Business/Entrepreneurship – Page 102 – The Big Words Blog Site

Expanding The Empire – What You Need To Know About Business Acquisitions

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In addition to growing organically, businesses can also grow by acquiring other smaller businesses. There are positives and negatives when acquisitions occur. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Expanding The Empire – What You Need To Know About Business Acquisitions.

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Every entrepreneur dreams of making their empire bigger and better than ever. While there are many different ways to achieve this goal, acquiring a smaller business is perhaps the most efficient of all. First and foremost, it provides a shortcut by allowing you to inherit the existing brand, equipment, and innovations. Secondly, it enables you to grow your empire without impacting the already successful business that you’ve built from scratch.

Global giants such as Nike, Apple, and Microsoft acquire small businesses on a regular basis. Sometimes those brands are incorporated under the umbrella, and something the products are repackaged as a part of the main brand. Either way, if it’s good enough for the big players, it’s certainly good enough for you. Nonetheless, if you’re going to expand the empire in this manner, it’s vital that you do it in the best possible fashion. The following tips will allow you to make it happen by avoiding the pitfalls and focusing on the positives.

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Know Exactly What You’re Buying

Buying out another business isn’t something you do on a whim. There will be solid reasons for wanting to take on this company. This could revolve around a love of the products, especially if there is a potential for them to bolster your own services. Or perhaps you love the brand image and have ideas to take it to the next level. Either way, it’s imperative that your acquisition includes the physical and intellectual assets that you crave. Experts at De Bruin Law Firm offer a specialized service in acquisitions and mergers to ensure that things go to plan. Purchasing a venture that isn’t as it seems would be a nightmare.

It’s equally important to understand the finances behind the business, as you may be forced into taking on the debt from the previous owners. The legalities and practicalities behind purchasing a smaller company are fairly complex. This is why you must never rush into the process. This is especially true if the company has been listed on a business exchange platform. After all, there could be a reason for selling that would discourage you from completing the transaction. Due to the financial implications involved, extensive research is a must.

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Know Whether It’s The Right Fit

There are literally thousands of great companies that have either been listed or would be open to being bought out. However, that doesn’t mean every option is right for your empire. In fact, the harsh reality is that only a small percentage of prospective acquisition will be worth your time and money. Patience is a virtue when scouting potential businesses to purchase. Even a company that seems like the perfect fit at a glance could have contrasting goals and values. Essentially, it’ll only work out when the two companies can successfully merge and work together.

With this in mind, you must consider the target demographics and the various aspects of daily operations. If the companies are at odds with each other despite being closely related in some areas, it’ll be a smarter move to look elsewhere. This proactive planning will also make the transition far smoother when you announce the plans to your current team. It is particularly noteworthy if the merger will affect them. Of course, you might want to acquire an operation that has no real link to the current business. This is absolutely fine too, but it should at least be a venture you can feel passionately about. Otherwise, the lost enthusiasm can lead to negative outcomes.

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Know Whether To Keep The Brand

Once you’ve acquired a company, there is a huge decision to make regarding the brand. You can either persist with the brand as it is, or merge the assets and transfer them to the existing company that you’ve built. Either way, you’ll need to put some personal touches on things. Nevertheless, the impacts created depending on the chosen pathway are huge. When opting for the former, you may want to relaunch with new logos and artwork to underline that this is a new era. This can drum up excitement from loyal customers as well as new demographics.

If you are going to simply incorporate the products and services as a part of your company, there are many ways to do it. Some companies like to present the acquired company as a sub-brand under the umbrella of the company. Others prefer to simply rebrand the products and services as though they are a new addition. There is no one right or wrong way to do things. Ultimately, you just have to do what feels right for your company and brand. As long as your decision is calculated and built to gain the best long-term results, you should be just fine.

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Know What You’re Doing With The Staff

As you already know from your existing business endeavors, the importance of a strong team cannot be emphasized enough. This is especially true when acquiring another business for your empire. Attracting the best new candidates is vital. Still, you should also existing employees the opportunity to continue their work for the company. Even if the company is to be relocated, some staff members may be willing to follow. Alternatively, remote-based positions can open doors that were previously closed. Aside from satisfying your human responsibilities, it’s the perfect way to retain info and insight into the workings of the operation.

Whether taking on new employees or persisting with the existing ones, you need them to be on the same page. The strong recruitment process should be followed by smart onboarding procedures. The idea is to make new members feel included. Simple ideas like having their desk and name badges ready can make a big impact. Going forward, staff training and team building enable you to sculpt the team into the shape that you desire. This is the best way to build upon the success of the old regime while still stamping your authority on procedures too.

Know The Numbers

Every major business decision should be made with financial elements in mind. Completing an acquisition is only worthwhile if the numbers add up. Experts at KPMG offer the full auditing services that you need to complete before making the transaction. This includes weighing up every financial aspect on the books to ensure that the buy is worthwhile, and in your best financial interests. The recent performance needs to be weighed up against the ongoing expenses and various other features. Given the significance of the decision, getting the company accountants involved is also advised.

It’s impossible to predict the future, especially if you are planning to make wholesale changes to the acquisition. Still, making forecasts is the only way to gain any real confidence before making the purchase. Without those predictions, every action is made on pure speculation. While it could work in your favor, it’s likely that it will backfire spectacularly. On a similar note, you need to consider the implications that the initial outlay and ongoing expenses can have on your business and brand. If the new acquisition is going to pile the pressure on your empire, it’s not a risk worth taking.

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Know The Competition

As was the case when launching your initial business empire, it’s not all about your company. The marketplace will inevitably be bursting with competing businesses, and it’s vital that you pay respect to them. Apart from anything else, a deeper understanding of the market could potentially open your eyes to a far better solution. More importantly, when you do make your decision, this market research will help you plot your next moves. After all, the marketing exploits following the merger are almost as crucial as every other element combined. Without an appreciation of the competition, it’s impossible to show clients why your new business is the right choice.

It’s not uncommon for bigger empires to take on several smaller companies and merge them together in one larger acquisition. If this is to be the path that you choose, be sure that all of those associated firms fit together. It’s likely that you will join them together and rebrand them as one, either as a new entity or by incorporating one into the other. Once again, the research you’ve done into the competition (branding and products) will give you the best shot at doing something bigger and better. Whether this includes wholesale changes or leaving things largely unchanged is entirely up to you.

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The Final Word

Acquiring a business to form the latest part of your empire can unlock a bigger and brighter future, but only when it’s done well. While there are a lot of issues to consider, it’s imperative that you complete those tasks now rather than later. Essentially, failure to prepare is preparation to fail. With the right research into the finances, performance, and long-term prospects will work wonders. If those findings show that the company will fit in with the existing operations, you can be sure that this will be a long and successful partnership. If that doesn’t signify a successful acquisition, then what does?

How to Increase the Capacity of Your Business for Growth

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In any business enterprise, especially those that are younger and still growing, it’s critical to understand how to most efficiently increase its capacity. The following contributed post is thus entitled, How to Increase the Capacity of Your Business for Growth.

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If you are looking for a way to grow your business, chances are that you will have to invest time and money in redesigning the systems. The good news is that there are several cost-effective approaches that will allow you to measure your return on investment and help you achieve your goals no matter where you are looking for development areas. From staffing to reducing waiting times, there must be several rooms for improvement. Find out more below.

Outsource

If you simply cannot do everything alone, and your order volumes have increased, you will need to make a decision to use other people’s time and skills. In case you are not yet ready to employ people full time, or don’t have the office or workshop space to accommodate employees, you might decide to outsource and increase your capacity this way without having to make permanent investments.

Simplify

If you are dealing with complicated processes and services, it might be time to simplify some of them, so you can see the system working and get a snapshot of where your projects are heading and what the holdup is. You can utilize some advanced project management systems, as well as a CRM system that will save you time on keeping an eye on your leads and your customers.

Automate

There are several things you can automate in your business without having to opt for employing people or outsourcing. If your bookkeeping takes you a lot of time, you can get an app that will do all the jobs for you, and you can spend time on what really matters in your business. You can also automate communication and follow ups, so you don’t have to call every client back to see if they are happy.

Focus on Productivity

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One of the main reasons for business failure is low productivity. If you are running your one-man band, you need to make sure that you can pay yourself a decent salary and still have funds to grow your business. There are several ways you can improve your productivity, such as increasing your delivery capacity or reducing your turnaround times. If you own a warehouse, for example, you simply changing your Casters can make a huge difference in your business output.

Time Management and Bottlenecks

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One of the main reasons why companies are unable to progress to the next stage is the lack of workflow management. If you are not familiar with lean organizations, it might be time to take on a course or employ an advisor. Chances are that there are some bottlenecks in your workflow processes that hold you back from improving your productivity and your profitability. Identifying your bottlenecks will help you improve your business long term.

There are several reasons companies stagnate in their growth and cannot move on to the next step. You will need to identify what is holding you back from progress and improving your productivity and capacity. Growing your business is challenging, and you might need professional advice to avoid the most common pitfalls.

Importance of Technology In Business

hree of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s digital world, technology has infiltrated and affected pretty much every aspect of life and the business world is the same. Falling behind these advancements can be very, very costly. The following contributed post is thus entitled; Importance of Technology In Business.

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More and more we are seeing businesses turn to technology for all manner of things. The importance of tech in the modern world cannot be overstated and yet some companies continue to lag behind. To make sure you are not one of those businesses, we are going to discuss here so of the important things to remember when it comes to technology and your operations.

Equipment

Firstly, it is important to remember that technology is not just referencing the modern day use of computers. We will come on the value of the computer era shortly, but it is worth bearing in mind that if you are a manufacturer, then there may be equipment out there like CNC Machining Centres that will help you make your product quicker and possibly better. Researching the impact of the tech landscape for the industry you are working in before pushing ahead is critical to your success, so make sure you’re addressing any technological pitfalls in your business quickly.

Computers must also be discussed when it comes to the equipment being used in business, and more importantly what they are used for. Every office around the country has a computer of some kind at this point of the 21st century, but the important thing is are they using it for all they can. A lot of employees will know how to use the basics from documents to spreadsheets, but there are advantages with computers that can make your operations more efficient. You should consider applications that focus their attention on productivity like Asana so that your company can operate at a higher level than your competitors.

Photo by typographyimages from Pixabay

Security

Technology and security have had a fractious relationship over the years. It is fair to say that the rise of different software and hardware has created criminal activity that was unthought of just a few decades ago. However, there are pros as well thanks to the ability to track your systems remotely, protect your company’s important documents and keep track of your premises.

Running a business, cybercrime is never going be too far away from your thoughts due to all the sensitive data that you will be handling. For this, however, some solutions are relatively straightforward, and that also open up other opportunities for you. A virtual private server (VPS), for example, is a remote server accessible only by the user, meaning that you can install software away from your main operations and be confident in its security. Companies like HostGator and BlueHost both offer you the chance to explore this technology not just for protection, but also so that you can have a dedicated server for your website or software. What that means is that rather than splitting server power across lots of different parts of your business, you can direct one sole server to the most important bit.

Technology and business should go hand in hand. It’s just about finding what is best for you.

Steadying The Stream Of Business Information

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. Operating businesses has changed considerably in this new Information Age. A major part of this is properly managing large sums data both efficiently and responsibly – something many organizations have excelled at while others have struggled. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Steadying The Stream Of Business Information.

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Business has changed a lot over the last couple of decades, with loads of new technology entering the world which can make the lives of companies far easier. Some have been able to embrace this change, while others have struggled to keep up with it, and the different adoption times of each business have created a mess of different information which you have to be able to process. To make this easier for you, this post will be exploring some of the best ways to steady the stream of content coming into your company.

File Management

Keeping file systems clean and tidy is a job which most people find very hard. Much like keeping aspects of your life in order, achieving this sort of goal when you don’t know much about the machines you’re using can be a real challenge. To overcome this, a lot of companies have started to give their teams file management courses. While this sort of effort will cost you money, it will be worth it once your teams are all using the same methods to keep their machines clean, as this will save loads of time.

Make A Copy

When you first receive a document, the first step you need to take will be to create a copy which anyone can use. This should always be digital, and should be in a format which is widely used, but this can be achieved using a simple scanner and software like Office 365, making it nice and easy to get started with. Having all of your documents in the same format is a great way to make it easier for your team to use them.

Secure It

As your handling data for your business throughout this process, the work you are doing is likely to be subject to data protection laws. To make sure that you’re compliant, any sensitive documents need to be secure, as this will help to prevent prying eyes from seeing what is inside. Both Windows and macOS have the ability to handle this natively, making it nice and easy to get started with your existing files.

Put It Somewhere Safe

Once you have your documents copied and securely formatted, it will be time to leave them with someone who can be trusted. Document management services provide you with an easy way to keep you data safe from criminals, while also enabling you to find what you need with incredible ease, and this is something which can’t be said for a lot of other options. Taking storage out of your own hands is an easy way to improve this whole process.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to get started on the time you put into the information which comes into your business. A lot of people struggle with this sort of work, finding it hard to know what they need to do to keep their information in order. In reality, though, you already have the tools you need, and simply need to get started.

The One Investment Option That Can Suit All

Two of the key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Real Estate Investing and acquiring property have long been key components in the wealth-building strategies of many investors. In some instances, they’re the primary component. While they can be very lucrative, there are several key aspects to consider when going in. The following contributed post is thus entitled, The One Investment Option That Can Suit All.

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Think about how many investment options there are out there today. Now, think about how many of them that you’ve given a go. Investment is just such a wide area to even think about covering in one article, which is why we want to hone in on one of the best. This investment option is one that’s so easy to understand, so easy to make money on, and it revolves around a market that only seems to be growing and growing. So, if you want to know what the one investment option there is out there that suits all, it’s property. We think it suits all because we’ve all had our own experience with the market, it’s just so easy to understand, and there’s so much money to be made from it. The more time you spend around the property market, the more you realise how easy it is to be able to make money from it! So, if you want to invest, have a read on to find out more.

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Why It Suits All

Ok, so this is the first thing that you need to think about. The investment world suits all because there’s a few different routes that you could go down, and you don’t have to think about the most expensive ones. You can actually jump right onto the property ladder with very little money, but come out of it with a nice little profit. Of course, you could then work your way up until you were making big investments, and in turn making a lot of money from it. If you’ve never even brought a property before, we still do think that it suits everyone. All you have to do is speak to an advisor, or read one of the many articles that there are on the internet relating to it. Things such as property flipping are actually so easy to understand. But it’s not just property flipping that you could think of, you need to start broadening your earning potential through property.

How To Start Investing

Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty of it. If you want to start investing, you need to talk to the right people. First on your list should be a realtor such as Frank DiTommaso who would be able to talk you through the common routes people take, and any homes that might suit your budget depending on what route you’re going to take! Then, you most definitely do need to talk to a financial advisor. Someone who can point you in the right direction in terms of money, and make sure that you’re not about to make the biggest financial mistake of your life.

The Benefits You’ll Have

The main benefit is that you’ll be in a market that just only seems to be growing. If you know you’re looking for a get rich quick scheme, then property definitely is the way forward. You’ll also have something to enjoy, and something that you can turn into a lifelong investment that you can keep getting things out of!

Real Estate: Investment Issues That Are Negotiable

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“Real Estate Investing has long been a key component in the wealth-building strategies of many people. In some instances, it’s the primary component. While it can be very lucrative for investors, there are several key aspects to consider when going in.”

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Two of the key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Real Estate Investing has long been a key component in the wealth-building strategies of many people. In some instances, it’s the primary component. While it can be very lucrative for investors, there are several key aspects to consider when going in. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Real Estate: Investment Issues That Are Negotiable.

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Real estate investors want a project to go as smoothly as possible, which is why there are red flags. As soon as you see them, it’s a sign to move onto the next listing and leave that one behind. For most people, they seem as if they are too dangerous to ignore and will put the investment at risk.

In truth, they aren’t as problematic as investors like to imagine. Yes, they are by no means perfect, yet the majority of the issues have solutions which are surprisingly basic and effective. Not only that; they are affordable too. Although it’s tough to go against years of conditioning, it may help you find a property which is the Holy Grail.

The best way to decide is to check out the advice underneath. If you agree with it, then there is no reason not to add it your strategy. If it appears too risky, you don’t have to adopt the tactics either. Here are the things to keep in mind regarding investment issues.

A Lack of Experience

Every investment story has to start somewhere. But a lack of experience can very easily lead to expensive mistakes, as you might not yet understand how to identify a good investment. But while you can’t gain personal experience without getting stuck in, you can benefit from the experience of others.
Always do your research, both in the market and in other, more experienced and renowned investors like Gavril Yushvaev. This way, you can understand why they make some of the decisions they do and hopefully make some money yourself. Even better, you can even hire more experienced investment professionals to help you make the right decisions for your market and needs.

Failing To Screen Tenants

Picture the scene. You’ve pumped a lot of money into a rental and now you’re on the lookout for tenants. However, because there wasn’t much time to waste, you didn’t do a thorough check. Now, you’re worried about continuing with the agreement in case the renters don’t pay up and leave you out of pocket. It’s one of the main fears with rental properties around the world.

Still, it isn’t as destructive as it sounds. Why? It’s because landlords can make people sign guarantor deals if they aren’t sure they’ll keep up with the payments. In essence, this means a tenant has to find a person to secure the deal, a lot like an insurer. Then, should they get into financial trouble, the guarantor(s) have to step in and pay the money.

In short, it’s an excellent contingency plan for landlords. Rather than chasing tenants with no money, you can legally go after the sponsor. When two people are liable for the payment, there’s a better chance of breaking even. Remember: nothing is stopping you from requiring multiple backers for a single tenant. That way, the odds shift in your favor by a large margin.

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Not Saving Enough Money

There isn’t enough money in the budget to pay for the investment. This is a typical problem which investors face on a regular basis, and experience levels don’t impact it. Whether people are amateurs or professionals, there will always be unforeseen expenses that pop up out of nowhere. The difference isn’t in spotting them beforehand; it’s in having a backup.

Whereas novices panic, experts understand they need a cash injection as quickly as possible. So, they go to a bank and secure a loan. The money will cover the outgoings and stop the debts from mounting up, and it won’t be restricting either. As long as the investment goes well, the profit from the project will pay off the balance. Even if it doesn’t, there are ways to stop the extortionate interest rates from kicking in.

Take a credit card as an example. You can take out a 0% loan and swap it every couple of months or years. Then, all you have to pay is the minimum balance for as long as necessary. When there is enough money in the pot, then it’s possible to clear it permanently. Creditcards.com has more tricks and tips if you’re interested.

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Forgetting The Home Inspection

Do it at your peril, the specialists say. There will be a major problem, such as subsidence, they warn. And, it will ruin the entire investment, they prophesize. In truth, even the huge issues are negotiable with the right tactics. It’s about not panicking and finding the perfect partner to dig you out of a hole.

Take a subsiding property as an example. You’ve purchased one without knowing and need an effective and affordable fix. HelitechCCD.com has the answer thanks to its foundation services. There is everything from earth shoring to ground improvement which will transform the foundations of the area. With their help, there is no reason to worry about the land or the structure of the building.

The same goes for mold. Experts like to make out it’s a death sentence, yet it’s easy to clear with good ventilation and a tin of paint. Take the moisture out of the air and the green stuff will struggle to grow. Use the paint to give the room its va va vroom back.

Hiring Cowboys Contractors

Buying a property and not having to renovate any area of the building is a pipedream. Regardless of whether it’s okay to move into, the odds are high that you’ll want to make changes. To do that, a contractor is essential as they have skill and experience and you don’t. So, they can fill in the gaps, literally and metaphorically.

Hiring cowboys is the greatest fear as they can ruin the investment. Thankfully, it’s not tricky to spot them from a mile away. All you need to do is ask them a few questions and analyze their answers. For example, get them to provide details of previous customers. Any company that is standoffish clearly has a reason to keep the information close to their chests.

Of course, a simple Google search is the only research tool you need nowadays. If there are complaints, they will be online for everyone to see.

Falling Foul Of The Economy

A 2008-style recession can happen at any moment and leave you high and dry. For people without vast amounts of wealth, this is a real danger as it will wipe away your funds. And, properties are tough to offload in a downward trending market.

The good news is there are multiple ways to invest, and you can do it without owning a home. REITs are usually compared to mutual funds and have high dividends which make them perfect for investors.

Plus, they can be varied so they will diversify a portfolio too.

There are always solutions to problems. It’s up to you to find them.

What It Takes To Be A CEO

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) wield a lot of power and control whole industrial sectors. Their decisions greatly impact the lives of those under them and their influence even rivals that of politicians. They must possess a select collection of skills to ascend to their positions and be successful. The following contributed post is thus entitled, What It Takes To Be A CEO.

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To be a CEO is one of the biggest responsibilities in the world. You have a whole company relying on you, and you have your own lifestyle to support through it. But everyone thinks that’s just as easy as setting up a business, figuring out how to run it, and then helping it along its way. Oh no, this is far from what it takes to be a CEO. To be a CEO you have to have so many qualities and skills, that this article truly won’t cover it. If you’re not a CEO at the minute, and you’re just thinking of becoming one, then you really do need to have a general insight of what it takes to be a good CEO. There’s no point setting up your own company if you’re not the right person to do it. If you have your own company at the minute, there’s also no point in moving forward if you don’t know what it takes to be a good CEO. So, let us enlighten you, and show you what we think it’s going to take!

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The Right Skills

You definitely do need the right skills if you’re going to be the best CEO for your company. We’re talking skills like communication, problem solving, and working under pressure. You might think you have all of this at the minute, but we think there are always areas that can be improved. To make sure you have all of the necessary skills, and that you perfect them, we think you should take some business management courses. Don’t think there’s just one that will tell you all, there’s so many different management courses you could go on to make sure you’re the best. Even if it’s just you at the minute, the courses won’t be teaching you how to lead, they’ll be teaching you how you can run a business more than anything!

The Right Vision

The vision you have is essential, and please don’t tell us it’s focused around putting millions in your bank account. Of course this is going to be the end goal, but it shouldn’t be the vision. The vision should be what you think your company should be doing in a few years time, and how you want it to expand. Jos Opdeweegh is a businessman who has been successful throughout his career, and has now wrote articles on the vision that business owners should have, and what they shouldn’t have. If the focus is always on money, the bigger picture of the business could be lost sight of.

The Ability To Lead

The ability to lead is definitely something we want to finish the article with. You have to be that person that your whole team can come to in a time of need, not just when it’s to do with business. We think that’s really what it takes to be a true leader. If you can’t be that person who anyone can come to, you’ll be the person that anyone turns against. There really are some terrible CEOs that bring a company down because they just can’t lead.

Should You Buy To Rent Or Buy To Let As A New Property Owner?

Two of the key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. There’s a lot of power in buying property and getting into the real estate game. When you buy property, you have the option of living in it, or ‘letting’ (renting). The following contributed post is thus entitled; Should You Buy To Rent Or Buy To Let As A New Property Owner?

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Recently we discussed some of the considerations that you need to make before you decide to invest in property. One of the most important choices is whether you buy to rent or buy to sell. Each poses different advantages and disadvantages. So, let’s explore each of these possibilities and think about which one is right for your needs.

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Buying

The first option is to buy and the main benefit is that you can immediately see a financial boost from this decision. At most after buying, you will need to keep the property for a few months. After that, you can resell and hopefully gain a substantial add on to the price you paid.

The other big bonus of buying to sell is that you will not need to worry about the responsibilities that come from letting out a property. Becoming a landlord is certainly not going to be for everyone and the issues that you’ll face can cause a great deal of stress in your life. By making a purchase to sell almost immediately or at least in the first year, you can cut this issue out completely.

That said, there are other problems. If you invest in a new property, then you will likely need to make this investment with a loan. The problem here is that even after you sell, you might not see a significant gain due to the amount you’ll need to pay off in interest to cover the loan.

Instead, you may be better off purchasing a fixer-upper. The issue here is that you can end up with a money pit. As such, you will need to be very careful about choosing the property before you commit to a purchase. There’s a thin line between a property that will be great for flipping and one that will leave you in debt.

Letting

The alternate possibility would be purchasing a property to let. The big benefit here is that you’ll have a long-term additional income for your accounts. You’ll get money every time rent is due which can provide a nice cash cushion.

However, you will have plenty of responsibilities including ensuring that a property is safe. For instance, you will need to make sure that you invest in the right equipment from servicefireequip.com. As you might have guessed, this also means more costs and it’s not just about the changes you will need to make to any property you invest in.

You’ll need to pay for a property management team as well. The good news is that by doing this you can get what is essentially going to be a hands-off experience when investing in property. You won’t have to worry about issues with completing fixes, showing new tenants around or accessibility. All this will be covered by your management team.

We hope this gives you an idea of the two main options when you are investing in property that you can consider. Using this advice, you can decide which one is right for your needs. You can learn more about buying to rent on theguardian.com.

Are We Heading For A Recession And How Can You Prepare?

Two of the key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. I didn’t learn until later in life that there are five economic/business ‘cycles’ and whenever there is a ‘Prosperity’ there will eventually be a ‘Recession’, so this isn’t all magic and chance. Once you know that there will be recessions in the future, you can think about how to prepare for them. The following contributed post is thus entitled Are We Heading For A Recession And How Can You Prepare?

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Are you worried about the potential threat of a recession? It’s understandable if you are because the last time one rocked the global economy, a lot of people suffered. Savings were lost, businesses crashed, pensioners were left penniless and people lost their homes. The last time we had a serious recession was in 2008. Now, you may not be aware of this, but the economy is pretty much like a rollercoaster or a constantly repeating bell graph. It climbs up, remains at roughly the optimum point for a while and then comes crashing back down. It’s a system that never fails and while we can’t predict when the next recession will hit, we know one is coming. However, there are a few questions that need to be answered.

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Will it Be As Bad As 2008?

By economists 2008 is counted as a severe depression for some parts of the world including the UK and America. It was devastating and while it’s not quite the worst case scenario, it wasn’t too far off. So, you would be forgiven for panicking about whether or not another could potentially hit sooner rather than later with this magnitude. The good news is that currently, economists are not predicting a severe recession similar to the Wall Street Crash which actually bordered on a depression. If that happens then it will be a complete shock with very few people actually predicting it. We say very few because there’s always someone that sees this type of collapse coming. You can read more about this on https://observer.com/2018/03/niall-ferguson-warns-next-recession-near/.

What Are The Signs A Recession Is Coming?

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One of the earliest signs of a recession is a low level of spending and high unemployment rates. Currently, in countries like America, employment rates are actually high and people are continuing to spend. Indeed, with the festive shopping period in full swing, businesses haven’t seen a slow down although there are noticeable changes as can be seen on https://www.inquisitr.com/5203694/have-you-noticed-that-real-christmas-tree-prices-are-higher-you-can-thank-the-2008-recession-for-that/.

In fact, Goldman & Sachs recently reported that as long as consumers continue on this trend, the fears of a potential recession can be ignored. Ultimately, the general public can keep the economy swinging high. This will actually offset other issues such as failing stocks and high interest rates. Those issues are currently on the market right now and without a high level of spending, we could still reach a recession even before 2018 ends.

There is one important distinction here though with spending. Spending is only a good sign if people can afford it. One of the main causes of the last depression was people spending money they didn’t have and buying homes or investing in property that they couldn’t actually afford. Ultimately, this leads to an economy being built on something that’s no more stable than a house of cards. Eventually, it will come tumbling down.

How Can Private Individuals Plan For A Recession?

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First, if you are living in rented accommodation, inquire with your landlord and check whether they own the property outright. They are under no obligation to tell you this, however many will, to provide you with the peace of mind you need. If they own the property outright, there is less chance, they’ll lose it and you’ll be forced to move out during a recession. If you are currently paying a mortgage on your home, make sure that your budget is flexible for changes and that you will be able to afford a significant increase in costs.

This is all about saving. You need to make sure that you saving as much as you possibly can through the months or years leading up to a recession. It’s crucial that you have a solid amount that you can fall back on if the economy does take a turn for the worse. If you are worried that a recession is on its way, it’s time to cut out the luxury purchases. Instead, you need to make sure that this money is being kept and not just kept but invested.

Any money that you do save should not remain stagnant and must be invested in the right areas. For a recession, you need to focus on the securest and firmest investment possibilities. There are a few choices to consider here.

You can learn about some of the possibilities on sites like https://www.collinseow.com/cpf-investment. One option would be gold. Gold is often considered to be the only true currency because unlike other possibilities it doesn’t rise or fall in value. This means that if you invest in gold, your shares will ultimately remain more or less constant and that’s exactly what you want

Property is another choice that is largely considered to be secure. When you invest in property, it’s important to choose a property that you can afford and that is not going to negatively impact your finances. If you do need to take out a mortgage, you need to make sure it fits your budget and that the rent or resale more than covers the cost.

How Can Business Owners Prepare?

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For business owners, it’s all about cutting costs. When a recession hits, you might experience a severe drop in level of customer interest or the number of customers making purchases. If this happens, then your business model needs to be able to handle the change. The best way to guarantee this is to make sure that your business budget is as tight as possible. Ultimately you need to streamline your company and reduce wastage as much as you can.

You might also want to think about increasing levels of flexibility in your business model. You can do this if you cut out some of the more expensive and permanent parts of your company. For instance, you should think about getting rid of the business model and instead working from home.

The businesses that tend to be hit most by a recession are those selling luxury products and services. If this describes your company, then do consider thinking about refocusing your efforts on delivering budget-friendly options that all clients and customers can afford. You can learn more about selling luxury products on https://www.theguardian.com/media-network/2014/nov/.

We hope this helps you handle the potential threat of a recession as a private individual and potentially a business owner.

Ensuring Your Employees Give An A Star Performance

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and to of its key focuses are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A major part of growing and maintaining your organization is hiring and then properly developing your staff. Doing so will be advantageous while not doing so will have an adverse effect on your overall operations. The following contributed post is thus entitled; Ensuring Your Employees Give An A Star Performance.

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When hiring your employees, you should understand by now the importance of not rushing the process. There are so many things that you need to look out for in order to make sure that you’re choosing the right candidates for the job. You need to ask the right questions, be a good judge of character, and follow up references given to you so that you can essentially have a second opinion on what you’re already thinking. But it doesn’t stop there. Once you have decided who is going to be part of the team, you need to turn them into your business warriors, as they are now the face of what your business, and any mistakes they make will not only reflect it, but it’ll reflect you too. Your faith lies in their hands, so while small errors happen from time to time, you want to avoid all disasters so that you stand a good chance at having the success you want and deserve.

Here are some ideas of how to ensure that your employees are giving an A star performance every single day.

Train them to perfection
If for any reason your employee’s aren’t up to scratch with the latest software or tools, then it is down to you to make sure they learn, and properly. Fortunately, you can offer them all the Onsite Microsoft Excel Training they need, without them even having to leave the office and miss out on anything else that’s happening. So whether you opt for group training, one on one, or taking a complete beginner and turning them into an expert – you don’t have to worry about wasting any valuable time as you will have what you need right at your very fingertips.

Give them the support
Sometimes we can wake up on the wrong side of the bed and be in an awful mood for the rest of the day. Sometimes it can be a lot more severe than that, and yet you may not be able to tell the difference when it’s happening to someone else other than yourself. This is why you need to be a supportive boss that gives their staff all the help they need and require when times get hard. Keep your office door open when you’re not busy, and let everyone know that you’re there to help or even just listen when they need it. While professionalism should always be in your mind and working attitude, we’re still human.

Create weekly or monthly incentives
There is nothing wrong with creating a little more incentive when it comes to your employees finishing and completing tasks to the best of their ability. Of course, one could argue that they’re there to do the job brilliantly regardless of what’s on offer, and while this is true, having an incentive gives people that extra kick up the bum they may need to motivate themselves and be a force to be reckoned with. What you offer doesn’t have to be huge – it can be as simple as a nice bottle of wine up for grabs, or cinema tickets.