Tuesday, 23 April 2019
Monday, 22 April 2019
Saturday, 20 April 2019
Friday, 19 April 2019
How the Bond Market Influences Currencies and Exchange Rates
Image by rawpixel from Pixabay
The bond market has a significant role in determining the direction of currencies and exchange rates. Therefore, if you haven’t been tracking bonds as part of your trading, here’s a good primer on why you should consider the bond market. This is especially true for currency traders, since bonds influence the currency pairs in your portfolio.
The Bond Market
Bonds are a trading specialty in their own right.
You don’t need to be an expert in bonds in order to understand their influence on currency markets. Because bonds are so closely connected to currency pairs, bonds traders find it an easy transition to forex and vice versa.
This is partly because bond rates typically move in tandem with currency pairs. Moreover, things that influence currencies also influence bonds. Or, more accurately, economic events influence bonds which influence the currency.
From a forex trader’s perspective, we focus on the most important of the bonds: treasuries or sovereign bonds.
These are debt commitments issued by the government. Moreover, virtually all the debt of a country is denominated in bonds. These bonds are considered the most reliable. They are the ones that are most likely to be paid off and can function in the same way a currency can. Often, big corporate deals will be paid with bonds instead of actual cash, because it’s more convenient.
RELATED ARTICLE: WHAT DOES THE BIG MAC INDEX HAVE TO DO WITH FOREX TRADING?
Bond Prices and Yields
A bond is a commitment by the issuer to pay a certain amount of money in the future, plus interest rates. So, it’s like a loan. But, unlike a loan, it’s transferable. In other words, you can buy and sell bonds.
The price of a bond depends on how likely the issuer is to pay it back, plus the interest rate. If the issuer is less likely to pay the bond back, then the interest rate needs to be higher to offset that risk and incentivize people to buy it.
Rising economic risk, therefore, translates into higher bond interest rates, which is called the yield.
The United States is seen as one of the most stable economies, and their government is the most likely to pay their bonds. Therefore, interest rates on their bonds are low.
By contrast, a country with a worse economic outlook, such as Turkey, will have a higher interest rate on their bonds. This interest rate differential is what leads to carry trading, one of the driving forces behind currency values.
The interest rate paid on bonds is related to the reference rate of the central bank. Investors can choose to deposit their money in the bank or buy bonds.
They can take the money out of their bank account whenever they want. However, the bond has a fixed time. For example, a bond might have a fixed time of one year. In other words, you can’t redeem your bond until a year from now.
Bonds have a higher risk than bank deposits. Accordingly, they also have a higher interest rate than bank deposits. Increasing the reference rate translates into higher bond yields, and lower interest rates translates to lower yields.
The Search for Yields and the Return to Safety
Interest rates influence the value of a currency. That’s because of the demand for buying bonds in that currency. Countries with higher interest rates will attract more investors in their bonds, because those investors want to get a higher yield. Also, the demand for the currency needed to buy those bonds makes that currency stronger. And vice versa.
The reason governments don’t just jack the interest rate in order to get all the money flowing into their country is that it increases the cost of servicing their own debt. Also, as interest rates increase, it makes bonds more attractive compared to other riskier investments, such as stocks or buying things. And this reduces activity in the economy.
Poor economic performance translates into lower interest rates, as regulators try to stimulate their economies. That means bad economic news lowers demand for bonds in that currency. This translates into a lower value of the currency. And this is how a risk-off environment strengthens “safe haven” currencies while weakening emerging market currencies.
Bond Yields as a Gauge of Currency Moves
Bond yields move as investors balance their desire for more return on their investment compared to the risk of default (or ability to sell the bond in the future). This leads to currency flows between countries that cause their respective pairs to move. And that’s why traders can know what is happening in the currency market by looking at bonds, and vice versa.
The post How the Bond Market Influences Currencies and Exchange Rates appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/19/bond-market-influences-currencies/
3 Important Considerations When Planning an Office Renovation
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Many people consider the office where they work their “second home” because they spend most of their time there daily. Therefore, if you’re considering an office renovation, it’s best to do some careful planning.
For example, considering how important the office is, it is key to focus on its design in order to inspire employees to give their best.
RELATED ARTICLE: TURNING YOUR SKILL AT INTERIOR DESIGN INTO A BUSINESS
There are several pieces of research that have successfully linked employee productivity, engagement, office design, and the organization’s bottom line. Recently, the World Green Building Council carried out research that established evidence of the effect office design has on the health of the staff, their well-being, and their productivity.
Here we highlight three important things to note for your office renovation.
1. Get Ideas from Your Employees
It is important to seek input from your employees and take their ideas for office renovation into consideration. Employees will feel happier when they are given some decision-making power when it comes to their work space and how they work.
Taking this first step makes sense. That’s because your employees occupy the space and are in the perfect position to suggest what improvements will make their work better. Also, your company will definitely record better productivity when your staff is happier.
What’s more, employees know what layouts work best and meet their needs. This is true whether you’re renovating recreational rooms, meeting rooms, or collaborative work spaces. Therefore, be sure to take their suggestions into account when you’re planning your office renovation.
Gathering ideas from your employees will make it a lot easier to visualize what the new office layout should be. Also, you’ll better understand what type of office furniture you will need, as well as other things like lighting and artwork.
2. Determine How Much Space Is Available for Your Office Renovation
The next thing you need to do is to figure out how much space you have to work with for your office renovation.
For example, are you tearing down walls to create an open space? Or are you adding new walls or compartmentalizing the space? You will also need to factor in electrical sockets and wiring. You could also encounter other challenges during your office renovation.
It is important to note that the space you are renovating will determine the cost of your office renovation. Therefore, you need to know the specific dimensions of the entire office space based on the new design plan.
3. Choose Office Furniture Carefully
The office furniture is probably one of the most important factors to consider in any office renovation. The office furniture should make work comfortable for the staff. Also, it plays a major role in creating the right ambiance and environment for employee productivity. Moreover, offices are shifting away from the traditional office look and moving to more colorful and unconventional furniture design.
In fact, many companies, especially those in the tech sector, have embraced a more relaxed and friendly style of furniture for their office spaces. You can walk into some office spaces and find employees working with their laptops while sitting on a sofa. In short, office furniture plays a key role in creating an office culture and affects employees’ general productivity.
Call on the Experts for Help with Your Office Renovation
Companies such as Furniture123.co.uk have a wide range of furniture that can fit most office design layouts and spaces. What’s more, Furniture123.co.uk has a team of experienced and highly creative individuals who design fantastic furniture pieces for any type of office. So call on them to help you with your office renovation.
The post 3 Important Considerations When Planning an Office Renovation appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/19/considerations-office-renovation/
Thursday, 18 April 2019
Should You Transfer Ownership of Your Trademark to Your Company?
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There are two ownership options when registering your trademark in Australia. You can register under your name, or you can register under the name of your business.
There’s no one correct answer. Your circumstances will indicate which option best suits you. However, there have recently been changes to the legalities around who has the right to own a trademark in Australia. You need to consider these changes before you make a decision.
Seek Professional Advice About Your Trademark
Jacqui Pryor, an attorney from Mark My Words Trademarks, recommends seeking professional advice when it comes to registering trademarks within Australia. That’s because there are a number of factors to take into consideration.
What Are Some Considerations About Registering a Trademark?
If you’re considering registering a trademark in your capacity, you need to be aware of the risks. When a mark is registered, but not used within the prescribed period, you’re in danger of having the mark removed by a third party. They can do this if they can prove “non-use.”
This can happen when you register the trademark in your name and then allow your company to use it. In this case, you should have a licensing agreement in place between you (the registered owner), and your company (the authorized user).
What’s more, it’s not enough to have the understanding in writing. In fact, you need paperwork that’s structured correctly to certify your company is viewed as an “authorized user.” This means the courts will recognize your company’s use of the mark as if you were using it, as the owner.
An Agreement Needs to Conform to Current Law
Specifically, the agreement needs to adhere to the provisions laid out in the Trade Marks Act 1995. Any licensing agreement, moreover, needs to reflect these provisions. Also, you and your company need to show that you’re fulfilling the requirements of the contract. For example, you’ll need to take the responsibility of quality control for the goods or services offered under the trademark. You’ll also have to manage all finances that relate to them.
Let’s Look at a How the Legal System Interpreted a Recent Case
Case law has recently examined a situation that put into question the rightful owner of a trademark. In the past, a director of a company would likely assume that by registering a mark in their name (and then allowing their company to use it) they could claim themselves as the owner. This is common in situations where there is only one director. However, a case that illustrates the problems with these assumptions was Insight Radiology Pty Ltd v Insight Clinical Imaging Pty Ltd ([2017] FCAFC 83).
The issue that arose is that trademarks are put through an opposition period after the trademark application’s approval. Another individual could refer to various provisions in the Act to oppose the registration of the trademark. For example, they could claim that the person who filed the application was not the owner of the mark. They can argue they are the rightful owner instead.
RELATED ARTICLE: SMALL DETAILS YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND BEFORE FORMING A LEGAL ENTITY
How Did the Court Rule in This Trademark Case?
In this case, the Federal Court of Australia determined that the person who claimed ownership of a logo never intended to use it or authorize another entity to use it. That’s because he did not try to license it to his company. For ownership to be certified, the applicant has to provide information proving the reason for authorship or evidence of prior use of the mark. Alternatively, the applicant can show that they filed the application and that they intended to use it.
This person did transfer ownership of the mark to the company at a later stage. However, the court found that this didn’t change the fact that he had initially filed the application in his name. This is because ownership is assumed on the date the application is filed. The court stated that his company had always owned the trademark and he never had the right to transfer ownership of a logo that was never rightly his.
What Does This Mean for You?
Being the only director of a company doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be the owner of the trademark. A business name cannot own a trademark. Therefore, an applicant needs to consider the rightful owners when they apply. Who is the author or creator of the mark, and who paid for its creation in the case of collateral like a logo? Is the individual going to use the logo or will the company use it?
It is important to note that there is no cost difference between registering a trademark in your name and that of your company.
Consider These Examples
Here are some situations that will affect your decision:
- If you are a sole trader, you should file the application in your name.
- For a company that is a partnership, there will be joint ownership of the mark.
- If your company later files for incorporation you’ll need a transfer to license the mark to the company.
What Are the Benefits of Protecting Your Trademark?
The most significant benefits of registering a trademark, particularly for smaller businesses are:
- You can avoid drawing up a licensing agreement between you and your company and all the paperwork that involves.
- You confirm rightful ownership so there can be no opposition in the future.
It may be more suitable for you to work with a holding company, which can hold assets for other companies. They would still need to license the use of the trademark to the trading company. Moreover, they would need to prove they authored the trademark and intend to use it via the license.
Take Heed of the Changing Issues Around Trademarks
In the past, ownership of a trademark was not such a crucial issue unless it came under opposition. However, with the new legalities, it’s important to review your trademark portfolio to correct ownership. If you find that the owner didn’t file trademarks, you should submit new applications.
The post Should You Transfer Ownership of Your Trademark to Your Company? appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/18/transfer-ownership-trademark-company/
The Benefits of Creating an Employee Productivity System
Featured image by Christina Morillo on Pexels
Do you want to help your employees to be more productive? Then an employee productivity system is what you need.
You might be running a small business, or maybe yours is a large company. On the other hand, you could be launching startup with only a few employees. Regardless of your company’s situation, you need an employee productivity system. There are endless short- and long-term benefits to creating one. Learn more about these benefits in this post.
An Employee Productivity System Will Bring Improvements Overall
A successful employee productivity system is well-planned. To set it up, first assess your employees and their preferences. Take into account your company culture and your goals for the future of your company. Include what you understand about your competitors and your industry. Then build your employee productivity system around this data using a good scheduling software that fits your requirements.
It Will Help Your Employees Succeed
When you follow these steps, you will ensure that your employees achieve their best productivity levels. Many startups have no such plan, and that’s one of the reasons why so many of them fail. Therefore, make sure you create your employee productivity system with great care.
It Will Help You and Your Employees Be Better Prepared
One of the important components of your employee productivity system will be the work schedule. That’s because when you get organized and create a schedule in advance, your employees can plan for it in their lives.
This will make it easier for them to show up for work on time. Moreover, they will be less stressed and happier. And if they can’t make it to work, they will be able to inform you in advance, giving you plenty of time to find replacements.
RELATED ARTICLE: HOW TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY IN LOGISTICS BUSINESSES
You Can Improve an Employee Productivity System Over Time
There will be days when your employees will be productive, and there will be days when they won’t be. However, if you don’t follow a system you will never know what triggered a change in positive or negative performance.
You can begin experimenting with an employee productivity system on a regular basis and improve it over time. When you try new ideas and things work out you can continue using the new system. On the other hand, if things degrade you can always revert to the older system that worked better.
You Can Keep What Works and Discard What Doesn’t
Through this experimentation you will gradually create a better system and help your employees boost their work ethic to the next level. However, be meticulous while experimenting. Try to only implement one or two new tactics at a time. This is because if you implement too many of them, you will never know what caused the positive or negative effect.
You Can Replicate an Employee Productivity System
One of the biggest benefits of creating an employee productivity system and perfecting it is that your presence won’t be as necessary as it was in the beginning. As the system starts working you can appoint a trusted employee to oversee it for you. Then you can spend your time focusing on other important tasks such as expanding your company and improving it in other ways.
And expanding your company will be easier once you have a successful employee productivity system. Just be sure to use the same system at your new branches or adapt it to the system that your acquired startup is already following.
An Employee Productivity System Makes Recruitment Easier
Another benefit of having an employee productivity system is that it can make employee recruitment easier. That’s because the best job candidates want to work with employers who want to help them succeed.
What’s more, your search for the right candidate will be confined to assessing the traits of the person you need to replace in light of how those traits benefited your employee productivity system. Simply put, you will just need to find a person with similar traits who is willing to follow your system.
An Employee Productivity System Will Be Worth the Effort
An employee productivity system is definitely worth the effort it will take to create one. That’s because when you do, your employees will be more productive and your profits will rise accordingly.
The post The Benefits of Creating an Employee Productivity System appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/18/employee-productivity-system/
Deadlines Got You Down? Master the Art of Appointment Setting
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If you want to be more productive it’s imperative that you master the art of appointment setting. This skill will allow you to be more punctual. Even better, it will also lead you to more success in your business. In this post we explain how.
Hire Professionals to Help You with Appointment Setting
Let Strategic Sales and Marketing (SSM) help you in this area. They are one of the top appointment setting companies anywhere, widely respected throughout the industry.
Appointment setting is one of their core areas of expertise. Their professionals will help you create customized solutions to enhance your existing B2B lead generation services. They will assist you in elevating your conversion rate, ensuring that you close more deals.
SSM Uses Persuasive Techniques with Practiced Skill
Lead generators frequently come across prospective consumers who need what you offer but who are hesitant to enter your sales cycle for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they’re experiencing a lack of cash in their current cycle. Or maybe your competitor has been serving them with the same or a similar product or service. There could be other reasons besides.
However, the appointment setting team of Strategic Sales and Marketing has
strong and convincing persuasive skills. These guarantee maximum conversion rates while allowing you to shrug off all the stress of client appointment setting.
Every member of the SSM team has experience in a particular niche of various B2B products and services. What’s more, each one has a complete knowledge of their own specialty. Therefore, they understand what they are selling for you. Also, SSM’s appointment setters are US-based. This means that only native English speakers will be assigned to your account.
Additionally, SSM offers a range of experience in handling both small local businesses and Fortune 500 companies. In short, Strategic Sales and Marketing caters to all of their clients according to the mind and behavior of the prospective consumer.
What Are the Challenges of Appointment Setting?
The dynamics of the sales process have become increasingly sporadic, computerized, and competitive.
Therefore, even some of the best appointment setting companies struggle to keep up with the fast-paced business world. Contacting the right influencers to set up appointments to generate leads is invariably challenging.
Nonetheless, every sales professional aims for a continuous and regular flow of appointments. To do this, they must reach the right decision-makers. They must convert strangers into customers and build relationships that ultimately convert to sales.
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How to Become a Successful Appointment Setting Company
An appointment setting company becomes successful by employing the following measures:
Go Beyond
Learn to look past standard telemarketing methods when setting up B2B appointments. And go beyond standard monotonous introductions.
Get into the details and give an overview to prospective clients as to what they can expect from your company. Set up a meeting with the agenda of going over some plans and discussing some objectives. This gives the client a general outline of the services they can expect.
Employ a Well-Rounded Approach
An in-depth, precise, and well-rounded approach will allow you to reach for the so-called “unattainable” crowd. These are the people who will build your sales revenue. However, these are also the people who are hard to convince.
So make sure to have strong selling points. Moreover, ensure that you fulfill all the promises you make. Doing so will help you to maintain an unsullied reputation that will eventually attract more leads.
Offer Multiple Options
Have a diverse and extensive database so that you can offer prospective leads a variety of options to choose from. Also, make sure you can cater to the needs of multiple demographic groups.
Another useful tip is to book appointments that are longer than 30 minutes. That’s because longer appointment can be more fruitful. More time gives the salesperson a greater opportunity to provide your client with necessary details about key challenges. Moreover, he or she can discuss tactics, provide recent updates, and so on.
However, also give your lead a chance to mull over their options and make a well-considered decision. This will help both of you.
How SSM Can Help You with Appointment Setting
SSM uses all of the approaches outlined above. In addition, they also offer the following refinements:
- They take synthesized approach, meaning they work with both your current as well as with your prospective clients. To this end, they either use your existing database of prospective leads or assist you in lead generation. For the latter, they turn to their own professional team to build you a tailored prospective lead data bank.
- They are skilled at working with both your offline databases as well as your firm’s client relationship management services.
- Their appointment setting services will regularly remind your clients of future meetings, update them with changes, and reschedule them if necessary.
- Their sales and marketing team employs extensive web research and expert data handling in their work. Moreover, their teams function together with your own sales team to give you exactly what you need.
Master the Art of Appointment Setting for Greater Success
Enjoy higher conversion rates by mastering the art of setting appointments. Let SSM help you reach this goal.
The post Deadlines Got You Down? Master the Art of Appointment Setting appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/18/master-appointment-setting/
Wednesday, 17 April 2019
Monday, 15 April 2019
Working Remotely Offers Opportunities You Might Never Have Imagined
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Working remotely from home is trendy these days. There are many business opportunities today that will allow you to earn a respectable income in exchange for your hard work from home. In this article, we look at the concept of working remotely from home.
Why Working Remotely Makes Sense
If you decide on working remotely from home, you’ll enjoy many benefits. For example, you’ll have:
Flexibility
You will enjoy a lot of flexibility in your schedule when you are working remotely from home. This is helpful especially if you are a parent with school-aged children. You can complete your work while your children are in school, then spend quality time with them afterward.
No Commuting
A full-time job means you have to travel daily to your workplace. But if you’re working remotely from home, you’ll save time and energy. No longer will you need to travel to an office. Instead, you can complete your work at home. Then you’ll have more time at your disposal since you do not have to travel.
Online Money Transfers
Your interactions with your clients can take place mostly online, and this includes their payments to you for your work. There are multiple online platforms where you can set up a profile and find work. For example, check out Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr, just for a start. From these platforms, you can invoice your clients and arrange to receive payments directly into your bank account.
Of course, there are other ways of working remotely as well, including the old-fashioned way of marketing to attract clients in person, doing your work at home, then invoicing them manually. You might still receive payment over the Internet, or you might have to wait for them to send you a check. However, the newer way of working remotely makes this process so much easier.
RELATED ARTICLE: 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO DO WHEN YOU’RE STARTING A HOME BUSINESS
What Are Your Options for Working Remotely from Home?
We have discussed the chief advantages of working remotely from home. However, there even more benefits that you’ll discover on a day-to-day basis.
Now, let’s take a look at a few of the most popular home-based money-making ideas you can choose from:
1. Copywriting
Copywriting has always been a thing, but since the advent of the Internet, it has become a lucrative playground for many creatives. Copywriters these days generally provide marketing copy for business owners, either as solo freelancers or as members of a team.
Marketing copy can include printed mailers and brochures as well as text in website design or in blogs. Of course, copywriters are a versatile and creative bunch, and they can generally come up with just about any written content their client needs them to create.
2. Medical or Legal Transcription
Do you have a working knowledge of either medical or legal terminology? If you do, you could work remotely from home as a legal or medical transcription professional.
It’s best to have a certificate from an accredited transcription school for this option. Being certified will give you an added advantage.
3. Writing Card Content
This is perhaps one of the best ways of working remotely because it will keep your spirits high. This is true especially if you are writing humorous cards or cards that are meant for happy occasions.
However, you must have a disposition that makes it easy for you to write content that quickly evokes an emotion in someone who reads it. That’s because emotional content is essential for greeting cards. So if you have a knack for this kind of writing, you could develop a thriving business while working remotely from the comfort of your home.
4. Composing Lesson Plans
Teachers, too, can benefit from working remotely. For example, if you’re a teacher or a retired teacher, you can earn money on the side by writing lesson plans. The amount you charge is usually based on the number of lesson plans you submit. You can take an order for a single lesson plan or you can take multiple orders. Naturally, the amount you charge will depend as well on the depth of your understanding of the subject matter.
5. Branding and Image Building
Many companies, and also many individuals, know the value of a personal brand. Therefore, you could build a business by working remotely with these companies and these people.
When you do, you will be entrusted with the work of promoting your client’s image, both online and offline. This is also known as brand promotion.
There could be some traveling involved with this kind of work, though. For example, you might need to accompany your client to a trade show or some other marketing activity.
Working Remotely from Home Is the Wave of the Future
Aside from the work-from-home options mentioned above, if you look around on the Internet, you will come across many other interesting options. However, regardless of the type of business you choose, be sure to pick one that best suits your skills and interests. When you do, you’ll be sure to find just the right niche for yourself for working remotely from home.
The post Working Remotely Offers Opportunities You Might Never Have Imagined appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/15/working-remotely-opportunities/
How to Use the Internet to Help You Ace Your Assignments
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On your way to becoming the entrepreneur you dream of being someday, you will likely need to take a course or two. You might even decide to work on obtaining a degree. In either case, you’ll have some assignments from your professors. In this article, we offer some tips on how to ace those assignments with the help of the Internet.
Let the Internet Help You with Your Assignments
There are many things that can help you to improve your education, and the Internet is only one of them. What’s more, you are going to have a lot of assignments that you will need to complete during the course of your studies. Of course, you will want to complete these assignments as well as you can.
Your Assignments Call for Your Best Efforts
Make sure you do as much as you can to use the Internet to help you make the most of every opportunity each assignment represents. There are so many wonderful ways of achieving this aim. Therefore, you need to think about the best ways of getting this right.
Today more than ever, the Internet offers many excellent online opportunities you can use to improve the way you study. Below are some of the interesting ways the Internet can help you to ace your assignments.
Get Help from a Tutor
Getting help from a tutor can be one of the most important things you can do to make the most of your assignments. There are plenty of tutors you can hire to help you with online writing assignments, for example. This is a great way of making sure you get better grades.
RELATED ARTICLE: WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE A TUTOR TO HELP YOU WITH WRITING ONLINE ASSIGNMENTS
You should also make full use of online portals and sites like homeworkmarket. Use these sites to help you find people who can help you with your homework. This kind of thing is ideal when it comes to finding out as much as you can about the best ways of completing your assignments.
Obtain More Information
The Internet offers a wealth of information that you can use to help you make the most of your assignments. It can play a big role in taking things further and helping you improve the work you are doing. There is so much to discover in this world, and the Internet puts much of that information right at our fingertips. Make the most of all this information to improve your grades and obtain the best education you possibly can.
Talk to Others About Your Assignments
You will also have the opportunity to talk with others about your assignments, especially those who are doing the same work you are. This is important for helping expand knowledge as well as enhancing collaboration. Interacting with other students, both in person and online, can help you produce better work.
Moreover, collaborating with others to put forth excellent work is so important when you’re in school. And the Internet, with its chat rooms and social media platforms, makes all this collaboration easier.
Let the Internet Help You Improve the Quality of Your Work
There are a lot of factors that will help you improve the way you carry out your assignments. While you’re in school, you have lots of work to do. And you have to be dedicated to completing your work to the best of your ability. This is something the Internet can definitely help you with.
The post How to Use the Internet to Help You Ace Your Assignments appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/15/internet-ace-assignments/
Niche Fitness Studios: Why Are They So Appealing to Business Owners?
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The fitness industry in the United States is enormous, bringing in more than $27 billion each year. What’s more, the market continues to expand. That’s partly because more than 55 million health-conscious individuals in the US belong either to a gym or to one of a rapidly growing number of niche fitness studios.
RELATED ARTICLE: HEALTH AND FITNESS TIPS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
Niche Fitness Studios Have Great Appeal
Millennials take their health seriously. Moreover, working out is a social activity for many of them. According to Rachel Kazez, a licensed therapist in Chicago, a majority of millennials make fitness a top priority in their lives. “It seems like millennials try to make fitness more enjoyable and colorful, and many are willing to spend money on memberships and specialty fitness activities,” she says. It is this group more than any other that flocks to niche fitness studios.
Niche gyms are small, targeted studios where health-conscious individuals can find exactly the kind of workout they want. For instance, there are niche fitness studios that offer only yoga or Pilates. Another small gym might feature a line of rowing machines, and yet another could offer classes in high-intensity interval training, otherwise known as HIIT.
What Makes Niche Fitness Studios So Appealing?
Health-conscious individuals often choose a niche gym because they feel more comfortable in a smaller space. They see the same familiar faces each time they work out, which results in a spontaneous camaraderie.
In a niche gym, fitness buffs get to choose the specific kind of workout that serves them best. They have access to one-on-one training on how to use the studio’s equipment. Best of all, they get the expert help they need to learn how to get the most out of their workouts.
Wouldn’t You Love a Share of That Market?
As an entrepreneur, wouldn’t you just love to get a share of the health-conscious market?
Well, you can. F45 Training, with whom we partnered for this article, makes it possible for you to own your own fitness boutique. It’s easier than you might imagine!
Be in Business for Yourself, Not by Yourself
When you purchase a franchise, you own your own business, but you never have to do everything all by yourself.
For example, rather than starting a gym on your own and having to create everything from scratch, you can choose to go with an established F45 franchise for sale. There, you’ll find an already-established brand with a marketing strategy already up and running. Plus, you’ll get the training you need and help along the way to run your business correctly.
Moreover, boutique gyms require only a small space, so your studio’s overhead will be markedly lower than a massive gym’s would be.
Own Your Own Fitness Studio with a Franchise
Of course, you’ll need to commit to your business and work hard to make it successful. You’re already passionate about both fitness and your success as an entrepreneur, so you’re well ahead of the game. Do your research, buy in with the right franchise, and plan your business well. Before long, you’ll have a cozy little niche fitness studio and a flock of loyal clientele.
About the Author
Carrol Strain is a Top Rated Premium copywriter on Upwork, as well as editor and on-call writer for the Business Opportunities blog.
The post Niche Fitness Studios: Why Are They So Appealing to Business Owners? appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/15/niche-fitness-studios/
Sunday, 14 April 2019
Thursday, 11 April 2019
How Better Digital Onboarding Can Boost Adoption Success
Featured Image from Pixabay on Pexels
Consumers have gone digital and so should businesses. However, while it has become increasingly convenient for consumers adopt new technologies, businesses aren’t finding digital onboarding easy.
According to Dell, nine out of ten companies are reported to be having issues with going digital. Data protection, resourcing, skills, culture, and compliance rank among their top concerns.
Fortunately, successful digital adoption is possible. Business leaders have to understand that going digital is a process. It requires a well-planned strategy, meticulous execution, and follow-through. What’s more, most key concerns, especially those pertaining to skill development and building a technology-first culture, can be addressed with proper digital onboarding.
Rethinking Digital Onboarding
When going digital, businesses can be overly focused on the bells and whistles of their newly acquired solutions. As a matter of fact, some tend to overlook the fact that tools are only as effective as their users. Therefore, they often give less emphasis than they should do critical aspects such as proper digital onboarding.
Moreover, companies fail to take advantage of digital onboarding as a means for staff members to develop fundamental competencies with using the new technologies. As a matter of fact, some digital onboarding programs are limited to the token training sessions that technology vendors provide prior to implementation. However, rather than depending solely on the training vendors provide, companies should take a more active role in educating their staff.
RELATED ARTICLE: 3 MODERN TOOLS FOR MANAGING REMOTE WORKERS
Truly effective digital onboarding employs structured programs that provide longer-term development of knowledge and skills. It can also be designed to explain to staff members the rationale behind the company’s move to the new technology, and it can encourage them to buy into the effort. Such digital onboarding programs deliver key benefits that help organizations succeed in their digital adoption efforts.
Using Digital Onboarding to Help Workers Be More Functional and Productive
Proper digital onboarding allows users to be productive more quickly. That’s chiefly because today’s technologies, by design, make work more efficient. But this is true only if users know how to properly use those technologies in the context of their work. Therefore, be sure that training sessions are grounded in the real scenarios your workers deal with.
When you do, workers will gain practical knowledge of the new technology’s uses. They will see how it will make their work easier. Help employees understand how they will benefit, and their resistance will diminish. This paves the way for smoother implementation.
Companies can also use digital adoption platforms to enhance the onboarding experience. When integrated with applications, these platforms can walk users through how to use the tools’ functionalities and perform tasks step-by-step. Such platforms can display helpful callouts and instructions right on the applications’ user interfaces. This leads to a smoother digital onboarding process by creating a more immersive learning experience.
Reducing Chances of Error
Proper onboarding also minimizes the chance of staff errors. While lapses are understandable when workers are learning something new, mistakes with technology can be costly. As a matter of fact, inadvertent and unintentional human error causes as much as 92.5 percent of data incidences.
Given how modern applications now gather and process important information such as intellectual property or customers’ financial and personal information, slip-ups in their use can have serious ramifications for companies.
What’s more, security incidences and exposure to cyberattacks can cause downtime. It can even result in the loss of intellectual property. Also, governments require companies to publicly disclose these instances. This can bring about negative publicity and damage to a company’s reputation. Moreover, strict data protection laws and regulations are making companies accountable for such mistakes. And noncompliance with regulations like the GDPR can result in hefty fines.
Digital onboarding should cover these risk areas. Further, it should illustrate the potential issues that carelessness and improper use can cause.
Technology vendors can use sandbox environments or virtual labs during the onboarding phase. This gives users the opportunity to tinker with the solutions. When companies approach digital onboarding in this way, workers can make mistakes early without causing any harm to actual work data or the workplace’s infrastructure.
Maximizing Investment
Digital adoption isn’t cheap for most businesses. As a matter of fact, Gartner estimates that global IT spending will reach $3.8 trillion in 2019. Naturally, all this investment is taking place because business leaders are hoping to gain a competitive edge.
However, overall success of digital adoption hinges upon how well users actually buy into the effort. Additionally, it will depend on how well employees maximize these tools in their work. Proper digital onboarding helps by ensuring that workers know how to properly use new technologies while minimizing the potential for costly lapses.
The post How Better Digital Onboarding Can Boost Adoption Success appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/11/digital-onboarding-success/
Totally Unique Business Ideas to Spark Your Entrepreneurial Side
Photo by Rohan Makhecha on Unsplash
Whether you’re the entrepreneurial sort or not, you might have felt the desire to start your own business. If so, you’re not alone. Surveys say that two-thirds of Americans want to open their own business. While you might have felt the desire to, you likely came up with plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t. Perhaps you don’t know how to build a brand. Or maybe you aren’t sure how to grow an audience on social media.
If those are some of the biggest reasons you haven’t pursued your entrepreneurial dreams, the good news is you can easily overcome those doubts. There are plenty of tools out there. For instance, check out Hashtags ForLikes, which can help you grow your social media audience and your brand.
However, one of the biggest challenges is coming up with a business idea. Finding the right business idea can be hard. But finding one that’s truly unique can be even harder.
To help you out, we’ve put together a list of unique business ideas below. Any one of these can spark a fire in your entrepreneurial spirit.
Eco-Friendliness Consulting
More than half of Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X say that they are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products. Moreover, 87 percent of travelers say they want to do so sustainably, and the list goes on.
In other words, people are becoming more conscientious about their choices and how they affect the earth and everything on it. But they aren’t always sure how to go about making changes. If you love green living and are exceptionally eco-friendly, you could start an eco-friendliness consulting business. Through this entrepreneurial venture you could help clients make changes and adapt to a greener lifestyle.
RELATED ARTICLE: 3 BRILLIANT ENTREPRENEURIAL HACKS FROM BREWDOG
Cookie Dough Cafe
Sometimes after a long day at the office or a day full of stress, kicking back with a tube of cookie dough is the best way to unwind. Even if your day has gone smoothly, nothing beats a handful of your favorite unbaked cookie.
If you love to bake, (or not bake), and have a knack for finding creative but delicious combinations, then a cookie dough café could be the perfect entrepreneurial business for you. You can serve your guests classics like chocolate chip. Or get creative and serve up your own twists that everyone will enjoy.
A Doll Hospital
Kids often grow attached to their toys. However, eventually those toys become so well loved that they show a lot of wear and tear if they don’t fall apart completely. It’s a sad day when a favorite toy has to be thrown away.
You could change that, though, if you have an entrepreneurial streak and you’re also handy with fixing up dolls, action figures, and other toys. Instead of parents having to toss their kids’ favorite toys, they can send them on over to you at your doll hospital. And you could fix them up as good as new or better.
Battery Subscription Service
Everybody uses batteries, but people don’t often think to buy them until their batteries have died. In short, batteries are one of those things that you don’t think about until you need them. However, it’s always a hassle to go to the store if all you need is a few batteries.
By starting a battery subscription service as your entrepreneurial endeavor, you could solve that problem once and for all. If you know roughly how long batteries are supposed to last, you can ensure that your clients get batteries for their remotes, smoke alarms, watches, and whatever else just in time. Earn hearty recommendations for your entrepreneurial operation by saving your customers an unplanned trip to the store.
Pet Bakery
Our animal friends love treats just as much as we do. However, it’s not always a good idea to share an ice cream cone or cupcake with your pup, cat, lizard, or whatever kind of pet you have. If you always wish you could, though, why not create your own recipes and open up a pet bakery?
Here, you could create and sell “sweet treats” that pets will love. The difference would be that your treats won’t cause pets illness or other issues. You’re not the only one watching your puppy staring at you with big eyes when you eat a piece of pie, wishing you could share without causing your friend any troubles.
Final Thoughts for Our Entrepreneurial Colleagues
Whether you’ve always wanted to start a business or have just recently felt inspired to get one going, entrepreneurship can be a lot of fun. The entrepreneurial life can be difficult in many ways, though. And one of those is coming up with the perfect unique business idea. Luckily, there are plenty of options out there that can get you thinking, even if they aren’t the perfect fit for you. What other unique business ideas can you imagine?
The post Totally Unique Business Ideas to Spark Your Entrepreneurial Side appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/11/unique-business-ideas-entrepreneurial/
5 Things to Improve Your Customers’ Online Shopping Experience
Photo by bruce mars from Pexels
When you walk into a brick-and-mortar store, there are plenty of things the owner can do to make your shopping experience as good as it can be. It might have to do with customer service, the aesthetic of the space, the checkout process, or something else. But what makes one online shopping experience better than others?
Ecommerce is already convenient. But digital retailers still need to make their customers feel comfortable doing business with them. They need to give customers reasons to come back.
For example, buying products online can be incredibly frustrating if a website is not in working order. As a matter of fact, an online shopping experience can even be suspicious if the site does not provide enough information for a customer to make an informed decision. And given how many ecommerce fraudsters there are online, who can blame shoppers for being cautious?
You might be asking: How much does it matter? If your products are high-quality and affordable, people will buy from you. Right? No. A customer’s shopping experience matters tremendously.
As a matter of fact, Inc.com notes that 86 percent of surveyed customers will cease doing business with a company after a negative shopping experience.
Therefore, if you own an ecommerce store, here are a few things you can do to make your customers’ shopping experience the best it can be:
Optimize Your Website
Your website is the virtual equivalent of a brick-and-mortar store. Are customers likely to purchase from you if it looks like an amateur coder pieced it together? No, they will run the other way.
Therefore, make sure your website is aesthetically pleasing. It’s a simple thing, but it lets consumers know that you care about presentation. Moreover, they understand that legitimate businesses are more likely to put effort into such things.
Remember, too, that a significant amount of online shopping happens with handheld devices. Therefore, remember to optimize your website for mobile. Also, double check that it operates quickly.
RELATED ARTICLE: THESE 7 MOBILE DESIGN TIPS WILL BOOST YOUR SALES
Quality design makes a world of difference, too. Customers will appreciate a well-designed website that that makes their shopping experience seamless. So make sure your online store is easy to navigate. Ensure that all of its features are working smoothly.
Include As Much Information As Possible
According to a survey from Salesforce, nine out of ten customers expect online stores to have multiple contact channels. Also, 46 percent noted that they expect brands to offer support via Facebook.
Providing various contact options let customers know that you are easily accessible. It allows them to communicate with you in ways that are most convenient for them. Therefore, include your phone number, email address, mailing address, and social media links for direct messages on your website. You could even include a Whatsapp number for texting.
Improve your customers’ shopping experience with detailed product descriptions and landing pages, too. In brick-and-mortar stores, customers can feel items in their hands and imagine how they would use a product. However, they only have images and text to go on when shopping online. So give people comprehensive and well-written descriptions alongside photographs from multiple angles.
Use Videos to Enhance the Shopping Experience
To further help your customers envision what using a product would be like, use video. You do not have to be a videographer with advanced technical skills to create high-quality productions. All you need is the best video editing software for beginners.
Content ideas include how-to guides, interviews with figures in your industry, and other interesting facts and stories about your field. You can post these videos on outlets like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and your website.
Make Checkout Easy
How annoyed would you be if you found the exact product you wanted on an online store that looks legitimate, only to be dissuaded from buying it because the checkout process was cumbersome? Imagine a checkout process that forces you to create an account, enter credit card information on an insecure page, and go through seemingly endless pages mentioning additional fees before you could even press the “order” button!
One of the main things you can do to improve customers’ shopping experience, as well as your sales figures, is to streamline your checkout process. Therefore, use a payment processor that accepts multiple options. These should include credit card, e-check, ACH transfer, and so on.
Review Invoices ASAP
This tip is especially relevant for dropshippers: Even though you do not manufacture your own products, it is still your responsibility to fix problems when they arise. To prevent them from happening, review invoices from your suppliers as soon as possible, preferably before products leave the warehouse. Be sure to check for inaccurate product orders, quantities, and addresses. Then your customers won’t have the hassle of having to contact you with a complaint.
Reap the Rewards of Improving Customers’ Shopping Experience
A customer’s shopping experience matters just as much online as it does in person. What’s more, there are plenty of steps you can take to ensure that every customer’s shopping experience is a positive one. What do you do to provide exceptional customer service?
The post 5 Things to Improve Your Customers’ Online Shopping Experience appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/11/improve-online-shopping-experience/
Tuesday, 9 April 2019
Why Leadership Skills Are Important for Success in Business
In this post, we discuss why you should further develop your leadership skills.
You have a glowing resume filled with skills and experience. But somehow you still lost out on that dream job. Why?
It could be that the other candidate has proven leadership skills, on top of the other job requirements. Employers recognize the benefits of leadership. Moreover, having these skills might be as important as having hard skills in many cases.
If you feel your leadership skills are lacking, rest assured that these are skills you can learn and practice. For example, you can either learn them through experience or by taking specific leadership courses. Either way, below is a list of five benefits of having leadership skills.
RELATED ARTICLE: LEADERSHIP SKILLS: START NOW TO LEARN NEW WAYS TO BE A BETTER LEADER
1. Motivating People Around You
In a management position, showing you can work hard and that you appreciate hard work will help others follow suit. In short, this is clearly a leadership skill. If you’re willing to walk the talk, you’ll create an environment where others want to do the same.
2. Staying on Schedule
Someone with good leadership skills can keep a team on track with meeting their goals and keeping to deadlines, all while still maintaining a positive environment. Someone has to make sure things get done on time. That’s where you come in.
From fulfilling orders to producing quick pay statements by using a paycheck stub maker, a good leader can trim time and boost output.
3. Encouraging Discussion
If you’re a good leader, you’re open to talking to your colleagues and offering solid feedback. This might also mean staff is more open to offering ideas and innovation, and suggesting how things can be done more efficiently.
You demonstrate good leadership skills when you show that you can listen. When you do that, team members will be more willing to speak their mind because they don’t fear reprisal. However, after everyone has said what they need to say, a good leader will be able to make a sound final decision.
4. Defusing Disagreements
Employees will not agree or get along all of the time. That’s just a reality of business. However, you can use your leadership skills to help encourage staff to work together to solve problems.
As a leader, you’ll also be able to recognize the strengths of each employee and use those strengths to the company’s advantage. Therefore, you’ll be able to properly delegate work according to the strongest abilities of each team member.
5. Being Accountable
Being accountable is one of those leadership skills that’s sometimes overlooked in business. However, it’s an important one. Basically, being accountable means that you own your mistakes as a leader. When you do, you will better earn the trust and respect of your team.
Some people who have positions of authority in business may try to pass the buck if something goes wrong. However, that behavior demotivates the team. And it is certainly not a leadership skill!
On the other hand, someone with good leadership skills will be able to communicate well and make sound decisions. Moreover, a good leader is well organized and efficient with time management. If you have these skills, don’t be afraid to highlight them on your resume.
Develop Your Leadership Skills and Become a Leader
Some people are born with natural leadership skills, but that may not be the case for you. However, you can learn leadership skills just as you can learn any other skill. Then you can add those skills to your resume.
Leadership skills aren’t just for management positions. They’re also invaluable if you’re running your own business or looking to start one. Check out some of the business opportunities out there that can benefit from having a strong leader.
The post Why Leadership Skills Are Important for Success in Business appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/09/leadership-skills-success-business/
Launch a Lucrative Ecommerce Store with a Focus on CBD Products
You are only a few clicks away from starting your own successful ecommerce dynasty with a focus on CBD products. As an entrepreneur, this could be just the opportunity you have been hoping for.
The legal issues around cannabis products continue to dissipate, and as they do, CBD products are quickly gaining in popularity. As a matter of fact, CBD sales exceeded $500 million in 2018. What’s more, they’re expected to approach $2 billion by 2022. Just think: You could have a piece of that action.
RELATED ARTICLE: HOW TO START A SUCCESSFUL ONLINE BUSINESS WITH LITTLE TO NO INVESTMENT
Here’s How to Get Started
To get started, buy CBD wholesale from Diamond CBD. They make it easy, with free shipping on wholesale orders of more than $1,000 online. What’s more, they also offer a coupon for 25% off your first order, as a sign-up bonus.
Additionally, they offer easy payment methods. For instance, they accept payment in a variety of ways, including credit card, money orders, and checks. And they accept orders of any size up to $25,000, payable by credit card.
To make things even easier, they offer next-day shipping. What this means is that you can get started with your online business featuring CBD products right away.
What’s Available?
Choose from a vast array of CBD products, including edibles, vapes, oils, creams, beauty products, and more. Act now and your profits can begin rolling in within days.
Additionally, Diamond CBD has a variety of display packages to choose from. Therefore, you can make it easy for your customers to choose the CBD products that will best serve their needs. Moreover, you will save 10% when you order from Diamond CBD’s collection of displays.
Also, Diamond CBD makes it easy for your customers to understand the CBD products they’re purchasing from you. That’s because each package comes with easy-to-understand instructions that include clear dosage amounts and instructions. Additionally, packages also include QR codes in case your customers have further questions about the CBD products they have purchased from you.
What Is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is one of the more than a hundred compounds derived from the cannabis plant. Some of your customers will purchase CBD products for vaping. Others will want gummies, drops, lotions, or creams. Also, an increasingly popular to ingest CBD is to add a few drops of CBD oil to drinks or foods. That’s because CBD oil is soluble in fat.
Who Will Your Customers Be?
CBD is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, many people in your target audience will be people who suffer chronic pain from a variety of sources. Also, insomniacs and those who suffer from anxiety claim they benefit from CBD products. CBD products are thought to be beneficial for treating a variety of other ailments as well.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Some of your customers may complain from time to time, however, of side effects. These can include nausea, irritability, and fatigue. CBD products can also increase the levels of certain medications in the blood, including the blood thinner coumadin. Therefore, it’s best to advise your customers to check with their physicians if they plan to use CBD products in conjunction with other supplements and medications.
Will CBD Get My Customers High?
CBD by itself is not psychoactive, unlike its cousin THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Therefore, it doesn’t make people feel high, although some users say it imparts a feeling of relaxation and calm. However, about 5% of people who have used CBD have reported the feeling of being in an altered mental or emotional state.
CBD Products Are Made from the Hemp Plant
The plant Cannabis sativa has two primary species: hemp and marijuana. Of the two, hemp contains more CBD than does marijuana. On the other hand, marijuana contains more THC than does hemp. Therefore, if you’re looking to purchase high-quality CBD, make sure it comes from the hemp plant, not the marijuana plant.
The Legality of CBD Products Is in Flux
The legality of most cannabis derivatives is still changing rapidly at both the state and federal levels in the United States. The one exception is the FDA-approved drug Epidiolex, which is derived from CBD. This drug is now approved for the treatment of certain types of epilepsy in children.
In order to allow doctors to dispense Epidiolex legally, the FDA will need to reschedule CBD down from its current classification as a dangerous drug—a Schedule I—to a Schedule II or III drug. This change appears to be in process. Additionally, there appears to be bipartisan consensus in Congress for the easing of restrictions on the hemp plant, if not the marijuana plant.
Moreover, on the global level, in December 2017 the World Health Organization stated that it found no public health problems associated with the use of pure CBD.
More Research Is Underway
In December 2015, US federal regulators eased restrictions so as to allow researchers to begin studying CBD. Since then, several studies have taken place, and anecdotal evidence is mounting that some sufferers do find relief from using CBD products.
However, most medical experts still say there is not yet enough evidence yet to support all the claims sellers make about CBD products. Moreover, medical experts say they don’t yet understand which doses or delivery methods work best for which ailment. Nor do they understand how CBD products affect the human brain. Clearly, more study is needed.
Online Ordering of CBD Products Is Off to a Great Start
Despite this dearth of research and the products’ fuzzy legality in the US, people can order CBD products online, regardless of which state they live in. Moreover, the DEA has not been strictly enforcing its regulations around these products, so people feel safe in acquiring them. All of this is good news for your online store.
Keep in mind, however, that if you’re going to sell or use CBD, it’s important to purchase CBD that has been tested for quality. For example, traces of THC have been discovered in some products that were sold as pure CBD products. So as you launch your online store with its focus on CBD products, be sure to stick with a reliable wholesaler such as Diamond CBD. In other words, purchase only high-quality CBD wholesale from a trusted wholesaler.
The post Launch a Lucrative Ecommerce Store with a Focus on CBD Products appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/09/ecommerce-store-cbd-products/
Monday, 8 April 2019
How Factoring Can Free Up Cash Flow and Help You Grow Your Business
Thanks to Deedster on Pixabay for the featured image.
Are you making sales but struggling to pay your business expenses because your hard-earned money is stuck in unpaid invoices instead of cold hard cash? If you own a B2B or B2G company and your cash flow or growth is suffering because you have to wait weeks or even months for your customers to pay, then invoice factoring might be what you need.
RELATED ARTICLE: 6 COMMON INVOICING MISTAKES MADE BY SMB’S
What Is Factoring?
With invoice factoring, you can get business funding by selling your outstanding invoices to a factoring company (aka the factor). The factor gives you a cash advance, which is usually 70%-90% of the invoice value. They hold the remaining amount as reserve.
When your customer pays the invoice, the factor deducts a factoring fee and a processing fee from the reserve then gives the remainder to you. The processing fee is usually around 3% while the factoring fee is a certain percentage of the invoice value, computed on a weekly or monthly basis.
Here’s an Example
Let’s say you have an invoice worth $50,000 and you expect it to be paid after four weeks. If the factoring company advances 85% and charges a 3% processing fee and a 1% weekly factoring fee, this means you immediately get $42,500 (85% of $50,000) as a cash advance. The factor would hold the remaining $7,500 as reserve.
Now once your customer pays the invoice four weeks later, the factoring company will take out its $1,500 processing fee (3% of $50,000) and its $2,000 factoring fee (1% of $50,000 x 4 weeks) from the reserve. Then they would give you the remaining $4,000. All in all, you will get $46,500 from your invoice value of $50,000.
Many Entrepreneurs Don’t Know About Factoring
While most—if not all—entrepreneurs know about bank loans, only a few know about invoice factoring. This is a shame because this form of financing can easily and quickly free up capital that you can flexibly use for your day-to-day business expenses. Or you can use that cash to grab opportunities for moving your business forward.
It’s Easy to Qualify
Unlike bank loans and other types of traditional business funding, it is easy to qualify for invoice factoring. That’s because the invoices act as your collateral. Application and approval are both speedy. As a matter of fact, you get the advance in just one or two business days after being approved.
Also, there is less stress for you because you are not taking on debt. As long as your customers are creditworthy (such as established businesses or government agencies), you do not have to worry about paying back the advance. That’s because you have already made the sales and are just waiting for the payment. Instead, you can use your mental energy to focus on ways to grow your business or to make your business workflows smoother.
How You Can Use Those Freed-Up Funds
Some of the things you can use the funds on:
- Marketing and advertising
- Paying for unexpected expenses
- Upgrading equipment
- Purchasing in bulk to get steeper discounts
- Paying debt to avoid penalties
- Hiring more workers
- Increasing output to meet seasonal demands
- Paying regular expenses such as payroll, utilities, and rent
What Is the Difference Between Invoice Factoring and Invoice Financing?
Some factoring companies also collect the payment on your behalf. Therefore, if collection is a process you would rather outsource to improve efficiency or lower overhead costs, invoice factoring can also help you with that. Just note that there is a funding option very similar to invoice factoring called invoice financing, which does not take care of collection. But many companies use the terms “invoice factoring” and “invoice financing” interchangeably.
Therefore, before signing an agreement, make sure to clarify with the factoring company if they would be collecting payments or communicating with your customers.
The Bottom Line
Invoice factoring is a fast and easy way to get additional capital. You can use these funds to accelerate the growth of your company or solve any cash flow issue. The fees may be higher than with traditional lenders, but its flexibility, speed, and low risk can help your business stay afloat and grow while you wait for your customers to pay.
The post How Factoring Can Free Up Cash Flow and Help You Grow Your Business appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/08/factoring-free-cash-flow/
8 Ways to Improve Office Air Quality for Better Employee Health
Improve the air quality in your office with these eight simple measures.
We tend to believe that air pollution is something from outside. We assume that pollution is the haze hanging in the air—the smoke and the odor. The truth, however, is that offices, houses, and other buildings can get polluted from the inside. In fact, the interior can get more polluted than the outside.
Imagine the damage to health you and your employees might suffer from an office that has poor air quality! You don’t want employees to develop headaches, coughs, fevers, or chronic respiratory issues. Avoid these problems in these eight easy ways.
1. Ensure Air Vents Are Open and Unblocked
Some offices don’t have windows, and fresh air is supplied through air vents. However, blocked vents can prevent air from circulating.
Ensure that vents are not blocked by furniture and make sure they are cleaned regularly. Otherwise, dust will circulate in the office and affect everyone there.
2. Maintain a Good Level of Humidity
To keep mold, dust mites, and other allergens at bay, keep air humidity level between 30% to 50%.
Do this by investing in a high-quality air conditioning system or dehumidifier in order to control humidity levels effectively. Remember that people can develop conditions like COPD by breathing bad air for a long time. Therefore, consider using a portable oxygen concentrator if you’re serious about your health.
3. Use a Proper Matting System
Surprisingly, an effective matting system will also improve air quality. It does this by protecting entryways from dust and particles by trapping them. Furthermore, it will save your maintenance team from spending a lot of time cleaning and refinishing the floors.
RELATED ARTICLE: HOW TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS BY FOSTERING A TEAMWORK MENTALITY
4. Live Plants Improve Air Quality
As do humans, plants also breathe. This helps with air circulation and improves air quality, as plants release oxygen into the air. However, you need to ensure that plants are well tended, with enough water and proper sunlight to allow them to thrive.
As an added benefit, moreover, placing plants around the office makes the place more attractive and inviting.
5. Smell Good Naturally
You probably make sure to use deodorant before leaving for work. However, what you might not know is that those synthetic fragrances emit various chemicals. Also, some laundry detergents, dryer sheets, solid air fresheners, and fabric softeners emit gasses, too. But not many people are aware of the harmful effects of those chemicals.
In fact, when fragrances are made, they are only tested on the human skin to note the possibility of skin irritation. However, the effects on humans of inhaling those fragrances are rarely tested.
Therefore, choose natural fragrances for your office and your person. Also, avoid carpet cleaning chemicals and air fresheners as well.
6. Avoid Excess Moisture
Accidents happen! Have you ever dropped a glass of water or a cup of coffee in the office? You must act immediately when beverages get spilled on the floor or a desk.
That’s because too much moisture facilitates mold and mildew. And this can affect the air quality in your office. Additionally, dealing with molds and their damage can be costly. But this is something you can avoid if you fix the problem right away.
7. Keep Your Office Clean
To dispose of the garbage accumulated in your office and reduce the amount of dust in the air, clean the office regularly and empty the dustbins. If you need to, hire professional cleaners to ensure you keep your office clean without a second thought.
Ensuring that your office is clean will keep most pollutants out of the air and improve air quality. On the other hand, a dirty office puts you and your employees at risk of becoming ill.
8. Ask Experts to Test Your Office Air Quality
Your employees’ health and well-being should be your highest concern. Therefore, have the air quality tested regularly. This will help you better understand the situation in your office.
After thorough testing of the vents and water storage, experts will also check for molds, odors, and leaks. Therefore, they will assist you in identifying problems so you can fix them.
Better Air Quality in Your Office Can Lead to Higher Profits
You spend the better part of your day in the office, and so do your employees. With better air quality in your office, your employees will be more productive. Employees will also have fewer sick leaves if you ensure they are inhaling fresh air. Better air quality in your office will lead to better results in your bottom line.
The post 8 Ways to Improve Office Air Quality for Better Employee Health appeared first on Business Opportunities.
source https://www.business-opportunities.biz/2019/04/08/improve-office-air-quality/