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Three Fundamental Tips On How To Succeed In Business

Do you want to be successful in business? This seems like a silly question to ask. It is like asking a hungry person whether he or she wants food to eat. Who does not want to be successful in business? Let us see some simple tips that can ensure success in your business endeavors.

Open a Bank Account:

Of course, there are various ways of receiving money. People can pay in cash, check, through debit or credit cards, or even through the electronic method. You will need to have a bank account to collect the funds. Therefore, opening a bank account is the first thing you have to do in business. You can start with a simple current account. As your business develops, you can ask for a line of credit from the bank.

Hire a good accountant:

You have done the first step. Now, you need someone to keep track of your billing and payments. There are two ways of doing it. One way is to handle things on your own. The second and more sensible way is to hire an accountant to do the job for you. Naturally, he or she should be adept at preparing financial statements, tax returns, etc. There are software programs to take care of these aspects. A good accountant should be able to manage the software programs as well.

Have a good budget:

Driving a boat in a calm sea is very easy. Anyone can do it. Maneuvering the boat in choppy waters requires tremendous skills. Similarly, every cash management plan may have holes in it. You never know where and how your money starts leaking. At the end of the day, you should have enough money in the bank as savings. You will have to have a neat budget to enable this. Without a budget, it is like driving a car blindfolded. You never know where you will crash.

Bonus Tip: Money Management:

In business, people measure success by the amount of money you earn. Hence, money management becomes the most important aspect of becoming successful in business.

You might be a product manufacturer or a service provider. It does not matter at all. It all boils down to the fact that you have to receive money for the value of your products or services to complete the chain. The challenge on hand is learning how to receive the money and how to grow it when you receive it.

Conclusion:

You have seen three simple tricks on how to effectively manage your resources better.…

A Business Speaker Discusses the Challenges of Change

Handling any kind of major changes for a group can be difficult, but not for the business speaker. The reactions by many people are not what you might expect and you are introduced to many new problems. This is the time when you need to lessen the possibilities of errors that could come about by looking into a few tips.

Putting forth the assertion of your authority is the first step that you will need to take. While you can still get along with people, they need to be aware of your leadership and respect that level. If there are rules that need to be set forth, then make those rules known to everyone, not just a few. Showing authority will hold your group together, instead of causing chaos.

Also, consider that the time you spend is very valuable and you want to make sure that everything runs smoothly within it. There is less room for errors at this point so everyone must keep to their schedules and meet every deadline. The keynote speaker knows that having a committee run a group will only lead to deformations in the ranks. One person with full authority is the best option to consider for maintaining order with large groups.

Respect is a huge part of being able to have people look up to you. You need to make sure that you are credible to all who work under you so they feel a sense of trust with you. Now this should not be taken as trying to win a popularity contest with those around you. Show your authority by keeping the focus on the goal and doing whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

You can rule as a leader over a group where not everyone is going to like you, but remember what you are trying to do. Control is the key and keeping a good level of it without being too controlling is the best option. Listen to what others have to say and know that you may not have all the answers to their questions. It is okay to not have every answer, but they will respect you for the fact that you took the time to listen to them.

Setting priorities is the basis of everything that you need for your group to stay on task. When you have these straightened out and assigned to those that can complete them, the results are positive. Remind your group that when problems arise, this is not the time to start losing the focus. There may be confusion among many, but remind them of their exact tasks that they need to complete.

While you are the leader among the masses in the group, you will have to deal with those that will not agree with the change. Make a plan to stop the problems before they start by showing your leadership skills and mapping out the changes. With the business speaker you will be able to lead your group to excellence …

Small Business Insurance – Who Needs It?

Who Needs Small Business Insurance, Anyway?

You do! Small business insurance is one of the most critical components of planning for your new venture. Whatever your business involves working in a high-risk environment like heavy construction, or a relatively low-risk one such as running an in-house consulting business, you are constantly exposed to the liabilities that can put your business and your future at risk.

Some business owners are required to maintain insurance coverage. Restaurants, hotels, health care facilities … they all have minimal limits that are imposed upon them by their industry, municipal entities, or their landlords. But what about your small business? You may be retired or just starting out, maybe you're considering using your knowledge of antiques or your talent as an artist to start your own shop or gallery. How risky can that possibly be?

Assess the Risks

In today's world, risk management is no longer the exclusive domain of large corporations. Every small business is different, with a unique set of risks. An experienced small business insurance agency can advise you on what your present and future needs may be, and keep you up to date on any Federal, State, or Local regulatory requirements you may be subject to.

A good insurance agent will review your company needs; an excellent one will take the time to visit your company and discuss your requirements with you directly.

Be Prepared!

As your business grows, your small business insurance coverage should grow with you. It's easy to get cooked up in the excitement and activity as success begins to take root, and insurance is the LAST thing on your mind … until you need it. Make sure when you choose an agent, you are getting someone with your best interest in mind, who will continuously monitor where you are and make suggestions when necessary.

Are you taking on employees? Opening another shop or office? Considering additional human resource programs? Taking on additional risk? You may need to look at several types of coverage:

  • Workers' Compensation
  • Contractor's Liability
  • License Bonds, Court Bonds, Performance or Fidelity Bonds
  • Employee Benefit Administration

The Benefits – Because Things happen

The benefit of having good small business insurance is most obvious when the unexpected happens.

Do not be cut off guard … without proper coverage your business liability can extend to your personal life as well. Knowing you have the right coverage up front offers you both peace of mind and security. When and if you have a loss or a setback, you will be able to continue moving forward with confidence, and the tools you need to stay in business!

There is no doubt about it – Insurance can be complicated. There is so much to understand and so many details that it can quickly become overwhelming! The very best option? Find a qualified small business insurance agency you trust – one that is familiar with you, your local community and is responsive within the insurance industry as well. …

New York Personal Injury & No-Fault FAQ

Every personal injury claim is different and there are no guarantees. Below are rough answers to some questions we hear frequently about personal injury. Further below is a specific FAQ on No-Fault in New York.

Personal Injury FAQ

Q: How much do lawyers charge?

A: For most personal injury claims, there is no fee unless you collect. Most lawyers in New York charge a one-third contingency fee. When the claim is resolved, the lawyer gets reimbursed for expenses out of the award. Next the lawyer takes the one-third fee. For example, if a claim settles for $35,000, and the lawyer has $2000 in expenses, the fee is $11,000 (1/3 of $33,000). The client would get $22,000.

Q: Does the lawyer always pay the expenses up front?

A: Usually, but not always. There are two major situations where we don’t. First, some personal injury claims are not very strong, but we might still be willing to work on a contingency fee basis. In such claims, we will tell the client that they will have to pay the expenses. The other situation is when there is a good offer and the client refuses to accept it against our advice. In these lawsuits we require the client to cover all future expenses.

Q: What are typical expenses in a personal injury lawsuit?

A: In New York personal injury lawsuits, filing fees usually total less than $500. Deposition transcripts also usually total less than $500. The biggest expense is when a lawsuit goes to trial and we have to pay doctors and other experts to testify. We have paid anywhere from $300 to $7500 for a doctor’s testimony, and some doctors charge as much as $5000. Other expenses include process servers, investigations, medical records, and meals. In some cases you may need other experts. In one big case we spent about $10K on an accident reconstructionist. The other side spent about $40K on theirs.

Q: What is the process?

A: First most lawyers negotiate with the insurance company. If negotiations are unproductive, the lawyer files a lawsuit. For a few months the lawyers exchange paperwork with the insurance company attorneys. Next come depositions, where they question the plaintiff client and the plaintiff lawyer questions theirs. Then the insurance company might have the plaintiff examined by their doctor in what’s known as an IME – Independent Medical Examination. Plaintiff lawyers prefer to call this a Defense Medical Examination. Last is trial. A lawsuit might settle at any point along the way, even while the jury is deliberating.

After a trial the losing side can appeal. Sometimes even the winner can appeal. Cases sometimes settle during the appeal process.

No-Fault FAQ

When you are hurt in an automobile accident in New York State, No-Fault insurance can help with many of your costs. The following frequently asked questions (FAQ) will help you to understand when and how No-Fault pays, what it pays for, and what you have to do.

Q: Am I eligible for No-Fault benefits?

A: …

How to Start a House Cleaning Business on a Tight Budget

"If you use Emotion and Love to drive your sales and your business, you will create Loyalty Beyond Reason. And I promise you, you will build relationships and enjoy a business that exceeds beyond your wildest expectations"

First of all, before you decide to start your cleaning business, make sure this kind of work is right for you. You will need to be in good physical condition. Cleaning is very hard strenuous work. You will need to have good customer relation skills. You will need to have basic office skills and some accounting skills.

If you are planning on leaving your full time position to start a cleaning business, make sure you have at least six months of savings. Or keep your full time job and start out part time.

Research all the aspects of the cleaning service business. From customer service to advertising, taxes, employees, insurance and bonding, what to charge and how to clean a home professionally. Cleaning your own home and cleaning professionally is totally different. Learning how to clean professionally takes a lot of time. When a client pays for your services they expect to come home and find their home spotless.

Getting those first clients takes time, persistence and patience. You will not get a hundred clients overnight.

Obtaining Those First Clients The hardest part of starting your own cleaning service is obtaining those first clients. Most clients want to know how long you have been in business and want references. The best thing to do is let clients know that, yes, you are new to the business but that you have thoroughly examined all aspects of the cleaning business and assure them that you know what you are doing and that you are quit capable of cleaning them home to their specifications. Be confident. I can not stress this enough. Clients love to see confidence. It relieves their worries and lets them know that their home is in good hands.

References: To get a few good references when starting out, ask some friends or family members if you can clean their home for free or at a discounted rate. The sound of working for free may not be appealing but it will be worth it to get some good testimonials.

When cleaning those first homes, go for quality, not how fast you can clean the home. Cleaning efficiently takes a long time, but you will get to the point where you can do a thorough cleaning in a short time. After cleaning make sure you go back and double check all rooms to make sure you did not miss anything. Impress those first clients and word of mouth will spread soon.

Advertising Your company image is everything. Before you start advertising, decide what image you want to portray on your advertising material. Your image is very important. Be consistent with all your advertising. If you have a logo be sure to use it on all your advertising materials. I think it is best to …

Wholesale Business: How to Start a Beverage Distribution Business

Combine Wholesale Distribution with the Beverage Industry and you get one of the most profitable and fun businesses in the world.

This article will give you an introduction into this great business, how you can start and how much money you can make on each case of beverage sold. Is beverage distribution for you? Find out right now.

Beverage distribution is one of the easiest and most profitable businesses I’ve seen.

I like it because you don’t need a lot of customers to make a lot of money. You can easily make an extra $5,000 with a few customers.

You will see why beverage is one of the best businesses in the world. I started in beverage while I had my tool and novelty distribution business. I was looking for new products, products that I did not need to exchange so often and that I could sell over and over again to the same customers. This last part was key.

You see, when I was selling tools I figured that I could sell up to 1,000 tools per day or more but every customer was unique. In other words, if you buy a hammer at a store on Monday chances are you will not go on Tuesday and buy another Hammer. Even if it only costs $1.98!

Don’t get me wrong, the “tool distribution business” is a wonderful business and I still love it. I was just looking for another type of product to add to my current items.

I figured out that in order to sell the same product over and over again it would have to be a food product. So I started going to trade shows and looking at chocolate, potato chips, candy, and other products. I even looked at name brands like Hershey’s. The problem was that I could not buy directly from the manufacturers and the profit margins were super low, about 12{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc}. I was used to up to 70{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc} profit margins.

Finally I ran into a beverage manufacturer of an Energy Drink. They were just starting with their product and it was easier to become a distributor.

Now let me tell you a bit about Energy Drinks. Energy Drinks are the new Super Profitable products. Everybody makes money, the manufacturer, the distributor and the retailer. You see, Energy Drinks sell for $1.99 to $2.40 at the stores for 8 to 16 ounces. This is incredible if you consider that you can buy a soda that’s the same size for $0.50 to $0.75. Even a 20 ounce soda runs you about $1.25.

Distributors love the product because they make about $8 per every case they sell compared with about $2 to $4 for their other products.

Let’s get back to the Beverage Business. The great part of this business is that if you have only one customer going into the store buying your product you sell at least 1 case of that product per month.

You see; if you sell a soda someone can buy …

The Importance of Name Boards for Business

First of all gone are the days when shops and offices would paint their concern’s name on their wall. Now even the sign boards with printed design has also gone out of the market. Here is the time for name boards and signages which comes in different latest trends along with the use of technology. There are front lit boards, back lit boards, name boards which are made using metals, there are name boards which are made using glass, there are name boards which are made using LED lights and neon lights. With all these types to choose it has become a very big and reputed market. As mentioned earlier name boards does boost the sales of the place and it also enhances the reputation of the shops/office and it has become a matter of ego nowadays. When a customer comes to a shopping area he looks all round and the first thing which attracts him is the name boards. Using LED displays and neon lights has become a trend today. The LED lights are high in density and can be viewed from a long distance. The customers very obviously will get attracted towards a name board which is very flashy and good. They don’t even look at the size of the shop, they don’t even want to know what quality of materials are, they don’t want to know the price of the product but the name boards just lures them into the place. Extra bucks should be spent on the name boards due to its importance. Never try to save money on the name boards. Neon light name boards are even better and it suits certain types of business such as hotels, bars, games corner etc. They can be visible in pitch dark and they in fact look more beautiful in dark night. This also is good for their business.

Apart from business the name boards and signage are also very important for corporate companies. Many information technology company find it as an image of the company and definitely want to make the signage perfect. They want their logos to be on their building as signage. Many would have seen that the reception and waiting area of many corporate companies have signages in the reception area. Now this is a need for a good signage with a combination which suits the interior of the company. So it is a matter of prestige. The reception area is made keeping in mind the logo, the company name style, the color combinations and the font style. You cannot just simply print a digital banner and stick it on the wall of the reception area.…

Marketing a Small Business: Just Stop and Think

Does the thought of a marketing plan make you feel excited and energised?

Many small business owners fight the idea of ​​working to set plans or marketing strategies which feel contrived, and prefer to keep their marketing "natural".

But if you need more clients what do you do?

A first reaction is often to take some action but unfortunately you might end up with the wrong client, or the wrong deal. This can result in activity which could even set your business back. A better response is to stop and think which will help you gain a clarification clarity to make it easier for the right prospects to buy from you.

Even if you do not have a plan and hit a problem, there is often a temptation to just keep on doing what you were doing. In fact it can be difficult to take the foot off the brake and stop and think. Even when that wonderful golden opportunity – low hanging fruit – falls right into your hand it can be important to stop and think to make the most of it. There may be a chance to try things a new way, from your presentation or PR, to the type of target market or new partners you really want.

Regular space to step back and think about the big picture helps you to avoid getting off track. That big single client, for example, who looks like the perfect solution, might tie up too many resources. To build your business effectively it might be better to go out and target one market niche, and aim to pull in 5 smaller clients.

When you take the time to stop and think, talk in everyday language. Business jargon or code often makes it harder to see what is real in your business. There are only three things that matter: Them, You and It.

Stop and think about:

Them

Think about your clients. Who do you like to work with, what kinds of problems do you enjoy solving for them? What do they value about you, and what do they really gain from working with you?

You

Whether you are the boss or an employee, your story and your approach is what your clients will "buy". Do not leave yourself out of your business. Think about how you got to be the person you are, and what is important to you about what you do.

It

This exchange of skill for money is the link between you. How much does your product and service range reflect what you and your customers really want?

How do relate these three elements emerge once you have the main pieces in place. Taking the time to get away from the day to day pressure is a great help for freeing up your ideas. Many people discover they have had breakthrough thoughts immediately on waking, or after a car journey or a walk in nature. It is often when you are relaxed that the ideas and …

Plug-In Electric Vehicle-Tax Credit

There is a tax credit associated with the purchase of a “plug-in electric vehicle” (a vehicle propelled to at least a significant extent by an electric motor propelled by a battery capable of being recharged from an external source of electricity).

Tax Deductions Vs. Tax Credits – Deductions reduce the amount of your income that can be taxed. On the other hand, tax credits reduce the amount of tax owed. Congress may grant a tax credit to promote a behavior or industry, such as buying a plug-in electric vehicle.

The tax credit is called the “new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle” credit (NQPEDMV credit). Two-wheeled or three-wheeled electric vehicles aren’t eligible for the tax credit, but, for those vehicles that were, acquired after Dec. 31, 2011 and before Jan. 1, 2014, there was a separate credit available for qualified 2- or 3-wheeled plug-in electric vehicles.

For the vehicle to be eligible for the tax credit, the battery must have a capacity of at least four kilowatt hours, and the base amount of the NQPEDMV credit is $2,500 per vehicle. The allowable credit increases to $5,000 per vehicle based on a formula which increases the credit by $417 for every kilowatt hour of battery capacity in excess of five.

There are some additional criteria to qualify for the tax credit:

• The credit is allowed in the year you place the vehicle in service.

• The original use of an eligible vehicle must begin with you, the purchaser, i.e. the vehicle must be new.

• An eligible vehicle must be used predominantly in the U.S., and have a gross weight of less than 14,000 pounds.

• The credit is allowed if you buy a vehicle for lease to another, but, generally, not allowed if you buy a vehicle for resale.

• The tax benefits otherwise available for an eligible vehicle are reduced unless you make an election not to apply the credit to the eligible vehicle.

• Rules that might limit the application of the credit against regular and alternative minimum taxes are different for the portion (if any) of the credit attributable to personal use and the portion (if any) attributable for business or other for-profit use.

Although the information contained herein is believed to be reliable, the author makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein or otherwise provided. The article is for discussion purposes only.

The article does not providing tax; accounting or legal advice and the reader should rely on its own accounting, tax and legal advisors for definitive guidance as to the applicability of the enclosed information to specific circumstances.…

Authority Vs Power

Successful leaders are individuals with high levels of personal power. Understanding the difference between personal power and granted authority is a significant distinction. Many people have the tendency to use the words authority and power interchangeably; however, these terms refer to two very different aspects of leadership.

Authority is the right granted from a person or organization to another to represent or to act in a specified way. For example, a CEO of a company is given the authority by the Board of Directors to run the company. In turn, the CEO places managers in positions of authority over the various divisions, business units, or departments of the organization.

Power is the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others. Former United States President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, captured the essence of this definition when he said, “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” Everyone possesses the potential to be powerful. Power is a personal talent that you can develop and use to achieve worthwhile goals. It does not depend upon title, rank, position, or authority. It’s simply the ability to motivate others to take specific actions.

Authority is granted but always has defined limits. Power is earned and can be limitless. Authority is derived through the position. Power is derived from an individual’s personal influence, which increases effectiveness. Two leaders in exactly the same position of authority can and will have different amounts of power. A person can possess a great deal of power and absolutely no authority. Conversely, someone can have authority and absolutely no power. Leaders who have not earned sufficient power sometimes make the mistake of trying to influence others by overexerting their authority. But excessive use of authority can cause employees to rebel in much the same way that children rebel against restrictive parents.

Effective leaders recognize authority as a valuable and necessary tool when used judiciously, and they invoke their authority extremely sparingly. Instead, they use the power they have earned to create a climate of trust, cooperation, and accomplishment in which people are positively motivated to pursue their own goals and the goals of the organization. In fact, the amount of responsibility you take on is directly linked to the amount of power and influence you possess. One way to further increase your personal power is to seek additional responsibility.

To be a successful leader, you must always be yourself. Be intentional about shaping your life according to your values and priorities. Trust yourself, believe in yourself, and be honest with yourself. Others will then trust, believe, and be honest with you. It is this foundation which enhances personal power. Excellent team leaders establish healthy open relationships with others. They foster mutual commitment in the pursuit of shared goals. Effective leadership is founded on cooperation never coercion.…