"Money doesn't talk, it swears." - Bob Dylan

SavingAdvice.com Blog

Bridging the gap between saving money and investing


Join Now or Login

business

Business Credit Card Deductions You Won’t Want to Miss

By Leave a Comment

Business credit card deductions

There are more than 364 million open credit card accounts in the United States. Most people use one daily. This is typically true of businesses as well. In fact, most business owners have a credit card they use for any and all purchases. However, not everyone is aware of the many business credit card deductions they may be missing out on.

5 Business Credit Card Deductions

As many of us are receiving our W2s and other tax paperwork in the mail, you may be searching for additional deductions you can make before you file. If you are a business owner or have a business credit card, be sure you make a note of these.

  1. Credit card interest charges. Ideally, you wouldn’t have any interest on purchases for your business. Every once in a while you may have to buy a large piece of equipment or something more expensive that you aren’t able to pay off in one swipe. If you are charged any interest throughout the year, you can deduct it from your taxes.
  2. Any swipe fees. At any point during the year, if you paid a service fee to swipe your business credit card, deduct the fee.
  3. Late fees. The same can be said of late fees. You can write off any late fees you paid last year.
  4. Annual fees. Some business credit cards have an annual fee. If your card does, you can deduct the fee from your taxes.
  5. Miscellaneous credit card fees. All in all, you’ll be able to deduct any fees or charges you paid last year using your business credit card. Be sure you note any fees you incur, so you have this information on file.

Things to Keep in Mind When You File

Keep in mind, that these deductions are only available for business credit card transactions. You cannot write off fees and interest charges for any personal items. If you use your business card for anything personal, you’ll need to go through your statement and calculate the amount of interest paid on business dealings. However, it is best to use the card solely for business purchases to make tax season a little easier.

Lastly, if you have any questions about business credit card deductions or other deductions available to you, it never hurts to consult a tax professional. At this time of year, many firms are running specials and can help answer any questions you may have.

What is one of your favorite business or personal tax deductions?

Read More

SumUp Review: This App Can Help Your Business Get Paid

By Leave a Comment

SumUp Review

Have you heard of SumUp? If you are a small business owner, you’ll want to know about this company. This app could be the answer to easier card payments.

SumUp Review: What Is It?

SumUp is an up-and-coming FinTech outfit. Last year, it was voted Europe’s fastest growing company. With its launch in 2012, SumUp has expanded into 33 countries and, most recently, moved into the United Stated FinTech market. Operating out of Boulder, CO, SumUp hopes to bring their technology and low transaction rates to small and medium-sized businesses throughout the states.

The company plans to become the first global mobile-point-of-sale (MPOS) company. As the business continues to grow, SumUp will continue to focus on providing lower transaction rates than similar services as well as responsive customer service.

An Easier Way to Pay Your Business

You’ve probably seen mobile payment devices recently. In the past, when the Girl Scouts were outside the grocery store, you could get away without buying anything if you simply didn’t have cash. However, with mobile payments, you can now run a credit or debit card anywhere.

You can carry the SumUp device everywhere and use it anywhere. With your smartphone, you can accept credit and debit card payments wherever you are. Hundreds of thousands of small businesses around the world are already using SumUp to get paid. The company has also developed a suite of software to integrate SumUp into other apps and services your company offers.

Traditionally, services like this have not been open to small businesses. SumUp wants to provide the same high-tech payment option for the little guy. Businesses using SumUp vary from coffee houses to mechanics to boutiques.

How to Use the SumUp App

The SumUp app is easy to use and easy to get started. The company even provides paperless onboarding, and customer service is available every step of the way, no matter what questions you may have.

The company prides itself on providing the best value and service possible for small businesses using their tool. To do this, they maintain open and transparent communication. What’s their bottom line? To build a better way to get paid.

How Much Does It Cost?

Because SumUp is targeting small-to-medium business owners, you might wonder if you can afford this tool. Well, the answer is yes! SumUp has made their MPOS device and other services extremely affordable.

You can order the device itself for just $69. You’ll get free delivery within 3 to 4 business days. It also comes with a 30-day money back guarantee as well as a one-year warranty.

On top of those perks, the SumUp device includes free reporting, free phone and email support, and all payments hit your bank account within one to two business days.

Best of all, the company only receives 2.65% of each transaction paid for with the SumUp device. So, your business won’t be spending a fortune on gathering payments. Even better? There are no monthly fees or additional costs.

Is SumUp Right for Your Business?

All in all, SumUp is a fantastic new company looking to provide easy payment options for small to medium-sized businesses. Many of these businesses find themselves paying high transaction fees or unable to accept certain types of payment (American Express or other credit cards) because of the high transaction fee.

If you’re looking for a more affordable way to process credit card transactions,  consider trying SumUp out for a month. They have low fees that they are focusing on maintaining. With the device, you can also accept any type of credit or debit card payment, no matter what type of card it is. And, their 30-day money-back guarantee means you have nothing to lose.

Read More

7 Side Business Ideas for Students

By Leave a Comment

business ideas for students
It can get challenging to earn a consistent income while you’re still a student. Increasing tuition fee and education costs make students go for a side business.

So where to begin?

Here are a few great side business ideas that you can start immediately even if you’ve no money.

Tutoring

The best side business you can do as a student to earn a few bucks every week is tutoring. This is easy because you can teach what you study at school.

There must be one area you’re great at, start teaching it.

Here are a few different ways you can get started.

  1. You can easily find students in your school who will be looking for a tutor. You can teach your juniors in the school.
  2. Talk to your professors and tell them you’re interested in becoming a tutor. Most schools let students register as a tutor.
  3. Put a flyer in your library.
  4. Post an ad on Craigslist. This is your best bet.
  5. Register with online tutor platforms such as Tutor, Tutorhub, and others.

There aren’t any hard and fast rules. You can set your own time and fees.

After you’re done with your degree, you can continue your career as a tutor.

Child caretaker

Not everyone can handle kids. If you’re someone who loves kids and kids love you, there couldn’t be any better side business for you than a child caretaker or a babysitter.

Normally, girls are great babysitters because they have this natural ability to handle kids with care. Nevertheless, anyone can be a babysitter.

It is a business that demands serious responsibility, therefore, it is recommended to get the basic babysitting or childcare training.

The best part, babysitters are in high demand. You won’t find it hard to find customers.

You can find a few customers at your school. Ask your professors and seniors. There is always someone around you who needs a babysitter badly.

Besides, you can register at online babysitter sites like Care, Sitter City, and Urban Sitter.

Assist seniors

How about becoming a personal assistant? Well, you can assist your seniors in the school with pretty much everything ranging from homework to assignments to home cleaning to cooking and more.

Your seniors always need someone to help them. You can earn decent money by assisting them with different chores. Though you won’t earn as much as you do as a tutor or a babysitter being an assistant is easy.

You’ll be doing things that you do every day and you get paid for it.

You can put flyers in your school. It isn’t hard to find seniors who need assistance. This is one of the easiest side business ideas for any student.

Freelance writing

This is a perfect side business idea for students who love writing. If you can write persuasive copy, there are businesses out there that are looking for you.

Most students know how to write but becoming a freelance writer isn’t just about writing, you’ve to go an extra step. You’ve to write content that people love to read.

Freelancing sites like Upwork will help you find clients online. Besides, you can send your writing samples and updated resume to businesses online.

Yardwork

Landscaping and yard work is a kind of side business that’s not for everyone. If you love gardening and have enough knowledge about them, you can start yard work business.

You can plant flowers, design beds, pull weeds, and manage yards and gardens on weekly basis. This is the kind of business that needs an initial investment. You’ve to have tools and equipment before you can jump in.

Finding clients won’t be an issue. You can start from your school. Talk to your professors and seniors. You might get a few clients there.

You can post an ad on Craigslist to get more clients.

Care is one of the best online platforms that can help you take your landscaping business to a whole new level.

Sell essays

How about selling your essays online?

There are students and researchers who need content on regular basis. Websites like Grade Saver and Academon provide you with an opportunity to sell your essays, guides, and revisions notes. You can get paid up to $25 for a literary essay.

This is one of the easiest side businesses that any student can go for. I’m sure you’ll have a lot of essays on your laptops hard disk. It is time to use them and earn a few bucks.

Social media manager

This sounds like a dream come true, right?

Sure it is. Let’s monetize your social activity by becoming a social media manager for a local business. Businesses are always looking for someone who can manage their social media accounts, create posts, respond to comments and messages, and engage with their followers.

Large businesses won’t hire you so you should look for local businesses like restaurants and travel agencies. Finding a social media manager work might be hard because you’ll not find it in your school. You’ve to go out, talk to small businesses, and tell them what you can offer.

This is one serious business that will help you earn a lot.

You can also find social media manager jobs online on sites like Upwork and FlexJobs.

When choosing a side business, don’t ignore your interest and passion. Don’t look for a temporary way to earn money for a few months rather try to create a full-fledged business that you can stick to once you’re done with your studies.

Author Bio: Sabih Javed is an entrepreneur, content marketer, and a music-lover. He is the founder of DigitalMarketer.pk where he writes about all things digital marketing.

Employees With Debt Hurts Your Business

By Leave a Comment

http://www.benefitspro.com/2017/05/02/debt-and-caregiving-duties-lead-to-stressed-employ
All around the developed world, people are more debt-strapped than ever. And while it’s easy for business owners to ignore this problem (after all, your employees’ business is their business, not yours), it’s important to realize that employees swamped with debt hurts your business in measurable ways.

Debt causes employees to be unstable and unproductive in various ways. Here are just a few.

  • Debt causes stress, which prevents employees from doing their best work. Stress causes more sick days, more friction in the workplace, more mistakes, and a general loss of productivity.
  • Debt-stricken employees are more likely to look for a better paying job, or to lose the job they have because of terrible financial strain outside the workplace. You may not know that an employee has financial stress until they suddenly leave the company, forcing you to pay the price in high recruiting and onboarding costs.
  • Debt-ridden employees hurt company culture. If your employees are experiencing the emotional malaise that comes from looming debt, or if they talk about their problems to others, or if their poor financial practices become standard behavior within your company, you’ve got a cultural crisis on your hands, one you almost surely won’t see coming.

For all of these reasons, it is important to find ways to help your employees pay down their debt. Here are some ways to do just that, without impinging on employee privacy or overstepping your bounds.

  • Offer Help to All. Rather than targeting specific employees who you may know or think to be in debt, cast a wide net. Offer a workshop that explains “What is an IVA?” or hire a financial advisor to come in on Fridays for several weeks, to sit down with anybody who wants help. Not everyone who has debt will necessarily step forward, but some will do so. By setting a new standard for financial literacy in your workplace, you’ll be motivating people to make better debt decisions as they move into the future, regardless of problems they’ve experienced in the past.
  • Incentivize Saving. If your business offers the 401(k) or other saving and investment tools, it is important to make sure your employees know what and where they are found, as well as to support them by matching funds. This may seem like a big investment, but many businesses give their employees a financial leg up by matching 3% or 5% of their own contributions to these accounts. This gives employees more money to work with (some of which they may use to pay down their debt) and starts to teach good habits like saving and spending regulation.

You may not be able to make judgment calls about the finances of individual employees, but you can offer general advice and aid to employees as a whole. Talk about debt with your employees, and let them know that all who need can confidentially request help through channels that you provide. This will increase loyalty and productivity in your company. Good luck helping your employees to change their financial lives.

Photo: BenefitsPro

Does Your Business Need an Outside Consultant?

By Leave a Comment

outside consultant
There will come a time where most business owners would wonder if they should hire an outside consultant. If there is one thing that entrepreneurs are proud of – it’s their ability to be highly skilled multi-taskers. Since they are used to doing everything or almost anything on their own, many don’t think about getting the services of a consultant.

Managing a business can be quite challenging. You’re limited on resources, budget and even time. Since you are going in several directions at the same time, you may feel that you can’t afford to spend money on other expenses. Hiring an outside consulting firm may seem like a bad idea when you’re just a startup or a small organization but this is actually a good investment.

With consultancy firms such as Clarasys, Apex or individuals such as Trevor McClintock they can give you the valuable time you’ll need to focus on making your business a success by providing you effective strategies that save you money and makes you money at the same time.

If you want to reach your goals on time, here’s what you need to know on when you’ll need and how hiring a consultant can give value to your business:

  1. You will need a marketing or business plan. Having a plan laid out is crucial to the success of the business.
    You can get a good business plan template off this page.
    When you have a strategic plan in place, you will know what needs to get done and when, and you’d know when to keep your projects within the scope of your budget. Consultants quickly increase efficiency by helping you stay within the scope of the business and within your budget. They can free up the time of other employees so that they can focus more on performing their tasks.
  2. You need to keep profit increase and costs low. Consultants know what they’re doing and have years of experience to know and do the job the right away. They can do analytics and they can tell you strategies and techniques on how you can boost your sales, and where you should cut costs.
  3. You have limited resources and you need to make the most out of these. As a startup or a small company, having a tight budget requires you to be creative and think out of the box so that you can achieve the results you want. The quickest way to achieve this is to get a consultant that fits your budget. You’ll get more for your money if you invest in hiring an expert rather than opting for something cheap and hiring an amateur.
  4. You need to ramp up your business. If you are on the road to creating new offers or there’s an increase for your products or services and you wouldn’t know how to properly navigate your changing workloads – you could end up disappointing your customers and even damage your business’ reputation. You wouldn’t want to burden your staff and sacrifice their job happiness. You’d also want to avoid hiring employees until you’re sure that the workload is sustained. When you bring in a consultant, they can properly give you the right approach to supply and demand, as well as prepare you for any unexpected changes that can both be a risk and an opportunity for your business.

There are a lot of ways for you to work with consultants when your small business is evolving.

Photo: Patna Beats

References:

https://www.adp.com/thrive/articles/when-to-hire-a-consultant-for-your-business-5-881

http://www.quantifye.co/blog/10-reasons-your-small-business-needs-consulting

https://www.roberthalf.com/management-resources/blog/4-good-reasons-to-use-a-small-business-consultant