Personal Finance: 4 Reasons Our Students Should Learn it in School

When people don’t have a basic understanding of personal finance, the results can be devastating. The negative impacts aren’t just felt by the individual, but also by their family members and community. If students were learning personal finance in school, they wouldn’t find themselves in these terrible positions as adults. Still not convinced? Here are 4 reasons students must learn personal finance.

1. It is a Practical Life Skill

Not only is understanding personal finance a necessary life skill, it is a skill that kids need to learn as early as possible. By the time they are 16, many kids own cars, have jobs, and bank accounts. This means budgeting for gas and car insurance, reconciling bank statements, tracking expenses, and filling out tax forms. Once they are 18, students may be renting apartments and receiving credit card offers. There are students who will receive help and guidance from their parents on these matters, but unfortunately many will not. If these skills aren’t learned at home, they simply must be taught in the school.

2. Students Who Learn Young Are Less Likely to Develop Bad Habits

A large part of personal finance education is teaching young people to track their spending, to create and stick to a budget, and to spend money. Students also learn about credit, interest rates, and how to identify a good offer of credit and one that is predatory. These programs also teach students about investments. Ultimately, students who are well educated in personal finance know…

  • The importance of saving money for emergencies
  • How to budget so that they do not run out of money
  • The importance of investing for their retirement
  • How to determine whether or not an interest rate is fair
  • How to avoid predatory creditors such as buy here pay here retailers, pay day and title lenders, pawn shops, and high interest credit cards
  • How to set savings goals to pay for wanted items and experiences

How to resist temptation to borrow money or purchase things on credit that are not absolute necessities

3. Too Many Entities Prey on Students who Lack Financial Knowledge

It is a well known fact that finance companies target students with credit card offers. These marketing campaigns often began the moment the student turns 18. These companies use slick marketing tactics to appeal to young people. They promise students the ability to get what they want now and pay for it later, and they do so by depicting images of young people living the good life. Students are offered low introductory rates which often jump into the double digits after just a few short months. Students who do not understand how credit works can find themselves in thousands of dollars in debt by the time they graduate. Much of this can be avoided with just a bit of education.

4. Students Who Do Not Learn These Skills Are at Risk of Financial Abuse

Students who receive education in personal finance are more likely to remain in control of their own money, and they are more likely to recognize and put a stop to financial exploitation and abuse if it happens to them. This means they are less likely to fall victim to unscrupulous contractors, or duped by other con artists. Students who have this knowledge are also more likely to have their own bank accounts, and to establish a healthy credit rating. This financial independence makes it easier for them to leave abusive situations, and less likely to allow an abusive partner to control their finances.

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Financing Failures: Why so Many Startups Can’t Survive

Have you ever dreamed of starting your own business? Every year thousands of people fulfill their dream of becoming an entrepreneur only to encounter unforeseen obstacles that cause their venture to fail. In fact, 90% of startups fail within their first year. Learn why it’s so hard to start and sustain a successful business and how you avoid some of the common pitfalls like financing failures.

Product or Service Isn’t Wanted

A survey conducted among failed startup founders said that the lack of market or need for their product, was the main reason for their failed business. Basically they didn’t have a product or service enough people wanted or need. Check for flaws in your demand with these areas.

  • Weak Value Proposition

A value proposition is a statement that says why people should buy your product. For example, people buy Aspirin because they know it will get rid of aches and pains. Your product needs to have a clear value proposition in order for people to know why they should buy your product.

  • Wrong Time

No matter how great your idea is, your business must be relevant to today’s consumers. If your business is ahead or behind the times, it’ll be very hard to gain traction. Are there already a thousand stores just like yours in the neighborhood? Get in at the right time and your business will take off.

Not Enough Money

Money management is critical for any business, but especially in a startup. The key to proper financial management is having the right equipment when you start. In order for your business to function, you need certain essential equipment. Do not decide to invest in the necessary items after you have open up shop. That’s like flying a plane that’s only 95% ready. You should also keep enough cash on hand for day-to-day operations. A business cannot be sustainable if you don’t have enough daily cash. If you know it will take off in time, a loan might be a good way to get on your feet. Talk to investors as well to see what options you might have for outside funding.

Not the Right People

In order to have a successful business, you need to build it with the right people. However, just because someone is skilled at their craft, does not mean they are great management partners. Business is a tough environment and your team needs to be composed of people with key skills, leadership ability, and similar vision. Find people who will work with you to achieve your vision. You should also be willing and able to compensate them. Even if you picked the best, they will easily fall away or desert you if they can’t see the rewards. Use a good system and a Pay Stub Calculator to make sure everyone is compensated accurately.

You team will need to generate good business ideas, test them, and thoroughly carry out your business strategies. If you have a great management team you will probably be able to avoid the other two causes of failed startups.

Plan Now

Before you decide to open your own business, create a well thought out business plan. As Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. Study why businesses fail and plan how you can overcome these challenges. Once you have a solid plan, get what you need, and start your dream business!

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5 Personal Finance Books to Add to Your Reading List

What have you been reading this summer? Every person reading this post likely has a different answer. Some prefer lightweight reads in the summer months such as young adult fiction or romance novels. Other prefers historical fiction, political satire, or biographies. Maybe sci-fi and fantasy are more your speed. Whatever you have been reading, hopefully you’ve enjoyed it.

Now, let’s talk about a few books you should be reading as your autumn closes out. When it comes to personal finance books, everybody could use a little bit more information, and a little more education. Whether the authors are giving advice on saving money, living on a budget, or investing, books on personal finance are great additions to anybody’s summer reading list.

This is why we have put together this list of 5 books on personal finance that you should read before the weather turns cold.

Women and Money – Suze Orman

Suze Orman has provided insightful financial advice to people for decades. She continues this pattern with “Women and Money”. Suze Orman recognizes that when it comes to money women need both education and empowerment. This book includes a 5 month program that helps women establish financial independence and personal freedom. Many books provide a lot of heady, high level information.

Ms. Orman takes a more practical and relatable approach providing women with specific steps that they can take towards improving their financial situations.

Why didn’t they Teach me this in School: 99 Personal Money Management Principles to Live – Cary Siegal

Cary Siegal wrote this book upon realizing that his children and their peers would graduate from high school and college without any formal, personal finance education. In spite of covering 99 principles, this book is quite easy to read and the lessons are conveniently parsed out.

This book targets young adults, but there is valuable advice here for any age group.

The Success Principles: How to get from where you are to where you want to be – Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer

Do you have plans and life goals that you have yet to achieve? Maybe you would like to start a business or go back to college. Whatever your plans are, it can be easy to feel stuck where you are, and getting to a place where you have achieved your goals can seem impossible.

This book is a goal-oriented book that gives financial advice that relates to conquering your next challenge. The authors include daily action steps, ways to increase your confidence levels, and practical advice on living in the modern age.

Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki

Rich Dad Poor Dad is a book about money lessons learned from two different men and the influence those lessons had on the author. The lessons he learned from the rich dad in the novel gave the author the opportunity to retire before the age of 50. In this book, he passes that knowledge on to others.

Many readers will be surprised to find that what they have been taught about money is completely off base.

Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey is a well-known author, financial guru, and a nationally syndicated radio talk show host. Ramsey has a very easy to read writing style, and provides a lot of great practical advice to his readers.

The best endorsement of Ramsey’s is advice is simply the success that his readers and listeners have achieved by following his advice. Many are put off by Ramsey’s tendency to be extreme in his rhetoric, and that is a valid criticism. However, if that can be ignored in favor of focusing on just his financial advice, readers can learn a lot.

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3 Golden Rules of Developing Customer Loyalty on a Tight Budget

Every company clearly benefits from customer loyalty. However, your business may not have the millions of dollars that the leaders in your industry have to put towards endless layers of advertising to attract those customers. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can develop customer loyalty on a tight budget. Here are some of the top ways.

1 – Respond more quickly to customer queries than anyone in your industry

Social media, citation aggregation software and customer management software give you the ability to access everything that your customers say about you almost in real time. Never before have businesses been blessed with the ability to not only sell across oceans, but provide customer service across those same oceans without spending a great deal of money.

Nine out of every 10 people believe that companies have a responsibility to answer queries on Facebook. However, only one in four businesses actually does this. Is it any wonder that customer loyalty has dropped in the past 20 years? Use all of the information that have on your customers to create a great customer experience for each of them. From this kind of service, your business will certainly build and maintain more customer loyalty.

2 – Get to know your best customers

The Pareto rule, or the 80/20 rule of buying and selling, says that 80 percent of your sales will come from 20 percent of your customers. These 20 percent of customers are the ones who are most likely to become loyal if given the chance. However, you should know never to take anything for granted in the modern business landscape.

In order to convert the customers who are supposed to become loyal to your company, you need a consistent and wide-open two-way line of communication. This can be created through social media very easily; however, there is another level to this endeavor. Your loyal customers deserve personalized service, and no matter how small your budget may be, you can definitely afford to give it to them. Maintaining a customer costs a business around 15 percent of what it takes to build a relationship with a brand-new customer.

Hold events and contests for your best customers. If you are having a sale, incorporate location-based technology and opt in demographic lists so that your best customers truly have the first opportunity to take you up on your offers.

3 – Create programs that naturally develop customer loyalty

The first program that you can incorporate into your business is a product that requires customer loyalty. If you constantly have iterations and improvements on your product, then people will be inclined to come back for more. This is one of the basic tenants of the automobile industry – the best brands are the ones that are always announcing new features for next year’s model. For instance, if you have a product that requires listening, incorporating closed captioning services into the product is a great way to engender customer loyalty.

Aside from having products that are consistently being improved, you can also create programs that will help to engage your customer base. For instance, getting involved in the communities of your good customers is a great way to keep them engaged with your business. This does not have to be a physical location; it can very easily be an online community as well. This is why message boards and niche forums are actually more important for a small business than the major three search engines.

If your business gets involved with a charity, this is another way to ensure that you will always have customers will rally to your cause. Even if you end up giving a great deal of money away, you must consider that you would not have brought in this money if you did not have the offer in the first place. In many cases, doing business with a charity ends up being more profitable for both ends. Never mistake the nonprofit industry for an unprofitable industry – there is definitely a great deal of money being made that you can pick up on.

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Let the Experts Keep your Payroll Up to Date

It is hard for employers to keep up to date with budget changes. By outsourcing your payroll to Tailored Payroll you don’t have to worry about how to implement or explain changes in Tax to your employees. Here at Tailored Payroll we ensure your payroll is processed accurately and on-time while ensuring compliance with Revenue, Department of Social Protection and NEARA.

One of the main changes for 2015 is the change in USC rates and thresholds on PAYE Income.

2015 Rates:

On the first €12,012    1.50%
On the next €5,564     3.50%
On the next €52,468     7%
On the balance    8%

Any individual who believes their income for USC purposes will not exceed €12,012 in 2015 can apply to Revenue for a USC exemption before the new tax year begins.

Contact Tailored Payroll today for a competitive price. Our flexible service includes:
•    PAYE,PRSI and USC Calculations
•    Registration of Employer with Revenue
•    All employer  Revenue submissions to include: P30’s,P45’s, P35, P60’s and registration of
new employees
•    We provide email Payslips and  P60s to employees
•    Creation of Bank file for payment to employees
•    No hidden costs

For more information about this business visit their website or email to payroll@tailoredpayroll.ie. Tailored Payroll is part of Use SBC as a channel initiative. If you want your business to be featured, click here.

The post Let the Experts Keep your Payroll Up to Date appeared first on Small Business Can.

Let the Experts Keep your Payroll Up to Date

It is hard for employers to keep up to date with budget changes. By outsourcing your payroll to Tailored Payroll you don’t have to worry about how to implement or explain changes in Tax to your employees. Here at Tailored Payroll we ensure your payroll is processed accurately and on-time while ensuring compliance with Revenue, Department of Social Protection and NEARA.

One of the main changes for 2015 is the change in USC rates and thresholds on PAYE Income.

2015 Rates:

On the first €12,012    1.50%
On the next €5,564     3.50%
On the next €52,468     7%
On the balance    8%

Any individual who believes their income for USC purposes will not exceed €12,012 in 2015 can apply to Revenue for a USC exemption before the new tax year begins.

Contact Tailored Payroll today for a competitive price. Our flexible service includes:
•    PAYE,PRSI and USC Calculations
•    Registration of Employer with Revenue
•    All employer  Revenue submissions to include: P30’s,P45’s, P35, P60’s and registration of
new employees
•    We provide email Payslips and  P60s to employees
•    Creation of Bank file for payment to employees
•    No hidden costs

For more information about this business visit their website or email to payroll@tailoredpayroll.ie. Tailored Payroll is part of Use SBC as a channel initiative. If you want your business to be featured, click here.

The post Let the Experts Keep your Payroll Up to Date appeared first on Small Business Can.