My world got smaller, my business grew five times over, and I got talking.I'm a web designer and I work wacky hours, push buttons on a computer, talk to a lot of people, send out email, drink coffee, like the Discovery Channel and enjoy running my own business. My business consists of working with people, helping businesses out, generating ideas, communicating with others, creating reports, talking to people. Sometime I talk about business,...more
Well, it is that time of year again, and everyone is full of resolutions. Let me guess - did yours include the words 'weight' (less of), 'money' (more of), 'job' (none of)? Well maybe it is time to think seriously about starting your own home based business, either part-time or as an alternative to the job that has seemed so dismal recently. The technology available to all of us now costs so little that many more ordinary people can get a...more
Broker's have predicted that the housing market is set to bloom in 2006.After house prices dropping for 16 months in a row BBC news has reported that house prices are set to rise again in 2006, although gains will be small.Nationwide is said to be "cautiously optimistic" for 2006, after such a bad 2005, and say "Our expectation is that house price growth will remain firmly in low single digits in 2006 as the economy recovers"With house prices set to rise, how can you insure that you know how much you should pay, and how much is just over the top?The guardian this month printed a report (http://money.guardian.co.uk/property/story/0,,1669126,00.html) telling how many people were losing out by paying too much money for newly built property that they had purchased as an investment.It reported that valuations on new-build flats in Manchester were so inflated as to have "Monaco price tags".With house prices always rising how can a normal Joe like you and me know what "Monaco price tags" are, and ensure we don't get ripped off?There are ways out there - the internet is a powerful tool, and the best place to look for things that you just don't understand, or you just haven't been keeping...more
What does "Credit Score" mean? A measure of credit risk calculated from a credit report using a standardized formula. Factors that can damage a credit score include late payments, absence of credit references, and unfavorable credit card use. Lenders may use a credit score to determine whether to provide a loan and what rate to charge. Do you know...more
There are a multitude of different lender types in the housing market and before refinancing or borrowing it pays to know who's who. Each option has it's pluses and minuses it comes down to choosing the person or institution that suits your needs and who you feel comfortable with. Here's a brief intro:Mortgage BrokersMortgage brokers are...more
Making a budget for a home business start-up is more of an art than it is a science. No matter how exactly you think you've pinned down all your expenses, it's guaranteed that more will appear that you either didn't think of or just couldn't have predicted. That's why you need to make sure that you always plan for every possible expense.Things Break.Remember that any equipment you buy can go wrong, no matter how expensive or high-quality it was (this is especially true of anything IT-related!) When things break, you probably won't need to buy a new one, but you'll at least have to wait for the manufacturer to replace what broke. This can lead to days of lost or less-efficient business, and cost you money. Budget for equipment failures.People are Unpredictable.When you hire staff, you have no way of knowing that they aren't going to let you down. You might have worked out that it takes $200 to train one new staff member, but what do you do when that newly-trained staff member quits and moves to France after three weeks at the job? You've got no choice but to train someone else and take the loss. Budget for staff turnover.The World is Against You.Or at least it can sometimes feel...more
When you're starting a business, you might wish for a lot of things, like having more than enough customers or not having to do marketing. But wishing is weak willed, having no momentum behind it. When you wish for something, you're not coming from...more
As you continue to build your small, local business, one of the easiest marketing approaches in attracting new customers is to embrace your community, while using your web site to gain recognition. A strong community presence brings about notoriety...more
With the levels of debt in America today many Americans should take a compulsory course in credit and debt management. Unfortunately, this ignorance in relation to positive credit management means many Americans are doing untold damage to their...more
Paperless payday loans subtract the paperwork hassle from the application process. But, you still must meet the payday loan company's requirements to be approved. They may also delay your approval if your information has to be verified by hand. A...more
Credit cards are often the first step for a consumer to build their credit score. When you make regular payments with a small credit limit, lenders will be more willing to lend you larger amounts. Before you jump out and open an account, make sure...more
What do you think is the biggest concern of banks when they lend you money? Well, cautious and conservative as they are, what banks fear most is that you wont be able to pay back the loan. It is not so much a question of trust, if you try to get away...more