Thursday 13 August 2009

Managing personal and business debt

Today it seems everybody has debts, governments, banks, businesses and of course people. Many people seek advice on how to manage their debt and try to financially survive in the ‘credit crunch era’. The problem with an increase in individual debt is the increase in companies who promise to solve these problems, when all they after is the maximum amount of commission they can gain. Talking to Debt Counsellors they said there are a couple of key things to make sure of before you agree to any debt management<, debt consolidation, IVA or even bankruptcy. 1. Make sure the company you are dealing with have a consumer credit licence. 2. Ask about the Debt Management Company’s fee arrangements, some company’s charge an upfront fee which can be quite high. 3. Some will only deal with some of your debts, leaving you to deal with the others. 4. Most companies will try and deal with your circumstances from a call centre who are just interested in commission, not in you and your circumstances. By contacting Compass Debt Counsellors they will make sure you have all the relevant information and they will arrange for a sympathetic debt counsellor to visit you and talk about all the different ways which are best for you to manage your debt, whether this is personal debt or business debt. So if in you are doubt of the debt advice you are getting best to ask a second or third opinion and look for a company which has trained debt counsellors, who are able to visit you and discuss your individual >debt management needs.

Tuesday 11 August 2009

What Can a Business Consultant do For Your Online Business?

A look at why investing in a business consultant for your online business could be a great investment in your future. Whether you're new in business or are well established but just want a fresh set of sage eyes on your business, a business consultant can help. Let's take a look at what this kind of expert can do for you and your success in online business. New Online Businesses As a new online company, the expertise of an experienced business consultant could make a vast amount of difference in how quick you become successful. Navigating through both the online world and the business world at the same time can be a bit overwhelming and an expert can help you make and then execute a workable business plan. By getting the right marketing and business advice instead of flying solo in an area you're not very familiar with, you'll be able to hit the ground running and ensure that you're operating at a profit quickly. An expert knows how to help you do what you need to do to get your online company set up and getting sales quickly. A lot of new companies struggle in their early days, especially if they're a small business or run by a single entrepreneur. It might seem like there just aren't enough hours in the day to do all you want and need to do. When you meet with a specialist who's experienced enough to know what works and what does not, you can trim a considerable amount of time and effort off your learning curve and be able to accomplish more --- with less. With the right help and advice, you as a new entrepreneur could : develop a marketing and advertising strategy, do competitive analysis to help you stand head and shoulders above your competition, ensure your website gets the right sorts of traffic and that you convert that traffic into customers, establish yourself as an expert in your industry, and more. Improving an Existing Online Company Businesses need to continually evolve in order for them to increase profitability. In fact, evolution is necessary if a company wants to survive and maintain position in their market as well because your competitors are trying to court your customers and divert potential prospects to their website instead of yours. A consultancy firm stays up to date on the latest business and marketing trends and could help you ensure that your business is able to to evolve and grow despite a constantly changing business landscape. Is the expense worthwhile? You could attempt to learn how to launch an online business on your own and avoid the expense of hiring a professional. But, that could result in a longer learning curve than is necessary. You could try to save a struggling business on your own as well. But learning through trial and error could be a costly mistake. The expense of hiring a skilled business consultant firm might be off-putting at first, but when you consider the potential return on investment over time, the fees could suddenly seem well worth the investment.