Sunday 30 March 2008

Whats Up with Adverse Credit Loans

Once your credit starts to slide, you will feel it! IT seems like not such a big deal when it first starts to happen – you can still buy your groceries, you can probably still pay your rent. But just try keeping up with your credit card payments, or loan payments as they spiral out of control. I know what this is like because I have been in just this situation before. I wanted to take out a loan to cover my old loans, but all I could get were adverse credit loans. These bad credit loans looked like they would help me, and in the short term they did, but in the long term, they did just the opposite. Adverse credit loans are designed to take advantage of people who can not find more favorable rates, and so if you find yourself in the position of having to take one, ask yourself what other choices you may have. Of course, sometimes you have to take out an adverse credit loan, and that is that. If you are faced with the possibility of loosing your home, for example, or if you quickly need a lot of money for some medical procedure or other, adverse credit loans can literally save your life – or at least your livelihood. Sometimes these adverse credit loans provide you with just what you need to get your feet back on the ground so that you can start making a financial come back. But adverse credit loans are always risky. Just as often as they help you, they can hurt you, causing you to feel greater financial hardship than before in the long run. They can lead to even higher interest payments, and if you were not at all able to pay off the ones that you had before yo got the adverse credit loans, just think how much harder they will be to pay off after. Before you go about getting bad credit loans, you should probably think about all of your other options pretty carefully. Is it at all possible for you to borrow some money from a relative, or a close friend? Can you get any more extensions on your debts? Can you take a second job? The fact is that, in the long run, any and all of these options will help you out more than taking on more adverse credit loans will. In summary, there are times in many of our lives when we need to apply for an Adverse Credit Loan but, please think extremely carefully before doing so. Don’t take the first offer that accepts you. The chances are that if one company accepts your custom there will be plenty more queing up to take advantage.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: John Reimann

Wednesday 26 March 2008

Could you have your Identity Stolen?

There is a problem plaguing corporate America today. And it is a serious enough problem that could have repercussions on the very nature of our economy. This is a problem that can strike any one of us who ever held a credit card or a bank debit card or ever shopped online. The problem is one that has come to be known as Identity Theft. The repercussions are more than mere identity. Estimates of the financial fall out of identity theft range from a few billion dollars a year to as much as 480 billion dollars! And experts in the field of identity theft only claim that it is growing by the day. Identity theft first made an appearance in the news headlines when the odd shopper or credit card holder reported the loss of a small amount of money. Frequently, this was discovered to be related to fraud more than identity theft. One particular case that made the headlines pertained to a man who had been buying pornography on the Internet and had used his wife’s credit card. When he was found out, as he ultimately would have been found, he cried identity theft and lodged a complaint. Turns out the man had not even bothered to cover his tracks. The IP address of his computer was tracked to the websites he had visited and the hoax of identity theft was quickly discovered and plugged. But there are several genuine cases of identity theft that occur on an alarmingly frequent basis. A recent news report mentioned the theft of a lap top from the home of a retired banker that had the credit card details of over one thousand of the bank’s clients. Why the retired banker had the information was irrelevant. What was relevant was that the theft was discovered in time to prevent any large scale identity theft. But the thieves have been getting smarter and better. One of the more common methods of identity theft nowadays involves fraudulent retailers who set up dummy retail outlets on the banking network and try out stolen credit cards for nominal charges. Once they are approved, they typically make a large withdrawal from a nearby automated teller machine. But as the perpetrators of identity theft get smarter, the banks too have begun installing security features that make it more and more difficult for the fraudsters. Today’s network security systems are smart enough to enable bankers to spot the first instances of identity theft almost as soon as the theft occurs. But a lot more needs to be done to restore the faith of the general public in the infallibility of their credit cards.
Identity theft will always be with us but, there are steps you can take to minimise your risk. Have a look around the web and you will see there is a plentiful supply of free information. InternetBankingRevealed.com specialises in preventing internet banking fraud. If you use internet banking then take a look: InternetBankingRevealed.com
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: John Reimann

Monday 24 March 2008

Bringing your family over once you win and are here

After you win the US green card lottery, you can bring your family to the United States. But before you bring your family members to the country, you should have proper planning on how to stay, where to stay and how to manage, everything.

The first and foremost is that you should have a source of income in which you can afford to live along with your family in the country. You should not think that after your family members come to the country, you will think of increasing the income.

Secondly, you should have a house either on rent or of your own to stay in the country. You cannot take for granted that after your family members come to the country, you will look for a house for residence.

If you have children, you should also plan beforehand how and where your children can study - is there any school nearby your residence or they have to travel to reach a school. Think of, can they manage if they have to travel by public transport.

Besides, you have to take care of the language needs of your family members if they are not proficient in English. For that you can help them at home by practicing in speaking English.

If you have plan that your spouse will also work, apply for jobs before s/he comes to the US. If s/he is able to get a job before coming to the US, then you will have another source of income.

Apart from these, there are many things that you have to take care to manage a family in a country which is new to you and your family. You have to buy all household items from kitchen chores to furniture, electronic items and everything needed to live. Take the help of internet. You can know about everything through the website.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Manu Goel

Sunday 23 March 2008

How To Finance A Small Business

Confused by how to finance a small business? One key to a
successful business start-up and expansion is your ability
to obtain and secure appropriate financing.

Raising capital is the most basic of all business activities.
But as many new entrepreneurs quickly discover, raising capital
may not be easy; in fact, it can be a complex and frustrating
process. However, if you are informed and have planned effectively,
raising money for your business will not be a painful experience.

This guide focuses on ways a small business can raise money.

There are several sources to consider when looking for financing.
It is important to explore all of your options before making a
decision.

Personal savings: The primary source of capital for most new
businesses comes from savings and other forms of personal resources.
While credit cards are often used to finance business needs, there
may be better options available, even for very small loans.

Friends and relatives: Many entrepreneurs look to private sources
such as friends and family when starting out in a business venture.
Often, money is loaned interest free or at a low interest rate,
which can be beneficial when getting started.

Banks: The most common source of funding, banks, will provide a
loan if you can show that your business proposal is sound.

Venture capital firms: These firms help expanding companies grow
in exchange for equity or partial ownership.

It is often said that small business people have a difficult time
borrowing money. This is not necessarily true.

Banks make money by lending money. However, the inexperience of
many small business owners in financial matters often prompts banks
to deny loan requests.

Requesting a loan when you are not properly prepared sends a signal
to your lender. That message is: "High Risk!"

To be successful in obtaining a loan, you must be prepared and
organized. You must know exactly how much money you need, why you
need it, and how you will pay it back. You must be able to convince
your lender that you are a good credit risk.

Article written By John Mussi.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com -- By: jupita

Saturday 22 March 2008

We attentively examined all contracts.

We attentively examined all contracts and concluded
similarities. And it was here explained that they were
carried out in the extremely rigid form, although the
impression of sufficiently friendly atmosphere was
outwardly and created. It is necessary to give credit to
this person. It possessed strong will, powerful intellect,
ability to convince and in spite of all this to remain
charming person. It did not suspect, that entire this
power it brought down to the partners and those they agreed
to the unprofitable conditions, weakly defending its interests.

"As so, they barely object to my conditions they, which means,
divide my position", said manager.

"They divided, until they were found under your influence, and
without you, after being dismantled at everything, they threw
contract into the debris basket" - here everything that it was
possible to answer it.

Manager considered that is carried out strategy "gain- loss" in
the soft form. In actuality was conducted strategy "loss- loss".
Thus, a question about what strategy repossessed, is better to
decide after the end of the period of the action of contract.
Another example.

Colleague of one of the firms designed purchase to the wholesale
delivery of cosmetic. It is difficult to say, why to its
information they did not bring information about the system
of reductions, but the relying reduction it did not obtain.
Managers on sale with happiness reported about the taken care
means,designing for reward.

Formally was carried out strategy "gain- loss", but this is
estimation at the moment of the conclusion of transaction.
Further event they were developed thus. The buyer rang after
a certain time and expressed to them everything, which thinks
about them, and it promised to punish. It carried out promise
its. As it proved to be, it was tightly connected with the
circle of those, on whom depended resolution of the questions,
important for the supplying firm. And here again installation
to "the gain- loss" led to the fact that both lost, i.e. they
in the final analysis operated on strategy "gain- loss".

From the given examples, the especially latter, it is possible
to draw the conclusion: if there are additional circumstances
of any kind, then strategy "gain- loss" it follows to use
correctly. Otherwise it easily is transformed into "the loss-
loss".

Strategy "gain" is effective under the conditions of the high
degree of uncertainty because of the absence of information.
This position is strengthened, if there is no idea about how
business connections will for long continue.

In all situations indicated the success of strategy "gain"
predetermines by the fact that in the course of negotiations
it can pass into "the gain- gain" or into "the gain- loss".

In the extreme situations, when only defined result is
important and it is completely unimportant, as further
relations will be formed, you, naturally, select strategy
gain. In the course of negotiations she can pass into
strategy "gain- loss" or "gain- gain".

From the aforesaid it follows that the selection of strategy
depends on concrete circumstances. Basic task - it is correct
to estimate situation and to select approach taking into
account its special features. But this, first of all, large
and surprising skill.

Article written by Alexander Bukinis.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - -By: hansi

Thursday 20 March 2008

Ease Your Cash Flow: Invoice Finance

There are several benefits that can be gained when a company decides to invoice finance. A business that deals in the sale of products or services to other businesses will receive the advantage of improved cash flow by using an invoice finance service.

Basically, to invoice finance means to sell or assign your outstanding invoices to an invoice finance company. This company in most cases will give you instant access to a percentage of the total amount of the unpaid invoices assigned to them, commonly from 70-90% of the value of approved invoices. In many cases they may also take responsibility for invoicing, chasing and collecting owed invoices as well as accept a percentage of the loss on unpaid invoices.

Having access to these funds greatly increase the cash flow within your company. Cash on hand for increased production, savings by way of discounts on company expenses, decrease or even elimination of business expenses, and improved opportunities for business loans.

By using an invoice finance service there is no waiting 30-45 days for people who pay on time, and even longer for late payments on invoices. That cash on hand can be more readily available for production, creating an immediate availability for more sales.

Another area the right business can gain greater cash flow from using invoice finance is in taking advantage of discounted payments of business expenses. Many companies offer discounts of as much as 10% if their invoices are paid on receipt or within a certain period of time.

With invoice finance you have cash on hand to pay your bills sooner, rather than having to wait until your customer pays you for your product or service. Increased cash flow also increases your companies purchase power, making it possible to negotiate better terms or discounts from suppliers. The savings in these two areas alone will in most cases outweigh the fee from the invoice finance service.

There are other business expenses that can be cut back or even eliminated when using invoice finance, for example: administration costs, stationery, and office equipment. When adding the expense of employing an accounting clerk, not only their salary but also company benefits, it’s easy to see some great advantages to using an invoice finance service.

Invoice finance can be particularly helpful to a business in the start-up phase. Most lending institutions have strict rules on lending to ‘new businesses’. A bank or lender will only consider a small portion of outstanding (unpaid) invoices owed, often only 40% of the total amount of outstanding invoices, when administering a business loan. By invoice financing your ledger shows cash on hand in place of a large amount tied up in outstanding invoices.

There are some disadvantages to using an invoice finance service. The goods or service your company supplies can have a huge effect on whether your company should use invoice finance. Businesses providing recurring services or product orders are good candidates, while invoices for one-time orders might find it difficult to obtain this type of funding.

These companies prefer to know the debtor and their track record in paying debts before accepting invoices owed by that debtor. Another disadvantage would be if the mark-up sale price of the goods or service provided were less than the amount of the invoice finance fee.

For the right business combining the improved cash flow with a reasonable profit margin along with increased sales orders the business is in a position to expand and the cost to invoice finance can easily be absorbed in increased profitability.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Paul Allen

Wednesday 19 March 2008

Ruling The Roost.

New website owners are doomed from the start if they know nothing about website optimisation, that is until they realise that there is a lot more to learn than just building a website.

It is a learning process from start to finish and no one can relax and expect their business to continue without constant attention to what is going on in the world of cyberspace.
Blogging is tops as far as the search engines are concerned BUT for how long ?

Search engines like Google are fickle and what is in favour right now could suddenly take a tumble as something new is discovered.

Any thing is possible in this world of cyberspace and nothing stands still as we who have been on the internet for a few years have found out.

To make your fortune on the internet is like winning the lottery, you have to be one of the lucky ones.

If you are inventive and can think up an idea that has never seen the light of day then you could be on to a winner but how many of us are that clever.

There is no getting away from it search engines are the be all and end all of your success, over the years my earnings have fluctuated from high to low alternatively depending on where they have decided to place my websites next.

One big mistake I made when my website was ranked highly and enjoying a good position on the front page of the searches was this:

This fact was something I had not got around to learning yet but as they say you learn by your mistakes, I learned the hard way.

I made the decision to change my website completely, instead of doing it slowly and in small steps over a few weeks I just wiped the lot completely and went for a new look.
This hit me hard and although I did not lose my pr 6 rank I disappeared completely out of the search engine.

I was gone for several months and I was seriously thinking of abandoning the website and starting afresh with a new one when it suddenly appeared back on page 1 of Google.

Sadly since the changes of the Google algorithm and the beginning of the blogging craze my website has not enjoyed the same glory, I must admit I neglected it for quite a while as I looked for pastures new and that has resulted in a drop of my pr and once again extreme fluctuating in the placement of my website in the searches.

So the lesson here is never go to the extreme and alter your website in one go, if you think it needs a revamp then do it slowly over a few weeks that way you will not upset the search engines.

For anyone who is interested I have on my website below daily lessons on website optimisation at the moment at day 11. I sometimes miss a day if I am very busy but visit the following day and the next lesson will be there.

Of course blogging is the in thing for success and can help your website greatly if your blog is interesting enough to attract followers.

By now everyone knows that blogging consists of daily happenings in where ever your interest lies, it can be added to daily or just two or three times a week.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Sylvie

Tuesday 18 March 2008

How Prostitutes Make Their Money

Prostitution is one of the oldest professions in the world. This is because it is very lucrative. Men don’t see hookers only for the sex but for the fun. That is why the writer W. H. Auden said, “Men will pay large sums to whores for telling them they are not bores."

One country that cherish prostitution is Germany where the trade has been legal for ages and has about 400, 000 registered practitioners. These people are not just hookers, they are commercial sex workers who charge about $80 for a half-hour service and pay taxes and receive social benefits like every other worker. While some citizens argued that the government is fueling immorality, the authorities claimed: “It is a pragmatic response to demand."

German prostitutes are preparing for the World Cup fiesta this June that will attract about 2 million people. They are renovating their brothels, toilets, and ordering condom vending machines. They are also planning to cut down fees and improve their services. Some said they would give money back guarantee. They also plan to use pimps since most visitors cannot locate the brothels. The pimps will hang around stadiums and drinking bars and solicit clients.

But these prostitutes are not just preparing for clients they are fighting against competition. About 60, 000 prostitutes from poor Eastern European countries are expected to invade Germany during the game. So it is going to be a dog eat dog race. One woman said, “Some of us have worked a long time at this job in Germany and if all this girls come here like they did in Greece for the Olympics, it will be bad for business."

Like every money making venture, it is not about the demand, it is all about the supply. There is money in every business but legions of people want it. The pioneers could make money, but it is soon flooded and the profit margin is deflated. Millions of people want your business. How do you survive? Download "Evil ways of making money--what the rich won't tell you" free at http://oxcheck.com and learn how to introduce immoral and unethical survival tactics into your business.

To make it big, whether in prostitution, or in any other business, offline or online, you have to play tough otherwise it will be bad for business.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Bright Johnson

Monday 17 March 2008

Finance Your Cleaning Business by Bootstrapping

Copyright 2006 The Janitorial Store

New cleaning businesses tend to have few financial resources. Before you sign your first client you need capital for supplies, equipment, basic start-up expenses, and perhaps even payroll. Where do start-up companies get the financing they need to set up shop? Some businesses use savings, some borrow from friends or relatives, and some get a bank loan. But many small start-ups rely on a technique called bootstrapping.

Bootstrapping means pinching pennies, cutting corners, and learning to do more with less. Using bootstrapping techniques also means carefully watching where your cash is coming from and where it is going to. Does this technique work for growing your business? You bet! Ernest & Julio Gallo, Domino's Pizza, Hallmark Cards and Black & Decker are examples of businesses that started with $1000 or less and used the art of bootstrapping to grow and become successful.

In bootstrapping you not only focus on how revenues come into the business, but where you are going to spend the money that comes in and if there are other ways to obtain those resources.

The following are techniques that have helped businesses grow and expand.

1) Focus on the right customers. Some customers like to hold onto invoices as long as possible. Finding customers who pay immediately helps keep cash flowing into your cleaning business. Maintaining a good customer relationship will also help to get your customers paying as soon as they get their invoice.

2) Be frugal, but not cheap! Distinguish between costs that are necessary and ones you can avoid. Do you need to rent space for your cleaning business or can you begin by running the business out of your home or garage? Can you get by with used equipment? Do you need a cell phone with streaming video or just a basic model to make sure you do not miss any calls? On the same token, don't be shortsighted (and cheap) with suppliers. Develop a good relationship with your suppliers and they will be happy to let you know when there are specials and if a lower priced item works as well as a more expensive one.

3) Create a high profile for your cleaning business. By taking on larger cleaning accounts your business projects an image of competency and that it has the skills and resources to handle the job.

4) Keep your salary as low as possible. The less cash that go out of your business the better. Cut back on your personal expenses while the business grows. Avoid buying that new car and that holiday cruise until your cleaning business has a good cash flow.

5) Get your customers talking about you. Word of mouth is the best advertising around and it doesn't cost you anything. Ask your customers for referrals and tell them to mention your name if they know of anyone who is looking for cleaning services.

6) Keep good records and track every dollar. It is difficult to know if there are expenses that you can cut if you don't know where your money is going or where your money is coming from. Keep more income by not giving preferential treatment or discounts to special customers.

7) There is power in becoming a partner. Find another business owner to share equipment, office space or even employees.

8) Trade for services. Are there individuals or businesses who would be willing to have you clean their offices for part or all of their payment? Large businesses and corporations may not have the flexibility to "swap" services, but your lawyer, graphic designer, accountant or other consultant may be happy to exchange services.

9) If you need employees, hire part-time or temporary help. Rather than having a full-time bookkeeper or marketing person think of hiring a virtual assistant that you can pay for just a few hours a month. Another benefit to a virtual assistant is that she will have her own equipment and be responsible for her own employment taxes.

10) If you are buying or leasing space and equipment agree to only short-term leases. This helps you control costs and keep your cash flow flexible.

11) How much inventory do you need to have on hand? Don't tie up money in supplies and equipment that will just be sitting on a shelf.

12) If necessary, work nights and weekends while your business is growing. Many entrepreneurs will keep their full-time job and a part-time job until their own business is financially stable.

Using bootstrapping techniques mean that you are looking at more than just where your money is coming from. Earning a dollar in revenue may lead to only 20 cents in profit. But if you save a dollar in cost savings, that goes 100 percent to your bottom line. Being frugal at the start of your business can pay big dividends in the long run. Bootstrapping can be your best friend when it comes to the cash flow of your cleaning the business!

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Steve Hanson

Sunday 16 March 2008

With A Lease, The Devil Is In The Details

In the last article we looked at a few of the things you should consider before leasing that first office or storefront for your business. To recap, you should not only consider the old standard "location, location, location," but also consider things like sufficient parking, the number of employees who will be working onsite, and future growth projections. I stressed that it was important not to get caught up in the moment. You should take your time to find the space best suited for your business for the long haul, not just for today.

This week we'll discuss the most important aspect of the process: signing a commercial lease (insert dramatic music here). One of the biggest mistakes many entrepreneurs make when leasing commercial space is not reading the lease. Forget reading the fine print. When it comes to a lease its ALL fine print.

Don't believe me? Let me tell you the true story of my friend, Homer, whose name I have changed to protect the ignorant. Homer signed a two year lease on a suite of offices for his business. As the owner of the business Homer signed on the dotted line and agreed to personally guarantee payment of the lease and to abide by its terms. Homer moved in and it was business as usual until the end of the two year lease term drew near. It was then that Homer discovered that failing to read the lease was going to be a very costly mistake.

Toward the end of the two year lease period Homer decided to relocate, but when he gave the landlord what he thought was the customary 30 day notice, he discovered that the lease had automatically renewed for another two year term at the 60 day notice point. In other words, Homer didn't realize that the lease required a minimum of 60 days notice to let the landlord know that the lease would not be renewed. Because Homer did not know that he was required to give at least 60 days notice of his intent to vacate, the lease automatically renewed for another two years. And there was not a darn thing Homer could do about it but reach around and slap himself in the back of the head for not taking the time to read the lease.

What was the landlord's position when Homer pointed out that he had not read the lease and therefore was not aware of the 60 day notice? The landlord, while sympathetic to Homer's plight, stuck to his guns and told Homer that he would have to honor the lease, which meant that even if Homer moved out as planned, he was still on the hook for paying the rent for another two years.

Does the fact that the landlord chose to enforce the lease agreement rather than let Homer off the hook make him an evil man? Not at all. From the landlord's point of view, he had no choice but to enforce the terms on the lease. He had a signed contract that told him his space was going to be rented for the next two years. He had not planned on the space suddenly being vacant. Being a landlord with unrented space is like being a business with no paying customers. Empty space means no revenue from rental fees which means no money to pay the mortgage payment. As the old saying goes, "It's just business..."

Sure, any landlord with a heart might feel bad that Homer was ignorant of the auto-renewal clause, but not so bad that they are willing to risk their own financial well-being by having Homer's space sit vacant. The bottom line is this: whether Homer read the lease or not is irrelevant. Homer signed the lease, thereby agreeing to its terms, and therefore he must hold up his end of the bargain, period.

As of this moment, Homer is relocating his business in spite of not being able to get out of his old lease and he will continue paying the payment on the vacated space for the remaining two year term of the lease or until he can sublease the space. Even then Homer is not fully off the hook because he will still be considered the legal tenant unless his sublessor agrees to sign a new lease with the landlord. Hopefully he will just have someone else making the lease payments.

Again, the moral to this story is READ THE LEASE. Or even better, have an attorney read it for you. I have learned over the years to never sign a legal document of any kind without letting my attorney review it, especially if the document involves money and my first born child.

Here are a few other points to ponder before signing a commercial lease.

How is the lease payment calculated? The most basic equation for calculating a lease payment takes the number of square feet times the cost per square foot, then amortizes that over a 12 month span. For example, if you have 1,000 square feet and the cost per square foot is $12, the annual lease payment would be $12,000. Divided by 12 months the monthly lease payment would be $1,000. Again, this is a simplified scenario. These days most commercial leases include additional factors that affect the final price, such as rent increases, operating expense escalations, common area charges, etc.

Who pays for what? It's important that you understand exactly what you are paying for. Are you responsible for any costs other than the rent? Will you be responsible for paying your own utilities, for example? Will you have to pay for parking privileges or janitorial service? Who handles maintenance and repairs?

Is there an escalation clause? It is typical that the lease contain what's known as an escalation clause that allows the landlord to pass on increased building operating expenses to the tenants. If your lease contains such a clause you should ask for a cap on the amount the lease payment may rise over a given period of time. And if the escalation clause is ever activated by the landlord you are well within your rights to ask for an itemized accounting of the expenses that are being considered as cause for your raise in rent.

What rent increases might there be? One very important factor to know is this: if you do renew the lease how much can the landlord go up on the rent? It is expected that rents will increase as property values increase. If your landlord can rent the space for more than you agreed to pay a year ago, he is within his rights to ask for the increase. However, it would be a nightmare if your rent suddenly doubled overnight. Negotiate the increase before you sign the lease. Most rent increases are calculated by percentage, not by flat rates.

Renewals and terminations. Most leases require that you give a minimum of 60 days notice if you intend to terminate the lease and vacate the property. As Homer learned, many leases also renew automatically for another term unless you give notice within 60 days of expiration. Know when your lease expires and the time required to give notice.

Is a personal guarantee required? What happens if your business goes south and can no longer afford to make the lease payment? Are you then responsible for paying the rent out of your own pocket? Probably so. Most landlords insist on a personal guarantee from the owner or an officer of the business. This means that even if you go out of business you are still personally on the hook for the remainder of the lease.

Finally, clarify all points. You should be clear on every point in the lease. And if you are not, ask for clarification. Exactly what space are you leasing? Who is responsible for repairs? What common areas will you have access to? Who is responsible for maintaining the little things, like keeping the shared restrooms stocked with soap, towels, and most importantly, toilet paper.

A small detail to consider now, but not when you suddenly find yourself without such amenities at the wrong time.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Tim Knox

Friday 14 March 2008

Why A Business Cash Advance Can Work For You

You’ve no doubt heard the saying, “In order to make money, you have to spend money.” As a small business owner, you know how difficult it was to get your idea off the ground to begin with. You probably had to take out bank loans, providing lenders with personal information, and you more than likely had to fill out stacks of paperwork. You worked very hard to realize your dream of being your own boss, and it has paid off. Now, you might be at a point that you feel your business needs to expand, or you might have a great marketing idea that can take your small business to the next level, or you may just need some new office equipment. The problem is that you don’t have the cash on hand to bring those ideas to fruition. You just don’t want to have another business loan to worry about, making high interest payments, and putting your credit rating at risk. And if you don’t need to borrow more than a few thousand dollars, most banks will not consider you for a loan anyway. There is a possible solution for you; you might want to consider a business cash advance.

A business cash advance works by allowing you to borrow against the future earnings of your business, rather than using your personal credit or collateral. The money you borrow is deducted from your business’ future earnings from Visa and Mastercard receivables until the advance is paid back. All revenue earned for your business through cash, check, or other types of credit cards is untouched by the lender. There is no monthly payment schedules or finance charges involved. This is ideal for the small business owner who does not want the hassle of applying for a bank loan. You simply pay back the cash advance as you watch your business expand. You don’t have to worry about the pressure that a bank loan would put on your personal credit rating or your checkbook. And you don’t have to put your family home at risk.

Though a high credit score is not mandatory, there are some qualifications you must meet if you intend to apply for a business cash advance. Many lenders require that you have been in business for at least one year. You must also offer credit cards as a means of payment for your customers. You will also have to provide a minimum amount in credit card receipts going back for a determined amount of time. The money advanced to you can be used for an unlimited amount of business expenses, from new equipment, payroll, taxes, advertising, remodeling, and anything else you need money for in order to make your small business great. When you apply for a business cash advance, and you meet all of the lender’s qualifications, approval is often as quick as 24 hours. There is generally no application fee, either. In most cases, you will have cash deposited into your business account in 5 days.

If you need funding to improve or expand you small business, or if you need funding for any other expenses for your small business, you might want to consider a business cash advance. Unlike a bank loan, you won’t have to put your personal credit on the line, you won’t have to put your house up as collateral, and you won’t have to provide business plans or tax statements when you apply. There is no timeline for repayment, as payments to the lender come from Visa and Mastercard sales as they come in. If you meet all the criteria upon application, then a business cash advance is most certainly the quickest and easiest way of making your small business dreams come true.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Mark Woodcock

Thursday 13 March 2008

What Is Invoice Factoring And Invoice Discounting?

The Romans were the first civilization to sell promissory notes at a discount, beginning the industry of factoring. America was built largely on the possibilities of factoring, when colonial businesses were factored by Europeans willing to invest cash in exchange for the promise of large returns, and government bonds also use the same principles applied by businesses when they engage in invoice factoring.

Invoice factoring is, at its simplest, the sale of the right to collect cash owed on your outstanding invoices. Most businesses engage in invoice factoring when they need cash up front quickly, or when they have customers that are slow to pay and don't have the resources to build an accounts collections department. Though some companies are large and established enough to get accounts receivable financing through a regular bank, it can be handy to have access to invoice factoring companies as well.

Most businesses use invoice factoring to get fast cash. In the intense and fast paced business environment of today, ready cash can be invaluable. With the sale of your invoice futures, you can get the cash today you need to capture customers that will move your business forward.

Invoice factoring is not a loan; rather, it's an outright sale of an asset. Another way of looking at it is as a cash advance: you give up a certain portion of the money you expect to receive in the future in exchange for ready cash today. While some businesses purchase invoices outright, others give you a down payment toward the invoice, paying you the balance less their fee when they receive payment from the customer. One of the best things about invoice factoring is that your credit has no bearing on whether you are approved; instead, your customer's credit qualifies the invoice for factoring.

Many different industries take advantage of invoice factoring, including:

* Transportation
* Manufacturers
* Distributors
* Wholesalers
* Staffing and consulting firms
* Telecommunications companies
* Service providers

Because ready cash is so important in their business, industries that are heavily vested in human services and need to be able to meet payroll are among the best able to leverage invoice factoring. However, any business that generates at least ten thousand dollars in accounts receivable should be able to use invoice factoring, provided they've acquired creditworthy customers.

Other situations that might make invoice factoring a wise choice for you include:

* A young company with creditworthy customers, but not sufficient credit history for your own business to be considered creditworthy by banks
* A company with the necessity of taking advantage of new, time-limited sales and profit opportunities, but inadequate cash flow currently to do so
* Companies with income, credit, or tax problems
* Companies that have filed for bankruptcy, but that stand to turn a profit
* Companies that are growing too rapidly for ready capital to keep up with business needs
* Companies poised to grow very soon but do not want to incur debt
* Companies that are growing rapidly, but do not have good enough credit to take out bank loans.
* Start-up companies with no capital base currently
* Companies with seasonal sales patterns or uneven sales patterns

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Henry Byers

Wednesday 12 March 2008

How Buying Invoices Works

If you have a problem with cash flow, you might consider finding a company that engages in buying invoices to get you on the right track again. Often, through no fault of their own, small and large companies find themselves in a bind because they don't have enough cash to meet debt payments, to pay employees, or to invest in needed materials and manpower in order to bid on lucrative, time-sensitive contracts. In these cases and some others, companies buying invoices from you may be able to help.
Buying invoices is also called factoring. A company, or factor, engages in buying invoices from another company at a discount, taking on the responsibility of collecting payments due. Through this process, the company selling the invoice gets immediate cash flow, and the company buying invoices stands to make a profit.
Most invoices are factored at fees starting at around 1.67% of the total principle for each ten days left in the payment due terms. For instance, if you have invoices that come due in thirty days, the factoring company would buy them from you at a 5% discount, and thus make a 5% profit for a thirty-day investment. Fees are predicated on the creditworthiness of your debtor, not you; thus, a company with a very good record of paying its debts on time and otherwise appearing sound would get you the best terms. If you have a company without strong credit that owes you money, you may find their invoices factored at rates of more like 8% to 10%. Generally, companies that buy invoices will limit the total amount of invoices the hold from you to no more than $100,000, but have no minimum amount.
If you have an invoice in the amount of $200,000, this does not mean you will not be able to find a factoring company that can help you. Instead, the company buying invoices may advance your company a hundred thousand dollars, but when they collect the debt, the will then pay to you the entire advanced amount you qualify for. In other words, you can factor a portion of an invoice if you don't need to factor the whole thing.
When companies are buying invoices, you can count on at least three parties being involved. The first is the seller of the invoice which is your company. The second is the payor of the invoice which is the company you have done business with that owes you money. The third is the broker/funder buying invoices. This third party may be a separate broker and funder, or it may be one company or individual acting as both. The broker would arrange the transaction, and facilitate your receipt of the funds advanced in a timely manner. The funder is the party actually buying invoices; they would use a broker to find appropriate invoices to buy. Brokers who arrange the transaction but who don't fund the transaction generally earn a commission on the transaction.
Typically, the funder buying invoices is the chief risk taker in the transaction, and receives the largest share of your factoring fee. The broker arranging the transaction would receive around ten percent of the fee charged for buying invoices.
When you've found a company buying invoices to work with, it's generally a good idea to maintain the relationship with them. If you find yourself needing cash flow in the future, these companies are much more willing to work with those they've funded successfully in the past, and may even offer you more favorable terms.
Companies buying invoices are generally those with large cash on hand totals, like insurance companies and federally-insured banks. You may also be able to find companies buying invoices overseas, particularly in resource-rich companies like those in the Middle East.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Henry Byers

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