Dec 16, 2017

Summary: Here are a few factors to consider when choosing a credit card processing company to fit your business needs. If you’re starting a business, you’re likely choosing between credit card processing companies. Factors to consider are fees, customer support, and accepted payment types. Variable Fees There are multiple fees a credit card processing company will charge you. Among them are interchange fees and monthly minimum fees. Interchange fees are charged to every transaction you process and range from 2% to 3%. The rate you pay depends on multiple factors, including the size of the transaction, the type of card accepted, and place of transaction. Monthly minimum fees vary between processing companies. This is the minimum amount in fees that the company must collect per month. If your credit card fees do not meet this amount, you must make up the difference. There are many different fees charged by your credit card processor, so make sure you understand them. Customer Support It is crucial to find a company that offers 24/7 support directly from an account representative. This gives you access to people who can help if your credit card reader malfunctions, or you see confusing fees on your monthly statement. Accepted Payment Types You want to make sure your processor accepts all major credit and debit cards, maybe gift cards and prepaid cards too. If your customers are tech-savvy, you’ll want near-field communications technology so you can accept payments from digital wallets. You should be able to accept a variety of payment types to reach a broad base of customers. There are dozens of credit card processing companies to choose from. Do your research before making a decision. Blog submitted by Charge.com: Are you having trouble with your small business credit card processing? Visit Charge.com online for all your payment...

Dec 1, 2017

If you are a small business owner and know nothing about accounting, here are some areas to consider. Focus on meaning – It is vital to create a meaningful relationship with your clients so that you will have a long-lasting relationship. Start off by creating meaning for your product or service within the customer’s mind and then consider how you can make profits. Your team is essential – Invest in the right people to get your business moving in the right direction. Start off by clearly defining what type of person you need for your business before setting out to look for them. Investors that care – Although getting in the capital is necessary; it is also crucial to seek out investors that care about your business and the products and services you offer. Remember that your investors are ambassadors of your business and therefore look for investors who will be able to guide you and your business. Leverage technology to avoid high start-up costs – Look at marketing, business, management, and finance tools that will help your business understand where it is at and where it is going. Don’t be afraid of zero – If you are not bringing in sales or are finding it hard to make profits, don’t be fearful of your situation, instead look at it is as an opportunity to innovate. Stay hands-on with your finances – Keeping a close eye on your finances is an excellent way to understand operational issues, build the business and regulate your cash...

Nov 17, 2017

Summary: Saving money by comparison shopping can prove to be a financially smart move. If you’re in the market for a rental car for that upcoming family trip, you’ll want to ensure that you obtain a reasonable rate. Now, haggling might be a term that can come off as a bit frugal, especially when you’re renting a car, but it’s understandable as you’ll want the biggest bang for your buck. The Numbers Game Wherever you’re planning to rent a car, you have to remember that the people behind the desk are dedicated to providing quality service so they can rack up the cash. It doesn’t matter what country you’re in, even in Amman a rent a car can be ridiculously expensive due to the fact that you’re a tourist. Car rental agencies are typically judged according to the amount of money that their individual branches tend to bring in – which ends up being a numbers game. Being open to various agencies can be a benefit for you. If you can, make multiple reservations (as long as they don’t charge you for cancelling) and see how they all compare when stacked against one another. Pitting One Company Against Another For instance, say you’re looking at Monte Carlo Rent a Car, LLC and Enterprise to see which car will provide you with the best value. You’ll want to take a look at the total amount that you’ll be paying and what types of fees are associated with them as well. If you want, you can show the sales representative the deal that you made with another company and ask him whether or not he’d match the price or throw in an upgrade. As stated before, these companies want your money, and they might go as far as price matching if they feel pressured by their...

Nov 3, 2017

Small to medium businesses will often be impacted by the environment around them, more than larger firms. Here are some tips on how to survive during in hard times. Create a business survival plan – Create a scenario where your sales are falling by x % and how you would cut expenses, increase sales, maintain or re-establish a certain profit margin. Your plan should be as detailed as possible. Prepare a current profit-and-loss statement and cash flow analysis – Understanding your business’s numbers is a useful way to know where you are heading and to change your direction. Match your past performance for similar months to properly understand how to proceed. Establish an advisory board – Look at bringing together a small group of people who can advise you on your survival plan. Let them come up with scenarios that will challenge your plan, which will you’re your plan realistic and applicable. Short term – Look at a short-term plan that ranges from one to six months and look at simply breaking-even. Medium-term – Your medium-term plan should look at the next six to eighteen months of your business and consider a plan that creates profit. Base your profit on cost cutting and using new marketing initiatives to increase revenue. Long-term – A long-term plan should go beyond 18 months and return your business to making a profit. To make long-term profits, look at business enhancing initiatives that provide a solid...

Aug 5, 2017

New projects in the form of new services and products is a good way for businesses to reach untapped markets and increase revenue. However, it is important that a new business project is sound and well thought of for it to make money. Here are some questions that you should ask before starting a new business expansion project. What am I going to achieve by expanding? – Consider what you will need to expand your current operation. For example, will you need more equipment, extra room and how much will these changes Do I have enough financing to expand my business? – Your plans will require funding, therefore look at how you intend to finance your operation. Start off by accounting for all the costs that you know off and look at how much money you currently have for your new project. Will I be able to afford to hire new staff members? – Expanding operations means that you will need extra employees to manage your new project. Finding the right staff a time-consuming task but one that should be done correctly. How will costs increase permanently? – Additional equipment, space, and staff will mean that your costs will increase. Remember that most of these costs will be consistent costs until you make a profit from the project. Do I need additional financing? – Look at how much funding you will need and how best you can access it. Researching different methods of getting a business loan is a good way to get a loan with the lowest interest....