admin – Finance Zone https://www.financezone.net Your Financial Advice Partner Mon, 13 Jun 2022 17:08:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.15 https://www.financezone.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-logo-1-32x32.png admin – Finance Zone https://www.financezone.net 32 32 How to Have a Great Business Logo https://www.financezone.net/how-to-have-a-great-business-logo/ https://www.financezone.net/how-to-have-a-great-business-logo/#respond Mon, 13 Jun 2022 17:08:52 +0000 https://www.financezone.net/?p=769 Having a great business logo is essential for your business. It is a vital factor in how people perceive your business. It’s also the first thing customers see when they visit your website or social media page. You can get by without having a logo for a while, but if you want to build a long-lasting brand that stands out from the competition, it’s worth investing in one. Having a great business logo is essential for your business. It helps you stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression on your customers, but it can be challenging to know where to begin.

What is Business Logo?

A business logo is a visual representation of your company. It’s what people see when they think of your brand, and it’s usually the first thing people will associate with your company when they hear its name. A good logo should be memorable so that people can easily associate it with your brand. When you’re trying to choose a logo, think about what you want people to remember about your business, and how you want them to feel about it. 

How to Have a Great Business Logo

After learning what is a business logo, it is time for you to pay attention to the ways how to have a great business logo. Here are some tips to remember:

Create a logo that will reflect your business

The first step in building a strong brand is having a logo that represents you and your business. It’s a way of communicating who you are and what you do. A logo can be used to convey your business’ values, mission, or even your personality. If you want to create a business logo that reflects your business, then it’s important to consider your audience. You want a logo that will appeal to them and make them want to do business with you.

Make your logo artistically balanced

Your logo is the face of your brand. It’s the first thing people see when they look at your website, and it’s the first thing people see when they look at any of your marketing materials. One way to do that is by making sure that your logo is artistically balanced. In other words, it means that no other side of it should be heavier than another. In this way, you can ensure that all elements will be visible at all times. Balancing the elements of creating logos is not as easy as how it may seem but if you contact logo design companies, they are experts and they will help you without breaking a sweat.

Study your market trend to connect it with your logo

If you’re not sure what to do with your logo, study the market trends in your area. Try to study what the people are looking for, what are they buying, and what are they trying to achieve. You can use this information to connect with your logo and help customers find you. You should always be asking yourself how you can make life easier for your customers. 

Avoid too many elements

You might be tempted to fill it up with as many elements as possible, but that’s not the right way to go. You need to keep it simple so that it can be easily recognized and remembered by people who see it. A busy logo will only confuse people, and if they don’t recognize it, they won’t know what your business does.

Summary

Always remember to create a logo that will reflect your business, a logo that will show artistically balanced elements, and a logo that will connect to the market trend. A good logo helps build trust and recognition among your customers, and it should reflect your company’s values, mission, and personality. It should also be versatile enough to be used across all types of media, including print materials, websites, social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, and even physical locations like storefronts or billboards.

]]>
https://www.financezone.net/how-to-have-a-great-business-logo/feed/ 0
The Essentials Of Mutual Funds In Singapore https://www.financezone.net/the-essentials-of-mutual-funds-in-singapore/ https://www.financezone.net/the-essentials-of-mutual-funds-in-singapore/#respond Mon, 21 Mar 2022 04:50:41 +0000 https://www.financezone.net/?p=766 When you invest your money, it is beneficial to invest in various assets. This could be stocks and shares or bonds. It could even be properties. However, one investment vehicle that may offer you higher returns than other asset classes is mutual funds.

What are mutual funds?

Mutual funds are managed pools of securities that can be bought and sold on the stock market. Such securities include stocks and bonds from different companies across the globe. The investments that go into a pool must be managed by someone with expertise in identifying individual investments at their actual value. There are thousands of different funds available on the Singapore exchange, ranging in size from hundreds of millions down to just a few thousand dollars per fund. 

The number one thing you need to understand about mutual funds is that they are made up of many different stocks or bonds. As such, when you choose your particular fund, you need to keep track of its entire history because it might not perform according to your expectations at all times. It usually takes some digging on Internet databases before you finally decide.

Another difference is that there are different classes of mutual funds, and they can be traded differently. Only a few financial institutions in Singapore allow you to trade these funds, so sometimes, it pays to find out more before deciding on your purchase or sale order.

What to watch out for when buying mutual funds in Singapore

As with all investments, you need to watch out for scammers and con artists who might not give you what you deserve. There have been reports of people losing their life savings to such schemes, and I don’t want anyone else going through that experience here as well. Specific measures like buying from reputable companies and trading within legal limits (and even using legal advisors)are probably ways to keep yourself out of trouble.

The benefits of investing in mutual funds n Singapore

Mutual funds can be beneficial in a variety of ways. They tend to offer higher returns than investments such as bank deposits and fixed interest stocks. At the same time, they carry less risk than other investment types, such as individual company shares. This is because of their diversity and spread across various companies and sectors within different economies. Furthermore, the costs of running mutual funds are shared between all fund members, making it possible for individuals to get diversified exposure at meager costs if enough fellow investors participate.

The risks associated with investing in mutual funds in Singapore

Investing in mutual funds has some risks attached. The most prominent being that the investor may lose money from investing

Market risk

As the market is volatile and unpredictable, investors can see a loss if their investments are not chosen correctly. 

Product risk

Certain mutual funds can invest in products that go down significantly in value 

Operational risk

Where a fund manager may misplace your investment, this type of risk is usually mitigated by choosing a well-known company to manage your investment for you.

For Singaporeans to minimise their risks when investing in mutual funds, experts recommend that they ensure they choose one with a good track record and that they diversify their holdings.

Conclusion

We suggest that you not try investing in mutual funds until you have at least a few years of life experience under your belt because the real world keeps changing so fast it might be better to understand things first before diving headlong into this area. The good news is there are plenty of guides explaining what these funds are about and how they work online if you know where to look for them or ask around. We recommend using an experienced and reputable online broker from Saxo Bank before trading in mutual funds.

]]>
https://www.financezone.net/the-essentials-of-mutual-funds-in-singapore/feed/ 0
Here are 27 Things to Consider Before You Launch Your Tech Business https://www.financezone.net/here-are-27-things-to-consider-before-you-launch-your-tech-business/ https://www.financezone.net/here-are-27-things-to-consider-before-you-launch-your-tech-business/#respond Thu, 21 Oct 2021 04:22:09 +0000 https://www.financezone.net/?p=758 Starting your own tech business is possible, but it’s not for everyone. There are many barriers to starting a business, and even more if you’re trying to do so in the tech industry. Before you start dreaming about turning your idea into a thriving company, make sure that your plan is solid by considering these 27 things before you launch your tech business.

Seed-funding vs bootstrapping

Getting funding from venture capitalists or angel investors can be extremely beneficial, especially when building a product or scaling one that has traction. However, these investments come with strings attached in the form of equity ownership, involving different valuation metrics such as pro rata, VC cap table, rounds of fundings, etc. If you decide to bootstrap instead of pursuing seed-funding, there are other ways to finance your operation while keeping control over it. You could also look into crowdfunding, though that might not be the best option if you want to keep full equity ownership.

Operations

You don’t have to be a great programmer or designer to run a tech business, but you do need to know how to use the tools you intend on using. Make sure that your team members are capable of using these tools before bringing them onboard, because hiring experts later will cost more and put your project behind in terms of development.

Building an app or site is only one piece of the puzzle. You also need infrastructure that enables you to keep things running smoothly when thousands (or millions) of users come in at once. Before building anything, make sure that the back-end systems are well-planned out so they can scale with whatever you throw at them. This will save money in the long run by not wasting it on buying scalable solutions that you don’t really need yet.

Defining your product

This is arguably one of the most important things to consider before you start your tech business, because whatever it is will be the basis of everything else. Make sure that you know exactly what you’re working on, and if necessary — make prototypes for potential customers to test out. Doing so can help you avoid building something nobody wants (or needs!), which is a common reason why projects fail .

What problem are they trying to solve?

People want products that satisfy their problems , so find out who has these problems and if they’ll actually pay money or give up some other resource in order to get them solved. While it might seem simple enough, many entrepreneurs completely forget to do this, or find out that the product they envision doesn’t actually solve an existing problem.

Customer acquisition costs

Your tech business will have to deal with high customer acquisition costs if you fail to figure out how you’ll get your first few customers. That might be by spending money on marketing or other creative ways to grow your audience. You should seriously consider this before launching a tech startup, because it can cost thousands of dollars even for small companies .

Launch strategy / Plan B

It’s usually best practice to release early and often — but sometimes things go wrong, especially in technology where you need multiple revisions until everything works perfectly. If there are potential risks involved , make that you have a contingency plan to minimize risks and keep your business afloat if things go south. For example, building a prototype might be necessary to show investors that there’s some market validation for your product or service .

Pricing & Revenue

To make money, you need to have some idea of how much things cost — even if it’s something intangible like time spent on support phone calls. Do research so you can properly fit prices within the context of what customers are willing to spend. While having no revenue is bad, having low revenue because your prices are too high is also not beneficial — find an appropriate balance by doing more research .

Distribution Channels

Tech businesses often require drawing in large numbers of users at once, which means you’ll need distribution channels that can handle those kinds of numbers. Think about how you intend on reaching customers, and if necessary partner with other companies to reach even more people .

The team

Tech businesses need a solid team , so make sure that everyone involved has a clear idea of what they’re supposed to be doing. Team members should have complementary skill sets because it’ll be difficult to build everything from scratch — but this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to hire people who are already working in the same company or industry as your business! In fact, finding the right person might require looking beyond traditional networks for qualified candidates.

Sales & Marketing

Tech companies can benefit from sophisticated sales channels , which will usually consist of users across your product through referrals rather than a direct sales force. It’s also a good idea to have a marketing plan early on, which is why you should consider hiring a professional marketer . Demand generation and user acquisition can easily be one of the biggest expenses for any tech business , so find ways to do it cost efficiently by putting together the right processes in advance.

Product Prioritization

While all products are obviously important, it’s sometimes necessary to set some aside temporarily while focusing efforts elsewhere. A strong product roadmap that outlines what gets worked on when will help with this process, but teams often struggle with building something that doesn’t follow their prioritized list — either because they’re too ambitious or not ambitious enough .

Finding Targets

This includes determining where (geographically) to target your market, which types of users to serve, and deciding on the best business model for your tech business . In regards to geographic location , you might want to consider partnering with companies in other parts of the world that have local insight. User targeting can be easier said than done when creating a product from scratch — so try building user personas early on help.

Freemium vs Paid

There are pros and cons to both freemium and paid products, but there’s a time and a place for each type of monetization strategy . You’ll need to find out which one is right for your company based on its stage, the user base it has, and what kind it provides. That said, you should never launch a product that immediately wants to be monetized — whether free or paid .

Minimum Viable Product

A minimum viable product (MVP) is one that’s built with the least amount of effort and expense necessary, but still provides value to users. This idea can apply to both products and services , which means you’ll need to build something that meets your customers’ needs while also pointing down the right path for future development . For example, you might decide on the type of feature set required for an MVP based on market feedback from early adopters.

Team Size & Structure

Having a small team can make it difficult to implement certain functions across an entire company — which is why it’s important to find the right balance between being small enough to be agile , but also large enough to achieve your goals . You should also structure the team so that there’s room for growth within it, and so that new employees can easily find their way around.

Evaluating Competitors

Tech businesses often have a target market in mind when they start out, but it’s important to have a strong understanding of what competitors are doing with this market . It’ll give you insight on how ambitious your product should be from the beginning, which ideas you might need to compete with head-on , and what kind of problems you’re best suited to solve in comparison. Plus, having a good idea of where others have succeeded or failed will help you avoid common pitfalls in the future.

User Feedback

The right type of user feedback can help you avoid costly mistakes in the development process. Even if it’s not always possible to make major changes to what you’ve created, input from users will go a long way in making sure that your tech business succeeds. This is why it’s important to monitor both qualitative and quantitative data, so that you’ll know what direction to take your product or service in based on real-world use.

Outsourcing

Although it may seem cheaper to hire local talent for contracting work or building products, it’s important that your tech business takes into account the time zone differences , cultural challenges , and economic factors when outsourcing . For example, you might need to hire a dedicated team in another country if you’re looking for 24/7 support.

Maintaining a Product

In technology , it’s not unusual to have to build, maintain, or update a product. You can’t expect all of this work to be done for free, either — especially if the tech product is used by companies and individuals who require support . There are also times when we need to shut down products we’ve launched (and no longer want), which means having a plan in place for how you’ll handle this process beforehand .

Investing in People

Your tech business might take off like wildfire with one great idea, but it will eventually reach a level where growth begins to slow down; at this point , your team becomes critical to determining whether you’ll succeed or fail against the competition. Besides hiring the right kind of talent, it’s also important that you invest in their development by offering training , professional guidance , and good management . Without these things, your tech startup may go under for lack of strong leadership.

Understanding Your Company

At some point , you’re going to have to stop working on the product itself, and start focusing more on how the business runs . The ability for a company’s employees to work together towards common goals is what makes this process possible; without it, there’ll be chaos within an organization no matter its size (or if it has outside investors). That said, it can still be difficult to make everyone understand exactly what they need to do.

Product Life Cycle

Every product goes through three stages — introduction, growth , and maturity . This means you’ll need to modify the marketing approach depending on where your tech product falls on this spectrum. Generally speaking, however, even introducing a new technology requires some type of promotion beforehand: it’s important that your target market is aware of what you’re offering (and why they should care), which is different from simply building brand awareness.

Business Metrics

Tech businesses survive on data, whether or not we realize it — especially since we can’t always rely on emotions when making business decisions . For this reason , it’s important to look at things such as initial cost of acquisition for every customer , lifetime value of each user , conversion rates between plans or features, and so on depending on what kind of business you’re running. If your tech startup doesn’t gather data on these things, it will be difficult hitting your targets (and knowing whether or not you’re actually successful ).

Customer Acquisition

Regardless of what type of business model your tech company uses, everything begins with acquiring new customers . It’s important that you find the right way to reach them , whether that means paying for advertising , distributing flyers in local neighborhoods , publishing press releases online, or simply having a strong social media presence . Even if you get positive feedback from current users, this isn’t enough to keep your business afloat — especially when many of them may only use one part of what you offer.

Cost of Acquisition

Each new customer you acquire will incur certain costs — most notably, the initial cost of acquisition (which is the money spent to get people’s attention in hopes that they’ll sign up for something). If you can’t recoup this cost within a short period of time , your tech business may never become profitable . Some businesses choose to avoid these high costs by using organic growth tactics via hyper-targeting specific audiences (and avoiding paying for advertising when possible).

Profit Margin

Even if your technology is superior, there’s always someone else willing to sell their product at a cheaper price point. The best way around this is not lowering your prices; instead , learn how to increase it while still making customers happy . This is where your business metrics come into play, since you’ll need to know how much money (and/or time) each customer or user saves in order to make this idea work.

Customer Lifetime Value

When customers first sign up , they’re worth a certain amount of money for however long they stick around . In some cases , customers may pay nothing upfront and have a monthly subscription fee instead — which means you’ll need to spend more money on acquiring them from the start . Regardless of whether they pay on a per-use basis or monthly rate, there’s always a point where the cost no longer makes sense based on what your company gains from their business . Since most businesses can’t survive with too many losses, you must determine a point where it’s no longer worthwhile to keep them as a customer.

The Number of Customers

In some cases, the number of customers ends up being more important than their overall value . If you have too few users , your tech company could fail completely — especially if they don’t generate enough revenue from what you offer . On the other hand , having too many customers can cost a lot of money and not necessarily increase your profits (especially if a majority of them aren’t using all that your company provides).

]]>
https://www.financezone.net/here-are-27-things-to-consider-before-you-launch-your-tech-business/feed/ 0
6 Ways to Buy Things For Less https://www.financezone.net/6-ways-to-buy-things-for-less/ https://www.financezone.net/6-ways-to-buy-things-for-less/#respond Wed, 04 Aug 2021 23:12:21 +0000 https://www.financezone.net/?p=752

One saying that has stuck with me through the years: “A dollar saved is worth two dollars earned.”

What does that mean? Think about it… after paying income tax, payroll tax, sales tax, etc., out of every two dollars you earn, you are left with about one dollar to spend. If you want to save money this year, you can go out and earn more, or you can use the six tips below to buy the things you want for less.

Look at what you spend over the course of a year on clothes and household items. Suppose that number is $10,000. Make it your job this year to buy whatever you are going to buy, but for half the price. If you save $5,000, that’s like earning an extra $415 per month.

Ask and You Shall Receive

Call me a fool, but for years I didn’t know you could haggle with retail stores on major purchases. One day I went shopping with a friend of mine and watched her negotiate her way to lower prices on everything. It was an eye-opening experience. I realize now that most of the time, all you have to do is ask. It’s the people who don’t ask that pay full price.

You may feel awkward asking for discounts at first, but with practice it gets easier. And think about it, what is the worst thing that can happen when you ask for a discount? They say no. That’s not so bad.

Start by asking if they have any coupons, discounts or specials running right now. If they say no, make them an offer.

Learning from experts on How to Bargain can also help you gain the extra confidence you need to get the very best price.

One key to haggling is to knowing the price of the item at other store and online outlets. Do you research before entering into the haggling process.

Shop Consignment and Save

Just about every piece of furniture in my house was bought from a consignment store. Why pay the high price of new? Consignment stores can be a great way to find practically new stuff at a fraction of the price.

The best things to find deals on at consignment stores: furniture and designer clothes. Scout out the stores in the nicest neighborhoods, and you’ll often find things that were never used at all. In addition, you can find unique items that no one else is likely to have.

Many people are not aware that Consignment Shopping Saves You Money and you can use this extra money for other important uses. You may be interested in using consignment to sell items which may not fit your lifestyle anymore.

Use Online Auctions and Ads

Once you’ve found a brand you like, check online before you buy. I’ve been known to try on my favorite jeans at department stores, figure out what size works, then buy them on Ebay for almost nothing. I’ve found $300 jeans for $20 before. I like Ebay for smaller, discounted Predator Stump Grinder.

For larger items that you can pick up locally, Offerup or Facebook Garage sales groups are great. You can find deals on washers and dryers, mattresses (yes, new ones), furniture, lawn mowers and much, much more.

Be prepared to ask questions to the seller, and when you visit the merchandise, don’t be afraid to walk away if it’s not what you want. In addition, reread tip #2 and make sure you ask them if they’ll take less!

BE CAREFUL! When possible, meet in a neutral place, take somebody with you and use your intuition. If a situation doesn’t feel save, drive away. Your safety is never worth a great deal.

Patience Pays Off

Create a watch list, or wish list, of items you want to acquire at half price. Develop a routine of checking in with the stores to see if your items are on sale. At one point, I had my eye on a pair of chaise lounges. Each week, I checked a certain website, and by the end of the summer, the chairs were half price. Patience pays off.

Patience also means being willing to walk away. You’ll find this is a huge asset in helping you get the things you want at the best prices.

A cornerstone to acquiring wealth is patience. Wait until you have saved for an item instead of using a credit card. Keep your money invested long-term, etc. The most financially secure people will always have stories of not getting the reward right away.

Use Age to Your Advantage

Not that you want to run around telling people you’re a “senior” but if it puts money in your pocket, who cares what word it is? Don’t be shy about asking for senior discounts. If you were under 18, you certainly wouldn’t hesitate to ask for the student discount. Be brazen and bold about asking. Use your life experience to your advantage, and save yourself some money.

Use your experienced age to save money using Senior Discounts, Bargains, and Benefits as often as practical.

Follow Financezone for more!

]]>
https://www.financezone.net/6-ways-to-buy-things-for-less/feed/ 0
How to Day Trade: A Full Time or Part-time Job From Home https://www.financezone.net/how-to-day-trade-a-full-time-or-part-time-job-from-home/ https://www.financezone.net/how-to-day-trade-a-full-time-or-part-time-job-from-home/#respond Thu, 27 May 2021 04:00:30 +0000 https://www.financezone.net/?p=747 Day trading is a great way to make money, if you have the time and work ethic for it. Trading from home can be done as a full-time or part-time job, but it requires dedication and discipline. In this article, we’ll discuss what day trading is, how it works, the benefits of day trading at home as your main gig (or not), and some tips on getting started in day trading so that you can trade profitably at home!

Trading from home

Working from home may be the ideal situation for many people these days. But is trading at home a viable option?

Trading securities such as stocks or bonds, forex or cryptocurrencies can be done online. Most Broker firms have mobile apps so you’re never out of touch with your account even if you aren’t working at a desk all day long 

Day traders are often very passionate about what they do – arguably more than someone who’s stuck in an office job where they perhaps don’t enjoy their work quite as much as they should.

What is day trading?

Day trading means buying and selling financial instruments, such as stocks, within a trading day based on price fluctuations. For example, a day trader could buy bitcoin (or any other asset) at the market price and sell it once the trade has reached a certain profit level.

Day traders choose markets and assets with big fluctuations which give them the opportunity of multiple trades per day!

Sounds awesome right? Hold on, as we are going to see how to get started with day trading.

How to start day trading from home

Similar to anything that you do, Day trading requires effort and dedication before you become successful.

Choose (and learn) a market

The first step that you need to do is to pick a market and learn how it works. You could choose the Forex market or Cryptocurrencies which are known to be volatile. This means that you will get plenty of price fluctuations on any asset in any given day.

Choosing a market is not enough though. You will need to understand the market, how an event can affect price movements, how trades work and if the market is moving upwards or downwards.

Choose a Brokerage Firm

You should aim to find a reliable broker (such as E*Trade, Interactive Brokers, Ameritrade, XM or Exness). In order to find the best broker, you will need to study some reviews, ask questions in forums, check out the brokers’ websites and see if the broker fulfils your needs.

Some things to watch out for when choosing a broker are:

  • Commissions
  • Execution time
  • Customer Support
  • Support Languages
  • Availability in the instruments that you want to trade with
  • Leverage
  • Withdrawal times
  • Reliability

Another essential is that the broker offers demo accounts, which leads to the next point.

Register for a Demo Account

Before you start investing real money,  you should try out day trading by opening a demo account. Apart from being free, this will give you the opportunity to learn about how it works and what it looks like before risking any money.

Learn your Brokers’ Trading Platform 

Choosing the right day trading platform is crucial for success. You should look for a reliable, user-friendly and feature-rich platform that suits your needs so you can focus on trading without wasting time trying to figure out how to use it. Some common platforms that are being used by big brokerage firms are MT4, MT5 and cTrader. You should aim to use one of these platforms that come with many options and integrations.

Learn Trading Strategy

Learning your way around day trading is only half of what you need in order to start making trades on your own! You also need knowledge about several other aspects of day trading: financial markets, analytical skills for doing research on companies, currencies, Cryptos and stocks – not to mention knowing when certain events happen such as earnings reports or major announcements that might affect instruments’ prices.

Some common Day Trading strategies that you may find useful are:

 

  • Breakout Strategy
  • Scalping
  • Momentum
  • Reversal
  • Using Pivot Points

Before you start investing money in day trading, it is important to first learn the theory behind these Day Trading strategies.

Set goals and know your limits

Setting your goals before you start investing any money, will allow you to focus your time on what matters the most to you. You should also know that there will be many trades that might not have a positive outcome, and even if they do then it is all down to luck.

Know when to walk away

It is important that you don’t risk everything in order to make some money; day trading can lead people into making bad decisions because of greed or fear. Know when enough is enough and end the trade before losses get out of control!

How to learn more about Trading (and Day Trading)

The markets can be tough to navigate. It is full of uncertainty, and it’s hard to know what will happen from day to day. For many people, this is a turn-off. They want something more stable in their lives–a career they can depend on for years to come with predictable income and growth opportunities.

The best way to learn about trading is through doing, but there are some great resources for traders of all levels that can help get you started.

 

  • Blogs
  • Webinars
  • Video Training
  • Trading Signals
  • Expert Advisors (EAs)
  • Courses

Follow FinanceZone for more!

]]>
https://www.financezone.net/how-to-day-trade-a-full-time-or-part-time-job-from-home/feed/ 0
What Will the Gold Standard Be for Gold Prices in 10 Years? https://www.financezone.net/gold-standard-be-for-gold-prices/ https://www.financezone.net/gold-standard-be-for-gold-prices/#respond Tue, 25 May 2021 07:10:49 +0000 https://www.financezone.net/?p=745 Gold is a coveted precious metal that people all over the world have been fighting for since civilizations began. The value of gold is very high and backs up most currencies around the globe. Since it has always been such a rare commodity and the demand is so incredibly high it maintains a very high value. This article is going to look at the future of gold, and what the forecast for its value will be in the next ten years. Looking back at the past of gold will also help project what the future might look like for this highly sought-after commodity. An investment in gold has always been a great investment, and in the next five years with the shaky ground the world economy walks on may be an even better investment in the future.

How did Gold become so valuable? 

First, it is necessary to look back at the history of gold and why it became such a desired commodity. It all began long ago with ancient humans finding a metal that was durable enough to meltdown and not corrode if exposed to water. A “transition” or “post-transition” metal which is made of the forty-nine elements in the center of the periodic table is the perfect option to have met those needs. A bunch of those elements like platinum, palladium, and rhodium was too rare to find and use for currency. Not to mention the melting point of platinum for example is over three thousand degrees Fahrenheit to meltdown. That was not a temperature that ancient humans had the capabilities to reach. Copper and iron would begin to rust over time when exposed to water. Add these things up and ancient humans decided to use gold and in some cases silver to create their currencies. The bottom line is that gold as an element is quite uninteresting and easy to work with. Things created out of gold will be in the same shape they were created one thousand years later. Putting all of that together and the ancient societies decided to use gold and silver as the currencies and place value in those currencies, which is why gold has always been of high value. It is also still a pretty rare element, as it must be found and mined.

So what will Gold be valued at in the next 5 and 10 years? 

Another tough question to answer is the projected price of gold over a five and ten-year period. Gold predictions for the Next 5 Years are a little bit easier to project than going out ten years. In a five-year period, it is easier to predict the rise and fall of inflation, which has a dramatic impact on the prices of gold. Gold is priced per troy ounce for consumers. If you look back at prices going all the way back to 1950, prices, for the most part, stay somewhat stable in five-year periods. Gold seems to either spike really high at the beginning of a new decade or goes very low starting a new decade. A lot of this can be traced to new presidents taking office in the United States and also looking at economic down periods due to inflation. In the early 2000s, the price of gold fell all the way down into the 200 dollars ranges per troy ounce, all the way up to over 1900 dollars per troy ounce in the year 2011. The current price of gold sits around 1200 dollars. Gold prices since 2000 have seen the highest and lowest swings since 1950, and it all depends on how well the world is working together at any given time.

What does the future hold for Gold? 

Gold Predictions for the Next 5 Years will most likely hover around the 1200 to 1300 hundred-dollar range. There could be some bigger dips and fluctuations but it will probably remain pretty stable at the price point. But as previously state Gold prices since 2000 show that volatilities in the world market can greatly alter the price of gold. Make no mistake about it though, because of its strong background as a very reliable currency and the continuous trends of being a highly valued currency, gold will always be a great investment all over the world. As ancient humans discovered long ago that gold was hard to find but very easy to work with. If gold is an option as an investment goes for it and the returns will always favorable. Good luck and buy GOLD!

Follow FinanceZone for more Investment, Business, and Finance Related News.

]]>
https://www.financezone.net/gold-standard-be-for-gold-prices/feed/ 0
Rental Property Investment Guide https://www.financezone.net/rental-property-investment-guide/ https://www.financezone.net/rental-property-investment-guide/#respond Thu, 20 May 2021 04:32:25 +0000 https://www.financezone.net/?p=741 Investing in real estate has been a great path to building wealth for a long time. You can do this by creating a portfolio of rental properties to generate passive income by charging your tenant’s rent. The most significant benefit of passive income is that it requires little to no work to make this income every month. Simply put, you buy a rental property, and your tenants pay rent every month like clockwork.

Now it would be great if it were only that easy. It can indeed be a lucrative business, but only when approached the right way. The reality is that there are several factors to consider when determining if a property is a suitable investment or not. So whether you’re looking to get started in rental property investment or are already in business, these tips will help you navigate buying your next rental property:   

  1. Have a Plan
  2. Location
  3. Research the Market
  4. Know the Financials
  5. Stay Away from Fixer-Uppers
  6. Hire a Property Management Company

 

  • Have a Plan

 

The most important thing you can do before ever looking at potential investment properties is to have a plan. First, consider whether you’re ready to invest in a rental property. Next, look at your financial situation and determine if you need to pay down some debts or save up more money before jumping into this business. Owning rental properties is a cash-heavy operation, so it’s wise to get your finances in order before starting.

  • What type of property are you looking for? 
  • What will be the goal of the property? 
  • Will it be cash flow positive right away, or will it cost you money to manage at first? 
  • Will the property increase in value over time? 

These are just some of the questions that you should answer before investing in a rental property. Have a strategy for every property you buy and stick to it. Buying real estate can be emotional. It’s important not to let emotions influence your purchase because it could jeopardize your plan and end up with a property that doesn’t generate your profit.   

 

  • Location 

 

A popular saying in real estate is “Location, Location, Location!” It’s for good reason because it’s a huge determining factor in the value of a property. If a property is in a less than desirable area or even a bad part of town, the property value will suffer. On the flip side, if a property is within walking distance to stores and restaurants and is in a more affluent part of town, the property value will be more significant.

When looking for rental investment properties, it’s also wise to look at the tax implications for the area. Counties have different property tax rates, which can affect your bottom line. Another factor to think about with location is any additional fees you may incur. Some properties come with other expenses like a Homeowners Association (HOA) or Mello Roos tax. These fees can be in the hundreds of dollars per month and will make it much harder for your investment to be profitable.

 

  • Research the Market 

 

Knowing what’s going on in the real estate market is crucial when trying to get started in rental property investment. The interest rate on a loan and the value of a property can be the difference between being profitable or costing you money every month. 

Interest rates tend to be higher on investment property loans than traditional home loans, so buying at a historically low-interest rate is always a smart move. Interest rates have a significant impact on your monthly mortgage costs, so the lower, the better!

Looking at past pricing data of properties over a few years can give good insight into whether a property is a wise investment. For example, if the price of a property is at an all-time high, it likely means there is increased demand for properties in that area, and you’ll be paying a premium to buy it.

Knowing where interest rates and prices stand is critical when looking for investment properties. Don’t try to force a purchase if the market conditions aren’t right. You’re better off waiting it out until a property comes along that fits within your plan. You don’t want to get into a situation where your mortgage payment won’t be covered by what you can charge in monthly rent.  

 

  • Know the Financials 

 

There are a few key metrics that investors use when evaluating a property as a good investment. They can help weed out the properties that aren’t worth your time so you can focus on the ones that could turn you a healthy profit. When analyzing investment properties, consider the following:

The 1% Rule: Can the property be rented out for 1% of the purchase price every month? (i.e., if the property costs $250,000 to purchase, you’d need to rent it out for $2,500/month) If the property meets this standard, it could be a good investment. Investors often use this metric as the minimum standard for qualifying a property.

Average Rent for Nearby Rentals: Maximizing the amount of rent you charge will significantly impact the profitability of your investment property. To make sure you’re not leaving money on the table, check out the competition in your market and see what they’re charging for their properties. Again, it’s essential to compare with similar properties to get an idea of what you can charge. 

The 50% Rule: Another vital metric to measure is the amount of expenses your rental property will have. Managing your costs is just as important as maximizing your monthly rental fee. The 50% rule can help you estimate expenses. It assumes that 50% of the gross income from your rental will go towards costs to operate the property. This metric can help you understand how much revenue will be left over for you after you’ve paid the expenses.

 

  • Stay Away from Fixer-Uppers 

 

For the newer investor, taking on a fixer-upper is a major project that often costs more time and money than they can afford. So if you come across a property that requires big-ticket renovations, you may want to leave those to more experienced investors who have the resources and connections to do the job correctly.

Your first few rental properties should pretty much be turn-key so you can get them on the market as soon as possible. Minimizing vacancy time and initial costs make a significant impact on your return on investment (ROI). Suppose a property only requires minor cosmetic improvements like paint and new carpet. In that case, it could be a good opportunity for newer investors to get the property on the market quickly and add some value in the process. 

 

  • Hire a Property Management Company 

 

If you’re a newer investor, it’s important to remember that purchasing a property is only the first step in the rental property business. After that, the real work starts! Many parts of the business continually need to be managed to ensure the property is functioning correctly, your tenants are happy, and you’re making money. 

If you choose to take it all on yourself, it can be overwhelming. As a result, many rental investors choose to hire a property management company that will handle it all for them, especially if they have multiple properties. Check out what a property management company can oversee for you:

  • Marketing your rental property
  • Tenant screening and selection
  • Manage regular property maintenance and tenant communication
  • Rent collection
  • Dealing with late payments or defaulting tenants
  • Bookkeeping and invoice management

There are a lot of benefits to having a property management company oversee your property. First, they’ll charge you a percentage of monthly rent for their service, usually ranging from 5% on the low end to 12% on the high end. It’s worth noting that hiring a company to manage your property for you will make it a genuinely passive income source.

Final Thoughts 

There are a lot of factors to consider if you want to get started with rental property investment. Although it may seem overwhelming at first, you can navigate the process by sticking to the recommendations in this article. If you focus on maximizing the amount you can charge for rent and minimize your expenses and vacancy time, you’re well on your way to profit from your rental property. 

And remember, if you’re planning on investing in multiple properties or don’t want to manage the day-to-day responsibilities of a rental investor, save yourself the headache and consider hiring a property management company instead. 

Follow FinanceZone for more!

]]>
https://www.financezone.net/rental-property-investment-guide/feed/ 0
How to Write a Great Business Plan https://www.financezone.net/how-to-write-a-great-business-plan/ https://www.financezone.net/how-to-write-a-great-business-plan/#respond Thu, 22 Apr 2021 01:00:47 +0000 https://www.financezone.net/?p=739 There are business plans, and then there are great business plans. The difference between the two is in how successfully they help you achieve your goals. A great business plan will enable you to grow your business – it can help you create better business strategies, attract investors, and even prevent you from pursuing the wrong business opportunities. 

When creating a business plan, you want to ensure it serves your purpose. Anything short of that will not yield optimum results. The good news is that it is possible to create a great business plan on your own. Below you will learn how to write a business plan that can help you successfully achieve your goals.

1) Create a complete business plan

A complete business plan is a comprehensive one that contains 10 essential components. These are:

  1. Executive summary
  2. Company analysis
  3. Market/industry analysis
  4. Customer analysis
  5. Competition analysis
  6. Marketing plan
  7. Operations plan
  8. Management team
  9. Financial plan
  10. Appendix

Miss out on any of these essential components, and you risk losing lenders, investors, customers, and/or employees that you hope to reach with your business plan.

2) Create an attractive title page

The title or cover page is what your readers are going to see first. Its quality, structure, and appearance play a critical role in creating the first impression of your business plan. So, it must be informative and professional. At the same time, it should be straightforward and simple. The cover page must contain the following information:

  • The company name
  • Business address and your contact information
  • Company logo
  • The completion date of the business plan

3) Know your audience (s)

You can write a business plan for a variety of reasons and various audiences. For example, the objective of your business plan could be to attract investments. Then, your primary audience would be potential investors and lenders. You can also write a business plan for prospective customers or potential employees.

Know who you are writing for and the purpose of your business plan. That way, you can factor in the concerns and needs of your audience and effectively communicate with them. Ensure you address these needs and concerns throughout your business plan.

4) Avoid using jargon

Business jargon could interfere with the clarity of your message. Instead of using business jargon, write your plan in language familiar to your audience.

Sometimes, it’s impossible to avoid a particular term, and that is okay. If you must use words your audience might not understand, be sure to first define those terms. That will not only make your plan easier to understand, but it will also educate your readers. Use this technique of adding definitions sparingly, so you don’t distract your readers from the purpose of your business plan.

5) For startups – List only one product/service idea

Most successful companies begin with a single product or service. Once this product or service gains success and the business establishes itself, it rolls out more products/services.

Even if you offer more than one product/service, concentrate on discussing just your primary one in your plan.

Seasoned investors have seen thousands of business plans that talk of growth plans that were never realized. As a result, they are skeptical about companies that talk about growing multiple products/services simultaneously. They have more faith in companies with reasonable expectations than companies that plan to expand all their products/services at once.

Once you achieve certain milestones with your leading product/service, you can concentrate on adding your other products/services to your business plan.

6) Ensure your business plan is thorough

As well as including all the critical elements, your business plan must also be thorough. A great business plan is anywhere between 15 to 25 pages long. That means 15 to 25 pages of relevant content.

Ensure you concentrate on sections that are relevant to your target audience. For example, if you want your business plan to attract investors, ensure the financial plan section is detailed out completely. It must include the:

Revenue model

That is, how you generate sales. That could include advertising, markups, subscriptions, direct sales, and commission.

Financial projections

That is a five-year financial forecast of expenses and projected income, known as your Income Statement. It must also include a Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement.

Funding requirements

This discussed how much money you need, and how you will use that money.

Similarly, if you want your business plan to attract and retain new employees, take the time to address concerns that potential employees might have regarding your business. You can also explain and convince potential employees that your company’s ideas are sound and that the company is poised to achieve its strategic goals.

Conclusion

Before beginning your business plan, understand who your audience is, what they need, and what you expect to achieve through the document. Conduct research before you start writing your plan. The document must flow seamlessly from one section to the next, with each area written in detail to answer key questions your reader might have. Consider all the above points and include them in your business plan, and you can transform what would otherwise be a mediocre business plan into a great business plan.

More on Finance Zone

]]>
https://www.financezone.net/how-to-write-a-great-business-plan/feed/ 0
How Do Stablecoin Companies Make Money? https://www.financezone.net/how-do-stablecoin-companies-make-money/ https://www.financezone.net/how-do-stablecoin-companies-make-money/#respond Mon, 15 Feb 2021 22:30:56 +0000 https://www.financezone.net/?p=737 Stablecoins remains one of the more popular crypto-assets out on the market. Pegged to a reserve like fiat currency, commodities, or a basket of cryptocurrencies, stablecoins offer volatility free prices with the speed and security of cryptocurrencies. Crypto holders can purchase stablecoins on general virtual currency exchanges or specialized platforms like Gold Exchange

These crypto-assets maintain stability through collateralization or smart contract mechanisms that automatically reduce or increase supply depending on market conditions.

In contrast to other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, many stablecoins are issued by a central authority that maintains the reserve asset. Some argue this process makes stablecoins too centralized – and point out how the virtual currency world should be focused on decentralization. Others claim a central authority is needed to ensure there is enough of the reserve asset to properly back each coin. 

As stablecoin prices rarely (if ever) fluctuate, many wonder how their issuing authorities make money and sustain operations. Keep reading to learn a few different ways stablecoin companies bring in money. 

Attracting Attention To Lure Investors In

Stablecoin companies have many bills to pay. They have to fork over cash to ensure the development team is properly compensated. As a result, some entities that issue stablecoins use the crypto asset as a tool to entice investors to fund other lucrative products and projects. 

Token COO Todd Clyde remarked how his company, which maintains its own stablecoin, received venture capital attention due to the potential profit of cross-border payment services. 

A financial system (the cryptocurrency world) that can offer lower fees and faster processing times than banks is an enticing opportunity for potential investors. As a result, some stablecoin companies simply utilize their coin to provide added value to other work and raise awareness for future investment, helping the entity raise money. 

Basecoin (associated with Basis Protocol) has raised tens of millions of dollars from venture capital (VC) investors. Some of these investors see a stablecoin like Basecoin as a good fiat on-ramp to help cryptocurrency banks boost trade volume and activity. 

Fees On Issuance And Redemption

Some stablecoin companies, like Tether, levy fees for issuing and redeeming their coins. Fees can become lucrative as stablecoins are seen as a key ‘on-ramp’ for those new to the cryptocurrency world. The asset is perceived as a safe way for investors to expose their portfolios to cryptocurrencies, meaning revenue from fees can rapidly rise as demand increases. 

However, stablecoin companies often are careful with their fee structure to promote arbitrage opportunities by keeping the spread between the coin price and collateral higher than the fee. 

Capitalizing On Short-Term Lending Opportunities 

Stablecoin companies also maintain the option to invest a portion of base collateral in the money market and treasury funds. This strategy can prove much more lucrative than charging fees, as one-month treasury rates have maintained a 1.24% long term average. A few years ago, rates jumped over 2%, a far cry from 2021 numbers where the rate is below 1%. 

While making money based on the interest on reserve assets is a possible strategy, complexities with the banking situations of some stablecoins can make it challenging to do so. 

Market-Making Activities 

Carrying out market-making activities on exchanges is another strategy for stablecoin companies to make money. Profit can be made based on the bid/ask spread and exchange volume. 

These factors vary based on the exchange and current trade volume. This process is not as financially lucrative as other options. Still, it can serve as a way to make a small amount of money while carrying out necessary processes to keep a stable coin ecosystem running smoothly. 

The Popularity Of Stablecoins Only Grows 

The number of stable coins only grows as crypto holders turn towards the asset to protect portfolios and hedge against inflation. Currently, fiat-backed coins dominate the market as people are comfortable with currencies like the U.S. Dollar and British Pound. 

However, speculation is that the growth of dApps and decentralized exchanges will lead to the rise of crypto-native stablecoins that will eclipse fiat-backed options in popularity. Crypto-native coins like Dai offer value-sharing opportunities and protection against censorship that are not found with fiat-backed options. 

Final Words

Overall, stablecoin companies function as money creators and now represent a competition between creative teams who can capitalize on the upside and create ‘useful’ cash for global populations to take advantage of. 

Follow Finance Zone and If you are a good writer then do payday loans write for us

]]>
https://www.financezone.net/how-do-stablecoin-companies-make-money/feed/ 0
Government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 Package – Lower Home Loan Rates & Other Benefits for Homebuyers https://www.financezone.net/governments-atmanirbhar-bharat-3-0-package/ https://www.financezone.net/governments-atmanirbhar-bharat-3-0-package/#respond Thu, 28 Jan 2021 14:13:28 +0000 https://www.financezone.net/?p=726 The Government of India is making efforts to increase consumer spending. The country is witnessing a rise in expenditures during the festive season. As the economy is experiencing a V-shaped recovery, the government has boosted the real estate sector. The reforms in the real estate sector have been introduced to promote the sale of properties. Experts consider this the best time to buy a house, especially with lower home loan interest rates and stamp duty.

The financial benefits have been introduced in the Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 Package*. The Finance Minister has also announced an additional outlay of ₹18,000 crores for an urban housing scheme** so that it leads to the completion of real estate projects, job creation, and economic development. It is time for the homebuyers to gain financial benefits in the form of discounted properties, lower interest rates on housing loans, change in differential rates, and tax benefits.

Win-Win situation for Developers and Homebuyers

The reforms in the real estate sector during the pandemic are a welcome move as it was a much-needed relief in the real estate industry. The RBI’s decision to cut the Repo rates meant that the home loan lending rates were the lowest in the last two decades. With these reforms, the developers can get faster conversions and clear up the unsold inventory. Similarly, it offers affordability, income tax gains, lower stamp duty, and interest rates for homebuyers.

Benefits for Homebuyers under the Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 Package

1. Change in Differential Rates –

The Government of India is focusing on increasing consumer spending to boost the economy post the pandemic. The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, did announce a stimulus package of ₹2.65 lakh crore under Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0. The package had much to cheer for the homebuyers. As per the latest package, the central government has increased the differential rate between the agreement value and the circle rate from 10% to 20% to sell residential units up to ₹2 crores. This move will be applicable till 30th June 2021, which would be very beneficial for both homebuyers and builders.

Circle rate is the minimum rate approved by the government at which a property should be registered, and then the buyers pay the stamp duty on that value. The circle rate varies from circle to circle, i.e., area-wise. Even if the property rate is lower than the circle rate, the buyer has to pay the stamp duty on that rate. It is used to calculate income tax payable on capital gains concerning with sale/purchase of houses. These rules have been made to ensure that individuals do not get a chance to evade taxes. In the pre-Covid-19 times, the government allowed a concession of 10% below the circle rate, but now to boost the demand, the government offers a discount of 20%.

The objective of the announcement was to boost the demand among affordable buyers in mid segments. With the change in differential rate, the government is offering a financial benefit to the homebuyers. Even for the developers, it is good news as they can clear their unsold homes.

2. Updates in PMAY

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY) has made steady progress since its launch. With an additional outlay of ₹18,000 crores in PMAY, “housing for all” can be achieved by 2022. Under this scheme, homebuyers can buy affordable homes in different states of India. The scheme focuses on bridging the housing gap in the country. As per the latest data of August 2020, a total of 1 crore homes have already been allotted in the country. More homes will lead to more employment opportunities.

3. Lower Stamp duty– 

Higher stamp duty has always been discouraging for the buyers. It is challenging for developers to find buyers with lower property rates due to high stamp duty. Now buyers can purchase a property under Section 56(2)(x) of the IT Act*** to showing relief of up to 20%.

4. Tax Benefits– 

Tax benefits have always been lucrative for homebuyers. First-time home buyers are already getting the benefit of interest deduction that lowers their tax liability. Another tax benefit is related to the difference in circle rate. For example, consider you are buying a home for  ₹70 lakh; however, as per the circle rate, the property’s rate is deemed to be ₹80 lakh. As per the Income-tax rule, if the quality exceeds 10%, then the developer would calculate the profit from the value of  ₹80 lakh.

The difference of ₹10 lakh will be shown as “Income from other sources” and pay the tax accordingly. The fresh announcement says that the difference has been increased up to 20% to avail of the tax benefits. Now this difference of  ₹10 lakh will not be shown as an income of the homebuyer.

The reforms of the package focus on the bigger picture. The much-needed reforms in the infrastructure and real estate sector would surely benefit the homebuyers and developers. Both the circle rate and tax benefits cater to the need of buyers and developers. The above-given reforms have been successful in persuading buyers to invest in a home. With a rise in work from home jobs, individuals are focusing on buying their own homes and investing for the long term. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught individuals the importance of having a home. Hence, first-time homebuyers are more inclined to purchase a new home in the present scenario.

The bigger picture focuses on a rise in consumer spending as with the home, you also buy furniture, home furnishing items, appliances, etc. Therefore, all the factors combined lead to the economic development of the country.

At Finance Zone, our mission is to help you get ahead with your finances. We know that money isn’t everything and some people have more than others. We believe it’s not what you have, but what you do with it. We are one of the best write for us finance blog

]]>
https://www.financezone.net/governments-atmanirbhar-bharat-3-0-package/feed/ 0