Taking out a personal loan is not bad. Taking out a payday loan is not bad, either. It is taking the wrong loan from the wrong lender that can turn out bad. The good news here is that once you find a good lender willing to extend this type of short term loan, you will never again have to go out searching. When you need fast money and are sure of your ability to repay the loan, you will know exactly where to turn. Following are some simple guidelines on finding the right lender for your loans.Ask for RecommendationsPart of the allure of a payday loan is that it does not have to become news with all of your friends and family members. Many people go for this type of personal loan because it does not require a credit check, and because most lenders do not report to the credit agencies at all. This is therefore the most secretive type of loan you will ever find.Yet, you need recommendations because it is a powerful way to find the most trustworthy personal loan lenders. If you do not have others in your personal life that you would trust to ask for a recommendation, you can go online and get the opinions of other consumers who you may not know in real life. Search for message boards that allow consumers to leave feedback on different loan providers. You will get some idea of who others are trusting, and who they are staying away from.Read Every Page of the SiteOnline payday loan providers are clearly the easiest to work with, since they allow you to fill out an application online and receive money directly into your bank account. It is tempting to just go straight to the application and put in for your payday loan, but that is a mistake. Take the time to read every page on the site. Make sure you feel just as comfortable with them after that as you did when you first found them.Ask QuestionsIf you are not sure about the terms of your personal loan, or have questions about how a lender operates, you have to ask those questions prior to filling out an application. There should be a phone number where you can talk to a human being who has all the answers for you. If this is not available, then you may not be dealing with a reputable payday loan provider.Check with the BBBCheck with the Better Business Bureau to see if other consumers have lodged complaints against the lender you want to work with. If there are a lot of complaints or a personal loan provider is not registered with the BBB, then you might want to turn in another direction for your loan.It is important to note that many businesses get one or two complaints here and there, yet they are not bad businesses. You are just trying to rule out payday loan services who routinely get a high frequency of complaints from other consumers. If you do not see that, then you have probably found a reasonable business with a valuable service.
How to Find the Right Personal Loan Lender
Lawsuit Financing Companies
Attorneys, law firms, lawyers, beneficiaries or clients usually form lawsuit-financing companies. Lawsuit financing companies can also provide appeal finance, firm finance, custom finance or estate finance.Many lawyers and attorneys create lawsuit financing companies based on their experience and the types of cases they encounter the most. Attorneys and lawyers with expertise in personal injury lawsuits or patent lawsuits help by providing cash advances and support in their fields.Lawsuit financing companies provide many financing options. With a significant monthly fee, a few lawsuit financing companies may help to settle the case faster. Though a large variety of options are available, the plaintiff has to discuss with the attorney which option is best suited to him.The lawsuit financing company and the plaintiff can make an agreement of the amount of share the lawsuit financers would obtain after the settlement or the verdict is known. This is called “flat fee”. Apart from the flat fees, the plaintiff has to pay a minimum fee every month, called “recurring fees”, to the lawsuit financing company. This recurring fee can be as low as 2.9% in the case of a few lawsuit financing companies, or could be as high as 15% with other companies.It is the financing company’s decision as to how much to pay as the cash advance. Lawsuit financing companies pay from $1000 to about a million dollars depending on the case.Every lawsuit financing company would have a team of lawyers to assess the strength of the case. The key is to avoid funding frivolous complaints. Thus the financing companies will scrutinize the complaint and decide the chances of success of the case.Lawsuit financing companies do not term their cash advances as loans but as investments. The applicant has to repay after the verdict. Usually the monetary settlement that is obtained after the settlement by the court is larger than the company’s advance. The lawsuit financing company should be paid the principal and the predetermined share of the monetary verdict.Many lawsuit financing companies can be approached through the Internet. Companies like legalcashnow.com, legalfundingnetwork.com and lawsuitcash.com are available on the Internet. Websites like these are flooded with information and instructions regarding lawsuit financing.
Consulting Readiness Program – What You Need to Know
Consulting readiness programs are most favored amongst consulting analysts and entry-level consultants. So if you are an aspiring consultant, this article might be of good value to you.Every consultant would have gone through this training program at some point in time early during their career. Large consulting organizations invest heavily in their resources. The commitment that consulting organizations show towards training and continuous learning is truly inspiring. One such effort is the consulting readiness program.What do they teach at consulting readiness program?While a consulting profile requires many attributes, the consulting readiness program focuses on specific training areas that are considered key for consulting. Do keep in mind, that consulting readiness programs are not focused on grooming you into a consultant from scratch. These programs are meant for individuals who already have some industry experience and knowledge and would like to leverage those in the world of consulting. Now let us look at a few key attributes from a consulting readiness program.a) Mind Mapping – Mind mapping is a popular exercise taught in consulting. Mind mapping is the process by which you map various tasks and activities of an idea in a visual structured form. Usually when mind mapping is completed, the resulting diagram looks like a big banyan tress with tons of roots hanging down. More often in consulting, you are always dumped with information. This exercise will effectively allow yo to filter the right information, map them to the basic idea / concept or business problem. It is intended to better structure a consultant’s thoughts and represent it.b) Problem definition / Defining a problem statement – Another key area of consulting is understand a problem. Usually in consulting projects, you may be faced with situations where, you are thrown to the client and are required to identify their problems. These problems often tend to become independent consulting opportunities for the firm. So it is critical that when presented with a set of statements in a given business situation, a consultant is able to understand and identify the core problem (s) that the client is facing. This exercise is as close as it can get to consulting world.c) Problem solving through case studies – Now a lot of us might think, this is a pain. But case studies are often a wealth of information and learning. I wouldn’t think there could be a consulting readiness program without case studies. Again depending on what you are being trained for, the cases studies would differ. As always you are dumped with a wealth of information in these case studies and as a consultant or an analyst you are expected to identify and understand business problem to come up with potential solutions. If you do not like case studies, then you may not like consultingd) Communication skills – As I have always emphasized communication plays a vital role in consulting. As a part of the consulting readiness training program, you could very well expect role plays and case studies that focus exclusively on testing and developing your communication skills.e) Power point skills – Thanks to Microsoft, the life of a consultant revolves around power point presentations. In consulting, like case studies, there is no escape from power point presentations. There are plenty of articles and options on presentations. In fact, there are some cool tips and tricks that one could learn in effectively using power point in the world of consulting through this program. Of course, some organizations have skill development exercises exclusively focused on power point skills. These may help you better.All the attributes above belong to a mother characteristic of structured thinking and problem solving. So key is to develop structured thinking and problem solving capabilities in consulting. You can also expect to have other activities like team building, role play decision-making etc that may get added to the exercise depending on the day and the sessions post lunch.Do consulting readiness program really live up to expectations?Like every other learning program, the effectiveness of consulting readiness programs varies with participants. The focus of these programs are provide you with elementary direction on how to proceed and tune your thoughts to the world of consulting. If your expectation is that these programs stand-alone would help you become an exceptional consultant, then you may be in for a disappointment. Consulting readiness programs are enablers that allow a candidate to learn and shape their consulting careers better. The key word being “better”. This means, you already need to be good in certain aspects of consulting and this program would help you become better consultantsIf you are entering the world of consulting then you may find these programs to be of great interest. But like every other walk of life, irrespective of what you learn, unless you are willing to apply them in your area of work or life, the skill set would die with time. So good luck. Ensure you learn as much as you can and apply them in all walks of life and work. Happy consulting!
Choosing a Commercial Property With Financial Advantage
When assessing commercial real estate, it is necessary to understand the financial factors that the property creates. This is before you price the property or consider it suitable for purchase. In doing this, it is not only the financial factors today that you need to look at, but also those that have formulated the history of the property over recent time.In this case, the definition of ‘recent time’ is the last three or five years. It is surprising how property owners try to manipulate the building income and expenditure at the time of sale; they cannot however easily change the property history and this is where you can uncover many property secrets.Once the history and current performance of the property is fully understood, you can then relate to the accuracy of the current operating costs budget. All investment property should operate to a budget which is administered monthly and monitored quarterly.The quarterly monitoring process allows for adjustments to the budget when unusual items of income and expenditure are evident. There is no point continuing with the property budget which is increasingly out of balance to the actual property performance. Fund managers in complex properties would normally undertake budget adjustment on a quarterly basis. The same principle can and should apply to private investors.So let’s now look at the main issues of financial analysis on which you can focus in your property evaluation:
A tenancy schedule should be sourced for the property and checked totally. What you are looking for here is an accurate summary of the current lease occupancy and rentals paid. It is interesting to note that tenancy schedules are notoriously incorrect and not up to date in many instances. This is a common industry problem stemming from the lack of diligence on the part of the property owner or the property manager to maintain the tenancy schedule records. For this very reason, the accuracy of the tenancy schedule at time of property sale needs to be carefully checked against the original documentation.
Property documentation reflecting on all types of occupancy should be sourced. This documentation is typically leases, occupancy licences, and side agreements with the tenants. You should expect that some of this documentation will not be registered on the property title. Solicitors are quite familiar with the chasing down all property documentation and will know the correct questions to ask of the previous property owner. When in doubt, do an extensive due diligence process with your solicitor prior to any settlement being completed.
The rental guarantees and bonds of all lease documentation should be sourced and documented. These matters protect the landlord at the time of default on the part of the tenant. They should pass through to the new property owner at the time of property settlement. How this is achieved will be subject to the type of rental guarantee or bond and it may even mean that the guarantee needs to be reissued at the time of sale and settlement to a new property owner. Solicitors for the new property owner(s) will normally check this and offer methods of solution at the time of sale. Importantly, rental guarantee and bonds must be legally collectable by the new property owner under the terms of any existing lease documentation.
Understanding the type of rental charged across the property is essential to property performance. In a single property with multiple tenants it is common for a variety of rentals to be charged across the different leases. This means that net and gross leases can be evident in the same property and have different impact on the outgoings position for the landlord. The only way to fully appreciate and analyse the complete rental situation is to read all leases in detail.
Looking for outstanding charges over the property should be the next part of your analysis. These charges would normally stem from the local council and their rating processes. It could be that special charges have been raised on the property as a Special Levy for the precinct.
Understanding the outgoings charges for the properties in the local area is critical to your own property analysis. What you should do here is compare the outgoings averages for similar properties locally to the subject property in which you are involved. There needs to be parity or similarity between the particular properties in the same category. If any property has significantly higher outgoings for any reason, then that reason has to be identified before any sale process or a property adjustment is considered. Property buyers do not want to purchase something that is a financial burden above the industry outgoings averages.
The depreciation schedule for the property should be maintained annually so that its advantage can be integrated into any property sales strategy when the time comes. The depreciation that is available for the property allows the income to be reduced and hence less tax paid by the landlord. It is normal for the accountant for the property owner to compile the depreciation schedule annually at tax time.
The rates and taxes paid on the property need to be identified and understood. They are closely geared to the property valuation undertaken by the local council. The timing of the council valuation is usually every two or three years and will have significant impact on the rates and taxes that are paid in that valuation year. Property owners should expect reasonable rating escalations in the years where a property valuation is to be undertaken. It pays to check when the next property valuation in the region is to be undertaken by the local council.
The survey assessment of the site and tenancy areas in the property should be checked or undertaken. It is common for discrepancies to be found in this process. You should also be looking for surplus space in the building common area which can be reverted to tenancy space in any new tenancy initiative. This surplus space becomes a strategic advantage when you refurbish or expand the property.
In analysing the historic cash flow, you should look for any impact that arises from rental reduction incentives, and vacancies. It is quite common for rental reduction to occur at the start of the tenancy lease as a rental incentive. When you find this, the documentation that supports the incentive should be sourced and reviewed for accuracy and ongoing impact to the cash flow. You do not want to purchase a property only to find your cash flow reduces annually due to an existing incentive agreement. If these incentive agreements exist, it is desirable to get the existing property owner to discharge or adjust the impact of the incentive at the time of property settlement. In other words, existing property owner should compensate the new property owner for the discomfort that the incentive creates in the future of the property.
The current rentals in the property should be compared to the market rentals in the area. It can be that the property rent is out of balance to the market rentals in the region. If this is the case it pays to understand what impact this will create in leasing any new vacant areas that arise, and also in negotiating new leases with existing tenants.
The threat of market rental falling at time of rent review can be a real problem in this slower market. If the property has upcoming market rent review provisions, then the leases need to be checked to identify if the rental can fall at that market review time. Sometimes the lease has special terms that can prevent the rent going down even if the surrounding rent has done that. We call these clauses ‘ratchet clauses’, inferring that the ‘ratchet’ process stops lower market rents happening. Be careful here though in that some retail and other property legislation can prevent the use or implementation of the ‘ratchet clause’. If in doubt see a good property solicitor.
So these are some of the critical financial elements to look at when assessing a commercial Investment Property. Take time to analyse both the income and expenditure in the property before you making any final choices regards property price or acquisition.
21 Secrets to Franchise Business Success
1) Evaluate your tolerance for riskOpening a new business is a scary prospect. There’s a lot of personal, professional and financial risk to consider. It’s natural when contemplating such a profound step in your career to look at ways to manage your risk and increase your chance of success.The Small Business Administration conducted a survey that found 62% of non-franchised businesses failed within 6 years. A separate study by the United States Chamber of Commerce found that 97% of franchises were still open after 5 years.The research conducted by these independent third party organizations clearly demonstrates that choosing a franchise business carries significantly less risk than starting a business on your own.2) Work with what you’ve gotMaking a list of your strengths is easy. But when launching a business, it’s also important to make an honest assessment of your weaknesses.Before you get to work selecting a franchise, take the time to develop a list that honestly depicts your strengths and weaknesses as a potential business owner. Then use this profile as a tool to help with the decision making process.Ask franchise owners questions about the duties they perform, and compare the job requirements to your profile. If the business has the potential to be a good fit, the skill sets required to run the business will either be skills you already have or skills you can learn quickly. If this is not the case, it’s best to keep looking.If a certain aspect of a franchise has a steep learning curve but the business is otherwise a great fit, you may want to consider hiring someone experienced with that position. If this is the choice you make, be sure to include their salary and benefits in the financial business plan.3) Remember to run the businessMany potential franchisees make the mistake of thinking they’re limited to buying a franchise in their current field. In fact, this might be the worst way to go.Some franchises will not allow someone skilled in a particular industry to buy a franchise in that industry. For example, a mechanic may not be allowed to purchase an auto repair franchise. Skilled technicians sometimes find the transition from hands-on work to management work difficult to make, and are tempted back onto the floor to do the job they’re familiar with.The problem with this is that you grow the business by running the business, and what a franchisor wants to see on the bottom line is growth. A business owner needs to be out networking, marketing and interacting with customers. If there’s too much work on the floor of an auto repair franchise, then the owner – even if he’s a highly skilled mechanic – needs to hire more mechanics.Basic business skills are transferable to any franchise. If your current position involves universal roles like sales, marketing or accounting then your franchise options are practically unlimited.4) No business is recession-proofThere’s no such thing as a business that can’t be impacted by a faltering economy.There are, however, certain industries that are considered recession “resistant.” These are generally products and services people can’t do without no matter how much they’re cutting the budget.The good news is there are hundreds of great franchise opportunities in recession resistant industries. The following are just a few examples:Top recession resistant industries: Food · Automotive · Healthcare · Medical·Clothing · EducationRecession resistant franchise industries: Fast food restaurants· Automotive maintenance, parts and repair · Weight loss and fitness · Resale shops and discount (dollar) stores · Education (tutoring) and child care5) Objectively evaluate professional advice from personal sourcesFriends and family have your best interests at heart, and their advice comes from a place of love and concern for your well-being. No one would suggest making the personal, professional and financial commitment to launching a business without consulting your loved ones.But friends and family are not subject matter experts and their advice can – intentionally or not – discourage a new business venture. The people who love you worry about what could happen if you fail, and their instinct will be to protect you from the risk.When it comes to the final decision whether or not to proceed with purchasing a franchise, of course you will carefully weigh all the advice you’ve received. The key is to rely most heavily on the advice offered by industry professionals.6) There’s no such thing as a free lunchThere are countless “free” franchise brokers and consultants out there claiming to offer unbiased information on franchise opportunities. They will work with you to assess your needs, and use your professional profile to help make recommendations on franchise opportunities that may suit you.The problem with these services is that they get paid by the franchises for selling franchises. That means they are naturally only going to show you options they’ll get paid for. And in the case of high profile franchises that may offer them 2 to 4 times the average commission, there’s a real risk they may steer clients to those businesses whether they’re a good match or not.These broker services may have access to detailed data on several hundred franchises and they can be a great source of information. Just be cautious about their recommendations, and get a second opinion before investing your money.7) Tune out the hypeNever before was the adage “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” more applicable. You’re going to hear a lot of hype – good and bad – while assessing potential franchise opportunities.Between marketing blitzes and human nature, it’s easy for success stories to spread like wildfire. Think about the guy who lost weight eating Subway – that story is so pervasive it’s become almost impossible to separate the allegory from the restaurant in the public’s perception. The hype surrounding that marketing campaign will have an impact on potential Subway franchisees for the foreseeable future.It’s also natural for people to look for something to blame when things go wrong. Because of this there are also going to be negative, emotionally charged franchise stories in circulation. However, keep in mind the nuanced details that created such situations are never discussed; only the attention-grabbing outcomes.No one is suggesting you completely ignore these stories, because hidden beneath the hype there are likely valuable lessons to learn. Learn from them what you can while keeping in mind what they are: unique situations with complex back stories that probably have no bearing on your success whether or not you choose the same franchise.8) Look beyond the big brandsSometimes it’s easy to forget there are thousands of franchise opportunities out there, because the big name brands get all the attention. When you’re in the early stages of your search, it’s a good idea to bypass the overblown marketing of the huge franchises and make an effort to learn about the “no-name” franchises in your industry of interest.There are quite a few advantages to lesser known franchise brands. For instance, they are often cutting edge concepts that can get a lot of marketing attention. Lesser known franchises haven’t yet saturated your local market. And they’re usually less expensive to start up, which means less financial risk.Of course, you may be looking for the security and benefits that come with a big name franchise. Criteria such as national marketing campaigns, standardized employee training, management support and strong purchasing power may be at the top of the checklist for what you’re looking for in a franchise, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you’re not interested in being another instantly recognizable box in another strip mall, then a ‘no-name’ franchise might be for you.9) Look beyond the price tagJust because a franchise is more expensive does not mean it will be more successful.It’s important to evaluate every aspect of a franchise – financial projections, monthly franchise fees, franchiser support levels, issue response time, customer base and marketing, to name a few. The price tag is a factor to consider, but should not be the sole criterion for evaluating the quality of the business opportunity.Once you narrow down your preference to a particular industry, conduct due diligence on 2 to 3 franchises in that industry. Gathering adequate information on several comparable franchises will allow you to make an informed decision.10) Comparison shopOnce you decide a franchise is right for you, keep looking.If you decide to purchase a franchise of Coffee House A, then it’s time to start looking for reasons not to buy it. Build a list of questions, and then go talk to owners of Coffee House B and Coffee House C.Be blunt – ask the competing franchise owners why they feel their business is better than Coffee House A. Ask them what made them choose B over A and C. Ask them if they would recommend you buy the same franchise, and don’t stop digging until you’re clear on the why (or why not) of their response.Build a spreadsheet comparing the details of the franchises. Include data such as the benefits offered, financial commitment required, estimated monthly expenses, commercial lease requirements and franchise fees.If your franchise preference stands up to the scrutiny, then you’re on the right track.11) Contact current and former franchiseesThe best way to find out if a franchise is right for you is to go behind the scenes and ask a lot of questions.Before making a buying decision, prepare a list of questions. Contact at least five current franchisees and make an appointment to discuss your interest in the business. Whatever else you discuss, be sure to ask the questions you prepared.Try to arrange an all day job shadow session with at least two current franchisees. This will allow you to observe the daily operations of your potential future business without committing to personal financial risk.Contact several separated franchisees to learn about their experience. Understanding their reasons for getting into – and out of – the franchise can impact your decision.12) Do your due diligenceAll franchises are not created equal, and it’s your job to sort them out. The information is out there – all you have to do is go get it.Conducting due diligence on a franchise opportunity should include:· Check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints· Check with the State Attorney General for complaints· Speak with the franchisor· Request a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)· Attend a discovery day with the franchisor· Make at least 10 calls to current and separated franchisees· Make appointments to meet franchisees and visit the operation· Job shadow a franchise owner (or owners) for at least a day (longer, if you can)· Repeat as necessaryThe purpose of due diligence is to reduce your risk. All the steps are necessary, but the most important step is interviewing and job shadowing a current franchise owner.Some franchise owners will allow potential franchisees to spend weeks at their business learning the ropes. They may be willing to share detailed financial data, and can confirm or refute claims made by the parent company. A franchise owner can answer questions the franchisor may be legally bound from discussing. You may be able to make assessments about your own management style or potential business location by observing theirs. Visiting operating franchises in the course of due diligence may be the single best method for evaluating your potential success with a franchise opportunity.13) When the time is right, hire a legal and financial teamGetting expert advice on the legal and financial aspects of a potential franchise purchase is essential. Some buyers skip this step to save money, but this is not the place to cut corners. The relatively small fees a lawyer and accountant charge pale in comparison to the enormous financial loss you’ll incur if the business fails.Bringing in the legal and financial experts too soon in the purchase process can also be a mistake. Their professional opinions are necessary and valuable, but their advice can be expensive and potentially counterproductive in the early stages of your search. It’s crucial to remember when seeking their input that they should not choose the franchise for you.Bringing in an accountant too soon can mean paying for them to run Profit & Loss data on every franchise that catches your eye. This onslaught of numbers can cloud your judgment, particularly if they’re taken outside the context of in-depth, due diligence research on each business.Bring in an attorney too soon can mean paying them to review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for every franchise that strikes your fancy. Studying detailed franchise information at such an early stage with a legal advisor who doesn’t understand your personality, lifestyle and professional preferences can be detrimental to your search. You could end up inadvertently being talked out of the perfect business.Waiting to bring in legal and financial advisors until your franchise choices have been narrowed down dramatically is not just cost effective. It’s the logical way to use the team’s expert advice to your best advantage.14) Feel the fear and do it anywayThe best way to manage your fear of buying a new business is to manage your risk. The best way to manage your risk is to learn everything you can, then proceed according to what you’ve learned.Start the process with no intent to purchase. That removes the chance of getting so excited about business ownership that you take an irrevocable leap with the first prospect you research.Above all, ask yourself “can I picture myself doing this all day?” If the answer is “no,” then be grateful for what you’ve learned and move on to researching a different industry.The research and due diligence processes get easier with practice. It may take a few attempts to find the perfect franchise, but your efforts are not wasted. By actively engaging in the search, you’ve made yourself familiar with the process. And there’s no fear in the familiar.15) Go it aloneBusiness partnerships are appealing on the surface because the idea of splitting costs, liability and workload is tempting. But it’s nearly impossible for any two individuals to work together as much as necessary to launch a new business without problems developing.If it is a financial necessity to form a partnership in order to purchase your franchise, it’s crucial to define the roles each partner will play well in advance. If at all possible, try to structure the partnership so you own 51% and have the power to make binding decisions for the business.Entering a partnership is not to be taken lightly, and should not be done without consulting your attorney.16) Lease, lease, leaseMost franchises provide detailed specifications on the type of commercial real estate required to launch the business, and many will assist with the search for an appropriate property.Leasing a commercial property is nearly always preferable to purchasing one. The capital required to purchase a property is better reserved to fund operating costs for the first few years. It’s also preferable to sign short lease terms with options to extend rather than committing to a long lease term.Because many commercial leases include taxes and assessment fees buried in the fine print that can cause financial problems for your business, it is very important to have your attorney review any commercial lease before you sign it.17) Don’t forget you’ve got to eatOne of the most common mistakes people make when working up a financial business plan is forgetting to pay themselves. This simple oversight is at the root of a lot of failed businesses.In a perfect world we would all have enough in savings to go a year without a paycheck, and everything a new business makes could go right back into making it stronger.The reality is we’ve all got bills to pay. It’s important to be honest and thorough when estimating the salary the business will need to pay you. Cutting yourself short will create enormous problems, especially if your fledgling business can’t afford to give you a raise yet.This is one area where decisions you make for the business directly impact your personal life. The franchise isn’t going to do you much good if your heat’s turned off and the bank is foreclosing. Taking extra care with this critical detail could someday save more than just your business.18) Consider alternate financing optionsIn the current economic climate, strict lending standards are making it harder than ever to get a commercial loan issued. When loan approval is a problem, it is worth considering your 401(k) or IRA as a resource for purchasing your business.These self-directed retirement structures do permit individuals to actively invest their retirement funds into a business without taking a taxable distribution or incurring early withdrawal penalties. A successful use of this financing method offers the chance for a greater potential return on your money than the original investments.Using your retirement funds to purchase a business is not to be taken lightly. But if done right, having your own business could be the best retirement plan of all.19) Lead by exampleIf you’re not working hard for your business, neither will your employees.At the end of the day, the only one who cares if your business succeeds is you. This is not the time to kick back and count the money. In fact, that attitude is the quickest way to ensure that soon there won’t be any left to count.Even the most diligent business owners may forget that employees can’t see through the office door. They have no idea you’re calling customers, ordering supplies, writing a marketing plan, reviewing applications and trying to find a way to cover next week’s payroll. For all they know, you’re taking a nap.When an employee sees a manager coming in late, leaving early and taking long lunch breaks they think the worst. They don’t understand that you came in late because you attended a 7 am referral group meeting. They have no idea that your lunch ran long because you were signing a deal with a big new client. It doesn’t occur to them that you left early so you could attend a Chamber of Commerce networking function.Communication with your employees can help them see you’re working as hard as they are. Share your growth projections and help individuals set goals to meet them. Bring key employees to client meetings. Send high performing employees to networking functions in your place. By giving your employees a role in growing the business, they’ll take pride in supporting your success.20) If you don’t love it, don’t buy itConfucius said “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”If you wake up in the morning and dread going to work, your franchise will not be successful. It’s as simple as that.The beauty of franchising is the endless variety of options – there’s literally something for everyone. You just need to devote the time and effort to figuring out which one will make you hop out of bed every morning, happy to be doing what you love.21) Use every resource at your disposalInvesting your personal, professional and financial future in a franchise opportunity is a big decision. Use every source of information you can find, and compare the data to make sure you’re getting the whole story.
Tips for Selling a Business Online
If you want to sell your business, there are many advantages to selling it online. But, when you sell your business on the Internet, there will also be some disadvantages. As with anything on the Internet, you need to weed through all the trash to get a quality sales experience. Here are some tips for selling a business online.The first thing to do when selling a business online, or anywhere for that matter, you need to look at your business objectively. Know how much it is worth and know how much you want for it. Of course, make sure that you are not asking a price that is too high that your business won’t sell at all. A good price choice will ensure that your business is sold quickly.The next thing you do is post ads for your business online to sell it. When you look for places to post your ads, look at lot of places. Find ones that are very high quality and present the business opportunities to buyers in an organized manner. The more well established the site is, the more people will visit it and find your ad. Some higher quality sites will require you to pay a little more than some others, but the quality of the inquiries that you get will be better.After you post, you need to be patient. Wait a while and don’t jump on the first opportunity that comes along. This patience will help you find the best buyer for you that you can possibly find. You will have enough time to compare the offers that you will get because if you give it a little time, you will most likely get more than one inquiry about your business for sale.When selling a business online, you will get several offers. When you get inquiries about your business, make sure that you answer the ones that seem very serious right away. Communication will keep your possible buyers interested in your business for sale. Ask all of the questions that are posed honestly. Of course, if you get ridiculously high or low offers, you may want to avoid them because they may be scams. There are a lot of those on the Internet, no matter what you are doing. You just have to know how to keep an eye out for those.Wait for payment when selling a business online before you turn anything over to the buyer just to make sure that the offer is in fact authentic. Choose the safest method of payment that you possibly can for both of you. If you are selling an online business to someone from another country, this may be a bit more difficult.When you are selling a business online, you have a lot to look out for. But if you proceed carefully, you will have a lot of success with the sale of your business. Just follow this set of valuable tips for the best experience you can possibly have from selling a business online.
Student Auto Loans With No Credit History Are Realistic Options
The idea that student loans only relate to college fees is not actually accurate. The fact is that students require many of the amenities and services that everyone else needs. Getting a car is sometimes necessary to get to and from campus, and the availability of student auto loans with no credit history required makes buying one possible.As far as lenders are concerned, car loans approved to students is a lot riskier than auto loans approved to the fully employed. But there are clear benefits in providing this kind of financing – not least the fact that these young students will be fully employed in the future, and be a valuable customer in the long run.Of course, given the fact that approval on loans is never guaranteed, student auto loans without a credit score can only be secured if the application is properly prepared. There are also some compromises necessary.What Having No Credit History MeansFirst of all, understanding what it is to have no credit history is important. It might seem that student auto loans with no credit history are a fantasy, but the fact is that no high school graduate has a credit history anyway. They have not taken out credit cards independently, but may have them only through their parents. Nor have they applied for a loan before since the law does not permit loans to individuals under the age of 18.What this means is that there is no history of debts, so no history of debt repayments. Therefore, the credit agencies do not have a file on them. It might seem then that, in such circumstances, car loans approved to students are a major risk. But different lenders take differing viewpoints.On the one hand, students have no black marks against them, so there is little reason not to offer guaranteed student auto loans without a credit score. But on the other hand, these applicants have not proven their reliability, and so the risk is high.Why Approval is PossibleFor those lenders who see no evidence that a student applicant cannot be trusted, offering student car loans with no credit is a fair business transaction. However, there are both positive and negatives to the whole deal.The principal positive is that statistically, first time borrowers are more intent on starting on the right foot. Therefore, the likelihood of auto loans approved to students being repaid on time is quite high. It is a leap a faith, but there is a general recognition that everyone needs to start somewhere.The chief negative aspect is that lenders will still protect their investment as best as they can, usually through collateral (the car) but often through a cosigner. So, as long as their money is guaranteed, student auto loans without a credit score are fine.Terms to Watch Out ForOf course, the terms of any loan are highly important. For lenders offering student auto loans with no credit history, this is doubly important as terms can vary quite wildly. Generally, their credit score starts out on the low side, so auto loans approved to students will often have higher interest rates, while the sum available to borrow is also often quite low.Still, because of competition between lenders, some special offers short of actual guaranteed student auto loans without a credit score are available. These can include cosigner-free terms, lower interest rates and even a delayed repayment scheme.Be careful of the small print before signing any loan agreement, but getting student auto loans with no credit history is certainly not the fantasy some believe.
Keep These 5 Rules in Mind for Successful Commercial Designing
Who doesn’t want an excellent commercial design? Excellent commercial design is important to maintain the reputation and brand image of the company. As it is said, the first impression is the last impression, a good impression always attracts potential customers. It’s obvious no one would ever love to walk in a congested environment with bad lighting.
Bad design and interiors deteriorate the productivity of the employees. It can be a confusing task when planning a commercial designing project for the first time, hiring expert Commercial Architects Melbourne can be the best option to know about the latest trends and perfect matching designs.
This blog is about some basic rules to consider for making the commercial project successful.
Keep structures versatile
When it comes to transforming any commercial space, focusing on convertibility and keeping office interior decor versatile can be the best option. It can be done by implementing a versatile structure to spaces such as cafeterias, offices, and many more. Everyone gives preference to comfort hence, focusing on spatial and versatile design will help to complete commercial designing projects in an optimal way.
Consider the latest technology implementations
Technology plays a supportive role to enhance the commercial designing project. Moving forward with the latest technology is important to execute any business smoothly because technologies make the work much easier and comfortable for the employee as well as organizations. Implementing centralized and decentralized digital control is much needed in any commercial design.
Keep office aesthetics updated
Good aesthetics and interiors impact the overall representation of the office and make the place functional and attractive. Hire a reputed designer for modern décor and furniture ideas. Hiring a designer reduces half of the project stress and helps to meet the contemporary fashion and latest trends. They can help to choose the perfect theme that blends well with the office decor, atmosphere, and colour.
Provide personalized space to prevent congestion
Majority of customer prefers personalized space such as different seating to seat comfortably and do the personal work. Personalized space is one of the crucial factors for customer-based service offices such as hotels and cafeterias to provide an ambient and comfortable place.
Always keep safety first
Safety is the central feature of every construction and designing project. Hence, it’s the high-priority factor to keep the aesthetic and functional safety at the working place. It can be compromised for interior decoration and design purposes but it’s not at all affordable to compromise for safety purposes.
Following the above useful ideas can easily help in the successful completion of a commercial designing project in a safe and pleasing way. In today’s, modern construction, reliability, and comfort is also an equally important factor.
Final words,
It’s important to hire the experienced Building designer Melbourne to make the commercial designing project worthy. Hope the above rules helped you to scale up your interior designing projects with a better outcome. Follow the above tips for any renovation or remodelling project and surely you will get award-winning and achieve a better office experience.
How Long Should A Laptop Battery Last And How To Increase the Battery Life
No matter how expensive your laptop is, its battery won’t last more than four years. According to experts, a new laptop battery gives you as many as 1,000 cycles. In other words, you can charge and recharge the battery up to 1000 times. However, many factors play their role to increase or decrease the lifespan of a laptop battery. For instance, the material used for producing the battery substance. So, if you want to ensure that your battery stands the test of time, given below are some of the tips that can help.
1. Install a good battery monitor
If you are looking for an alternative, you can choose from tons of third-party utilities. Basically, the software programs help you monitor your laptop battery. These programs have no compatibility issues with any type of laptop.
Using these tools, you can find out which programs are using most of the battery power. You can then close the unwanted programs to save battery power.
2. Install maintenance apps
You can use some manufacturer-recommended maintenance tools for maintaining your laptop battery. Based on the type of your battery, you will receive different suggestions. Apart from this, your operating system will come with a built-in utility that can help you keep an eye on your battery condition.
3. Maintain your device temperature
You should try your level best to ensure your laptop maintains its temperature. In summer, electronic devices tend to heat up, which negatively impacts the life of the battery packs.
Therefore, you should make sure that there is a little bit of space between the bottom of the device and the table you have placed your device on. Besides, the ventilation system of your device should be working properly. For this purpose, regular cleaning of your device is quite important.
4. Don’t use maximum brightness
When your screen brightness is at maximum level, your device will use the maximum power. So, turning down the brightness is the first thing you can do to save power. Also, it is not a good idea to keep the brightness at max level as it can have a negative impact on your eyesight.
So, by following these simple tips, it will be easier for you to extend the life of your laptop battery.
5. Change the power-saving settings
Before you do anything, go into the power options of your laptop. If you are using Windows operating system, you can go to the control panel to access the power options. The control panel can be accessed from the Start Menu.
Some users have MacOS. If you are one of them, you need to access Energy Saver, which is found in the System Preferences. If these values are set to default, your computer will use the least amount of power.
So, what you need to do is make small changes to the settings so that you achieve a balance between power and performance. For best performance, there is always the choice to connect your device to the AC outlet.