Deb Clifford, founder of Inspired People in the Greater Hartford Area, predicts Blue Ribbon businesses will find the recipe that blends the best ingredients in the proper amounts in 2006. The food metaphor seems fitting for this year's people predictions. It is the holiday season. Folks can relate to cooking.How was your holiday meal? If it was delicious Â…congratulations. If it was less than satisfactory, what went wrong? Businesses that...more
Mano y mano, which one is better do you think - a credit card with low, ongoing APR or one that offers 0% APR as an intro rate?There are so many types of credit cards that offer all sorts of promotions and rewards that it's definitely hard for a consumer to pinpoint which one would best suit their wants, needs and present financial situation. If, however, you've already managed to reduce your choices to just two and the battle's simply between...more
Every online dream begins with the vision of opening your email box and "like magic" the money comes rolling in. It's true -- building a passive income is your key to earning more money without working harder. While it's unlikely you'll earn millions overnight, building a passive income is a smart way to supplement your existing income. Here are some ideas for how you can build an automatic income source for your online business.AFFILIATE PRODUCT PROGRAMSAffiliate programs allow you to earn income selling other people's products. There are literally THOUSANDS of affiliate programs that you can sign up for in every category imaginable. Whether you are interested in selling ebooks, toys, magazines, or kitchen utensils, I guarantee there is a shop in that category with an affiliate program.Here are some criteria to use when selecting an affiliate program. Choose a quality product that you personally believe in. You need to actually try and buy the product yourself. This allows you to personally buy into what's great about the product so you can write a killer personal testimonial. Additionally, try to find products that offer higher than average commissions. Why work your buns off...more
An accountant is a professional who keeps track of the financial records of a business or an individual. There are a number of individuals and businesses who use the services of an accountant all year round. There are other individuals who only hire an accountant to help get all of their finances in order before their tax returns are due. There are...more
Whether you own a credit card that offers reward points, a credit card with a low ongoing APR or one with a 0% APR intro rate, it helps - and pays - to act smart with your credit card usage. If and when you own a credit card, it's not just simply a matter of swiping and paying off bills. There are ways to maximize the promotional offers and rewards...more
Financial security is something we all strive for, well most of us anyway. Some people are perfectly content living paycheck to paycheck and claiming their house is their savings. Part of me wishes I could be that relaxed to have such a laid back view of things.For those of us that do want to have some level of financial security we try to save and invest our money at any opportunity. Some people do this on their own, while the majority of people have some sort of financial professional offering them advice. I personally have an account set up with a financial advisor. Most financial advisors will tell you to "diversify" your money and investments. But, do they really mean it? Yes, they mean it as long as it makes them money. I feel in order to truly be diversified in your investments you need to have your stocks, bonds, and savings. But, the real gold mine is in precious metals. Very few people invest in precious metals, in comparison to the amount of people in the stock market. The most well-known precious metals are gold and silver, in addition to platinum and palladium (a by-product of platinum).Precious metals retain their value very well. A major difference between precious...more
A sales tax is a tax that is placed on the purchases of goods or services. The federal government does not have a national sales tax. Qualifying products or services are only taxable by a particular state government. Each state has the ability to...more
Each year there are millions of Americans who prepare their own federal and state tax returns and even more individuals have their taxes professionally prepared. Whatever choice a taxpayer makes there are a number of important tax tips that everyone...more
There is a great range in rates for commercial surety bonds these days. Principals can see premiums range from 1-15% of the amount of the bond. Even a small bond at 15% can be extremely costly. In part 1 of 2 of this article, we will review what...more
Office Design TipsWherever you work, at a home office or at a work office, your office working experience depends entirely on its design and productivity. If you ask any experts, they will tell you that your office environment and ambience can tell a...more
You've finally come to that stage in life when you can afford to own a credit card, not as a supplementary cardholder but as the principal cardholder. Finally, you've earned the right to have a credit card in your own name and to be able to purchase...more
We often talk about the big debate about whether leaders or born or made. Are we just born with the all the skills and traits necessary to inspire others to want to follow us, or is it more of a process of learning these skills? While that debate...more