Looking for a loan for your business? What is the best way and timing of obtaining a favorable loan or a loan in general? Conundrum The best time to seek a loan is when you are not desperate to obtain a loan. Ironically, when you are looking for a loan is probably the time when […]
Investments
Before You Buy a Franchise
Buying a franchise can be a lower-risk way of starting a business, especially for a new entrepreneur. There are things you should look for and things you should avoid. Look For: Avoid: If you know a business owner who can benefit from our services, then we would appreciate your referral. And if you like what […]
3 Ways to Get Started with Real Estate Investing
Real estate investing can be difficult, but there are 3 ways to make getting started much easier. Rent Out Your Home When deciding to move, instead of selling your home, you can choose to rent it out if you expect positive cash flow. The benefits of doing this include: creating an instant rental property, no […]
One Way to Simplify Your Tax Situation
There is one common situation I see every tax season, and making this change would simplify your tax situation. Number of Financial Accounts Minimizing the number of financial accounts you have, when possible, will not only simplify your tax situation, but will also help to simplify your finances. Actions to take include closing out or […]
To Pivot or Not to Pivot?
Should you pivot your business and what exactly is a pivot? There are right ways and wrong ways to pivot. Pivot Defined A pivot is a change in the direction of your business. It can relate to the type of services you offer, clients/customers served, your role, and the overall business model. Right Way to […]
Personal Financial Planning for Business Owners in 3 Steps
Financial planning for business owners differs from regular W-2 employees and should be handled differently. These are 3 steps business owners should take: Step 1: Plan for Volatile Earnings This is especially true if you operate a business that ebbs and flows with economic cycles, such as construction and real estate. However, company specific changes […]
Tax Scam Alerts
Scams are on the rise now that it’s tax season. The IRS has made taxpayers aware of popular scams on their website, including: Charity Impersonators To make sure the charity you are donating to is legitimate, then you can use the tax exempt organization search function at https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ Unfortunately, a contribution to a fake charity […]
How Long to Keep Your Tax Records?
How long should you keep your tax records? The answer may surprise you and there are pitfalls to be aware of. The IRS provides general guidelines for common situations as follows: General Rules Pitfalls to be Aware of Since most records can easily be converted to electronic form, I recommend keeping your tax returns and […]
Why You Should Know Vilfredo Pareto
According to Wikipedia, Vilfredo Pareto was born during 1848 and was an Italian polymath. I know it sounds boring, but his observations are so important to business, finances, and virtually all aspects of life. Let me explain . . . Background Pareto had an interest in sociology, civil engineering, economics, political science and philosophy. One […]
Unorthodox Emergency Funds
We are all told to set aside 3 – 6 months’ worth of expenses in a traditional savings account towards an emergency fund. It’s not a bad idea, but what if that isn’t enough for an uncommon occurrence and you’re in a bind? There are a few alternative options to accessing a larger amount of […]