Leaving your day job

Leaving Your Day Job

Leaving your day job to start a home-base business is stressful, but if you plan properly, you can succeed. Depending on which type of home business you want to start, working from home is possible if you have a computer, Internet connection, and a workspace. You may also need to invest in printer, fax machine, and separate phone line if you need to talk with clients on a regular basis. The only other expense may be for marketing materials, website, or listings in phone directories. Researching your needs before starting your business can help so you can prepare a budget.

Before leaving your day job, make sure that you have enough in your savings account to cover at least three months worth of expenses. Because many businesses take at least two before you will see any profits, being prepared and not having to worry about living expenses and paying for emergency situations will help you concentrate on starting a solid business without being pressured to make a profit right away. If you have a spouse, make sure you discuss your idea with them. If they have a health insurance plan, ask them to add you to it if you are not already on it. This will save money in having to buy your own policy.

If you are planning to use your job as a reference or if you are planning to become a consultant for the company, make sure you leave your position on good terms. Give ample notice so your employer can find a replacement. If you are planning to become a consultant, maintain your current contacts as they may become useful later on.

Making the transition from working in an office to working from home is difficult for some people. The need to work all the time because you have access to your computer, and the potential ruts you will get into when working by yourself can be frustrating in the beginning. By developing a routine and sticking it will help you make the adjustment. Expanding your business and focusing on the future will also help. You should create a business plan that can help you reach your goals or at least define them. This will give you a greater sense of purpose.

When you are ready to leave your day job, you should have a solid plan on where you want your business to go. If you will be staying in the same field, take the skills you have learned and use them. Keep in mind that it will take hard work and determination to reach your goals, but that you will reach them eventually. Networking with other business professionals can help you increase your client base and help you make the transition even easier.

How to prevent indoor water damage

How to Prevent Indoor Water Damage

At first, small signs of water damage may seem trivial. Eventually, however, these trivial signs can ultimately lead to larger and more severe problems. Water stains on ceilings can lead to weakened roofing, leaks under the kitchen sink can lead to rotten floorboards and burst pipes can possibly even damage furniture and other personal possessions. By learning where in your home you may be most susceptible to water damage, the better your chances of preventing water damage inside your home.

Kitchen

— Sinks – Any caulking that appears deteriorated in any way should be replaced. Pipes beneath the sink should be checked for leaks.
— Dishwasher – On the occasion the hose that connects the water supply to the dishwasher should be checked. Search for evidence around the base of the dishwasher for leaks like, discolored, warped or soft flooring materials or water damage to nearby cabinets.
— Refrigerator – Most refrigerators have ice makers. Make sure the hose connection is securely attached to the water supply line.

Bathrooms

— Showers and Bathtubs – Deteriorated/cracked caulking or grout should be removed and replaced.
— Sinks – Same process as kitchen sinks
— Toilets – Avoid toilet clogging and harsh chlorine tablet cleansers that may corrode internal parts.

Basement, Laundry or Utility Room
— Water Heaters – Most last about 8 to 15 years. Wet spots on floor or rusted areas on the tank may signal a leak. Should be installed on the lowest level of the home.
— Washing Machine – Hoses should be checked regularly for bulging, cracking, fraying and leaks. Hose should be replaced every three to five years.

Entire Home

— Shut off water supply and check to see if the water meter continues to spin.

Lease versus own

Lease Versus Own

Lease versus Own

The foundation for success…

A common challenge for all businesses is how to pay for the equipment needed to perform their services. Even among experts and professionals, opinions will often vary. The one thing you must recognize is that each business is unique and there are no standards that work for everyone. Only you know what your capital reserves are and what type of reserves your business will require from month-to-month. While some businesses are more sophisticated than others, only you have access to the full spectrum of your financial position today and the forecast of what responsibilities there are to come. It is not only essential that you prepare yourself adequately; it’s crucial.

In the beginning, one of the first professionals you should confer with is a Tax professional. This person can view your company in its totality and then match your company’s needs with the proper tax plan. It is an accepted belief that proper tax planning is the primary step to a successful business. Upon properly identifying your needs, it’s now time to strategize your method of operation. To assist you with that method, we’ve compiled a simple list of the advantages and disadvantages of leasing equipment versus that of buying it. This list is generic but reveals the industry norms of features and benefits. As you review, apply these characters to your business and see how it measures up. Good luck!

Own

1. When you decide what equipment to use, you are of course purchasing it. The equipment is yours to do with as you please.

2. By purchasing the equipment, you have immediately created an asset to your company profile.

3. Depending on what your equipment is and how your company is structured; you may be entitled to certain tax benefits such as writing off the expense in the first year. (Check with a tax professional)

4. There are no payments. (You own it.)

5. Now that you own the equipment, you have the option to resell it. (At a lesser price)

Lease

1. The first benefit is that if you don’t have the reserves to purchase, a lease is a viable option.

2. If you were going to purchase with a bank loan, then the bank would likely require a 20% down payment. By leasing the equipment, the standard is that you are required one or two month’s payment upfront and that’s it.

3. Although you are leasing the equipment, it is still an asset to your company.

4. Even though you have a monthly payment, you also have the option to upgrade the equipment prior to it becoming obsolete.

5. When you acquire assets, you want assets that will appreciate in value not depreciate. With many equipment materials needed to function, they will depreciate after the first year of usage.

6. By leasing all of your equipment, you may be able to fully write-off up to 100% of your payments as a business expense. (Check with a tax professional.)

7. Most items can be leased such as phones, furniture and computers, not just heavy machinery.

8. Choosing a lease allows you the flexibility to maintain capital reserves for payroll and miscellaneous expenses that may occur.

9. There are numerous types of leases that can cater to your business profile and your company’s needs.

10. Lease rates are ‘fixed’ and range in term from 12 to 60 months.

As you can see, the features of leasing far outweigh that of purchasing or owning the equipment for many businesses. Eight out of ten businesses prefer leasing over that of buying. The list you just reviewed points out the key components to both options but with further investigation, you’ll find that leasing offers many more opportunities to fulfill your desires.

Please speak with an equipment leasing professional to locate the proper lease for your company. It’s good business!

J. R. Parler

JRParler@yahoo.com

Commercial Real Estate and Finance Specialist

How can i make my printer run more efficiently

How Can I Make My Printer Run More Efficiently?

If you own a Brother printer or copy machine there are many good reasons why you should also use original Brother toner cartridges in your printer. By the same token, there are many reasons why you should avoid using compatible Brother toners, refurbished Brother toner or try to refill your own cartridge. If cost is an issue, you may find it better serves you and your home or business to work out ways to conserve on the amount of printing you do, rather than trying to save money by using compatible toner in your cartridges. The problem with many refurbished cartridges is that while the toner inside the cartridge itself is changed, usually the individual parts such as rollers and small gears are not changed and they are often quite worn to the point that they no longer perform well at all.

At worst, using worn cartridge parts inside your printer could do some damage. At best, it can cause a lot of delay and frustration when you install your refurbished cartridge and it does not work, and thus has to be replaced. This is never a problem when you purchase original Brother toners. Another consideration is that not all toner is the same composition. Brother toner is made specifically to use with the specified models of Brother printers and has the right combination of toner and developer to help it to run smoothly and produce optimum print copies — which is especially important if you are using these prints and toners for something like a corporation or business.

Using an original cartridge will also help to protect the Brother drum inside your printer. Incidentally, to help offset costs, Brother printers have Brother drums, which means you can extend the life of your printer for quite some time. As with the cartridges though, if you do need to replace your drum it is important to use an original drum, not a refurbished or compatible model. One of the best ways to conserve on the amount of money spent on toner cartridges is to do the bulk of your printing on draft mode, which can usually be accessed through the printer properties.

This is usually sufficient for most documents and pages printed. In fact, you can make printing in draft mode your default and that will help you to avoid ‘accidentally’ printing out a long document in a higher quality. Also, proofread and correct any documents before you go ahead and print. Most word processing programs have spelling and grammar checking options, so be sure to use them as a lot of paper and toner can be wasted by printing unedited work and then having to reprint again. If you need to print out something for informational purposes, try to only print the section that contains the instructions or information you need, rather than printing an entire document.

Above all, in order to lengthen the life of your Brother printer, use original Brother toner cartridges and an original Brother drum. This is probably one of the best ways to ensure that your printer will not only last you a long time, but also give optimum printing results.