Awareness Can Lead To The Success Of Your Home Business

By John Fortner

We would like to think that our home businesses belong to us and that we have total control over our enterprises. For the most part, this is an accurate statement. The reality is that our work from home ventures are directed by the rules and regulations that are designed by the government. We create and develop our home based businesses under the guidelines established by Uncle Sam.



We want to believe that in a democratic economy our home businesses are unrestricted in the execution of daily operations. In addition, we desire to think that we have complete control over the cost that is placed on the goods and services that we offer. However, the reality is that the government still exercises some regulation over the prices that are acceptable and the prices that are not acceptable. This brings the concept of price control into home businesses and brick and mortar stores.



Government uses different policies to control the prices of goods and services in our economy. Two of these programs include the price floor and the price ceiling. Basically, the price floor is defined as the legal minimum price that products or services can be sold. Conversely, the price ceiling is described as the legal maximum price that goods or services can be purchased. These strategies are established for a reason. A better understanding of how these methods affect our economy might help improve the formula for your work at home business success.



The minimum wage is a good example of the reasoning behind the idea for price control. The minimum wage can be described as a price floor because this is the least salary per hour that employers can pay for the services of their employees. Consider for a moment the possibility that there is no price floor for worker’s wages. This might create a business environment that is marked by disorder. The first area that would suffer is production. The employee might experience dissatisfaction with their employer over the salary being paid for the amount of work that has to be delivered. A minimum wage provides a limit where security and stability for the worker, the company and our economy can develop.



A good example of a price ceiling would be the rental fee. In some cities, the government uses rent control to limit the maximum fee that landlords can charge their tenants. This enables the cost of the real estate properties in that area to maintain a sort of stability in price. An opportunity is provided for the middle-class and the poor to raise their standard of living. There are many advantages to rent control for the economy but there are also some hindrances. Price ceiling might prevent cities from reaching their potential development because investment could be limited as well.



There are several mechanisms in government that enable the business environment to function smoothly without many interruptions. It is also important to realize that these systems influence our home businesses directly and indirectly. Our responsibility is to be aware of the laws that impact the opportunity to make money online, develop a home based business or create a brick and mortar store.



Do price floor and price ceiling have that much of an impact on your home based business? Probably not. But a deeper understanding of economy and the rules and regulations of our government can help you make informed decisions concerning your work from home venture. The goal that each one of us strives for is success. The accomplishments of our home businesses will come sooner if we stay informed about every aspect of the business economy.



“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing.”



About the Author: John Fortner lives in Oregon and works from his home through his online pursuits. He is the owner of Best-Income Opportunities which offers free information and proven opportunities for creating work at home businesses. To learn more about this topic please visit his website at: http://www.best-incomeopportunities.com/ To receive free information for starting a home business please go to: http://www.Best-IncomeOpportunities.com/optin.html



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Getting a Credit Card Consolidation Online - How It Works & How To Get the Best Quote

Getting a Credit Card Consolidation Online - How It Works & How To Get the Best Quote
by Manny Vetti

Getting an online credit card consolidation has never been easier. Most debt consolidation companies have come to the internet to as a source of getting clients and it is very easy for people to find these companies which makes lots of competition. Understanding how these companies get their clients and knowing how to use the competition to your advantage can ensure that you will get the best quote available. One thing to note about online credit card consolidations is that it really isn't online. You find the information online but you always have to talk with a debt specialist get get your quotes and to talk about your situation.



How It Works



Companies are very easy to find using internet search engines such as Google, MSN or Yahoo. Do a search on debt consolidation and you will be sure to find many companies that will offer free quotes. Most of these companies either give a phone number to call or offer a simple form to fill out with your contact information and basic debt information. The companies with the forms will contact you after the fact by phone and find a good time to talk and work with you. Other companies with a phone number will ask you basic contact information and debt information, then they will have a specific debt counselor contact you based on your individual situation.





How To Get The Best Quote



Understand that these companies will give you free quotes with the hope of getting your business. The thing to know is that you have no obligation at all to go with any of these companies if you don't want to. The best thing to do is to request several free quotes and compare them. Every company will probably offer you something a bit different. They will normally work with you to find the best solution to fit your individual needs. It may be hard to compare them side by side because they all will come with different terms, but you will be sure to find the best solution that will make you more comfortable with your future debt payments.


Find more debt relief solutions by visiting http://www.endthisdebt.com, a website that specializes in providing debt help advice as well connecting individuals with debt specialists based on their individual debt situation.

If you need help with your debt and would like to get a free debt consultation please fill out the form here.
Free Debt Consultation


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More Taxpayers Take Advantage of Online Filing

More Taxpayers Take Advantage of Online Filing by Taxpedite

Death and taxes are still inevitable, but today millions of Americans are opting to pay their government its annual due by filing income tax returns online. 73 million tax returns were e-filed in 2006, 20 million of those were filed from home computers, and the numbers continue to trend upward for 2007.

Online tax filing is easy, whether you choose to purchase e-filing software for your home computer, or to prepare and e-file your taxes online using a tax preparation website. And unless you enjoy the camaraderie of last-minute, late night races to the post office on tax day, online and on time filing can be just a mouse-click away.




Online tax filing is fast and that means refund dollars in your pocket sooner than with traditional filing. If the IRS confirms that you\'re due a federal tax refund you can expect payment anywhere from several days (if you file online and qualify for the Refund Anticipation Loan option) to two weeks (if you opt to have your online return direct deposited to your bank account). Plan on a four-week wait if you file electronically and receive your refund by mail and six weeks if you file a paper return and the mailman delivers your refund.

Online tax filing is secure: The IRS adheres to strict security measures. It requires all electronic tax filing services to be certified and to comply with regulation that ensures your privacy as an online taxpayer. All websites linked to the IRS e-filing network must support encryption features that prevent hackers from accessing your personal information.




Here\'s how online tax filingworks: Whether you use off line tax preparation software, or professional online tax service, the process of preparing and e-filing return is pretty similar.




First, you\'ll be asked to establish an account with a user name and password. The tax site will use your e-mail address to set up a secure link and confirm your identity. Once your account is logged, you\'ll be able to omit the preliminaries if you use the service to prepare your return in subsequent years.




Next, you\'ll submit personal and financial information that confirms your tax status, employment documentation, deductions and other information. This will determine your taxable income and, ultimately, what you owe or are owed by the IRS. If you have issues that aren\'t covered by the software, many on-line services have tax specialists ready to respond to questions that are not overly complex.




After you\'ve entered your information, but before you file, you can choose how to pay any fees or money owed on your return. Select from a menu of online options including a credit card, electronic funds transfer, or if you qualify, the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System.

After you\'ve finished navigating the site, you can click and send. Once your return is accepted for processing by the IRS, you\'ll receive an e-mail confirming its status.




For more information on electronic filing, check online professional tax preparation sites such as http://www.blogger.com/,or go to the IRS web site at IRS.gov.




Taxpedite is an online tax service, offering secure online tax preparation and e-filing for state and federal tax returns. With Taxpedite, every step of tax preparation and e-filing is completed online, so there is no software to purchase or download. Taxpedite online tax filing service is tested and approved in compliance with all IRS e-filing standards and current tax law to minimize your filing hassles and maximize your refund. Taxpedite. Taxes. Online. Fast.



Taxpedite is an online tax service, offering secure online tax preparation and e-filing for state and federal tax returns. With Taxpedite, every step of tax preparation and e-filing is completed online, so there is no software to purchase or download. Taxpedite online tax filing service is tested and approved in compliance with all IRS e-filing standards and current tax law to minimize your filing hassles and maximize your refund. Taxpedite. Taxes. Online. Fast.

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Get the Most From Your Credit Card

Get the Most From Your Credit Card
by Finance Globe-14426

Credit cards can be a valuable money management tool if used properly. We have many choices in card features, perks, and rewards. Getting the most out of any credit card starts with choosing the one (or several) that best suits your needs.

Credit cards offer more than a convenient way to pay, and if you manage your credit card accounts well, you can be sure to get the most out of your credit card while paying less for those benefits. The extras your credit card offers will depend on the type of account you qualify for. Carefully consider all aspects of any card before you apply, and use your card in the way that will benefit you most once you get it.



Secured cards and credit cards for people with poor or limited credit are usually bare bones credit cards that don't offer many, if any, benefits. They charge significantly higher interest rates than other credit cards and usually have a somewhat steep annual fee. The only real benefit they offer is that they can help you establish or improve your credit until you qualify for better terms. You have to actually use your card to improve your credit history; just having the account open without using it won't improve your credit. The best way for you to build your credit is to use your card every month, use no more than 30% of your credit limit, and pay your bill in full every month to avoid finance charges. If you've had one of these types of credit cards for some time, you've stayed within your credit limit, and you've always paid your bill on time, contact your credit card issuer to see if or when you'll qualify for a better card. They may agree to return your security deposit, reduce your interest rate, or do away with the annual fee. You may even qualify for a card with rewards. Your credit score can be hurt by closing old accounts and opening new ones, so see if you can upgrade the terms of your credit card while keeping the same account number.



Regular credit cards are for people with average to good credit. Regular credit cards often have a reasonable annual fee and fair rates. They don't require a security deposit and usually have a higher credit limit than cards for people with poor credit. Some come with limited rewards, such as travel miles, points you can redeem for merchandise, or even cash back. Cards with no annual fee usually don't offer as many rewards or charge a higher rate of interest than cards with an annual fee; if you want a low rate or rewards, you might have to pay an annual fee. Basically, you're going to pay for the use of credit somewhere. You can reap the benefits and avoid the costs of a credit card by choosing one with rewards you can use and no annual fee. If you can pay your balance in full every month, it really won't matter what the card's APR is. Many regular cards, and even cards for people with poor credit are marketed as "platinum", but really don't offer many benefits to validate the platinum status. Find out if you're really getting better treatment from the platinum card before you apply; you may get a better deal from a plain vanilla credit card.



Premium credit cards are for people with good to excellent credit. Credit card issuers want your business, and they will offer you their best terms because they know their competition is offering you their best deal, too. You have many choices in credit cards with no annual fee, great interest rates, and generous rewards. Many even offer extras like extended product warranties, roadside service, car rental insurance, and travel accident coverage at no charge. Some offer special discounts at selected merchants. You are likely to qualify for high credit limits because credit card issuers know they can trust you to manage your debt well. If you are interested in a credit card that's available to people with average credit simply because it offers benefits that are important to you, check with the card issuer before you apply. They may be willing to sweeten the deal due to your stellar credit rating.



Getting the most from your credit card

Be true to yourself when choosing a credit card. Before you shop for any product, the first step is to know what you want and how you're going to use it. Then you've reduced your choices to products that suit your needs. Once you've decided what type of product you actually need, you can further narrow your choices based on the price of the product. It's no different with credit cards. You may get credit card solicitations every week in the mail, but what are the chances that it's the best one for your needs when you have so many to choose from? Every day a retailer wants you to apply for their credit card at checkout, as if the card's incentives will prevent you from shopping anywhere else. Don't let them suck you in just because they offer credit; be sure that you'll benefit from the use of that particular card before you apply.



Rewards aren't freebies; they come at a price. I overheard a conversation in a store at checkout the other day, a shopper's friend commented that the shopper had spent way more than she said she was going to. The shopper replied, "Oh, it's okay, this card gives me rewards and the minimum payment is really low." Her response showed that she was not being rewarded at all, but being punished. It's too bad; she obviously didn't realize it. It's fun to think of all the things you can do with your credit card rewards; travel the world, redeem points for gift certificates, or even get cash back. But it's important to understand how much those rewards are actually costing you if you carry a balance.



For example, many rewards cards generally give you one point for every dollar you spend. One hundred points equals one dollar in redemption value. So what it boils down to is that for every dollar you spent, you get back one cent. To get one full dollar back, you have to spend one hundred dollars. If you carry a balance, that one hundred dollars will accrue an annual finance charge of anywhere from ten to thirty dollars, depending on your card's APR. How can you call it a reward if you are paying that kind of interest? You can't, that's why it's so important to pay your balance in full every month to truly benefit from the rewards your card offers.



Another way people are missing out on their rewards is by overspending simply to build up rewards points. If you are hoping to earn a plane ticket valued at three and fifty dollars, you would have to charge thirty-five thousand dollars on your credit card. That's a lot of money! It's better to pay for your ticket outright rather than buy stuff on impulse just to accrue rewards points. You can benefit from the card's rewards only if you are using your credit card for things that you would normally buy anyway. Use your rewards card for everyday purchases, like gas and groceries, to build up points based on what you normally spend, without spending more just to get the rewards. Over time, you can redeem your points or miles to get a bonus, without breaking the bank to get that bonus.



For people who don't pay their balance in full every month, a card with a low APR is the way to go. Forget about the rewards you'll be "missing"; many rewards cards charge a significantly higher rate of interest than a no rewards card. The card issuers have to make up for the cost of their rewards somewhere, and they often do it by charging a higher APR. If you always carry a balance, and you can get a card with an APR that's 5% lower than a rewards card, you'll automatically be saving five dollars in interest for every hundred dollars you spend. That's a much better deal than the one dollar you'll get back with a rewards card!



It's up to you to decide what kind of credit card will benefit you most. You must consider your spending habits, as well as your debt repayment habits. It's great to be rewarded for buying the things you already spend money on, as long as you aren't paying more in interest charges than the rewards are worth.


Finance Globe is a professional contributor of personal finance publications. All inquiries pertaining to this aricle should be submitted to them.


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Don’t Get Cheated With Shady Debt Relief Programs

Don’t Get Cheated With Shady Debt Relief Programs
by David Faulkner

One of the greatest advantages of turning to a debt relief program to help you navigate your way out of debt is that your program will be customized to suit your personal needs. No single debt relief program is appropriate for everyone, because the reasons for people losing control of their debt load are as varied as people themselves. Your debt relief program will be the one most likely to eliminate your debt in the shortest possible time.



Online Debt Relief Programs



If you are uncomfortable with the thought of having a one-one-one discussion with an employee of a debt relief program service, or simply do not have the time to spend in such a meeting, you can look for an online program. But you need to be careful when operating on the Internet, because there is not guarantee that the people behind the websites you are visiting are who they claim to be. Anyone with the money to do so can buy a domain name, and build website offering debt relief programs, no questions asked.



The sites on which you may see debt relief programs advertised will not have asked for identification from those placing the ads, and will know little about them other than their billing information. There are no background checks in place for those creating websites, and you could very become involved with a debt reduction program site without ever learning who is behind it.



Buyer Beware



It’s not unusual for online companies to offer Post Office box numbers as their only mailing addresses, in an effort to protect the personal privacy of the webmasters. But legitimate debt reduction program companies will be able to give you the physical address of their brick and mortar operations, where you can actually talk to their staff if you wish.



Trying to communicate to a Post Office Box seems ridiculous, but many people are so drawn in by the debt relief claims of scammers that they simply overlook what should be obvious red flags. Don’t become one of them!



Think twice if you find a debt relief program company which cannot provide a physical address, because they may have something to hide. Their website should also provide you with the company’s email, phone number, and the name of a contact person.



Unless you can get that information, you will be unable to determine the identity of the parties operating the website, and you should never involve yourself in a debt relief program based of trust in unknown individuals. They will be asking you to send them your money, yet you have no idea of their true intentions. You have not way of knowing if they are even qualified to offer debt relief programs. How much sense does that make?



There are hundreds, if not thousands, of legitimate debt reduction program companies available, and because you are already in debt, you don’t need to be risking any more of your money on dubious websites.


You can also find more info on bad credit car loan and debt consolidation and reduction.Myfinancialbliss.com is a comprehensive resource to get your all financial solutions.


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Free yourself from credit card debt

Free yourself from credit card debt
by Nick Cox

If your debts are starting to build up to uncomfortable levels then now is the time to act! Procrastinate at your peril, because a debt problem that is ignored will just grow and grow, until you are left with a mountain to climb.



An increasing amount of people are struggling with what feels like insurmountable debt. As debts worsen, many are forced to search for more credit to help meet monthly outgoing demands. Debts then begin to spiral out of control as more and more credit is sought to help keep afloat.



If this sounds familiar, then now is the time to stop and take stock of your situation. There are things you can do to help improve your situation.



If your debt is serious then seek professional assistance. Services such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Consumer Credit Counselling Service provide free advice.



It could be time to assess your lifestyle. If you are using your credit cards to fund your social life then this has to be one of the things that must be swiftly curtailed. Credit cards should never be used to fund anything that is non essential to your life. It's time to cut up your credit cards to avoid accumulating more debt.



Check to see if your credit card balance can be moved to a new 0% balance transfer card. Once you have done this, make sure your old credit card is destroyed. This avoids the temptation of maxing out your old cards and thus worsening your situation.


Compare deals on credit cards

Find the best deals available on credit cards and 0% credit cards at moneysupermarket.com



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6 Highly Effective Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

6 Highly Effective Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses by Duncan Brodie

All small businesses have a passion or desire to make a real difference through the products and/or services they offer. For many marketing is an area of real challenge. Even if you actively marketed on behalf of your business when in employment, it some how feels different when you are marketing for your own business. As a small business owner myself who does not have a background, there are a number of strategies that I have found to be highly effective personally or for others.



1. Utilising contacts



When you start out in business, the initial challenge is to get some clients. So often people start with a blank piece of paper and forget about all of the contacts they have made in the past through work and socially.



By listing all of these people you can probably identify 100 people who you can drop a letter or e-mail to let them know what you are up to and asking them to look out for any opportunities. You might even meet some for lunch or coffee. This is what I did to get my first 3 clients.



2. Focussed networking



There are plenty of opportunities to network. Some of it is very structured like BNI while there are other events that are less structured and more informal. What is vitally important is to find networking events that allow you to connect with your target clients. For example, if your target market is female business owners, then a specific networking events aimed at that market will be more focussed networking. I work with professionals so a branch meeting for accountants is an excellent place to network.



3. Writing



If you enjoy writing and sharing your knowledge and insights, writing can be a highly effective part of your marketing activity. As well as magazines, local papers and professional journals, there are now lots of options for submitting articles online. One of the real benefits of online articles is that they give you exposure to a much wider audience than a local or national publication.



4. Speaking



If you are a consultant, coach, trainer, accountant, lawyer to name a few, speaking can be a highly cost effective and time efficient way of marketing. Yes it takes some time to pull together a speech but you can use it over and over again. The other major benefit is that your marketing is one to many rather than one to a few with networking.

5. Blogging



This is not one of the strategies that I have used myself but is incredibly popular. Some people just blog while there are others who combine a blog with a podcast.



6. Trade shows and exhibitions



With trade shows and exhibitions you can either decide to exhibit or just even visit. This can be one of the more expensive options but can be highly valuable for product based businesses or service businesses that are well understood like telemarketing or banking.



There are numerous options open to you when it comes to marketing your business. Get creative and start identifying at least 3 channels to market that will have the greatest impact for your business.


Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements (G&A) works with professionals and progressive organisations who want to achieve more success. Sign up for his free e-course and monthly newsletter at http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk/


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