Author: Jennifer Brazer

Human resources managers rarely become a company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In general, a company’s director has management and economic skills but does not have a deep understanding of Human Resource (HR) concepts. However, an HR manager has all the qualities necessary for running a company.

Overcoming the Management Barrier

The mobility of HR managers can be pretty limited. Indeed, they often transfer to different company departments or move institutions if the Human Resource Director (HRD) role is passed. They keep a supporting role for management because CEOs do not have sufficient HR skills. Thus, the director of a company is considered skilled in finance, marketing, or sales but never human resources. Regardless of perception, an essential link brings together the management of a company and the employees. In this way, HR managers can bring added value to the organization of a company if they can overcome the management barrier and become CEO.

Optimizing Employee Productivity 

Business leaders regularly experience disappointments following strategies to develop productivity. For example, CEOs want their employees to increase their output during a merger and acquisition to compensate for this organizational change. This combination of corporate cultures can negatively impact the results of this strategy and demotivate employees. An HR manager is the best person to manage employees and executives of a company by strategically introducing the new culture and values ​​of the company. They can also facilitate dialogue and give more responsibility to employees and managers, empowering them to navigate organizational change together.

Managing Performance

CEOs are not always responsive regarding performance management. They sometimes experience difficulties managing the organizational structure by offering the right tools to the right players. The best talent cannot make the most of their abilities, which results in performance suffering. An HR-experienced CEO can make faster decisions and give employees more autonomy. This need for independence can undoubtedly lead to employee errors but stimulate their production and reactivity. Similarly, an HR manager or HRD is willing to manage the moving parts, which are also at stake.

Mastering Company Image

The positive image of the company internally with employees and externally with potential candidates is essential. Internally, employees sometimes lack confidence in their management regarding poor peer performance, discrimination, or direct communication. HR managers are fully aware of these issues and know how to manage the image of a company by promoting organizational objectives. Often, upper management struggles to establish a climate of trust with the employees. HR is also capable of spreading corporate culture on the external market. They promote company values ​​to future employees with ease because they manage recruitment.

Mastering Multitasking

HR managers have multiple tasks to handle. They listen to an employee’s complaints, answer questions regarding maternity leave, and make decisions regarding hiring strategies. In HR proceedings, there is no end to potential problems; one manager can resolve an issue while another is ready to meet the next. In this way, business requirements and priorities are continuously changing and growing. Often, a single HR person has to handle and resolve all such matters simultaneously, allowing them to master being a multitasker quickly. 

Possessing Decorum and Ethics

An HR manager possesses many qualities that enable them to interact with business managers, employees, and external partners or candidates. They are experts in written and oral communication, and their skills must be well-defined, precise, influential, and according to all levels of the organization. Whenever conflict emerges between managers, teams, and peers, an HR associate plays a remarkable role in sorting out the matter as soon as possible. With these skills, the HR associate must possess tremendous corporate decorum and unwavering ethical standards.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, while it’s a rarity for Human Resources (HR) managers to ascend to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) role, their unique skill set and understanding of organizational dynamics position them as ideal candidates for such leadership positions. By overcoming the management barrier, HR managers can bridge the gap between management and employees, optimizing productivity and managing performance effectively. Their ability to master company image, multitask efficiently, and uphold decorum and ethics further underscore their suitability for executive roles. By recognizing and leveraging the valuable contributions of HR professionals, organizations can cultivate stronger leadership pipelines and foster a culture of inclusivity, productivity, and ethical excellence.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Understanding the nuanced distinction between good and bad debts is paramount in personal and corporate finance. While debts are conventionally categorized as either productive or unproductive based on their utility and sustainability, it’s crucial to recognize the role of planning in debt management. Regardless of this classification, effective planning can mitigate risks and enhance sustainability.

In this context, we explore key strategies to avoid falling into the trap of bad debts, including meticulous planning, focus on essential expenditures, proactive expense tracking, and preventing unnecessary debts. By implementing these principles, individuals and businesses can navigate the complex terrain of debts with confidence and foresight, ensuring that financial decisions align with long-term goals and values and fostering financial stability and peace of mind.

Difference Between Bad Debts and Good Debts

According to scholars of personal and corporate finance, debts can be classified into good and bad based on their use and purpose.

In other words, debts are neither good nor bad, but depending on what they are going to do with them and what their purpose is, they are determined to be adequate debts or not. The correct term to refer to them is productive and unproductive.

In this sense, good debts can add value to what is being done, and you can pay that with productive activity. In other words, it is the debts that are “self-sustainable.”

Are All Debts Good, Right, and All Bad, Bad? 

Based on the above, everything seems clear about what bad debts are and are not. However, although these are the definitions provided by books and scholars of finance, I allow myself to differ from them. Since, for me, the debts are good or bad depending on the planning.

Note that what is alluded to in the outstanding debt, referring to it as good, is that you can sustain it, and the bad one has nowhere to sustain itself. So, the issue focuses on the sustainability of the debt. Therefore, to the extent that the debt is sustainable, it is good, and it should not be based on whether it is productive.

Keys to Avoid Bad Debts

In that sense, I want to share some keys that you can implement in your personal or business financial management to avoid taking on bad debts. But they are under what you bring value, not necessarily money, but also the peace and tranquility you need.

Plan Your Debt

The first key you must consider to avoid bad debts is the planning of your mortgage. It is not prudent or logical to make a quick mental calculation of whether you can pay. But you must analyze, coldly and consciously, if you can assume this responsibility, which usually has a minimum of 6 to 12 months.

For this, you must see how your cash flow is. You must understand how much you earn and how much you spend to determine whether that difference covers the monthly fee you will pay. You must, within that same analysis, elaborate on your financial behavior during the month.

Focus on What Matters

Then, plan your debt and see the effect it would have on your cash flow. You must focus on what matters, which means that you should not get into debt.

Identify if You Can Avoid Debt

The final key I want to offer you is the one that can be the most important. It prevents you from taking bad debts and is to see if you can avoid getting into debt.

Create a Report for Tracking Your Expenses

Tracking your expenses gives you many benefits as it prevents excessive debt problems. Also, you can save sound money for the future. You must know how much you spend and save and your unnecessary expenditures. For this, making a proper sheet or report highlighting all your monthly expenses is better. You will get an accurate result when you update it regularly. Pay all your bills on your cards and accounts if you don’t want to be a debtor.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Are you autonomous, and do you have to create invoices often? Does it happen to you that you often make mistakes in the invoices? Sometimes, we are not prepared to do the simplest thing because without going further, creating invoices is a simple task that we do repetitively without thinking, which gives rise to many human errors that can have consequences.

Billing errors can occur out of position in your accounting, generating confusion and doubts in your customers or even making you pay disgraces. In short, making mistakes when making invoices can also be very expensive.

What mistakes happen when creating an invoice? Here are six failures you should avoid. Several shortcomings can sometimes occur in the creation of invoices. These are some of the essential elements.

Jumps in Invoice Numbers

As you know, invoices must have a numbering. This numbering must be logical and consecutive. It is incorrect that there are jumps from one numbering to another or that we make subsequent invoices with a previous numbering.

Before inspecting the treasury, all these errors can indicate that your invoice book does not collect everything you are invoicing. They may be minor mistakes, but it’s worth not taking a risk.

Billing After Unsubscribing

Invoice creation is a serious matter. If you will unsubscribe as a freelancer, you better make the invoices before and with the correct date. Making post-discharge invoices as a self-employed person can lead to difficulties if the treasury asks you for the invoices since if you are discharged, you can no longer generate invoices.

Some freelancers sometimes unsubscribe during the year when they do not invoice enough and then register to create the invoices. You must be careful since it is not as simple as signing up for a month, billing everything, then unsubscribing, and staying like this for the rest of the year.

Make Invoices Without the Correct VAT

There are different types of VAT: 4%, 10%, and 21%. Depending on the type of activity, product, and service, one type of VAT applies. It should also be clear that you will not always have to include VAT in the invoice, for example, if you make invoices to other companies in the Canary Islands or an extra EU country.

Also, consider your situation concerning intra-EU countries. To avoid VAT on an invoice of this type, you must register in the Registry of Intra-Community Operators and that your client is also. If you have a European NIF / CIF and your client is in VIES, you can avoid VAT.

Do Not Clarify the Concept of the Service and Product

The product or service you have sold must be clear on the invoices you make. Your client can be clear about what he has bought, and you are asking to present the invoices to the Tax Agency for the case.

If you want clear invoice concepts, it is best to program them correctly. For instance, if the business sells products, it is straightforward to create an inventory with the names of the products and ensure that these appear clear.

Do Not Include Personal Income Tax Withholding When Applicable

If you are self-employed, you usually work with companies, which is a requirement by the professional activity you are in. You must include invoices with an IRPF withholding. That means you must apply a -15% withholding tax base, which will be borne by the company you collaborate with.

If you are a newly self-employed person, you can put an income tax withholding of 7% during the first three years, which will leave you, in theory, more liquidity if you do not invoice much.

Wrong Date On Your Invoices

The date of your invoices must be consecutive. You cannot create an invoice of number 071 dated May 15 and then a 072 invoice dated January 1. It must make each invoice within the corresponding quarterly period since you will pay VAT and may have to advance personal income tax; that way, the numbers do not add up.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Those who wish to realize dreams in a planned way can rely on the different types of consortiums to help in this journey. And the best, many people do not know, but conquering much more than vehicles and real estate through the consortium is possible. Did you know that there is, for example, an appliance consortium?

You can choose the most suitable consortium according to your needs and thus get what you want without exceeding your monthly budget or paying high-interest loans. Learn more about the consortium and the different modalities you can hire!

What Types of Consortia Exist?

Unlike many people think, the consortium is not just for buying goods. It is more than possible if you plan to hire several services! Through the consortium, you can, for example:

• Perform a renovation in the house to leave her as she always dreamed
• Organize a party, be it an anniversary, wedding, or graduation
• Planning a trip and sightseeing in paradisiacal places
• Buy more modern and economical appliances for your home
• Do aesthetic procedures to raise self-esteem
• Perform expensive health care procedures to pay cash

It is essential to choose the mode you are going to hire carefully. After all, it’s not because “everything is even consortium” that you can get into a group to buy a car and then use the money to make a trip, for example. Each contract provides a specific form of use of the letter of credit.

So, let’s get down to business! From now on, check out the main types of consortium to see which one truly meets your needs.

The Consortium of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Aircraft

The consortium is the most popular and often more targeted type for buying cars and motorcycles. But know, you can find consortia for new and semi-new vehicles, trucks, tractors, and even aircraft!

But each type of consortium has a specific audience, of course. See if the vehicle suits your personal or professional needs and whether the monthly installments are within your budget.

There are many advantages to buying vehicles through consortiums! You do long-term planning and do not have to submit to interest on financing and leasing, which can significantly burden the product’s price.

In addition, you can do more than one consortium simultaneously or in sequence when it is contemplated, for example. Multiples help entrepreneurs who want to expand their business in a planned way.

The Consortium of Appliances and Other Movable Property

Some hire consortiums to buy computers, more modern devices, and even planned furniture. However, as this is an inexpensive good, the consortium for home appliances is not so popular.

But it is good to know that it exists! After all, it may be cheaper to join a consortium group than to use in-store cards because the price usually changes a lot.

An appliance consortium allows you to purchase the most varied items, including:

• Refrigerators
• Televisions
• Computers
• Tablets

Real Estate Consortium

Many also acquire consortiums to buy houses, apartments, seasonal homes, rural properties, and plants. As this good is usually costly to allow for cash purchase, the real estate consortium is very popular.  

In addition, it is an attractive option because it offers many savings and more flexible conditions than the financing lines of the Housing Financial System (SFH).

Look, anyone who owns a home cannot finance another through SFH. Likewise, this line of credit does not allow the purchase of land without construction or real estate for commercial purposes since it aims to acquire a dwelling. But the consortium has no limitations; you choose the property according to your needs!

Conclusion

In conclusion, consortiums offer diverse avenues for realizing dreams systematically. Beyond vehicles and real estate, many are unaware of the myriad possibilities, from appliances to aesthetic procedures, that can be acquired through these arrangements. Careful selection of the appropriate consortium aligns with personal needs while staying within budgetary constraints.

Whether for vehicles, appliances, or real estate, consortiums offer a strategic pathway to achieving aspirations without the burden of high-interest loans. Understanding each contract’s specific terms is essential to maximize the benefits of the offered credit. With consortiums, individuals can confidently embark on their desired ventures, supported by flexible and cost-effective financing options.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

In the U.S., in most states, you are required to carry car insurance. This requirement means that every person who owns a vehicle must obtain it. Therefore, the car insurance business is highly competitive. This competitiveness equals a lot of savings to customers when purchasing car insurance.

Though the recent pandemic saw a significant dip in car sales in 2020, the economy is recovering, and car sales are on the rise. Most people opt for owning or leasing a vehicle rather than using public transportation, so car insurance is a must.

There are several factors to consider when purchasing a car and the insurance that goes with it. Sometimes, your car purchase decisions may hinge on how much it will cost to insure it each month. Therefore, you must consider the cost to insure it before purchasing your car.

Comprehensive Car Insurance

When we think of insurance, the first thing that comes to mind is to protect our car from theft or a collision, assuming that other drivers are the ones who drive badly. You can be the most careful driver with defensive driving skills and still be vulnerable to accidents, theft, or damage done by acts of God.

However, when purchasing car insurance, you must cover for what other drivers may do. If you get into an accident with an uninsured driver, even if they are at fault, your insurance will have to cover you if you expect to replace or repair your car.

Understanding Car Insurance

There are other accident factors to consider that will cause your insurance to be engaged to cover the damage. These factors could include a hit-and-run, where the damage was done while your car was parked, or single-car accidents in which you have hit an object or animal, causing damage.

If you carry basic liability insurance required by most states, it will not cover you if you have an accident. Liability insurance covers you if you are at fault and cause damage to another person’s vehicle. While only carrying what is required by law is cheaper, you must factor in your needs in an accident where another person’s insurance will not cover the damage.

Insurance Considerations for Financed Cars

If you are financing your car, most lending institutions require full coverage if the car is damaged before you fully own it. When getting a quote for your insurance coverage, you must factor in what is required by law and the lending company. However, you may also want to add some benefits to your coverage, such as roadside assistance and car rental coverage.

Most insurance companies have a minimal cost added if you need roadside assistance. Therefore, it could be economical to add to your monthly insurance cost in most cases. Car insurance companies generally have a website on which you can adjust to find the costs of various types of coverage.

Choosing Car Insurance

When determining what coverage you need, you should apply the old saying, “It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.” In most cases, you should insure your vehicle for the most you can afford, depending on its value.

There are many policies for your car, with more or fewer services, and with more or less coverage. Find the one that suits your needs. Remember that the greater the coverage and services, the higher the price—request options, especially for different coverages. You will be surprised by the existing offer.

Conclusion

Take some time and read your policy, ask for help from your advisor, or approach your insurance company for information on your coverages; it is essential to know your benefits and, above all, your obligations. The policy is a contract, so you must know it. It doesn’t matter if you drive a newer vehicle or an old model; you need to be covered just in case life plans hit you or your car.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Imagine what the world would be like without cars. Now, think about self-driving cars with you sitting in the driving seat. The first thought may be a figment of your imagination, but the second is not. On the contrary, self-driving vehicles are as accurate as humans, just different. Companies such as Google and Waymo are working on a self-drive car and do so with utmost ease.

There were challenges in developing this technology, and some vendors are still testing their variants. Google’s self-driving car was a concept that became a reality thanks to the relentless focus on the company hierarchy on developing a quality product for the masses while keeping it affordable.

The Technology

Many companies are doing their bit to develop self-driving cars. It is just a matter of time before you investigate the history of these vehicles. The overall development continues, but there have been instances when companies tested these cars. When we discuss self-driving cars, Google’s self-driving automobile comes to mind. The car has been around since 2006 and has been going through rigorous testing.

The car is a marvel of cutting-edge technology, combining microchip-based processing units and software to make the vehicle work. Google has been rigorously working on and testing many prototype vehicles for years. The self-driving car has covered several laps of 100-mile runs and continues to do so. The self-driving car is going through a testing phase, during which the technology is tested for reliability, affordability, and the response of systems installed. The car is expected to include limited functionality with other manually controlled functions. The driver can choose to have the drive and park the vehicle manually or automatically. Automatic assisting for brakes is also there for improved survivability.

Once the prototype phase is over, many companies will jump in with their self-driving cars and robots. Self-driving vehicles are anticipated to be a common sight on the road soon enough. Delays in the project are just a matter of time, and these cars will be on roads before 2030. The improving technology proves that these cars are about to hit production.  

Big Players Jumping In

Self-driving cars continue to hold promise as a significant development in transportation, with numerous automobile manufacturers increasingly investing in their development. Companies like Tesla, General Motors, and Ford actively explore and test autonomous vehicle technologies. While progress has been made, the widespread deployment of fully autonomous vehicles has yet to materialize as initially predicted.

Despite optimistic projections, the timeline for the widespread adoption of self-driving cars has yet to be pushed back. Challenges such as regulatory hurdles, safety concerns, and technological limitations persist, contributing to delays in realizing a fully autonomous driving future. However, ongoing research and development efforts suggest that self-driving cars remain a viable and evolving frontier in the automotive industry.

Despite these challenges, Waymo remains at the forefront of self-driving technology development. They have expanded their testing programs, formed partnerships with automotive manufacturers and ride-hailing companies, and continued to innovate in areas such as sensor technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. While the timeline for achieving widespread adoption of fully autonomous vehicles may have shifted, Waymo’s dedication to advancing self-driving technology underscores autonomous transportation’s enduring significance and potential.

The Future of Cars

Driving a car can be a hectic experience if you are not used to it. Taking your vehicle for a long drive can make you feel tired and frustrated. Surprisingly, humans tend to feel bored and tired even when driving a luxury car with top-line features. With intelligent vehicles soon to hit the road, you need not worry about getting exhausted and bored.

The revolution is just around the corner, with many vendors trying to include features that will get you to your desired place in no time. Self-driving vehicles are all set to help you make significant savings without compromising your family’s safety.

What About Production?

The company completed prototypes years ago, but improvements to the design drive comfort, automation, and integration. These vehicles will revolutionize the way we drive in many ways. Automated cars will help us make significant savings on fuel economy without compromising on mileage. Two concepts are being worked upon – hybrid and electric propulsion cars. Both will improve fuel economy through a cutting-edge ecosystem that monitors the fuel status and displays the driver’s information. The driver will be there and can take over by pressing a button if he prefers.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Since the start of E-Commerce prospects, there has been a never-ending debate between retail brick-and-mortar and online sales. You cannot answer the argument simply by observing the behavior of a retail customer. 

To start a business, you must decide whether to launch a physical store or consider E-commerce. In some cases, you can use both. But how do you determine which option is better for you, as both industries are massive? While in-person shopping is still preferred, online shopping has grown three times faster. 

But what makes both these options stand out from each other?

Let us look at some key differences and statistics with the pros and cons of running both.

Key Difference

The first key difference between these two business options is the location. E-commerce stores host their businesses online, so customers can shop from anywhere. However, customers cannot touch a product and must see it through videos or pictures. Online sales have a better reach, as they cover a larger geographical area. Another added benefit for shoppers in online sales is that they avoid the hassle of going all the way to a store and back. Online is the best option for shoppers who do not want to do in-person shopping.

Brick-and-mortar retailers have a physical location to sell their products, and customers can see them in person. For in-person shopping, the customer must travel to that location personally. The experience of physical store shopping is entirely different from that of E-commerce shopping. Physical stores have storage spaces and do not need a shipping fee for delivery. Customers can decide whether to buy a product after having a close look. Businesses located physically can cater only to a particular area or locality. 

Online Shopping vs. In-store Statistics

There is a lot to consider when comparing both these business options. Research has helped us provide valuable statistics for both parts of the retail industry. Some significant numbers include:

• The consumer spent $861.02 billion in 2020 on online shopping, an incredible jump of 44% since 2019. Retail stores increased to $4.04 trillion, a 6.9% increase from last year.
• 67% of Millennials report a preference for e-commerce or online shopping.
• More than 55% reported visiting a store before making an online purchase decision.  
• Online spending among men is 30% higher than women.
• 35% of adults shop using their smartphones
• 40% of consumers prefer online shopping to save their time. 
• More than 5,500 brick-and-mortar stores closed down, and are expected to rise in coming years
• Online sales have grown by 300% since 2001.

Preferences of Both These Options

The customers you hope to attract will be a significant factor in choosing your business model. Here are some primary reasons for customers to consider their preferences.

Preferences for E-commerce or Online Sales

• They can buy from an online store anywhere and anytime
• Price matching is more accessible in online stores
• Online sales are more convenient for customers
• They do not have to wait in lines, and the service is faster
• Items are easier to find and more readily available online
• The free shipping option makes online sales more attractive

Preference for Brick-and-Mortar Stores

• Customers can physically interact with the products to make purchase decisions easier
• They do not have to wait for the product shipment if they buy in person
• They can speak personally to a customer service representative rather than online
• There are no shipping costs associated with in-store shopping
• Easy returning policy
• The experience of in-person shopping is more interactive

Why do Brick-and-Mortar Still Matter?

61% of customers still shop in physical stores, whereas 31% prefer online shopping. One of the most fundamental drivers of online shopping is the interaction and personal experience that a customer receives. Brick-and-mortar stores will continue to make their mark until e-commerce can find a solution for same-day or 1-day delivery. 

Another massive point for brick-and-mortar stores is that shoppers have a 40% chance of spending more when shopping in-store. At the same time, the likelihood of extra spending in the online store is only 25%. 

Which is Better?

E-commerce is a rapidly growing market, but the physical store will still dominate until the Internet can provide the benefits of in-store shopping. 

On the other hand, in-store shopping needs to evolve its experience to compete with the convenience of online stores. The biggest test for brands is creating an experience that incorporates online and in-person shopping. 

Both these options are helpful in their own way. The choice lies in the customer’s decision and preferences. 

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity. Reviewed By: Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.

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Not every project manager can be an entrepreneur, but all entrepreneurs must be project managers to run their businesses successfully. Whether it is about a startup or securing an investment that involves a series of steps, it must be dealt with as a project. While many elements of project management remain the same for both startups and corporations alike, small businesses have a slightly different approach from large organizations.

In large organizations, disciplines, and principles are usually taken for granted, including teamwork on standard processes and within a defined system of steps with clear scope and timelines. However, in small-scale businesses, the project management teams are not as established, and there is often a controlling environment. The owner usually takes on the role of project manager, which is more expansive than larger organizations. They rarely have formal training as a project manager, which is a drawback. 

Principles of Project Management 

The basic principles of project management that help founders and owners of startups include goal establishment, setting strategy, planning, and implementing actions. Weekly prioritization and tracking of these actions until completion should occur, and separate management and strategic meetings might be needed to assign and track these actions. A development plan for the business should be created against these goals and used as a filter to evaluate progress according to that plan.

Communication, setting achievable goals, and organizing new plans are among the project management skills that are most useful in developing a platform. These skills are essential for every entrepreneur to become successful.

Starting a business is a project with various milestones to meet if you want to run it successfully. Project management teaches people the skills to develop the mindset necessary to overcome challenges.

Learning what true leadership means, balancing motivation, mediating, and inspiring people is one of the essential project management practices. However, you cannot be a great leader if you cannot communicate correctly. Project management also requires understanding people, listening to their concerns, and resolving their queries. As an entrepreneur, you must become a good project manager and an example for others.

Advantages of Project Management in Startups

Startups usually have a limited number of projects associated and cannot afford to lose any of them. To ensure that everything remains in proper order, completing the projects within the given timelines and according to requirements is essential. Project management ensures that every project remains within timelines and is completed accordingly.

The task window is essential for any project, and a single mistake can jeopardize the whole project. Project management divides all these tasks and creates an effective workflow to prevent disorganization. It helps to identify all stages that need completion before moving to the final phase.

Risks are also essential to a business and are associated with almost all projects. To minimize the chances of failure, you must identify the risks involved. It would help if you tried to identify what actions can cause the project to go off-track. Project management allows users to assess all the potential risks and take necessary actions to prevent their impact on the project. An integral part of project management is risk mitigation. Not every project can go according to plan, and there are hurdles along the way that project management helps identify.

The successful completion of projects requires their completion within budget and timelines. Every project has a cost that you need to control for successful completion. Project management helps identify the initial cost and the steps necessary to stay within budget. Project management gives an effective resource allocation that pinpoints activities for completion.

Final Word

Project management is essential to every small business, as entrepreneurs need to ensure everything operates smoothly. Therefore, it is a must-have tool for your startup. With effective project management, you never have to worry about missing any project details or completion date.

You can smooth every activity from the initial level to the final phase easily through project management. As the startup owner, you must embrace this importance and make it a part of your organization.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity. Reviewed By: Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.

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What is the Internal Rate of Return (IRR)?

According to Expansion, “The IRR of a financial debt asset is that one rate of discount or discount that equals the price of a bond with the flow of payments generated by the bond. In the case of debt assets, it is an indicator that reports on the average annual return on the maturity of a bond or obligation. It is useful when comparing bonds with various characteristics, coupons, and maturities. “

What is the Coupon, and How Does it Differ from the IRR (Yield)?

The coupon is the interest the bondholder will receive periodically for lending money to the issuing company/state. It is a fixed percentage established contractually, expressed in the bond’s prospectus.

The bonds become issued with a nominal value of $100 (or any of its multiples). This is when the coupon matches the return. Once they start trading on the market, their prices fluctuate according to supply and demand. In these cases, it is where the IRR can get away from the coupon. Each investor will buy the flow of funds (coupons + capital amortizations) at a specific value given by the current bond price. This price will determine the performance of each investor.

What is the Relationship Between the IRR and the Price of the Bond?

The price of a bond is based on its performance and has an inverse relationship. If the bond price drops, we buy it cheaper, so we have more profitability, and the IRR will increase. In other words, the investor is willing to pay less for the same flow of funds. If, on the contrary, the bond price goes up, we will buy it more expensive so that we will obtain less profitability, and the IRR will go down. In other words, the investor is willing to pay more for the same cash flow and coupon.

Issues to consider

The IRR calculated at the time of investing in the return that we will obtain at the end of the term and includes three elements:

• Coupons receivable throughout the life of the voucher
• Collection of the principal (capital amortizations)
• Reinvestment of coupons

What conclusions can we obtain?

For each sheet with a nominal value of $100, we will receive $8,375 annually in interest to be paid semi-annually.

• The bond is quoted on par. The purchase price is $117 (greater than $100).
• Consequently, the 8.375% coupon is higher than the 6.71% yield.
• The company will only obtain a yield of 6.71% if we keep the bond until maturity and reinvest the coupons to this same IRR. If we do it at a lower rate, we will obtain a lower yield; if it is at a higher rate, the product will increase.

With a duration of 10.04, the investment is expected to recover in about ten years.

American Market

The actions ended the session on Friday with a massive rally that helped push them to end the week with solid gains. The barrel price presented a recovery, and the shares responded accordingly. The US consumer sector is currently the leading economy. The supply of properties is limited, which helps maintain and even increase prices, but this situation can be reversed if wages do not improve.  

The Bank of Japan also contributed to Friday’s rally after unexpectedly adopting a hostile interest rate policy for the first time. We should remain skeptical of the real benefits of this policy, given that Europe failed, although it is a sign that central banks are willing to act on the matter. 

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) rose 1.7% in the week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($ DJI) increased the indexes by 2.3%. The Nasdaq (QQQ) had a minimum rise of 0.03%, while the small caps (RUT, IWM) rose 1.5%. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) is outside correction territory, but markets are expected to remain volatile. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

A mortgage loan is a loan taken by an individual to purchase real estate or by property owners to raise money for any other transaction by mortgaging their property. A mortgage loan is one of the most common loans taken by individuals and businesses. Mortgage loans have an interest rate and amortize over some time, usually 30 years. This article discusses various types of mortgage loans and helps you decide the right one for you!

Fixed-Rate Loans

A fixed-rate loan is one of the most uncomplicated mortgage loans. The borrower must pay a single monthly interest rate, which usually ranges between 15-30%. The loan is for homeowners who avoid taking risks and want to pay a fixed amount until the life of the loan. The changes in the interest rate in the economy will not impact the mortgage loan; therefore, the borrower enjoys high predictability. However, a Fixed-Rate Loan is not for people who plan on moving to another house soon.

FHA Loan

An FHA loan is a type of mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration and is very popular amongst people buying their first home. The loan allows a down payment of 3.5% for people with a score above 580. The loan for people with credit scores between 500-579 gets a 10% down payment. The interest will be higher for people with low credit scores. To get an FHA loan, the borrower must be at least two years out of bankruptcy with a well-established credit score after the bankruptcy. 

Conventional Mortgages

A conventional mortgage is a mortgage that the federal government does not insure. There are two types of traditional loans: non-conforming and conforming loans. A conforming loan is a loan that is within limits set by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. Non-conforming loans do not meet any such guidelines. The lenders pay private mortgage insurance on various conventional loans when 20% of the purchase price of the real estate is settled. The overall cost of borrowing a traditional mortgage is lower than other mortgages. However, sometimes the interest rate is higher. 

Adjustable-Rate Mortgage

An adjustable-rate mortgage has an interest that keeps changing throughout the loan, with the country’s interest rate changing. The loan initially has a fixed interest rate for five to ten years, after which the interest rate changes as per the prevailing interest rate. The variable interest rate is based on an index rate benchmark that varies with the market conditions. The borrower enjoys a lower interest rate in the fixed-rate period than a traditional fixed-rate loan. 

Non-Confirming Loans

Non-conforming loans are loans that exceed the limits of conforming loans. The conforming loan limit Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set is $424,100 for the United States. The loan limit may go up to $635,050 for high-cost areas of the United States. 

There are various types of Conforming Loans. A Jumbo Loan is a loan given to borrowers when the limit of their respective area has been exceeded. However, since the amount is higher, the Jumbo Loan is difficult to get. Most lenders require a score above 680 to qualify for the Jumbo Loan and a 15% – 20% down payment. Jumbo Loans go over 1 million and are called Super Jumbo Loans. Lenders may give up to 3 million to borrowers with an excellent credit score. 

Cash-Out Refinance

A Cash-Out Refinance means that the mortgage is refinanced, and the cash is acquired using the house’s equity. The borrower will have to make one monthly mortgage payment, and the interest rates are lower than other equity loans. You can cash around 80% of the house’s value with the Cas-Out Refinance loan. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.