Market changes have forced a lot of expenses to go up. If you notice, your mortgage payments and other costs are not at the same level as before. For the ordinary consumer, this means less purchasing power and lower standard of living. Fortunately, you can fight back by knowing the tips and tricks in saving money. We have compiled five tips that will help you financially during tough economic times: Check your mortgage most mortgage lenders...more
Despite the popular belief that bad credit can only happen to people who are financially irresponsible, the truth is that bad credit can actually happen to anyone. Some individuals simply find themselves in a bad situation either because they were suddenly laid-off or got a divorce. Fortunately, there are techniques to improve your credit rating. The most important thing to keep in mind is not to delay the process any longer.Showing creditors...more
It is now widely known that ecommerce is one of the fastest growing channels of new revenue growth for businesses. Selling online presents opportunities for businesses to connect with new customers that were previously unreachable and allows them to do so spending less.One of the most important factors that a business needs to consider when accepting payments online is choosing their payment processing vendor. Businesses will need two things to accept online payments: a merchant account and an online payment gateway.There is no shortage of providers in the industry so the trick is picking the right one for your business. One of the most critical things to consider is the secure handling, processing and storage of credit card data. This is important for two reasons: first, because data breaches are on the rise and the consequences of getting breached can be substantial. Second, every business, regardless of size, must be PCI Compliant, which is the industry standard for credit card data security. This process can take months and depending on the business environment, can cost thousands to hundreds of thousands to achieve compliance.Online businesses can benefit by choosing to work...more
This part 2 of a two part series about cost of PCI Compliance. This month we will take a look at look at the cost of software and hardware upgrades. Software and hardware upgrades may be necessary if you store secure credit card data in house. Gartner estimates that a company with 100,000 credit cards on file will pay $6 dollars in encryption costs...more
There is a lot of confusion surrounding credit card processing and merchant accounts. Some of the most common areas of confusion are the different types of organizations that sell the services, what entities actually process the transactions and the fees and pricing structures that continue to form an unsolvable mystery for most merchants. This...more
As an entrepreneur, youre driven by the belief that you can do things better yourself. Thats why you decided to open your own business. You want to work for yourself, be the only boss you have, be responsible for the outcomes. You want to be more profitable. This focus on making things happen by yourself is a great strength. It gets you to accomplish things you would never have dreamed of. But it can also be a great weakness. The death of any entrepreneur is solitude. I see too many business owners out there working their business solo, trying to do it all. You simply cannot build a sustainable business on your own.This fact jumped out at me when I did a quick survey to find out why entrepreneurs had decided to get a business coach. Here were the main reasons: I have built a financially successful business, but know I could be doing even better. I dont know how to build more success without working even more hours. Im already maxed out. Theres got to be an easier way to do things, but I need help figuring it out. I just cant do it by myself anymore. There are many opportunities being handed to my business right now. I need an objective opinion on which ones are...more
Any real estate investment can prove to be a little complicated or complex, even for the most experienced investor. When you take that investment international, you wind up with a whole new set of rules, laws, and regulations regarding real estate...more
Entrepreneurship in its bland definition is someone who organizes, manages and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. That could describe many business owners, who may or may not do that well in the role. So what makes a truly dynamic, highly...more
Learn How to Get Rid of Debt the Easy Way Have you fallen into this trap? Repeatedly, reliable survey sources tell us that most of us do not realize how much we spend every month using our credit cards. Investigations reveal that when consumers...more
Salesmanship - I just love that word.It's the ability to sell.It's 50% art and 50% science. Of course that's my opinion.Ask most salespeople and they'll say it's 90% art and 10% science.I know, because that's how I felt...more
How To Stay Up, Even When Youre Down.This past weekend I was going through some old newsletters when I came across a letter that might help you to deal more effectively with the recession and the tough times you're facing.So - enjoy the...more
Today, lots of business experts recommend getting into a business that needs very limited investment and yet returns to you twice or even thrice of what you first put in. With very minimal start-up capital, you could start your very own party rentals...more