Starting a business from scratch can be daunting. It all boils down to thinking if you really have the guts to start one or to stop whenever you encounter problems along the way. 

Have money, will travel! Startups always say that. But no, we are not looking to guide you into doing that. We are here to aid you in starting your new business.

There are several useful steps you can use in order to get going and these are clearly written below.  

Startup Tips for the New Business Entrepreneurs 

Create a Good Business Plan

Write a business plan for your business as no business has ever succeeded without careful planning. You can start by doing research. Get ideas from experts in the trade whether it is a product or service you plan to sell or offer.

One of the best moves is to talk to people who are already in the kind of business you like to put up. Other startups even experienced joining associations of businesses highly associated with yours. This move can make you understand your proposed project and make you see what you can do to avoid business blunders in the course of your business operations.

Create Focus

First-time business owners are so fast in jumping at opportunities they come across. An opportunity can be tricky at times. Some beginners in business think that in each one they encounter, they want to see the future of their business after a month or even several weeks from conception. 

This is one of the many reasons why they lose focus on the main business they planned to create. Avoiding being side-tracked is essential as going into multiple businesses, even if these are clearly connected with the others on your mind distracts you from the main purpose. 

Get the first one done first and worry about branching out in the next months or years. What is important is to create a stable company to sustain the others on your list.

Build Something Close to your Heart

Starting a business is not just financing a short-term project. It requires you to think about the long term. With long term, we mean it has to last longer than you had ever expected. This means it has to be a profitable one.

But what can make you profit more than sing your innate skills and talent? Yes, using what you have for starters, is basically makes your brand more stable. Meaning—why create something that you wouldn’t be a part of or know nothing at all?

Act and Feel Like a Startup

Creating a new company does not mean you have to buy a new car to flash your brand around. Start with humility. This can make you earn more. Remember, you can have more profits if you cut down on expenses unnecessary for the business. 

Avoid making your business your personal purse. Maintaining a lower overhead budget makes up for a more successful business. If there is a need to personally check your bank account’s movement, do it! If you need a good business lawyer, hire one!

Know When it’s Time to Stop

Real entrepreneurs have the ability to prevail over any kind of adversity. If for more than a several months your business isn’t giving you hope, look for ways to help you achieve a new level. Check on marketing approaches. You might just have missed a few points. 

Nevertheless, if you have not generated income from your venture, and felt that you already have used your entire prowess, maybe, it’s time to quit. But this scenario can still be overturned by means of getting help from professionals whose skills are far better than yours.

Your business credit score is the magic number that will dictate the future of your borrowing – and potentially your entire company. It’s therefore crucial to understand how your score is shaped, so you can take appropriate steps to reduce it – resulting in easier access to credit at lower interest rates.

But isn’t the algorithm behind your credit score a closely guarded secret? Yes and no. Whilst none of the major credit bureaux openly reveal their formulae, it is known that the FICO algorithm used to calculate it is based on five key factors. One of the most important is credit utilisation.

All about credit utilisation

As the name suggests, credit utilisation measures the level of credit you are actually using in relation to your total credit limits. This can apply to all kinds of business credit, from loans to overdrafts to credit cards. But how is it calculated?

You might, for example, have an overdraft with a limit of £25,000, of which you’ve drawn down £10,000, and a credit card with a limit of £15,000 and spending of £9,000.

Your total limit across these forms of borrowing is therefore £35,000 and the amount you have outstanding is £19,000. As a result, you are utilising 54.2% of your available credit.

How is your credit score calculated?

To answer this question, we need to look at the FICO algorithm in more depth and how it leads to the calculation of your credit score. Your credit score is compiled from your credit report, which is essentially your company’s timeline of borrowing and repayment. In particular, it will highlight how responsible your financial behaviour is – whether, when you borrow money, you repay it on time and in full.

Each of the major credit bureaux collect this information in slightly different ways and at slightly different times, meaning that your credit report will vary somewhat. However, they all utilise the FICO credit score, which distils reams of complex information into a three-figure number between 350 and 800. Potential lenders will use this score to assess your reliability as a borrower.

The algorithm uses the following five factors to calculate your score:

1. Payment history. Making up 35% of your score, this assesses whether you pay back your borrowing on time and in full. The more lines of credit you have taken out and repaid, the better.
2. Amounts owed. This is where your credit utilisation ratio comes in – 54.2% in the case of our scenario above.
3. Length of credit history. How long you have been taking out credit contributes 15% to your credit score.
4. Credit mix, assessing the different types of borrowing you have (with some being considered riskier than others). This factor contributes 10% to your credit score.
5. New credit. The final 10% is based on the number of new credit lines you have open. In other words, if you’ve taken out lots of new borrowing lately, that’s a huge red flag and will damage your credit score.

So how can credit utilisation damage your credit score?

Making up 30% of your total credit score, your credit utilisation will significantly affect the ways in which you can borrow – not to mention the cost. If you have a high ratio – substantial borrowing compared to your limits – lenders will consider this a warning that you may not be able to service any more debt. As a result, higher credit utilisation ratios correlate with lower credit scores (though if you have no credit utilisation at all, this will also depress your score).

So what’s the ideal level of credit utilisation? Under 20% would be perfect and under 30% reasonably advantageous, so in our example above the business in question is likely to take a significant hit on its score. But if your utilisation isn’t where you’d like it to be, what can you do about it?

How to enhance your credit score

The bad news is that there’s no magic bullet that will make your credit score the perfect 850. However, in general the lower your utilisation ratio – so long as it’s not zero – the better. Sometimes this is easier said that done, so it can make more sense to look at other aspects of your credit score, and in particular the credit mix.

If you have a number of business credit cards, it’s better not to close them – by keeping your limits high and your utilisation comparatively low, you will enhance your score. But credit cards are certainly not the only game in town, and some other forms of borrowing are regarded as less risky by credit bureaux.

If you’re facing a sudden cash flow problem, you could turn to an alternative lender for an emergency business loan; these can be almost as instantaneous as using a credit card, with funds inside your account within 24 hours. Alternatively, asset-based finance allows you to borrow against the value of your premises, plant and equipment, making it ideal for longer-term investments. (As an added bonus, since the lending is secured the interest rate should be much lower than that for a credit card.)

Finally, invoice finance can tame a troublesome cash flow for good, without resorting to using your cards. These innovative solutions allow you to borrow against the value of your invoices as soon as you issue them, with repayment being made when your customers pay you. With factoring, the finance company takes control of your debtor ledger and assigns experienced credit control professionals to secure early repayment (thus minimising the amount of interest you pay) whilst with invoice discounting you retain control of your own debtors.

As can be seen, there are a number of ways you can improve your business credit score, from enhancing your credit utilisation ratio by paying down debt to altering your credit mix. Whichever option works for you, the results will pay dividends in the future, allowing easier access to borrowing at more advantageous interest rates.

www.cashsolv.co.uk

Henry Kellem, the CEO of Heights Entertainment, a boutique entertainment company that provides exceptional entertainment experience for high end clients joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Henry Kellem discuss the following:

1. Tell us about yourself and what Heights Entertainment is. Why did you found it? What’s your industry background ?
2. What is your next event, specifically the upcoming event in Charlotte with Les Brown?
3. How can people attend?
4. What is your goal with these events and how can people benefit from attending /what do they learn?
5. I see you were just in Cannes at the Film Festival and partnered with WanderLuxxe Concierge and Louis XIII (13)? What did you take from that experience?
6. What is your inspiration and tips as an entrepreneur?

Henry Kellem, master motivator and business mogul, harnesses the power of his truth and humble roots to inspire and enrich every life he touches. Henry was born and raised in Wallace, North Carolina, a small town just outside of Wilmington with a population of less than 4,000 and a poverty level less than 1/3 the national average. There, he learned his intense work ethic, refined attention to detail, and commitment to excellence from his grandmother, Katie Kellem. From a very young age, Henry had to assume the challenging role of “Man of the House,” setting a good example for his four sisters and brothers and making his mother proud. To say that Henry has succeeded, not in spite of these challenges, but because of them, would be an understatement.

Despite his small-town roots and the pervasive temptations to choose an easier path, Henry was the first in his family to graduate from college, receiving a business degree from North Carolina Central University and a Master’s of Business Administration from Strayer University. By accomplishing this remarkable achievement, Henry honored a promise he made to his late brother who wasn’t able to witness Henry’s cap and gown moment. Similarly, he honored a pact he made with himself to always push the boundaries of his limitless potential.

Henry is the Chief Executive Officer of Heights Entertainment, a boutique entertainment company has become a household name in the entertainment industry, producing large scale events and “Exceptional Entertainment Experiences” for A-list celebrities, such as Sean Combs. Heights Entertainment has evolved into a movie production company, landing an opportunity with WanderLuxxe pictures. As a result, Henry will be presenting the 2018 Cannes Film festival, doing what he loves most – inspiring young boys and girls to take advantage of their passions and rise above their circumstance.

Henry has managed to lead an incredibly active lifestyle. His commitment to clean living inspired him to invest in SNAP Fitness, to train for and compete in numerous marathons, and motivate thousands through short, daily, inspirational fitness videos on social media.

His tremendous desire to give back encouraged him to host and organize an annual 5K Fun & Run event, in which 100% of the proceeds is donated to Alex’s Lemonade, an organization fighting for a cute to childhood cancer, and “Sow Much Good,” a charity that brings fresh food to underprivileged neighborhoods. Through his upbringing and his work, philanthropy and personal development have become the mainstays of Henry life.

Henry lives in Los Angeles with his incredible soulmate, wife, and life partner, Dana and daughter, Layla. Setting an example for his little girl and family, Henry can be found on stages around the world, harnessing his well-deserved reputation as an influencer and trend-setter, with some of the world’s top motivational speakers including Les brown, Karen Civil, Kenny Burns and Dan Lier.

Websites: www.LesBrown.LIVE | www.HeightsEnt.com

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Ken Pasch, the author of: On Course: Become a Great Leader and Soar joins Enterprise Radio. Ken brings over 30 years’ experience in revolutionizing leader development within a broad range of organizations, including the U.S. Military, Johnson & Johnson, the American College of Healthcare Executives, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

This episode of Enterprise Radio is working in association with the Author Channel.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Ken Pasch discuss the following:

• What prompted you to write On Course?
• In the book, you mention having a eureka moment. When did this happen?
• Not many people like to admit their failures. What made you realize you were once a bad boss?
• Why do our bosses have so much influence on us? Is this a good or bad thing?
• I was surprised to read that many leaders are uncomfortable with authority. Isn’t this counterintuitive?
• As a leader, how do you know if you’re off track? Are there warning signs?
• Why do people need catastrophic events to spur course corrections?
• How should we measure success in today’s workforce? Isn’t it about the bottom line?
• What’s the one staff role every organization can’t do without?
• Why is leadership essential to our everyday lives?

Ken Pasch brings over 30 years’ experience in revolutionizing leader development within a broad range of organizations, including the U.S. Military, Johnson & Johnson, the American College of Healthcare Executives, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. He is Founder of KiVisions, Inc., which advises good people on how to become great leaders, and serves as faculty in executive education at the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University. Pasch is a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, where he served proudly and with distinction.

Website: www.KiVisions.com

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There are many types of therapy that can help you improve the quality of your life, and one such form of therapy is behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy is not one type of therapy, but instead an umbrella for a handful of therapies that are usually involved with treating mental health problems. The function of behavioral therapy is to change unhealthy behaviors associated with the mental illness. In this post, we will look at the types of behavioral therapy and what they can do for you.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, involves looking at how your behaviors and thoughts will change your actions and how you feel. CBT involves changing your thinking and behaviors so that they give positive results instead of spreading negativity.

There is another form of CBT called CBT play therapy. This is typically involved with children. The children play, and the therapist sees how child expresses themselves. The child may play with the toys, draw a picture, play with friends, or play alone. This can help the parents play with their child and be on the same wavelength as their child.

System Desensitization 

This therapy is great for certain phobias. Everyone wants to conquer their fears, and the best way to do so is through therapy. In this therapy, the behaviors your exhibit when you are faced with a fear is replaced with more positive ones. If you experience anxiety when faced with a fear, you’re taught to instead relax. After that, you will be exposed to whatever it is you fear, and it will be gradual so that you adjust. 

Aversion Therapy 

If you’re having problems with drug or alcohol addiction, aversion therapy can help. A therapist’s job in aversion therapy is to make you associate something you’re addicted to with something you hate. If you have a bad childhood memory, the therapist may try to link the memory with the substance you’re addicted to, making you less likely to want to consume the substance.

What Behavioral Therapy Treats 

Besides the above, here are some problems behavioral therapy can treat. 

• Anger management issues
• Depression and anxiety
• Eating disorders
• PTSD
• Bipolar disorder
• ADHD
• Self-harm
• Suicidal thoughts
• OCD

These are just a few problems that behavioral therapy may be able to treat. If you’re having problems with any of these, consider a therapist. 

Is it Effective?

As you may imagine, these therapies are quite effective in helping to reduce undesired behaviors. About 3/4s of clients end up satisfied. You can have a higher chance of satisfaction by attending sessions regularly and committing to the therapy. Some people think that they are ready after one session, and this ends up being a mistake.

Behavioral Therapy and Online Therapy 

Thanks to the Internet, receiving behavioral therapy is easier than ever. There are many services out there such as BetterHelp that allow you to receive the therapy you need. These online services work around your own schedule, and you can talk to them anywhere. If you’re in an area where you can’t speak, you can text. If you’re at home, you can have a fruitful video chat. There are numerous ways you can communicate, which makes it even better. 

It’s hard to change your behaviors. They are typically embedded inside you, and it’s not like flipping a switch. With that said, you can use therapy to change your behaviors into something more positive. These take time, but by committing, you can be able to change your behaviors for the better and live a more productive life. 

Writing a business plan is the most essential thing that every entrepreneur venturing into business should start with. It acts as a guide to the path of your success and helps define you and what you stand for. Writing a business plan is a starting point for a successful business. It may sound like a cliché but actually, failure to plan is planning to fail. For many starters, it is actually hard and challenging to express their business plans in writing. It is for this reason that I recommend the following tips when writing a business plan:

1. Research about your targeted market. When writing a business plan, the main focus should be how to find a good market for your product, expand it and be able to retain it. With this as the guide to your business plan, you will be able to develop a good business plan and a product that will always be needed by the market. It is advisable to write the business plan from the consumer point of view, for example, if roles were reversed and you are the consumer would you actually use the product and is it fairly affordable to all?
2. Sell your ideas. When writing a business plan, you should be able to communicate on how you plan to succeed in the business. Your ideas should be well put as to where you will get the capital and how you plan on gaining profits to return the capital. Selling your ideas in the business plan attracts both investors and partners or even workers who want to be part of your success.  Make your ideas clear and properly outlined.
3. Campaign for your brand. The chances that there is another great idea just like yours already in the market are very high. When you are campaigning for your brand, people want to know why they should prefer you and not your competitors. Write a business plan that clearly shows that you are the better investment, unlike the others. This is achieved by focusing on your strongholds rather than other’s weaknesses.
4. Clearly outline your business goals. Your business plan is a guide to what you intend to achieve. Do not limit your goals and visions. Aim higher and work towards achieving the goals. You should create long-term missions and visions that define your company. Include the target market and always leave room for improvement.
5. Document all records. When writing a business plan, be sure to not leave out any useful information or piece of document. The documents are what will guide you and the investors to draw a management plan. All documents such as the license and rights of the business should be in the business plan. There should also be documents to show delegation of management and their salaries. This shows transparency and authenticity of your business.

The above guides will help you achieve a good business plan. For more information and help, you can contact professional business plan writers who will work for you hand in hand with you to ensure that you achieve your set goals.

Are you getting ready to start your own business in the near future? It’s a very exciting time when you are planning a new business venture.  Coming up with a business name, business card, website or social media accounts, and most especially the services or products you will offer can be quite taxing and time-consuming.

But all the time spent on that should not make you forget one of the most important things, and that is to apply for a business license. You cannot legally conduct your business unless you are issued a license by the state where you want to operate. There may be some differences in the requirements for a business license, depending on which state you are applying, but take a look at the list below for what you need to prepare when you apply for a business license.

1. Business name – you need to come up with a business name that is unique and catchy. It is your business name that you will put on your license so you want to take some time to think of one. You also need to make sure that there is no other business with that name. If your business is just a small one, it might be that registering your business is as simple as registering your business name.

2. Social Security Number – in the case that you will be the sole proprietor of your business, you will not need to get a tax identification number for your business as your own social security number may suffice. This is usually the case when you are starting a business from home and you are the only employee as you are the one making the product. If you do not yet have a Social Security Card, you can get the assistance of Application Filing to help you.

3. Employer Identification Number – as stated above, you only need a social security number for tax purposes if you are the sole proprietor. But if you are planning to hire employees for your business, you will need a tax identification number or Employee Identification Number. The EIN is necessary because it will be the one used when the employer will pay taxes on behalf of the workers hired by the business.

4. A business structure – it is important to determine the type of business you will have as it will affect so many things. It will not just affect all the paperwork that needs to be filed but also the taxes you pay. Although it is possible to change your business structure in the future, remember that there might be some restrictions. Some common business structures are a sole proprietorship, partnership,  and limited liabilities company (LLC). Make sure to do your research on the differences in the business structures.

5. State Tax ID – depending on the location, some states may require that you also pay state taxes. It would be best to check with your state website to confirm whether that is something you need to apply for.

Diana Forbes a 9th generation American, with ancestors on both sides of the Civil War who lives and writes in Manhattan joins Enterprise Radio. Diana Forbes is the author of Mistress Suffragette and other New York Gilded Age historical fiction stories.

This episode of Enterprise Radio is working in association with the Author Channel.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Diana Forbes discuss the following:

1. You wrote the book, Mistress Suffragette (Penmore Press, March 2017) about a woman who becomes accidentally drafted in the women’s suffrage movement in the 1890s. What was your inspiration for the novel?
2. In your novel, a villain named Edgar Daggers preys on Penelope. To what extent were you trying to get across a modern sensibility with your heroine? Do you see shades of the Me Too Movement in the novel you wrote?
3. How did you research your novel?
4. Your novel has won 12 awards to date. Did you have early readers? How did you get feedback on your work before publication.
5. What advice do you have for aspiring novelists?

Diana Forbes’ debut, Mistress Suffragette (Penmore Press, 2017), was inspired by Diana’s passion for old New York, ancestry, and untold stories. Here she explains how New York is not merely a setting for her, but a character.

Readers always tell me that “New York is a character” in my novel, Mistress Suffragette. When I walk through the streets today, I imagine how it was back in the nineteenth century. The smell of horses sweltering on a humid summer day. The splinters of sawdust jettisoned in the air from the constant construction. I can almost hear the pigs running through the gutters. (These animals substituted for city services since pigs are remarkably clean.)

I retrace my protagonist’s footsteps whenever possible, and I have her walk a lot in my novel. As a stranger, she acutely feels the cold shoulder the city casts on outsiders. Missing for my heroine are many of the social introductions that would make old New York accord her more respect. For her, New York offers up steaming sidewalks and screaming barkers. She sees the seamy underbelly of the city stripped of any gilded lining.

She moves to New York because she has to, in order to achieve her career aspirations, and stays in spite of the city’s haughty snobbishness, not because of it.
She has difficulty acclimating to its congestion, strange rhythms, myriad neighborhoods, and lack of trees. Looking out at the walls of linens drying in the courtyard makes her miss her childhood home; and yet once she’s situated in New York she can never return home. Not really.

To her, New York is too brash and too expensive. At best, the bond she forges with the city verges on love-hate. My heroine also has the chance to experience how cruel New York can be during a hurricane, shattering glass and ravaging lives.

But, like a character, New York has layers. She is complex, ever evolving, and a bit secretive about her past. She has stories to tell if one will only stay long enough to listen. And over time, it is impossible for any resident, my heroine included, not to occasionally be caught off-guard by the city’s grandeur or at least charmed by its quirky residents.

“As a writer, I am an archaeologist, and it is my task to dig out New York’s past and reveal it in a way that is true to her identity”.

Website: dianaforbesnovels.com

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Ian Ugarte, Director of Small is the New Big joins Enterprise Radio. Ian is a full time developer recognised as the small space, micro apartment specialist, passionately working to solve the crisis of homelessness in Australia.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Ian Ugarte discuss the following:

1. What is Hi-Res and how has it been developed?
2. Why is community so important to you?
3. What is the white collared homeless epidemic?
4. What do you ultimately hope to achieve?
5. Can the everyday person do something to help and what’s in it for them?

Ian Ugarte is a full-time investor, developer and educator. A property expert and change maker, using Nationwide Policies to work on affordable housing outcomes that reduce the level of homelessness in Australia.

In this role, having the opportunity, and often, the personal invitation to talk to differing levels of Government Ministers for advice on appropriate, intelligent and efficient use of space, gives him the leverage to help decrease housing costs and reduce mounting government pressure.

Ian is passionate about creating co-operative partnerships between Social Agencies, the Government and Private Investors to achieve sustainable and practical solutions for affordable housing, looking at the ‘Big-Picture’ and creating ‘win-wins’ for all involved.

As a qualified Builder, Plumber, Educator, Private Mentor and Coach, Ian uses his vast experience to turn traditional approaches towards housing provision on their head.  He is recognised as Australia’s leading micro apartment, rooming and boarding house specialist.

Over the past 7 years, his speaking invitations have resulted in more than 100,000 people, from top Executives to attendees at Homelessness conferences, being audience to his unashamedly raw and heartfelt message. Consequently, becoming affectionately known for his very personal style of challenging people’s thought processes and perceptions.

Ian is sought after from all platforms of media to discuss the issues surrounding the affordable housing crisis and his drive to re-create community through the provision of elegant housing diversification.

He is also the author of  “Small is the New Big” – a very personal account of a journey to Health, Wealth, Love & Happiness, laying out their correlation and the effect each component has in creating success.

Website: www.smallisthenewbig.com.au

Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallisthenewbig.com.au
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SITNB_Tribe

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Moving is a necessary aspect of life. Whether you are moving in search of business or employment opportunities or seeking a better quality of life, moving has a way of pushing you out of your comfort zone thereby allowing you to see life in a different perspective.

For many people moving is a hard task. Packing and unpacking boxes is a stressful proposition. However, with the right resources moving can be simple and smooth thus, enabling you to focus on what’s important; adapting to your new environment.

Here are 5 resources to utilize when you move.

1. A Moving Checklist

No matter how organized you are, without a checklist, you are likely to have an oversight in your planning. A checklist will help you put everything in order by minimizing the chances of forgetting something very important. This will help you save a lot of time, energy and money.

Think about all the things you require to do before moving. List them down by order of priority. These includes, selecting a moving company, collecting moving materials, changing your address, preparing your family psychologically and getting all your vehicles ready. A moving checklist will help you reduce the pressure of transition.

2. Change Of Address

It is important to change your address right away and inform all the relevant people of your new address immediately after you move.  Your bills, credit cards, insurance, driving license and every other document that comes through your mailbox would land on the wrong hands if you don’t change your address in time.  Identify a resource centre that can help you change your home or business address with ease.

3. A Moving Company

When you are preparing to move, a moving company is a great resource to use. Movers simplify the process by removing the heavy lifting off your back, enabling your day to run smoothly and stress free. Only use a moving company with good reviews. Talk to your family and friends and get good recommendations from them. A mover with a successful track record is likely to give you value for your money.

4. Budget

When you are planning to move, a budget is critical for the whole process. Failure to plan your finances while relocating could be disastrous in the long run. Ideally, you should create your moving budget before doing anything else. Create a budget template on Excel with all the expenses you will incur during transition. Calculate all the costs including insurance, gas, storage, legal fees and meals. This will help you identify the areas where you can save on costs.

5. Packaging Resources

Packing everything all by yourself can seem like a daunting task. However, do it yourself packing can save you a lot of money. Ensure that you purchase moving supplies early in advance to avoid last minute rush. Select moving boxes that are tough and strong to protect your items from damage.

Conclusion

There you have it, 5 resources to utilize when you are on the move. Looking for an easy moving solution? https://www.us-mailing-change-of-address.com will assist you in changing your address effortlessly. With all the checklists and guidance required, you will get assistance throughout your entire move.  

So, you have finally decided that you want to convert your passion into a profession by starting up a business. But what should you do to turn your dreams into reality? Well, the good news is that you are not alone! Starting a business is no mean feat> You need to rally all your physical and mental prowess to set it up for success from the word go. The truth is that starting up a new business is stressful and demands a lot of attention, dedication, and commitment from you.

The first thing you need to do is come up with a plan of action. After all, failing to plan will only set your business up for some epic failures. The goal isn’t just to give your business a fighting chance to survive, but to also increase its odds of success right from the beginning. The rewards of running a successful business are limitless and are really the essence of the whole entrepreneurial journey. Here are some tips for starting a business that will set you off in the right direction:

1. Register with the IRS

As mentioned earlier, you need to get everything right from the get-go. This includes registering with the government and the IRS. Once you register the business you will need to get an employer identification number (EIN) that is issued by the IRS. This is only a requirement if you have several employees and is sometimes not applicable to sole proprietorships.

Whatever the case may be, it’s important to apply for one just so that you can distinguish your business and personal taxes. You can apply for the EIN through SS4 Online – IRS EIN Online and get all the requirements that the IRS has for your business.

2. Have a Business Plan

Did you know that studies have shown that one of the major reasons why businesses fail is the lack of planning? That’s why it’s so important to have a business plan before getting into any new venture.

Your business plan will be like a roadmap to guide you through all the necessary stages of your company’s start and growth. It helps you to establish the purpose of the business, your target market, and your financial plans. With this information, you will then be able to implement the necessary steps of starting and running a business in a logical, timely manner.

3. Get the Right Team

Unless you are planning on flying solo, you need a team – and a good one at that. This team will help to get your company off the ground and define the various elements of your business. You need to give this part of the business as much attention as you are giving to the brand’s products and services. Define the roles properly and ensure that every area of your business is represented by qualified people who are all working towards the same goals.

4. Have a budget

Trying to start a business without putting a detailed budget in place is setting yourself up for failure. You might risk spending more money than what you are projecting to take in. You can make a budget by researching the current industry climates and giving yourself some room for adjustments, especially when shopping around for suppliers. Having a financial projection of up to three years will enable you to know how to handle unexpected issues.

5. Get Insured

Getting the right insurance for your business entity should happen before you even think of launching your business. Your insurance should cover theft, property damage, probable lawsuits from clients, your employees and basically anything that may leave you vulnerable to any kind of threats. Consider your location, your employees and the type of industry your business is in. Do your due diligence and get the best cover for your business and its needs.

Oleg Konovalov, a management consultant with over 25 years of experience operating businesses both in the UK and internationally and author of the new book Corporate Superpower: Cultivating a Winning Culture for Your Business joins Enterprise Radio.

This episode of Enterprise Radio is working in association with the Author Channel.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Oleg Konovalov discuss the following:

1. The title of your new book is “Corporate Superpower.’  What is the superpower you are referring to?
2. You write about the importance of communication.  What are some key ways to improve communication across your organization?
3. You include a chapter in the book about being true to yourself.
4. What about the topic of change? You say that it’s not something most people are willing to do — or aware that they need to.  What are some steps to making positive change?
5. How can owners or leaders of small businesses use your book to improve their culture?

Oleg Konovalov is a management consultant with over 25 years of experience operating businesses both in the UK and internationally. He received a doctoral degree from the Durham University Business School, UK. His research areas include the structure and forms of organizations, organizational and interpersonal ties, culture and ideology, effectiveness and problem-solving. Oleg is the author of Organizational Anatomy, a management concept exploring new ways of viewing the structure of any organization by looking at it from a biological perspective. He is author of the new book Corporate Superpower: Cultivating a Winning Culture for Your Business.

Website: http://olegkonovalov.com

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Alan Yong a strategist, entrepreneur, technology & computing pioneer and the author of Improve Your Odds: The Four Pillars of Business Success joins Enterprise Radio.

This episode of Enterprise Radio is working in association with the Author Channel.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Alan Yong discuss the following:

1. What prompted you to write this book?
2. What are the four pillars of business success?
3. Can you talk about the importance of the first pillar?
4. Where do you think cryptocurrency is headed? Do you think digital currency is going to replace fiat currency?
5. How do the lessons of the technology revolution apply to business today?

Alan Yong is a strategist, entrepreneur, technology and computing pioneer.  He created the world’s first personal tablet computer (the DTR) in the early 1990s, and was founder and CEO of Dauphin, which won a $400m contract with the Pentagon and $150m manufacturing agreement with IBM. Yong is the co-founder of DNotes Global — digital currency for everyday consumers — and one of the leaders of this technological revolution. His new book is Improve Your Odds: The Four Pillars of Business Success.

Website: https://fourpillarsofbusinesssuccess.com

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Funerals and traditional burials have been around for as long as recorded history. A way to say goodbye and honor loved ones, funerals might vary from one to the next. Although individualized, there are still certain rituals that are considered standard. The traditional ritual of a funeral was created when the world was much less connected.

Due to the changing face of society in America, families have become less centralized and don’t always live in the same region, as was the norm in the past. That means when someone dies, not everyone who wishes to be present at the funeral can be. This is making people reconsider tradition when it comes to burial arrangements and causing them to opt to do things slightly differently to accommodate for changing nuclear families. 

Since people have become much savvier and proficient at doing things on their own, it begs the question of whether or not funeral homes might be a thing of the past. With so many options for memorial ceremonies or life celebrations, are traditional funeral homes likely to be out of business in the future? The answer is no.

The little secret that not many people know until they encounter the death of a loved one is that funeral homes do much more than hold traditional wake ceremonies. They offer legal services and take care of all aspects of death and burial. With so many things to take care of, there is little likelihood that they will not be a thing of the past anytime soon. 

Keep reading to find out six interesting things that keep funeral homes relevant and important.

1.  Provision of emotional support

Losing a loved one can be overwhelming to family members. Often, funeral homes are more than just a business. They employ people who have an understanding of how to deal with grieving family members and loved ones. They also help people through the acceptance process by allowing for viewing of the body of a deceased person.

Sometimes people have a hard time accepting death until they see it in person. By displaying the body, there is more permanence to someone’s death, and it helps people to move forward.

2.  Commiseration

A Winnipeg funeral home is the place where a family and the community can come together to talk about someone who has passed and share experiences and stories together. Getting through grief is a process that is much easier on loved ones when they have a place to gather together to lean on and support one another. This isn’t always possible in personal spaces, which is why funeral homes are the perfect space.

3.  Announcement of death

The funeral home is responsible for notifying people in the community–as well as outside of it–of the passing of an individual. They take care of the death notice and making death announcements on forums so that anyone who knew and loved the deceased is aware that they are gone and knows how to respond.

4.  Planning guidance

When you are grief-stricken and overwhelmed, it is difficult to think straight, little less plan something as involved as a funeral or a memorial service. Regardless if you choose cremation or traditional burial, there are many steps that need to be taken care of. A funeral home is responsible for making sure everything is done on time so that the family can heal.

5.  Organizing legal documents

A funeral home helps individuals dealing with the death of a loved one by assisting with the legalities involved. Being responsible for filing the death certificate and other legal forms, funeral homes take care of many legal matters so that the family members can focus on the grieving process and getting through the funeral instead of worrying about paperwork.

6.  Organizing little details

If you haven’t ever organized a funeral before, it is easy to forget about things like flowers, memorial cards or any other arrangements that have to be made. A funeral home takes care of the little details so that the family can worry about the major changes that are taking place.

As you can now tell, funeral homes are about more than just traditional funerals. They take care of all aspects of death to alleviate a lot of familial stress. It isn’t that people can’t organize a funeral on their own, it is just that it makes more sense for loved ones to focus on grieving by allowing someone else to take care of the mindless things that really, in the scheme of things, don’t matter when your heart is hurting. 

Are you a budding “mompreneur?” Moms are busy people, the responsibilities of raising a family consumes a significant portion of your time. With so much to take care of, is it possible for moms to run a business and handle the pressures of motherhood?

If you’re a mom who’s just started a company, find some inspiration from these 6 stay-at-home moms that broke the boundaries of conventional business and achieved their goal of becoming successful “mompreneurs”. 

1.    Corporate Mom Dropouts – Founded by Lucinda Cross

Finding the time to balance business and family is the most challenging part of being a mompreneur. If you’re not careful, the pressures of business can ruin your relationships at home. Lucinda Cross saw this problem as an opportunity and founded a company on it. 

Today, “corporate mom dropouts” is a wildly successful business that focuses on rebuilding the relationships between moms in business and their kids. Lucinda published her book, “Corporate Mom Dropouts,” in 2009 and hasn’t looked back since.

2.    Buzzy – Founded by Dr. Amy Baxter

Is your kid scared of needles? This phobia is common among children, and Dr. Amy Baxter decided to create a business model that catered to ease this fear. Buzzy, is a toy used to entertain kids receiving shots. 

The product takes their mind off the brief moment of pain by attracting their attention to a cartoon bee during the administration of medications. The company received a $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, and the rest is history.

3.    Baby Einstein – Founded by Julie Aigner-Clark

This series of books and videos, created by Julie Aigner-Clark, teach kids about art, poetry, music, and language. From humble beginnings in the basement of their family home, the business grew to astronomical heights. The Disney Corporation acquired the company for the tidy sum of $20 million, making Baby Einstein an outstanding success for Julie and her family.

4.    Carissa Rose – Founded by Carissa Brown

The best business ideas come from recognizing market niches not yet exploited by big business. This fact rings true in the case of Carissa Brown and her fashion label, Carissa Rose. The label designs clothes for full-figured women that struggle to find garments in their size. A full-time mom, Carissa worked on the business in her spare time, and persistence paid off. Today, Carissa Rose is an international brand, and the company employs her kids. 

5.    Bella Tunno – Michelle Tunno Buelow

When Michelle Buelow fell pregnant, she took a salary cut of 50% to stay at home with her newborn. Michelle quickly discovered that she struggled to make ends meet by making clothes and accessories for her baby, such as changing pads, from cheap items. 

Friends saw her ideas and wanted her to make them some for their kids as well. Bella capitalized on the concept and turned her small home business into a going concern that produces more than $1 million of turnover every year.

6.    What’s up for Kids – Cathy Alessandra

This tale of persistence will inspire any aspiring mompreneur. Cathy started her first newsletter “What’s up for kids,” in 1995, back when there was a lack of literature for kid’s events. After printing her first thousand copies, she ran into numerous stumbling blocks on the way to building an empire. Today, “What’s up for kids” is a 32-page publication with advertising revenues and a monthly circulation of over 20,000 copies.

The Final Thought

All it takes to make a success of a home business is tenacity and persistence, along with the drive and passion for making your dreams a reality. On your way to establishing your empire, take advice from mentors, create compelling marketing campaigns and use stylish mailers to build your brand and achieve success. Keep pushing for your dreams and never give up.

Addiction can be like riding a rollercoaster you can never get off, at least not without leaping while it’s traveling at 100 mph. No matter the addiction, drugs, alcohol, eating, gambling, and so on, if you get in too deep, there may be nothing you can do about it before your addiction wreaks havoc on both your personal and professional life. 

The key? Gaining control over your addiction before it takes control of you. Here are a few ways to stop an addiction before it’s too late, whether it’s your own or someone else’s.

Know If You’re at Increased Risk of Addiction

They say that knowledge is power, so it’s vital to know if you’re displaying signs of an addiction or at an increased risk of developing an addiction. According to the Center on Addiction, there is a multitude of risk factors of addiction for people at various stages of the lifecycle. For mid- to late-twenties adulthood, the stress of balancing work with having a family can put them at risk of developing an addiction. Middle-aged individuals may also be at risk of addiction if they have financial or social stress in their lives, such as a divorce or having to care for an aging parent. You should also know that substance abuse, including drinking and smoking, is more common if tried before the age of 18. 

Understanding that you may be at a higher risk of developing an addiction can be the first step in getting ahead of your problem and overcoming it.

Don’t Put Your Career First

If you feel yourself slipping into an addiction that’s slowly starting to control your life, you need to make fighting that addiction a priority over your career. You’ve no doubt worked hard to get to where you are, so you’ll be understandably hesitant to put it on the back burner. You may also have a family to support, and we all have bills to pay, both of which make it difficult to set everything aside to seek inpatient treatment for your addition. But if you don’t make your health a priority, your addiction will eventually have a negative impact on your career (if it doesn’t already). Laws exist specific to protect people who get treatment for addiction from termination. 

You may also be able to find an alcohol rehab clinic or drug treatment centre that will allow you to continue working while receiving treatment.

Be Honest with Yourself

For most people, maintaining an addiction is an exercise in lying, and not just to other people, but to oneself as well. If you get deep enough into your addiction, you’ll do things you might later regret just to keep it from being interrupted. 

Part of getting a hold of your addiction is turning over a new leaf of honesty, first with yourself and then with everyone around you. In an effort to be more honest, try keeping a journal of your thoughts. Don’t think too much about it: just put a pen in your hand and let your stream of consciousness take over as you describe your daily activities and actions. After a few entries, read and reflect on what you wrote; it should help give you an honest look at the state of your life and how your addiction is playing a role. The point of honesty is helping you realize you have a problem so you can seek help for it. 

But before any of that can happen, you need to be honest with yourself about your problem.

Have a Firm Plan in Place

It’s not enough to say that you’re going to stop your addiction; if it were, it wouldn’t be an addiction. If you’re going to break it, you need to have a concrete plan for what you’re going to do instead of indulging your addiction. When you feel that urge to drink or smoke or gamble, what exactly are you going to do? Is there a specific place for you to go or a particular activity for you to do that will help you relax and fight off your urges? Do you need to call someone to help you? 

When that addiction part of your brain kicks in and tells you to give in, you need to have an exact plan for how to handle it and get through your addictive craving without slipping. It’s not easy, but the short-, medium-, and long-term benefits are substantial. 

Sources:
https://www.centeronaddiction.org/addiction-prevention/adult-addiction
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/with-a-job/
https://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/recovery-skills.htm
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201204/breaking-free-addiction

Ryan Gallagher, the Co-Founder and CEO of call tracking company, iovox with offices in London, San Francisco and Australia joins Enterprise Radio.

This episode of Enterprise Radio is in association with the Mobile App Channel.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Ryan Gallagher discuss the following:

1. Coming from a high paying corporate background why did you choose to switch to being an entrepreneur?
2. You founded the company with your wife, what advice would you give couples thinking about creating a start-up together?
3. After bootstrap funding, you took your first VC funding in 2012 what was the upside and downside to that injection of cash into the company?
4. You have said that keeping the start-up company culture is super important, how do you do that?
5. If you could give a budding entrepreneur one piece of advice, what would that be?
6. You moved to California to kick start your US expansion, why did you choose Mill Valley for your first office? Why not Silicon Valley?
7. You have your dogs listed on the team page, some people like pets in the office, some find them distracting. How do you handle that?
8. You have staff worldwide, how do you keep people engaged?
9. What are you most proud of achieving with iovox?

Ryan Gallagher, Co-Founder and CEO of iovox. Ryan’s company provides call tracking solutions to big businesses that are looking to grow revenue through phone based sales and lead generation (automotive, real estate, classifieds, restaurants) and personal productivity and organization solutions for individuals and teams that rely heavily on the phone in their daily lives; whether for work or personal use.

Website: www.iovox.com

Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iovox
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IOVOXLtd
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iovox
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iovox

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If you are charged with a DUI in Manitoba, it is a very serious offense that can be met with severe consequences. The good news is that even if you are facing DUI charges, it does not automatically mean that you will be found guilty. 

Even if you were tested and your blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 percent or more, there is still a way to defend against a DUI conviction. The best way to beat a DUI charge is to find a DUI Manitoba lawyer who can build a winning defense. Likely, they will use one of the seven defenses to DUI that have a proven track record.

1. The “last drink” defense

If you are pulled over and have your blood alcohol content (BAC) tested, even if you test over 0.08 percent, you can try to use the defense that you just left the bar and you drank your last drink quickly as not to waste it, which was why your BAC was abnormally high. It is a crime to drive with a BAC of 0.08 percent, but it isn’t a crime to have alcohol in your stomach or on your breath.

So, if you were tested at 0.08 percent, and you just left the bar, then there is the chance that your breath tests will be inaccurate. Since the alcohol may not have had enough time to hit your bloodstream, your BAC could have been inaccurate, meaning that you were wrongfully charged.

2.  Delayed BAC test

You can use the a delayed BAC test defense if you were stopped without being tested for a long time. Since alcohol takes some time to hit your bloodstream, if your BAC isn’t immediately tested, you could end up testing higher later on. This means that you might not have been legally impaired when you were driving, but due to the delay in your test, you gradually became more intoxicated. In other words: you might not have been drunk driving at all. 

3. The indicia impaired contradiction

If there was more than one police officer at the arrest and the description of what they witnessed as signs of your impairment are different than another officer’s, their testimony can be called into question. 

If there are verbal or written contradictions between the statements of the arresting officers about the events of the scene, then it might be the key to a winning defense.

4. You weren’t behind the wheel

If you are in an accident or are caught beside a car and presumed have been the driver, you may be able to claim that the officer could not positively ID you as being the one who was driving the car. If you were not the driver of the car, you could have your charges dismissed.

To prove that you are guilty of a DUI, the officer would not only have to prove that you were intoxicated, but would also have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were the one behind the wheel.

5. You weren’t served the proper certificate

The Crown will typically rely on something called the Certificate of Qualified Technician to prove that your BAC level was correct. To use your BAC level in court, the Crown would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were served a certificate properly. If they can’t, then you can use that as your defense against DUI charges.

6. No right to counsel at the scene

Since it is your right to be represented while being questioned for a crime, if your attorney was not present to give you advice on your case when you were tested and questioned roadside, the argument can be made that you were not given your right to counsel. If this argument is granted, any evidence that law officers collect at the scene become inadmissible in court, including any tests. 

7. The officer is not specifically trained to operate an ASD

If, on the stand, the officer who administered the breathalyzer cannot tell the judge the procedure for properly administering BAC tests, then you can challenge the effectiveness of their testing abilities and how accurate they are. If they are not properly trained, perhaps your test was incorrect. 

Just because you are accused of DUI in Manitoba, does not necessarily mean that you will be found guilty. If you hire the right DUI attorney who specializes in DUI defenses, you might just be able to find a loophole that will get your case dismissed and restore your reputation. 

A happy and successful life is all about making financial decisions and management. Life insurance is that wise decision that is to be taken early as you never know what the future holds for you. Your savings are your lifeline. Although it is a bit painful, but the fact is that people are dying prematurely and some of them were the sole breadwinner for their family. The family suffers the most in these circumstances and it becomes difficult for them to maintain their standard of living. Therefore, taking an insurance policy is the wisest decision to make for your family. 

Do you think your earning is enough? Or do you think you are too young to have an insurance policy? There are compelling reasons for you to buy a life insurance policy for you and your loved ones. Groth & Associates can advise you about those policies and all the technical issues about getting one.

Look After Your Young Ones

This is probably the most important reason to buy a life insurance and the main factor to keep in mind. For those who do not want to let their families down after they are gone, life insurance is the most useful instrument. It can replace the regular monthly income, provide for children’seducation fees, and give financial security to the family when you may not be with them. They won’t be dependent on someone else for their needs.

Dealing with Loans

Liabilities pile up during periods of crisis and can lead up to heavy debts and loans that are difficult to return without a strict saving plan. Insurance can be the plan your family needs to deal with home loans, car loans, and personal loans. Your family can have a decent amount after a specific period of time to deal with all outstanding loan payments. 

Retirement and Long-Term Goals

You might have a plan to buy a house on your retirement or on the wedding of your child. An insurance policy is the perfect investment option due to its minimized potential risk and reasonable benefit at the end of the term. It can also be your retirement fund as you can get the benefit of a regular monthly income after retainment. You can also call it your pension plan.

Good for Business Owners

If you own a business, an insurance can be a good succession plan. Some insurance policies can be purchased for the security of your business in case of loss or death. You can create a document about who will inherit the business after your death. Some insurance policies also assume responsibility for the running of the business and prevent the surviving partner from buyingyour shares without agreement. It can be a protection plan for the business about which you can ask a financial advisor.

Easy if You are Younger

Youth is a carefree period. You think you have so much to do and also have time to accomplish your goals. But you should think of an insurance policy as priority at this stage. It can be your emergency fund or a long-term plan. It is also cheaper when you are young because as you get older you need to consider other large expenses as well. The money saved during good times becomes a very comfortable financial cushion in later years. This way you can also save more every year until your retirement. Whether you are single or have dependents, think about insurance as a sensible and practical solution.

You are Forced to Save Something

If you have money with you, you may spend it somewhere. An insurance policy forces you to save some cash annually in the form of insurance premiums. You can adjust the premium monthly or annually as per your income and living standards. 

It Gives Peace of Mind

Unavoidable life incidents can be depressing, but an insurance policy allows some comfort and peace of mind. It is relaxing to know that your insurance policy will help you in difficult times and will allow your family to avoid financial dependency. 

You Can Use It for Other Expenses

You have probably purchased a policy for your health needs but you may never ever fall seriously ill to consume that policy. However, you can do something else with that amount. You can plan a holiday or a tour with your family with that amount.

A payment gateway is a service provided for merchants by an online service provider that allows processing of payments made from credit cards, direct payments, and other forms of digital payment. E-commerce business owners, at some point, inevitably need to set up a payment gateway to receive payments for services and products supplied. If you are reading this post, it means you are probably considering setting up a payment gateway for your business. The good thing is with a few guide tips, choosing the perfect payment gateway for your business does not have to be a dreaded experience. Here are some 5 tips to selecting a payment gateway you should know of.

1. Payment Methods

It is essential to have a payment gateway that offers a variety of payment methods. If the payment methods are limited, this may lock out some customers, which will translate into the loss of opportunities. You also need to research to find out the payment methods most preferred by your customers. For instance, most of your buyers may be inclined to using credit cards for payments, but then you subscribe to a payment gateway that only facilitates direct payments. Such a mistake would lock out a lot of customers. To be on the safe, select a service that allows a variety of methods and more so supports the payment method preferred by your clients.

2. Cost

Forgive the slightly harsh tone, payment gateway companies are not charity organizations. They are in the business to make money, and so they charge some fees. Three main types of fees charged include; transaction fees, monthly subscriptions, and set up fees. These are the charges you need to consider before you choose your gateway. Remember cheap is not always the best. Some companies charge a high set up fee, but the transaction fees are low. Others allow free subscription, but the transaction fees are high. It would be advisable to subscribe to a service that has low-to-fair transaction fees.

3. Company Reputation

There are tons of scam companies out there. It would be a painful amateur mistake if you chose a company that is known to be a scam not forgetting loses you would incur. Before settling for a particular company; take your time and conduct your research well. Find out if they have any cases of mishandling the clients’ funds and if so, stay away from such a company at all costs. Customer reviews are always the best in gauging what you are getting into. If you find a lot of bad reviews, do not even give the company a second thought.

4. Mobile Payment

In this age and day, most people prefer to make transaction payments in the most convenient way. And mobile payment is one of the most reliable and convenient ways available. A company that allows people to transfer money using their mobile phones will have an edge over other companies that lack the option. Subscribing to a payment gateway company with this feature will increase your client base.

5. Periodic Billing

This is a crucial feature especially if your business involves recurrent subscriptions. Such a feature saves you the burden of having to collect the payments manually. This service is also convenient for your customers because they will not forget to make the required payments and the money charged will be the correct amount.

When you follow these guidelines, you will realize that choosing a payment gateway is not a challenging task at all and in the end, you will select the perfect service for you and your customers. But some businesses are high-risk, and most payment gateway service providers shy away from such. For a business like CBD oil trade, for instance, you’d want to subscribe to a provider such as cbd payment gateway, who make it easy for dealers in this very popular recreational substance today.