The national credit card debt problem, enthusiastically cheered on by the credit card companies, has exploded into a completely out of control catastrophe. Having happily added on every sort of fee that they possibly could - late fees, pre-payment fees, over-limit fees, and so on - they're suddenly surprised and shocked that many credit card holders have fallen behind in their payments.As a matter of fact, the credit card corporations were...more
A Vat registration form is required to be submitted by every proprietor of a company or firm reaching the vat threshold limit providing information about the status of the business. This applies whether the firm is solely owned or in a partnership, and also whether the company or firm is registered or not, and it provides your required and necessary details to HMRC. Following vat registration the business which can be self employed or a company...more
When the recession hit, fast and furious, one of my management consultants was quick to remind me: "At high tide, the water covers the rocks, but when the tide goes out, the rocks begin to show." I've done a lot of thinking about that statement, and then I started applying that statement to my clients and their business objectives. During economic downturns, a vast majority of companies go into "bunker mode" to avert crisis; or worse, they pretend that doing the "same ol' thing" will somehow protect them from imminent change. For many, and perhaps the smartest CEO's, the mentality shifts to "trim the fat, and take a ½ an inch of meat along with it." I agree with the fat trimming notion, and where I personally see the most amount of fat is in I.T.One of the first things to get cut when cash flow wanes is the sizable investments usually made on capital expenditures. Virtually every I.T. project fits into this category. So, logically speaking, if I.T. projects are getting cut, or put on indefinite hold, the human resources that were responsible for these projects should be getting cut as well. However, this doesn't seem to be happening. Instead, companies tend to view internal I.T....more
To ensure the optimum growth of an organization, it is essential to have an effective workforce planning. The very first thing which the management needs to ensure is that a person is appointed at the right position and for the right job. It is very important that an employee has complete knowledge about his work and enjoys doing the same. If an...more
We are truly in one of the worst economical disasters of the entire history of man on this planet, and there are a number of reasons for it, lets focus on one for now. Real estate as I am sure most of you know has been on a downward, self destructing cycle of foreclosures and falling values. This is a trend that the fed is trying to stop, and they...more
A fixer upper has been the point of entry for many first time home buyers. There are a lot of good reasons why a fixer upper could be of benefit. It must be noted that fixer uppers do vary. Some need more fixing up than others. The amount and the type of refurbishments could save you money. There can be no doubt that buying a home in need of fixing up is going to push down the sale price. However, if the refurbishments are complicated and you need to hire a builder, you could end up paying a lot more than you intended.To be on the safe side, when considering a fixer upper, it's best to speak to a builder before you make an offer to purchase. If you want to get an accurate quote then make certain you choose a builder with a stable history and who has contactable references. The builder should be registered with the appropriate bodies. If you can determine the structure is sound and the refurbishment is mostly cosmetic then you have a good buy. You will also benefit if the house happens to be in a sought after area. A good area will have a school, stores doctors, dentists and social venues. This would ensure the area would be the choice of families as well as retired couples. This...more
FHA foreclosures have been steadily rising in the last three years and the number of new homes getting on the selling block keeps coming by the day. A dominant market is taking a new form today and that is FHA foreclosures.Real estate market forces...more
As a common cliché would have put it, taxes are inevitable. However, we break tradition in this article as we discuss a method to avoid paying taxes. Exchange 1031 is a provision that allows the homeowner to keep the entire proceeds for the sale of...more
It is not true that successful entrepreneurs are born that way; in fact, anyone can be a successful entrepreneur. However, there are some specific entrepreneurial traits a person must have to be successful in the field of business. Of course,...more
Don't be such a slob knowing that the management has hired an office cleaning service to clean and maintain the spotlessness of the office. There may be a daily cleaning crew who make sure everything is clean and neat but this doesn't give you the...more
Are you or anyone you know involved in a cult?Don't answer too quickly. It's not as outlandish a question as you might think.It is widely recognized that there are many cult-like organizations all around us, largely operating under the radar. And...more
If you want to know how to succeed in business I would like to suggest that you begin by minding your Ps and Qs.Politeness and consideration of others should be maintained at all times in business. Unfortunately, however, good manners alone are no...more