Letting the Experts Handle the Tough Tasks When It Comes to Payroll

July 31, 2014 Finance Tips

If you’re a small business owner and you’ve been thinking that your payroll program could use some help, you may want to consider outsourcing the program to a professional processing service. Why, you ask?

Many small businesses find themselves caught between two (or more) countries — for example, many businesses are based in the U.S. but often employ Canadians. You would think that tax regulations would be pretty similar between these two countries, but they’re actually really different. And it can become difficult to stay up-to-date on regulations and policy changes for one country, much less two countries. A professional payroll processing service employs people who do just that — they stay informed about policy changes so that you don’t have to.

You may think that all of these regulations aren’t too confusing, but just wait for tax season to creep up. So many businesses make mistakes when doing payroll tax calculations, and the mistakes are honest, but that doesn’t matter. Steep fines can accompany mistakes, no matter how small, and this can be really harmful for small businesses which have tight budgets to begin with.

And speaking of money, outsourcing your payroll program might actually save you money in the long run. It cuts down on time that you have to spend doing boring paperwork and number calculations, and it lets you focus on the business you want to do. If you wanted to sit around and fiddle with numbers all day, you would have become an accountant — right? The fact is, you started a business because you were passionate about something and wanted to share your passion with others. Opting to outsource all the extra paperwork lets you do just that. It keeps your employees happy (because they get paid on time), it keeps the government happy (because it gets taxes), and it keeps you happy too!

The Importance of Hiring a Small Business Accountant

July 30, 2014 Finance Tips

For better or worse, taxes are a part of life. Every civilization in history has relied on taxes, including the Sumerian civilization, which kept tax records on cones made of clay. And if you manage your own company, you know how important it still is to keep quality financial records in order to make sure your company continues to function and sustain itself.

With that in mind, you may come to the conclusion that finding an accountant for a small business should be a top priority of yours. After all, putting accounting tips and tricks into practice can be essential to running a business, but you may not have an accountant in-house.

When choosing an accountant, make sure that you hire a professional who doesn’t merely have basic accounting tips to offer, but can also actively keep track of and anticipate outgoing and incoming funds, how they are being allocated, and other details by assessing expenses and revenues.

If you have difficulty finding an accountant for a small business and you do not hire one, you may risk not having adequate financial resources eventually, which can also lead to legal complications and ramifications.

To share questions, comments, or tips about how to find a quality accountant for your small business, be sure to make your thoughts known in the section below. Learn more at this link: www.sp-pc.ca

San Antonio Area Experiencing Commercial Real Estate Market Boom

July 28, 2014 Finance Tips

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According to the latest figures being released by Integra Realty Resources, San Antonio and the metro area are experiencing a very strong local commercial real estate market. The news is being received positively by those interested in ensuring the economic future of San Antonio.

Even though the nation, as a whole, is experiencing lower demand for commercial real estate, it seems that demand in San Antonio will continue to grow. The growth is even spreading to neighboring cities of Pleasanton and Boerne, which, in the past, many in the industry labeled as “too small” and said they would not be able to attract sufficient investment capital.

According to Martyn Glen, the Senior Managing Director of the San Antonio Office of IRR, there’s an obvious reason that commercial real estate is booming in San Antonio — the city’s economy is doing well, and commercial real estate developers will follow the money trail left by consumers with full wallets. “We have a low unemployment rate, lower than the state,” he explains. “And people here have good ideas of education, as is shown by the large number of very high quality colleges in this area.”

There are other contributing factors, of course. Glen thinks that hotel construction downtown will likely receive a boost after the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts opens this September, and the victory the San Antonio Spurs had in June helped to capture the eye of investors from other cities.

Additionally, the Eagle Ford Shale has helped to stir a lot of local real estate interest throughout the San Antonio area. “It brought about $60 billion into the economy in 2013, it has increased population, and led to an increase in the work force,” he explains, and says that it is likely to inspire more demand for housing and construction for several more years at least.

Are You Financially Ready for Retirement?

July 28, 2014 Finance Tips

Having money for retirement can be a huge concern. Even if you make enough to try and save, there are a plethora of things that can happen that can completely clean out your savings. All it takes is one serious injury, buying a home or car, or paying for your kid’s education to keep you working for years longer than you intended to before retiring. Investing is a good way to help ensure that you can retire when you want to with enough money to live on.

Not many people think about retirement — only 37% of Americans have figured out how much money they need to make before they are able to retire, according to the U.S. Retirement Confidence Survey. If you are one of those people who hasn’t yet planned for the future by investing, you might want to find a financial advisor to help you.

An investment advisor can help you find many more investment opportunities than you probably would otherwise. If you are interested in some investment opportunities but are unsure of the best course of action, a financial investment advisor can also help you with risk management, like portfolio management and asset allocation.

The best financial advisor will also keep track of all of your investments, liabilities, income, assets, taxes, and even your estate plan. If you aren’t sure how investing works or don’t have time for things like tax planning or wealth transfer, a professional can probably help. More like this article: winshipwealth.com

Why Your Business Should Start Accepting Credit and Debit Cards

July 24, 2014 Finance Tips

If your business only accepts cash or checks, you could be missing out on a lot of revenue from other sources. Currently, credit and debit cards are the most popular way for consumers to pay for goods and services, and there aren’t very many people who don’t use this convenient payment method. In order to get this service, you need to choose a credit card payment processing provider that can offer you great rates and simple service.

Thinking of expanding your business to allow for transactions with credit and debit cards? If you’re unsure, here are some reasons why you may want to consider these types of payments.

Most people use them.

They’re good anywhere.

There’s plenty of technology to help you with this process.

Today’s mobile payment

In today’s economy, not accepting credit cards can be seriously detrimental to your business.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mutual Funds

July 23, 2014 Finance Tips

A mutual fund is a professional type of managed collective investment scheme that brings together money from numerous investors in order to purchase securities and allows for fund rating. There is technically no legal definition for the term “mutual fund.” Mutual funds are generally applied only to those collective investments that are regulated and sold to the public. Sometimes they are referred to as “investment companies” or “registered investment companies.” Most fund rating mutual funds are “open-ended”, which means stockholders can buy or sell shares of the fund any time they please by redeeming them from the fund rating itself, rather than on an exchange.

Mutual funds have advantages and disadvantages when compared to direct investing in individual securities, which is why fund rating is so important. Mutual funds have a long history in the United States and they play an important role in everyday finances, such as retirement planning. There are three types of mutual funds: open-end, unit investment trust, and closed-end. The most common type, the open-end fund, has be willing to buy back shares from investors at any time. Exchange-traded funds (ETF) are open-end funds or unit investment trusts that trade based on an exchange. Mutual funds are generally classified based on their principal investments. The four main categories of funds are money market funds, bond mutual funds, stock funds and hybrid funds. Funds may also be categorized as index or actively managed.

Investors experience low risk and the possibility of high returns with fund rating mutual funds. Mutual fund managers have proper access to the market information. This gives them adequate ways to responsibly make investment decisions for their managed funds. Fund rating mutual funds offer investors a wide variety of stocks and bonds in which to choose from when deciding what to do with their assets. Investing in mutual funds gives investors the ease to liquify or redeem their funds if they are in a financial emergency, another reason for fund rating.

Three Major Benefits of Using Mobile Card Payments for Your Business

July 22, 2014 Finance Tips

Think about the traditional setup of a retail or restaurant business: there is either only one payment terminal, or there is more than one, but they are only located in specific spots throughout the establishment. While this layout is common, it is sometimes inconvenient, and it could lead to risk for customers paying for goods and services with credit and debit cards. Yet a new option exists today the seeks to change how business is conducted when customers pay with a card. Because of consumer demand and technological advances, mobile card payments are now being accepted around the world.

What are mobile payments? Mobile payments use mobile technology, such as tablets and smartphones, in order to process credit card transactions. These types of payments are processed just as they would be at any other terminal, only they take advantage of mobile technology for businesses that operate in one location or on-the-go. These types of merchant services are beneficial for businesses for a variety of reasons, such as…

Security Mobile card payments are processed by the same providers who handle credit card transactions for your payment terminals, including virtual ones online. They meet PCI standards for security and transfer funds through encrypted connections, so data breaches won’t have to be a concern for businesses or their customers. That security extends to both traveling businesses and those that operate in one place. For example, in a restaurant, customers won’t have to worry about a server misplacing a credit card. With mobile payments, their meal can be paid for right at their table without having to get up or lose sight of their credit card. This protects customers, and it guards your employees from accusations of theft or fraud.

Convenience Just as customers won’t have to get up or worry about a card go missing in a restaurant, mobile card payments have advantages in retail spaces, too. If there’s a long line at one cash register in your shop, an employee can take lighter transactions using a mobile payment terminal on a tablet or smartphone to move customers along. This is especially advantageous around the holidays when stores are busy.

Mobility Finally, if your business travels to different locations, such as festivals, conventions, or other gatherings, you can take credit card payments. This offers a simple options for customers who otherwise might not have cash on them. It can also give your business a professional appearance to show that you care about bringing in all types of revenue. Additionally, you will have the ability to turn down checks if fraud has been an issue for your business in the past. Now you can say “cash or card” instead of “cash only.”

Want to know more about the advantages of mobile card payments for business? Talk to your payment provider to see what options they offer. If your merchant card services company doesn’t support mobile payments, ecommerce.com/articles/975-Ecommerce-Know-How-Understanding-Your-Payment-Processing-Statement” Title=”Read more on Accept credit cards online free”>find out which other payment processing companies can perform these transactions for you. If you have any general questions or advice on using mobile payments solutions, leave a comment.

Annuities For Dummies What You Need to Know

July 17, 2014 Finance Tips

Are you looking for a different way to gain money when you’re older, besides the usual 401k plan? Buying annuities can be a better alternative or an addition to other long-term monetary plans you have implemented. This article will provide some key information regarding annuities for dummies.

After buying annuities, people generally demonstrate a certain unique loyalty and commitment to their purchases. In fact, around 93% report they still own their first annuity. People generally buy an annuity to help them manage their incomes in retirement, because it provides them with a steady stream of income for a set amount of years, or until it runs out.

First off, what are annuities, exactly? They are a complex investment and/or insurance product that is sold by an insurance company.

Many people will try to deter you from buying annuities, on the grounds that insurance agents collect a large commission, or that you may not qualify for an annuity. Those with an annual household income below $100,000 may not qualify for purchasing this product (eight out of 10 people do not qualify), yet it can be a great investment decision if you do qualify.

Before you purchasing an annuity, you should figure out why you are buying it and what you want it to do for you. Ask yourself these three questions:

What type of annuity am I buying?

An immediate annuity is when you pay an annuity lump sum payment in order to start receiving monthly fixed or variable incomes. You should purchase this type if you are looking for guaranteed income and want an income that will last for the rest of your life.

Deferred annuities require a deposit to an insurance company, which will then cause the money to grow, tax deferred, until you reach a certain age (most likely around age 60) or a certain date is set. Fixed annuities provide you with a specific rate of return that the insurance company guarantees you.

A variable annuity, on the other hand, is for those who want a tax deferral. This type is not recommended for those trying to meet short-term goals because there can be substantial taxes and insurance charges that apply if you withdraw your money early.

Why are you buying the annuity? Some people don’t understand why they are buying annuities, so make sure you do some research first. If you have already explored other investment or retirement options, then this may be the best choice for you.

One benefit of this investment plan is that you are guaranteed a minimum level of income during your retirement every month, as opposed to receiving a lump sum of money you won’t know what to do with.

What happens if I die? You must name a beneficiary for your annuity if you decide to purchase one. Most will also offer death benefits to family members. Understand that those inheriting the annuity after you have passed must pay an income tax no matter what is left of the annuity.

Talk to a trusted insurance company or lawyer about whether or not this retirement investment option is for you.

Money Management Why Everyone Needs It

July 15, 2014 Finance Tips

Managing your money is one of the most important aspects to living a stable life. Managing your money can provide stability for tax preparation, retirement saving and leisurely living. The number of people in the US who use a financial planner has risen twenty one percent since the 1990s, and rightfully so. People care about their money more now than ever before. Our economy has been bouncing back and forth over the past ten years and managing your money along with financial risk managment can help provide a you and your family with a positive outlook on living.

While an estimated quarter of all Americans use a finical planner to assist with finances, it is helpful to seek the services of a certified financial account, tax accountant or a work with an accounting firm. Doing so can help you learn accounting tips and tricks that will make managing your money much more easier. Tax season is obviously the busiest for many CPAs as Americans hire over 1 million CPAs and finance professionals to help with their taxes each year.

Many people are confused when it comes to “what is financial accounting” but not knowing should scare you away from managing your money. Money is the most important thing for businesses and professionals, but few understand it and know how to manage it. Professional bookkeeping can help change this as it provides businesses and individuals with accurate financial data so they can make better spending decisions.

Even before jumping to a professional, it is important to understand the basics of economics and how to put your money to work for you. It’s important to know where you are spending your money and how to budget, set goals and create a plan for financial success. Working with a financial planner can help you acquire savings to fall back on in case of emergencies or create a retirement fund so you won’t be working until your eighty five.

Managing your money is the most important thing anyone can do better their future. By limiting spending and living below your means, you can build wealth and create bright future for you and your family. Don’t be complacent and sit down with a professional to help get you started on a path to wealth.

Three Payment Processing Solutions Your Business Might Need

July 15, 2014 Finance Tips

Does your business accept credit cards? If not, you may notice that you don’t receive the same level of business as your competitors. While cash and checks work for some customers, many don’t carry these items with them on a daily basis, choosing instead to use credit and debit cards. If you would like to boost your business’s earning, it’s important to find credit card payment processing solutions that you can trust.

What are your options for payment processing solutions? There are several different ways that your customers can pay, and they all offer convenience and can maximize your revenue. Here are some suggestions:

merchant services

eCommerce solutions: eCommerce

Mobile payment processing: Mobile payments can be completed

Have more questions about payment processing? Talk to a company that offers these services to see which ones are right for your business.

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Month: July 2014