Financial Recovery Tips for People and Businesses Hit by the COVID Economy

Over the past year, tons of lives have been disrupted. Despite the hard times, sometimes it is all you can do to pick up the pieces and keep moving forward. Otherwise, how else would things go back to normal? 

Thankfully, with the right approach, you can return to full steam. Plus, if you got a little bit of luck, you'll be even better off than you were before. If you’re looking to improve your circumstances after personal loss (whether financial, personal, or health), here are some ideas to consider about steps you can take to reset and try again. 

These tips are equally applicable to households as well as businesses, so let’s get started.

Evaluating Your Present Circumstances

To begin, you've got to take a good hard look at where you and your business are. Getting an outside perspective can also help you see things from another angle. Having a clear picture of where you are versus where you want to be can help you think about what you need to do to get to the place you want to be. 

Look at your circumstances, get your bearings, and then you can choose the path forward. Financially speaking, make sure you are familiar with your bills and how they are paid. 

Often, one person in the family or business manages the budget, but if more people are aware and at least know where their money is and who it goes to, it can take a lot of the insecurity that comes from not knowing.

Write Your Budget Down on Paper

Start by listing all your monthly expenses on paper. Following that, add up all your income as well. Now, try to make both sides of the equation balance. If you have less income than your expenses, you've got to make some major changes.

If your business is a brick and mortar company or a restaurant that relied on foot traffic or a dine-in experience, a pandemic and shutdown would certainly explain a loss of revenue. Is there a way that you can pivot and bring your product to your customers instead? 

Seeing your budget in front of you would help tell you what you can or can’t try to do and how much time you have to try new ideas.

Of course, if someone in the home has lost a job, that would explain a deficit. Still, until they are employed, you'll have to figure out how to balance the budget. 

You’ll never know when you or another member of your household will get hired again, so while looking for jobs, it is wise to try to cut bills or spending on non-essential purchases as much as possible.

Are There Areas Where You Can Reduce Your Expenses?

Often, we have tons of unnecessary expenses that come out of our bank accounts each month. Most of the time, these charges occur without anyone realizing it. 

Since they automatically debit the account, it could be from a subscription service you haven't used in years. Maybe you only use it rarely, or it’s a subscription to a magazine or video game service.

Often, businesses must cut discretionary spending as a way of saving money. This can mean temporarily reducing or eliminating spending on company parties, team lunches, company benefits, or anniversary gifts. 

After all, the little (or not so little) things are cut. If there’s no way to keep going, sometimes it means laying off employees. This can be a difficult process, and for small businesses who don’t have a large staff, it can be impossible to do, but it must be considered since nobody will have a job if the company shuts down.

Would Increasing Your Income Be Possible?

Adapting and diversifying your income streams in business can be essential in times of change. Saying that on paper is easy, but executing it is often more challenging. Companies with a narrow niche are more likely to fail if they can’t adapt to a changing market. 

For this reason, you should consider how you can add to your products or services in a way useful to people. If you run a food truck, what if you could do catering? Can your department store begin shipping to customers who purchase things online? Can you make use of freelance delivery drivers to bring products to people in your neighborhood?




At home, perhaps, you are already on a shoestring budget. If that happens to be the case, then you might consider trying to supplement your income. Have you thought about ways to make money on the side? Also, if anyone in the home could pick up a job, they could start working a few hours each week. That way, they can help to contribute until the ship is upright.

Have You Considered Refinancing Some of Your Debt?

Finally, thanks to recent rate reductions, refinancing can be a great way to improve your cash flow. By reducing the interest accumulating on the money you owe, your monthly payments will shrink in size. Thus, if you qualify, refinancing the debt could save you money over time.

Rethinking Your Perspective on Debt

How much credit do you have on your credit profile? If you believe that you are overburdened, consolidating your debt could be a source of relief. In some circumstances, companies purchase debt from consumers. 

They will purchase all the consumer's debt while also giving them a lower monthly payment. Either by reducing the interest rate or extending the payment timeframe, you'll receive a more affordable payment. 

There are also forgivable loan options (PPP loans) that companies might be eligible for depending on your area ad type of business. Resources like these are crucial to investigate but vary from region to region.

Credit Repair Strategies

If your credit is bad because you have been behind on payments, finding lending options through traditional lending sources can be a daunting proposition. However, if you are a business in, say, Melbourne, Australia, with a delivery vehicle that just breathed its last gassy breath and you need to replace it, or your business will die too, or have to have a vehicle to commute to the job that is keeping your housing bill paid, sometimes getting a car loan from an alternative lender could be the right answer, even if temporarily. 

Making your payments on time is good for your credit in the long term, even on a less than ideal loan, and you can always refinance to a better rate when things improve. Just watch out for lending scams and predatory lenders who would take advantage of you in a rough spot.

Making Tomorrow a Better Day

As long as you follow this advice, things should start to get better soon. That way, simply making ends meet no longer runs you ragged. Otherwise, you'd have to work yourself to the bone just to make the minimum payments. If you had to ask us, that's no way to live.

How to Make a Realistic Budget for Your New Business

Starting a new business comes with a lot of work. One of the most important areas of planning is creating a budget that is actually realistic. If you're at this stage in your new business prep, here are a few tips to help you create a feasible budget.

Start by Assessing Your Income

No budget will work without a person first having an idea of what their monthly income will be. Take a few moments and track your business's income. You'll want to record the amount and the sources. 

If you have different categories of income, say from freelance writing and selling a writing course, then breakdown your income into these categories. This will better set you up for understanding how your income changes over the long-term and why.

Figure Up Your Fixed Costs

The next step that you'll want to take is figuring up your fixed costs. These are going to be expenses that cost the same each month. Some examples are rent, utilities, payroll, and even web hosting. 

You can easily find these expenses on your business spending management software reports or by going through your business bank statements. Once you get all of your fixed costs written down, total them up.

Record Your Variable Expenses

Variable expenses are the next section of your budget that you need to concern yourself with. These are expenses that change in amount each month or are only charged once in a while. 

Some examples of variable costs for your business may be gas, electricity, sales commission, travel costs, and shipping costs. Over time, you'll get to see how much these expenses fluctuate, and you'll be able to create a more accurate average of what your variable expenses will be monthly.

Take a Look Over All You Have

Now, we're getting into the fun part. You've done all the research work to get your numbers. It's time to put them all together and do the math. Take your income and subtract your expenses, both fixed and variable. 

This will reveal how much your business is cash flowing each month. From here, you can determine if your business can handle taking on more debt or if you need to find ways to cut down your expenses.

Creating a realistic budget for your business is all about using real numbers in your calculations. When you notate what you're paying on fixed and variable costs and reduce that total amount from your income, you can clearly see how well your business is doing in a financial sense. Budgeting can be very easy as long as you take the time to do it.

How to Get a Credit Report for Business: Things to Know

To get the money you need to run and grow your business successfully, a good business credit report and score are essential factors to consider. 

A good corporate loan value can save you money at lower interest rates, provide a business loan without a personal guarantee, and improve your company's overall image. Do you know how to pull a credit report for a business as it plays a vital role in managing your credit risk?

Businesses can be granted credit scores, just like individuals. These numbers continue to determine the creditworthiness of a company, i.e. its ability to pay back loans. 

Having a good credit score can help your business qualify for a great credit card, loan, or term financing for business, all of which can help improve your cash flow and accelerate growth. 1 of the 4 major reporting agencies - Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, Equifax, and FICO - predominantly issues small business credit scores. 

This guide will help you understand what variables drive each of the various business credit scores and how you can improve your company's standing.

What is credit for business?

Business credit is just a way of measuring how accountable your business is when managing its finances so everyone must know how to pull credit report for business.

This is analogous to personal credit. The difference is that only financial activity related to running your business is looked at by business credit.




Regularly checking your business credit reports can help you set up your business to obtain financing when needed, and to manage and grow your business better over the long term.

Business Credit Scores Explained

Each of the various business credit reporting agencies has a different scale and score-enhancing methodology. All of these various credit scores depend heavily on a company's payment history with its previous suppliers, creditors, and lenders. Having records of timely payments, as a rule of thumb, will help establish a good score.

The primary objective of these scores is to have a measure of the financial stability of your business. That is why good balance sheets, stable and organized, tend to correspond with high scores. 

On top of that, things like your company's size and age, or its credit history, may also play a crucial role. If you are set to improve your companies' credit score, you should first ensure that you get these fundamentals down. 

In order to fine-tune and optimize your credit score, based on the various factors each of them considers, you can then look at the individual reporting agencies.

Why you should check your business credit reports

In comparison to personal credit reports, to help determine how risky it is to work with you, anyone can buy a copy of your company credit report. To keep an eye on the details, lenders and service providers see when they buy your information, it is a good idea to review your business credit reports periodically.

A lender may want to check whether your company has a loan repayment history and is on stable financial ground. To ensure that your business is not a risky gamble, a company will obtain your business credit reports, either for lending credit or working together on a project.




A strong history of business credit and favorable business credit can mean the difference in whether your company is accepted for a loan or a vendor gets better terms.

A business credit score is a critical piece of data looked at by banks and lenders when evaluating finance applications. To them, it's a rundown of how you're having trouble handling your debt. 

As such, to define the rates and terms of your loan, they will also use your credit score. Good credit scores would mean that, ultimately, the loan will be less costly, because you pose less financial risk to the lender.

Credit scores are also critical for obtaining customer contracts - before signing any contracts, your customers and suppliers can well review your business credit report as part of their due diligence. 

This ensures that the company is in a stable financial condition and calculates the risk that you will go into liquidation or fail to pay your invoices when doing business.

What are credit ratings for businesses?

Business credit scores are based on business credit report information. Depending on the product you purchase, each of the business credit bureaus will usually provide credit ratings along with the reports they produce.

Knowing about how to pull a credit report for a business gives you the ability to challenge any mistakes that could harm your financial credibility.

When they decide whether to lend to you and help you find ways to develop your business credit, your business credit reports will give you an idea of what borrowers will see.

Keeping track of your business credit will help you ensure that a company of your size and longevity has access to the best interest rates and loan options available. It's an essential way to keep track of how others view you and how you see yourself. 

But when exploring your personal credit, it needs a few more hoops to leap through than what you would experience. That does not make an effort any less important.

How to Fund Business Growth

Living in a business world that is quickly progressing at pretty much every front, not developing or adjusting your administrations or items to suit the steadily changing commercial center is capital punishment. 

In case you're deteriorating or delayed to arrive at the help guidelines offered by contending organizations, you're in danger of getting ignored and compelled to shut everything down.

For entrepreneurs or directors searching for approaches to all the more likely asset of your business development, we have six incredible tips for you beneath.

Conceptualize a Viral Product and Crowd Fund

For entrepreneurs or directors searching for approaches to more readily subsidize your business development, we have six extraordinary tips for you beneath. Up first comes the financing decision that may take a little work to get going. 

However, if you get a grip of another client base or worldwide acknowledgment, it will without a doubt be justified, despite any trouble.

If you possess or deal with a retail business that sells items, as opposed to administrations, at that point attempt some generous statistical surveying and investigates building up an item that meets a bunch of shopper needs. 

Work on promoting it accurately and offering it through crowdfunding stages, for example, Kickstarter for a rebate rate.




In doing this, you'll ideally collect sufficient interest just as assets to build up the item, fabricate your client base and furthermore impel your business' general development.

Take Out a Small, Fast Loan

For organizations that require only a limited quantity of upstart cash or two or three thousand dollars to launch development in one region, at that point, there are the alternatives of taking out little advances with suppliers.

These little credits are regularly moderate, low revenue and can be paid off over rather brief periods, allowing you to decrease the aggregate sum of revenue paid and store your business' development with as little obligation as could be expected.

Suitable Government Grants

Contingent upon the business you're running and your present circumstance, you might be qualified for private company awards from the Australian Government. 

These awards are intended to aid the dispatch of a business, to grow a business, and even to help you utilize another colleague.

Investigate the Government's Grants and Assistance site for some more data. You could be qualified for as much as a large number of dollars.

Look for Low Rate Credit Cards

A fairly dangerous approach to support development is through business-accommodating Mastercards. In any case, Mastercards are as yet a method for subsidizing development. Simply make certain to search for Mastercards that proposal however many advantages and low rates could be expected under the circumstances.
 

You'll need to ensure you're ready to utilize the card, however not be hit with Mastercard charges that are too high to even consider covering off. 

Once more, remember to pay off however much of your credit as could be expected at the earliest opportunity. You would prefer not to fall into an obligation winding that cuts down your business with it.

Ask Family and Friends

The odds are if you as of now have a business that is operational and beneficial, your loved ones will not be too reluctant to even think about surrendering a portion of their well-deserved money to offer you some chance to develop.

We propose that to build your odds of being effective in requesting a companion or family advance that you give them something as a trade-off or build up a strong reimbursement intend to help free them of their tensions toward loaning out their cash. 

You may likewise need to furnish them with a little slice of future benefits to add to the arrangement.

Rebuild Expenses and Investments

Our last tip is to take the cash you're now acquiring and set out to really utilize it. Extremely numerous organizations overspend and miss out on the opportunity to accelerate their benefits or put their money toward business building exercises.

We recommend investing some energy going over your accounts or recruiting somebody to do it for you to search for monetary 'releases' that you can plug. When these holes have been stopped, and you've diminished trivial costs, divert this money into the development and extension of your business.

In conclusion, if the monetary changes you've made haven't collected you enough money to extend quickly, at that point relocate this additional money to speculation accounts or broadened ventures that you can develop for the future development of your business.

Socially Distanced Work And Commute in 2021

The year 2021 is going to be about the same as 2020. At least for a while, that is. Offices will continue to maintain a hybrid schedule and social distancing. Meanwhile, the commute to the office should be similar to the one that started in the summer of 2020.

By the end of 2021, it's estimated that approximately 25% of the workforce will move to remote occupations. What does this mean for you? Probably a bit of confusion while you and your company figure out the best way to maintain efficiency.

For more information, here's what you might expect from socially distanced work and commutes in 2021.

Shifting Insurance Costs

Many auto insurance companies froze rates during 2020 as fewer drivers were on the road. On top of this, they halted the cancelation of policies for many due to lack of payment. All of this could mean an increase in premiums for car insurance in Montreal and other Canadian cities.

If you're one of the people who encountered financial loss due to the pandemic, you may need to look at another insurer with lower premiums. Be proactive and reach out to companies like KBD Insurance for a sample of quotes you can examine.

Office Configurations

There's a good chance the reconfigurations made to your office will stay the same for the future. Therefore, you could feel more isolated at your desk, especially when a portion of your team is permanently placed on a remote status.




Don't let this get you down. There are still ways to maintain a positive work experience with social distancing. As long as you wear a mask and maintain a safe distance, don't be afraid to talk to others in the office. If that can't be done, then schedule video chats with one or multiple people to keep engaged with other workers’ goings-on.

Moving to a Digital Workspace

Even when vaccines begin to lessen the danger of coronavirus, your company might consider closing down its physical office. You'll need to work in an all-digital format. Here, it's even more critical to stay in touch with everyone.

If not established yet, ask your management to invest in a chat application. Seeing others on your team might not be an option. However, you can chat with them for advice or to see how they're doing. Additionally, ask your management to establish a regular meeting to fill everyone in about the latest issues and achievements.

A Commute for a Digital Office

Though you were based at an office desk for eight hours a day, you had the opportunity to move around. This included commuting to and from work via your car or public transportation. Should your office go digital, you want to avoid sitting at the kitchen table or your home office all day.

Once restrictions loosen, consider working at a coffee shop. This is exceedingly feasible if your position doesn't require continuous customer service. If you want to take public transportation, make sure you follow their protocols as well. Maintain space between you and the other riders if you possibly can. Before and after the trip, wash and sanitize your hands.

Remain Calm

Granted, 2020 was a stressful year that put you on edge. If it wasn't coronavirus, it turned out to be something else that disrupted the normal flow of your days. Until a large portion of the population is vaccinated, you could still feel on the fringes of panic.

If this is how you feel, then try to find a way to relax. Feeling anxiety each day is not healthy. It makes you jittery without caffeine, and that's not good for socially distanced work or your commute. Because you're constantly distracted, you can't concentrate on the tasks at hand.

Find a way to relax. Meditation and deep breathing are known ways to reduce anxiety and lower your blood pressure. If that doesn't help, then step away from your work environment. Take a walk to clear your head. Or simply sit on a bench, close your eyes, and listen to the environment around you.

In the end, know that 2021 will not be a repeat of 2020. Things will get better for your, your friends, and the city.

2 Steps to Increase Customer Interaction through Marketing

Your clients have a variety of sources to purchase products from. Your customers' expectations are high, and as such, you have to reach out to them to understand their specific needs. 

Hubspot notes that failure to meet your clients' high expectations will result in their shift to your rivals. Markedly, you should go the extra mile to surpass your customers' standards and to stand out among your competitors.

Customer experience exists past the sale point as you will need these clients to enhance your company's growth, nowadays driving even more traffic from all of the online shopping that is taking place due to lockdowns and restrictions. 

You should promote customer interaction through marketing to keep in contact with your clients. Such actions will improve loyalty and trust among your clients.

Customer interaction refers to the consumers' willingness to reach out to your company in case of an issue or complement regarding your product. Increased customer interaction means increased customer value that improves customer experience.

Here are two steps to increase customer interaction through marketing.

1. Asking For and Acting on Customer Feedbacks during Surveys

As you market your products, ensure you give your clients a listening ear. Your customers love being heard, and their feedback is acted on promptly. Rather than promoting your brand blindly, you should create marketing surveys to gather information from your customers. Here, customers will freely offer positive and negative feedback on your product to give you room for improvement.




Additionally, you should create a conducive and transparent environment for your clients to open up about your products. Such an action will help you show your customers that you value their opinion and care about their satisfaction. Ultimately, this will foster honesty among your customers, enhancing customer retention.

For instance, if you have car insurance in Montreal, you can create relevant surveys to get information from your clients. After getting your customers' feedback, you should be prompt in responding and handling the issues raised. 

Your promptness will encourage the customers to connect with your company and fearlessly reach out when they need help. However, if you collect feedback and keep it, your customers will be discouraged from interacting with you as you give them a negative impression. 

Therefore, it is prudent to organize and promptly handle customer feedback to enhance customer contact and interactions.

2. Interact with Your Customers Humanely as You Prioritize to Reach Out to Them

Communication with your clients can either start with them or you. Ensure that you regularly reach out to your clients and check out if they are experiencing any difficulties with your products. Equally, in situations where your clients reach out first, you should calm them down and assure them that you will immediately handle their issues.

Additionally, rather than sending a formal response with a number to the customer to contact you, you should contact them through the platforms that they connect with you at first. Your promptness will create a positive impression, encouraging your clients to always connect with your company.




You should also create a personal touch with your customers as you interact. For instance, you can incorporate GIFs and emojis that your clients can relate with as they offer their feedback. These symbols will reduce tension in your interactions as your customers connect with your company.

Ensure to embrace good judgment as you interact with your clients with a personal voice. Depending on the impression you give your clients during your interactions, they will either maintain future contacts or keep quiet about any product issues. 

You should embrace a humane, exciting, and engaging tone as you interact with your clients to avoid losing them. Once your clients' get assurance that you will handle their issues, they will rest easy and increase confidence in your company. In the end, they will improve their connection through regular interactions with your company.

Customer interaction is the key to the success of any company in the modern business environment. Your customers want you to surpass their expectations as you serve them. 

Through customer interaction, you learn about these expectations and align them with your company goals. Customer satisfaction enhances your connection with your clients. 

Without the right steps and priorities, you may end up losing your loyal clients to competitors who stand out in the industry. Therefore, you should outsmart your competitors by keeping your clients close.

For instance, you can enhance your customers' interaction by asking for and acting on customer feedback during surveys.  Interacting with your customers humanely as you prioritize to reach out to them. Making sure you apply it to any and every other aspect of your business deals. Even when you are looking into factors for buying a condo or similar. Ultimately, these steps will increase customer interaction through marketing, leading to customer satisfaction and retention.

How to Improve Your Ecommerce Without Spending a Fortune

Getting your e-commerce business off the ground is not a walk in the park. The process is frustrating and expensive at the same time. No matter how hard you encourage online users to buy from your business, most of them still go for established brands in the industry. 

There is compelling evidence to show that even if you sell high-quality products and have impressive layouts, you have to put a lot of work to drive traffic to your online store. 

Luckily, there are multiple effective techniques for driving traffic to your website without spending a fortune. Here are some of them.

Leverage Social Media

Did you know that a third of the world’s population uses social media daily? Make better use of social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to generate traffic for your e-commerce. 

Post regular updates on all social platforms to keep your audience engaged. Besides convincing people to buy from your business, take time to express your gratitude to your viewers and people who comment on your posts. 

Frequently posting engaging content and images is essential. To make sure you close as many deals as possible, include a call to action at the end of every article.

Improve Your Ecommerce With SEO

Acquiring knowledge about search engine optimization on the internet is absolutely free. Mastering SEO and learning how to improve your ecommerce goes a long way in helping increase traffic to your online store using organic results in search engines. 

Although numerous businesses hire experts to handle this task, you can perform your keyword research, create blog articles, or publish guest articles on other people’s websites.

Liaise With Influencers

Influencer marketing has gained immense popularity in the past couple of years. Recent studies show that numerous shoppers are likely to be influenced by an actual person than a company name or a brand. 

 

For impressive results, reach out to bloggers, Instagrammers, or vloggers with a massive flowing. Sending a free sample or providing mutual exposure are some of the ways to work with influencers without spending a dime.

Request for Customer Feedback

Normalize requesting reviews from your customers. Reviews not only help you receive feedback on your product and customer service, but they also influence potential customers. A large number of millennials consider online reviews when making a purchasing decision. 

When you receive a bad review, start by owning up to the mistake and apologize to your customer. Then use the negative reviews to design a solution.

All these methods are free and can generate your online store as much traffic as a paid promotion.

3 Tips to Keep Your Business in Good Financial Standing

(Image Source: Pixabay)

As a business owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your company is always in good financial standing. Unfortunately, there are far too many things you can do that means that you could make a mistake and slip up. Here are some of the things you can do to ensure that you remain safe and secure.

Pay Your Invoices on Time

The first thing you need to do is ensure that you are paying your invoices on time. These are going to be crucial as they will allow you to continue acquiring the services or supplies you need to be able to complete your operations.

Likewise, you need to make sure that you are receiving payments from your own clients at a good time. Issue your own invoices promptly, and make it clear when the payment deadline is. You need to ensure that the flow of money coming in and out of your business is unobstructed and able to move easily.

Watch for Scams

There are so many scams out there that you need to be aware of as a business owner. If someone comes to you with a claim that they have an amazing business deal for you to get in on, chances are that it might not be as reputable as it first appears. You always need to do your research before agreeing to such an offer, even if it is coming from someone that you trust.




If you do fall for such a scam and end up losing money, you need to ensure that you know where to turn to be able to retrieve your money. A service like PayBack is going to be able to help you recover your assets and potentially put a stop to the scammer going after another company.

Track Your Spending

One of the most important aspects of keeping your business in good financial standing will always be to track your spending. No matter how big or small an expense is, you need to make sure that it is logged and accounted for.

Unfortunately, it is really easy for you to overspend in business. You need to make sure that you are always paying close attention to your various budgets and how they fit together. If you are able to pare back your spending in one area, it might free you up to be able to spend a little more in a different sector.

No matter what, you need to make sure that you are able to keep your business in good financial standing. There are so many different things that all fit together to make one functioning business, and your finances will be at the heart of that. 

If you are able to keep your finances healthy and top of the line, other issues that present themselves can be dealt with more swiftly. If you aren’t sure how your business’s finances are, make sure you find out how they are doing as soon as possible.

How to Set Up Payment Systems for Your New Biz

Doing business online can be challenging. You will need to design a webshop, create product descriptions, and ensure that payment methods are all set. Note that the payment method is one of the essential aspects and must be done professionally. Here is how to set up payment services for your new biz.

1. Evaluate The Business

Before you begin working on payment methods, be sure to evaluate your business carefully. Find out how large your business is to come up with the best decisions that won’t inconvenience your customers. Note that if you are talking about a large company, it is okay to develop your payment system.

You can also make your decision based on the location of your business and what you are selling. Based on your location and country, you might not be able to use specific payment systems. Also, you must know that different payment systems work best for different products.

In many cases, a simple credit card payment will do a great job. However, if your product is complicated to buy, you need to develop a seamless payment option to enhance the customer experience.

2. Know Your Clients

You must think about the individuals who will be hitting the Pay button. Once you have figured out who these people are, you want to think about how they will pay. Online shopping has become popular today, and many people have experience with electronic online payments.




Using more payment options, you won't have a problem reaching and serving a range of audiences. Maybe you want to reach those without credit cards. In such a case, you can still help them using digital payment solutions such as making payments by cheque online.

Find out if you have a steady customer base and if you will need recurring payments. Suppose you are looking to serve as many clients as possible, then credit card merchant services should be available.

3. Plan Your Growth

There is no way you will use one payment option and stand the stiff online competition; thus, you must plan for growth. You want to figure out how salable your business is. In case you prefer keeping your business small, then you can go with an off-the-shelf flat-rate solution.

The off-the-shelf flat-rate solution is ideal because they have a low set-up cost with a straightforward pricing structure. You will be required to pay a fixed rate for every payment. However, if you are looking to grow, the costs will add up soon. As your volume goes high, you will need to use tailor-made solutions.

4. Choose The Best Payment Service Provider

To this level, you have an exact list of all you will need; therefore, you can begin looking for the best service provider. Be sure to find a provider that best fits the size of your business and clients served.




Also, a good payment service provider is one with an elaborate customer support team. This is because, as you use their services, problems will arise, and you will need to solve them.

5. Put it All Together

Up to this stage, you should be ready to launch your payment page. When designing the page, you need to seek assistance from the service provider to avoid possible mistakes.

The company will provide you with a clear guide on integrating the system into your online page. This implies that you don't need too many technical skills to have your payment system up and running.

Your service provider has to take care of what will happen if a customer hits the pay button. These services should be there, and unless you can find them, try to find a different service provider.

This guide contains all you need to have a payment page that works efficiently for all clients. Note that you can choose as many payment options as you wish. When designing the page, be careful and optimize it so that it loads faster.

Since most customers prefer using mobile devices to make purchases online, optimize the payment page for such devices. It makes it easier for your customers to shop and buy products on your website.

3 Ways To Outsource Your Billing Services Quickly

IMAGE SOURCE: ENVATO

The world of medical billing is continuously changing and under a great deal of stress in 2020. If your medical practice is just getting started or your billing department struggles to keep up, it may be time to move to a billing provider quickly.

Communicate Clearly

If you have a medical billing team in your office, announcing a move can create a great deal of stress. If you're going to let someone go, prepare them before announcing it to the rest of your staff.

Capitalize on employee choices. For example, if you've been thinking about outsourcing payroll, billing, accounts receivable, or accounts payable and someone is retiring, resigning, going part-time, or undergoing any other massive life change, now is your time to move to an outside provider.

Whenever jobs change or go away, the folks still in the office will get nervous. Gossips can gain a lot of power if you don't get on top of the information flow, so make sure that your team knows what's going on as soon as you've made a decision; you will take away the power of the rumor mill.

Also, be ready to consider other forms of outsourcing. If you've got someone doing payroll in-house, be aware that outsourcing can increase your privacy, information security and reduce tension in the office. Again, watch for significant life changes among your staff. Payroll can be quite contentious depending on the personnel, so finding a good time or reason for the switch can smooth the waters.

Choose a Billing Service with the Expertise You Need

The world of medical insurance is continuously changing and shifting on a state by state and company by company basis. There are medical billing companies in California that can support you effectively, no matter where your office is. Still, a medical billing company in Illinois may need some training to get up to speed.

Do your best not to become a test case. You need professionals who have skills in your state and specialty. The cheapest billing service may not be a bargain if you face upset clients or a disrupted cash flow.

Discuss your concerns with others in your chosen field. Review articles produced by professional organizations to see who is advertising their billing services in your industry. You need expertise specific to your field and your insurance challenges, if applicable, so be ready to check in with your colleagues to discuss how they have handled this challenge.

Do Your Homework

Study the reports provided to you. If possible, look for a company that can give you an up-to-date dashboard of services rendered by date and the billing status. If you notice a considerable slow-down in collections, track down whatever is causing the delay and strive to stay on top of the information transfer.

Be prepared for some resistance in-house, especially if your in-house billing team will be transferred over to other work. In your medical billing services contract, carefully review what information transfers are your office’s responsibility and what needs to be done by the biller. 

If there's a spot in the information flow that's consistently breaking down, get on the phone with your sales rep and not give up until the problem is ironed out.

Once you know where the breakdown is, consider setting up a scheduled check-in with your billing services provider. Create a weekly calendar reminder that features an email between

• your billing services provider
• your in-house coordination team
• your office manager

That lets everyone know that you're monitoring this personally and striving to get things right. If you find that there is resistance from one area of the department, be ready to move people around to overcome this issue. You may also have to let people go if they are actively fighting the change.

As things get up and running with your new billing services provider, keep an ear out for any patient concerns. New billing providers may change your invoices’ format and look, which may surprise some of your older patients. If anyone has any issues with customer service, be sure you address it with your new provider.

Four Things to Consider When Choosing A Debt Collection Company

Every owner wants to keep the business inflow. There are times when you must collect payment for the products or services you render. It is true that not all customers are trustworthy and reliable. 

As a business owner, you likely have very little time on your hands as you have to deal with so many other activities. You may not have the time to write letters or make frequent phone calls to collect debts. 

The older the debt gets, the more difficult it is to manage. In case, if your demands for payment have been unsuccessful, hiring an international debt collection company can be extremely beneficial for your business.

Some business owners have an image in their mind about debt collectors – and for a good reason. In the past days, anyone could set up a debt collection company without being registered or regulated in any way. Today, there are some rules and regulations that govern debt collection companies. 

Hiring a debt collection company is one of the best ways for you that help to put the focus back on your work, while someone else manages the debt collection process. Here are a few things which you need to consider when hiring a debt collection company:

Check the company’s legitimacy:

The collection industry is enormous. There are many companies, big and small, working to collect thousands of dollars of debt each year. The strategy to resolve overdue bills can be adjusted depending on what kind of debts you have, such as medical debts, utility bills, etc., and the type of collector you are dealing with. 

Debt collection company works directly with your credit card lender and are typically going to be larger contingency collection companies. They send you collection notices and make calls in an attempt to collect. 

All of which is encouraged by the fact that they will get paid based on what they get you to pay. Different states and countries have different rules for debt collection companies. Always ensure the one you want to hire is licensed and adheres to the regulations of the 

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Debt collection companies specialize in certain areas. For example, securing funds from large companies, and some do well working with small businesses or home businesses. So, find out what sort of international debt collection company most often deals with and what type of companies it serves.

Ask how many years of experience they have in the industry?

Trading is not directly related to success, but it can be a good sign of how much experience they have in collecting debts from difficult customers. Don't just believe in their word or what they claim to be. Take a look at their testimonials, social media profiles, and success stories to look at what other clients thought about them. 

Don't concentrate too much on size because a large company is not necessarily a better fit than a small, local one. It depends on your needs, the company's strengths, its reputation, and its track record.




Debt collection companies' experience in collecting unpaid debts increases your odds of collecting delinquent debts. Your main focus is on running your business, but a collection company's main focus is to collect debts. An experienced professional knows the best techniques to legally coerce debtors to pay, and collection companies post a much greater threat to debtors than you do.

How much they know about your industry?

Every industry is different from the other, with varying difficulties and intricacies when it comes to contracts and invoicing. All these variations can make a massive difference when it comes to successfully collecting a debt. 

A debt collection company knows your industry and its challenges can bring knowledge and results to rival a typical generalist. Also, those with experience in navigating the complex payment processes of large companies will be able to use this expertise to bring you the desired results.

How much they cost?

Once you found a reliable collection company that can work for your business, it's time to look into their costs. Also, it's worth noting that the way in which companies charge for their services can be different and you should choose those within your budget. 

A collection company cost usually associated with pre-collection fees and fairly small. And, a flat fee is generally offered early in the debt collection process. Another important thing to keep in mind is no matter what, once you have hired a debt collector, it's not guaranteed that you will receive the full and total amount you are owed. 

For this reason, it's suggested that you exhaust your other options before hiring one. Most companies will work on a contingency fee basis. For the most part, they only make money on successful accounts, so you can be sure they will try everything they can to get your debt back.

How Entrepreneurs Make the Most of Their Endeavors

Entrepreneurship is incredibly attractive to many people for a number of reasons. Some people like the idea of owning their business. Other people like the potential income their entrepreneurial efforts can bring. 

However, there’s a certain mindset that’s important for entrepreneurs to possess if they’d like to be successful. If you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, consider some of the ways you need to make the most of your endeavors.

Embrace the Challenges

Challenges will arise. It’s a part of running a business. This is especially true when you’re a newly budding entrepreneur. However, as the challenges come, don’t sit in the seat of a victim. If you develop a victim mentality, you’ll never win. Instead, focus on what the obstacle can teach you. When you figure out what you can learn from it, you’ll naturally become stronger and wiser as a result.

Become Resourceful

It doesn’t matter which industry you’re in. There are tools that are specifically created for your brand’s needs in mind. If you’re a reseller that needs a system to help you cross-list items, there are tools you can use in order to automate that process. 

If you’re launching a new video game that you’d like to promote, there’s a game launcher that can help you navigate that process. The key is to be intentional about finding and using the resources that are available. Don’t spend too much time recreating the wheel. Use what’s in front of you.

Develop a Positive Outlook

If you wake up in the morning with the mindset that something will go wrong, you’ll make that your reality. You’ll subconsciously look for things to go wrong. Make the most of your endeavors by learning how to focus on the positive aspects of a situation. When you view life through the lens of the glass being half-full, it’ll change your perspective and how you view the possibilities of life.

Utilize Assistance

There’s nothing weak about asking for help. If you know a professional who knows more on a topic than you do, it’s okay to reach out and ask for help. If you know you need to hire a new employee, that’s a great way to have help within reach. 

Take note of the areas of your business that can use fine-tuning. Find ways to get help with those areas in order to make your business run like a well-oiled machine. It’s also important to remember that Google can serve as an amazing helper. Sometimes, the answer is a Google search away.

There are so many benefits to building your own business. However, if you don’t possess the integrity and emotional stamina to keep things going, your business will fail. Be intentional about making the most of your endeavors throughout the various aspects of your life. Once you develop that habit, it’ll bleed into the way you operate within your business.