Credit Card Wisdom

September 11, 2014 by  
Filed under Featured Articles, Front Page

Credit cards Français : Cartes de crédit Itali...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thinking about a credit counselor? Think again. Many entrepreneurs seek out information to get out of debt and find credit counselor scams. Here is how the scam works. They pay for articles to be posted on blogs with links to their pages. You read the article and feel like you got some great information. Then you click and follow the link. The link takes you to a fancy webpage which promises to make your credit problems go away. They either don’t do much or they give you more headaches. If you use a credit counselor use one that is local to you. Visit their office. Find other people who have used them and were happy with the results.

These scammers give you advice like- reduce your costs. Of course, you know to reduce your costs. You have cut back as much as you can. There isn’t any more to cut back. You need a different kind of help. Or you need an increase in income. If you have your own business, you can use a program like Double Your Revenue. This program teaches you how to increase sales in your business. If this is a program you would like to hear more about just text, DOUBLE to 909 235 9744.

They give you advice like update your budget. Most people do not have a budget or are not on their business if they are having a lot of difficulties. It’s pretty hard to budget when there is no money. Consolidating your loans is not an option for people who are in trouble with their creditors. Increasing your income is a great strategy. You can pay more bills with more money coming in. But you have to learn how.

    

5 tips to manage cashflow and improve business costs

November 15, 2013 by  
Filed under Front Page, Wright Ideas

accounting

(Photo credit: zolierdos)

5 tips to manage cashflow and improve business costs

Whether planning a start-up or reviewing financial management and operation of an existing business, there are usually two questions at the forefront of the mind: how do I manage cashflow best? And how do I keep business costs low?

To list down every recommendation, trick, piece of advice, process and consideration to address these fundamental areas of business success would require an extensive textbook… so this article offers five quick tips to establish control over your cashflow and business costs, and the impact they have on your profit, survival and growth:

1. Invoice smarter

Slow-paying customers can present a huge issue for small businesses in particular – especially when those businesses are experiencing the same issues as your business and waiting for their own cash to come in. It can be a tricky cycle.

Ensure your invoicing process is streamlined, invoices are promptly mailed out and the invoice content is clear and easy to read. Simple omissions such as failure to include purchase order numbers and payment terms can bring on setbacks and delays.

Assess whether your business is able to go one step beyond and make the payment process easier and faster for your customers.  Electronic payment systems, or discounts offered for rapid payment of invoices, can speed up transactions and may also improve processing times on your side.

2. Negotiate

Just because a price has been quoted, or you have been paying the same rate for years and years, doesn’t mean that is what you have to pay.

Work hard to negotiate with your suppliers since many are willing to discuss pricing and rates (they want to retain your business after all!)

Every little bit might just help – whether addressing standard utility overheads such as energy and phone bills, or working to pay less for the office stationery  – it could have a significant impact on your bottom line.

3. Get close to your accountant 

Many businesses, particularly smaller ones, look to liaise with their accountant only at a time of need.

A solid accountant can provide invaluable advice and serve as a useful resource, sharing knowledge, insight and recommendation all year round.

Services such as cost management, profit management, investment, funding consultancy and general check-ups can help you keep things on track and optimise the health of your balance sheet.

Build a regular relationship and dialogue with your accountant to drive smarter business decisions, higher profits, reduced taxes and improved cash flow

4.  Explore alternative credit and funding options

A wide range of alternative funding solutions are available in the market – non-bank lending is now at its highest in five years as more and more SMEs recognise the benefit of short-term, affordable cash flow solutions.

Beyond the company credit card, hire purchase agreements, leasing arrangements and overdrafts – cash flow products such as crowd-funding and invoice finance could provide much-needed cash and capital to help you manage seasonal demand, or the challenging peaks and troughs of delayed customer payments. If you have followed the previous tip and have a good accountant, they will be full of advice and recommendation on the best path for you.

Overdrafts, premium funding, lease facilities and cashflow funding products such as factoring can all be excellent tools to help match cash supply with outlays. These arrangements take time to set up, so you need to be prepared in advance.

5. Plan, plan, plan – and stick to it

Heavily monitor your balance sheet and your cash flow budget.

The continual review and action planning for the credit you arrange, the bills you pay, how you pay those bills, and when your payments are coming in are all critical for the survival of the business.

It is important to revise your cash flow budget periodically which an accountant can assist with and deliver as an automated, streamlined process. Simple exercises such as payment prioritisation, strategic management of credit terms, weekly cash flow projections and payment collections all form the foundations of the dynamic accounting function of a business.

A solid system in place such as this will also allow you to plan for lean times and schedule purchases and allocation of capital when you need it most.

About the Author: Beth Nicholas is a professional writer for Plus Accounting – chartered accountants and providers of business financial services based in Brighton, England.

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From Home Care Franchise to Burger Franchise, Owners Make Profit

October 29, 2013 by  
Filed under A Note for You, Front Page

A McDonalds location in Moncton (mountain road...

A McDonalds location in Moncton (mountain road). I took the picture and touched it up in Photoshop CS3 myself. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Have you ever thought about owning your own franchise? Hundreds of thousands of business owners around the United States own franchises, and for good reason. Depending on the franchise, the owner can stand to pocket a significant amount of money on a monthly and yearly basis. Keep reading for a few reasons why you should take the next step and invest in a quality franchise soon.

Financing – It’s pretty simple – lenders are more inclined to loan you money to finance a franchise because the franchise is already established, and has a proven track record of making money for those who invest in one. Your lender will be more likely to shell out cash because they see franchisees as lower risks when it comes to defaulting on payments.

Support – One of the biggest reasons why franchise owners love owning a franchise is because they get the feeling that they are never alone. When you own a franchise, you are basically part of a large family that is constantly growing. If you ever have a question, all you have to do is pick up the phone and call the franchisor to find out the answer.

Marketing and Advertising – Your franchisor will take care of a lot of the advertising and marketing initiatives necessary to help maintain the success of the franchise. If you have ever watched TV, you know that it seems like every other commercial is for McDonald’s or Subway. Even if these commercials get old, they’re doing their job whether you like it or not.

Multiple Locations – When you are part of a franchise system, you will always have more room to grow and open other locations. For instance, men and women that own a home care franchise often times open up other senior care franchises in towns adjacent to the one that they started in, allowing them to have a large share of the local market.

Buying a franchise with a popular franchisor can mean big money for you in the future. Lenders are also more inclined to dish out money to franchise owners, so get that financing and start paving a path to your success.

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