

ParqEx loves featuring guest writers, especially when they have a mission to share the belief on how ParqEx is great for people and communities. If you’re interested or have legal questions, need consultations, you’ve come to the right place! This week, we’re proud to feature Adam Falkof from Quarles & Brady LLP. Quarles & Brady LLP assists emerging growth companies and startups across the U.S. with their legal needs. If you’d like to author a guest piece for ParqEx, let us know at marketing@parqex.com

Happy New Year!

For those new to this newsletter, it has three sections.  First, I detail three events that, in my opinion, are worth attending this month.  Second, I describe three startups that impressed me, either because of the uniqueness of their ideas or the strength of their leadership team. Third, I feature one of Chicago’s prominent startup leaders or organizations.

Additionally, I’m continuing to feature a section to support the Garage’s startup companies from Northwestern. If interested in learning more about the accelerator, whether in mentoring opportunities or otherwise, please check out their website here.

I’m also featuring a section publicizing Impact Engine’s startup companies, which is a terrific social impact venture fund. Special thanks to Laura Buchanan, one of my colleagues, who authors this section.

I’m additionally promoting the portfolio companies of the Good Food Business Accelerator.  The Good Food Business Accelerator is an excellent Chicago food startup accelerator based in 1871 that is focused on building supply chains for sustainable local food.

January Events:

Chicago Tech Happy Hour at Joy District, January 10^th:  The Chicago Tech Meet-up group is hosting a happy hour at Joy District that is open to a wide swath of the startup community.  Chicago Tech’s events tend to draw a variety of startup founders, job-seekers, and service providers.  The event should be a good opportunity for readers looking to meet with a broad cross-section of the startup ecosystem in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

Here’s How Startup Marketing Conference, January 16^th:  Propllr PR is hosting its fifth annual marketing conference focused on marketing for startup companies.  The event will feature the marketing leaders of a number of major Chicago tech companies, including M1 Finance, Shiftgig, and Regroup Therapy.  The conference should be a great chance for startup leaders to learn best marketing practices and tips from top Chicago tech companies.

The Future of Blockchain, Presented by TechinMotion, January 17^th:  Tech in Motion is presenting an interesting event covering cryptocurrency developments and the future of blockchain.  The event’s panel features several blockchain thought leaders both in the cryptocurrency industry and other industries looking to apply blockchain to their businesses.  The event should be a fantastic opportunity for readers interested in gaining a better understanding of the blockchain technology underlying Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Companies to Check Out:

TimeDoc:  TimeDoc is working to revolutionize the delivery of chronic care management for medical practices.  The company’s platform allows doctors to better track their time with chronic care management in order to obtain accurate reimbursements and to more efficiently deliver chronic care services to their patients.  TimeDoc is led by an impressive team of experienced founders and is well positioned to grow as chronic care needs continue to increase with the retirement of the Baby Boomers.

ParqEx:  ParqEx is a fantastic Chicago startup that is working to transform urban parking.  ParqEx connects owners of private parking spaces with users looking for a place to park via the company’s mobile application.  The company has had terrific traction so far, and if you’re always looking for a place to park, check out the company’s application on the App Store or Google Play.

Booksy:  Booksy is an innovative startup working to make it easier and faster for consumers to book health and beauty services, such as hair salon, make-up, and skin care appointments.  Booksy’s online platform allows users to both book and rate a wide variety of beauty-related services from the Booksy mobile application.  The company is operating in over a dozen different countries and primarily teams based in Chicago and Poland.

Good Food Business Accelerator Company of the Month:

Tempo Beverage:  Tempo Beverage is a terrific Chicago beverage startup focused on sparkling teas.  The company currently has two flavors, green tea with ginger and turmeric and black tea with grapefruit and ginseng.  The teas are delicious (speaking from personal experience) and have no sugar, calories, or artificial sweeteners.  If interested in trying one of teas, they are available for purchase on Tempo Beverage’s website.

Garage Company of the Month:

PedalCell:  PedalCell is an innovative Northwestern startup that is working to create a device that can convert and capture electrical power from the pedaling of ordinary bicycles.  The concept aspires to allow bicycle riders to charge a battery while they pedal, which could be used to charge their phone or other electronics.  If interested in learning more, PedalCell has an interesting video on the technology on the landing page of their website.

Impact Engine Company of the Month:

Wala: Wala is an exciting financial platform startup that bridges the gap between the 2.5 billion unbanked consumers in emerging markets and financial institutions. This personal financial management app incentivizes users to start tracking and saving money while providing a social, community aspect.

PeopleOrganizations to Know:

Dan Parsons and Chris Elipas:  Dan Parsons and Chris Elipas are the two founders behind Dryv, which is a top Chicago start-up that provides on-demand dry cleaning.  Dan and Chris are emblematic of a great founding partnership and have substantially grown the company from their original two-person team.  Both are also great guys and are on-demand technology and logistics leaders in Chicago.

SaveSave

The post Next Companies to Check Out From Quarles & Brady LLP appeared first on ParqEx.

ParqEx loves featuring guest writers, especially when they have a mission  to share strategies for making money and growing your net worth – all from your laptop. If you’re interested in living a financially independent, location free lifestyle, you’ve come to the right place! This week, we’re proud to feature Drew Mentock from Money Nomad. Money Nomad discusses the location independent lifestyle and how to make a living remotely. If you’d like to author a guest piece for ParqEx, let us know at marketing@parqex.com

As a ParqEx owner, at the end of each month, you get a nice chunk of supplementary cash for renting out your unused parking space. Sure, it might be tempting to spend this on a crazy night out, a fancy dinner, weekend getaways or even that pair of shoes you always thought cost too much.

On the other hand, this may not be the smartest way to use your money. If the money you get simply gets transferred into your bank account and is then considered disposable, it won’t really add that much value to your life. Eventually, perhaps at the end of the year, you will look back on all the money you made from ParqEx and wonder where it went.

The best thing to do with this extra cash is to have a plan for it—make sure every cent is allocated in a specific way. In the end, you may still decide to put it towards an out of town vacation, but at least you will have thought about what to do with it as soon as you get it.

Pay Off Debt

A large portion of Americans are in debt. In fact, the average individual owes over $7,000 to credit card companies, so why not use some of the money you make from ParqEx to get your net worth into the positives.

Even paying an extra $20 per month towards what you owe can make a big difference. For example, say you have a $5,000 credit card debt, with an interest rate of 18%, and a minimum payment of $80 per month. By only making the minimum payment, it will take you over 15 years to pay off your debt (provided you’re no longer making purchases with that credit card). By adding an extra $20, which makes your total monthly payment $100, you will be out of debt in less than 8 years and have saved yourself thousands in the long run.

In all actuality, the average ParqEx parking space owner makes about $350 per month — much more than $20 — so they have the potential to get out of debt even quicker.

Invest

People often say “I want to invest but I’m broke—if only I had  extra money to put in an investment account.”

Well, the good news is that when you’re renting a parking space with ParqEx, you will no longer have this excuse. The bad news is that now you will have to figure out how to invest.

There are so many different ways to invest and, contrary to what you may think, you can effectively and wisely invest smaller amounts of money.

There are also several apps that allow you to invest a very small amount of money—some that don’t even have a minimum deposit.

What’s important to remember is that you shouldn’t take a bunch of huge risks trying to get rich quick. If you’re patient and willing to learn from your investing mistakes, you’ll eventually learn how to make your money work for you.

Put it Towards one of your Goals

Do you hope to one day own your own business? Go back to school? Or do you need a nest egg to support you while you try your hand at freelancing? Well, why not use what you make from ParqEx to save towards your goals.

You can do this by setting aside a percentage of your total ParqEx earnings at the end of each month. This way, ParqEx will be doing more than giving you some extra cash. It will be actively helping you to pursue your dream, which adds a lot more value to your life than another night out on the town.

Make Sure You’re Putting Money Aside for Taxes

When you make money u

sing ParqEx, you need to be prepared to claim it when you file your taxes at the end of each year. This is really important to keep in mind every time you get paid from ParqEx. If you’re not actively putting a portion of your earnings aside,  you’ll end up owing money at the end year that you aren’t prepared for.

How much you owe will depend on the tax bracket you fall in, which is based on your overall household income for that year. Either way, a good rule of thumb is to put aside 30% of what you make. This will likely be more than what’s necessary but at least you’ll know you have enough to cover yourself.

Plus, if you put aside extra m

oney, that will just mean you have more to spend at the end of the year. In a way, it’s kind of like an extra refund.

Use Apps to Help You Save

Now that you have an idea of what you want to do with the money made from ParqEx, you’ll want to figure out how you’re going to allocate money towards each of your financial objectives. Since ParqEx’s is an app that’s helping you make extra money, it makes sense that you also consider using an app to help you save money.

Apps such as Qapital, Acorn,  and Digit are designed to help you automatically save money. They all work in their own way, so you should review each and decide which one works best for you.

SaveSave

The post What to do with the Extra Cash you Make through ParqEx appeared first on ParqEx.

Trying to decide which February events you should attend? Here are a few of our favorite free options in the area.

Museum “Free Days”

If you have never visited the Museum of Science and Industry, you are missing out on one amazing hall of knowledge.

Don’t miss out on the incredible experience offered by this museum. Instead, take advantage of free admission on any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in February 2017, and explore some interesting and mind-boggling exhibits you won’t soon forget. This is one event you’ll be glad you took the time for!

Chinese Lunar New Year Parade

The Chinese New Year is a very fun and colorful holiday. Why not get in on the fun yourself by attending the Chinese New Year Parade in Chicago?

The parade will be held on February 5th, 2017 from 12pm–3pm at Archer and Wentworth Ave. It will feature eye-catching floats, live music by marching bands, and some incredible traditional dancing. What better way to start a new year?

“Neighborhoods of the World” Events

A collection of family-friendly celebrations to be presented at Navy Pier, the “Neighborhoods of the World” events are a great way to explore various cultures.

The series will begin with a China-centered event on February 12th, 2017. After that, the celebrations will be held weekly on Saturdays through the final event on March 26th. Each Saturday will focus on a different country and feature live music, traditional dancing, cultural cuisine, and crafts from around the world.

Handmade Market at The Empty Bottle

The local Handmade Market is a fun way to spend an afternoon. The February 2017 market will be held on the 11th at The Empty Bottle. It will feature the work of a number of local artists and craftspeople, all of which will be available for purchase.

While many people won’t be able to attend this adorable market without making a purchase, it can make for a free fun day out if you are able to use self-control. (Then again, what fun is that?)

Polar Adventure Days

Looking for some outdoor fun? You might want to look into the Polar Adventure Days offered by the Parks and Recreation Department.

The February Polar Adventure Day will be held on February 25th, 2017. The event is a winter exploration of the new Northerly Island Natural Area. It includes encounters with live animals, winter-themed craft projects, and free hot chocolate. This is the perfect event for kids of all ages!

Need parking for these events? 

Of course, if you are going to attend these events, you will need to consider parking. While some of the activities mentioned may have private parking available to guests, others leave you to fend for yourself. Make sure you are prepared by putting the ParqEx service to use.

ParqEx allows users to find and rent convenient parking no matter where they roam. The parking options available are owned by individuals, meaning you will receive the one-on-one service you deserve with the security of working through a bigger company.

If you are considering using ParqEx to rent parking in the Chicago area, we encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have. It is our goal to ensure you are well taken care of and have a wonderful experience using our innovative new service.

The post Five Free February Events in Chicago appeared first on ParqEx.

ParqEx is pumped to be finalist for 2016’s “50 on Fire!”

We are 1 of just 16 B-to-C companies to make the list out of hundreds of applicants!

Chicago is one of the most diversified economies in the world, with no single industry employing more than 14% of the workforce. And this diversity extends to the city’s innovation economy, with an eclectic mix of startups, categories, entrepreneurs, enterprise tech companies, STEM organizations, universities, and more making up the ecosystem.

50 on Fire is Chicago Inno’s annual awards show, celebrating the individuals and organizations that are heating up Chicago across a variety of industries. It is a reflection of Chicago’s ecosystem at large – a collection of people and organization in a number of different roles, stages, and categories – that are, for lack of a better term, on fire. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes an entire city to build an innovation.

ParqEx is absolutely thrilled to be one of just 16 B2C companies to be included in the prestigious list.

To read the full article, click here.

Hot spots!

Here are a few of our currently featured parking spots. Going to be in the area and need an easy place to park? Click on the spot you want. Book it. You’re a VIP.

• 5051 N Broadway: https://secure.parqex.com/parking?listingId=25498
• 2451 Howard St: https://secure.parqex.com/parking?listingId=25576
• 940 W Wilson Ave: https://secure.parqex.com/parking?listingId=25674

A ParqEx original film

Jeff & Matt: A story about the day two people became friends through parking.

Jeff & Matt were once sad. Jeff drives to the big city every day from the suburbs. Jeff gets lots of headaches figuring out where to park. Matt lives in the big city. Matt has a parking space, but doesn’t always use it.

ParqEx to the rescue! The simple ParqEx app allows Matt to rent his parking space to Jeff. Jeff doesn’t have to worry about where to park anymore. Matt makes some extra money. Jeff and Matt are now friends.

To list or find parking (and maybe a new friend), click here!

ParqEx company news bits:

ParqEx: Always expanding!
This month, Parqex signed deals with Farpoint Development and MO2 Properties.

ParqEx CEO at VentureFWD Summit
ParqEx Founder and CEO Vivek Mehra was one of an esteemed and select group of innovators and leaders to speak at the 2016 Venture for Women & Diversity Summit.

ParqEx is hiring in Chicago and Wisconsin
ParqEx is looking for leaders, including Jr. Account Executives (Sales) in both Madison and Milwaukee. See the full list of opportunities at our great company.

GAME CHANGER: ParqEx Access+

With Access+, residents and approved visitors can open the garage door from their smartphones. Garage owners can simplify management and improve control of the garage.

Interested? Learn more here!

The post In the News with ParqEx appeared first on ParqEx.