7 Key Challenges of Launching a Startup

It may seem daunting to know that 8 out of 10 startups will fail in the first 18 months, but it doesn't have to be. To begin with, many successful startups took a few tries to actually get right. 

Just because an initial startup may fail doesn't mean it doesn't provide valuable experience to get the second or third try up and running. Ultimately, all startups fail because they run out of money. 

What causes them to run out of money is the question. Here are 7 key challenges to launching a startup.

1. Expanding Too Quickly

When people think of growth, they often think of expansion. In truth, those are two very different things. In reality you often have to grow before you expand. Getting an order for 1,000 units of your new product may seem like a windfall, but not if you don't have the production facilities in place to handle an order that size. 

Suddenly having more clients than you can handle sounds ideal, but in reality it can be the death of your business. When you plant a seed, it can be months before you actually see growth. 

That doesn't mean the seed hasn't been busy beneath the surface planting roots that will support the expansion when it happens. Make sure you understand the difference between growth and expansion.

2. Having the Wrong Partners

No one individual can singlehandedly build a successful startup. They need partners that bring something to the table in the form of wisdom, experience, contacts, money or some combination of all. 

What you don't need, however, are partners that bring little to nothing to the table. Your best friend since high school might be your most loyal friend, but that doesn't make them a good business partner. 

Similarly, be careful who you allow to invest in your startup. Most investments come with strings - make sure you have a very clear understanding of what they are before taking any money.

3. Failure to Adequately Judge the Market

No matter what product or service you have to offer, you need someone to buy that product or service. You may find an area you think would be perfect for an upscale coffee shop, but that doesn't mean the residents of that area are going to buy your upscale coffee. 




Before you offer a product or service, you need to ensure there is a market for your product or service. If there isn't one, that doesn't mean all is lost, it simply means you will have to build one.

4. Failure to Build a Market

While you may actually hit on a product idea or service people are genuinely hungry for, it is rare. More often than not, you actually have to convince people they need the product or service you are offering. 

When Starbucks first started selling coffee in the 1970's it was unheard of to spend more than about 50 cents on a cup of coffee. Starbucks actually had to convince the entire world that a cup of coffee was something worth spending upwards of $4 on. They didn't walk into a ready-made market, they built one.

5. Lack of Security

The minute you actually invest something into turning an idea into a reality, you have something to protect. Whether that is your proprietary blend of spices, your manuscript or customer information, you have something that can be stolen. 

Anything that can be stolen needs to be protected or it can signal the end of your business. These days it is important for all businesses - from the smallest startup to the largest corporation - to invest heavily in cybersecurity. 

Small businesses are often in the greatest danger of being hacked because they think they are too small and insignificant to be worth hacking. They are generally wrong.

6. Lack of Proper Insurance

There are any number of catastrophes and cataclysms that can prematurely derail a startup. From fires, floods and other disasters to the death of a partner or investor to costly lawsuits, startups can suddenly find themselves stopped. 

Making sure you have the proper insurance is critical to any startup. In addition, you should always work with a reputable agent from a reputable carrier. It is also important to do periodic reviews of your insurance with your agent to make sure that your coverage is keeping pace with the changing needs of your startup.

7. Burnout

Building a startup into a full-fledged business is a marathon, not a sprint. The tasks involved in building a startup are never-ending and they can easily become overwhelming. 

Generally, the people that actually successfully shepherd a startup into a fully operational business pace themselves and don't lose sight of what is truly important. They take care to maintain their relationships, their physical health and even their outside activities. 

While it may take longer to build a successful company by going at a slower pace, you also give yourself a far better chance of actually seeing the finish line.

Wrapping Up

People who successfully guide a startup to a full-fledged business often seem to anticipate what is going to happen long before it ever does. That's because in one sense they do. 

While this list doesn't cover every potential pitfall of building a startup, the full list of things that can derail them is not actually that long. Savvy entrepreneurs make it their business to know every single thing that can go wrong and generally have a plan in place for dealing with it.

Jasmine Williams covers the good and the bad of today's business and marketing. When she’s not being all serious and busy, she’s usually hunched over a book or dancing in the kitchen, trying hard to maintain rhythm, and delivering some fine cooking (her family says so). Tweet her @JazzyWilliams88

Everything to Know About Third Party Car Insurance & Its Benefits

Are you planning to buy a car of your dreams? Congratulations that you will be able to cherish and fulfil your one of the dreams! However, while most of the car buyers go in the details of car size, facilities and beyond, many few care about car insurance.

Yes, if you plan to purchase a car in India, you need to know that there are two types of car insurance plans such as third party and comprehensive car insurance. One is legally bound to at least avail a third party car insurance if not the comprehensive car insurance.

Let’s talk about the concept and benefits of the third party car insurance in this short post.

What is third party car insurance?

A third party car insurance is a mandatory car insurance policy that one needs to avail as it’s a must as per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. A third party car insurance is a scheme which shields the driver or the car. It protects against any legal liability, property, and financial loss, medical expense cover due to an injury or death of any third party due to the impact of your vehicle.

Thus, if your car hits any third party, property, or injures someone even leading to his/her death, the third party car insurance company offers compensation to them. In short, you need not provide anything out of your pocket and hit loss.

The beneficiary of the policy is none other than the third party and not you

What are the benefits of the third party car insurance?

Offers financial assistance and legal cover – As discussed earlier , since a third party car insurance offers legal cover and financial assistance to any damage to self or property of a third party, it helps you take care of the burden.

Provides you peace of mind – When you are aware that the legal and financial burden of anything happening to the third party is taken care of by the insurance company, you can take a sigh of relief. 

Thus, you can just focus on relief from stress due to an accident rather than worrying about the unexpected expenses.

The dead easy process to avail a third party car insurance – You can easily procure or renew a third party car insurance as you can also do that online without issues. You can also compare many policies online and then decide one matching your needs and affordability.

Comes affordable – The third party car insurance comes affordable and does not pinch your pockets. What’s more, the benefits that it offers in the term of the legal and financial coverage is nothing in comparison to what you pay for it.

Round the clock availability – Compared to some conventional policies that are available only offline, the third party car insurance is accessible online and 24/7 on all days of the year from any location. Hence, the glitch-free mobility and accessibility of this scheme make it quite popular among car buyers.

The Bottom Line

There is no denying the fact that the kind of legal and financial assistance that it offers laced with the peace of mind makes it a must-have in today’s time. With the number of vehicles on the road increasing and accidents too, it’s smart to avail a third party car insurance. 

If you are not sure which third party car insurance will be good for you, you can compare all plans or take help from a known financial expert to help you!

Elderly Expenses: How to Apply for Social Security

Expenses for elderly persons tend to increase the same as expenses for younger citizens. However, if you’re an elderly individual, you may be retired and living on a fixed income instead of working. This income doesn’t adjust for higher living costs. 

The social security program provides one way that you might be able to deal with rising costs and get help with your expenses. In many cases, you’ve already paid into this system all your working life.

Apply for Benefits Online

The government hosts an online portal that deals with its social security program, specifically. There are multiple pages that deal with social security depending on the specific part of the program for which you want to apply. 

You can use this page to apply for retirement benefits if you are at least 64 years and nine months old. The online process usually takes just a few minutes if you have all the information the electronic forms need.

Speak with an Attorney

A qualified legal professional may be able to help you navigate the waters of social security. This person can help you understand what the system is, how it operates, what benefits you are qualified to receive, how to sign up for the service, and how to manage your finances. 




Even if you are only thinking about signing up for benefits, it’s a good idea to talk to a professional social security attorney in the field. You may receive a consultation at no cost to you that can answer your questions and put any doubts to rest.

Know Your Eligibility Status

Parts of the social security program are based around an age requirement. However, other sections of the program can rely on additional factors for eligibility. 

You may meet certain requirements that make you a candidate for benefits under multiple sections of the program. It’s a good idea to research everything social security offers to the elderly and what other factors it uses to make any determinations. 

You don’t want to pass up any money to which you might be entitled to cover your expenses.

Send Your Forms by Post

If you do not want to deal with the online portal for social security, signing in to your account, or uploading various digital documents to the site, you can send in the appropriate forms and documentation via regular mail. 

In most cases, your local social security office will accept them and send them on if necessary. Again, a knowledgeable attorney can help you figure out which forms you need and what information the government wants from you.

These are just a few tips you can use to sign up for social security. Don’t let your expenses get the better of you when assistance is available.

Worth Saving? 3 Cost of Living Expenses You May Be Tempted to Cut Down

For many people, cost of living expenses chew through the lion’s share of their income. They get to the end of the month with almost the exact same amount of money. It can prove tempting to save money by cutting down on some cost of living expenses. There are, however, three of these expenses that aren’t worth the meager savings.

Food

There are good ways and bad ways for you to cut down on food costs. Good ways include coupons, buying store brands, and even the occasional bulk buy. Once you do these things, though, you might be tempted to simply start depriving yourself of more expensive food. Think fruits and vegetables during the winter months.

That’s the bad way to cut down on food costs because it will almost certainly affect your health. Your body needs the vitamins and nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. Depriving yourself of these increases the odds of getting sick, which will cost you in medical bills, prescriptions, and missed work.

Insurance

Sooner or later you’ll look at your insurance premiums and think they’re too high. You might say, “I don’t really need that much coverage, do I?” It’s easy to think that way when you’re in good health or haven’t had an accident recently. 

The problem is that it’s hard to predict health problems or accidents. Ditching better insurance coverage for cheaper premiums leaves you in a vulnerable position if anything goes wrong. 

You can find yourself on the hook for thousands of dollars in medical costs or replacing your vehicle out of pocket. You won’t save nearly enough on your premiums to make that a good trade. Plus, you can usually find better rates with another insurance provider.

Savings

Every budget should include money for savings. Ideally, it’s 10% of your take-home income. When things get tight, you can find yourself thinking that there are better uses for that money. “I’ll replace it later,” you think.

The problem is that money that’s not in savings can’t go into a retirement account like a Roth IRA. Even if you do replace those savings later, you can’t reclaim the growth that money experiences in a retirement account. 

No matter what you buy now, it’s rare that it can exceed the long-term investment value.
Many families live on tight budgets, even in a strong economy. 

When it comes to cutting your cost of living expenses, though, some cuts aren’t worth the savings. Food, insurance, and savings are three areas where you really are better off spending the money.

How to Prepare Your Pocketbook for a Cross-Country Move

Moving all the way across the nation can be pretty intimidating, to put it mildly. It can also be a major financial commitment. If you want to get your bank account ready for this kind of relocation, you have to keep your cool. It’s wise to give your bank account a gentle warning before taking action.

Reduce Your Costs

Cutting expenses dramatically can help you prepare for your massive relocation. You may want to stop eating out for a few weeks or months before you move. 

You may want to stop spending money on extras such as movie theater tickets and cable television as well. These costs can add up dramatically.

Work a Part-Time Job

You can safeguard your bank account from moving expense shockers by working a part-time job. Getting an evening or weekend job can help you save a lot of extra cash. 




It can help you create a fund for unanticipated moving setbacks as well. If you want to avoid panic, then it can always help to have extra cash on hand.

Select an Affordable Professional Moving Company

Professional moving assistance doesn’t have to wreak havoc on your finances. If you hire a company that’s known for outstanding value, you should be A-OK. Ask people for suggestions for a moving company that is economical. 

Search the Internet for moving specials and discounts that may be offered by highly regarded relocation businesses in your area, too. If you move on a certain day, you may be able to decrease your expenses in a major way.

Look for Free Options

Paying for moving and packing tools and supplies can often be extremely costly. Paying for boxes, bubble wrap, duct tape, and the like can often make you feel like you’re going to go broke. If you want to stay away from the poorhouse, you can go above and beyond to find free options. 

Your local supermarket may have boxes that you can take for free. Free boxes can often save people hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Try to find out about tape, padding materials, and everything else, too. It can never be harmful to ask.

Don’t let any huge moving effort get the best of you. You have to be the portrait of equanimity. If you freak out, things will be a lot harder on you. If you keep your composure, you can do things the right way. You can think about cost-cutting strategies, too.

7 Crucial Things to Remember While Applying for a Home Loan

Buying your own house is like a dream come true. You get to enjoy the comfort and security of your own home. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about your landlord’s unnecessary restrictions, complaints, and rent negotiations. 

However, purchasing a house can be quite stressful due to the rising prices of the property. But don’t worry, we have listed a few things to remember before applying for the home loan:

1. Check your CIBIL score:

Before you apply for a home loan, you need to make sure that you have a decent CIBIL score.A score of 650+ is considered suitable for a home loan.If your credit score is good,banks will offer a loan at attractive interest rates.

Moreover, you may get financing up to 80-90% of the total cost of the property, if you have a good credit score. But in case there is a mistake in your credit report, tell the concerned authorities.

2. Compare interest rates: 

Before applying for a home loan, it is better to compare interest rates across various lenders. Interest rates can differ widely from lender to lender, so explore your options. 



Also, compare interest rates,maximum tenure,eligibility,processing fee and various other factors offered by different lenders. Banks and NBFCs such as Axis Bank, Citibank, HDFC, and ICICI Bank offer home loans at a lower rate of interests.

3. Additional charges:

When you are applying for a home loan, you need to be educated about the various other charges that the lenders add to the current schemes.

They will add administrative and service charges or processing fees. So before you finalize any deal, you should make note of such additional charges that the lenders ask from you.

4. Calculate EMI:

Use online Home Loan EMI calculator to know how much EMI you can afford to pay every month on the borrowed loan amount. Various banks and websites of online marketplaces like MyLoanCare have their personal EMI calculator which allows you to calculate your monthly EMI based on different loan amount, interest rate and tenure.

You can calculate the EMI amount to know how much money you have to repay every month comfortably with the income you are earning.

5. Keep your documents ready:

Keep all the important documents ready and in order before applying for a home loan. This will help to speed up loan processing. The important documents that you need to submit are: KYC documents, income proofs, bank statements and property documents.

6. Read the fine print of the agreement carefully

Read your home loan agreement carefully. Sometimes, lenders may verbally agree to certain points but in the end whatever is present on the paper will only be taken into consideration. 

So it is best if you could just spend some extra time reading the document carefully rather than getting stuck in complications later on. Never sign on a blank loan paper even if the salesperson asks you to do so.

7. Never leave a doubt

Ask questions if you have any doubts, because it is very important to be aware of every term and condition mentioned in the loan. For your satisfaction clear out everything beforehand and your dream home will be yours in a hassle-free manner.

So, if you are planning to take a home loan,make sure to consider the above-mentioned tips for easy approval of your loan application.