Business Archives - MoneyWatch101

The Best Types of Investors for a New Business

In the weeks, months and even years before you open a new business, you will likely find yourself worrying about where your start up capital will come from. While you might obtain a loan from a bank or financial institution that works will small businesses, you may need to turn to other sources to get the capital that you need.

Crowdfunding Sources

One of the more popular ways in which people raise money for their new businesses today is with crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter and Fund Anything. These sites let you create a small business plan that shows why you need income, the amount you need to raise and other important information. You can even include items that you’ll give away to those who make a donation to your company. Though the website itself will typically take a cut of the funds you raise, you may raise enough to get your business off the ground.

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What to Know Before You Quit Your Job to Start a Business

Almost everyone has dreamed of giving up his or her 9 to 5 job at one point or another and becoming an entrepreneur. The idea of being your own boss, making your own rules, and not having to rely on someone else to earn a living is a compelling one to many people.

However, statistically speaking, most new businesses are doomed to failure. According to Bloomberg, as many as 80 percent of businesses crash and burn before they reach their first anniversary. In almost every case, the failure is due to poor planning. The truth is, owning a business isn’t all four-hour martini lunches and long weekends. The profits don’t just start flowing in because you aren’t working for someone else. Owning a business, and keeping it running successfully, requires commitment, planning, and more than a little sacrifice. If you’re willing and able to do what it takes, though, it is possible to build a thriving empire.

But before you hand in your two weeks’ notice and order your business cards, take a moment to consider some of the truths about working for yourself. While they shouldn’t deter you from pursuing your dreams, they should serve as a reminder of what you need to do before you start your own business.

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Retirement Your Way: Living the Small Business Dream

Living the small business dream

How many people do you know work at a job they hate, just for the paycheck? How many people, do you think, do this their entire life just because they want reliable income? What about you? Are you truly happy doing what you’re doing? If you’re like most people, you’re not happy. You long for something more – something better. You’re on the horizon of retirement, but this isn’t the end for you. No, you’ve got one good business in you. Here’s how to bring those dreams into reality.

Decide What You Really Want to Do

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The Truth behind Multi-Level Marketing

Hey guys I wanted to discuss some things with you today about multi-level marketing. The truth behind multi-level marketing is primarily a sales driven opportunity, so if you do not have the gift of the gab success in this business model will be difficult. I have witnessed this type of business since the late 80’s because my mother was a Mary Kay Representative. I saw her do meetings in our home; I noticed a ton of product that she purchased to sell to others. She reached a small level of success within Mary Kay, and it was a great step for her growth process. After a few years her desire started to dwindle, and she was left with the entire inventory of unsold product. Due to inexperience with accounting and a lack of recordkeeping my mother never really knew if her revenue exceeded her expenses. Mary Kay is still around today and their competitor as well the popular company called Avon. Now the new MLM trend to hit the U.S. is Utility companies looking to take a grapple hold on this business model.

I once ventured into MLM through a company called Mona Vie; they sell juice as a business model. I began my journey in this business for $300 dollars upfront costs for an entry level distributor. A family member introduced me to this fabulous experience. They also sell a monthly juice plan that ranges from 1 to an unlimited amount of bottles billed per month. I failed at this business because I never wanted to be a seller and I never will. My family member and everyone involved that I knew personally through the business also did not succeed with this company. I guess I do not like the awkward situations that selling places people in on both sides of the equation. The morale of the story is the people who benefitted from Mona Vie is and will always be the high level executives at the top of the food chain.

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Companies that might go bankrupt in 2014

These are the companies that might go bankrupt in 2014, the reason they are predicted to go under is due to tough competition from other companies. Why discuss the companies that are listed below? Because many people might want to invest in them, without knowing the truth behind the company’s numbers. The stock might be appealing to some due to the low price, but would you really want to put money into a sinking ship? (No) What really caused these companies to begin spiraling out of control and to ultimately be very close to bankruptcy? From my point of view, I would have to say that one of the reasons is these companies did not change enough under the current market space. Staying stagnant or comfortable is a sure fire way to bury yourself in any business environment.

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5 Steps to Securing a Career in the World of Finance

This is a guest post if you are interested in being featured on this site click here.

If you’re looking for a career in finance, it takes more than just desire to turn money matters into a lifelong profession. Whether it’s financial planning, accounting, or any fiscal necessity in between, today’s financial professionals must have the skills and experience to meet the demand of all things finance.

With money management in mind, the following five steps will help you secure a career in finance.

1. Educate Yourself

Breaking into the world of finance without a solid education is like trying to break into Fort Knox. Financial institutions in the world look for candidates who have a certain level of financial education. So, if you’re lacking in the collegiate department, don’t expect to get your foot in the door.

A bachelor’s degree is absolutely necessary, but that doesn’t mean you should stop there. Candidates with master’s degrees in finance are gaining more and more attention, but so are those candidates with diverse extracurricular activities like interning at financial planning firms or preparing tax returns.

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The Truth behind Assets and Liabilities

I think there is a misconception behind what an asset is and what a liability is? The truth behind assets and liabilities is that one puts money in your pocket while the other takes away money. If you question this monetary foundation then please reevaluate the stance on how to distinguish both of these financial terms.

If you can early on capture the real essence of the assets and liabilities game you will succeed with money and possibly have the freedom from worrying about money. The real conundrum that can be simply solved is to ask yourself before a purchase will this put money in my pocket or take away. That shiny new car might seem to many as an asset, but it is really a liability. Why you may ask because you then have to fork over thousands of dollars per year now after owning it that you didn’t have to before owning it. Hence your cash flow is now affected negatively. The costs include insurance, car payments, gasoline costs, maintenance costs. Before you signed on the purchase order dotted line, you never had to worry about having the money for the newly found car costs.

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