I have a small business providing accounting consulting services which is based out of my home. Most days I LOVE it - it is consistently interesting and incredibly fulfilling. The thing that has surprised me the most is the difference between the perception and the reality of what it means to have your own home business. Here's what I've learned:
top 11 home business myths:
11. You will not have enough work to make money from home. Alot of people are concerned that there will not be enough work for them to make money from home if they start their own home business. Before starting your own business look into the regional market for your skills (or check online if you are hoping to work remotely). Depending on the local market for your skills and experience you may find that there is an abundance of work available.
MY TAKE: One thing that I found useful during my start-up phase was to work with placement agencies and other contractors in order to find work. Generally you will make less money working with other contractors or employment agencies however you will make invaluable contacts and it will allow you to work consistently.
10. You will not be able to afford to take self employment vacations. It is a common misconception that owners of home based businesses can not afford to take self employment vacations. Contrary to popular belief, with proper planning and good fiscal planning self-employed individuals have a lot more flexibility in the timing and length of vacations that they can take. Employees generally have a limited amount of vacation available to them and get paid for vacation in one of two ways. Hourly employees often receive their vacation pay as an additional percentage on every paycheck, whereas salaried employees are often paid their salary as usual during their time off. Similar to hourly employees, contractors should include vacation pay in their hourly rates or job bids. While market rates and competing bids will sometimes determine the profit you make, there is some flexibility in the rates you charge and there are many factors to consider when setting your rates (more on this below).
MY TAKE: My personal experience has been that successful self-employed individuals must choose between the money they would make during a time period and their desire to have time off. I have prioritized having time away from full-time contracts periodically over the money I could earn during that time. It allows me to try out my own ideas and fully recharge before starting a new project.
9. You will not be able to get a mortgage or small business loan. It is a long held belief that home based business owners have a hard time getting mortgages or small business loans. This is not true. With small businesses and consulting firms on the rise, financial institutions have recognized the need to provide better services and comparable mortgages and loans to self-employed individuals.
MY TAKE: I was an employee when I applied for my mortgage however I have experience working with self-employed clients and friends to successfully apply for mortgages. The first thing I have learned is that it is important to shop around. Some people will be able to leverage their relationship with their bank to get a great mortgage that they couldn't get elsewhere but it is important to be sure that you are getting the best terms. Mortgage brokers are invaluable for shopping around as they can find out the terms a financial institution would offer you based on your specific circumstances. It is also very important that as an entrepreneur you are able to provide the bank with clear, organized business records that show consistent business activity for the past few years. I have no personal experience obtaining a small business loan or grant. The best sources of information on this are the websites of the major financial institutions and government bodies.
8. You will not be able to get small business health insurance. Many people are hesitant to start a home based business for fear of living without small business health insurance. There are a lot of great benefits providers out there for people who are self-employed. Government and non-profit insurance providers are available for lower income individuals and many other insurance providers have begun offering reasonable health insurance for all self-employed individuals. The key, as with everything, is to do your research.
MY TAKE: My experience seeking benefits for myself has been that there are many companies offering insurance for self-employed individuals but there are some special considerations. Some companies insist that coverage for less than 3-5 individuals will only be offered based on the results of a physical and they may exclude pre-existing conditions from the coverage they offer. It can also be difficult to get coverage in areas such as dental, optical and for specialists such as chiropractors.
7. You will not be able to save for retirement with self employment. Often people fear that they will not be able to save for retirement from self employment without a company pension plan. Financial planning is the key to saving for retirement as an employee or a self-employed individual. Unfortunately many companies are no longer offering pension plans for their employees and therefore the burden of retirement savings on the employed individual is much higher now. Ironically, this shift has meant that self-employed individuals may have an advantage over employees. Most self-employed individuals make their cash up front and pay less in income tax installments and with-holding taxes. This provides them with the cash flow to invest more money in 401ks and RRSPs during the year than employees. Additionally, self-employed individuals often have the option of "soft retirement" by shifting to part-time work before retiring completely.
MY TAKE: Personally, my switch to self-employment has sparked me to be more cognizant of saving for my retirement. In fact, my pension savings more than doubled in my first year as a contractor and have continued to grow steadily since then.
6. Your self employment income will be too sporadic to cover your costs. It is common for employed people to fear the fluctuations in self employment income that many people experience. With good budgeting and planning most contractors are able to spread their income over the full year. In fact as an employee your income is fixed but as a self employed individual you can tailor your work schedule to earn more or less money as you need it. Many entrepreneurs find themselves filling downtime or earning "overtime" with smaller ventures such as project or interim work.
MY TAKE: Since I started my consulting company I have not had any downtime that I did not plan out as vacation, training or transitional time. Personally I enjoy having one to two weeks off between major projects to work on my own projects and take some time away - therefore I plan for this with both my work schedule and my budgeting.
5. Self employment will look bad on your resume. Truthfully, there are still some places that would frown on some self employment experience on your resume as they may see this as a sign that the person is not suited to be an employee. However, many companies recognize the value of having an employee who shows initiative and has a well-rounded variety of experience. Successful business owners demonstrate many skills that potential employers are looking for such as: leadership; project management; accounting and budgeting; initiative and entrepreneurial spirit.
MY TAKE: In my experience recruiters for full-time jobs will often spread this myth in order to convince you to apply for jobs with their clients. Contracting recruiters will claim that the opposite is true. My experience with employers and human resource professionals has been that they recognize the value of hiring people with the diverse and well-rounded backgrounds that self-employment allows. The main questions that potential employers have are: why did you become self-employed? why do you want to return to being an employee? why now? why here? If you can answer these four questions satisfactorily then even the most skeptical employers will consider your application without reserve.
4. You will make more money with small business earnings. Typically small business earnings are based on higher hourly rates than the effective hourly rate earned by employees and therefore people often assume that contractors make more money for the same amount of work. The truth is that the rates charged by self employed individuals include a premium to compensate consultants for the added risk to the contractor; the convenience factor for the hirer; the costs normally covered by an employer (benefits, pension, some government remittances, vacation, statutory holidays, bonus, double-time, training, supplies, overhead, professional dues and medical or maternity leave); and the cost savings to the employer (administrative and human resource costs such as hiring, termination and severance costs). The larger monetary benefits of working as a contractor seldom come from higher hourly rates but come from lower taxes, more cash flow for pension spending and the ability to control your income by working more or less hours.
MY TAKE: My earnings as a contract worker have been similar to the "all-in" salary and benefits+ amount that I was paid as an employee (with the same growth as my employed contemporaries). The main non-monetary benefit to me has been the ability to work less or more depending on my desire and having more choice over whom I work with and what I work on. The main monetary benefit have been the tax savings I have experienced due to both the additional deductions as a contractor and the additional RRSP (401k) contributions I have been able to make due to the up-front cash I have received.
3. You will be your own boss. You probably want to start your own business in order to be your own boss and truthfully there are many areas of work that contractors have more control over than employees however contractors are not entirely without oversight. As a contractor instead of having just one boss you have many bosses. Every client you have is also your "boss" - they determine what you work on, when you work on it, how you work on it and where you work on it. Further, when working on-site for clients it is necessary to comply with all their office rules and guidelines. The other aspect of being your own boss is the responsibility that comes with it. As your own boss you are the one solely responsible for every aspect of your business from beginning to end. You must be comfortable pursuing new work, applying and interviewing for new projects, working at different places on different tasks, and taking care of customer billing and collections.
MY TAKE: As a contractor I can often negotiate my hours, the location of my work, the type of work I do, the companies/people I will or will not work with and the amount of money I get paid. Unfortunately this does not always mean that in the short-term I never have to compromise for a client or project. Some projects dictate that you work longer hours or work outside your region. The main difference is that I have the choice to reject the project or discontinue the work at anytime without legal repercussions.
2. You will set your own hours and work less. Many people start their own businesses in order to have control over how many hours they work but contractors aren't guaranteed to work less than employees. It is true that once you have established your business you can pursue contracts and projects that allow for more flexible hours and less overtime. There is not guarantee, however, that you will always be able to find such projects. Further, as the one who is solely responsible for every aspect of your business, people often find that they are required to work additional hours in order to establish and maintain their business.
MY TAKE: Personally I have chosen to take contracts with longer hours in past due to other considerations (experience, networking, higher rates, great location, etc...) however for the most part I have strived to find positions with flexible hours and little or no overtime. This has given me the freedom to pursue my own projects and spend more time with my family. This has required a lot of planning and budgeting and has generally led to lower annual incomes then I might otherwise earn however the improvement in my quality of life has made this more than worth it.
and the biggest myth of home based businesses...
1. You will always be able to work at home. The words "home based business" bring to mind images of working at home while wearing your pajamas. Home based businesses often require travel and/or visitation of external offices. Sales and service jobs typically require meetings with clients. Even remote IT personnel often need to visit their head office periodically. The flip side of this is that, the majority of the time, home based businesses can be run from anywhere - with only a phone and laptop.
MY TAKE: I have taken on contracts which require me to work off-site everyday, four days a week or once a week. I have also done work that was completely remote but I find this to be the exception rather than the rule for my field (chartered accountant).As mentioned above though I have also enjoyed being able to work at home, at the cottage, at campgrounds, at family members houses and many other beautiful places. There is definitely a lot more freedom as to where you work when you have a home based business - but you should not rely on the idea that you can run things without ever leaving your home.
Overall, the best way to know what you are getting into is to do some research. If possible talk to someone in your field who has an established business, talk to local recruiters and businesses about the availability of work, look for contract or project listings online. It is also a good idea to sit down and calculate the amount of money you need to earn every month in order to maintain your desired lifestyle - this will provide you with a benchmark to compare expected earnings to. Whether you
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Do the Necessary Research on Insurance Providers by Jon Caldwell
According to a study conducted in the U.S. from year 2000-2006, it was found out that the number of uninsured U.S. residents increased by 3.4 million from 2004 to 2006. In the study, it was found that factors like racial and ethnic health care disparities in the U.S. affect whether they would be insured or not. Because of this, it is important that racial disparities be reduced in health care. A step towards achieving this goal is to teach insurance company employees not to be picky in their customers. Another is buying insurance in advance so that people, despite their race, would be given immediate access to healthcare in an emergency.
Life insurance may not be included in the list of 'light topics' that can sparkle up any conversation. However if we think about it, it should be talked about because it is an important topic. There's a lot of things happening, both good and bad, and it is better to prepare for any untoward event than hope for the best and be bombarded with bad news. The right time to deal with it is now. It is not practical to forego buying an insurance until an event compels them to do so. Life insurance should cover your income seven to ten times security. Now that's something worth talking about, right?
In Iowa, the house representatives approves the reform of the health care system. The goal of the reform is to expand access to and improve the quality and affordability of health care in Iowa. The project began by providing health insurance to Iowans and helping small businesses manage the high costs of health insurance. After months of bi-partisan work, there was a noted increase in the quality of health care and thus the project is said to be a success. This is an inspiring example for the rest of the world to follow.
Among the many different type of life insurance in the market today, many people prefer to have a Term Life Insurance. Based from the name itself, Term Life Insurance is specifically designed for a period of time. This length of time is called "term". You purchase this type of insurance and you are guaranteed to be covered for a specified number of years. It may be 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years as the case may be. Some insurance companies even offer a term life insurance with an option of returning the premium. This means that you will receive 100 percent of the amount of premiums you have paid for the plan.
Term life insurance is very popular and purchased by many because it is considered the more affordable type of insurance despite the fact that it expires without maturity. However, this type of insurance is normally renewable and it is non-taxable. Because term life insurance is not that expensive compared to other types of life insurance and since it is not permanent, it is best suited for people with temporary need of insurance. It is also for people who are just starting to work and are not financially capable to spend much on life insurance. Unfortunately, the amount of money insured can only be paid if the time of the death of the insured is within the specific term or period of time the policy is still in effect.
Life insurance may not be included in the list of 'light topics' that can sparkle up any conversation. However if we think about it, it should be talked about because it is an important topic. There's a lot of things happening, both good and bad, and it is better to prepare for any untoward event than hope for the best and be bombarded with bad news. The right time to deal with it is now. It is not practical to forego buying an insurance until an event compels them to do so. Life insurance should cover your income seven to ten times security. Now that's something worth talking about, right?
In Iowa, the house representatives approves the reform of the health care system. The goal of the reform is to expand access to and improve the quality and affordability of health care in Iowa. The project began by providing health insurance to Iowans and helping small businesses manage the high costs of health insurance. After months of bi-partisan work, there was a noted increase in the quality of health care and thus the project is said to be a success. This is an inspiring example for the rest of the world to follow.
Among the many different type of life insurance in the market today, many people prefer to have a Term Life Insurance. Based from the name itself, Term Life Insurance is specifically designed for a period of time. This length of time is called "term". You purchase this type of insurance and you are guaranteed to be covered for a specified number of years. It may be 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years as the case may be. Some insurance companies even offer a term life insurance with an option of returning the premium. This means that you will receive 100 percent of the amount of premiums you have paid for the plan.
Term life insurance is very popular and purchased by many because it is considered the more affordable type of insurance despite the fact that it expires without maturity. However, this type of insurance is normally renewable and it is non-taxable. Because term life insurance is not that expensive compared to other types of life insurance and since it is not permanent, it is best suited for people with temporary need of insurance. It is also for people who are just starting to work and are not financially capable to spend much on life insurance. Unfortunately, the amount of money insured can only be paid if the time of the death of the insured is within the specific term or period of time the policy is still in effect.
Savor Your Life and Insure It by Jon Caldwell
San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Bush Administration just show support on a recent lawsuit file by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association against San Francisco City. According to them Healthy San Francisco program violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The City of San Francisco could proceed with their current law while waiting for the outcome of the appeal after a three judge panel rulings.
The San Francisco Health Care program are designed to help the 82 000 uninsured households to access health care services at city clinics and public hospitals while the private employers with a minimum of 20 employees together with the non-profit organization must spend small amount when claiming the health care.
There are several reasons why health insurance is important. Health insurance are protection of individuals if there something uncertain happen to them. It is extremely important if the individual or member of the family is traveling abroad. There is a report that the needs in having health insurance have been increased. It became necessity now a day. If individual can afford now they will buy it. Philadelphia Inquirer noted that the average cost is almost $12000 for each family.
But having insurance policy was not cheap especially to those of old age, if they will only trust their retirement fees as income.
According to the New York Times a number of health insurers have started to charge thier member a proportion of on medicines especially those expensive prescribed medications in contrast to setting co pay to lower its price. This is due to the "TIER 4" system; this system can affect even those who are already insured.
Typically insured people will pay 20% up to 30% on the costs of medication. Tier 4 systems consist of medicines for multiple sclerosis, arthritis, hemophilia, and some cancers. It is a "pay the price or do without" policy. About 10% of health group plans include the tier 4 system.
Stephen Isaacs, a consultant from Isaacs-Jellinek, and Steven Schroeder fro the University of California-San Francsico talks about the efforts given away by the California lawmakers to revamp the Health Care System of Californaia. They also examinie the standart six obstacles tin achieving the general coverage, that is mandates of employee, mandates individually, costs, containing costs, design of the benefits design and partisan politics.
Another perspective from Professor Sherry Glied at University of Columbia, talks about the advantage of health insurance mandate individually to produce better health coverage system as well as the relationship of such mandates and the subsidies to prevent holders form dropping the health coverage.
The Managed Care is a type of affordable insurance. This type is very popular. The health insurance company itself has its own network of doctors, hospitals and pharmacies and the insured individual has to visit them if necessary. Patients possess co-pays which they give at the time they visit the physician. Most of the time medicinal prescription are shouldered by the insurers.There are many plans of affordable health insurance for different age groups, including managed care. Low cost insurance plans are available for teenage under nineteen years of age, pregnant ladies, adults that have family, adults without families, adults whose over 65 years of age.
The San Francisco Health Care program are designed to help the 82 000 uninsured households to access health care services at city clinics and public hospitals while the private employers with a minimum of 20 employees together with the non-profit organization must spend small amount when claiming the health care.
There are several reasons why health insurance is important. Health insurance are protection of individuals if there something uncertain happen to them. It is extremely important if the individual or member of the family is traveling abroad. There is a report that the needs in having health insurance have been increased. It became necessity now a day. If individual can afford now they will buy it. Philadelphia Inquirer noted that the average cost is almost $12000 for each family.
But having insurance policy was not cheap especially to those of old age, if they will only trust their retirement fees as income.
According to the New York Times a number of health insurers have started to charge thier member a proportion of on medicines especially those expensive prescribed medications in contrast to setting co pay to lower its price. This is due to the "TIER 4" system; this system can affect even those who are already insured.
Typically insured people will pay 20% up to 30% on the costs of medication. Tier 4 systems consist of medicines for multiple sclerosis, arthritis, hemophilia, and some cancers. It is a "pay the price or do without" policy. About 10% of health group plans include the tier 4 system.
Stephen Isaacs, a consultant from Isaacs-Jellinek, and Steven Schroeder fro the University of California-San Francsico talks about the efforts given away by the California lawmakers to revamp the Health Care System of Californaia. They also examinie the standart six obstacles tin achieving the general coverage, that is mandates of employee, mandates individually, costs, containing costs, design of the benefits design and partisan politics.
Another perspective from Professor Sherry Glied at University of Columbia, talks about the advantage of health insurance mandate individually to produce better health coverage system as well as the relationship of such mandates and the subsidies to prevent holders form dropping the health coverage.
The Managed Care is a type of affordable insurance. This type is very popular. The health insurance company itself has its own network of doctors, hospitals and pharmacies and the insured individual has to visit them if necessary. Patients possess co-pays which they give at the time they visit the physician. Most of the time medicinal prescription are shouldered by the insurers.There are many plans of affordable health insurance for different age groups, including managed care. Low cost insurance plans are available for teenage under nineteen years of age, pregnant ladies, adults that have family, adults without families, adults whose over 65 years of age.
Term Life Insurance Companies: Your Partners For Progress by Kyle Widner
While driving off to work and stuck in the morning traffic churning up the turnpike, you mindlessly listen to the morning news on radio as former Federal Reserve Chairman Allan Greenspan answers a question about term life insurance rates, then suddenly you snap back to reality in thinking how great it would be to have a partner other than your spouse to help you financially guarantee a bright future for the kids. Before getting any naughty ideas as your mind floats in excitement, consider getting an insurance company as your partner you can rely on when the horizon gets dark.
Yes! One of those reputable insurance firms is what you need to get by to augment everything that you got. Many opened minded souls have availed of this opportunity in the past and are enjoying the fruits of their labor today, despite the negative business forecasts looming ahead; the chosen few have remained steadfast and undaunted. To be in the same league as they are, it’s high time that you get covered by a term life insurance of your own and discover the many benefits it shall do for you and your loved ones as an investment package.
This is the most coveted insurance type as the name term suggests, youthful men and women raising small children tightly working on their budgets are loyal clients of this policy, offering flexibility in payment until your desired service feature is up, now that your still healthy and can squeeze in your extra dough, it’s the perfect time signing up for the rates are low but the return if investment is high. Partnering with the trusted name in the insurance industry like Sun Life or other firms of your choice is your best bet, for these term life insurance companies are bankable.
An insurance agent of your choice, with their names and addresses posted on yellow pages shall definitely walk you through the whole process offering the best options as both of you work on your given budgets. Make sure that you list all your monthly over heads like the utility bills and miscellaneous expenses clearly, with your spare in tuck, this goes right in your piggy bank assuring a religious mode of payments.
You don’t have to wait for all of these to transpire, to get ahead of the game and infuse you with better ideas, go right to your home computer and check the internet, this powerful tool will lead you to an “life insurance calculator” a device that will ask you to put your basic stats in like age, height, weight and everyday lifestyle from your nocturnal behavior to eating preferences. This then determines your total eligibility for the initial requirement of your term life instant quote.
Later be ready with the medical examinations, a certified nurse or Doctor will visit you at home at a mutually convenient time, this is free of charge at the insurance companies expense and take notes of your medical history from heart diseases to your drinking habits as this are detrimental procedures that must be adhered to. Just be factual and answer truthfully saving you time and embarrassment that you don’t want to in the first place in getting your term life insurance coverage.
After completing all the necessary tests and paper works, the medical results goes back to your insurance company and they’ll evaluate which rate bracket to place you in. This takes around 4- 6 weeks to give ample time for you to start remitting for your investment. Then the approval part comes in, you sign and confirm placing the first payment then you are insured. Battle won the first round for most people. But it’s still halfway won. Why? As we all age, we develop unhealthy habits affecting our health and this directly translates on the insurance that you’ve got.
Remember that after the end of your stipulated term of 10 or 20 years. In most case you’ll still be working and supporting your family, you still qualify to buy in half the price you used to pay, giving you maximum savings, provided you’re in excellent health. So it makes a whole lot of sense to eat right and live right as early as now.
Yes! One of those reputable insurance firms is what you need to get by to augment everything that you got. Many opened minded souls have availed of this opportunity in the past and are enjoying the fruits of their labor today, despite the negative business forecasts looming ahead; the chosen few have remained steadfast and undaunted. To be in the same league as they are, it’s high time that you get covered by a term life insurance of your own and discover the many benefits it shall do for you and your loved ones as an investment package.
This is the most coveted insurance type as the name term suggests, youthful men and women raising small children tightly working on their budgets are loyal clients of this policy, offering flexibility in payment until your desired service feature is up, now that your still healthy and can squeeze in your extra dough, it’s the perfect time signing up for the rates are low but the return if investment is high. Partnering with the trusted name in the insurance industry like Sun Life or other firms of your choice is your best bet, for these term life insurance companies are bankable.
An insurance agent of your choice, with their names and addresses posted on yellow pages shall definitely walk you through the whole process offering the best options as both of you work on your given budgets. Make sure that you list all your monthly over heads like the utility bills and miscellaneous expenses clearly, with your spare in tuck, this goes right in your piggy bank assuring a religious mode of payments.
You don’t have to wait for all of these to transpire, to get ahead of the game and infuse you with better ideas, go right to your home computer and check the internet, this powerful tool will lead you to an “life insurance calculator” a device that will ask you to put your basic stats in like age, height, weight and everyday lifestyle from your nocturnal behavior to eating preferences. This then determines your total eligibility for the initial requirement of your term life instant quote.
Later be ready with the medical examinations, a certified nurse or Doctor will visit you at home at a mutually convenient time, this is free of charge at the insurance companies expense and take notes of your medical history from heart diseases to your drinking habits as this are detrimental procedures that must be adhered to. Just be factual and answer truthfully saving you time and embarrassment that you don’t want to in the first place in getting your term life insurance coverage.
After completing all the necessary tests and paper works, the medical results goes back to your insurance company and they’ll evaluate which rate bracket to place you in. This takes around 4- 6 weeks to give ample time for you to start remitting for your investment. Then the approval part comes in, you sign and confirm placing the first payment then you are insured. Battle won the first round for most people. But it’s still halfway won. Why? As we all age, we develop unhealthy habits affecting our health and this directly translates on the insurance that you’ve got.
Remember that after the end of your stipulated term of 10 or 20 years. In most case you’ll still be working and supporting your family, you still qualify to buy in half the price you used to pay, giving you maximum savings, provided you’re in excellent health. So it makes a whole lot of sense to eat right and live right as early as now.
Why get an Attorney to help set up your business? by Sean Sweeney
In the long run, it is cheaper, and you will sleep better at night knowing you are safe. To me, the question is similar to “why get an electrician to work on your house?†You can repair your own electrical problems, and for a small fee you can use those on-line companies to help you set up your own business, but what guarantee do you have that it was done right? How do you know that it is “up to code� Will it simply have to be redone again later, or worse, will your house burn down as a result?
Leaving the analogies aside, it is a very dangerous prospect setting up your own business entity, as it threatens to defy the very reason you set up the entity in the first place. The most important protection that business entities provide is liability protection for your personal assets. However, it is a tenuous protection, and if the entity is not properly set up and maintained, you may have no protection at all and not even realize it.
New businesses are inherently risky. You are now risking your entire financial future on the ability to make money with your new enterprise. However, in the interest of saving a few hundred dollars, are you willing to also risk your entire financial past, everything you have saved and worked for, if something should go wrong with your business? I do not think so.
Most businesses and people maintain all sorts of insurance coverage ranging from health and auto, to home and business liability, shelling out hundreds of dollars per month. Yet, many people will mortgage the safety and protection of having a qualified attorney set up your business and advise you on how to ensure you maintain your asset liability protection to save a one time fee of a few hundred dollars.
When a companies “limited liability†is pierced because of improper business formation or management, it is known as “Piercing the Corporate Veil.†Once that Veil is pierced, all of your personal assets may be used to pay off any liabilities the company may have. Having your personal assets seized when you thought they were protected by the “self-help internet business formation†is akin to your house burning down due to discount electrical work: You will never forgive yourself for not spending the few extra dollars and having it done right the first time.
Whenever I think of “Piercing the Corporate Veil†I think of the seminal case Smith v. Van Gorkom and my Business Associations professor at Marquette University, Christine Hurt with her husband singing “Van Gorkom†to the tune of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Cecilia.â€
Van Gorkom, you’re breaking my heart/ you’re shaking my confidence daily Oh, Delaware, please change your mind/ It’s not a crime to be lame
Van Gorkom, the case must be wrong/ Directors just cannot be liable I’m a director, and I’m in good faith/ I’ve nothing at stake, I’m all that/ I’m all that
(Full lyrics available at Christine Hurt's blog http://www.theconglomerate.org/2006/05/van_gorkum_the_.html )
So unless you want to end up like Van Gorkom, and be personally liable, spend a little bit of money up front and make sure you understand how to keep your liability protection in tact.
Leaving the analogies aside, it is a very dangerous prospect setting up your own business entity, as it threatens to defy the very reason you set up the entity in the first place. The most important protection that business entities provide is liability protection for your personal assets. However, it is a tenuous protection, and if the entity is not properly set up and maintained, you may have no protection at all and not even realize it.
New businesses are inherently risky. You are now risking your entire financial future on the ability to make money with your new enterprise. However, in the interest of saving a few hundred dollars, are you willing to also risk your entire financial past, everything you have saved and worked for, if something should go wrong with your business? I do not think so.
Most businesses and people maintain all sorts of insurance coverage ranging from health and auto, to home and business liability, shelling out hundreds of dollars per month. Yet, many people will mortgage the safety and protection of having a qualified attorney set up your business and advise you on how to ensure you maintain your asset liability protection to save a one time fee of a few hundred dollars.
When a companies “limited liability†is pierced because of improper business formation or management, it is known as “Piercing the Corporate Veil.†Once that Veil is pierced, all of your personal assets may be used to pay off any liabilities the company may have. Having your personal assets seized when you thought they were protected by the “self-help internet business formation†is akin to your house burning down due to discount electrical work: You will never forgive yourself for not spending the few extra dollars and having it done right the first time.
Whenever I think of “Piercing the Corporate Veil†I think of the seminal case Smith v. Van Gorkom and my Business Associations professor at Marquette University, Christine Hurt with her husband singing “Van Gorkom†to the tune of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Cecilia.â€
Van Gorkom, you’re breaking my heart/ you’re shaking my confidence daily Oh, Delaware, please change your mind/ It’s not a crime to be lame
Van Gorkom, the case must be wrong/ Directors just cannot be liable I’m a director, and I’m in good faith/ I’ve nothing at stake, I’m all that/ I’m all that
(Full lyrics available at Christine Hurt's blog http://www.theconglomerate.org/2006/05/van_gorkum_the_.html )
So unless you want to end up like Van Gorkom, and be personally liable, spend a little bit of money up front and make sure you understand how to keep your liability protection in tact.
The Main Tips Checklist For Starting A Business by gennew2
Use this comprehensive checklist to plan each step of your new business and transform your dream of entrepreneurship into reality. These steps may not necessarily be completed in the order listed; however, you can use them as a guideline for completing all of the necessary business startup tasks. - Determine what kind of business you want to start. - Learn about the industry for your business. - Analyze the market for your business. - Study your competition. - Educate yourself on running a business. - Join trade associations. - Name your business. - Perform a trademark search. - Register a domain name. - Design a website. - Obtain a logo. - Determine business structure (sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation). - Evaluate your personal budget. - Write a business plan. - Write a marketing plan. - Locate financing. - Create a list of start-up supplies with budget. - Set up a system for accounting and payroll. - Apply for business license, fed tax ID, fictitious business name. - Select a location and set up shop. - Order signage. - Obtain business tools (computer, printer, fax, postage, office supplies, and fixtures). - Order business stationery (business cards, letterhead, brochures). - Obtain inventory. - Create an operations and employee manual. - Hire employees. - Set a launch date. - Plan a grand opening event. - Send announcements to everyone you know. - Send press releases. - Turn on the OPEN sign! - Revisit your business plan and update often. - Evaluate your marketing strategy often. - Prepare a realistic business plan. Think of this as your business road map. Define exactly where you want to get to with your business and then you can effectively map out your path towards achieving your goals! By creating a detailed business plan you should cover all options and eventualities and have a clear future vision that will guide you through the rest of the start-up processes. - Your business plan should encompass the financial considerations of starting your small or home based business: -Do you have the capital required? Do you need to raise additional funds? Who are you going to approach for finance? Who do you trust for advice? And don't forget to open a business bank account…- Consider the legal implications of becoming a business owner and proprietor. Are you better off as a sole trader, a limited company or are you considering a partnership? Make sure you consider all the angles and protect yourself and your assets personally from the outset. Anything you bring to the business has to be itemized, valued…even if you're a sole trader. And make sure you are professionally covered with the appropriate business indemnity insurances. - Get your family and friends behind you from the get-go. Make sure your family and friends are fully understanding and supportive of your ideas to venture into small business start-up. Do they understand the level of commitment you will have to show for on-going and long-term success? Their belief in you and continued support of you will work wonders towards your on-going success, so don't forget to look out for them too. - Protect your family, protect your business. If, God forbid, something were to happen to your health, how would your business survive, how would your family cope? Consider insurances - from health, critical illness and income protection insurance to life insurance - and consider your pension and long-term financial security. - Face those 'taxing' questions from the start. Your small or home-based business has to consider its taxation situation. Do you need to register your business for sales tax purposes; have you informed your tax office of your business's inauguration? Do you have a good tax professional lined up to guide and assist you? The bottom line when it comes to taxation is that from the outset you need to make sure your papers and books are in order, this will save you time, money and heart ache in the long run. - Prepare realistic and achievable goals and targets for your first year. Do not expect to conquer the world with your first year's business returns. Starting a business is a life changing undertaking and one you must be patient with. The rewards are there, but make sure you set yourself achievable targets - when you reach them they will give you the confidence and satisfaction to set new goals and to continue building your business' success.
Travel Insurance - Essential EHIC by David Collins
When you’re heading off on your holidays it’s important to check that you’ve got everything.
Alongside the clothes, toys for the kids and the all important sun cream, there’s also the paperwork to take care of.
Before you travel it’s important to ensure you have some form of cover in case anything should happen to yourself or your family whilst abroad.
As well as arranging some travel insurance, you may need other paperwork depending on where you are holidaying to, as well as covering yourself for any additional activities you want to participate in - including winter sports.
If you’re travelling from the UK to European destinations it can be worth your while to take out a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
This handy little card replaced the old E111 form system at the beginning of 2006. The card entitles holidaymakers to reduced costs should they require medical assistance if something should happen on their trips.
However, the card itself is not a substitute for holiday insurance, and many fall into the trap of believing that the EHIC card will be all they need for when they go on holiday to Europe.
The EHIC card is valid for three to five years and can be useful for expatriates as well as holidaymakers, although it might not cover all types of treatment - so you may find yourself having to pay a small contribution to your medical treatment.
Should you require medical treatment whilst holidaying in Europe, taking out an EHIC before you travel could help reduce the cost of your treatment.
As for the treatment itself, you’re likely to receive treatment at a state-provided level, which might not be quite what you are used to on the NHS. Some countries may also charge for some treatments which you may be used to getting free of charge back home on the NHS.
Combined with a travel insurance policy, this handy little card can provide holidaymakers with peace of mind from a financial point of view.
Alongside the clothes, toys for the kids and the all important sun cream, there’s also the paperwork to take care of.
Before you travel it’s important to ensure you have some form of cover in case anything should happen to yourself or your family whilst abroad.
As well as arranging some travel insurance, you may need other paperwork depending on where you are holidaying to, as well as covering yourself for any additional activities you want to participate in - including winter sports.
If you’re travelling from the UK to European destinations it can be worth your while to take out a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
This handy little card replaced the old E111 form system at the beginning of 2006. The card entitles holidaymakers to reduced costs should they require medical assistance if something should happen on their trips.
However, the card itself is not a substitute for holiday insurance, and many fall into the trap of believing that the EHIC card will be all they need for when they go on holiday to Europe.
The EHIC card is valid for three to five years and can be useful for expatriates as well as holidaymakers, although it might not cover all types of treatment - so you may find yourself having to pay a small contribution to your medical treatment.
Should you require medical treatment whilst holidaying in Europe, taking out an EHIC before you travel could help reduce the cost of your treatment.
As for the treatment itself, you’re likely to receive treatment at a state-provided level, which might not be quite what you are used to on the NHS. Some countries may also charge for some treatments which you may be used to getting free of charge back home on the NHS.
Combined with a travel insurance policy, this handy little card can provide holidaymakers with peace of mind from a financial point of view.
Term Life Insurance | Life Insurance Helps You and Your Family in Dire Times by Jane Molano
Why do I need a life insurance? I am well off both financially and health wise. This is the most common question asked when one is told about life insurance. But have you ever given a time to think that what ever is looking good, tomorrow it may not be the same. After all this is the reality of life and this is where insurance companies come into picture. Life Insurance is a program which gives an umbrella like cover to you and your near ones depending on the policy. It is an assurance given by the company that they will take care of any financial burden that may arise due to any unprecedented happenings. Depending on the type of life insurance you buy, you get return benefits accordingly. Generally life insurance is designed in such a way that it benefits the beneficiary more then the person insured. It is done so because when you pass away and there is no one to take care of them, then it is the insurance company who will take care of them by taking care of any liabilities and other cost factors that may come.
I remember when one I told one of my close friends the benefits of life insurance he readily agreed for taking one life insurance policy. As he was having nice and steady job, he decided to take a Term life insurance. Everything was going on fine, unfortunately my friend met with an accident and passed away. My friend had taken a home loan and a car loan and all these were taken care of by his insurance company. The other day I had gone to see his wife, although she was in the pain of losing her husband but still she was happy about the wise decision that her husband had taken due to which at least his family is saved from the financial mess that could have been created if her husband had not taken a Term life insurance. She also thanked me for making her husband understand the importance of having a life insurance policy.
Sometimes I just wonder what would have happened to my friend's family had if he not taken a life insurance policy. They would have simply fallen into the financial trap and would have lost everything from their house to car and other belongings. Now at least they don't have to bother about the any house rent every month. They only have to take care of the food and other expenses which are manageable for them. No matter which ever life insurance policy you take, it will at least give you a peace of mind that you have at least taken care of the future of your family. Life is unpredictable and you cannot take chances with it, at least when it comes to the security of your family. So if you get an assurance which will take care of your family in times when you are not available to take care of them for small fees, then I guess no one would mind that.
I remember when one I told one of my close friends the benefits of life insurance he readily agreed for taking one life insurance policy. As he was having nice and steady job, he decided to take a Term life insurance. Everything was going on fine, unfortunately my friend met with an accident and passed away. My friend had taken a home loan and a car loan and all these were taken care of by his insurance company. The other day I had gone to see his wife, although she was in the pain of losing her husband but still she was happy about the wise decision that her husband had taken due to which at least his family is saved from the financial mess that could have been created if her husband had not taken a Term life insurance. She also thanked me for making her husband understand the importance of having a life insurance policy.
Sometimes I just wonder what would have happened to my friend's family had if he not taken a life insurance policy. They would have simply fallen into the financial trap and would have lost everything from their house to car and other belongings. Now at least they don't have to bother about the any house rent every month. They only have to take care of the food and other expenses which are manageable for them. No matter which ever life insurance policy you take, it will at least give you a peace of mind that you have at least taken care of the future of your family. Life is unpredictable and you cannot take chances with it, at least when it comes to the security of your family. So if you get an assurance which will take care of your family in times when you are not available to take care of them for small fees, then I guess no one would mind that.
Why More and More Businesses Are Outsourcing Their Payroll by Melissa Peterman
large percentage of small and medium sized businesses outsource their payroll to a payroll service and it’s no wonder why.
Obvious Reasons Businesses Invest in Outsourcing Payroll
Having Less Employees- having payroll in-house means more employees to pay, give insurance to and find space for
Office expense of extra paper, stamps, envelopes, computers, etc.
Time- running your business is hard enough, let alone the time it takes to organize payroll and make sure it’s accurate, taxes and dealing with vacations, benefits and schedules.
Other Reasons Businesses are Taking Advantage of Outsourcing Payroll
Legality- a business can outsource all of the human resource related issues to another company, including legal responsibilities and other administrative responsibilities like worker’s comp which allows more time for a small business to do what they do best- run their business.
Outsourced payroll services are offering more than small businesses expect such as 401k and excellent benefit packages.
Outsourced payroll services absorb the liability risk if there should be a payroll mistake.
Having a payroll service file business taxes and IRS reports can not only save time but eliminate costly penalties by errors done by a small business.
Several time and money saving reasons including cost of payroll software, training and all the time researching tax and necessary IRS information can dwindle away countless hours that could have been productively spent on creating a profit while you focused on your own business- not the human resource details.
Most small businesses who invest in outsourcing payroll enjoy the option of providing better benefits to their employees verses the benefits they would have been able to provide- if any at all. Outsourced payroll services deal with hundreds if not thousands of businesses so they are able to give great rates on 401k plans, health, dental and vision benefits because of their size. Also, businesses save money by outsourcing instead of thinking they would save money by doing it in-house. Businesses also use the time they would have spent on processing payroll on creating more of a profit because they are using their time to focus on their business and make money, not watching it slip through their fingers on expensive computers and payroll software.
Obvious Reasons Businesses Invest in Outsourcing Payroll
Having Less Employees- having payroll in-house means more employees to pay, give insurance to and find space for
Office expense of extra paper, stamps, envelopes, computers, etc.
Time- running your business is hard enough, let alone the time it takes to organize payroll and make sure it’s accurate, taxes and dealing with vacations, benefits and schedules.
Other Reasons Businesses are Taking Advantage of Outsourcing Payroll
Legality- a business can outsource all of the human resource related issues to another company, including legal responsibilities and other administrative responsibilities like worker’s comp which allows more time for a small business to do what they do best- run their business.
Outsourced payroll services are offering more than small businesses expect such as 401k and excellent benefit packages.
Outsourced payroll services absorb the liability risk if there should be a payroll mistake.
Having a payroll service file business taxes and IRS reports can not only save time but eliminate costly penalties by errors done by a small business.
Several time and money saving reasons including cost of payroll software, training and all the time researching tax and necessary IRS information can dwindle away countless hours that could have been productively spent on creating a profit while you focused on your own business- not the human resource details.
Most small businesses who invest in outsourcing payroll enjoy the option of providing better benefits to their employees verses the benefits they would have been able to provide- if any at all. Outsourced payroll services deal with hundreds if not thousands of businesses so they are able to give great rates on 401k plans, health, dental and vision benefits because of their size. Also, businesses save money by outsourcing instead of thinking they would save money by doing it in-house. Businesses also use the time they would have spent on processing payroll on creating more of a profit because they are using their time to focus on their business and make money, not watching it slip through their fingers on expensive computers and payroll software.
How to choose a good health care plan? by Francisco Segura
Locating affordable health care for Americans is not as easy as it used to be. Increasingly, workers are finding themselves on the receiving end from their employers who are reducing the services provided or passing on the increases. My work health care plan was, until the latter part of 2006, great but now the benefits it supplied have been reduced. The first we knew about it was when the company called a meeting informing of some changes including the switch to a cheaper health care provider.The excuse was that they were trying to ensure the new package would help everyone in the company. I am told that the new insurance package is still very good and I am lucky to have it. It is not that I am against other workers getting a good deal but they are now taking twice the amount out of my salary so that my husband and daughter are covered. Ok, so many other people benefit, including my company, but my paycheck is considerably lighter now that the premium has doubled to keep my family on the policy.To be honest, I got on well with the old provider but cannot see that happening here even if the health care plan is half decent. As far as I and some of my co-workers are concerned, the only real person to benefit form this new *affordable* health care arrangement is my company. You see, four years ago, I gave birth to a little girl and of course my old insurance paid for the whole of my hospital stay. I sat and worked out the cost of this new plan and if I were to stay in hospital now and have a baby it would cost around 4,000 dollars out of my own pocket.Keep in mind that although I would have to pay hospital fees, there is also the small matter of my co-pays as well. The availability of affordable health care plans is on the increase which should help those less fortunate. For workers in companies without health care plans and single mums for instance, this is a God send. Unfortunately, there are always a few that want to ruin it for the rest and this system is prone to misuse.For many people desperately trying to improve their situation these affordable health care plans are a life-line but to others they are just an easy option. We all have a responsibility to help those less fortunate but those who abuse the system put extra financial pressure on the rest of us. It is true to say that my employer is very happy because he found distinct benefits to finding a different health plan program. Many of the workers found themselves subsidizing the companys desire to save money yet still provide a scheme by ensuring that they paid in their paychecks. Affordable health care is a long term issue that needs addressing in this country because it is those worst off who are affected.
What is Difference Between California Small Group and Large Group Health Insurance by Dennis Jarvis
"Group coverage" is used loosely to describe health insurance plans that are employer sponsored but there is a distinction between "Small Group" and "Large Group" health benefits which is important. Your company's options can be quite different under these two umbrellas so let's take a look at the how they differ both in terms of qualification and treatment under the law.
What is "Small Group" in terms of employer-sponsored health insurance In the State of California, Small Group health insurance is essentially employer-sponsored health insurance for companies with 2-50 employees. Eligibility requirements and protection is handled under AB1672.
First, "Guaranteed issue" is a very big advantage to establishing a Group health insurance plan in California versus other States. Regardless of the health of employees enrolling, the carrier must offer coverage to an eligible company. There are requirements that must be met by the company but the big three are 1) 2-50 employees/owners; 2) 75% of the eligible employees must go with the plan; and 3) the employer must pay at least 50% of the employee's premium (does not mandate dependents). For more information on qualifying for Small Group coverage, please check our page of Small Group enrollment.
The ability of the company to change rates is also very important, especially for companies that have employees with health issues. In California, the carriers can up or down from the standard rate by 10%. This is called the RAF (Risk Adjustment Factor). The size of the group can affect this rate factor since the larger the group are more likely to get a lower RAF. The theory is that health issues are spread among a larger pool of people. It's not atypical for carriers to offer RAF guarantees based on the size of the enrolling group.
Finally, the health carriers in California designate and file their Small Group plans with State agency responsible. Any eligible group can then apply for the same plan regardless of health. This is important to keep carriers from "cherry picking" healthy groups on to certain plan types and excluding less healthy groups.
How does Large Group health insurance differ?
Officially, large group health insurance is for groups with more than 50 employees/owners. Some carriers may allow groups that were originally designated as Small Group to remain on the Small Group suite of plans if they grow beyond 50 employees but they are not required to. There are some very big differences when comparing Large Group with Small Group described above.
Large group plans are not protected by AB 1672 and are not "guaranteed issue". The carrier can decline coverage to groups based on claims experience and/or health history. Rates are built for that specific group's claims experience and risk so total amounts can vary significantly from group to group. The plan options are different from those offered to Small Group and then to offer many more options. Some carriers even offer more of a cafeteria option where employer's pick specific benefits to offer (i.e. choice of office copay, etc). Some Large group have tailor-made benefits to meet their needs and budget. Large group is quite different from Small Group and contacting an experienced agent is more important than ever when navigating this side of the business.
What is "Small Group" in terms of employer-sponsored health insurance In the State of California, Small Group health insurance is essentially employer-sponsored health insurance for companies with 2-50 employees. Eligibility requirements and protection is handled under AB1672.
First, "Guaranteed issue" is a very big advantage to establishing a Group health insurance plan in California versus other States. Regardless of the health of employees enrolling, the carrier must offer coverage to an eligible company. There are requirements that must be met by the company but the big three are 1) 2-50 employees/owners; 2) 75% of the eligible employees must go with the plan; and 3) the employer must pay at least 50% of the employee's premium (does not mandate dependents). For more information on qualifying for Small Group coverage, please check our page of Small Group enrollment.
The ability of the company to change rates is also very important, especially for companies that have employees with health issues. In California, the carriers can up or down from the standard rate by 10%. This is called the RAF (Risk Adjustment Factor). The size of the group can affect this rate factor since the larger the group are more likely to get a lower RAF. The theory is that health issues are spread among a larger pool of people. It's not atypical for carriers to offer RAF guarantees based on the size of the enrolling group.
Finally, the health carriers in California designate and file their Small Group plans with State agency responsible. Any eligible group can then apply for the same plan regardless of health. This is important to keep carriers from "cherry picking" healthy groups on to certain plan types and excluding less healthy groups.
How does Large Group health insurance differ?
Officially, large group health insurance is for groups with more than 50 employees/owners. Some carriers may allow groups that were originally designated as Small Group to remain on the Small Group suite of plans if they grow beyond 50 employees but they are not required to. There are some very big differences when comparing Large Group with Small Group described above.
Large group plans are not protected by AB 1672 and are not "guaranteed issue". The carrier can decline coverage to groups based on claims experience and/or health history. Rates are built for that specific group's claims experience and risk so total amounts can vary significantly from group to group. The plan options are different from those offered to Small Group and then to offer many more options. Some carriers even offer more of a cafeteria option where employer's pick specific benefits to offer (i.e. choice of office copay, etc). Some Large group have tailor-made benefits to meet their needs and budget. Large group is quite different from Small Group and contacting an experienced agent is more important than ever when navigating this side of the business.
Protect your health and wealth by insuring. by John Tesoriero
California Home and Health Insurance, 14 June 2008 ( Goarticles ) This site Insurance by John .com is means for those who want to create an insurance program for their health and wealth. We also dedicate ourselves to serve your insurance needs. We serve you helpful and correct information regarding Auto, Home, Life, Health, and Commercial Insurance. This will help you find which one will satisfy your needs. ( http://www.insurancebyjohn.com )We help you find the right insurance program that suits your need and make best use of it. San Diego insurance will also help you to find the right insurance. It is very important for a person to get a right health insurance, as nobody knows what will happen to you the next moment. So it is very important to get the protection you need. There are many and various plans, options and also restrictions in each and every plan. So you need to understand and then choose the appropriate policy that meets your need. California Health Insurance is available for everyone right from kids, individual families, small groups, to seniors. Life is unpredictable. We may be young and healthy now but who knows? Any thing may occur at any moment. Blue cross San Diego provides the health care services to the Californians. It has its own proven track record for innovation, focuses on progressive products and services designed to improve the health status of all Californians. Renters insurance of California supports those renters as they also face many of the same problems as a home owner. It is not only them; their personal belongings also need insurance protection. Another reason to get renters insurance is to protect you against any accidents caused by other tenants. Renters insurance can also protect against liability lawsuits or medical bills of guests injured in your apartment. It provides protection for your personal property against disasters such as fire, theft, windstorm damage and vandalism. ( http://www.insurancebyjohn.com )You could be held responsible for injury to another person or for damage to another person's property if such an incident occurs within your rented residence, or elsewhere, renters insurance can help protect you in case of a liability lawsuit against you.
Isn't it essential to insure your own house? Yes. It is not only important but also time to get your home insurance. It is also referred to as hazard insurance. Home insurance California provides you this package policy. That is it covers both damage to your property and your liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage you or members of your family cause to other people. It is property insurance that you are required to purchase to cover any damage that may occur to the property itself or to someone while in or on the property. ( http://www.insurancebyjohn.com )If you are dwelling in places that usually experience natural calamities such as flood and earth quakes, then you are requested to purchase flood insurance and earth quake insurance. So it time for you to protect your asset, your belonging, your house for which you have worked so hard for. The local San Diego insurance also helps you like us to get the apt insurance for you.
California Home and Health Insurance ( http://www.insurancebyjohn.com )Condo insurance is actually important for all condo home owners but to specify it is very much essential for first time home buyers. Though you have insured for your valuable bigger property, you may also need additional insurance to cover your personal items and personal belongings. There are two main types of condo insurance packages. They are the personal condo contents insurance policy, and a "master policy" commercial insurance provided by the condo homeowners association. The main difference between them is that Personal condo contents insurance policy provides coverage for your personal possessions. But the master policy covers the common areas you share with others in your building such as the building/structure, parking garage areas, the roof, basement, elevator, and walkways, etc.
CONTACT INFORMATION 1761 Hotel Circle S. #119, San Diego, CA 92108 Phone: 619-299-6000 Fax: 619-299-6007 Email: john@insurancebyjohn.com Web Site: http://www.insurancebyjohn.com
Isn't it essential to insure your own house? Yes. It is not only important but also time to get your home insurance. It is also referred to as hazard insurance. Home insurance California provides you this package policy. That is it covers both damage to your property and your liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage you or members of your family cause to other people. It is property insurance that you are required to purchase to cover any damage that may occur to the property itself or to someone while in or on the property. ( http://www.insurancebyjohn.com )If you are dwelling in places that usually experience natural calamities such as flood and earth quakes, then you are requested to purchase flood insurance and earth quake insurance. So it time for you to protect your asset, your belonging, your house for which you have worked so hard for. The local San Diego insurance also helps you like us to get the apt insurance for you.
California Home and Health Insurance ( http://www.insurancebyjohn.com )Condo insurance is actually important for all condo home owners but to specify it is very much essential for first time home buyers. Though you have insured for your valuable bigger property, you may also need additional insurance to cover your personal items and personal belongings. There are two main types of condo insurance packages. They are the personal condo contents insurance policy, and a "master policy" commercial insurance provided by the condo homeowners association. The main difference between them is that Personal condo contents insurance policy provides coverage for your personal possessions. But the master policy covers the common areas you share with others in your building such as the building/structure, parking garage areas, the roof, basement, elevator, and walkways, etc.
CONTACT INFORMATION 1761 Hotel Circle S. #119, San Diego, CA 92108 Phone: 619-299-6000 Fax: 619-299-6007 Email: john@insurancebyjohn.com Web Site: http://www.insurancebyjohn.com
Tips When Seeking A Promotional Item by Mike Selvon
You've likely heard that word-of-mouth advertising is the wave of the future. Long gone are the days where a fast-talking salesman swindles you into purchasing a "lemon" car, or billions of dollars are spent on a couple of strategically placed billboard ads.
Sure, it's still important to have a quality sales team and to spread your marketing agenda across mediums, but one of the most exciting ways to strike a chord with your target market is by offering a branded promotional item. Whether you want to get people talking and buying today or keep your customers coming back for more, promotional marketing products are a generous offering that will offer YOU big returns!
The key to selecting the ideal advertising promotional product is to first consider your targeted demographic. For example, you won't want to brand mouse pads for elderly women. Likewise, golf shirts won't work for 14-year-old boys. Secondly, consider where you will be marketing. If you're going to the beach, why not select a beach ball, a water bottle, visors, sunglasses, beach towels or imprinted sunblock?
Your target market will appreciate your thoughtfulness and will remember that experience forever! Thirdly, you will want to consider your quintessential brand message. How can you tie in the essence of your brand with a custom promotional product? For example, Skyy Vodka is partnering up with Sex and the City to offer "Samantha," "Charlotte," "Carrie" and "Miranda" cocktails at Houlihan's Bars across America. What better way to promote a sleek, "girls-night-out" brand image?
You may have heard that the "wearable" promotional item/corporate apparel is a crowd favorite. But suppose you're marketing something like health insurance or Pepto-Bismol. It's not likely that people will want to be your walking billboard.
Your shirt will only end up at Goodwill, in the bottom of a drawer or covered in paint. Instead, try to create a cross-promotion with something more exciting, perhaps a movie or a music artist. Or you may want a neat artistic design that subtly sneaks your brand name in somewhere.
Tote bags are big hits, no matter what you're promoting, because of its additional utility. You can even take that concept one step further and offer a cell phone cover, a wallet, a laundry hamper, a reusable shopping bag, or some other functional item.
We all like getting something for free -- be it imprinted pens, tote bags, stress relievers or key tags. Whether your marketing budget is big or small, you can create a personalized grassroots level campaign. There are limitless places to scour on the internet to find that perfect promotional item and you can sleep soundly at night knowing that your generosity is sure to pay off in the end!
Sure, it's still important to have a quality sales team and to spread your marketing agenda across mediums, but one of the most exciting ways to strike a chord with your target market is by offering a branded promotional item. Whether you want to get people talking and buying today or keep your customers coming back for more, promotional marketing products are a generous offering that will offer YOU big returns!
The key to selecting the ideal advertising promotional product is to first consider your targeted demographic. For example, you won't want to brand mouse pads for elderly women. Likewise, golf shirts won't work for 14-year-old boys. Secondly, consider where you will be marketing. If you're going to the beach, why not select a beach ball, a water bottle, visors, sunglasses, beach towels or imprinted sunblock?
Your target market will appreciate your thoughtfulness and will remember that experience forever! Thirdly, you will want to consider your quintessential brand message. How can you tie in the essence of your brand with a custom promotional product? For example, Skyy Vodka is partnering up with Sex and the City to offer "Samantha," "Charlotte," "Carrie" and "Miranda" cocktails at Houlihan's Bars across America. What better way to promote a sleek, "girls-night-out" brand image?
You may have heard that the "wearable" promotional item/corporate apparel is a crowd favorite. But suppose you're marketing something like health insurance or Pepto-Bismol. It's not likely that people will want to be your walking billboard.
Your shirt will only end up at Goodwill, in the bottom of a drawer or covered in paint. Instead, try to create a cross-promotion with something more exciting, perhaps a movie or a music artist. Or you may want a neat artistic design that subtly sneaks your brand name in somewhere.
Tote bags are big hits, no matter what you're promoting, because of its additional utility. You can even take that concept one step further and offer a cell phone cover, a wallet, a laundry hamper, a reusable shopping bag, or some other functional item.
We all like getting something for free -- be it imprinted pens, tote bags, stress relievers or key tags. Whether your marketing budget is big or small, you can create a personalized grassroots level campaign. There are limitless places to scour on the internet to find that perfect promotional item and you can sleep soundly at night knowing that your generosity is sure to pay off in the end!
5 Easy Ways To Save Money and Spend Less by Gina Clark
In this economy, it's hard not to spend more and more money each time you go to the grocery store and put gas into your car. Personal finances are getting tighter, and more people are getting bogged down in debt. There are things you can do, though, to help you spend less and save money in this economy. First, eat less meat. It's one of the highest priced food items we buy at the store, so cutting back can provide a small amount of relief to our personal finances. Try eating one meal without meat this week. Next week, make it two meals. Have vegetable soup, pancakes, scrambled eggs or spaghetti (without meatballs) instead. Get creative. Search online for meatless recipes. Not only will you save money, but its healthier and actually reduces the risk for cancer.Another one of the ways to save money is to re-shop your car insurance if you've had the same policy for 18 months or longer. Call around and get quotes from several other companies. Then, see if your current car insurance company will match your best quote. If not, switch companies. Also, if you pay your car insurance monthly or quarterly like most, find out if you will be charged any fees and how much they are for making payments. A couple bucks a month can really add up over the course of a year.>br? Not going to see movies at the theater and not renting videos from a video store can help ease the tension of personal finances. Instead, sign up for an online program that costs just a few dollars a month. Usually the price of the online club is equivalent to one trip to the movie theater or 2-3 video rentals. The videos are sent right to your door so you also save money on fuel. Buying generic is another one of the ways to save money. Most stores offer a generic equivalent to foods, health and beauty products and medicines. If you read the ingredients, they are usually the same or pretty close to it. Shop at Wal-Mart. I know lots of people who hate Wal-Mart. They say it's too crowded, too noisy, the lines are too long, etc. But you can't beat the prices. (If you're actually able to find something cheaper somewhere else, Wal-Mart will match the price.) You also save money on fuel, because Wal-Mart has pretty much everything: groceries, clothes, make-up, automotive products, medicine, etc. So you don't need to go to other stores. Maybe the lines are a little longer there, and it is a little noisier, but if you could save money every week it could very well be worth it. It's important to find ways to save money in this economy. Our personal finances depend on it. Try one of these tips to save money this week, and next week, try another.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Before You Hire, Should You Lease?
Before you hire that accountant or marketing manager, should you lease them instead? Increasingly, businesses are choosing from consultant-style agencies rather than hiring full-time workers. It can be a wise choice for small businesses in particular. Here's how to decide if Employee Leasing is right for you:
First, you must determine the hours of work you will actually need that employee. Too many companies, in the pride of being a company, do not realize that their employees are under challenged and would be more productive with a shortened schedule. Quite often, the employees feign busywork, aware of the expectation to appear busy. But many positions simply do not require much time. The only reason they are full-time positions is tradition has made them so. Ignore that expectation, and ask yourself, do I really need this position to be full-time?
If the answer is yes, look again. Imagine yourself in the position for which you are hiring. Would you be busy every day, for 8 hours? Or would your work come in seasonal loads, at times high, other times a mere trickle. Also ask what your emotional motive may be in hiring another person. Sometimes small business owners are lonely, and just want more people around. Could this be the case? If so, is there another way you can satisfy that social need?
Perhaps part of you balks at the idea of leasing an employee. You want to provide your employees with full-time, steady work and health insurance--the whole bit. If this is you, consider that employee leasing may be doing the employee a favor. They are getting experience at your company, without danger of losing their job. It is better to lease an employee than to hire them full-time and lay them off six months later when you realize you don't need them much, or can't afford them. Employee Leasing can be win-win for all parties.
A fear of some employers is releasing private company information. They feel concerned that the leased employee will leave with sensitive business information. However, you can easily control the information to which each employee has access. Just make the sensitive information off-limits, with computer passwords.
The benefits of employee leasing can be great. You are leasing professionals, not college kids from a temp agency. Professional leasing agencies do the background screening for you, the reference checks, and the interviews. So you save a lot of time at the beginning. Also, job training is minimal: The leased employee is already a professional in her field.
Which jobs are best for employee leasing? Accountants are a favorite. Financial management is quite similar from job to job, and easily interchangeable. But really, employee leasing can extend to positions that you may have never imagined. A short-term marketing manager could give your company's image a boost, or help prepare for a special event. Another idea is leasing a personal assistant for a busy period. A theater with a season of September-June may be best off leasing the majority of employees, rescaling to a minimal staff during summer months. You know your business best: What periods call for additional help? Can you do without that help at other times?
For cutting costs, in addition to employee leasing, consider how technology might help. Certified Payroll systems are becoming a popular opportunity to increase efficiency. Think creatively. You have many options for making your company more efficient.
Cutting Business Costs With Group Discounts, Coupons, Promotional Codes, And More During A Recession
Economists and political scientists are predicting a recession for 2008. Whether the recession has already begun, or is just around the corner is a topic hotly debated. However, one thing is for certain: healthcare and gasoline prices are steadily on the rise. Businesses are feeling the pinch, since gasoline is needed for travel, shipping, and commerce - and healthcare is necessary to ensure a workforce ready for duty. How can a business cut these costs without sacrificing the well-being of its workforce or the quality of its business?
Use promotional codes and discount coupons for travel and shipping
As fuel costs soar and oil futures remain steady at well over $100 a barrel, the costs of commerce and travel will remain high. Many rental car companies and shipping businesses are raising their prices accordingly to offset the costs of fuel. And, in many cities and towns around the country, the cost of renting a car inevitably includes an excise tax, or a levy used to raise funds for unrelated services like highway maintenance or public transportation.
Here are some tips for cutting the costs of shipping and travel:
- Get a business discount membership with a car rental company or an airline. These programs are often specifically designed for "frequent travelers" or "frequent fliers," and most offer discount coupons or promotional codes redeemable for discounted car rentals or business-class flights.
- Shop for fuel savings. Some retail stores and grocery chains offer promotional coupons or discount codes for gasoline purchases. If your employees travel frequently during the average workday (journalists and sales staff, for example, might make many automobile trips each day), discount coupons and codes can take the edge off of company-funded mileage reimbursements.
- Sign up for business shipping accounts, or join a business shipping discount program. Many well-known shipping companies, such as UPS, Yellow, and FedEx offer discount coupons and promotional codes that give businesses serious savings on local, national, and international shipping, and LTL hauling.
- Consider allowing each employee to choose his or her own individual plan, and provide partial reimbursement. Each employee can choose the healthcare plan that best suits his or her medical needs, age, and lifestyle. For example, a healthy male employee who is under 30 might choose a high-deductible plan with bare-bones options. Meanwhile, a middle-aged woman with diabetes might choose a low-deductible plan with a generous prescription drug allowance.
- Opt to start a self-funded plan for your office. Instead of paying out premiums, start a healthcare pool, into which each employee pays. Use this money to pay the costs of employee medical bills. During years when your office crew is healthy, you - and your employees - will save cash. This sort of plan can be supplemented with low cost "emergency" insurance for each worker.
- Join a group or guild. A small business has a small risk pool, which makes the costs of group coverage high. Risks are offset by size, which is one reason that larger businesses have less financial difficulty in insuring employees. This problem can be overcome in some instances by enrolling employees in a union, group, or guild that can offer insurance. Examples of such groups include The Writers Guild, The Entertainment Industry Group Insurance Trust, and various local chambers of commerce.
Shop for healthcare savings and discounts
The cost of healthcare premiums is steadily on the rise. According to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), these price hikes mean that only 48 percent of American businesses with fewer than ten employees are able to offer healthcare plans (over 90 percent of businesses with 50 or more employees, by contrast, can offer employer-sponsored health coverage).
It is risky to have uninsured employees. Common chronic illnesses like high cholesterol, Type II diabetes, and depression can cause absenteeism and under-performance on the job. Reality is cruel, however: businesses with fewer employees just don't have a large enough risk pool over which to spread healthcare costs. Health plan costs can have a big impact on the costs of doing business at small firms.
The following suggestions might be beneficial to small business owners who wish to offer their employees healthcare coverage:
The rising costs of fuel and healthcare can hobble businesses. However, proactive planning combined with bargain hunting can help even the smallest business weather a recession.
Allied Business Network enrolls businesses in discount purchasing memberships. The company offers discount coupons and promotional codes for national chains, including 4imprint, Hertz, Office Depot, UPS, and Computer Discount Warehouse. For more information, or to enroll in a discount membership, visit the company's online presence, ABNSave, at www.abnsave.com.
Artilcles can help advertise your business
The cost of starting a business these days can be astronomical. Apart from physically setting up your own business with offices, products and staff, other important factors need to be taken into consideration such as insurance, overheads (bills) and tools for you to practice you business. Once you have actually established your business, one of the best ways to obtain custom is from advertising which can be expensive. Which ever way you look at it, it is going to be expensive and the initial budget for advertising is only going to reach a limited amount of potential customers.
Compare the above scenario with the option of having an online business. The most striking difference is cost. Even if you employ a professional web designer, once you have paid for your hosting and domain name, that's it (apart from your time and any Adsense costs). Also, the hassle of having to travel everyday from your home to your office or workspace is eliminated. Having an online business has to be one of the most cost effective ways to establish and run a business. With the internet growing at an alarming rate, if you don't have a business online, or your current business is not online, you will be missing out on a small fortune.
Online businesses mean that your business is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Your customers won't be limited to your locality as people across the world can access your business and do regular transactions when you're sleeping, on holiday, even when you're sick your online business will be working for you, not you working for your business.. With having your own business online, you can reach even the farthest person on the planet. Physical distance is not a factor in dealing with clients online.
A drawback of an online business is that many people, including myself, like to touch or test a product before buying it. If they aren't able to do this they will often leave and go elsewhere. Also the ability to make shopping a leisure activity is somewhat limited when you're online and quite often you are competing with hundreds, thousands, if not millions of other businesses who are offering exactly the same as you. Therefore, most people will try and make their online business the most accessible - ie positioned high in search engine searches.
One of the best ways to get your online business noticed is by writing articles about your product. It gives you a chance to review and show readers what you have to offer and draw in potential customers. This term is often referred to Article Marketing. Similar to advertising with Adsense, the article focuses on descriptions and information that the author thinks is relevant to the reader.
When writing Articles for marketing purposed, it is important that you allow the reader to trust what you are saying. The best way of doing this is to provide links to embedded into your articles that will take the reader to another webpage that may give testimonials or further independent advice or reviews on the product or service being marketed. .
The basic principle of any internet marketer is to take your online business to the customer rather than waiting for the customer to come to you. Articles that are well written, informative and contain all the information that the reader is expecting should be enough to help lure customers to your chosen webpage on your business. Therefore, making articles concise, to the point and clear is always a benefit to any reader. I reckon most readers have made their mind up by the first paragraph or introduction if they are going to continue reading or look elsewhere.
It is important with good article marketing that you source the article directories that you wish to publish your article on. Some directories are aimed for health only or sports only and therefore you shouldn't submit articles about web design to them as chances are they will not publish them. It is also important to ensure that you place your article in the correct categories within the article directory to ensure that the readers will find them.
Remember, article writing is core to many internet marketers to help advertise their website and to try and generate traffic. Think of articles as an electronic word of mouth if you want. Both you and the reader can benefit from a well written article; the reader gets the information they were searching for and the you get the exposure that you wanted.
Top 11 Myths of Home Businesses
I have a small business providing accounting consulting services which is based out of my home. Most days I LOVE it - it is consistently interesting and incredibly fulfilling. The thing that has surprised me the most is the difference between the perception and the reality of what it means to have your own home business. Here's what I've learned:
top 11 home business myths:
11. You will not have enough work to make money from home. Alot of people are concerned that there will not be enough work for them to make money from home if they start their own home business. Before starting your own business look into the regional market for your skills (or check online if you are hoping to work remotely). Depending on the local market for your skills and experience you may find that there is an abundance of work available.
MY TAKE: One thing that I found useful during my start-up phase was to work with placement agencies and other contractors in order to find work. Generally you will make less money working with other contractors or employment agencies however you will make invaluable contacts and it will allow you to work consistently.
10. You will not be able to afford to take self employment vacations. It is a common misconception that owners of home based businesses can not afford to take self employment vacations. Contrary to popular belief, with proper planning and good fiscal planning self-employed individuals have a lot more flexibility in the timing and length of vacations that they can take. Employees generally have a limited amount of vacation available to them and get paid for vacation in one of two ways. Hourly employees often receive their vacation pay as an additional percentage on every paycheck, whereas salaried employees are often paid their salary as usual during their time off. Similar to hourly employees, contractors should include vacation pay in their hourly rates or job bids. While market rates and competing bids will sometimes determine the profit you make, there is some flexibility in the rates you charge and there are many factors to consider when setting your rates (more on this below).
MY TAKE: My personal experience has been that successful self-employed individuals must choose between the money they would make during a time period and their desire to have time off. I have prioritized having time away from full-time contracts periodically over the money I could earn during that time. It allows me to try out my own ideas and fully recharge before starting a new project.
9. You will not be able to get a mortgage or small business loan. It is a long held belief that home based business owners have a hard time getting mortgages or small business loans. This is not true. With small businesses and consulting firms on the rise, financial institutions have recognized the need to provide better services and comparable mortgages and loans to self-employed individuals.
MY TAKE: I was an employee when I applied for my mortgage however I have experience working with self-employed clients and friends to successfully apply for mortgages. The first thing I have learned is that it is important to shop around. Some people will be able to leverage their relationship with their bank to get a great mortgage that they couldn't get elsewhere but it is important to be sure that you are getting the best terms. Mortgage brokers are invaluable for shopping around as they can find out the terms a financial institution would offer you based on your specific circumstances. It is also very important that as an entrepreneur you are able to provide the bank with clear, organized business records that show consistent business activity for the past few years. I have no personal experience obtaining a small business loan or grant. The best sources of information on this are the websites of the major financial institutions and government bodies.
8. You will not be able to get small business health insurance. Many people are hesitant to start a home based business for fear of living without small business health insurance. There are a lot of great benefits providers out there for people who are self-employed. Government and non-profit insurance providers are available for lower income individuals and many other insurance providers have begun offering reasonable health insurance for all self-employed individuals. The key, as with everything, is to do your research.
MY TAKE: My experience seeking benefits for myself has been that there are many companies offering insurance for self-employed individuals but there are some special considerations. Some companies insist that coverage for less than 3-5 individuals will only be offered based on the results of a physical and they may exclude pre-existing conditions from the coverage they offer. It can also be difficult to get coverage in areas such as dental, optical and for specialists such as chiropractors.
7. You will not be able to save for retirement with self employment. Often people fear that they will not be able to save for retirement from self employment without a company pension plan. Financial planning is the key to saving for retirement as an employee or a self-employed individual. Unfortunately many companies are no longer offering pension plans for their employees and therefore the burden of retirement savings on the employed individual is much higher now. Ironically, this shift has meant that self-employed individuals may have an advantage over employees. Most self-employed individuals make their cash up front and pay less in income tax installments and with-holding taxes. This provides them with the cash flow to invest more money in 401ks and RRSPs during the year than employees. Additionally, self-employed individuals often have the option of "soft retirement" by shifting to part-time work before retiring completely.
MY TAKE: Personally, my switch to self-employment has sparked me to be more cognizant of saving for my retirement. In fact, my pension savings more than doubled in my first year as a contractor and have continued to grow steadily since then.
6. Your self employment income will be too sporadic to cover your costs. It is common for employed people to fear the fluctuations in self employment income that many people experience. With good budgeting and planning most contractors are able to spread their income over the full year. In fact as an employee your income is fixed but as a self employed individual you can tailor your work schedule to earn more or less money as you need it. Many entrepreneurs find themselves filling downtime or earning "overtime" with smaller ventures such as project or interim work.
MY TAKE: Since I started my consulting company I have not had any downtime that I did not plan out as vacation, training or transitional time. Personally I enjoy having one to two weeks off between major projects to work on my own projects and take some time away - therefore I plan for this with both my work schedule and my budgeting.
5. Self employment will look bad on your resume. Truthfully, there are still some places that would frown on some self employment experience on your resume as they may see this as a sign that the person is not suited to be an employee. However, many companies recognize the value of having an employee who shows initiative and has a well-rounded variety of experience. Successful business owners demonstrate many skills that potential employers are looking for such as: leadership; project management; accounting and budgeting; initiative and entrepreneurial spirit.
MY TAKE: In my experience recruiters for full-time jobs will often spread this myth in order to convince you to apply for jobs with their clients. Contracting recruiters will claim that the opposite is true. My experience with employers and human resource professionals has been that they recognize the value of hiring people with the diverse and well-rounded backgrounds that self-employment allows. The main questions that potential employers have are: why did you become self-employed? why do you want to return to being an employee? why now? why here? If you can answer these four questions satisfactorily then even the most skeptical employers will consider your application without reserve.
4. You will make more money with small business earnings. Typically small business earnings are based on higher hourly rates than the effective hourly rate earned by employees and therefore people often assume that contractors make more money for the same amount of work. The truth is that the rates charged by self employed individuals include a premium to compensate consultants for the added risk to the contractor; the convenience factor for the hirer; the costs normally covered by an employer (benefits, pension, some government remittances, vacation, statutory holidays, bonus, double-time, training, supplies, overhead, professional dues and medical or maternity leave); and the cost savings to the employer (administrative and human resource costs such as hiring, termination and severance costs). The larger monetary benefits of working as a contractor seldom come from higher hourly rates but come from lower taxes, more cash flow for pension spending and the ability to control your income by working more or less hours.
MY TAKE: My earnings as a contract worker have been similar to the "all-in" salary and benefits+ amount that I was paid as an employee (with the same growth as my employed contemporaries). The main non-monetary benefit to me has been the ability to work less or more depending on my desire and having more choice over whom I work with and what I work on. The main monetary benefit have been the tax savings I have experienced due to both the additional deductions as a contractor and the additional RRSP (401k) contributions I have been able to make due to the up-front cash I have received.
3. You will be your own boss. You probably want to start your own business in order to be your own boss and truthfully there are many areas of work that contractors have more control over than employees however contractors are not entirely without oversight. As a contractor instead of having just one boss you have many bosses. Every client you have is also your "boss" - they determine what you work on, when you work on it, how you work on it and where you work on it. Further, when working on-site for clients it is necessary to comply with all their office rules and guidelines. The other aspect of being your own boss is the responsibility that comes with it. As your own boss you are the one solely responsible for every aspect of your business from beginning to end. You must be comfortable pursuing new work, applying and interviewing for new projects, working at different places on different tasks, and taking care of customer billing and collections.
MY TAKE: As a contractor I can often negotiate my hours, the location of my work, the type of work I do, the companies/people I will or will not work with and the amount of money I get paid. Unfortunately this does not always mean that in the short-term I never have to compromise for a client or project. Some projects dictate that you work longer hours or work outside your region. The main difference is that I have the choice to reject the project or discontinue the work at anytime without legal repercussions.
2. You will set your own hours and work less. Many people start their own businesses in order to have control over how many hours they work but contractors aren't guaranteed to work less than employees. It is true that once you have established your business you can pursue contracts and projects that allow for more flexible hours and less overtime. There is not guarantee, however, that you will always be able to find such projects. Further, as the one who is solely responsible for every aspect of your business, people often find that they are required to work additional hours in order to establish and maintain their business.
MY TAKE: Personally I have chosen to take contracts with longer hours in past due to other considerations (experience, networking, higher rates, great location, etc...) however for the most part I have strived to find positions with flexible hours and little or no overtime. This has given me the freedom to pursue my own projects and spend more time with my family. This has required a lot of planning and budgeting and has generally led to lower annual incomes then I might otherwise earn however the improvement in my quality of life has made this more than worth it.
and the biggest myth of home based businesses...
1. You will always be able to work at home. The words "home based business" bring to mind images of working at home while wearing your pajamas. Home based businesses often require travel and/or visitation of external offices. Sales and service jobs typically require meetings with clients. Even remote IT personnel often need to visit their head office periodically. The flip side of this is that, the majority of the time, home based businesses can be run from anywhere - with only a phone and laptop.
MY TAKE: I have taken on contracts which require me to work off-site everyday, four days a week or once a week. I have also done work that was completely remote but I find this to be the exception rather than the rule for my field (chartered accountant).As mentioned above though I have also enjoyed being able to work at home, at the cottage, at campgrounds, at family members houses and many other beautiful places. There is definitely a lot more freedom as to where you work when you have a home based business - but you should not rely on the idea that you can run things without ever leaving your home.
Overall, the best way to know what you are getting into is to do some research. If possible talk to someone in your field who has an established business, talk to local recruiters and businesses about the availability of work, look for contract or project listings online. It is also a good idea to sit down and calculate the amount of money you need to earn every month in order to maintain your desired lifestyle - this will provide you with a benchmark to compare expected earnings to. Whether you decide to take the leap or not it pays to be informed.
Don't Be Too Sure You Are Safe Out of Your Local Area
An advised was released by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to individuals who are on the 55s and spending their holiday. They are advice to have travel insurance.
Annually the number of older holidaygoers is on the rise. It is estimated that 20% were engaging in unsafe activities and they would not tolerate staying only at home.
A little less than 20% reports of self injuries or being injured during overseas trip. A tenth allegedly do not behave in a safe conduct while they are expecting their own offspring.
The FCO also insisted that holidaygoers on 55s should visit their dotor and got check up prior to their journeying.
Lastly, the FCO urges holidaymakers, particularly the over 55s, to make certain that their travel insurance is sufficient for their needs.
The Heathrow's Terminal 5 have just opened. But it was greeted with a huge problem and trouble lies in dire of those lacking on travel insurance. The terminal stated that there are over 200 cancelled flights and thousand of traveler's luggages have been mislaid. Unfortunately travelers had to cover the costs and suffer them from the inconvenience surrounding the whole 4.3billion terminal.
However, only those who have comprehensive insurance were able to get the claim for the delays and mislaid luggage together with the flight cancellation and the expense of acquiring accommodation. The airline insures the consumer to refund for the missed flights.
If you are planning to go on a trip, make sure you have read the latest news regarding the country you are going to. A lot of people who get contaminated by various diseases from foreign countries are those who do not read the dailies. Bird flu is what's prevalent today. Check the news what countries are affected by it and as much as possible, try to avoid going to those countries. There is nothing better than being safe.
Perhaps you can schedule for a new destination if you really want to have a get-away. Rescheduling your trip is also a very good idea.
If you are really persistent in going to the country that has a disease outbreak like Bird Flu (either for pleasure or for business), then better get an immunization first against the disease that country has. If you have had the required immunizations before, check with your doctor if you need booster shots for it. Nevertheless, always remember that if you can avoid the infected country, then don't bother going. If it's for business purposes, you can check with your company if they can reschedule your trip. I am sure they wouldn't want to lose one of their best employees, do they?
They say that before leaving your house, you have to bring all the medicines you need--more so if you are scheduled to travel domestically or internationally. Even though your medicines are over the counter, chances are, the drugs that are available in other countries are not of the same milligram as to your preferred medicine. There are other problems that can be encountered but the most common one is that of unavailability of the medicine you need for your medication. Just make sure that you bring all the medicines you need in order to have a safe, happy trip.
If you are planning to go to Europe, having insurance is not a problem at all. You are entitled to have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which allows you to have insurance when you are in any of the European countries. This insurance entitles you to have your medical treatment for a small fee (if not for free), and the coverage of this is three to five years from the date of your trip. This card is valid for anyone who goes to or lives in any of the European countries plus, other countries included in the European Economic Area (EEA) such as Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. What's more is that, this insurance card covers pre-existing medical conditions (even chronic ones for that matter).
Term Life Insurance Companies: Your Partners For Progress
While driving off to work and stuck in the morning traffic churning up the turnpike, you mindlessly listen to the morning news on radio as former Federal Reserve Chairman Allan Greenspan answers a question about term life insurance rates, then suddenly you snap back to reality in thinking how great it would be to have a partner other than your spouse to help you financially guarantee a bright future for the kids. Before getting any naughty ideas as your mind floats in excitement, consider getting an insurance company as your partner you can rely on when the horizon gets dark.
Yes! One of those reputable insurance firms is what you need to get by to augment everything that you got. Many opened minded souls have availed of this opportunity in the past and are enjoying the fruits of their labor today, despite the negative business forecasts looming ahead; the chosen few have remained steadfast and undaunted. To be in the same league as they are, it’s high time that you get covered by a term life insurance of your own and discover the many benefits it shall do for you and your loved ones as an investment package.
This is the most coveted insurance type as the name term suggests, youthful men and women raising small children tightly working on their budgets are loyal clients of this policy, offering flexibility in payment until your desired service feature is up, now that your still healthy and can squeeze in your extra dough, it’s the perfect time signing up for the rates are low but the return if investment is high. Partnering with the trusted name in the insurance industry like Sun Life or other firms of your choice is your best bet, for these term life insurance companies are bankable.
An insurance agent of your choice, with their names and addresses posted on yellow pages shall definitely walk you through the whole process offering the best options as both of you work on your given budgets. Make sure that you list all your monthly over heads like the utility bills and miscellaneous expenses clearly, with your spare in tuck, this goes right in your piggy bank assuring a religious mode of payments.
You don’t have to wait for all of these to transpire, to get ahead of the game and infuse you with better ideas, go right to your home computer and check the internet, this powerful tool will lead you to an “life insurance calculator” a device that will ask you to put your basic stats in like age, height, weight and everyday lifestyle from your nocturnal behavior to eating preferences. This then determines your total eligibility for the initial requirement of your term life instant quote.
Later be ready with the medical examinations, a certified nurse or Doctor will visit you at home at a mutually convenient time, this is free of charge at the insurance companies expense and take notes of your medical history from heart diseases to your drinking habits as this are detrimental procedures that must be adhered to. Just be factual and answer truthfully saving you time and embarrassment that you don’t want to in the first place in getting your term life insurance coverage.
After completing all the necessary tests and paper works, the medical results goes back to your insurance company and they’ll evaluate which rate bracket to place you in. This takes around 4- 6 weeks to give ample time for you to start remitting for your investment. Then the approval part comes in, you sign and confirm placing the first payment then you are insured. Battle won the first round for most people. But it’s still halfway won. Why? As we all age, we develop unhealthy habits affecting our health and this directly translates on the insurance that you’ve got.
Remember that after the end of your stipulated term of 10 or 20 years. In most case you’ll still be working and supporting your family, you still qualify to buy in half the price you used to pay, giving you maximum savings, provided you’re in excellent health. So it makes a whole lot of sense to eat right and live right as early as now.
SOFT SKILLS: What It Takes To Become A Professional Stocks Trader by Stocks-And-Commodities.com
The things that separate the amateur stocks trader from the professional stocks trader are the same things that separate the boys from the men. And no, I’m not being sexist there. Everyone, and I mean everyone is indeed capable of making the jump to becoming a successful professional stocks trader. However, what many amateur stocks traders lack is often NOT knowledge, but important SOFT SKILLS. Now you may be wondering: what do I mean by soft skills?
Firstly, I would like the clear up the distinction between hard and soft skills. Hard skills are those traits that place an emphasis on knowing the technical aspects of stocks trading. For example, what a put option is, what a future is, what this index means etc. On the other hand, soft skills are those traits that place an emphasis on the mentality of the trader especially how they react to changes in the price of stocks.
There are 3 types of soft skills that I find to be the most important and which you can acquire in order to graduate from being an amateur stocks trader to a professional stocks trader.
1. ***You’re in it for the long term*** : professional stocks traders are successful because they have a long term vision. They are never in it for a short term gain. Why? Because short term gains are generally small and sometimes non-existent. But if they’re there for a long period, let’s say 5 years, then they can realistically expect a healthy and bigger return due to the longer time period. So the message is that any success in stock trading can only be guaranteed if you invest for the long term. Short term gains are only for amateur stocks traders!
2. ***Expect to make losses*** : this soft skill is related to the first skill of being in it for the long term. Professional stocks traders always expect to make losses in the short term in order for a greater reward in the long term. It’s easy to get turned off by the prospect of making losses but the truth of the matter is that if all that you expect are gains, then you will be disappointed and will get out of stocks trading before you know it. Short term losses are all part of the process of making a gain in the long term. Therefore, it’s important to not be discouraged by the prospect of losses in order to ultimately be successful as a professional stocks trader.
3. ***Be decisive!*** : Napoleon Hill says that successful people are those that makes decisions quickly and change them slowly. This is also a trait of successful professional stocks traders. Unfortunately, most stocks traders are those who make decisions slowly and change them quickly. And in a volatile stockmarket, making decisions quickly becomes even more important. Changes in the stockmarket have to be reacted to quickly but they must be done in a decisive manner, because sticking to your decisions is one of the traits of a successful professional stocks trader.
Those are probably the 3 most important soft skills that professional stocks traders employ than amateur ones do not. However, there are courses on the Internet that teach you these soft skills and others in much greater depth. It’s all about finding the best course and program for you. In particular, there is one great course called Masterful Trading that we offer for FREE on our website and which can be immediately accessed by anyone. In addition, we have other great articles on the latest techniques and strategies for successful stock trading.
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