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Banking & Finance

How to Choose Secure Bank Bonuses?

Last Updated: August 24, 2024

While many banks offer bonuses for opening new accounts, identifying how to choose a secure one is crucial. Some banks offer multiple sign-up bonuses, while others offer just one. Either way, you should know what to look for before opening a new account. It’s important to be aware of the terms and conditions for claiming a bonus. A bonus is a good way to get your idle cash to work for you.

To qualify for a chase secure banking bonus, you must be a new customer. Many banks require that you make a certain number of deposits within a specified time period. Others give free money as a signup reward. To get the most value from a bank’s bonus, keep the fees and other restrictions in mind. Some banks may require you to spend a certain amount of money to earn the bonus. You should also know that if you have an open account with a bank, the bonus will be reported to the IRS as interest.

Look for the Best Bank Bonus

Once you’ve determined your financial needs, you need to look for the best bank bonuses available. Some banks offer hefty sign-up bonuses, but they also require that you deposit a certain amount into the account. To make the best choice, choose a bank that allows you to make a direct deposit and has a low monthly fee. The minimum opening deposit is typical $500, but this can vary. While it’s a good place to start, there’s no need to make a large initial deposit just to receive a bonus.

Read Terms and Conditions

It’s important to note that you should always read the terms and conditions of any bank bonuses before applying. The most common conditions include a minimum deposit amount and the time period in which the bonus must be posted. These conditions vary from bank to bank but are generally related to direct deposits. In general, you must maintain a balance for 60 days or deposit a minimum of $10,000 in order to get a bonus. In addition to the above-mentioned criteria, be aware of the conditions associated with a specific promotion.

It is also important to understand how to choose secure bank bonuses. Oftentimes, these offers are for new customers only and can last for a few months or longer. While a one-time bonus is great, it’s important to consider the amount of money you’ll be depositing. A secure bank account with low monthly fees and low minimum deposit fees is the best way to select a secure bank. There are many advantages to securing bank accounts, but the main consideration is whether you need a bank that offers the best terms for you.

Opportunity Cost

Some banks offer bonuses in order to attract new customers. Having an account with a high APY may be worth it, but it’s important to consider the opportunity cost. If you’re only earning a few dollars a month, a bonus might not be worth it. If the opportunity cost is high enough, a high-yield savings account may be more advantageous for you. In addition to a great APY, you should consider whether or not to pay any fees in order to obtain a bonus from the bank.

While most banks have different bonus requirements, there are some that are worth checking out. If you’re looking for a new account, you should check for an offer that will allow you to earn more money. In some cases, the bank will match or beat the offer of a competitor. In other cases, a higher bonus can be worth it for you. In the end, a secure bank will be more affordable for you.

d porter
Tristan D. Porter

I am Tristan who loves to ride and spend time with my jenny (horse) and my love Mark. After completing my graduation, I have been working as an accountant in a private firm in Cologne.

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Top Finance Options For Owning A Vehicle

Last Updated: August 24, 2024

When you want to invest in life with a vehicle but you can’t quite afford to buy a car outright, or maybe you just don’t want to use up all your savings, you can go for car finance. Finance is a lifesaver for many that need a car to get to work, take children to school, or for general life duties. Here are some of the top finance options for owning a vehicle

Hire Purchase Car Finance

Hire purchase (HP) is one of the best options to use when it comes to car finance. This option enables you to pick a car and pay it off plus interest gradually every month, sometimes you will be able to fund a higher spec or priced car than if you’re buying with cash, due to splitting the cost. Spreading the cost across a set period is convenient and the fact it’s usually a set amount each month means you can easily budget for the expense. If your circumstances change and you would like to pay off the finance early, you are free to do so!

If your aim is to own your car at the end of the agreement, hiring purchase car finance will enable you to do this. Not all car finance options offer this so make sure you go for HP if this is important to you. Another advantage of hire purchase is some companies offer car finance bad credit so you don’t already need to rely on your credit score to get a good deal.

Personal Loans

You can also take out a personal loan to cover the cost of a car, but this might take longer to pay off if you aren’t organized with fixed payments. Some people get stuck between car finance and taking out a personal loan, a loan will often be organized by your bank and you will receive the full loan amount in one bulk, whereas finance will be arranged with a dealership and be held against a car. Make sure you read the rules and regulations on loans.

Leasing

Drive the latest car with a financing or leasing plan and hand back your keys when you have paid everything off. This is ideal for those looking to use the car for a set amount of time and not keep the keys after, you will pay it off and it will no longer be yours. Unlike, hire purchase finance such as where you own the car at the end of the agreement. However, there is an option to lease another car when your agreement has finished.

There are many options to help you own a vehicle and it is up to you to decide on the best one for your circumstances. Other options you can also use include personal finance and personal contract payments (PCP), however, you will not always own the vehicle outright if you use these finance options. It’s always best to check the terms and conditions very carefully.

ayesha saeed
Ayesha Saeed

Ayesha completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and started her career as a College Lecturer in 2013. Today, she’s a happy mom of 2 Kids in the field of digital marketing. She loves reading books, spending time with her family, and making delicious food for her husband.

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Important Clauses in a Loan Agreement

Last Updated: August 24, 2024

A loan agreement is an important legal document between a lender and borrower. It sets out the terms of the loan, including repayment provisions and interest rates. Several clauses collectively make up a standard loan agreement; these include covenants, representations & warranties, events of default, subordination & waiver agreements, remedies for breach of contract, etc.

Loan agreements are very important documents in the loan process. It is a binding agreement between the lender and the borrower, which outlines all of the requirements for repayment. You will want to be familiar with several clauses if you are ever asked to sign one. Loan agreements are very complex documents, so it’s best to have one prepared by a professional or at least reviewed by them before signing off on it.

Important Loan Agreement Clauses

Clause 1: Default

The default can be defined as the failure to make payment on a loan. However, it would help if you got an accurate definition of default from your bank. Their descriptions may differ with each financial institution and even between types within one specific organization like banks themselves!

A defaulter could also mean someone has died or been involved in another criminal/civil case, which makes them unworthy for repayment because there are no outstanding moral obligations after those two events have transpired. Defaults happen more often than people think since many individuals apply for loans online without fully understanding all implications beforehand.

Clause 2: Interest Rate Fluctuation

Here you can negotiate the type of interest rate that will be imposed on your loan. Fixed rates are set at a certain amount. At the same time, variable agreements have their interest determined by market conditions in real-time. So take care when choosing which one to go with!

Clause 3: Repayment

It is an essential loan agreement clause deciding the loan repayment time. It has two variations. One that requires repayment on demand (repayable at any time) can make business expenditures difficult.

Or with fixed-term repayment options like monthly installments, for instance. So if interest rates go up in the future, there’s less risk because payments won’t change automatically.

Clause 4: Security Clover

IoT security

This clause covers the guarantees provided by the borrower to assets or personal guarantees. Security is typically the estate purchased with additional collateral being demanded if market fluctuations lead the value on their current asset’s worth declining too much.

While unsecured loans tend to have higher rates, it can help them secure more funding quickly – which could prove invaluable when you’re trying time get your company off its feet! In order words, these provisions ensure that no matter how unlikely something may seem in our fast-paced world today, there are ways around any obstacle thrown up before us!

Clause 5: Amendment

This clause is an open invitation for the financial institution to change any terms in a loan agreement at their discretion without notifying you. You must ensure that you understand all alterations before signing!

Clause 6: Disbursement

Most of the time, banks will send money directly to builders. If you’re thinking about what this means for your loan agreement and how it might affect future payments or if there are any other potential risks involved in these types of arrangements, I recommend reading through clauses carefully before signing anything!

Clause 7: Reset

This contract ensures you will never be disappointed by rate changes. However, please don’t get too comfortable with your interest rates as the bank reserves its right to change them at any time and for whatever reason, they see fit.

The clause applies not just during fixed periods but also if there has been an increasing trend over 2-5 years before we reset it back down again. It means that life might take a turn even though things may seem stable now (and perhaps more than ever!).

Clause 8: Force Majeure

This Money Market Condition clause is a great example of how banks have the power to change your rate at any time. It permits them, even if it means raising interest rates on your loan for their investment portfolio, returns to be higher than expected!

The bank reserves all rights under this condition which implies they can raise one’s cost-of interest without warning as long as these changes are made necessary due to an “extraordinary circumstance” (whatever that may mean!) though not necessarily both.

Clause 9: Third-Party Repayment Collection

When you sign up for a loan, the terms are set in stone. But what if there was an exception? This clause reserves privacy rights to share personal details with third parties should your borrower default on payments, even if it’s not something that applies directly to them!

The average person doesn’t know about this special provision and gets annoyed when they get calls from these pesky telemarketers trying to repay past due amounts owed regarding loans previously taken out at some point over the years ago.

Clause 10: Notification

Every borrower must notify the lender of any change in their residential address, employment or profession, and business during the loan tenure. The time frame for this information must be specified by clause 5-a as well.

Also, how it should happen so that no conflict arises from not being notified promptly enough. If possible, with some sort of notice given before action is taken rather than right away after doing something which may cause a problem later on down the line due to having been proactive about warning those above you on management level first then taking care of yourself afterward.

Importance of Loan Agreement

Loan agreement clauses are provisions that are meant to protect the interests of both parties. For instance, a non-competition clause protects one’s interest in not being exploited by another party. If someone takes the principal idea behind your business, you have recourse against them through this type of provision.

Takeaway

You need to read and understand all of the important details not to be surprised by any clauses. Customers must be aware of their rights under a loan agreement before signing. These can vary from lender to lender based on what they offer or do not offer at different points throughout negotiations with potential buyers.

matt harbour
Methew Harbor

Matthew is a Co-Founder at BusinessFinanceArticles.org. Matthew was a floor manager at a local restaurant in Wales. He lost his job after the pandemic and took initiative to make a team and start the project.

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Top Tips On Improving Your Money Situation

Last Updated: August 24, 2024

Your finances are essential for your financial wellbeing and independence. Most people think you need a high-paying job or a lucky win to improve finances. However, smart financial management is all it takes for many people to improve their finances and invest and save.

If you get to a point where your finances seem to be stuck in a bad place, it may be tempting to consider how payday loans could help. However, there are several things you can do to improve your situation, and this article provides an overview of this.

Track your Spending

It may feel like a tedious task to track spending, but this is incredibly important for finding ways to improve your money situation. Conducting a review of your total income and total outgoings will allow you to create a breakdown of essential bills to be paid, along with an idea of where your money is mainly going on non-essentials. For example, if you’ve got into the habit of buying take-aways or eating out, you’ll notice the effect this has on finances and maybe one thing to cut down on to save you money.

Set Budgets

Once you’ve conducted a review of your finances, you can think about setting budgets for certain aspects of your lifestyle. It’s important to create budgets that are realistic and work for you and your lifestyle. For example, if you eat out every day, then consider reducing the days you eat out and spending more time cooking meals from scratch at home.

Build up your Savings for a rainy day

Building savings takes time but setting aside money each week or month provides you with funds to dip into when unforeseen circumstances occur. However, this will reinforce the habit of putting away money which is essential for achieving your goals.

Pay your bills on time

Paying your bills on time is very important for improving your money situation. Paying off bills at the beginning of the month helps you prioritize essential spending and avoid incurring late fees. Once you have gotten the essential bills paid first, you have a better idea of what money you can spend on treating yourself and socializing with friends. Having a solid on-time payment history can also lift your credit score and improve your interest rates.

Cut back on recurring charges

Have you found yourself subscribing to services that you rarely or never use? Perhaps you’ve subscribed to services to reap potential short-term benefits like a discount code but then forgotten about it. It’s easy to forget the monthly subscriptions, streaming services, and mobile apps that charge our bank accounts. Therefore, it’s essential to review these to be aware of ones that you no longer need and can cancel. This will leave you with more money each month and help you feel more in control of your money.

Create an Investment Strategy

There is plenty to be said for investing your money. The value of your money is relative to inflation; therefore, learning about ways to invest your money will retain its value over time. Otherwise, your cash only builds minimal interest in a bank account.

Take time to educate yourself on ways you can invest money and create yourself a strategy. Even small investments can generate significant returns in the long run.

It’s clear that there are plenty of ways to improve your money situation, and it’s essential for our overall wellbeing. Some changes will be easier than others, but good financial management comes down to habit. By creating good financial habits, you’ll build upon your money management skills that will see you through life and provide you with more money in the short term.

ayesha saeed
Ayesha Saeed

Ayesha completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and started her career as a College Lecturer in 2013. Today, she’s a happy mom of 2 Kids in the field of digital marketing. She loves reading books, spending time with her family, and making delicious food for her husband.

Filed Under: Banking & Finance Leave a Comment

How Long Should Your Term Life Insurance Be?

Last Updated: August 24, 2024

The length of your life insurance coverage is determined by a number of circumstances, including your children, earnings, age, and outstanding debt. If you recently purchased a home or have other debt, choose a coverage term that corresponds to the amount of time you intend to spend repaying the loan. If you have small children, consider purchasing life insurance that will protect them until they are no longer dependents. If you want life insurance that will cover you when you retire, look into permanent coverage.

What is a Term Insurance policy?

Term insurance policy is one of the most most common and least expensive kinds of life insurance. As a result, it is appropriate for most individuals who wish to have insurance coverage that will financially safeguard family members if they pass away.

Term life insurance, such as other insurance plans, is an agreement between you and an insurance provider. You make monthly or yearly transactions in return for reimbursement to your dependents from the provider if you die while the agreement is in effect. When purchasing term life insurance, you must make two major decisions; how much life insurance to purchase and how long the policy should continue?

You also want coverage to last until your final large commitment is met. As a result, the length of your financial responsibilities will normally decide the length of your term life insurance policy.

Life Insurance

What Life Insurance term length should you get?

Most insurance providers give coverage for clients up to the age of 75-85, but some may extend coverage up to the age of 99. It differs from one insurer to the next and can also be bargained. It is just as vital to consider the duration of a term insurance policy as it is to determine the coverage requirements. You should consider how much money your family members will require if something occurs to you.

Insurance Term plans in India are often sold in terms of five, ten, fifteen, twenty-five, or thirty years. In certain circumstances, 40-year term life insurance is available. The longer the coverage, the more expensive your life insurance estimates will be. This is because you’re locking in the rate for a lengthier period of time, and as you become older, sickness problems arise, and your chances of dying rise.

Another choice is yearly renewable term life insurance, which assures that you will be able to extend coverage yearly for a defined length of time without having to reapply. However, when you extend your coverage, your rates will almost always go up. As a result, you’ll spend cheaper for standard-term life insurance coverage over time.

Your Coverage Eligibility

Your qualification for the term life insurance policy is also influenced according to how much life insurance you require and can purchase. Insurance providers need to see proof of insurability or proof that you can afford the level of coverage you are asking for.

Term duration restrictions are mainly determined by your age; insurance companies consider how many years you possess before retiring and no longer earning a salary or having children. The senior you are, the fewer alternatives you may have, yet some life insurance firms still give their maximum term duration to senior customers. Every insurance provider takes a unique strategy, so it’s critical to speak with an independent life insurance provider about your individual circumstances.

What is your Coverage Length?

The best term duration for your insurance is determined by the purpose you are purchasing it in the first instance. Most individuals get life insurance to monetarily safeguard their families in the event of an untimely death. Here are a few scenarios to consider when you choose the optimal amount of time for you and your family’s needs:

Your age

As the center of the home, you may have to care for your dependents and elderly parents and make them monetarily secure in the event that you die. A 20- or 30-year term life policy could be the ideal option if you have a young family or small kids. It may be enough to protect your family till your children reach the age of financial independence. If you’re caring for elderly children or parents, a 10-year term can be appropriate.

Your home loan or other debt

A life insurance policy must last at least the number of years you want to repay your loan or credit card debt. This can prevent your family members from having to pay your bills if anything bad occurs to you.

You and your dependents

If you have small kids or expect to have them in the near future, term life insurance for 15 or 20 years or longer can provide protection for your home. If you die, your insurance may assist care for your kids until they finish graduation.

Choosing a Term Life Insurance Company

To begin your life insurance purchasing quest, examine life insurance rates. When selecting insurance, you may be inclined to concentrate simply on price. The top term insurance providers will provide advantages that provide adjustability at a reasonable cost.

  • There must be some sort of living benefit. These let you receive your own death benefit in the event of a terminal illness. You can put the money towards medical bills or whatever else you like.
  • Check to see if the coverage is assured to be renewed. When the policy’s level term period expires, you can renew it. It can be handy if you have reached the end of the level term period and still require life insurance but have health issues.
  • The term policy must be convertible to a permanent policy. This gives you the option of switching to a permanent life insurance policy. However, there is generally a limit for accomplishing so, so be certain you are aware of the time frame for conversion.
  • You may need to adjust the policy face value. If your life insurance has to be changed in the future, you must be allowed to amend the amount of coverage. Normally, you can only make downward adjustments.

Final Words

Selecting the correct life insurance policy and coverage term for you is influenced by a number of variables. Your family, kids’ ages, financial objectives, obligations, and budget will all play a role in determining which term length is appropriate for you. Here Aditya Birla, one of the pioneers in the industry, offers the best term insurance plans with maximum affordability.

ayesha saeed
Ayesha Saeed

Ayesha completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and started her career as a College Lecturer in 2013. Today, she’s a happy mom of 2 Kids in the field of digital marketing. She loves reading books, spending time with her family, and making delicious food for her husband.

Filed Under: Banking & Finance Leave a Comment

Common Reasons Why People Fall into a Debt Trap

Last Updated: August 24, 2024

A good credit report requires you to pay all your debts on time. However, some end up falling into a debt trap. To avoid the situation, you need to understand the signs that show you are almost falling into the trap. Below is the key reason why people are falling into a debt trap.

Using a credit card when making ATM cash withdraws

Their charges on ATM cash withdraw via credit cards if the consumers do not know, they incur financial costs until they can pay the withdrawal amount. Moreover, the card issuers inquire about cash withdrawal charges of up to 3.5% of the withdrawal amount. Therefore consumers should stay away from ATM cash withdrawals through credit cards. If you find it hard to avoid the leaves, you should repay the whole amount on time.

Choosing to repay the minimum amount due

Those consumers think that paying the minimum amount due as indicated in the card statement will help them get finance charges. It is important to note that the repayment of the minimum amount due will only help you avoid the incurring charges and prevent a negative impact on their credit score. Those debtors will continue incurring costs on the unpaid debt.

Failing to repay the entire debt

Those ensuring the loans charge a certain amount each year. Moreover, they will go to the extent of withdrawing the interest–free period on the new credit card transaction until to settle the debt. The loan starts to accrue finance charges from the transaction day. Failing to service the loan for consecutive months can lead to an increase in the amount you owe the lender.

How to get out of the debt trap

There are those debtors who are stressed, wondering how they will settle the debt. The fact that there is repercussion that comes with failing to repay the loan has resulted in more people suffering. Several steps will help you with a solution on how to get out of the debt trap.

Identify the trap

You need to analyses the situation you are in for to avoid being in the debt trap. Always identify the area of concern and come up with a plan to solve the problem. A thorough review of the current study may help you answer the debt problems.

Go for debt consideration

In debt consolidation, you are given a chance to take a single loan and solve the others. Once you can consolidate your debt, you only have to think about paying only one loan without any stress. Moreover, debt consolidation will reduce the interest rates; hence the debt will not continue piling up.

Use your investments to service the debt

There are those people who invest in high return schemes, including bank deposits and chit funds. You may use them to reduce the debt; hence you will not find yourself in the trap. After settling the debt, you will not concentrate on rebuilding your wealth without worrying about the debt.

Avoid taking more debt

Once you apply for more loans to service your existing loan, you will be at the risk of increasing the chances of being in the debt trap. More debts may disturb your financial and mental health, and you need to avoid such a situation by ensuring you do not pick another loan.

Always have an emergency fund

Emergencies do occur, but it is hard to know when they will appear. Therefore you need to be ready for it by having a fund to solve it. The emergency funds should be of at least 3 and 6 months of the living expenses. If you have enough cash in your account to solve such a situation, you will not have to apply for a loan to solve an emergency occurrence.

Conclusion

Controlling your finance may help you avoid falling into a debt trap. Moreover, you will have financial freedom, unlike those who have debts. Those using loans to buy things should repay the loan and safeguard themselves from high-interest rates.

Jason Obrien

Jason is the Marketing Manager at a local advertising company in Australia. He moved to Australia 10 years back for his passion for advertising. Jason recently joined BFA as a volunteer writer and contributes by sharing his valuable experience and knowledge.

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5 Steps To Rebuild Your Business Finances Post-Pandemic

Last Updated: August 24, 2024

Keeping a business afloat is already challenging enough. But with the pandemic hitting the world in every way you can imagine, numerous companies and businesses had no choice but to shut down temporarily. Some were even forced to close their doors for good. Others may have decided to keep operating but only with limited finances and resources during such uncertain times.

And now that industries are slowly getting back on their feet, there comes another challenge: to rebuild business finances post-pandemic. A consistent cash flow is critical if you want to continue running your business, and if you don’t have enough resources at the moment, rebuilding it can prove to be a struggle. Having a firm recovery plan in place can significantly help make sure you’re on the right track.

Here are some steps you can take to get back to a smoother cash flow and rebuild your finances in the post-pandemic era:

planning for business

Seek Professional Help

While it’s practical to do things on your own, especially if you have a limited budget, you should also consider it carefully if doing so might do your organization more harm than good. Some businesses fail because of poor financial management and decision-making, and you don’t want the same to happen to you. Seeking professional advice and help when it comes to finances might be something you want to think about seriously.

A sound financial strategy doesn’t only involve working on your budget or capital. There are also the aspects of bookkeeping, accounting, financial projections, checks balancing, and systems analysis to ensure that the financial side of the business is well taken care of.

Hiring a reliable chief financial officer (CFO) might be a brilliant idea if you want someone professional enough to take care of those things. If you don’t think hiring one is a wise decision, you can look into outsourcing CFO services to guarantee that your rebuilding efforts won’t be put to waste.

Assess The Damage

Should you decide to tackle the challenge on your own, you need to thoroughly assess the damage that the pandemic has inflicted on your business, financially speaking. Doing so will give you a better perspective of what you need to work on and how you should go about rebuilding the said damage. Start by updating your financial statements so you can compare them to the previous ones. That way, you can have an idea of how bad it’s been for your business.

Make sure you involve all aspects in the assessment and not just financial statements. If you had to let go of some of your employees, that should be accounted for as well. If you’ve made significant reductions in your marketing and advertising budgets, include those, too.

Decide If You Need More Funding

Once you’ve assessed the damage and you already have at least a rough estimate of how much you’ll need to rebuild, the next step is to figure out if your cash at hand will be enough for your plans. Do you need more resources to fund your new methods and projects? If so, now’s the time to figure out where you’ll get the money you require.

You can check the different programs of the government that offer loans and resources to business owners who need them. There are also short- and long-term financing solutions you can opt for from private lenders and commercial banks. Should you decide to take advantage of those offers, make sure you prepare the necessary documents and evaluate how much you need to jump-start your rebuilding plans.

budgeting for business

Set Up A Contingency Plan

If there’s one thing that the pandemic has taught everyone, it’s the necessity of being prepared all the time. Businesses had to learn this lesson the hard way, so it’s better if you’ll use the experience to get better should a crisis arise again. Developing a contingency plan will significantly help in keeping you vigilant and prepared at any given time.

For example, if the pandemic shook you in a way that you weren’t able to prepare enough liquid cash, that should be a lesson to always set aside extra money for business savings so you have something to turn to when you need more funding. Limiting your debts can also be another approach to limit or reduce your financial responsibilities. Another thing you can do is to ensure that your employees are trained to face such crises so the organization won’t fall apart again.

Revamp Your Budget

Although it’s a post-pandemic era now, the damage you’ve had to deal with can still impact your business as you prepare to exit the crisis. That said, revamping your budget is essential to account for other expenses you need to prepare for as you get on with the new normal.

One consideration is the necessity to hire and train new employees if you need more people. You also shouldn’t forget the added expenses for new health and safety protocols the government or regulating boards require, especially if you’re in the food and beverage industry.

And since you’re working on rebuilding your finances and the business as a whole, it might also mean having to increase the budget for marketing and advertising in order to spread the word about your reopening. Look carefully into each component to avoid unnecessary spending. The key is to allocate your resources to departments that need them to keep the business going.

In Conclusion

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of running a business is to ensure consistent cash flow and revenue. When the pandemic hit, it’s no secret that every business and organization was deeply impacted. Now that it’s time to slowly but surely adapt to the new normal, rebuilding your business finances is a task you must see through till the end.

Hiring professionals who can help you out is worth considering. That way, you can avoid committing budgeting mistakes. It’s also crucial that you know how to assess the damage that the pandemic has inflicted on your enterprise. From there, you can decide whether or not you need to look for more funding sources to get your business up and running again. Revamping your budget is also another aspect you shouldn’t forget. And lastly, setting up a contingency plan can significantly help prepare your organization for any unforeseen circumstance or crisis in the future.

Jason Obrien

Jason is the Marketing Manager at a local advertising company in Australia. He moved to Australia 10 years back for his passion for advertising. Jason recently joined BFA as a volunteer writer and contributes by sharing his valuable experience and knowledge.

Filed Under: Banking & Finance, Business, Investment & Money Leave a Comment

6 Business Financial Planning Mistakes To Avoid

Last Updated: August 24, 2024

Finances and financial planning and analysis (FP&A) are at the core of the success of your business. If you don’t create a proper budget, accurate projections, and account management, your business will crumble and fall. But even if this is an obvious fact, many businesses still fail to make financial planning a priority. 

Fortunately, by avoiding a few financial planning mistakes, you can significantly improve the chances of your business succeeding. To help you out, here are five common business financial mistakes you should avoid at all costs.

Not Having A Cash Reserve 

Unexpected situations that require finances can crop up anytime. This happens in life and business. Issues like equipment breakdown or the need for additional materials say in the construction business, occur all the time. If an essential part of your equipment fails, do you have funds set aside for repairs or hire equipment in the meantime? 

These expenses are inevitable, and you should have an adequate plan for them. Emergency loans will become a staple for your business if you don’t have any amount set aside for such expenses. You may also be forced to pull funds from other areas of the business, distorting your entire budget. But when you have a reserve for these emergencies, you’re able to manage emergencies more efficiently. 

Since all businesses have varied needs and emergencies, those who offer financial planning consulting services, like FP&A consulting, can help you with this issue, particularly coming up with the ideal amount to set aside. 

Not Basing Projections On Actual Performance

Creating financial projections is a crucial part of planning as it helps you estimate future revenue and expenditure. A financial projection also helps determine your operating budget for both your business’ short- and long-term goals. The projections are typically based on past income and expenditure, as well as future estimates. However, projections need constant updating as projects begin and if any changes occur. 

You can’t accurately predict what’ll happen in the future. Your financial projection may be interrupted by issues, like changes in tax laws requiring you to pay more than projected. The business performance can also fall below the estimates, like what happened when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Regularly reviewing your projections allows you to know your business standing and make an appropriate plan. 

Failing to keep the projections as updated and accurate as possible is a critical mistake you need to avoid making. If you fall short of your predictions for any reason, it can render your entire budget useless and leave you without funds to run operations. Thus, periodically review your projections to avoid such a situation.

Financial Projection

Unorganized Accounts Receivable

The goal of any business is to make money, and invoicing is a considerable part of that goal. But many businesses still neglect their account receivables. You need to have a system in place that ensures clients make timely payments. One of the most challenging situations in companies is when clients fail to pay. This is because it leads to cash flow problems and uncertainty in the future of your business. 

If you don’t have an invoicing system to help track, monitor, and ensure that invoices are paid, you might be losing a significant portion of your revenue out. If that’s the case on your part, you should do an overhaul of your systems. The good news is there are many online invoicing tools available to help in that regard. 

Look for an invoicing tool that matches your business needs and one you can integrate with other functions of your business. By having an appropriate invoicing tool, you may fix any mix-ups, errors, duplications, and invoice loss that eventually leads to lost revenue. 

Failing To Plan For Taxes

A business has different tax obligations, depending on its size, type of business, and location. Taxes take a significant portion of your revenue annually and particularly if you have employees. Experts advise making estimated quarterly payments to the taxman to avoid paying substantial sums in taxes at the end of a tax year. 

Adequately planning for taxes can help you take active steps to reduce the business taxes you legally owe. This can help you reduce operating expenses, put some amount back into your pockets, and keep your business running.

Inadequate Business Insurance

The very nature of life is highly unpredictable, and it’s possible to lose your assets or income due to various reasons. To protect your business against financial losses, you need to have a proper insurance cover in place.

One of the mistakes many business owners make in this area is canceling policies without new ones in place. Another one is not having the appropriate cover for the business. To solve this issue, first, you need to ensure that your business is covered at all times. Second, you need to have the proper cover for your business circumstances. This can help you protect your financial and professional reputation should anything happen.

Financial Planning

Without adequate insurance cover in place, there’s no telling what can happen if your business burnt down or your employees sued you for damages.

Taking A Do-It-Yourself Approach

Financial planning requires a lot of learning and research. If you don’t know much about financial matters, it’s not worth doing it yourself. In addition, a business has many other functions that need your complete focus. So, you need the help of a financial planner if you want to stay on the right path and stick to the financial strategies you have in place. 

One of the biggest mistakes, when you decide to do your own finances, is mixing your personal and business finances. This is because a mistake on one side can ruin the other side. A financial professional can help you balance your accounts and ensure that you track your revenue and expenditure properly. 

Conclusion

You don’t have a reason to let your business fade away and fail. At least not due to financial planning mistakes that you can easily avoid. Seemingly small mistakes can lead to huge financial losses or business failure. Your long-term business success depends on how well you plan your finances. Avoiding the mistakes discussed above can help you eliminate a lot of other financial problems down the road.

Jason Obrien

Jason is the Marketing Manager at a local advertising company in Australia. He moved to Australia 10 years back for his passion for advertising. Jason recently joined BFA as a volunteer writer and contributes by sharing his valuable experience and knowledge.

Filed Under: Banking & Finance, Management Leave a Comment

How Applying For Working Capital Loans Is Easier Than You Think

Last Updated: August 24, 2024

Today, business owners face several challenges. One of them is the lack of adequate working capital. Working capital refers to the difference between a company’s current assets and its liabilities. 

With that said, a lack of sufficient working capital can hinder a business from growing or expanding. This is because it won’t be able to pay employees’ salaries or retain them. So, the rate of staff turnover will be high.  

Besides, a business with inadequate working capital cannot settle debts or pay for its operating costs. Hence, the business expansion would be definitely off the table. But the good news is that a business can overcome these challenges by taking and knowing how to get a small business loan with Credibly.

So, if you want to boost your business working capital and stay afloat, stick here for a few minutes. You’re going to learn the simple steps of taking a working capital business loan. But before that, you first need to understand what a working capital business loan is. Read on to get enlightened. 

What Is A Working Capital Loan?

This is a loan you can take to finance your business’s daily operations or activities. Some of these include settling bills, compensating workers, paying for promotional campaigns, and much more. 

You can take a working business loan from banks or other lending financial firms. Furthermore, working capital loans are payable on equal monthly installments for a specified period. The monthly installment comprises a portion of the principal amount and the interest. However, a lender may sometimes request you to repay a working capital loan via a lump sum. That’s why it can also be referred to as a ‘loan on demand.’

What Are The Steps To Obtain A Working Capital Business Loan?

While you might think that taking a working capital business loan is an overwhelming and daunting task, that’s not true. This is because there are only a few simple steps you need to follow when you’re applying for it. 

However, it would be a good idea to ensure you’ve got the right information and understanding of your business goals as well. This will help banks and lending firms grow more confident in your business’s ability to pay. 

With that said, here are some simple steps to follow when applying for a working capital loan. 

Determine Why You Need A Loan

When applying for a working capital business loan, the first step is to determine why you need a loan. Doing this is essential because it will help lenders give a fair estimate of how much you actually need. For instance, the amount of loan required for settling employees’ salaries might differ from that of running promotional campaigns. So, what you are planning to do with your loan can determine the total amount you’ll be able to borrow. 

Organize Your Documents

After determining why you need to take a working capital loan, the next step is to organize your documents. This involves updating all your financial records and keeping them in order. Some of these include tax reports, income and balance sheet statements, and other necessary documents. Organizing your documents helps simplify the loan application process.

Apart from that, you also need to have your business plan with you. A business plan is a road map for your business. It outlines your goals and how you intend to achieve them. Besides, it shows how you intend to use the cash. Having your business plan in place is vital because most lending institutions will ask for it before granting you the loan. 

Educate Yourself About Working Capital Business Loans

Educating yourself about working capital business loans is another major step you shouldn’t ignore. This is important because lenders want to lend money to knowledgeable people. For that reason, you need to educate yourself about line of credit and terms of loans. 

Understanding these aspects is important because it indicates that you understand your obligations and what you’re really getting into. For that reason, most lenders will trust you, and will more likely grant you a loan.

Find Collateral

Another step you need to take before applying for a working capital business loan is to find collateral. This is important because most lenders will ask you to secure your loan with an asset. Banks and lending firms need this because they need an alternative asset in case you cannot continue paying for the loan. So, depending on the amount of loan you’re applying for, be sure that your collateral’s value can help you secure it. 

Choose The Right Lender

Though there are several lenders out there, not all of them can best suit your business. Besides, other lenders charge high-interest rates. So, working with such a lender might only drown your business in crippling debt. But you can avoid this by working with a reputable lender. 

There are several ways to learn about the reputation of a lender. For instance, you can go to their website and see what other clients say about them. Aside from that, you may try to inquire about the terms of their loan and even ask for an initial contract agreement to read their loan clauses, terms, and conditions. From there, you can assess if a lender would be practical and fair.  

Make Your Pitch

After you’ve identified the right lender, the next step is to make your application. You may either go to their office or submit an application online. Whether you apply for the loan online or in the lender’s office, be sure to attach all the necessary documents. Attaching the required documents is vital because lenders won’t grant you a loan without them. So, if you want to increase your chances of securing your working capital business loan, make sure you scan and attach the required documents. 

Wait For Loan Approval

After applying for your working capital business loan, the last step is to wait for approval. Some of the lenders might take 72 hours to approve your loan, while others might take longer than that. But whichever the case, it would be a good idea to contact them every few days to know the progress of your loan application.

Takeaway

Many businesses struggle with inadequate working capital and limited resources. This is a scenario where a business doesn’t have enough capital to finance its day-to-day operations. However, this problem may be momentarily averted by applying for a working capital business loan. If you want to apply for this kind of loan, then follow the steps above. As you can see, the process is actually quite easy and straightforward.

ayesha saeed
Ayesha Saeed

Ayesha completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and started her career as a College Lecturer in 2013. Today, she’s a happy mom of 2 Kids in the field of digital marketing. She loves reading books, spending time with her family, and making delicious food for her husband.

Filed Under: Banking & Finance Leave a Comment

5 Different Sources Of Business Finance

Last Updated: August 24, 2024

Are you looking for the best form of finance for your business? When looking for a way to fund your current business endeavors, there are various options available to you so you can help your business move in whatever direction you do so desire. We have made things simple for you, by listing some of the best different sources of business finance, so you can make an informed decision when you next decide that you need a form of funding to help your organization thrive.

Family and Friends

Acquiring a loan from family and friends can have some great benefits. Often, you will have a flexible term when it comes to repayment, with no added interest. However, be wary of the negative implications attached to lending from people you know. The last thing you would want is to damage any of your relationships due to the financial pressure that may grow between you.

Bank Loans

Most banks will allow you to take out a business loan. However, not all banks will give you the best rates. Be mindful of this when taking out a loan from the bank and consider all options available to you prior to this. There are various flexible loan options provided by Spring bank for established businesses looking to build and expand.

A bank will often want to see you have some acumen available too and will ask you to use some of your own money in part.

Government Funding

Government help can be great for a variety of reasons. You will usually not have to pay a grant such as this back, meaning the money is essentially free. No payback, and no interest fees. However, these are quite often difficult to acquire, and you need to meet certain credentials to get a government form of funding.  

Crowd Funding

Crowdfunding is one of the most modern ways of acquiring money for your business. It has become widespread and increasingly popular in recent years, enabling you to get money for your business via donations from supporters of your business. In return, you will give them some form of incentives, such as money off your initial products, or even minor shares within the company, depending on their investment.

Trusted Lenders Online

Rather than a bank loan, using direct lenders is becoming the norm. Many lenders will not penalize you for bad credit, making it an ideal option if you cannot get a loan from the bank. Additionally, the APRs and interest rates attached to getting short term loans in the UK are extremely reasonable in this day and age. You will not be able to borrow more than you can realistically pay back if you use a trusted direct lender, so make sure that when you are research short term or payday loan direct lenders online, they are approved by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) and that they are following all associated guidelines.

Be careful not to use a broker due to perceived better rates, this can cause you larger issues in the future such as high interest rates, repossession of personal or business property, and dealing with loan sharks.

ayesha saeed
Ayesha Saeed

Ayesha completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and started her career as a College Lecturer in 2013. Today, she’s a happy mom of 2 Kids in the field of digital marketing. She loves reading books, spending time with her family, and making delicious food for her husband.

Filed Under: Banking & Finance Leave a Comment

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