BizSieve Team | BizSieve.com

How to get a loan for small business?

Moneylenders of every ilk are looking for a way to get the most amount of profit out of their investment with the least amount of risk. This works to a scale, which is why if you are deemed as a good risk (i.e. good credit rating, regular long-term income) then you get better rates, where as is you are a bad risk (i.e. bad credit rating, poor money management) then you will be charged higher interest rates.

This is the reason why most Bad Credit Quick Loans are so expensive for such short periods of time. It is also the reason that people with good credit are always getting letters through the post about having a loan or charge account.

A small business is a fairly large risk in the eyes of a lender. Especially if it is so small that the owner is requesting Debit Card Loans. A lender is looking for a business loan that is preferably for an established business that has a good income and good track record. If the business were a start up concern, then a lender would prefer an established and branded franchise, run by a person with a proven track record in the field, in a prime location with a decent marketing and business plan. All of this would make lending the money a little less risky, so the lender would probably consent.

This means that if you are looking to borrow money for a small business and do not want to jump to Bad Credit Quick Loans, then try to make yourself and your business concern less of a lending risk. One of the best ways to sway the lender is to put in a substantial amount of money yourself. For example if you were looking to improve the cookers in your kitchens to ones that use less energy, then apply to a lender. Show them how your purchase will fit into your business plan and show them facts upon how these improvements will benefit your business and its profitability. You will then stand a good chance if you can show that your current disposable/liquid income is three times higher than the monthly repayment needed. You can then improve your case further by putting a lot of money into the project yourself. If for example you were to put 75% of the costs into the project, then you would greatly improve your case. If you put nothing into the kitty, then the lender may assume that you are cash-poor and possibly lying about your income.

Obviously, if you are going to claim that you are going to put a certain amount of money into a purchase and you are asking for the rest of the money via a small business loan, then you will need to prove how much the purchase costs, and prove that you have the money to put down.

If you do get stuck for a loan, then try Debit Card Loans and overdrafts. They are often cheaper than other varieties of loans and could solve your small business problems in one foul swoop.

About the Author: Anna Mathews has taken many Bad Credit Quick Loans and Debit Card Loans and now knows all there is to know about how they work in the financial world.

Don’t Believe the Hype – The Disadvantages of Digital Signs

Exterior and interior signage have changed throughout the years. New technology allows them to be produced more quickly and in different shapes and sizes. New materials allow signage to be created heavier or lighter than before to help them better adhere to their location, and some signs are even made from eco-friendly materials.

Signage can now also contain lighting or be created in a digital fashion instead of traditional print. Many companies are using digital signage because it allows them to constantly change out the message without needing to recreate it.

But just because digital signage is new does not mean that it’s better than traditional signage methods. In fact, there are a few disadvantages to using digital signage.

Chanel digital signage - Ginza building
Image by na0905 / Flickr

They’re expensive.

The use of digital signage is more costly than traditional methods. This is because digital signage requires technology and not standard printing like traditional methods. In order to create a digital sign, you will need to purchase a screen, the software used to generate the content, the technology needed to hook it up and the staff needed to manage the campaign. Plus, digital signage needs a certain level of protection to keep it safe from harsh weather conditions, which is another added expense.

They’re still new.

Digital signs are still the new kid on the block, which means that they will still have kinks that need to be addressed. It’s also likely that as technology evolves, newer digital technologies will be created that will be better and cheaper than the previous technology. Before long, this “new” technology that you spent a fortune on will no longer be as cool or functional as the models created in the future.

They require experience.

Though some digital signage platforms are easier to use than others, it still requires knowledge of the software or technologies needed in order to make the signage work. Even if the software is easy to use, it will require a good amount of use before you have a true handle on how the technology is used. You may end up putting the wrong content in, sending it to the wrong place or making it go live at the wrong time, which can be damaging to your marketing efforts.

They’re harder to replace.

If your traditional sign were to tear, all you would need to do is have another sign printed and adhered, which though frustrating, is a pretty simple task. When your digital signage breaks, it requires more work to fix. There’s technology and electrical involved, which may mean that you need to have multiple professionals come out and fix it. If the damage was severe, you could be without your signage for an extended period of time until it does become fixed, which leaves you with an expensive repair and without a marketing campaign.

They’re chosen without much thought.

Some people make the mistake of investing in digital signage simply because it’s new, but they don’t have a clear purpose as to why they’re marketing this way or the goal of the marketing effort. When you have a marketing tactic without a purpose in mind, it will not be much help to your business.

Though digital signage can be a fun new addition to your marketing strategy, you need to determine if it’s really as valuable as you think it is. It’s possible that you’re just attracted to the fact that it’s something new, and before you make a rash decision, you need to make sure you weigh both the pros and cons.

About the Author: M.P Brown is an avid reader always on the lookout for information that will help him undestand marketing and advertising trends. M.P helps to add insight to the designers creating signs from Icon ID.

Rule the Outdoor Advertising Scene with Your Banner Printing Campaign

Banner printing is one of the oldest forms of outdoor advertising and it remains an effective and reliable option for all types of businesses. Banners are simple and inexpensive to produce and hang or place. In the old days, banners are made by painting large pieces of cloth. Modern outdoor signage are now produced using materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the third most widely-manufactured plastic.

Image by Sam Howzit / Flickr

Computer-generated designs and large automated printers make production a breeze. Vinyl is ideal for outdoor applications due to its durability, as it can withstand all types of weather conditions and last for more than three years. Banners also require little or no maintenance and can be easily folded and stored when not in use.

Advertising Made Easy by Banner Printing

Banners help you attract all types of clients or customers. The basic purpose of hanging a banner is to mark the location of your business. You can also hang your banners away from your premises where they can attract drivers or pedestrians who do not regularly pass by your office or shop. But of course you can design your banners in such a way that they will be able to target specific demographics while enhancing the reputation of your company.

If your company is offering consumer goods and need to announce a sale or other special promotions, printing a banner is more likely help you generate sales compared to putting up a newspaper advertisement, buying radio spots, or direct mail, which are only good for a limited period of time. Banners can be used for as long as you want. You have the option of choosing the artwork, colors, designs, fonts, images, and other details. After you have approved the proofs, you can expect your banners to be delivered in less than a week. Many printing companies also offer discounts if you order banners in bulk, which helps you increase your savings.

A banner is a hardworking ad, promoting your products or services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whether your office or store is open or closed since they do not need any electricity or power source. As drivers and pedestrians see your signage more and more as they pass by, they will become more familiar with your business and eventually pay a visit to your office or store. You can also use banners for outdoor personal events like beach parties and reunions. The signage will help relatives who are coming from out of town to find the party.

About the Author: I’m Kaycee Mabborang, I write for Arete Digital Imaging http://www.aretedi.com a leading large format printing company that provides vehicle wraps, architectural wraps, and banner printing services. I have been producing top quality content at a very quick pace since 2007.

Factors to Consider When Thinking About Starting a Business

Starting up you own business is often seen as a way of achieving a very comfortable working environment and making a lot more money than if you stay working for someone else. All of this is very often true, and a lot of people do make a lot of money from their own businesses.

There are also a number of advantages, from being your own boss and setting your own working hours to longer holidays, picking the jobs and contracts or type of work that you want to do, (rather than being told), building relationships with your customers and your staff and the satisfaction of building something that contributes to your community and provides for your family. These are all great advantages and all possible for anyone who does start their own business. However, a lot of people start out with rose tinted glasses and don’t weigh up the other side of the coin – how risky it can be going out on your own and what a massive decision it is to leave a career and work for yourself. Being your own boss also means the buck stops with you and there is no safety net.

Entering startup
Image by dierken / Flickr

If you are thinking about making the leap, here are some of the questions you should ask yourself first:

1. Can You Afford the Risk You Will Be Taking?

Starting your own business is a lot easier when you are younger and don’t have so many dependents. If you’ve got kids and a mortgage, outstanding debts and not much leeway financially, then you should think long and hard about starting your own business. You must weigh up what would happen if the business was to fail and how such a failure would affect you financially. Then work out how it would affect your family if it failed. Additionally it is necessary to weigh up how long your family could cope with a smaller income (or none at all) that would inevitably come with the first few months of starting your business.

2. Have You Got A Financial Safety Net?

If you have a family and people that depend on you for your income then the only way to start a business safely is with a financial safety net in place just in case things don’t work out as well as you hope they will. A financial safety net could be anything from a large amount of untouchable savings to stocks and shares to a family home that is fully paid off. Make certain that your family home and savings are fully protected from any potential failure of your business (talk to an accountant about this) and that you have something set aside should everything go wrong.

3. Have You Budgeted Enough Money for Your New Start Up?

However much you have budgeted for your new venture, it probably wont be enough. There are always costs that people forget about or underestimate so it is essential to have a good business plan and then get a financial expert to look over that business plan and critique it. Think about the startup costs of everything from leasing an office to buying furniture and stationery, computer equipment and setting up utilities. Then there will be website hosting, website design, SEO, copywriting as well as the cost of creating business brochures and cards and other forms of advertising. Once you’ve thought about all that you need to consider how much to pay yourself (and other staff) as well as the cost of business rates and other expenses. Lastly, there will be the costs of your lawyer and your accountant, both necessary when starting a business.

4. Can You Commit the Time to a Business Start-Up?

Again, if you have a family or a busy social life, are you willing to make the necessary sacrifices to make your business work? Almost certainly in the first year or two you will have less time available to spend with your family or to socialize with friends. If you don’t feel you will be able to commit nearly all of your time to the business and will be able to drop everything when an emergency, or big client, comes along, then starting your own business might not be for you. Similarly, make sure your family is ok with your decision too, as this will affect them as much as it does you.

About the Author: Esther is a business blogger and writer. She blogs every week about business and finance issues covering everything from business loans to credit cards and from small business marketing to SEO. She also blogs about consumer finance and short term loans for a payday loans uk blog.

Because the Best Things Come in Beautiful Packages

With how the internet has made the world so much smaller, the World Wide Web has essentially become one giant marketplace where buyers and sellers can meet. Online shopping has become all the rage and online merchants have increased in numbers by leaps and bounds. With all this, the shipping industry has also cashed in on this phenomenon.

Internet sellers are aware of the costs of shipping not just in terms of fees but also in the risk of tarnishing their reputation in case something wrong happens to their shipments while in transit. Savvy merchants know that there is more to packaging than just mere wrapper. Here are the advantages of using only excellent quality packaging materials in your business:

Puma reusable bag
Image by Rob Stinnett / Flickr

1. In tact products = happy customers.

Despite the fact that your freight provider is liable for any damage, nobody wants to go through the hassles of contacting the shipping company to ask for a refund and waiting days (if not weeks) to get the money, and you certainly do not want your customers to go through that very taxing process if you want to land on their good side. The popularity of mailing bags has increased throughout the years especially since they were designed to withstand shipping being durable enough to resist tears and are water resistant.

2. Go green and make more green.

With a growing sector of society being more environmentally conscious, consumers have become more discerning of the businesses that they patronize, making sure that they choose only those who use reusable materials. Using paper packaging can spark outcry from customers who think that the world can do better with less trees being cut to be made into envelopes. Mailing bags that are made of synthetic material with self-sealing flaps ensure that that every package you mail out is sealed tight while transit but still easy to open. And these bags are reusable, too.

3. Win them over with their presentation.

Just because you’re an online merchant doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start building your brand by treating your customers to a kind of experience they won’t get with any other internet seller. Mailing bags come in different colors and may even be customized without their quality being compromised. The visual impact of using colorful mailing bags may be underappreciated by some online merchants, but just imagine how excited your customers will be when they get that particular, familiar pink package in the mail?

About the Author: Adeson Deon writes about excellent business packaging through the use of mailing bags