It seems as though nobody uses cash anymore, but why should you? Smart people use credit cards and pay the bill at the end of the month so they can earn points, build credit, and have additional time to pay for their purchases, also known as “float.” But is it really that smart to use […]
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How a 10% Productivity Increase Can Increase Profits by 35%
A simple way to increase the profits of a business is to increase employee productivity. Each business and industry is unique, and here are several simplified illustrations to show the impact. The assumption is that if productivity increases by 10%, then sales will also increase by 10% due to extra capacity as long as there […]
6 Ways to Cut One of Your Largest Expenses – The Grocery Bill
I’ve had a conversation about the grocery bill with several clients recently and thought it would be helpful to share some ideas to both save time and money while shopping for groceries. As most of you know, we have quite a few mouths to feed! Unless you eat out every single meal, then this article […]
Choose Your Business Partner Wisely
Running your own business is challenging enough, and you don’t want the added burden of having to worry about your business partner. When choosing a business partner you should keep in mind that this decision can make or break your business. Here are a few things to look for and some things to avoid: What […]
Municipal Bond Investing Mistakes
Investing in municipal bonds can be a benefit due to the fact that the interest income they provide is generally tax-exempt. In order to realize the full tax benefits of municipal bonds, you have to be careful not to make the following mistakes. Low Interest Rates: Interest income from municipal bonds is usually much lower […]
Don’t Be a Co-Signer Unless You Want to Pay Someone Else’s Debts
Your friend, child, brother, or parent can’t get a mortgage or a car loan so they ask you to be a co-signer. Of course you will be a hero and co-sign for your loved one! But beware of the dangers before doing so. In reality, the lender is assuming that the odds are fairly high […]
Simplify Your Home Office Deduction
The home office deduction is used by both small businesses and employees, which allows a deduction for using part of your home exclusively and regularly for business purposes. This allows a percentage of certain expenses to become tax deductible or at least more tax favorable such as mortgage interest, property taxes, rent, utilities, homeowners insurance, […]
Before You Buy a Business
Businesses are bought and sold each day and some make better investments than others. Before you buy a business, here are a few things to make sure you make the right move: Why is the seller selling? There can be many reasons why a business is for sale, and some reasons are better than others. […]
The Hidden Retirement Asset
Financial advisors frequently mention the three main pillars of retirement, which are social security, pension plans, and personal savings. Yet, you rarely hear them speak about an asset that may prove to be an individual’s largest asset – their business. Many business owners invest their money back into their business over the years, especially during […]
The Envelope Method Revisited
A while back I wrote about using the envelope method to help manage expenses and cash flow. Because I believe in simplicity, there may be a simpler way to use this powerful method. First, a background on the envelope method: I started using this method when I was a teenager through the guidance of my […]