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Top 10 Small Business Tools For Online Entrepreneurs In 2018

Top 10 Small Business Tools For Online Entrepreneurs In 2018
March 26, 2018 Business

The journey of entrepreneurship can be daunting and lonely. Having numerous duties, you have to attend to, with a few or no help. However, the access and availability of SaaS tools make your work easier.

Right now, there is over 9000 Software as a Service company in the world. That means, as a small business, you have a large selection of tools to choose from. It is similar to when you are searching for typing services near me.

To ease your search, we have curated a list of top tools that you should check out:

1. HootSuite- Social Media Management

You have accounts on multiple social media platforms and need to update them regularly. Use Hootsuite to schedule your posts across the different accounts. Measure the performance of your posts.

Use analytics to identify trends, all in a single dashboard. Monitor what others are saying about you, your competitors, and industry. Store your pre-approved content in a cloud file service and more.

2. Cloudpeeps- Outsourcing

If you are a solopreneur, you may be overwhelmed by the tasks that you need to do. Why not outsource and get the services of professionals, without having to employ an individual. This tool makes your work easier by aiding you in hiring professionals for a project when you are on a budget.

It could be for convert scanned handwriting to text services. You create a job post, receive proposals from interested parties and take your pick.

3. Google My Business- Advertising

Google is the world’s most used search engine. It offers businesses a way to connect with their customers through creating a free profile. You can use this profile to share your location, pricing, hours, pictures, and even a virtual tour.

This way, when customers search for you, online, they will view this information. Also, you can improve the SEO ranking of your website by completing your Google My Business profile.

4. Freshbooks- Accounting

There’s no debate that you have a lot on your plate, why not spend more time doing what you love while keeping your books in order. It is a cloud-based app, and you can access it using any device with a connection to the internet. It is an ideal tool for small businesses with less than ten clients or contractors.

Freshbooks automates tasks. That includes organizing your expenses, follow up with clients, invoicing, and tracking time.

5. Skype- Meetings & Communication

You don’t have to hold physical meetings. Make use of Skype with its free calls, both voice, and video. It is essential for communication with team members. Also comes in handy when you need to reach out to contractors, other entrepreneurs, or podcast guests.

You can upgrade to premium where you could call cellphones and landlines. It leads in, VOIP calling.

6. Canva-Graphics

Do you need some assistance in finding suitable graphic images for your website or social media posts? Canva is an excellent tool for creating professional graphics, even for novices in graphic designs. They have numerous templates that you can work with.

7. Kickstarter- Business Financing

Are you looking for a reliable crowdfunding platform for business? It is a tool to help you crowdsource the funding for your business without you needing to give away your equity. You can use it to recruit micro-donors.

Develop incentives to attract donors such as offering them future gifts or products. Kickstarter takes a small percentage when your campaign gets fully funded.

8. TripIt- Travel

It is a travel organization tool. Whereby it creates a master itinerary for your trips. You just forward to them the confirmation of your booking, be it flight, hotel, restaurant confirmation, or car email. It creates the itinerary, and you can access it from your device.

When you go Pro, you can also share the personalized itinerary with others and receive mobile alerts.

9. Asana- Project Management

When you have tasks or events that require steps to complete, you can use Asana to track the work. It has an intuitive interface that you can use on your mobile or desktop. Also, it is easy to navigate.

A useful tool when collaborating with other people on a project. Every member of the team gets a to-do list at a glance to notify them of responsibilities and next steps. Even if it’s, finding proper typing services near me. Create and assign tasks, and update their progress, too.

10. Meetup-Networking

Grow your network and connections by attending local gatherings or networking events in your niche. For attendees, it is free, if you are hosting a meetup, the charge is $5, per month. Create your event or discover ones that could be of benefit to you.

Conclusion

As an entrepreneur, you do not have to walk alone. The above tools will make your work easier as you focus on other areas of the business.

Event Planning Trends That Will Work in 2018 and Beyond

event planning 2018
March 26, 2018 Business, Employment , ,

In the digital world of teleconferences, remote working, and email, live events are the much-needed touch point that can make all the difference in uniting your group. In-person events are no longer considered additional activities. Rather, they’ve become vital anchor points to bring teams together to focus on a common goal, giving a whole new importance to your event planning and strategy.

Event trends are just as susceptible to becoming outdated as fashion, technology, and design. That’s the pitfall (and also the beauty) of being part of a digital society that never stops searching for the new and improved. There’s always something new to learn.

And quite frankly, it’s expensive.

Staying on top of event trends usually means investing in new equipment, marketing, materials, etc. For many, it’s like starting from scratch for every event.

Technology fades quickly these days. These four event planning trends for 2018 and beyond can help you keep your events cutting edge so you’re not reinventing your wheel every time (at least not for several years):

1) Add Value and Impact to Every Aspect

Smartphones, tiny homes, smart home devices – people are determined to get as much purpose and function out of everything these days, including events.

The value you promise shouldn’t just come in the form of the content you deliver. Consider how you can embed value into every aspect of every occasion.

For example, you might provide attendees with branded swag they’ll be able to use during the event. Name tags might contain an event itinerary on the other side.

No area is too insignificant for you to boost its impact. Doing so can help you create a more rounded, all-encompassing experience that leaves a lasting impact on your attendees.

2) Focus on Engagement-Inducing Measures

Your event has a specific purpose. You want your attendees to squeeze as much of every minute as possible. Passive attendees won’t reap nearly as many benefits as those who are actively participating.

But how to do you induce participation when you’re focusing on speeches and pamphlets?

For starters, your guest speakers may be headlining your event, but they shouldn’t be the whole event. Save time for brain breaks and networking opportunities. Make sure your speakers allow time for Q&A’s. Have them ask the audience questions during their presentations. Create handouts or other collateral to help your audience follow along.

In addition, you should consider incorporating other elements that capture attention from the five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch.

For example, you might use a scent machine to create a pleasant smell throughout your event space. There’s an entire psychology on scent and how it affects the brain and retention, and it’s an easy way to make a lasting impression.

You might include activities or displays that require hands-on interaction. Include textures where appropriate, such as collateral material or other handouts.

Background music, visual elements, and multi-sensory activities like VR stations can also help engage the senses.

3) Empower Diversity

Thinking outside the box will never go out of style, but how far outside that box are you willing to venture?

Most event planners focus on the niche industry itself and find speakers, activities, and other facets that complement that industry. But you’ll find that bringing in someone (or something) from the outside can provide the fresh approach you need to spark creative, innovative engagement.

Use the influence of someone outside your industry to offer a new perspective. When you can use your event to inspire, every attendee can walk away with something they didn’t arrive with.

4) Use Your Event to Benefit More than the Attendees

Leveraging your event as a chance to give back to your community will never go out of style, regardless of your event’s primary purpose. Asking attendees to bring a canned food item or donating a portion of merchandise sales to a charity never seem out of place and can give you some positive PR fuel.

In addition, you might consider how you can include a charitable aspect to achieve your event’s purpose.

For example, if you’re hosting a team building event for your employees, you might opt for an activity that benefits a local charity rather than having a typical getting-to-know-you session. You’ll still be learning valuable communication and collaboration skills, but your efforts will also benefit others in your community.

There are plenty of ways to use your event to give back to others. The better you can tie them into your main purpose, the more impactful your efforts.

What Does Your Event Planning for 2018 Look Like?

Let’s face it: event planning is hard enough, not to mention the added stress of getting your money’s worth out of it. Add in the fact that you’ve got to impress your guests by not resorting to outdated techniques and tired technology. You do want them to remember your event for all the right reasons, right?

Just remember that when it comes to technology, the only thing that stays the same is the fact that innovation happens. That’s not to say you shouldn’t use the latest and greatest tech in your event planning. But focusing on evergreen elements can help take the stress out of planning for years to come.

Author: Benjamin Shepardson is a web development guru and founder of https://lakeviewstudios.com. As the company’s leader, Ben brings to the table an innate ability to help small businesses compete with larger competitors through content strategies and SEO.

Key Trends Of Customer-Focused Culture Building For 2018

Key Trends Of Customer-Focused Culture Building For 2018
March 23, 2018 Business, Other

For a business to succeed in this age; it is vital, to create a customer-focused culture. That is a culture that centers on the customers. Also, adopting a customer-focused model is more sustainable than relying on a durable product.

It is so, because, the model will depend on the trends of the customers and move with the changes, in the same. The conversation of going through a customer experience transformation will begin in your boardroom. Technology also has a vital role to play in improving the customer experience for companies, almost like getting a high score demands you to buy phd online.

Google trends show a rise in the search intent for “customer-centric” plans by businesses. It has been so, for the last two years. As the market increases in competitiveness; so does it cause the need for a customer-focused approach to increase. Providing your customers with the proper experience will be better than product or price, for businesses, as predicted by Gartner.

We will now delve into the trends to watch out for or try out this year:

• Customer Feedback

It is common for companies to send their customers surveys on their products or services. However, the feedback received from the polls doesn’t provide the organizations with insights that are actionable. It then leads to the generation of numerous unused feedback.

There’s nothing more annoying to a customer than taking your time to raise awareness of a failure in a product or service, and nothing is done to make the situation better the next time. Many of us have had these encounters. A company may need only to collect data on the areas that they are ready to work on, to minimize these instances.

• Collaboration

To increase and maintain your current customer base, you need to drive the loyalty and respect of your customers. In that, customers appreciate when a company know them well and can make relevant suggestions to them. The same applies when sending marketing messages; customers want to receive the right message.

You have to treat the customer support that your business provides, as a team sport. That means relevant departments should work together to provide customer support with useful information. Use integrations to make your customer’s experience, effortless.

Companies are also making massive investments to improve their digital capabilities and skills. The next step is to build an experience that will bring together their digital channels, physical locations, and contact centers.

• The Role of the CEO

For a better customer experience, the CEO of a company should know what happens on the ground. You can do by getting involved in the feedback and listening mechanisms at your company. That is, to lead your company to achieve exponential growth and success financially, you need to be able to drive your team in providing a customer experience that is powerful.

The type of experience that your employees have will translate to you’re the experience of your customers. As the CEO, you are the one who will set the tone for the entire company. If you care about customer experience, and you should, you need to incorporate it into the culture of the organization.

Involve your staff in changing your corporate culture to customer-focused one, through training. And it applies to all employees and not just the ones who directly interact with customers.

• Voice Recognition

We expect more companies to focus on speech recognition for interfaces and insights. Tools for text analytics have become a staple. The next big hurdle for businesses is speech analytics.

There are various digital products that many customers are getting acquainted with, and especially ones that have a natural voice interface. They include Google Home, Amazon Echo, etc.

• AI and Bots

We cannot deny the disruptions that technology is causing in different fields, and so does it, in creating a customer-centric culture. For years now, AI and Bots have and will continue to be a topic of discussion. More so, since it is alluring to be able to reduce the resolution, and first response time.

The use of AI serves both the customer and support staff. In that AI handles fundamental questions that do not require human help. At the same time, a customer doesn’t have to wait longer for response to their query as the support agent goes through massive data, in search of the right answer.

AI provides support by assisting in providing real-time answers to a question by a client.

• Personalization

Time, the thing we need most and can’t seem to get enough of it. It is not pleasant to be served with content that is not relevant to you. The use of Augmented Reality makes it possible for companies to shape and personalize the experience of their customers.

It is about saving them their precious time. It calls for having an excellent understanding of the preferences of your customers, leveraging your customer data, and conversations to preempt the needs of your customers. You can tailor the experience of your customers using machine learning, too.

Lack of resources is what hinders many companies from making personalization a priority.

• The quest for Analytics Expertise

Businesses are looking for people who can make sense of the vast chunks of data available. As per the estimations, by 2020 we will be producing 44 zettabytes of data, daily. Artificial Intelligence is helping companies to identify relevant experiences and opportunities for customers.

Not to forget that many organizations are seeing the value of analytics, be it predictive, behavioral, or speech analytics. Decisioning helps in the creation of personalized customer experiences. They are also looking for people with expertise in analytics.

And we will see aggressive recruitment of analytic experts. In some cases companies will have to invest in retooling and retraining their internal employees, to fill this role.

Conclusion

To set yourself apart from your competition, you need to adopt and invest in customer-centric approaches. You may not see the growth instantly, but it is a long game. The tools, technology you invest in, together with the support you offer, is what will distinguish you from others.

It’s not too late to improve your programs. Start with the culture and don’t forget the vital role that technology plays in changing the experience of your customers.

Hotel Lighting at its Best – Tips Shared by the Stalwarts of the Industry

Hotel Lighting at its Best – Tips Shared by the Stalwarts of the Industry
March 8, 2018 Business

Would you ever want poor lighting to become the cause behind your poor hotel ratings? As per a research conducted in the year 2014, while giving a feedback on hotels, the guests usually criticize the quality of lighting to a great extent. For instance, the hotels in London were subject to around 10,000 reviews which were all based on lighting and there were several travelers who complained about bad, dim and sparse lighting in the hotel rooms.

When the guests book a room in your hotel, your ultimate wish is to make them feel comfortable in every possible way. While large-screen TVs, cozy beds and meaningful artwork certainly adds to the tough of luxury, you should also focus on providing them with the best lighting experience inside their rooms, at the corridors and also at the dining space. You may visit danlamp.com to know more on the best light sources for hotels.

Creating the perfect hotel lighting

  1. Hotel lights should remain adjustable

Don’t forget that your guests will require functioning within the hotel room in a way that is similar to what they do at home. Hence, the lights that you provide in a hotel room should be bright enough to let them feel comfortable during any activity like reading, working or even getting ready for dinner. Since bright light feels impersonal and cold, you would prefer keeping the design flexible. Keep a central overhead light near the door and lights around the bed should be accent lighting.

  1. Long-lasting bulbs should be used

You can’t deny the fact that LED bulbs are undoubtedly the most sustainable lights that are currently available in the market. Majority of these bulbs last for around 50,000 hours and you will also spend less money and time in replacing each of those burnt out bulbs. LEDs are there in different colors from bright white to yellow light. Regardless of the type of ambience which you prefer creating, you will definitely get an LED bulb for your purpose.

  1. Get in touch with a light planner

As per the experts when a hotel invests in appropriate lighting, you don’t actually notice it but when you don’t, they will certainly notice that. The layout of lighting and the design is sometimes better left to the hands of the electrical engineers. They have a certain style and design in mind due to which what they offer is usually the best.

  1. Keep it simple instead of making it complicated

Did you take ages to find out the switch for the bathroom light in a hotel room? Doesn’t that seem to be annoying? You need to understand that the lighting systems which aren’t intuitive for the guests should be avoided. Now that the smart lights have come into existence, people are using their smartphones to control every single service from outside. Focus on smart lights as this can save energy as well.

Therefore, if you’re a hotelier and you wish to know more on hotel lighting, take into account the above listed tips and strategies to install the best lighting systems for your hotel to receive the best review about your hotel.

Passion for Fashion: 5 Things to Know to Get Started in Your Online Clothing Store

pexels-photo-291762
March 6, 2018 Business

Wherever you go online, you see people selling just about anything from foods, books, beauty products, cosmetics and clothing items. Probably, the most common stuff we encounter on the internet is different clothing items and fashion products.

The convenience of selling online, especially to social media channels already appeals to many. For as long as there are people who love fashion and dressing up as much as you do, you can create your online clothing store. Setting up an online fashion business can be an enriching experience for someone with entrepreneurial and creative vision.

So whether you want to start a cut and sew fashion collections or you just want to launch your simple clothing line, this article will guide you how to get started in the online fashion business.

The Reason Behind

Ask yourself what the reason why you’re beginning this business is. Why would you like to know the ways of starting an internet fashion store? For what reason does it matter to you? You need to have motivations other than earning money.

These are critical inquiries to guide you as you go on with your business, so all your chance and venture won’t go to waste.

Set up Target Market

Who is your target client? Ask yourself first what you need to design according to with your style. Since this is an online fashion store, there’s a particular angle, to begin with, a specific age bracket. This analysis can be a useful method to discover your specialty, yet it doesn’t need to be your starting point.

Also, this will give you a wide range to work in styles such as old-fashioned to modern. Think of taking your exploration further and take a glance at the most remarkable styles at this moment.

Be With Friends

Some say that starting a business with your friends can be a little careless, but having someone that you can trust and ask assistance can help you start your business. Being with friends is important regardless of whether you want to go solo on this specific experience, accumulate information from partners, workmates, or colleagues.

Every successful business begins with an extraordinary concept. Gather all available information about online business practices and connect it with what you have, and you will eventually turn up with a general format and a more precise vision for setting up an online fashion business.

Product Options

You’ve got many options with regards to starting online fashion merchandise. If you’ve desired to start an online clothing business, you might have a concept of the specific products you want to create and promote.

For some, putting up a clothing line may represent an exciting and unique opportunity to outline a product that may represent their personality and style. However, they will be unsure of which products to sell.

Some products you may want to consider promoting are long or short sleeves shirts, pants or leggings, underwears, dresses or hoodies. Tese fashion merchandises present their challenges, opportunities, and available choices for starting a commercial fashion enterprise.

Marketing your Products

 

Running an online store will not make you enough money if people don’t an have an idea about your products. You have to be spending lots of time on the internet and social media to market your products. Take photographs and put up them on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and inspire your glad clients.

When customers visit your internet site, offer them reasons to give you their contact numbers or email addresses so that you can inform them up with new products and sales.

You can also try to visit the sites of your competitors for some ideas and study their clothing concepts and the way they promote their products.

Understand the Cash Flow

One of the stressful situations you will need to understand in starting an online business is that money circulates out for improvement and production of the product. From the start, you will need to determine where your investment is coming from and maintain your finances easy to manage.

Taking funding can mean losing a number of your control towards the business, so carefully decide and don’t too low or too high price points.

Takeaway

In starting your online fashion store, be prepared to work harder since the competition in this kind of industry is growing. Being the administrator of your website, you are in charge of marketing and selling your products, acquiring inventory, as well as tracking the deliveries.

So if you love fashion and you want to set up your online store like Women’s Tops Online, bear in mind to study your product, get in touch with people and market your product carefully to be successful in this kind of industry. In fact, you don’t need an extensive experience to recognize the way or to get started.

 

Find out more related post: Practical ways of putting outfits together on writersessaybest

5 Reasons Why Every Entrepreneur Should Get a Business Credit Card

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March 6, 2018 Business, Finance

One of the most forgotten rules in commerce industry is when an entrepreneur uses their personal credit card for business purposes. And we cannot deny how easy it is to use for immediate expenses needed in a business, but consequences are just waiting for the bill to be run by the bank.

Save your time and money by prioritizing your business expenditures using a business credit card, here are the 5 reasons why you should have one:

Protects Your Personal Credit

A business credit card is ideal for your success than your personal because your expenditures will be situated respectively. Separating your personal and business finances is really crucial but it’s worth the plan and effort.

A credit score is the reflection of our financial lifestyle, your business has its own credit and using a personal credit card for it will surely mess up not just your business but with yours alone! And a good resolution for this kind of nightmare is to have a business credit card that will sustain your commerce needs to optimize its resources and products for a doubled number of sales.

 

Way to Build Credit Reputation

image source: http://www.investmentzen.com/

 

Like what we tackled in the previous item, your business has its own credit score just like you, and building up your credibility is really tough but once you have a good score, success will surely follow. And subsequently, financiers will base their interests depending on the worth of your business credit history so whether you have a pleasing or not-so-good credit history, they won’t mind because they trust your business.

A big factor to garner sales is by the business name and brand, better to take care of it before if ruin itself down just before a disaster takeover and to avoid it to happen, prioritizing the needs of your business while making sure that bills and payments are regulated is a must.

 

Separates Expenses and Simplifies Accounting


image source: https://burst.shopify.com/

 

A good method to track down and dissolve the interrelating connection of a personal credit to business finances is to have a business credit card. There are entrepreneurs who had a hard time backing up the business debt it caused to their personal credit card and it almost ended their business career.

And to prevent such scenarios, having separate ledges and tables will make it possible for any entrepreneurs to be successful not just with business but with their own financial goals as well. Be one of these prosperous entrepreneurs by strategizing your outlays without sacrificing the funds of your business.

Make it Easier for Your Employees

image source: https://burst.shopify.com/

 

You are not just investing in your business alone but with your beloved staff as well. They also have business-related expenses that they are not always capable of giving in so it is way better to provide corporate credit cards to let them feel that they are valued enough to be trusted.

Sure there are rules provided before these cards are given but one should confident with their employees as much as they rely on whom they are working for and worry less since expenses in credit cards are too handy to track and any accumulation with the expenditures could be easily noticed. Nonetheless, certain guidelines will be followed and it’s going to be a good practice for them on how to be a responsible member of staff.

Earn Valuable Rewards

image source: https://www.cafecredit.com/

 

Different business credit cards have different rewards depending on the promotions that financiers are giving based on your spending scheme. You can accumulate points and in return, you can have merchandise, gift cards, travel packages and you can even earn a cash back rewards however, you should be cautious of promotions that will bait you to spend more just to receive these rewards. Other rewards have annual fees as well and it won’t make sense to have it if there’s a charge! Hence, you should verify the card you’re getting to avoid these scenarios and to make the most out of its privilege.

Nonetheless, never be ashamed to maximize your valuable rewards this because technically, you also helped their business as much as they helped yours to grow.

There are expenses that needed an urgent payment and sometimes we would need to earn first before we can afford for the specific expenditure but we don’t want to sacrifice the productive time because we can’t provide. This is the use of credit card in a business, aside from helping you settle your finances it’s also a big help for unpredicted expenditures, you just need to make sure that business credit card will be used efficiently to avoid penalties and overspending.

How to Dress for a Black Tie Corporate Function

March 1, 2018 Business ,

As if navigating the dicey waters of the corporate dress code weren’t difficult enough, now you’ve been invited to a black tie business event. What does this even mean? Does it differ from a regular black tie dress code? Does the fact that it’s corporate mean your gown with the killer side slits is out?

Read on to find out.

Corporate Black Tie vs. Standard Black Tie: The Difference

In short, there is no difference between the dress code for corporate black tie and a standard black tie event. The same rules apply. For women, this means you need to wear a full length gown or you need to dress up your cocktail dress. (Just make sure the hemline isn’t to high!)

For men, the choice is easy: all about the tux, and unless the event specified black tie optional, you’ve got to wear it. If you don’t own one, rent one for the occasion.

The Nuances of Corporate Black Tie

We’ve established that there is no real difference between corporate black tie and stand black tie, but since you will be attending is a business event, women may want to err on the side of caution and avoid dresses that are too risque — unless you work in an industry like fashion or the arts where expressing your own personal style trumps conservative sensibilities.

Of course, there is a happy, visually stunning medium for us gals. You can show decorum without looking stuffy, and you can also show some skin without smacking of trash. All you need to do is dress in one of these equally classic and breathtaking styles.

Killer Queen

This style is all about looking regale. To achieve this end, you’re going to leave your days as a blinged out princess behind you and adopt the power of understatement to really stand out.

Opt for a beautiful black tie dress that’s made of satin and offers clean lines and a body skimming silhouette. Look for inventive but subtle embellishments, like a bit of embroidered detailing or some lace overlay.

Upscale Cocktail

As mentioned, you can wear a cocktail dress to a black tie affair. Even your favorite LBD can make the transition. The key is to ensure the hemline falls no higher than at or just above your knees, and that you’ve sufficiently dressed up your ensemble with accessories. Think a pair of chandelier shoulder-dusting earrings, or an elaborate choker.

Since this is black-tie (and since you’re wearing a cocktail dress that will showcase your shoes), you have to really pay attention to your footwear. Only heels will do. They don’t have to be super high, but a heel  — even just a couple inches — is a must.

Pants Perfect

Dresses are the most common black tie attire for women, but they are by no means your only option. You can also rock a pantsuit or even a stylish and sexy jumpsuit. Just like a dress, the key to picking something for this more formal event is selecting a style, cut and material that emits a dressier vibe. Jean or cotton plaid, for instance, won’t cut it, but a satin or silk would be breathtaking.

Within these three options, you have a lot of room to move and create a corporate black-tie event that’s all your own. Whatever you choose, remember that this is a business event, so you want to keep it professional and classy. This will ensure you are always taken seriously  — even when you look your most stunning.

 

Go Long or Short: The Ups and Downs of Short-Term and Long-Term Investments

Go Long or Short: The Ups and Downs of Short-Term and Long-Term Investments
March 1, 2018 Business, Finance, Investments

Investing your hard-earned money is not something that you can do in one stroke. It takes a lot of careful planning. It’s not just one click away. It’s a step by step process. It needs your full attention, it eats a lot of your time, and it requires patience and commitment.  

Furthermore, investing is not as stable as you think. That’s why before you invest, you need to know every single detail about how investment works. A good start for you to learn the essentials in investing is to know what is the advantages and disadvantages of short-term and long-term investments. Sites like Movablemark may your guide to in terms of finance matter.

You may have an idea of what short-term and long-term investments are, but do you know that much? If you’re quite unsure, let’s dig into it and widen our knowledge about its ups and downs.

But before anything else, let’s get to know first what short-term and long-term investments are?

Short-Term Investments

It is a type of investment that matures or held for just 12 months or less. It is also known as temporary investments. When you invest in short-term stock, you can have the ability to transfer its ownership quickly. Examples of short-term investments are a savings account, short-term bond funds, checking accounts, lending, etc.

Long-Term Investments

Go Long or Short: The Ups and Downs of Short-Term and Long-Term Investments

This kind of investment is held for several years. With the long-term investment, the probability of maximizing your returns for several years is high. Moreover, long-term investments may never be sold. Examples of long-term investments are land, agricultural products, and other properties that have a maturity date of over one year.

Advantages

Both short-term and long-term investments have their different advantages. As for the short-term, you can have flexibility in your investment. You don’t have to bond your money for an extended period. Another thing is that in short-term investments, the returns you can get are substantial. You can get great returns in just a short period. 

On the other hand, long-term investment has a significant edge for anyone can do it. With this kind of investment, learning different trading styles or platforms is hassle-free because you’re not an active trader. You can also get a good night sleep in long-term investment as you don’t have to wake up early for opening bell every day.

Furthermore, investing long-term saves money, because as you hold your stocks longer than a year, you will pay fewer taxes. Another edge of long-term is that when you make mistakes, it’s easy for you to correct some or all of them because you have the time.

Disadvantages

Go Long or Short: The Ups and Downs of Short-Term and Long-Term Investments

Learning about the cons of short and long-term investments is as necessary as its pros. The disadvantage of investing short-term is that you pay your regular federal income tax rate regardless of your earnings. Another con for short-term is that this investment has great potential for risks and it’s not always possible to earn profits in a short period.

For the long-term investment, the negative part of it is that the growth of returns is slow and needs a lot of time to mature. Moreover, in long-period investments you have less control of your money, you just have to wait until your investment matures.   

Takeaway

Investments are unstable. If it’s long-term or short-term, either way, the value of its stocks still fluctuates. So, when we decide to have our investments, it is essential that we know first all the pros and cons of what we are investing for. In this way, we can be ready for future fluctuation of the market, and avoid too much loss of money.

Thus, the information mentioned above is an excellent help for you when you start to have your investments. Also, visiting sites like Ashe Morgan also is a great help for you.

Preparing Your Business to Sell? Avoid Those 6 Costly Mistakes

Selling Business
February 28, 2018 Business, Finance , ,

Preparing your business to sell is an intensive process. It requires a lot of time and thought. It involves complex legalities and negotiations. And there are a number of pitfalls to avoid along the way.

If you’re looking to sell your business, here are six costly mistakes you should aim to avoid:

Starting Preparations Too Late

Selling a business for the best possible price is all in the preparation. You need to be ready to move when your business accounts and prospects look particularly impressive. This means getting all of the paperwork in order well in advance of a sale. Draw up financial reports, create a thoroughly researched business profile, determine how you will explain any periods of reduced profit (if there are any) and address any niggles in your company operations. Brokers recommend making preparations two years before you intend to sell.

Lack of Discretion

When you’re putting your business up for sale and trying to attract a buyer, discretion is paramount. If word gets out about the sale, you could begin to lose employees, customers and contractors who feel uncertain about what the future holds. As a result, your company will start to decrease in value just at the time when you want it to be worth the most. Only shout word from the LinkedIn rooftops when all invested parties – employees, clients, contractors and customers – have been reassuringly briefed on what is happening.

Failure to Attract the Right Buyers

When it comes to selling your business, it’s not just about finding a buyer. It’s about finding the right buyer. You’ll want someone with the knowledge to continue with what you’ve started, a responsible approach to your employees and customers, and the financial security to see the sale through to its conclusion. This means spreading the net far and wide. Do some research on where to advertise your business and get the kind of buyers you’re looking for.

Inaccurate Valuation

When you’ve invested blood, sweat and tears into a company you’re likely to place a high value on it. But you need to separate the reality from the emotion. Likewise, if things with your business haven’t been going so well lately, you may fail to recognise the potential it still has for success. Get an impartial expert to value your company. That way you can be confident that you’re not over or under pricing.

Spreading Yourself Too Thinly

Selling your business is likely to take up a considerable part of your working life. But it’s important that you don’t neglect the day to day running of your business in the process. Without your involvement, things could take a turn for the worse, ruining prospects of a great sale price. Enlist the services of a business broker or delegate work responsibilities to a trusted deputy. Just don’t try to do everything all by yourself.

Misrepresenting Your Business

Whilst you want to paint your business to potential buyers in the best possible light, it’s best to be 100% up front. If a buyer discovers that you’ve misrepresented a few figures here and there or just exaggerated an upcoming deal that turns out to be a dud, they’ll question your integrity and your judgement. This makes it much less likely that they’ll have the confidence in you and your company required to make a sale. Always be totally honest about your company to avoid wasting time and money on a sale that doesn’t go through.

As with many big tasks in life, when it comes to selling your business preparation is key. Don’t rush into advertising your business until you have covered all of the preparatory bases. Putting in the initial effort will help to make the sale process simpler and speedier.

Author’s bio:

Audrey Robinson is a business and careers writer, always interested in learning more about unique ways CEOs might use to expand and grow their businesses. At the moment, she is writing on behalf of Datastical, an online knowledge library. Feel free to reach out to her on her Twitter – @AudreyyRobinson.

Reasons for Hiring a Contract Cleaning Service Over a Full-Time Employee

Reasons for Hiring a Contract Cleaning Service Over a Full-Time Employee
February 27, 2018 Business

You may find yourself too busy to deal with all the cleaning at home, or at the office. It maybe time to consider a contract office cleaning service to do the job for you, all you need to is call the cleaning company and ask for their service. There are also those who would rather hire cleaners as a full-time employee, so they can do the job anytime. They are usually hired as freelancers or through recommendations made by other people.

Between these two options, which one is better? Which is more practical? Whom can you trust more to provide a better service?

Hiring full-time employees

When you have a full-time cleaner working for you, expect this person to be there for all cleaning needs. The only problem is that you need to pay this person on a monthly basis and provide other benefits. If you are not that wealthy or if you are just running a small business, it is impractical. There is assurance that the place is clean at all times, but it comes with a hefty price. They may or may not be part of an agency, but they are obviously pricier to hire because you need to pay regularly. For business owners who wish to employ full-time cleaners, this could work. For families and small businesses, it might be too excessive. The services are not necessarily maximised so it does not make sense to hire them.

Contacting cleaning agencies

On the other hand, if you hire an agency to send cleaners to you, this person will be tied to the agency. You will have someone who has undergone training and has the experience to do the job well. You only hire based on your needs. If you think the place is still clean and manageable, you don’t have to hire someone to do the job. You will not pay the employee’s taxes, as the agency will do it.

Another benefit of hiring contract cleaners is that in the event that something goes wrong, be it property damage or theft, you can complain to the agency. They will find a way to fix the problem or at least have insurance to cover the cost of the damage.

It’s your choice

In the end, it is really up to you who you will trust to do the job. The goal is to make sure that you have someone who can provide quality services. Whether you are hiring freelancers or those who work for agencies, you need to get someone who can make you feel satisfied. You might also consider changing later if you are not happy with the service you get.

You are hiring someone to do this job for practical and economic reasons. If you are left with an unsatisfactory service, you can ask the cleaning service agency to change the cleaner, or look for other options.

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Trucking Company?

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Trucking Company?
February 23, 2018 Business

Creating your own company and being entitled as your own boss is the best reward you could ever have. Considering the fact that you prefer getting down on the trucking industry, it simply signifies that you are on your first step of becoming a successful entrepreneur in no time. There are millions of commercialized truck drivers that runs heavy-duty vehicles all over the United States which demanded more truck drivers at a hasty speed.

A trucking company complements the necessity for commercial goods and products to be delivered at a certain place to another. So, the need for a business to hire a truck is very high. If you consider all the initial and ongoing costs, your achievement of making your way on top is highly attainable even if the market serves as the arena of the enormous amount of trucking companies of the nation.

To give you a head start, there are only two main types of expenses, fixed and variable. Fixed expenses are stagnant and paid regularly. However, variable expenses are the exact opposite of fixed, there’s no specific time and manner when will it change.

Let me give you a better picture of it by checking the comparison below.

Fixed Costs

In order for you to benefit from your own trucking company, you should set the expected expenses including insurance coverage, the mortgage on the truck, trucking authority, and accounting services before rolling out the vehicles on the road. Fix the schedule and give it time to rest, make sure that client order is inclined to your profitable action plan. Figure out your business daily budget and exclude it right away from other prominent expenditures.

Setting an expectation from stagnant expenses will help you categorized your strategy very well. If you will allow one of your truck to travel for an amount that could only pay the truck’s expenditure for that day, then you should rethink and be more decisive to your business. We are talking about monetary terms and not just promised words you can always rely on your clients. You want everything to compromise to each other’s need and want but you won’t reach your own target with this kind of overview. Break out from your walls and expand your opportunities by weighing risks one by one. It’s a matter of will and determination to accomplish your goal slowly but surely.

Variable Costs

This is the type of cost where truck maintenance and repairs, meals, lodging, and expenses like fuel falls under. The crucial part about it is you will never know when is the exact day it will change and you can never prepare for this, but at least create your own analysis on the changes of product items by placing everything up in a spreadsheet to make it easier for you to understand and comprehend.

  • Fuel: Let’s say that a common fuel tank on Class 7 truck holds 140 gallons. Usually, trucks need to be refilled for about 11 times per month. Calculating the math given, approximately this truck spends 18,480 gallons per year which will cost you $46,200 (let’s assume that the fuel is priced $2.50/gallon). But with the swinging fuel prices, it’s better to cut off 25-40% of your operating expenses for your planned fuel accounting to avoid a surprising surge of returned money because of it.
  • Maintenance/Repair Costs: According to a research conducted for Operational Costs of Trucking, there’s a certain formula that is easy to learn and follow. For example, an average cost per mile for maintenance and repair for a single Class 8 truck is $0.158. If this truck travels 105,000 miles a year, its annual repair and maintenance will cost you around $16,590. But that doesn’t include some extra charges we are yet to be certain, and placing a good rule thumb on spending 10% of the overall expenses on repairs and maintenance is a good thing to do.

The Bottom Line

Now that you have a clearer picture of how expenditures work in handling a trucking company, it will be easier for you to rearrange or strengthen up your strategy on your business plan. Being financially wise in this matter is a must, and if you any problem in establishing your business just because of the lack of funds, always consider applying for a capital loan.

Nonetheless, great tactic and well-planned strategies will help you earn more profit rather than losing all the capital you invested in.

The Availability of Fitbit Ionic, Aria 2 and Flyer Nowadays, Announced in India

The Availability of Fitbit Ionic, Aria 2 and Flyer Nowadays, Announced in India
February 19, 2018 Business ,

Fitbit is an American enterprise based in San Francisco, California known for products of the same name. The products include wireless-enabled wearable technology devices, activity trackers, which measure various data, like heart rate, steps climbed, quality of sleep and others. An Ionic app development company India provides services that use the Fitbit products.

Ionic development services in India satisfy the thirst of the market for cross platform mobile application development with all native mobile experiences. Fitbit dived into the world of applications with the Ionic, using the SDK. The first product released by Fitbit was the Fitbit Tracker, which helps in weight loss.

FITBIT IONIC, ARIA 2 AND FLYER ANNOUNCED IN INDIA           

In India, one could find many software development companies that provide Ionic developer jobs. This is due to the rising demand for Fitbit applications. Fitbit, in a bid to take on Apple Watch, last year launched the Ionic smart watch. Unlike their other lineup, Ionic is a mishmash between a smart watch and a fitness tracker. It launched the Ionic line up in India, together with the Fitbit Aria 2 and WiFi smart scale as well as Fitbit Flyer. Fitbit Ionic will be available through major retailers all over India, which include Croma, Reliance Digital and Helios, beginning next month.

THE FITBIT IONIC

Fitbit Ionic comes with all the features of a smart watch, such as Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, heart rate sensor, water resistance and a swim track feature. The company has for the first time introduced watch faces as well as roped in developers to create applications for services, such as Pandora, Starbucks, Strava and Accuweather. Fitbit Ionic is water resistant up to fifty meters and rated to provide up to five days battery life, even when automatic activity and sleep tracking is switched on.

As far as features are concerned, the app come with a rebranded Fitbit Coach feature that guide through different workouts. Aside from that, the smart watch could detect and commence a sessions automatically when one starts running. However, it uses a proprietary strap system, thus one has to spend a few bucks to have a new one. Moreover, it has also worked a heart rate monitoring system on Ionic. The accuracy has grown and now the smart watch offers a better calorie measure burn as well as display the time heart rate zones to optimize intensity. Another feature is the Sp02 sensor that helps track detailed indicators on one’s health. Also, Fitbit has baked in a smart phone-like notifications on the Ionic.

THE FITBIT ARIA 2

The new app simplifies the setup process and boosts accuracy of the current Aria. It still connects to a Fitbit app on the phone to sync data as well as logging weight. The design was toned down for a sleeker aesthetic and now comes with a bright display to showcase the statistics and greetings when one needs motivation. Furthermore, Aria 2 could recognize up to eight various users and could sync data with individual smart wat5ches, fitness brands. The app now would also help in establishing goals through a step-by-step process, that’s based on one’s health and history.

THE FITBIT FLYER

It if Fitbit’s first wireless headphone. It features sweat proof design as well as offers a customizable fit. It employs Waves MaxxAudio technology that powers the Flyer’s Power Boost setting to amplify the bass. Furthermore, the headset has an AAC wireless codec and Passive Noise Isolation to block off any external noise. Also, FitBit Flyer could connect two Bluetooth devices and also allow switching between them via a three-button control box.

WHY FITBIT?

When it comes to reaching fitness goals, steps are only the beginning. Fitbit tracks a person’s every part of day, which include exercise, activity, weight, food and sleep, to help find the fit, keep motivate and see how small steps create a huge impact. Only Fitbit provides freedom for one to stay fit his or her way. Everyone’s fitness approach is different. One-size-fits-all does not all the time fit a person. Thus, Fitbit has created a family of products, which seamlessly work with one another, one’s budget, favorite applications and goals.

Fitbit is the first in the category, the first one to introduce wireless, automatic syncing aS well as the first to offer an open API. The algorithms have been the benchmark. Even today, with the industry-leading battery lie and the lightest, thinnest GPS+ heart rate devices on the shelf, the company is just getting started.

Fitbit is accessible on more than 200 phones, which include iOS, Android and Windows—more than any other tracker. Now, one could connect, could share and compete whenever one wants, with just about anyone.

With the new Fitbit apps announced in India, expect to find more Ionic app development services across the country. As Fitbit makes use of the Ionic software development kits, there would be more Ionic services to cater to the market needs.

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