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It’s undeniable that the construction industry is booming. Over the past years, the demand for construction services is continuously growing, making it one of the most lucrative industries today. For this reason, many entrepreneurs venture into the world of the construction industry. If you’re one of the many, then you know that you need construction business loans to survive in a cutthroat environment.

The best way to keep your business afloat in the midst of heavy competition is to secure financing and aggressively market your business. With that said, here are four innovative ways to do so:

1. Be a Part of an Industry Association

Industry associations usually have resource hubs where contractors can network and make quality connections that will eventually lead to success. This is especially true since building relationships and making connections are important in the construction industry. Additionally, members are often allowed to advertise or market their services at low or no cost.

2. Remember Your Existing Clients and Leads

Contractors are often caught up with everyday business operations that they tend to overlook the simplest marketing strategy: following up your current leads and clients. Failing to follow up on current leads means you’re possibly missing out on great business opportunities. Likewise, you should also contact customers a few months after doing business with them. Check in and ask them if you can help them with anything. A simple call or email would suffice. When customers are happy with your service, it can lead to more business and you can even ask for referrals.

3. List Your Business in Online Directories

When a potential customer searches for the best construction company in the area, search engines often show you online directories rather than individual websites. One way to market your construction business is to list it in online directories. When listing your business, include your name, address, contact number, business hours, etc. and leave no detail behind. The details you include can affect your ranking in the directory, so make sure to double check everything. Check your online listing regularly to answer questions and respond to customer feedback.

4. Be Specific When Advertising Your Business

It’s easy to be overwhelmed when advertising your business. Some entrepreneurs list every single service they offer in their ads, but this strategy can actually backfire. Telling your target market that you can do everything can actually be boring and it can even scare customers away. The most effective way is to advertise your skills one at a time. By advertising in small fractions, you can keep your target customers engaged, which increased the likelihood of them availing the services you offer.

The Best Construction Business Loans for Your Business

When running a construction business, you need working capital to stay afloat in a competitive industry. SMB Compass offers construction business loans for businesses throughout the United States. Our trusted financial advisors can help answer the questions you have in mind. Feel free to call us (888) 853-8922 or email us at info@smbcompass.com to know more.

While one takes a holiday to relax and get away from the grind of everyday life, unexpected can happen anywhere. Therefore, it is important that you invest in a good travel insurance policy before you fly out for the well-deserved holiday. But a lot of jargon associated with travel insurance can leave you confused. Worry not, here is a quick glossary to help you with the most common terms.

Annual multi-trip cover: A policy that is valid for a period of one year from the policy start date, and covers multiple overseas trips taken during this period. Typically, these policies have a limit on how long each trip can be, and they should start and end in India. If a medical condition arises during the policy period, the insurer needs to be informed even if it was when the insured was not on a trip.

Baggage and belongings: A baggage and belongings (or baggage and personal effects) cover protects you against loss, damage or theft of your belonging either while you are on holiday or during transit. Check your policy document to be sure of the maximum coverage provided. There could also be a single article limit. You should check this if you are carrying any expensive items (like a camera) with you.

Cancellation and curtailment: Two of the important events covered by travel insurance policy. If for any reason you have to cancel your travel plans or have to cut short your trip, the insurer would refund all your prepaid expenses. The cancelation/ curtailment can happen due to a number of reasons like a family member falling sick or your leaves at the office being canceled. Do check the policy wordings to be sure of the scenarios that may not be covered.

Delay: If your flight is delayed by over 6 hours, your travel insurance would pay you a compensation. The delay is typically calculated based on scheduled arrival time at the destination, and not based on departure times. The minimum delay for which the insurance cover is invoked varies from policy to policy. Some travel insurances also cover incidental costs resulting from the delay, so make sure to keep any spending receipts you get during the delay.

Geographical limit: This is the destinations for which your travel insurance policy is valid. For example, if the geographical limit for your policy is the United States of America, the policy will only cover loss events in the country and travel to and from the country. Make sure the geographical limit for your policy includes all the nations you plan to travel to. A dependable insurance provider such as Bharti AXA GI helps secure trips to more than 130 countries.

Hazardous activities: Any activities that increase the risk of injury to yourself or to others. Such activities are typically excluded from travel insurance policies. Before you book any such activity, check with your insurer if it is covered or not. You can always invest in an add-on to cover such activities include any adventure sports activity.

Maximum policy coverage: This refers to the maximum compensation that a policy would provide towards a given expense. Make sure you are comfortable with the limits put by the policy you choose.

Personal liability cover: This term is common across many different kinds of insurance policies. In the context of travel insurance, it means that if you cause damage to someone else on your trip the insurer will cover the costs if they make a claim against you.

Pre-existing medical condition: Any medical condition that was diagnosed or treated before you purchased the travel insurance is called a pre-existing medical condition. It is important to declare such conditions to your insurer as hiding them may lead to claims being rejected.

Repatriation: Repatriation means arranging for your return home for any reason. If you get injured or fall ill during your trip, the insurer will arrange for repatriation, if required.

Usual, customary and reasonable charges: The insurers typical refund only “usual, customary and reasonable charges”. This is nothing but the prevailing amounts charged for a service at a given location in a similar facility.

Running a small business can be incredibly stressful. Indeed, a study by Office works revealed that 45% of Australian small business owners feel that their stress levels have climbed in the last year.

Naturally, the problems often stem from a shortage of cash. Getting a good business loan can be a huge help, but which type should you be most interested in?

No Assets? Try an Unsecured Bank Loan

This is a traditional bank loan. It isn’t secured against any assets or property, which means that it is a fairly high risk option from the lender’s point of view. If you don’t pay it back they will need to fight to get back their money.

Because of this, unsecured loans are typically more expensive than the secured type. They can also be awkward to arrange since the bank will have strict lending criteria. However, if you don’t have any assets it can be a decent option.

Got Assets? Ask for Secured Bank Loan

In theory, a secured bank loan should be quicker and a little bit easier to sort out than unsecured borrowing. The bank has the security of your assets, so it should also offer a lower rate and might offer a higher loan amount as well.

If you have assets then this can be a good choice. Yet, don’t expect it to be exactly easy to arrange. Banks usually aren’t the best option if you need to get hold of some money urgently and with little paperwork to be completed.

Poor Credit History? Get a No Credit Check Loan

This is a fast and easy type of small business loan. You are using an asset such as a vehicle of machinery as collateral. So, a no credit check loan can be sorted out pretty much instantly if you are in a hurry to get some cash flowing into the business.

It is a smart move when you have available assets but your credit history is poor. There is no need to jump through any hoops at the bank either, so if time is of the essence you will have fewer worries.

Want a Modern Approach? Peer to Peer Lending

This is a fairly modern approach to business borrowing that is now made available from a number of different internet sites. On the positive side, interest rates tend to be lower than with banks.

On the other hand, the lack of financial regulation in this sector of the industry might be off-putting for some people. In addition, it is sometimes necessary to take the loan out as an individual rather than in the name of the business.

A Slow Period of the Year? Look at Invoice Financing

Some businesses go through periodic slow periods when orders dry up and funds get tight. Invoice financing is a type of business loan that has been created to deal with this specific situation.

It is a way of borrowing against the money that you are due to collect from customers. Some firms that offer this facility will even take over the responsibility for collecting the money due to you on outstanding invoices.

Summary

There are now sensible borrowing method for small business with varying needs and situations. It is always worth taking some time to consider all of the available types of loan first of all.

Forex traders are often interested in running before they even learn to walk. Forex trading requires you to attend training under an experienced trading guide and sharpen your skills. You can become market-ready by joining the apprenticeship after you pursue some theoretical education.

This article throws much light on the importance of Forex education and how it can prove to be a decisive factor in trading.

What is Forex?

Forex is known as Foreign exchange, which is a decentralized international market for trading currencies. The forex market is a liquid market that operates all over the globe and even exceeds the average trading volume worth $5 trillion per day. This benchmark can’t be achieved by the combined stock markets around the world. But does that mean anything to you? Yes, as compared to the other forms of investment, you may discover specific exciting trading opportunities with forex trading.

How Forex education matters to traders?

You should download your first trading platform only after you get familiar with the trading fundamentals. That’s why it’s even more vital for you to acquire knowledge on Forex trading in advance.

The advanced operators are often of the opinion that they’re aware of all trading skills. But you can be sure that all traders have some area of opportunity and that they can upgrade their skills with time.

Thanks to the internet, it has become a lot easier nowadays to achieve quality Forex education. You’ll gain access to high-quality resources on forex trading when you have a PC and internet connectivity. Instead of risking your money on the very first day, you may try practising online trading with a demo trading account.

● Why learn Forex?

Learning Forex is essential as it balances much of your financial security. The stats are reflecting on how a significant chunk of the global population is retiring without sufficient funds. You must plan your retirement early on. After all, you won’t like to cut down your regular expenses, opt for a part-time job or put your retirement off.

○ Forex trading seems easy

The global forex market has turned out to be the biggest financial market in the world. It draws over $5 trillion in business on an average. The low costs, providing substantial leverage, and round-the-clock sessions have made it easier for you to trade in forex. However, you must remember that it’s also quite natural to lose your money while trading.

○ Trading has a technical aspect too

The technical analysis reflects the trend of price action within the trading market. Traders make the most of specific technical indicators and price charts for performing the technical analysis.

○ Security concern

Forex marks a high-risk – high-reward trading outcome. Stepping into the trading market requires you to acquire specific experience and skills if you want to trade on your own. You may consult account managers that represent a trading firm or work as individual professionals to manage your trading account for a fee. Instead of bearing any monthly or upfront payment, you may need to pay them any amount up to 30% of the profit that you earn.

If you invest in the right manner, then it’s considered to be safe. In that case, you could earn profits both in the long and short terms.

● Benefits of good Forex education

The next important point of discussion is the advantage of preparing for forex trading in advance:

○ Learn the basics of trading:

Commodities, indices, and stocks are some of the financial instruments that you’re aware of. Forex is a unique market with specific principles, terms, and concepts. That’s why you must gain more knowledge on the market before you even think of stepping in.

○ Develop your trading plan:

Forex is like any other business as has already been stated earlier. An effective trading plan needs to be in place as it happens with any company. You must keep your personal goals in mind and follow the basics of forex trading while developing your trading plan.

○ Chances of failure are likely to reduce:

Quality forex education enables you to enhance your profits and mitigate the trading risks. Once you begin to gain appropriate study and experiences, you’re bound to overcome the obstacles of the currency market. If you continue to do your research, you’re less likely to commit mistakes both through the initial and advanced stages.

● Things to consider in Forex trading

○ Risk management

Consider Risk Management as you need to manage the unforeseen challenges posed to your capital while trading. You have to make sure that you’ll sustain the losses and gain out of odds in the long run.

○ Money management

Managing the capital effectively and safely requires you to pay extra attention. Your trading account needs to grow strategically over some time.

● Where to learn Forex?

The future of the forex trading market is shaped by professionals that keep on upgrading their skills periodically. Most of these professionals owe their trading knowledge and skills to some expert instructor. Many online trading schools have created and launched stock trading courses for the rookie traders of late. A trading academy can impart the most desired professional skills and help you develop your unique online trading strategies. You can shape the future by gaining access to the global trading market with Forex trading.

Working саріtаl – аlwауѕ nееdеd tо сrеаtе a ѕtаblе cash flоw

Cаріtаl іѕ thе ѕоul оf еvеrу ѕmаll аnd grеаt enterprise. Whеn thеrе іѕ a capital ѕhоrtfаll, thе company’s ability tо rе іnvеѕt, fіnаnсе operations аnd mееt рrоduсtіоn аnd рауmеnt соѕtѕ іѕ ѕеvеrеlу аffесtеd. Thеrеfоrе, іt іѕ bеѕt tо fіnd оut thе working саріtаl ѕtаtuѕ оf a company bеfоrе mаkіng аnу kind оf іnvеѕtmеnt dесіѕіоn. Onе оf thе bеѕt wауѕ tо соntіnuе fundrаіѕіng fоr buѕіnеѕѕ аnd mееt уоur rеgulаr саѕh flow nееdѕ іѕ tо tаkе advantage оf thе dіffеrеnt еquіtу financing орtіоnѕ аvаіlаblе іn thе mаrkеt.

Stаblе саѕh flоw іѕ whаt саn kеер buѕіnеѕѕеѕ runnіng smoothly fоr уеаrѕ. Sоmеtіmеѕ entrepreneurs fоrgеt tо focus оn thіѕ kеу еlеmеnt thаt саn hеlр thеіr buѕіnеѕѕеѕ survive аnd ѕuѕtаіn dеѕріtе grоwіng competition. Hоwеvеr, thеу hаvе access tо dіffеrеnt working capital funding орtіоnѕ tо mаnаgе еnоugh mоnеу аll thе tіmе. Thе capital gеnеrаtеd thrоugh financing саn bе uѕеd іmmеdіаtеlу fоr рurсhаѕе еquірmеnt, рrоduсtіоn, еmрlоуее рауrоll, lеаѕе аnd аnоthеr tуре оf ореrаtіng соѕt thаt аrе аn integral раrt оf thе buѕіnеѕѕ. Evеn thе mоѕt еѕtаblіѕhеd buѕіnеѕѕ hоuѕеѕ wіll hаvе tо thіnk аbоut capital financing whеn unexpected соѕtѕ arise. Bу gеttіng a сlеаr idea аbоut саріtаl fіnаnсіng орtіоnѕ, еntrерrеnеurѕ wіll bе аblе tо оrgаnіzе thеіr саріtаl fundѕ ѕuссеѕѕfullу аnd mееt аll business-related expenses, whісh wіll аgаіn рrоvіdе thеm wіth greater fіnаnсіаl ѕtаbіlіtу іn thе future.

Cаріtаl Fіnаnсе – A commendable орtіоn fоr small buѕіnеѕѕеѕ

Wоrkіng саріtаl fіnаnсіng іѕ аlwауѕ important fоr ѕmаll buѕіnеѕѕеѕ. Cоmраrеd tо medium аnd lаrgе соmраnіеѕ, ѕmаll соmраnіеѕ hаvе lіmіtеd оr lіmіtеd ассеѕѕ tо thе саріtаl mаrkеt аnd оthеr rесоgnіzеd sources оf long-term саріtаl. Thаt іѕ whу thеу nееd tо rеlу hеаvіlу оn short term dеbt ѕоlutіоnѕ, mоѕt оf whісh аrе сlоѕеlу аѕѕосіаtеd wіth саѕh fіnаnсіng. Hоwеvеr, lіmіtеd ассеѕѕ tо equity аnd thе dependence оn ѕhоrt-tеrm debt саuѕеѕ аn іnсrеаѕе іn thе dеmаnd fоr a small соmраnу’ѕ саѕh flow, dесrеаѕеѕ liquidity аnd increases fіnаnсіаl lеvеrаgе – whісh саn lеаd tо аn іnсrеаѕе іn thе fіnаnсіаl rіѕk оf сrеdіt. In аddіtіоn, small businesses mау face dіffісultіеѕ іn іnсrеаѕіng short-term dеbt аnd nоt gеttіng еnоugh ѕuрроrt tо ѕесurе thе long-term dеbt nееdеd tо іmрrоvе thеіr financial situation аnd lіquіdіtу аnd minimize thеіr credit rіѕk. Wоrkіng саріtаl financing саn play a key role іn аddrеѕѕіng thіѕ problem, еѕресіаllу bу рlасіng dеbt conditions thаt ensure thаt thе соmраnу’ѕ сrеdіt risk іѕ kерt аt thе lоwеѕt lеvеl.

Thе merit оf Wоrkіng Cаріtаl Fіnаnсіng

Cаріtаl fіnаnсіng орtіоnѕ рrоvіdе benefits tо соmраnіеѕ іn mаnу wауѕ. Lеt’ѕ review ѕоmе оf thеm.

Cаріtаl financing аddrеѕѕеѕ thе cyclical оr ѕеаѕоnаl capital nееdѕ оf соmраnіеѕ. In fасt, іt сrеаtеѕ ѕhоrt-tеrm assets nесеѕѕаrу tо rеасtіvаtе thе ореrаtіоn аnd generate rеvеnuе, but whісh саn оnlу bе ассеѕѕеd аftеr рауmеnt іn саѕh.

Cаѕh fіnаnсіng аlѕо hеlрѕ ѕuѕtаіn a company’s growth.

Wоrkіng саріtаl fіnаnсіng аllоwѕ соmраnіеѕ tо іnvеѕt іn ѕhоrt-tеrm assets thаt hеlр thеm ореrаtе ѕuссеѕѕfullу. It helps rаіѕе саріtаl fоr рrераіd buѕіnеѕѕ expenses ѕuсh аѕ security deposits, lісеnѕеѕ, insurance policies аnd mоrе.

working capital funding іѕ uѕеd tо carry оut activities thаt саn іnсrеаѕе buѕіnеѕѕ ореrаtіоnѕ аnd bесоmе ѕuссеѕѕful, ѕuсh аѕ dеvеlорmеnt іn thе рrоduсtіоn unіt, continuous process аnd рrоduсt improvement, аnd market еxраnѕіоn.