Business Protection

I have come across many examples of small business owners or directors who use personal borrowing to supplement their business cash flow. This practise may not strictly be the right way to finance a business but certainly it has for a number of years, been the reality for many businesses.

Unfortunately due to the effects of the credit crunch, personal credit is now becoming much harder to obtain. As has been widely reported, lenders are being more careful when considering what and to whom to lend thus affecting the availability of both secured and unsecured loans. In addition, despite interest rates being their lowest since records began, the interest being charged by banks for personal loans is now higher than any point in the last 5 years at between 8-9% APR. This increase means that even if money is available, it is more expensive to repay.

With personal borrowing more difficult to come by, small business owners are less likely to be able to get access to funds. As a result, the life blood of their business dries up and all too often the business is unable to continue to operate. More and more businesses are therefore failing and jobs being lost.

In my view, this situation goes hand in hand with the problem of personal insolvency that we are currently experiencing in the UK. The Times on Sunday reported on the 23rd May 2009 a suggestion from the Citizens Advice Bureau that there may be many more people who are suffering personal insolvency in the UK than the official figures show. I believe that this analysis is absolutely correct. According to insolvency statistics published by the Insolvency Service, in the first quarter of 2009, just under 30,000 individuals were declared personally insolvent.

However, these figures only include formal insolvencies – i.e. people who have declared bankruptcy or entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA). I believe a conservative estimate would be that for every person declaring formal insolvency, there are at least another two who are insolvent but dealing with the problem by using an informal Debt Management Plan (DMP). A Debt Management Plan is simply a gentleman’s agreement between an individual and their creditors to reduce monthly debt repayments to fit within an affordable budget. There is no formal register of these plans and therefore no way currently to accurately measure the number of people who enter into them. If my estimation is correct, this would mean that an additional 60,000 individuals would have become insolvent in the first quarter, of 2009 totalling 90,000 all together.

Surely the significant increase in the number of people suffering personal insolvency simply highlights the problems that are currently being faced by small business. Where access to cash is not available, increasing numbers of businesses are likely to fail. The knock on effect of this is increasing redundancy and the likelihood of personal insolvency for both employees and the former business owners themselves.

The Government has made its intentions clear to help businesses through increasing availability of business loans. However, I believe that whether we like it or not, the life blood of small business is the finance that business owners take on personally in the form of personal loans and mortgage debt. As such, where these types of funds are not readily available, the difficulties currently facing small businesses are likely to continue.

An unsecured loan is a loan sanctioned without any guarantee in form of a property by the lender. In this kind of loan there is no material assurance provided by the borrower to the lender.You can use the advantages of unsecured loans for various purposes like education, starting up a business, major purchases and for many other financial matters.

The best part of an unsecured loan is that you can do avail such loan even if you are not a homeowner or you have nothing to keep as collateral.Since unsecured loans are sanctioned without any guarantee from the part of the recipient the lender is at a high risk. On the other hand, the recipient takes little risk as he does not need to make any material assurance before the lender.

However, many lenders in the market offer unsecured loans in spite of the high risk attached. The lenders are ready to sanction a loan irrespective of the reasons. The purpose of taking a loan does not create a barrier for getting an unsecured loan.

Although you will be paying a higher rate of interest for an unsecured loan in comparison to a secured loan, you are free from the risk of repossession of your property in case of defaults.

The processing of an unsecured loan is comparatively short, particularly when you compare it with a secured loan. The reason is that in an unsecured loan you do not need to go through the evaluation of your property and lots of paperwork involved with it.

Poor credit record is a matter of great concern for the persons going to apply for an unsecured loan. But you do not need to worry as persons having bad credit history can also apply for an unsecured loan. A poor credit record with Arrears, Bankruptcies, and Default does not prevent the lenders from providing you an unsecured loan.

Car accidents are the leading cause of personal injuries in the United States.

In 2005 alone, there are about 2.9 million people injured as a result of car accidents.

Car accident injuries are also the leading cause of death in road accidents and in the same study, have resulted in about forty-three thousand deaths.

Some of the common car accident injuries are:

• Knee injuries

• TBI and head injuries

• Paralysis (Paraplegia, quadriplegia, etc.)

• Burn injuries

• Amputations

• Fractured bones

• Skin lacerations

Car accident injuries usually cause large medical expenses and you would need to make a claim with your insurance company.

The problem is most insurance companies look for ways to pay the claimant as little as possible.

Insurance adjusters will be reviewing all your records and will find ways on reducing the payment as much as they can.

To avoid those problems, here are some tips that can be followed to ensure that you are getting a fair amount from your insurance company:

• Your personal injury claim starts when you go to a doctor – It is very important that you seek medical attention for your injuries after a car accident. If your car accident insurance policy carries personal injury protection coverage, the medical expenses should be covered by your car accident insurance company first. Going in the emergency room as soon as possible will show that the car accident injuries needed immediate medical treatment.

• Disclose all symptoms with the emergency room doctor – The doctor will take note of all the symptoms you are feeling, including all aches and pains in any part of your body. If you forget to mention any symptoms, it will not be placed on your medical record. Insurance adjusters will be reviewing your medical records very intently and they can then use these “forgotten symptoms” to decrease the value of your injury by telling you that you did not report the said injury the day you went in the emergency room.

• Be careful with what you say, even with the doctors – The doctor will be taking note of everything you say and in turn will be reviewed by the medical adjusters.
If the doctor asks you what you were doing and answer that you were “playing golf or basketball, was jogging, etc. after the car accident.” The insurance adjuster can use that against your claim by saying that your injuries were not very serious if you were able to engage in such strenuous activities.

• Ask the emergency doctor for a work release – Even if you believe you do not need one, ask for one. Some injuries do not appear until after a few days. This also help in showing that your injuries was serious enough to warrant time off from work.

• Ask for a referral – Emergency doctors would only see you because of emergencies like car accidents. They will not continue your treatment. Ask them for a doctor that they can refer so that you can continue your treatment.

• Stick to your treatment schedule – Insurance adjusters will reduce the payment you will get if they find out that you are skipping some of your treatment. Skipping treatment will show that your injuries are not as serious as you claim.

A lot of people would usually wonder why they are paying for a comparably higher car accident insurance premiums compared to other people.

There are a lot of factors that affect the rate of car accident insurance policies. Some of them are:

• Age – The highest car accident insurance premiums are with young drivers and elderly drivers.

• Sex – Male drivers are considered more prone to accidents than women.

• Location – There is more risk of being involved in an accident in highly populated areas
• Model of Car – A more expensive car is more prone to theft.

• Previous accidents – If the person has been involved in a previous accident, it will raise his/her car accident insurance premiums.

To lower your car insurance premiums, here are some tips that you can follow:

Shop Around for Options

Insurance companies are private companies with a lot of competitors. Some offer discounts and packages that could significantly lower your car accident premiums.

However, take into consideration the financial stability of the insurance company as well. You are paying for insurance, to secure your finances and an unstable insurance company may fold before you reap any benefits.

Take a Driving Course

Taking a driving course will show your intention to be a responsible driver and will give the impression that you will be less prone to car accidents.

It usually cost around $100 for a day’s course, but it can go a long way in lowering your premiums.

Car Safety Features

Adding car safety features such as anti-lock brakes, dual side air bags, and electronic seatbelts reduce the risk of injury in case of a car accident.

Reduced risk of injuries will also translate to reduced car accident insurance premiums.

Anti-Theft Devices

The risk of theft can also add to your car accident premiums especially if you are driving an expensive car.

Adding anti-theft devices such as a car alarm will reduce the risk of theft and may lower your premiums.

Drive a low-profile car

Driving a red sports car is not exactly avoiding attention. The more expensive a car is, the more it is prone to theft.

A simple sedan will fetch a lower car accident insurance premium than a Ferrari.

Credit reports are used by insurance companies to calculate the amount of risk they will assume to offer you a car accident insurance policy.

Make sure to pay your bills on time and review your credit reports every year to make sure there are no problems.

Avail of Group Discounts

A lot of companies offer reductions in car accident premiums if availed through a group plan.

It could be through an employer, professional, business or other associations.

The best way to keep your car accident premiums low is to be a responsible driver and avoid troubles in the streets.

However, if you are injured in a car accident in the future, be sure to consult a car accident attorney to help you in negotiating with your or the liable party’s insurance company.

We often get frustrated with the outcome of our marketing efforts. Most of the time, we get lackluster results rather than what we expect. Even with a marketing campaign supported by real data gathered methodically and conscientiously, we most often than not fall prey to promotional gimmicks that are created on a whim. Instead of planning carefully and strategically, our impulse is to run promotions based on the latest media trend.

This is especially true nowadays when we are working on a limited budget for our marketing campaigns, not to mention that consumers are now curbing their buying activities. Just because business is slow, we tend to go for media trends that may be offering a great rate or even those that are fashionable, hoping that these media gimmicks will help get our business out of the doldrums.

However, although these marketing activities can help us gain attention from our target clients, they lack what it takes to build brand value. Instead of focusing on giving more meaning to our marketing efforts, we tend to go for something that would give us instant attention for quick repair of our situation. It is like applying first-aid for temporary relief. Our pain would be taken cared of for now…but it will not last very long.

So rather than go for instant marketing gimmicks to attract attention, why not make our marketing campaigns more meaningful? Instead of putting more weight on instant sales, we have to work on creating stable relationships with our target clients.

Marketing campaigns such as booklet printing or printing booklets may mean immediate results that can increase our sales. But it should not just stop on that one transaction. When printing booklets for example, you have to consider longer relationships where your clients would want to go back to purchase your products again and again. This means targeting on encouraging more repeat business from your customers so you can help your business survive in your chosen industry. You have to capitalize on what you have to offer and make sure that you build brand value from these benefits.

How do we do this then? By focusing our efforts on defining clearly our target market and the right message to give them. Our marketing campaign definitely would have more meaning to our target audience if the message we give them is what they are looking for. Having the right message for the right target audience goes a long way in having a meaningful and effective marketing strategy that would bring in a huge difference between having a successful business and a failed one. By providing your target clients with the right message, you are able to help your clients make a wise decision whenever they purchase your products and services.

Do you often market according to a method or system which are thought of and well planned? Do you market based on real data gathered methodically and systematically? Do you concentrate on results that you can measure and quantify? Or you often fall prey to marketing gimmicks that are made on impulse just because you feel the slowdown in business sales?

Many businesses often find themselves having marketing campaigns such as pamphlet printing or brochure printing that focus on getting instant sales. They tend to concentrate on putting more emphasis on getting their target clients buy their products and not on a lasting relationship with these customers. This then makes us very frustrated when our buyers only purchase from us once and never go back for another. So we go back on relying on marketing gimmicks to attract the attention of potential clients.

Sure, you can attract new clients every time with your fashionable and trendy marketing campaigns. But the thing is, you will not be able to have repeat clients that would mean a steady supply of income for your business. Instead of capitalizing on your benefits to build and encourage stronger relationships with your clients, you lose them because you stop on just the attraction part – you do not work on making your offer stronger so as to keep these first time customers in your business.

The key is to make your marketing campaigns more meaningful such as your pamphlet printing and brochure printing. Give them more value; not just instant magnets that carry your message. Striving for business growth by keeping your clients in your fold is better than having to try to attract new customers every time.

Here is how:

Do not contradict your own campaign. Make sure that everything works according to the game plan. From your in-store display to the staff who answers your calls – all these should be able to carry the brand value you want for your business. Do not let your limited budget make you look unprofessional and unappealing. Think and plan carefully to the minutest detail. Not only should your print collaterals carry your brand image, it should be apparent in everything you have for your business – from the moment your clients read your message in your pamphlet printing or brochure printing, to the time that they actually use your product.

Build relationships with your marketing campaigns. Stop making your campaigns as mere tactics to make a sale. Instead, aim to build relationships with your audience. Engage your target audience with your collaterals. Look for ways to have the trendy media gimmicks help you build lasting bonds to ensure that your business would be at the top of your industry.

Do not get tied with the newest trend. Although they may work right now, trends usually dwindle away when newer ones come out. So do not become fashion rejects. Invest on marketing gimmicks that can promote longer.

Finally, always bear in mind that marketing is a never-ending work. It needs to evolve along with your business. Be sure to keep your marketing campaigns up to date. Revitalize your data and goals every time with the objective of engaging your clients in growing your business.

Have you ever wished you could make some extra money for the things you have always wanted, without having to check the balance in your checkbook first? Do you have enough money saved to take care of those emergencies should they arise. Do you have to save money all year, to take a family vacation or a second honeymoon? How about buying a new car or some of those toys like your friends have?

Are you worried that you might have to work a part-time job, to make ends meet, but you do not want to lose time with your friends and family? Have you ever thought about starting your own online business from home to make extra money or maybe to replace your current JOB some day? Of course the biggest question everyone asks is, “Can I really make a good living, with an online business from home?” The answer is, YES you can!

There are many online businesses from home which will produce the necessary income to set you financially free. You must protect yourself and do not get caught up in any online scams. Make sure you do a thorough research of all the online businesses you are considering! Research them in all the major Search Engines to see what other people are saying about these opportunities you are considering. There are thousands of Forums related to online business. Participate in a few forums and ask questions concerning the programs that interest you. You will likely find people who have already tried some of the programs and based on their observations, you can save yourself a lot of time and money. Keep in mind, even legitimate companies will get some negative responses, but the positive will far outweigh the negative.

Don’t get me wrong, there are many honest and legitimate ways to start a business from home, however, be aware of all those scams waiting to clean out your wallet. The intention is not to try and scare you from pursuing your dream. You just need to do the research, and you will find the honest and legitimate businesses from home. It is not difficult to see the difference between the legitimate online businesses and the scams. Remember, If it sounds too good to be true, Then it is!

You should be able to communicate with a legitimate company, either by email or telephone. If you are consistently running into brick walls trying to get answers to your questions, be a little leery. You should be able to get a real person to answer your email with answers to your questions. It may take a day or two, but if they are honest and legitimate, you will get a real person to reply. If a company requires a large some of money to start your business from home; turn and run the other way, because it is a pretty good indicator, It is a scam.

Now, instead of asking yourself, “Can I make money with an online business from home?; why not ask yourself, “When am I going to get started to financial freedom?” Remember, there are many honest and legitimate online businesses from home, and you can definitely find one to fulfill your dreams.

Remember to thoroughly research all the online businesses from home that interest you. Protect yourself from scams and you will find that honest and legitimate online business you can build successfully.

When marketing your business, you do not have to break the bank just so you can have yourself a promotional campaign that can generate leads. These are precisely the times to be conscious of where your hard earned money is going. As such, you really have to look into possible ways that you can save on costs on your marketing efforts.

Times are hard and you might find yourself struggling to keep on attracting new clients to your business. And although it is quite tempting, do not even think about cutting your marketing budget just so you can make ends meet. If you want to start losing your client base then go right ahead and stop your marketing activities. But if you want to survive these difficult times and remain on top, you have to start thinking of clever ways to promote your business.

You do not have to regularly come up with more costly collaterals such as catalog printing or print brochures so that you can have as many leads as possible. There are other cost-effective ways to go about marketing other than your print catalogs. Here is how:

1. Market with thank you note cards.

You can always purchase a pile of them at discount shops, and then send them to your loyal clients just to let them know that you appreciate the business they provide you. Handwrite the message to make it more personal. And end with a wish for their success and well-being.

2. Be an expert.

Write articles on your expertise. If you are in catalog printing, then write articles on how to print catalogs that work and then submit these articles on websites. The more people who will be able to read your articles, the more chances of your expertise to get you the leads you need for your client base.

3. Share data and information.

This time, if you found a great article, you can share it with your customers that will appreciate such information. It will show that you are interested in them, so much so that you are keeping tabs of what can provide them solutions to some of their issues.

4. Contact people. Talk to them.

This is the most basic means to get in touch with your target clients. Just go ahead, pick up the phone and dial that number. Ask for feedback on current marketing campaigns or the ones you did for them last year. By getting in touch, you will be able to generate new business and revive old ones in the process.

5. Network, network, network

Go to events and attend trade show exhibits. But bear in mind that networking is not about getting as many business cards as you can. Networking is about making connections and forming working relationships that can help you grow your business.

There are lots more ways to market your business without costing you an arm and a leg. You just have to be creative in finding out the means to promote what you have according to your budget to generate leads for your business.

Office buildings all have one thing in common, and that thing is that they need furniture. If you’ve ever visited an office supply store then you know that office furniture can be almost prohibitively expensive, making in inaccessible for some small business owners unless you want to buy the cheapest of office furniture. Cheap furniture is a bad idea because you probably know by now that some cheap office chairs tend to be made of cardboard. Now ask yourself this: Will cardboard stand up to a flood? If your cardboard won’t, then it’s time to look into a different type of office furniture. The best option that you could have is used office furniture.

When you’re setting up your office for the first time, you’ll want to find dealers that sell used office furniture. There are a lot of different dealers that you can buy from and in some cases you can even purchase them online. If you’re unsure of what to do, just perform a quick internet search to see what you come up with. Generally the one that you want will be at the top of the search list and from there you can choose the furniture that you think would be best for your office.

Before you do make your selection however, you’ll need to make sure that you are buying quality used office furniture. The reason for this is pretty obvious, as you don’t want to have your office furniture to start falling apart as soon as you get it. You want to reserve that event for later down the road, much later would be preferable.

You can get all kinds of used office furniture including desks, chairs, tables, and even filing cabinets. You would be absolutely amazed all of the things that you can actually get at a discounted price. One thing that you might not have thought about however are cubicles. Used cubicles are going to be an asset to your business and you can get them at a fraction of the cost of new cubicles.

Why is it that used cubicles are such a good idea? Another question might be why are they so great if they’re used. After all, why didn’t the original company want them? It’s pretty simple actually, in the case of used cubicles. If a company moves then they need their furniture, but often their cubicles are already set up in a certain configuration. Not only would it be hard to dismantle, it would also cost money to actually move the items to the new location. For this reason most companies will opt to buy brand new cubicles rather than reusing their old used cubicles.

There are many reasons for you to purchase used office furniture, but as for your own personal reasons, that will be up to you to decide. Used office furniture can be very beneficial to your company, and it will save you a lot of money! Start looking around now for all kinds of different used office furniture to see what’s best for you and your business!

Credit card debt is a frightening and very real problem for a high percentage of Americans. Over two million Americans seek the advice of a credit counselor each year, mostly to avoid bankruptcy. According to www.money-zine.com, there were 164 million credit card holders in the United States in 2005, and that number is projected to grow to 176 million Americans by 2010. These figures hold ample room for debt and creditor,s traps.

If you find yourself in a difficult credit situation, you may be relieved to find there are ways out. Certain steps can be taken to give yourself a hand out of the giant hole of debt you may have fallen into. Remember, no one else can do this for you, so the initiative must be your own. Also, while debtor’s prison has not existed since 1800, the creditors are still allowed to sue you for their money. The steps to begin working your way out of debt are complicated but they are worth a good night’s sleep.

Stop using your cards. As soon as you realize there is a problem, put those cards away. Put them in a safe deposit box, at a trusted friend’s house, high in that closet you never look into, or anywhere they cannot be used. If there is a credit issue in your household, you cannot promise yourself you will not use them once you get some credit back. Find a way to use cash for everything until you straighten out the card problems. For tips on saving money and cutting monthly spending, visit
http://articles.moneycentral.m sn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney /TooBrokeToSaveMoneyNever.aspx

Call your creditors. Remember, the credit cards are unsecured debts. The creditors have nothing to take away from you if the balances are not paid. For example, if you buy a car on a loan, the car is collateral, meaning the car can be taken back if the loan is not paid. With a credit card, the creditors pay the business where the card is used, then individuals pay the creditors. There is no concrete possession for the creditors to retrieve. Therefore, creditors realize they should work with their debtors.

Creditors want their money, and many are willing to work out plans to help you pay your debt. Remember, however, do not let the situation spiral so far out of control that your interest rates begin to go up. The longer you put this off, the harder negotiations become. This is because the creditors don’t believe your word. When you enter into a credit card contract, you agree to pay the money back on a certain day of the month. If you loaned your friend ten dollars, and your friend promised to return the money every Friday without coming through, you’d stop believing them and would reluctantly loan money in the future. Creditors feel the same way on a grander scale.

Consider debt consolidation. If you feel your bills are getting too high, yet your credit score is still in good standing, debt consolidation may be a good direction for you. Many credit unions have low rates, and sometimes give discounts to new members.

Consider not-for-profit credit agencies. It may take a few times to find one that fits your situation, but it’s worth the effort to shop around. These companies are usually in the local phone book and can ease your debt over the course of a few years. Terms and conditions vary, and there may be fees attached, so do your homework before attaching to the first agency you dial.

The last ditch effort: bankruptcy. Sadly, many Americans take this final step. Read as much as you can on the individual bankruptcy laws in your state. Be prepared before looking for a lawyer. This is the priciest and longest option, but it is an option for individuals overwhelmed with their debt. If the thought of a lawyer with fees frightens you, attempt to find a lawyer who will work pro bono. These lawyers are usually new graduates interested in finding cases to build their resumes. Many larger cities have a growing population of younger lawyers with clean resumes who may be able to assist with bankruptcy cases.

Whatever the situation may be, credit card debt is frightening. However, do not be afraid to call creditors continuously to demand help with your situation, and do not be too ashamed to ask for help through consolidation, agencies, or bankruptcy. Many Americans face the same situation every day, and it is not because they are stupid or fools. It is because they are individuals who have fallen under changing circumstances and they find themselves in an unusual financial situation. There is no shame in life changes, and the debt that sometimes accompanies