As a startup owner, chances are that you don’t exactly have a huge and unlimited pool of money at your disposal and it’s only natural, and sensible, that you should try to make savings wherever possible if you want to be in the best possible financial situation 12 months from now, but there are some things that startups just should not even think about skimping on.

Here are some examples of the kinds of things you MUST invest in if you want your business to be a success commercially and financially:

Reliable IT Services

So much of what we all do now is done at a computer, tablet or smartphone, and online is the space that modern businesses really need to conquer. What this means for you as a startup owner, is that you really cannot afford to skimp on reliable IT services. If you cut corners in this department, not only could you lose money when your network goes down, but you could actually risk losing sensitive data, and that could get you into a whole lot of trouble, not to mention cost you a whole lot of cash. It really isn’t worth the risk, especially when you can find great IT services which are moderately priced.

Data Backup

It’s also sensible to invest in a good data backup system, preferably in the cloud, so that should your website be hacked and your data lost, you will be able to instantly recover it. You can backup your data securely for as little as $10 per year, so it really would be foolish not to do so, especially when a loss of data really can cripple a small business.

Great Design

A lot of what determines whether or not a business will be successful, rightly or wrongly, is how attractive its brand is. Think of all the massively successful companies out there; your Google’s, Coca-Cola’s and Nikes and you’ll notice they all; have one thing in common – an instantly recognizable brand. If you want to be in their league someday, you need to invest in great design for your website, logo, business cards and, where applicable. Your products.

High-Quality Web Hosting

A lot of small business owners opt for the cheapest web hosting package they can find available to them. This is understandable, after all, hosting is hosting, right? Wrong! Very wrong! You see, a lot of the cheaper hosts go offline a lot, and when your website is down, that means you are losing money. Not only that, but a poor host could mean a slow website which will put customers off and prevent your media from effectively loading. Factor in the time you spend sorting it out, and the losses to your company could be huge.

Web Design

As well as putting a great web hosting package in place, you should also invest some of your startup capital in creating a website that looks beautiful and performs flawlessly. In the 21st Century, your website is often the first thing about you that the consumer will see and if it looks awful, well, they’re hardly going to have much confidence in your products and services are they? Don’t make the mistake of using a basic template when even just a little investment in a custom solution can be all that it takes to make that sale!

Creative Content

Naturally, you’ll want to put some content on your website so that people can actually find your company. If you want that to happen, it pays to invest in high-quality content written by professional copywriters, either on staff or freelance. If you do this, you can bet that you’ll make your money back and then some in the fullness of time.

Customer Service Training

Most startup owners are so focused on the future and how they want their business to be a year, two years or even ten years down the line, that they often lose sight of the things that need to be done now to get them there. One such thing is high-quality customer service training.

You see, although customer service might not seem like your most pressing issue right now, or even something you can justify using the business credit card on, it is actually one of the most vital tools in your arsenal. After all, your customers are the people who will make or break your business, and without them, you won’t even have a business at all. Once you realize this, it’s well-worth taking the time to invest in the right training so that your employees always treat your customers right.

Legal Counsel

We all know that legal fees are expensive, lawyers aren’t exactly known for being poor, after all. However, there is absolutely no way of getting around the fact that, if you want to start a successful business and avoid future financial difficulties and even bankruptcy, you need to invest in good legal counsel when you set up your business. If you don’t do this, you could end up making a mistake somewhere down the line and getting sued and, as I’m sure you will know, the cost of litigation, not to mention the cost of compensation should you lose a case, can be astronomical.

Great People

You can try, but I would bet against you starting a successful new company without a few good people by your side to help you along the way. Every company’s biggest cost is its payroll and hiring more employees than the minimum or those who don’t exactly come cheap might seem like a good way to cut business costs, but if you want your company to grow, you need to invest in the most creative, hardworking qualified people and you need to invest in enough people so that none of you are spread too thin.

As the old cliche says “Sometimes, you have to speculate to accumulate.” This is something that is certainly true in the startup world, and especially when it comes to these particular things.

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We’ve all found ourselves, at one time or another, financial strapped. It could be an unexpected car repair, a short work week or even an unexpected medical expense. Whatever the reason, it causes stress and anxiety, especially if you don’t know where to turn for solutions. These 5 short term solutions may just help you get by until your cash flow picks up again or until you can get past the unexpected expense.

1.Cash Loans/Short Term Loans

Cash loans don’t have the best reputation in the financial world, and that is mostly because they bear higher interest rates and can be easily abused. However, if you are in a bind and know that paying back the loan won’t be an issue, they can be a short term solution to a financial need. Be sure to read the terms, understand your obligations as the borrower, and plan ahead so you can ensure the money is paid back on time preventing further interest or penalties. A cash loan broker will connect you with multiple lenders who may offer different terms, rates etc. IneedmoneytodayASAP is a website that provides this service and you can visit their website here.

2. Sell Unwanted Items Online

You would be amazed at the amount of clutter you might find by simply cleaning out your garage or basement. You might find items you haven’t used in well over a year or more. These items are great candidates for online classified websites where you can sell you items locally and receive cash for them fairly quickly. Do a quick online search in your area for local buy and sell groups or even on social media for places to post your unwanted goods.

3. Visit the Pawn Shop

Similar to selling online, but much faster turn around, taking unwanted items to a pawn shop will yield you some extra cash. You will not be paid the full value of your item in most cases, since the shop will want to make money too. Alternatively, you could put valuable items in hock until you can pay to get them back. Be sure to read the terms so you know exactly how long you have before that item becomes property of the pawn shop.

4. Take the Bus, Walk or Car Pool

Simple but definitely cost effective, taking public transit or walking places will save you tonnes of money compared to driving everywhere. With the rising cost of fuel, driving is a costly commodity. You could talk to a co-worker and see about car pooling if public transit or walking are not an option. Even if you did this for a week, you would save a fair amount on gas.

5. Make Coffee at Home and Pack Lunches

While this short term solution won’t put cash in your pocket, it will keep the cash you have in there. Making a coffee at home every morning could save you between $1 and $2.50 per day for just one coffee. Packing your lunch from home will save you even more–somewhere around $10 per day! That’s around $2500 a year if you ate out every work day. Imagine that nice chunk of savings you could be using for more important things, in your bank account.

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When money is tight, and your expenses are high, you may find yourself in a pickle with creditors. It’s often an inevitable part of life as you learn and progress – but when the creditors are more than just one or two, the problem seems to snowball a bit too fast. It’s impossible to keep up with, the phone never keeps quiet, and life seems so very unfair.

You can solve it all in one go, though, by learning how to communicate effectively with those dreaded people on the other end of the line and negotiate a good deal.

Here is a handful of the best advice from money experts out there, giving you and your finances some peace of mind at last.

Be honest to generate sympathy

So creditors may be unpopular, but they’re just regular folks like you and I. Pick up the phone, talk from the heart, and stick to your story – especially when you’re dealing with multiple creditors. They don’t want to hear about all the problems you’ve had the past year, of course, but a quick explanation will soften even the toughest creditor.

If you’ve been ill or away from work for a couple of months, it’s a good idea to make them aware of this. The same goes for any other problems you’ve had in the household lately, if your husband has been laid off, or if you’ve run into unexpected medical expenses.

Life is, after all, just life and creditors deal with it too. Check out entrepreneur.com for some top tips on how to convince them not to ruin your credit score.

Stay calm, by the way, and whatever you do, don’t lose your temper with them. To be overdramatic or show childish anger won’t get you anywhere when you’ve passed the age of ten.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Remember that this conversation is for your benefit as much as the people you owe money. When the ruthless creditor tells you that you may risk losing your house or be sued, try not to run away from it all but ask specific questions instead.

When can you expect further action to be taken? Is it a good idea to find a personal loan to cover the most pressing expenses? When can you expect the money to be withdrawn from your account? You can have a look at personalloan.co to have a backup handy in case another loan may keep you from being sued.

Some of the threats they make may be illegal, by the way, so ask questions and take note of their answers for your own record.

Understand your situation

Do yourself a massive favor and be prepared the next time they ring. When you know how much you’re able to afford, it becomes a lot easier to keep up with the negotiations and find a realistic solution – otherwise, you may end up in the same situation in a few months.

Dealing with creditors is never much fun, but it’s inevitable when you’d like to put the past behind you. Get it over with as soon as possible, improve your credit score, and start to live within your means again.

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If you look at the best ways to invest your money, many people will recommend investing in your education. The reason is that spending money on your education isn’t just a one-time investment. Adding qualifications to your resume is an investment in yourself and could lead to higher earnings in the future. You’re not buying an asset that could start depreciating or taking a risk on an investment that could end up losing you money. If you want to invest in your education, there are a few smart ways you can do it. Try the following tips to consider your options.

Go to College

There will always be controversy over whether it’s necessary to go to college. Of course, not everyone wants or needs a college education. And some people will say that studying certain subject isn’t going to help you in your career. However, even though it can be expensive, going to college can do a lot for you in the long-term. There are several options to explore if you want to find one that works best for you financially. There’s the choice of going to community college, attending a college in your state, scholarships, or even studying online. Gaining postgraduate qualifications will also often help to boost your career.

Take a Course

Whether or not you choose to attend college, your education doesn’t need to stop once you’re no longer in school. It’s always worth exploring your options for learning new skills and improving your abilities. There are many online courses you can sign up for, but Training Connection believes that classroom learning is best. When you’re learning practical skills like how to use software, it’s useful to have an instructor who can show you how to do something. As well as investing your own money in training, it’s always useful to take advantage of any opportunities you might gain from employers.

Learn About Finances and Investment

Courses both online and offline can teach you about just about anything. You can choose skills that are useful for your career goals. But if you want to make the most of your money, learning about finance and investment is one of the best things you can do. Seek out courses in investing and managing your money if you want a good way to spend money on your education. While you can find free resources, it pays to invest in a more professional and comprehensive course, or perhaps resources like books.

Invest in Your Child’s Future

Your education isn’t the only one worth investing in. If you want another way to spend your money wisely, investing in your child’s future is also a good idea. You can help them out by saving money for their education, whether it’s a college fund or just general savings. You can also help them out when it’s time for them to go to college, perhaps by co-signing loans or simply giving them some financial support.

Education is one of the best things you can invest in because it sets you up for the future. Don’t dismiss the power it can have.

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Everyone desires a good credit rating. Possessing one can unlock financial doors and make you look much more appealing to creditors. However, many people don’t realise how easy it is to build up a credit rating with the correct financial decisions. This is especially important for young people during their 20’s who may hope to apply for a mortgage in the future. It can also be used to provide you with business loans, short term cash advances, and even simple things such as mobile or broadband service contracts.

However, applying for the best signature loan or car finance deal will take shrewd financial planning. While this may seem like ‘boring planning time,’ it can be immensely valuable, and any hour spent here can translate to days or weeks of solid financial security. In a tumultuous world, this can be the bedrock you need to truly live the life you want.

The steps to building great credit are as follows:

Stay Aware

Many people will tell you the first best thing you can do is to apply for credit cards, make your purchases and pay back the balance promptly. This is an excellent guiding point, but it’s not the most important. Staying aware of your credit rating at all times, as well as the circumstances that might bring it down, is just as important. Not only does staying aware in this way give you the opportunity to identify past debts or loans which have completely gone unpaid, but they’ll help you understand and potentially build a timeline for how long you can expect to be in the ‘good credit’ bracket. This can help you plan significant financial investments in the future at a much more accurate timescale than someone who is simply ‘guesstimating’ the process.

Don’t Be Afraid Of Cosign Loans

Cosign loans often exist to help you with a financial circumstance, such as an emergency payment or a large gift you’re buying, without subjecting you to the dreadful high APR a low to medium credit score can net you. Simply find another guarantor to sign their name on the loan in good faith, and repaying the loan back on time (or better earlier,) can help skyrocket your credit score. Of course, asking someone to take this risk on you is a very personal and demanding affair, so be sure to be completely upfront about the loan terms and your requirements for taking it.

Financial Links

Sometimes, your credit score can be affected by the financial links you have. For this reason, staying aware of opening joint bank accounts is appropriate. Unless you have been happily married for at least a year, it’s likely that opening one should be postponed.

Check Information

The simplest way to keep on top of your credit score, and to make sure it’s accurate, is to update your information at all times. Changing certain information such as your current address, marital status and dependants help your credit profile with its accuracy. Not falling down at the first hurdle when applying for credit can be the first line of success in getting accepted.

With these simple tips, you’re much more likely to begin your ascent into solid credit reliability with ease.

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