To new business owners, starting a business is often its own reward. They are thrilled to be able to be their own bosses, and to successfully get a business up and running. Often they are happy just to keep the dream alive.But every business needs to grow. That doesn’t mean you have to reach out to a larger market – it means working toward increasing your share of the one you are targeting. This will keep your business healthy enough to survive obstacles such as tough economic times.In order to keep moving forward, we need to market our businesses constantly. We need to dedicate a certain percentage of our resources to building our brand and reaching our target market. Here are some simple things you can do to help your business grow.Have a clear picture of your target market. Find out what types of people use the products and services you provide and respond to your business philosophies. If you’re not marketing to the right people, all will be lost.Research, research, research. Determine how to best reach your target market and what they expect out of your offerings. Study your competition carefully, and make note of what they’re doing right and wrong.Choose your marketing channels wisely.If your target market rarely reads, there’s no point in advertising in a magazine. Use what you’ve learned about them to find the best possible outlets for your message, and focus your marketing efforts there.Give your advertising a chance. Studies show that consumers require repeated exposure to a product before they will even consider buying. So don’t be surprised if one ad run doesn’t bring spectacular results. If you’ve done your homework and found a viable way to reach your market, run the ad at least two more times before you evaluate the results.Take advantage of free publicity. Sending out press releases and finding other ways to attract the media will give you high-quality exposure, and it won’t eat into your budget.Keep track of the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. If what you’re doing is working, you should be generating more revenue. Use some of that revenue to do more marketing. If it isn’t working, make adjustments and try again.Sometimes you’ll have to take a step back with your marketing plans. But that’s not a sign you’ve failed. It’s a sign that you’re a smart marketer. Sometimes the market changes, and it’s up to us to monitor those changes and adjust our marketing plans accordingly. No successful company markets the same way forever. By evolving with our target market, we can make our marketing work better.
What Are The Special Mortgage Challenges for Self Employed Borrowers?
BasicsMortgage lenders classify borrowers in two different ways:
wage earners
self-employed
Wage earners are much easier to analyze for a mortgage lender. They usually can provide paystubs, employment documentation, and tax returns. Their income stream is easier for a mortgage lender to understand.A self-employed borrower is often much more difficult to understand for a mortgage lender. Challenges may include:
stability of earnings
track record in business
complex tax records
unclear assets
Stability Of EarningsThe first issue is stability of earnings. A self-employed borrower may not have constant income. Earnings will often fluctuate depending on how their business is going.Track Record In BusinessLenders usually like to see a self-employed borrower have at least a 2 years track record in their business. This usually shows the lender that the person is capable of generating income in their new self-employed work. They usually also like to see someone who is self-employed in their line of work. If you have years of experience as a carpenter but open up a coffee shop this is a major switch and a mortgage lender will have to analyze this.Complex Tax RecordsSelf-employed borrowers often have complicated tax returns. This is partly the result of a complex tax code and partly because most self-employed borrowers are thorough in using all available tax deductions.Unclear AssetsThe final issue is unclear assets. Borrower assets may be intermingled in business accounts with other business partners. Deposits in a business bank account may represent revenue but not necessarily the final income or net profit a business generates.Additional StepsMake sure that when you apply for a mortgage you clearly state that you are self-employed up front. The self-employed usually have nearly all the same loan options as wage earners.You may need to prepare your documentation in advance – such as making copies of business licenses, permits, and financial records.
An Introduction on Automotive Floor Jacks
Types of Floor Jacks
A floor jack can mean different things depending on where you use it. The jack used in most car repair shops or garages to lift cars and make repairs conveniently under the car or a tire is called an automotive floor jack. However, another jack is utilized to raise bigger ‘things’ like buildings or houses that needs its beams to be replaced because they are sagging. The last type of jack is used for phone connections. It got its name because it is typically installed on the floor and wall intersection. Notice how all equipment are called floorjacks but have entirely different meanings and purposes.While there are a lot of different jacks available, this article would only focus on the first type of floorjack mentioned: automotive floor jacks. The other two types of jacks will be reserved for a different article.Automotive Jacks
It is common for people to always associate the term ‘floor jacks’ with automotive floor jacks as this had always been the first floorjacks produced. This one uses a pump arm, hydraulics or air compression to raise vehicles and access the undercarriage easily. The automotive floorjack makes changing tires or doing a brake job easier to accomplish. These are handy tools that can be found in car hoods, garages, farms and other places where there are vehicles that may need to be repaired. Automotive jacks have made a lot of repairs easier for the common do-it-yourself mechanics and vehicle owners.On the other hand, this automotive jack should not be confused with hydraulic lifts which are used in most auto repair shops.A more stable ground is required for automotive floorjacks to eliminate improper balance. The ground should not shift as it could seriously harm the vehicle. A lip can be connected to the automobile and raise it gently by pumping the arm, hydraulic system or air compressor.Automotive jacks have different ratings depending on the weight that they can lift without sacrificing security. These automotive floorjacks are very powerful that they can up to 20 tons. For your personal use, you can purchase a 2 or 3-ton jack especially if you’re going on long road trips so you can easily change your tire whenever needed. Obviously, the bigger your vehicle, the stronger is the jack required to do the job. Farm equipment, on the other hand, may necessitate a 10-ton automotive jack.