Monday, September 21, 2015

Why Starting a Tax Preparation Business is the Best Way to Expand your Business

Due to the recent turns in the economic climate, many people are searching for additional revenue streams in order to maintain their current life-styles. In my own business we have lost revenue across the entirety of our business. 

It was time to look for additional ways to create revenue. We looked into professional tax preparation as a way to supplement earnings, pay the bills, and more.
A tax preparation business can be a stand-alone enterprise, or you might find it to be a complimentary small business that can be added to your company that you are currently associated with, such as personal financial services, insurance, accounting or bookkeeping services. Your customers will certainly appreciate having one person that can manage their financial resources


A tax preparation business is also great to get into if you happen to work in another business that is likewise seasonal but at a different time of the year, such as retail, lawn care, travel, etc. A tax preparation firm can provide you with a constant income year-round.


Professional Tax Prep Software


Most new tax preparation courses assume no previous tax knowledge and the tax preparer software available today makes tax preparation a lot easier. That being said, tax preparer software is NOT a replacement for tax knowledge. 

It's quite essential that you are able to complete an income tax return by hand. You should never depend on any tax software application to train you, do your thinking or to prepare an income tax return without you supervising the process. 

Having quality professional tax prep software will make you feel more empowered and capable of providing quality tax returns for your clients. There are companies that provide tax prep software like Sigma professional tax software. Be sure you choose one that stands behind their product and keeps it updated continuously.


Lets Take it Even Further



As the trusted tax consultant to your tax customers, you are in the position to provide them with the additional financial services they require. By obtaining the needed licenses, you can deliver financial services and products such as IRAs, retirement plans, insurance coverage, etc. You can pick from several trusted broker-dealers that specialize in aiding tax professionals to meet their customers' financial services needs.



You can additionally offer accounting and pay-roll services for your small business tax customers to produce additional year-round income. 

Countless small companies are started every day and the trend is accelerating because of the sizable number of displaced employees going to self-employment.



Other opportunities to create year-round revenue exist, like becoming a real-estate broker to take advantage of the recovery of the real estate market in the coming years. Income tax know-how is a great asset for many financial services professionals and having tax expertise will certainly provide you with a key competitive advantage.


It's Not All About The Numbers


It's remarkable the number of individuals that think tax preparing is everything about the numbers, but that's not all. Tax preparation is in fact a people business. So, if you enjoy helping people, you could do extremely well in the tax business. It has to do with building relationships and trust.

Yes, it is really important that you have the knowledge to prepare taxes properly. However the experience that your customer has throughout the tax preparation procedure and after is just as important. When you are taking care of a customer's financial personal information it ends up being very personal.



Your client trusts you to take excellent care of him/her and hopes that you have their best interests in mind. Your client is searching for guidance and has actually come to you because they see you as a professional in the tax business.

You might prepare a client's tax return perfectly however if they don't receive personal service from you, they may not be back. Relationships are very important!

Thursday, September 17, 2015

I Lost My Boat Title — Now What?

When you want to transfer the ownership of your boat to someone else, perhaps the most important document that you need to have in hand is the vessel’s title. The title is a legal document stating who the rightful owner of the boat is. 

In the event that there is ever a dispute over who actually owns the boat the title serves as the primary form of evidence as to who is the owner.

Like many documents, boat titles have a tendency to get lost. Even responsible boat owners misplace their boat titles — they are misfiled, accidentally discarded, or slipped into boxes of “important papers” that are stored for years and never looked at again. 



This isn’t usually a big deal until you want to transfer your boat to a new owner via a sale or donation to a worthy organization. In that case, not having the title can turn into a slight headache but one that’s easily overcome.

Replacing a Lost Boat Title


In most cases, replacing a lost boat title is a relatively simple process. Depending on your state laws — not all states require boat titles — you can generally request a duplicate title from the appropriate issuing agency. 



In most states, this is the same department that registers motor vehicles, but a few states funnel boat registrations and titles through their department of parks and recreation. You can generally find the information for your state on the state website.

If your state requires a title on the boat, you can generally request a duplicate document by filling out the required form and paying the necessary fees, usually just a few dollars. Depending on the state, you may have to request the title in person, or you can do it over the phone or online. 

When the Boat Owner Is Deceased


When the owner of a boat dies, it’s common for his or her estate to either sell or donate the boat

If the title to the boat is included in the estate, the transfer process is relatively simple: Upon completion of the appropriate forms indicating that the seller has the authority to act on behalf of the state (the probate forms), the sale or transfer is completed much like any other. 

If the title to the boat is missing, the representative of the estate can request a duplicate, provided he or she has the appropriate probate forms in place. 

Coast Guard Documented Vessels


If the U.S. Coast Guard documents your boat, the title issue is a little more complex. Boats that are USCG registered are not titled, but instead the owners receive a Certificate of Documentation declaring ownership of the vessel. 

These CODs supersede any title; in other words if the COD information differs from that of a state-issued title, the COD information will be considered true and correct.

When you are attempting to transfer ownership of a Coast Guard-documented boat, and you have the COD in hand, you simply need to complete and sign the transfer of ownership section and have it notarized. 

However, if you do not have the COD, you will need to request a letter of deletion from the Coast Guard, indicating that you are no longer the owner of the vessel and that you have transferred the ownership to a specific person or entity. 

The Coast Guard requires that you submit a valid bill of sale or other documentation indicating that you have transferred ownership of the vessel to another party.
Non-Titling States

Currently, only 32 states plus the District of Columbia require boat owners to hold valid titles. The remaining states only require boats to be registered, which is usually accomplished by showing the bill of sale or transfer, as well as any other required documentation, such as proof of insurance. 

If you are transferring ownership of your boat from a non-titling state to one that requires titles, in most cases the new owner will only need proof of registration in order to register the boat in his or her name. 




If you are transferring ownership in a titling state, or between two titling states, then you will have to take the extra step of acquiring a duplicate title before the transaction can be completed.

Usually, when you donate your boat to a reputable organization, the organization’s representatives can help you determine the paperwork requirements and help you acquire the documents you need. 

So if you are missing the title to your boat, don’t let that stop you from selling or donating it — with some legwork you can make the transaction legal.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Education May Be Priceless, But It’s Also Pricey

Poets and politicians – as well as parents – have been known to go on about the value of a good education, which has often been deemed priceless. Priceless it may be, but there is no denying that schooling itself can also be pretty pricey, as millions of British mums and dads discover anew every year. 

And we’re not even talking about the costs of going to university, though there is plenty to say about that as well. The wallet draining begins long before the higher education years, a point that has been addressed by the research firm Conlumino, which recently estimated the size of the 2015 back-to-school market to be approximately £1.45 billion, give or take a few hundred thousand pounds. 


School uniforms took up about six of every £10 in 2014, according to the research firm, and this year’s ratio was expected to be about the same. And a survey by the Department for Education (DfE) revealed that parents and guardians of children between the ages of four and 16 in English state-funded schools spent an average of £212.88 on their child’s uniform during the 2014-15 school year, with girls, perhaps not surprisingly, being more expensive to dress than boys. 

Some items such as shirts, blouses and shoes are essential for all schools, whilst others, such as ties or hats, are particular to certain schools. Blazers seem to be increasing in use overall and are the most expensive item parents have to purchase, averaging £34.05 in the last school year, according to the DfE survey. 

Other back-to-school expenses include rucksacks, sports kit, stationery, accessories and schoolbooks. It all adds up, and some mums and dads are feeling the pain in their bank accounts

Pressure from schools


As if parents weren’t under enough financial strain where their offspring’s schooling is concerned, some schools have been putting pressure on parents to contribute to the schools’ budgets. 

This is according to recent research by the British Humanist Association (BHA), which found that many of the schools soliciting contributions were state faith schools, such as Church of England or Catholic institutions. And some of these schools’ solicitations are potentially in violation of the law. 

It is perfectly legal for schools in England to seek voluntary donations from parents, but they must make it clear that there is no obligation to pay. Yet the researchers found that a number of the schools framed their solicitations more as demands than as requests. 

For instance, some schools requesting contributions (such as to their building funds) stressed that the requested amount was a minimum only, and they encouraged families who could afford to pay more to do so. 

One school cited in the study even wrote, “…as a voluntary aided school, parents of the pupils... are responsible for contributing 10% towards all building works” – and then the school went on to ask for an additional £100 per family. 

A Church of England spokesperson said that the admissions code is very clear about financial contributions playing no part in the admissions process, and that the Church’s expectation is that all schools adhere to the education code. For its part, the Government has said that it will investigate all claims of rules being breached. 

Spend where it’s important


Some expenses – education costs being a prime example – are an unavoidable part of parenthood. But it is still possible to avoid overspending, even for necessities. Smart parents are always looking for ways to economise without depriving their offspring. 

Though a sometimes frustrating quest it is a worthy one, Learning to economise and prioritise, and teaching their children to do the same, are amongst the most valuable gifts that parents can give their kids. 

Parents can, for instance, shop around for the best deals on that major expense: school uniforms. There are good online resources to help mums and dads save money when outfitting their kids for school. 


And even though helping to fund schools is an investment in everybody’s future, parents should educate themselves about funding priorities, including the legal issues involved. They should learn to stand strong and not succumb to pressure to give money to schools that may be running afoul of the law anyway. 

Granted, economising can be a challenge when there are so many necessities and some of them are not cheap, no matter how diligently one hunts for bargains. To make saving money even more of a challenge, children and parents alike are constantly being bombarded with marketing messages that skillfully promote splurging on things they don’t really need. 

But with a concerted effort from parents and kids, even families that don’t have a large income can learn to prioritise and save, so they will always have money when they really need it.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

How Taking out a Business Loan Can Help Get Your Startup off the Ground

Small business owners require many things to find success—a brilliant idea, an expert team, and a clear plan. But even when business owners have ambition and intelligence, it means nothing if they don’t have the necessary capital.

If you have all the ingredients for a strong startup except the initial cash, consider how a business loan can help you.

What Can a Business Loan Do for You?


A business loan will help get your startup off the ground financially. You will need the money up front if you want to have any chance of being successful as most new businesses fail within the first five years of when they are started. While each business has different startup costs, a business loan can cover the common expenses outlined below. 



Supplies and Inventory


When you first start out, a loan can help you make initial orders, restock items, expand inventory, and advertise your business. It can also cover the cost of office furniture, electronics, and other equipment.

Advertising and Promotion


People must know about a business in order for it to find notoriety and influence. If you’ve just started out, advertising and promotion play a vital part in your success. Use a loan to make your business known and get people talking. 

Legal Fees


You should seek legal aid to protect yourself, your clients, and your business. This step ensures you have valid business agreements, permits and licenses, liability waivers, and other legal documents. A loan can help you pay for this sometimes costly necessity. 

What Business Loan Options Do You Have?


If you think your startup would benefit from a loan, you’ll want to know your options. While you can find many choices, including crowdfunding and peer-to-peer loans, business owners often turn to lines of credit as well as short- and long-term loans. 

Lines of Credit


With a line of credit, a business can access income when it needs it—much like a credit card—instead of a one-time lump sum. And when you don’t need the supplemental income, you don’t have to worry about payments.

This loan helps if you have intermittent cash shortages, like seasonal dips in sales, or unexpected costs. It acts as a safety net that you can use when necessary, pay off quickly, and then use again later.

Short-Term Loans


These loans offer a solution for businesses with relatively simple investments: small projects with quick return. Instead of monthly payments, business owners pay these loans off in full at the end of a set time period. 

Long-Term Loans


Business owners might use this option for an investment that yields profit over time. Expansion, construction, and acquisition often require a long-term loan. 

You likely need a strong financial history and a significant down payment to secure this loan type. However, long-term loans tend to have lower interest rates than short-term loans. 


With all of these different types of loans, you may want to consider going through a company like Loan Builder, to build your own loan. To put it simply, no one knows your business better than you. No one know your business finances better than you. 

By building your own loan, you know exactly what it is you need to make your startup a success and therefore building your own loan might be your best bet (Source: www.loanbuilder.com).

Whatever your dream, don’t let lack of cash keep you from it. If you only need some extra money to get your startup off the ground, find a loan that works for you.


Friday, September 4, 2015

7 Easy Tips for Maintaining your Personal Finances

According to a report released by the Federal Reserve in May of 2015, Americans were carrying more than $11.86 trillion in total debt with over $900 billion of it sitting as outstanding credit card balances. 

As a nation of debtors, it is important for all American to understand how to properly manage their finances in order to maintain financial stability or it will lead to financial strain and suffering.



Managing Personal Finances



Unfortunately, they don't offer classes in high school or college regarding personal finance management techniques. Many people are learning to manage their personal finances via a trial by fire. 

For many, by the time they learn the best techniques for managing their personal finances, they are already well in debt and are struggling financially. It is a shame because simple financial mistakes can end up destroying one's financial security. 

Managing personal finances is the process of finding the appropriate balance between one's income and what they want and need in their lives. Having a budget will let one live with a sense of freedom knowing that they will always be able to afford the things they need and within reason being able to buy the things they want. 

They will also have a good savings in the cases of “rainy days” and other types of emergencies.


Before you over-commit and find yourself fighting off creditors while watching your credit score take a dive, these seven easy tips for maintaining your personal finances might be enough to save the day.

1. Live within Your Means – When that new shiny car or when that new piece of technology comes out, many people jump at the urge to buy it whether they can truly afford it or not. The biggest mistake you can make is renting an apartment or buying a car you can't afford. If you consistently live within your means, financial difficulties will have trouble finding you. When in need of a loan, one can always leverage the equity of their home. It is important to become familiarized with Home Equity Loan Rates.

2. Prepare a Monthly Budget - At the beginning of each month, you should put together a comprehensive cash basis budget that reflects your anticipated income and how you intend to spend it. Having cash on hand is a great way to help you avoid using your credit card excessively.

3. Avoid Using Credit Cards - Credit cards should not be treated as an extension of your buying power and should be reserved for emergencies. The cash in your bank is what you can truly afford. This helps keep your credit card payments low and you out of debt.

4. Track Your Spending - The best way to find out if you are wasting money is to track all expenditures. Over time, it will become clear where cuts need to be made.

5. Use Coupons - Always be on the lookout for coupons online or through the mail. Features like discountrue coupon for sears.com can save you a lot of money over a year's time.

6. Purchase Insurance - Buying insurance feels like a waste of money all the way up to the time something happens and you need it. Then it's as good as gold.



7. Avoid Eating Out - On average, eating out costs 200%-300% more than fixing the same meal at home. Surely the time you will spend shopping and cooking is worth the effort considering the savings.

In the long run, it is incumbent on you to know how to manage your finances. The earlier you learn to be responsible with your money, the more likely you are to get to retirement financially secure. That's how you make the golden years special.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

The Right Mindset When Planning for the Future as a Single Woman

Being single is an option in life and it’s completely up to the person if she wishes to take that path or not. There’s actually completely nothing wrong with being by yourself. People live by their preferences and nobody has the right to judge. 

However, as women have grown more independent each day, the topic about being and staying single have gotten sensitive lately. People can deal with being alone, but it’s always a bit tough to cope with having no one there to run to in times of trouble. 



There’s also that haunting thought of who will take care of them once their youth runs out. No one can certainly work forever and being incapable for whatever ‘tomorrow’ may bring can be scary.



If you somehow end up thinking that being single can be disadvantageous in your financial standing and security in the future, things might actually turn out that way. But if you’re attentive to the opportunities present today, you’ll be surprised at the things the modern world can offer to your advantage. 

To get started with securing your future as a single woman, you can do these two simple things: 

Be optimistic and be on the lookout for opportunities


The least you can do is be happy for yourself. Independence is a strong trait. A trait that some people thought they have but didn’t actually possess. Don’t focus too much on the happily married female population. 

Unlike them, you are working for and relying solely on yourself. Your responsibilities and priorities only revolve around you. It might sound selfish, but that’s the real deal.

Now, the smartest thing for you to do is to be fully aware of this freedom. This will give you the opportunity to put yourself first, to save more money, to invest in financial vehicles suited to your risk tolerance and specific needs in life, and to simply live within your means. 

Travel to places you’ve never been to if you can find the luxury and the time, after all, you basically don’t need anyone’s permission to do so. 

Be realistic and seek help from professionals


Unfortunately, the fun and the happiness will not last for long if you don’t prepare for troubled times. As you grow older, you’ll be weighed down by far more important things like where you’ll end up after your retirement and how to cope with illnesses that comes with age. 

So as soon as you can, starting today in fact, make the most of your money and let it work for you.

There are companies out there ready to provide you with pension and investment services that allow you to achieve a more stable future. But don’t jump immediately at the first company offering you a product. 



Educate yourself first about the importance of investments and which pension schemes are more beneficial. This way, you will be making informed decisions. For assistance, get in touch with a company that will provide you with pension help and advice in the UK. With their knowledge and years of experience, they can provide you the support most suitable for your working and living condition.

All in all, entering your golden years as a single woman need not be scary as long as you exercise the right mindset and properly plan your finances as early as today.



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