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Showing posts from July, 2021

4 Strategies To Stay On Top Of Your Finances As A Business Owner

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It’s no secret that running a business is hard work. It takes a lot of effort and passion to succeed in the marketplace, and there are many ways for you to be short on your goals without even realizing it. However, one way you can easily take care of some issues before they get out of hand is by staying on top of your finances as a business owner. Here are four strategies that will help you stay on top of your finances. 1. Have An Excellent Billing Strategy The best way to stay on top of your finances is to have an excellent billing strategy . This means being proactive in collecting unpaid invoices and keeping current on the rates your clients are paying.  It is always better to be proactive with billing than reactive, so consider using a billing calculator to create an accurate list of what clients owe you. For starters, are you a supplier that’s  looking for a Freight Class shipping calculator?  A shipping calculator can help you determine your cargo density and e...

How to Protect Yourself from Utility Bill Increases

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Utility bills are an inescapable part of modern life. Before COVID-19 , heating, cooling, lighting, cooking, electronic gadgets, and other mod cons cost average American families $115 per month . Then people began working from home during the pandemic, their energy bills rose accordingly. So, how can you protect yourself from utility bill increases in an ever-shifting world? We’ll begin this guide with a brief foray into climate change, and then we’ll explore a few common reasons why utility bills rise over time. After that, we’ll delve into ratemaking, and then we’ll discuss ways to guard against energy bill hikes. Let’s get started. Will Climate Change Affect My Utility Bills? If the recent weather in Texas has proven anything, it’s that energy grids aren’t infallible—even in the land of 10-gallon hats. For the third time in ten years, Texas power plants completely failed, leaving millions of residents without electricity in the middle of a freezing winter storm. Wholesale elect...

7 Glories Of Adult Life That You Didn’t Realize Were So Difficult

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Adult life is so much fun. You have so many responsibilities with life and death decisions to make – and yet when we were young, we couldn’t wait to grow up. We all kind of regret that a little bit now, as we face the trials of being a grown-up, even when we don’t feel like one. Napping in the middle of the day and crawling around never sounded so good when you’re drowning in a pile of paperwork that needs completing. But, luckily for you, there are some ways around this, and we know what they are! In this article, we look at some of the glories of adulthood that you didn’t know were going to be so difficult and how to navigate them a little better. 1. Paying Bills The first, and we’ve got to say, everyone’s favorite – is paying bills. Oh, how we all love receiving our bills each month, telling us how much money we will be paying out. And keeping on top of bills can become somewhat of a nightmare, depending on your financial situation. We recommend, above all else, that you make...

8 Common Money Mistakes To Avoid To Be Financially Fit

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If there is one thing that many of us hope for in our lives, it is to be financially fit and well. Unfortunately, while this may be a great dream, it can be tricky to achieve, especially if we find ourselves making the same mistakes time and time again.  Do you want to avoid making those common money mistakes? Want to be financially fit and well? Check out our top guide to help you get back on track. 1. Not Understanding Or Approaching Taxes Properly  Taxes are a vital part of your finances, and it is one that you need to make sure you manage well. So not only do you want to try your best to be preparing your taxes as accurately as you can, but it would help if you also thought about how you can make your taxes work for you .  If you look online, there are several different tax benefits that you can apply to your claims. Knowing how best to make them work for you will help you make the most of the money you do have. A good  bookkeeping  professional can he...

What Is an LLC? And How Is It Different Than a Corporation?

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I know a thing or two about the complexities of launching a new business. As the owner of several businesses in the Los Angeles entertainment industry, I know from experience that you’ll have a quadrillion questions. And one of the initial questions you’ll certainly need to ask is, “What is an LLC, and how does it compare to a corp?” Then naturally, your next question will be, “So…which one should I set up?” Most “movers and shakers” need to pick between establishing a corporation (aka Inc.) or a limited liability company (aka LLC). This can be a tough decision, largely because it’s difficult to understand the differences (let alone which might benefit you more)! DISCLAIMER: I want to quickly stop and say that I am not a CPA or Attorney. I am an entrepreneur that has started multiple companies and other entities for real estate purposes. So what I write here is what I have learned for myself over the years (much of which was from my CPA and attorney). Before you make your final de...

How To Start A Minority-Owned Business

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Starting a new business can be a challenging and intimidating process for anyone, and minority-owned operations have historically been underrepresented. Plus, these ventures can sometimes find it difficult to secure funding or may not be aware of the different programs that can be taken advantage of.  We’re on hand to guide you through the steps you need to take to start your own minority-owned business and where to find additional support.  Minority-Owned Business Statistics There are now 8 million minority-owned businesses in the US  – Things have definitely been moving in the right direction in recent years, with minority-owned businesses now comprising around  29% of all businesses in the US Only 11% of minority-owned businesses have employees  – The vast majority of minority-owned businesses are single-person operations with no paid employees. While this figure is growing each year, it’s still quite a disparity Sales have grown 35%, but profits have ...

What Happens When You Lease a Car?

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Are you thinking about getting a new car? Buying a car is a big step. There’s a ton to consider—what type of car do you want? Do you want a newest model? How long do you want to keep your car? You also need to consider things like your lifestyle, how often you travel and more. If you’re having trouble deciding, there is another option—leasing a car. But how does it work? What happens when you lease a car, exactly? We’ll delve into all the details you know, so you can make the right decision for you. What Happens When You Lease a Car? Leasing a car is a lot like renting one—but for a much longer period of time. When you buy a car, you own it after you’ve made all your monthly payments. But when you lease a car, you’ll make monthly payments, drive it for a set amount of time and give it back to the dealer when your time’s up. Though leasing isn’t a fit for everyone, it can be convenient and is worth considering. Here are seven reasons leasing a car might be a good option for you. ...

How to Check Your Credit Report for Identity Theft

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Identity thieves are almost always opportunistic—but the crimes they commit feel very personal. Unauthorized credit card charges, bogus loan applications, missing money, and other financial violations make fraud a major nightmare. To keep fraud in check, you need to know how to check your credit report for identity theft, and how to deal with problems when they arise. In this post, we’ll talk about the warning signs of identity theft—and then we’ll show you how to stamp out fraud before it starts. Warning Signs of Identity Theft Incorrect Personal Information Lender Inquiries You Don’t Recognize Accounts You Never Opened Credit Utilization Goes Up Credit Score Goes Up or Down Unexpectedly Public Records You Don’t Recognize How Do I Check My Credit for Identity Theft? To avoid falling victim to identity theft , examine your credit report regularly. You can access a free copy of your credit report from all three bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—once a year. (Throug...

Top 5 Administrative Tools for Small Businesses

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Thanks to the constant progress of digital tools and the variety of packages available to businesses of all sizes and means, business administration is now easier than ever for small business owners. However, the tedium of managing the day-to-day of everything from incorporation to recognition, tax management, and recruitment takes up a lot of a business owner’s valuable time – time that could be better spent elsewhere or enjoying other aspects of life. With that in mind, below are the top five administrative tools for small businesses. 1. Incorporation Service Determining what kind of legal entity your business will be is one of the most crucial decisions that small business owners face. Whether during the planning stage or for other reasons during the lifecycle of your business, choosing to incorporate is a critically important consideration. Most small business owners seek legal expertise and help when incorporating, but you can also  incorporate online  and potential...

FedLoan Lawsuit: How To Change Your Loan Servicer?

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Loan servicers deal with the billing and other administrative issues for student loans. They act on behalf of the government or a private company. If a borrower faces problems regarding repayment or needs further advice, loan servicers are the first to help. If you ever wanted to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), the chances are high that you heard about FedLoan Servicing. This is the loan servicer dealing with the PSLF program.  Although FedLoan deals with billions worth of loans, they sometimes face lawsuits against their operations. This is because not all borrowers receive the service they expect from the loan servicer, which becomes a base for lawsuits.  In this guide, we will discuss previous lawsuits FedLoan faced. Besides, we will note how to change loan servicers if borrowers are not satisfied with the service. The FedLoan Lawsuit of 2017 In 2017, the Massachusetts Attorney General started an investigation against FedLoan Servicing. The base of ...