Working from home is becoming more mainstream because it is a good and cost-effective way of earning extra income every month. A home-based business is an excellent option for those who don’t want to continue their 9-5 job and want to test their business skills with a low-cost means.
A business needs determination, patience, and perseverance. Using your money wisely and saving money each month can go a long way. Keeping your investments with a bank is not a good choice; instead, invest that money into a low risk with an expected return project initially.
Every business has some risks, but starting a small business from home will not be as risky as investing in a significant market. Here are some home-based business ideas for kick-starting your business dreams.
Blogging
One of the best home-based business options is to start blogging about a niche topic. Blogs are successful, and they are increasing in popularity. Many people have turned their hobbies into major profitable businesses. Blogging takes time to gain momentum while working from home, but You can speed up the process using google analytics and other paid services for search engine optimization (SEO).
If the blog is flourishing and you have many readers, the bright idea is to go ahead with Vlogging, the video version of a blog. YouTube and other video-sharing websites offer the best opportunity for vlogging. YouTube has the policy to monetize videos once they exceed 10,000 views. The more ads a channel has, the more money it can generate.
Selling products online
Today, social media platforms are bringing people together from around the world. The popularity of these websites has created a very lucrative market for selling items online. Facebook marketplace, eBay, and Amazon are some of the best platforms for selling products. Another valuable method to enhance your income from online sales is to drop ship products. That way, you will not need to maintain an inventory. Se4lling online is one of the best home-based business ideas for beginners.
Registering as an Uber driver
Uber is becoming popular for people looking for a small business to run from their homes. With Uber, it’s possible to make over $20 per hour. Uber is technically a taxi service that relies on people to register their vehicles with the company. The best option for registering your car with Uber is that it is possible to earn more by giving it more time.
Uber allows you to work on a schedule that suits you, there are no fixed times to follow, and the rules are straightforward. The more you drive, the more you make. The good thing about Uber is that you can earn almost double the rate initially meant to be paid when there is a surge in the service. Depending on your time, you can work at Uber as a part-time or full-time home-based business.
Child care service
Childcare services are one of the most sought-after services for anyone with the patience and care to handle children. Babysitting or a childcare service is one of the most profitable businesses that you can start from your home with no or very minimal investments, allowing you to have the option of working from home. If you have a large pool of friends, you can tell them to recommend your services as a babysitter for anyone looking for one.
Another way to get more clients is to make a small investment in maintaining a social media website. The website will help you highlight your skills and talents as a babysitter. Encourage your regular clients to post actual reviews about your services to attract more clients. Positive referrals from your friends and family will be instrumental in increasing your clientele for a successful home-based business.
Freelance services
Freelancing is a very profitable and popular way to start your own business. Highlight any skill you possess and create a social media outlet to display your skills and expertise. A plethora of websites for freelancing is available that can highlight any skill set you possess. Some of the most popular freelancing websites are:
Fiverr
Toptal
Elance
Up work
Photography, content writing, application development, and logo designing are some of the best freelancing options for anyone interested and has the talent.
Direct selling
If you can put aside a small fund and invest it in a direct selling venture online that makes working from home possible, it could prosper into a thriving business over time. Websites that offer direct-selling opportunities through their portals provide their services for a small start-up fee. A few companies offer you similar benefits without any charges. However, the best option is to choose the websites that request membership or start-up fees; a small payment could be the difference between a safe and risky online portal.
Using these direct selling portals, you can sell services or products that you create. For example, selling candles, bakery items, skincare products, handmade shoes, jewelry, clothing, pillows, and other souvenirs. Some of the favorite websites for direct selling are:
Country Scents: candles, melts, and home décor
Nu Skin: health and beauty
Teespring: graphic t-shirts, bags, pillows, and mugs
Fibi & Clo: sandals and homemade shoes
Mayvenn: hair care products
She Anna Bella: homemade jewelry, handbags, and scarves
Linen World: handmade products
Do You Bake?: food for sale items
Kaeser & Blair: offers promotional products
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.
When you hear “small-business bookkeeping software,” you possibly think of QuickBooks. Since Intuit launched its leading product over 20 years ago, the financial management platform has conquered the accounting software marketplace. Presently, QuickBooks software holds more than 80% of the small-business market share. If you’re exploring small-business accounting solutions, QuickBooks is on top of the list. QuickBooks has a product for nearly all your bookkeeping needs, but sorting through the options can feel like an impossible task.
QuickBooks is streamlined accounting, then QuickBooks Pro is thought to polish and perfect the procedure. There are two products available: QuickBooks Pro and QuickBooks Pro Plus, full of advanced functions and perceptions. The Desktop Pro version simplifies accounting and helps companies stay organized despite a large amount of data they must collect and analyze.
Inter-Company transactions
Once in a compressed file, use journal accesses in QuickBooks to cancel out intercompany transactions that throw off the accuracy of the consolidated statements. These are transactions where related subsidiaries may sell inventory or services to each other. Each subsidiary’s balance sheet records the transaction accurately, but the marketing is double-counted when consolidated, throwing the consolidated balance sheet out of balance. Accountants use a journal entry to correct the imbalance.
QuickBooks enterprise
QuickBooks Enterprise, an upgrade to standard and professional versions of QuickBooks, combines data from several company files and exports them into a Microsoft Excel file. Once in Excel, you consolidate the totals as needed. Access the feature by selecting “Combine Reports from Multiple Companies” under the “Reports” menu. Select the reports you wish to combine, including balance sheet, profit and loss, cash flow, and trial balance.
Advantages of QuickBooks
No matter the nature of your business, keeping an accurate set of books is essential. It won’t be easy to attract the funding you need without precise business records because business records are generally the first thing potential lenders and investors want to see. Inaccurate or disorganized business accounts can make it difficult to file your taxes or even land you in hot water with the Internal Revenue Service. Using QuickBooks to keep your business records lets you avoid those potential problems.
Ease of usage
One problem with bookkeeping programs is that many of them are difficult to use and cumbersome to learn. On the other hand, QuickBooks intends to be intuitive and easy to understand, even for business owners who lack an accounting or financial background.
Incorporation
The ability to assimilate with other programs is a significant advantage of QuickBooks. After using the product to input all their business income and expenses, business owners can easily export that data to their favorite tax preparation program to make filing income taxes at least a little less painful. QuickBooks also integrates well with Microsoft Excel, making it easy to import data from other sources and use it in QuickBooks.
Customization
QuickBooks provides several ready-to-use templates that business owners can use to create invoices, spreadsheets, charts, and business plans. The software also makes it easy to customize the look and feel of those documents, giving them less of a cookie-cutter appearance and helping them stand out in the crowd. The ability to customize invoices can be instrumental, and business owners can add their company logo and detailed information about each line item.
Check to sign
If you sign many checks for your business, using QuickBooks can save you a lot of time. QuickBooks permits business owners to scan and upload their signatures and use those signatures to prepare the checks for the business. This automated process is more straightforward and accessible than writing hundreds of statements by hand each month.
Final note
QuickBooks is the ideal business bookkeeping software for small to mid-sized business owners. You can save time on bookkeeping and paperwork because many simple bookkeeping tasks handle automatically, making it easier to run your business. You can quickly generate the reports with the information you need, and you save money because QuickBooks is so affordable.
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.
Bookkeeping can be painful. Freelancers and small businesses tend to avoid the topic of accounting as it is too exasperating, time-consuming, and tedious. Fortunately, various innovative companies solve accounting problems for specific freelancers and large enterprises. A big part of bookkeeping is payroll, and a big part of payroll is tracking time and validating expenditures. The significance of time-tracking might be apparent. Small companies usually have salaried, hourly workers—ensuring you know where and how your money gets spent is a must.
Similarly, handling and verifying expenses that you and your employees make on behalf of your commercial will help you spend money on what you need and save on what you don’t. And you still need to trail and categorize your expenses for tax purposes. Have a look at these accounting tools to track time and costs while managing your employees.
TSheets are online labor and time management software programs that save your business time and money. It is an operational and easy-to-use time tracking tool. You can track time from the workplace or in the field with mobile-compatible time tracking applications.
TSheets offers a fresh interface free of needless clutter
The virtual timesheets are easy to use
The retailer provides free training and setup via live chat and phone
You can use the online knowledge base to learn the system on your own
TSheets automatically trails and updates both time-off requests and accrual tracking
If you do not need the automatic system, you have the choice of manually filling in timesheets
Email and phone support offers free of cost to clients
Top-notch consumer support averaging 4.9 out of 5 rating
TSheets also makes it easy for you to control a shift-based schedule, altering it week-to-week according to you and your operatives’ needs. The publishing supervisor is intuitive, and your employees will get notifications when their shifts have been posted or changed. Moreover, you can even accord specific tasks, projects, or jobs to these shifts, minimizing misperception and maximizing efficiency.
Expensify
Expensify is a business structure used to manage expenses, transactions, and money matters through real-time data and reporting procedures. The bookkeeping functions performed by the user-friendly interface of Expensify come in handy for many monies management issues. It allows companies to maintain summaries of different accounts along with calendars. You can obtain transparency, and other ratios such as debt-to-income ratios can be balanced at the right time, averting any crisis or undesirable situation. Expensify can also track your travel expenses based on the miles traveled or the amount of time spent on a particular project. For international traveling, you can change currencies, and it records the information in the accurate text fields.
It offers a simple resolution to recording expenses by the information provided through photos.
Neat
Like Expensify, Neat excerpts the critical information from your receipts and documents; it assimilates with popular accounting and business software and simplifies how you work. Neat lets you scan tickets and financial records. Excellent allows you to use a smartphone, a desktop camera, or an accurate scanner. You can securely access your files from any device anywhere. Neat also incorporates with your other bookkeeping tools so that you can transfer your expense documents directly. You can build expense reports, track bills, and share financial data with your co-owners and accountant.
With Neat, you can also easily add contact information and sync these new contacts with your email marketing platform. It gets rid of the slow, laborious manual entry commonly associated with expense filing and gives you an easy-to-use online process in its place.
Conclusion
While a bit more limited in their functionality compared to many of the apps, time-tracking and expense management accounting tools can still be an integral part of your suite of accounting tools.
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.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of any economy. They significantly contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and create job opportunities. However, SMEs face numerous challenges, including financial management. This is essential for long-term success. One crucial financial concept that SMEs must understand is financial gearing.
Understanding Financial Gearing
Financial gearing uses borrowed funds to finance a company’s operations and investments. These borrowed funds are known as debt or leverage. The ratio between the debt and equity used to finance an SME is called the gearing ratio. The higher the gearing ratio, the more the company depends on borrowed funds.
While financial gearing can help SMEs grow and expand their operations, it poses significant risks. Particularly if the SME is not generating enough revenue to repay the debt, the SME may face financial distress, leading to bankruptcy or liquidation.
Therefore, SMEs must have a sound financial strategy considering the benefits and risks of financial gearing. This strategy should consider the SME’s financial goals, the amount of debt it can comfortably service, and the potential impact of changes in interest rates on the company’s cash flows. By understanding financial gearing, SMEs can make informed decisions about their financing options and achieve long-term financial success.
Deciphering Financial Gearing
Financial gearing is the debt-to-equity ratio in a company’s capital structure. It indicates the level of financial risk that a company is taking on. A high gearing ratio means the company has a lot of debt about its equity. A low gearing ratio indicates that the company has less debt and more equity.
Now, the question arises: why is low gearing better for SMEs? The answer is that SMEs are more vulnerable to economic downturns and market fluctuations. Although, high gearing can increase the risk of default, bankruptcy, and insolvency in such situations. On the other hand, low gearing provides a cushion against such risks and ensures that the company can weather the storm.
The Impact of Low Gearing on SMEs
Let’s look at some statistics to understand the importance of low gearing for SMEs. According to a Federal Reserve Banks’ Small Business Credit survey, a staggering 59% of small businesses in the US have reported that they struggle with debt. Furthermore, this highlights the need for SMEs to have a healthy balance between debt and equity.
Moreover, low gearing can also positively impact a company’s credit rating. Credit rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s consider a company’s gearing ratio while assigning credit ratings. A low gearing ratio indicates that the company has a lower risk of default.Which, in turn, can lead to a higher credit rating. This can help SMEs access cheaper sources of finance and attract more investors.
In recent years, there has been a trend towards alternative sources of finance for SMEs, such as crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending. These platforms have gained popularity due to their flexibility and accessibility. However, it is essential to note that these sources of finance also come with their risks. In such cases, low gearing can provide a safety net and ensure that the company does not become over-reliant on external sources of finance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, financial gearing is an important concept for SMEs to understand. Low gearing can help SMEs mitigate financial risks, improve their credit rating, and provide a cushion against economic downturns. With the rise of alternative sources of finance, maintaining a healthy balance between debt and equity is more important than ever for SMEs. Therefore, SMEs should strive to achieve a low gearing ratio to ensure long-term sustainability and success.
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 household or home budget is a finance plan that reveals the snapshot of your monthly income towards expenses, saving, debt repayment. It allows you to keep a close look at your income and help you examine where you can save money or cut extra expenses. Without a home budget, it’s like sailing a ship in an open sea, moving uncontrollably without a direction. In simplest terms, a home budget is a tool used for sustaining a stable lifestyle.
Significance of a household budget
Planning and creating a household budget is no easy feat. It requires persistence and dedication as it may take time, mental effort, and energy. No matter how well off you consider yourself to be, it is necessary to have a home budget to keep a track record of monthly spending. No one is born with money management skills. You must learn the art of this game before you can start building your budget.
According to studies, a home budget works as a magic formula that solves most of your money-related problems. Home budgets signify that we can save tons of money by using scarce resources for the month. Trust me. A household budget solves more than half of the problems in homes! We often find ourselves stuck miserably fighting with our thoughts about how on earth we will meet our demands for the month with a single paycheck. This concern haunts most people around the globe and, if you consider yourself to be among those people, you must learn money management strategies and skills to maintain a healthy financial life cycle.
6 Steps to build a household budget
Know your income and set goals
The first and the most crucial step in creating a budget is knowing the exact influx of your income. Whatever you earn for the month must be wisely allocated into several subcategories like food, health, transportation, utility, clothing, home maintenance, and other miscellaneous expenses.
So, after keeping, let’s say, 20% as a reserve for hard times, you need to distribute resources per set requirements.
Distribution means that you need to identify what is important to you and draw a clear line between your needs and desires. Moreover, setting smart goals can help you maintain an equilibrium between your income and expenditures for the month, ultimately increasing your savings!
Stick to your goals
Your spending should never exceed your household budget! For maintaining a healthy financial life cycle, you need to plan a budget that remains within the allocated amount of money. There is certainly no point in making a budget plan if you don’t expect support and stick with it later. Your positive attitude and conviction will allow you to reap the rewards, and negative ones will lead you to trouble.
Separate needs and wants
Once you start to track where your income or finances are going, you will discover which things you can afford to buy and which you can afford to postpone. By closely examining the household budget, you will get a clear picture of your monthly spending and will be able to make a separate list of your wants and needs.
Design your budget
People have mixed opinions regarding how to design a budget because everyone has their own set of priorities. They also feel deprived when dealing with the word ‘budget,’ which evokes feelings of fear, anxiety, stress, or frustration. So, before building your budget for the month, you need to know exactly how much money you can afford to spend in a month.
Make a clear execution strategy
Once you set your priorities, you need to allocate money and decide how much money you can afford to spend for a particular need. Planning plays a critical role in defining the fate of the household budget. The better it is, the greater the rewards. So, once the plan initiates, you need to put it into action to optimize resources at your disposal.
Reevaluate the budget
Any good household budget plan involves monitoring, tracking, periodic review, and occasional re-evaluation. If you continue making effective budget plans, there will come a time when drafting a budget will become more accessible than you can ever imagine.
Conclusion
A household budget can help you feel more in control of your finances. It will reveal whether you are exceeding your budget limits. A careful plan and an intelligent approach can help you save more money than you can imagine.
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.
Unlocking Profit: Essential Guide to Fix and Flip Loans
Fix-and-flip loans are short-term financing solutions (6-24 months) that provide real estate investors with capital to purchase distressed properties, fund renovations, and resell for profit. They typically offer 70-90% of total project costs based on the property’s after-repair value rather than current condition.
Over my 20 years as CEO of Complete Controller, I’ve watched countless entrepreneurs transform rundown properties into profitable investments, and the key differentiator between those who succeed and those who struggle always comes down to smart financing strategies. With fix and flip investors earning an average gross profit of $65,000 per property in Q1 2025, according to National Mortgage News, the opportunity remains strong—but only for those who understand how to leverage the right loan structures, minimize carrying costs, and time their exits strategically.
What are fix-and-flip loans and how do they work?
Fix and flip loans provide short-term financing (6-24 months) for purchasing and renovating investment properties for quick resale
Funding is based on after-repair value (ARV), covering 70-90% of total project costs, including purchase and renovation
Interest-only payments during renovation preserve cash flow and maximize returns
Approval focuses on property potential and investor experience rather than traditional income verification
Most loans offer flexible terms with no prepayment penalties for quick project completion
Understanding the Fundamentals of Fix and Flip Financing
Fix-and-flip loans revolutionize real estate investing by providing specialized financing that aligns with the unique needs of property rehabilitation projects. Unlike traditional mortgages that emphasize long-term occupancy and steady income streams, these loans focus on the investment opportunity itself—the potential to transform undervalued properties into market-ready assets within months rather than years.
The core advantage lies in how lenders evaluate these loans. Traditional banks look at your current income and the property’s existing value, but fix and flip lenders see what the property could become. They base loan amounts on the after-repair value (ARV), which means you can access significantly more capital than conventional financing would allow. Most lenders offer 70-75% of the ARV, enabling investors to cover both acquisition and renovation costs with minimal cash outlay.
Calculating your investment potential
Three critical metrics determine your loan terms and project viability:
Loan-to-Value (LTV): Compares loan amount to current property value (up to 90% for qualified investors)
Loan-to-Cost (LTC): Measures financing against total project expenses (typically 70-90%)
After-Repair Value (ARV): Estimated market value post-renovation (lenders fund up to 75% of ARV)
Smart investors use these ratios to evaluate deals quickly. For instance, a property purchased at $200,000 with $75,000 in renovations and an ARV of $350,000 could qualify for financing covering 80% of costs ($220,000), requiring only $55,000 in investor capital while generating potential profits of $50,000-75,000.
Types of Fix and Flip Loan Options
The financing landscape offers multiple pathways, each suited to different investor profiles and project requirements.
Hard money loans: Speed and flexibility
Hard money loans dominate fix-and-flip financing, accounting for the majority of non-cash purchases. These private loans close in 7-14 days compared to 30-45 days for traditional funding, giving investors crucial competitive advantages in hot markets.
Interest rates range from 9-15% annually
Origination fees typically range from 1-3 points
Terms usually 6-12 months with extension options
Minimal documentation requirements
Credit scores as low as 620 accepted
Jake, a first-time investor featured in a Lending Bee case study, leveraged hard money financing to purchase a distressed property for $155,000, invested $150,000 in renovations, and achieved an estimated ARV of $370,000-400,000, generating 30-50% ROI with only $37,000 of personal capital invested.
Investment property lines of credit
Experienced investors managing multiple projects benefit from credit lines offering:
Access to $1-10 million in revolving funds
Draw capital as needed across multiple properties
Pay interest only on funds actually used
Simplified documentation for subsequent projects
Lower overall costs for high-volume investors
Traditional bank options
While less common, some banks and credit unions offer investment property loans featuring:
Lower interest rates (7-10%)
Longer approval times (30-45 days)
Stricter qualification requirements
Higher down payment needs (25-30%)
Better suited for less time-sensitive deals
Strategic Application and Qualification Process
Securing optimal financing requires preparation that goes beyond basic loan applications. Successful investors build comprehensive packages demonstrating both project viability and execution capability.
Building your investor profile
Lenders evaluate three key areas when assessing applications:
Project Analysis
Detailed property evaluation with comparable sales data
Comprehensive renovation budget with line-item breakdowns
Realistic timeline accounting for permits and seasonality
Multiple exit strategies beyond simple resale
Financial Capacity
Bank statements showing available reserves
Credit reports (minimum 620 for most hard money loans)
Proof of funds for down payment and carrying costs
Documentation of liquid reserves (15-25% of project cost recommended)
Experience Documentation
Previous project portfolios with before/after photos
Profit/loss statements from completed flips
Contractor relationships and vendor lists
Professional team credentials (architect, contractor, realtor)
New investors should compensate for limited experience by presenting exceptionally detailed project plans, strong contractor partnerships, and conservative financial projections.
Choosing the right lender partnership
REsimpli data shows that 63.8% of flips use cash purchases while 36.2% rely on financing, and the average project takes 166 days to complete. This timeline reality makes lender selection critical—you need partners who understand construction delays, market fluctuations, and the need for flexibility.
Evaluate lenders based on:
Funding speed and reliability
Extension options and terms
Local market knowledge
Track record with similar projects
Transparency in fee structures
Maximizing Returns Through Smart Financing
The difference between profitable and marginal projects often lies in the financing structure rather than the property selection. Current market conditions, with ROI dropping from 48.8% in 2020 to 25% today, according to National Mortgage News, demand sophisticated approaches to maintain profitability.
Optimizing loan structures
Interest-only payments during renovation preserve critical cash flow. Consider this comparison:
Traditional Loan: $220,000 at 12% = $2,400-2,500 monthly (principal + interest)
That $200-300 monthly difference compounds over 6-12 months, providing $1,200-3,600 in additional renovation capital while reducing carrying costs.
Geographic strategy and market timing
Regional variations dramatically impact financing needs and profit potential. Homes.com reports median profits ranging from $283,000 in San Jose to just $8,844 in Austin, demonstrating why location-specific financing strategies matter.
Spring/summer markets offer better resale conditions but increased competition, while fall/winter purchases may provide better acquisition prices. Structure loans with:
Extension options for market timing flexibility
Terms aligning with seasonal patterns
Contingency funds for holding costs
Multiple exit strategies for changing conditions
Risk Management and Common Pitfalls
Success requires proactive risk mitigation across three critical areas:
Construction and timeline management
Delays directly impact profitability through increased carrying costs. Protect against overruns by:
Building 10-20% contingencies into budgets
Maintaining preferred contractor lists with backups
Structuring contracts with performance incentives
Conducting thorough pre-purchase inspections
Market risk mitigation
Property values can shift during the 6-24 month project period. Safeguard investments through:
Conservative ARV estimates based on current (not projected) comparables
Multiple exit strategies (retail sale, rental conversion, wholesale)
Detailed scope documentation preventing change order creep
Weekly budget tracking against actuals
Staged funding releases tied to completion milestones
Liquid reserves covering 15-25% of total project costs
Final Thoughts
Fix and flip loans remain powerful wealth-building tools when approached strategically. The key lies in selecting appropriate financing structures, maintaining realistic projections, and building strong lender relationships that support long-term success. Current market conditions demand more sophisticated approaches than the boom years, but opportunities persist for prepared investors who understand both the mechanics and nuances of specialized real estate financing.
Ready to implement professional financial systems that maximize your real estate investment returns? The experts at Complete Controller provide comprehensive financial management solutions designed specifically for real estate investors, helping you track project costs, optimize tax strategies, and scale your portfolio with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fix and Flip Loans
What credit score do I need for a fix-and-flip loan?
Most hard money lenders accept credit scores as low as 620, though better scores (680+) qualify for lower rates and higher loan-to-cost ratios. Traditional banks typically require 720+ for investment property loans.
Can I get 100% financing for fix-and-flip projects?
True 100% financing is rare, but some lenders offer up to 90% of total project costs for experienced investors with strong track records. Most first-time investors should expect to contribute 20-30% of total costs.
How quickly can I get approved for a fix-and-flip loan?
Hard money loans typically approve within 24-48 hours and fund within 7-14 days. Traditional bank loans take 30-45 days, while portfolio lenders fall somewhere between 2-3 weeks.
What happens if my renovation takes longer than expected?
Most fix and flip loans include extension options for 3-6 additional months, though these typically involve additional fees (1-2% of the loan amount) and continued interest payments. Planning realistic timelines upfront prevents costly extensions.
Do I need experience to qualify for fix-and-flip financing?
While experience helps secure better terms, many lenders work with first-time investors who present firm project plans, adequate reserves, and professional contractor partnerships. Some lenders specialize in mentoring new investors through their first projects.
Sources
National Mortgage News. (June 20, 2025). “Home flipping bears less fruit for investors in Q1.” https://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/home-flipping-profits-drop-in-q1-attom
National Mortgage Professional. (March 21, 2025). “Home-Flipping Falters Again In 2024.” https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/home-flipping-falters-again-2024
Homes.com. (March 20, 2025). “Investors flipped fewer homes in 2024, but their profit rose slightly.” https://www.homes.com/news/investors-flipped-fewer-homes-in-2024-but-their-profit-rose-slightly/2128868104/
Lending Bee Inc. (June 10, 2025). “Case Study: How a First-Time Investor Used Hard Money to Land Their First Flip.” https://lendingbeeinc.com/blog/case-study-how-a-first-time-investor-used-hard-money-to-land-their-first-flip
Complete Controller. “5 Money Management Tips to Help Avoid a Deficit.” https://www.completecontroller.com/5-money-management-tips-to-help-avoid-a-deficit/
Complete Controller. “Personal Lines of Credit.” https://www.completecontroller.com/personal-lines-of-credit/
Complete Controller. “How to Streamline Your Investment Portfolio.” https://www.completecontroller.com/how-to-streamline-your-investment-portfolio/
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.
Jennifer BrazerFounder/CEO
Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.
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.
Starting a personal business is one of the financial dreams that many people wish could come true. Although most people think that the lack of resources, a complex market situation, or some other significant factor stops them from initiating their own company, the most potent element is themselves resisting to get into entrepreneurship. In essence, the only thing that can hinder you from starting your business is YOU!
Procrastination is because entrepreneurship begins with taking calculated risks, accepting responsibility, and striving to turn the idea into reality.
Until and unless you do not take an intelligent threat, you cannot initiate a business.
There is no perfect or ideal time for starting your business. Instead, you must find the time to create it regardless. You don’t need permission from anyone. You are the only obstacle standing between your idea and its fulfillment. And you are the only person who can turn your vision into reality and build a business you have always desired.
Consequently, there is no reason to wait for someone else to start your business, such as a digital agency, bookkeeping, a taxation firm, a bookstore, a real-estate company, and a photo studio. Here are the five most common yet biggest fears most people face that you must overcome to effectively land on the road to entrepreneurship.
Fear of failure
According to psychologists and mind experts, the fear of failure is more bitter and unbearable than the loss of autonomy and the fear of separation. It is one of the leading factors stopping you from starting your business.
To overcome this fear, you must redefine the meaning of success. You must realize that a decent job with handsome pay and so-called financial security with employment is not the definition of success. Instead, chasing your dreams and achieving your goals is a real success. Once you realize it, you will begin working towards your vision instantly.
Inadequacy
There may be a voice in your head repeatedly telling you that no one would take your idea seriously. Instead, your idea is a poor thought that can barely produce fruitful results. Also, the voice may be reassuring you that your current job is a necessity, at least for now.
To conquer the fear of inadequacy, spend time with entrepreneurs who are naturally confident entrepreneurs past and present successful biography, telling you how they transcended their fear. You will know that successful entrepreneurs think of success, networking, and confidence instead of feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and unworthiness, which is familiar with others who only dream of having a business. Once you realize the truth, your fear of inadequacy will diminish, thus starting your business will become easier.
Humiliation
The fear of ridicule and rejection can be more damaging than the fear of failure. Being anxious about what others will think and how you could be embarrassed is another factor stopping you from starting your business.
Once you start taking steps towards initiating your business, you will be surprised to see that people will incredibly encourage and support you. They will appreciate your idea and efforts instead of criticizing you for your bold step. Also, many people will rally to join your venture.
Poverty
Poverty is another big fear stopping you from starting your business, especially with individuals who have grown up in a low-income family and feel worried that they would stay poor if they do not have a secure job. For them, compromising on the job is like inviting poverty into their life.
To overcome the fear of poverty, you must realize that you must sacrifice something to ‘gain’ something. A closed fist cannot hold anything. It would help if you opened your palm to get anything special.
Separation
The self-contemplated sense of separation from your resources and even very close relationships for working towards your dreams is another factor stopping you from becoming an entrepreneur. On the contrary, starting your business begins with taking the first step alone, and then you will find many other following your footsteps. Remember, even if your first attempt to fulfill your dream fails, you will know who your real friends are and see the true face of life. Once you know who is always with you, equally in your good times and bad times, it will undoubtedly help you fulfill your dream. With that in mind, take the first step!
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 statement giving a clear picture of the net worth of a business is known as a balance sheet. A balance sheet is a financial tool for all companies to list their assets, liabilities, and owner’s equity to calculate the actual worth of the business. Creating a financial statement is standard practice for all businesses. Governing agencies later audit these statements for taxes and other purposes. The commonly used financial statements of a company include the following.
Income statement:
An income sheet covers sales, cost of goods sold, expenses, net income, taxes, and earnings per share. It creates annually, half-yearly or quarterly.
Balance sheet:
A balance sheet displays a snapshot of the net worth of the business.
It is at the year-end and the date specifies on the balance sheet.
Cash flow statement:
A cash flow statement merges both above information to display the utilization of the cash in three main business activities, including:
Operating activities
Financial activities
Investing activities
What is a balance sheet?
A balance sheet is a financial statement that consists of the balances of multiple different ledger accounts. This bookkeeping method helps list the ledger balances in the below-mentioned categories so that a company can get an idea of its financial position. These categories are:
Assets:
Assets are all properties/belongings/things owned by the business. They can include the properties, cash, machinery, and even prepaid expenses.
Liabilities:
The liabilities of a business include regular dues, which the company is supposed to clear in the coming days or years. They have long-term loans, short-term loans, and an accrued account of the business.
Owner’s equity:
The owner’s equity is the capital of the owner who invested in the business. It includes the retained earnings and finances generated from issuing stocks and debentures.
Therefore, a balance sheet can define as “A statement which consists of assets, liabilities and owner’s equity (capital) on a particular date.” The balance sheet got its name as the closing balance at the year-end.
Components of a balance sheet
Types of assets
Real assets
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
Building
Plant
Fixture and fittings
Furniture
Machinery and vehicles
Intangible assets
Goodwill
Patent rights
Trademarks
Current assets
Quick assets
Stock debtor
Cash
Cash at bank
Floating assets: which keep on converting from one form to another, such as:
On the sale of goods, the inventory changes into debtors
On purchase of goods, cash converts into inventories
Fictitious assets
Preliminary expenses
Loss on the issue of shares
Types of liabilities
Fixed liabilities
Debentures
Long-term loans
Current liabilities
Deferred liabilities: The payback period is less than a year and more than a month
Short term loans
Quick penalties: The payback period is within a month
Bank overdraft
Outstanding expenses
Creditors
Equity or internal liabilities
Reserves
Owner’s equity
Share’s capital
Retained earnings
Features of a balance sheet
The balance sheet is the final stage of the financial accounts in bookkeeping records.
It prepares at the year-end.
It is just a statement, not a ledger account.
The balance sheet has two sides which show the assets on the left side and liabilities on the right side.
Both the right and left sides of a balance sheet should always balance.
The balance sheet only reflects the balances of the asset accounts and liability accounts. They do not reflect revenue accounts.
The balance sheet also reflects the business’s solvency.
The balance sheet is designed after the income statement as it requires the net profit or net loss in the equity section.
Why is a balance sheet crucial?
There are plenty of benefits to creating a balance sheet for your business. However, for smaller companies, the balance sheet is not an essential requirement as they are not opting for listing their businesses for stocks or they are paying huge taxes. Regardless, a balance sheet can be beneficial in reflecting the whole heart of your business.
It acts as a snapshot of the business’s financial health on a specific date
It helps you in expanding your business
Can help you get financial aid through investors or loans as your business performance and current health documents
Prioritizes your work, showing you all your liabilities that need your immediate attention
You can even generate financial ratios very quickly if you have an appropriately detailed balance sheet documented
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.
To understand how a company that Audit is ready will capture more market share, we must first understand the basics. What is market share? What is an audit, and who performs them? And how do I ensure that my company is Audit ready? Let’s look below.
Market share: Out of the total purchases made by customers for the same product or service in a market (in a country or a global market internationally), the percentage of the investment that goes to a company is its ‘Market Share.’
Audit: An audit is the examination and inspection of bookkeeping and accounts by an auditor and compared with the physical verification of the stock/inventory.
Auditors do auditing. An audit can be done internally or by external auditors to inspect all accounting information and bookkeeping in a company.
Internal Audit is done by the company’s employees or by the head of a particular department in a company.
External Audit is done by an external auditing company or by a team of external auditors. All government and private registered firms are bound to get an external audit performed annually. An independent company does an external audit. An external audit is according to laws and rules, financial statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements of a company. The external auditor prepares an audit report after the completion of the auditing process. Audit report information can be used by investors, government agencies, and by the public. An external auditing company must be a registered and recognized qualified accountancy firm. The information provided by such an accountancy firm as an audit report gives a piece of reliable and unbiased information to its users.
Your business must use specific software for managing the accounting and other information of the company. There should be a well-established checks and balances system in the accounting software used in business bookkeeping and accounting.
The accounting software must be able to:
Adjust and automate day-to-day accounting jobs and financial endings
Eradicate the danger of manual worksheet mistakes
Reduce the time required for an auditor to recheck your calculations
Provide all necessary data to an auditor but do not allow editing or deleting options to any auditor.
Benefits of Audit in a business
It is better to keep a check and balance in business by carrying out a regular audit. Especially when a company has employees, various offices, many technical works, and where a single person cannot run all the business operations, these factors provide chances of errors in business operations.
Weakness in the accounting and financial systems can be made clear after audits. You can suggest improvements after an audit report.
By performing audits, business owners do not have to check or get involved in accounting functions daily. Audits provide a way for business owners to check that accounting functions are running correctly.
An audit report gives valuable information that critical decisions can be made, such as where internal controls are regulated, tax planning, or reducing the dangers of fraudulent practices.
An audit increases the trustworthiness and dependability of a business. Information is available to its users.
A company that is always Audit ready attracts more investors and customers.
The overall rating of a business increase after regular audits.
Banks, suppliers, and such users prefer companies in which audits are performed regularly.
If the company has insurance, the audited accounts are given.
If there are shareholders in a company, audits guarantee shareholders that the business is running a fair and accurate picture.
When purchasing from different companies, the companies with regular audits carry more weight. Bulk purchasers have greater trust in Audit ready companies.
An audit-ready business provides an actual financial status of a significant company for foreign entrepreneurs, banks, and investors.
Conclusion
Audit-ready companies always have up-to-date accounting data. This account information is always available to its users and auditors. Regular audits ensure clear and transparent accounting information. You can make wise and confident future decisions easier with regular audits. An audit-ready business equates to a company ready to get its market share due to the trust of investors, customers, and legal authorities in that business.
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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.
The term unauthorized access means invading the privacy of someone’s computer without their consent. Such a situation can arise if you leave your system unattended or you are using your Internet without any firewall to protect against malware and viruses. To protect your data, you can take preventive measures regardless of the operating system you use.
Today, users are aware of password protection that is essential for wireless networks and systems. Irrespective of the fact that cyber rogues can access your private data, there are still a few loopholes that most users aren’t aware of. Therefore, the shortcomings are utilized by cybercriminals to gain access to your system.
In this article, the best tips and techniques are covered to prevent unauthorized computer or network access:
Install all Security Patches
People who are using Windows PC often ignore Microsoft updates that ensure the security and protection of your confidential data. These usually pop up during work – thus, users tend to ignore them to avoid interruptions. However, they are not aware that these updates are critical as they include updated security patches that ensure better data protection. If you are concerned about why these updates are required, it is because the operating system and browser that you use have certain susceptibilities, which may give unauthorized computer access to hackers. In addition to this, hackers can easily determine the loopholes to invade a computer. It is recommended to set the Microsoft Updates to automatic so that you save your time.
Browsing the Internet? Pay Due Attention to File Sharing
This is critical if you are surfing the internet on a Local Area Network (LAN) where the file-sharing feature is enabled for unlimited users. To keep your data protected, you should disable this feature. In case you do not want to disable it, share files and folders only with users and systems you know. Leaving it enabled can make your system an easy target for hackers to invade.
Keep the Firewall On
If you understand the concept of a firewall, you should know its significance as well. This basically acts as a protective wall or layer between you and the internet. Before sending, a firewall’s primary responsibility is to track and scrutinize all the data exchanged between the computer and the server. In instances where your firewall thinks there is a threat, a pop-up warning message may appear to notify you. Having a firewall turned on, you can easily stop potential threats in the form of malware or virus.
Carefully Read Your Email MEssages and Know the Senders
The majority of the users tend to ignore or neglect email security despite knowing about it. It is imperative to ignore email messages you receive from unknown sources. Further, do not open any attachments included from a source that you do not trust. One of the oldest methods to send malware and viruses is through email attachments.
Maintain a Proper Backup of Your Data Online
One thing that you should avoid doing is surfing the internet for important data on a computer that is infected. It may further create trouble as hackers can easily invade your computer to get unauthorized access to your valuable data and information. It is recommended to create and maintain a backup of all your data online. There are different platforms available to store your data on the server. Rest assured, such platforms are reliable as they offer limited or unlimited storage space for a specific amount.
Make Use of Strong Passwords
It is essential to use a personal password for all your accounts to prevent unauthorized access. A user has to be more careful about this if they use a shared system. Apart from this, make sure to change passwords often.
Use antivirus software. “Do not avoid security patches.” Download a strong antivirus to prevent viruses, worms, and others. This will prevent your computer from being hacked.
Keep the software up to date.
Verify your software security. Do not allow any application to make changes to your computer.
Back up early and often. Make use of websites that provide storage and allow you to keep a copy of your information. It will help to keep the data safe.
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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.
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.
