Mohit Tater's Blog, page 494

5 Container Orchestration Tools For Startup Software Development Pipelines

There are dozens of sophisticated container orchestration tools that optimize your startup custom software development pipeline. More enterprise development teams are relying on containerization strategies to enhance the portability, transferability, and security of completed software programs. Utilizing a containerization mindset, you can bundle all of your application files, libraries, binaries, and dependencies together in a secure ‘container’. Once sealed inside software containers, these applications can operating efficiently and bug-free in a number of computing environments or operating systems. If you have chosen to transition your development team to container practices, there are several orchestration resources that can improve the efficiency of your strategy. Read on to learn about the essential container orchestration tools for small business development pipeline.

Universal DevOps Platforms

Universal DevOps platforms are essential container orchestration resources to optimize your enterprise software development pipeline. DevOps platforms serve as a universal package repository, distribution, continuous integration and deployment system to organize your software containers. These platforms provide software developers and end-to-end solution for continuous, high-performance software releases. With an end-to-end solution, you can take sophisticated, enterprise-level software projects from code to production. Universal platforms are able to integrate with almost any development environment. Centralized platforms help ambitious developers organize their digital containers and significantly accelerate software releases. Utilizing universal DevOps platforms, you can greatly enhance the speed, agility, and security of your small business development pipeline. 

Container Registry

A container registry is an essential resource to streamline the agility and security of your containerization strategy. Container registries are essential orchestration resources to support your Kubernetes or Docker deployments, as well as your Helm Chart repositories. With a sophisticated container registry, you can easily manage and organize all of your Docker images from a single access point. Once integrated, efficient container registries provide consistent, reliable access to remote Docker containers. At the same time, an advanced Docker registry provides streamlined integration into your build ecosystem. Sophisticated container registries are essential tools to optimize your small business development pipeline. 

Advanced DevOps Tools & Resources

Advanced DevOps tools and resources are essential orchestration systems to help you streamline your software containerization strategy. Once equipped, DevOps tools are essential, comprehensive resources to accelerate software releases. DevOps resources are some of the most reliable software development tools to integrate into your pipeline. These advanced tools offer solutions to improve management of your software binaries across multiple stages of your delivery pipeline. With DevOps tools integrated, you can improve processes to build binaries and run them through your continuous integration and delivery pipelines. At the same time, advanced DevOps tools can help you promote binaries through your system quality gates, or even distribute them throughout your runtime systems. Sophisticated DevOps tools are essential orchestration resources to streamline and optimize your small business software development pipeline.

Streamlined Software Distribution

Utilizing advanced container orchestration tools, startup software development teams can greatly enhance software deployment and distribution. With advanced container orchestration tools equipped, you can deliver trusted software releases. Advanced containerization platforms help you overcome restrictive bandwidth or network lag. Prior to distribution, systems can help you build, test, and deploy comprehensive software projects. Integrate sophisticated deployment and distribution resources to optimize your containerization strategy.

Security & Compliance Tools

Sophisticated security and compliance tools are essential to streamline your software development containerization strategy. The best container orchestration tools provide continuous security and thorough, multilayer artifact analyses across your software delivery pipeline. With these consistent analyses, you can easily identify potential vulnerabilities and license compliance issues prior to software delivery. At the same time, these orchestration tools offer deep recursive scanning and a visual, component graph. Integrate sophisticated tools and resources to improve application security across your software development pipeline. 

There are several container orchestration resources that optimize the speed, agility, and security of your software development pipeline. With more development teams switching to containerization practices, there are several resources that can help you improve your program efficiency, security, transferability, and agility. Utilizing universal DevOps platforms, you can greatly enhance the performance of completed software projects. Artifactory Docker registries are essential tools to optimize your small business development pipeline. At the same time, DevOps tools are essential orchestration resources to streamline and optimize your upcoming project release. Many sophisticated orchestration tools help you streamline procedures to deploy and distribute software projects. Moreover, integrate sophisticated security and compliance tools that ensure your program is safe once released. Consider the points mentioned above to learn about the essential container orchestration tools for startup development pipeline.

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How Tieks by Gavrieli Shifted their Business to Help During the Coronavirus Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed America. People across the country have seen their way of life upended as part of a national effort to stop a highly contagious virus from killing millions through orders and guidelines to stay at home and self-quarantine. As millions file for unemployment and millions continue to work as essential employees, the frontlines of the battle against coronavirus is being fought by healthcare providers: nurses, EMTs, doctors, hospital workers, and more, who are bravely working to save the lives of people who contract this this new disease, which has no proven treatment.

At the same time, almost every city and state across the country lacks the supplies and equipment that healthcare workers need to fight COVID-19. The supply of medical masks was rapidly depleted, life-saving tools like ventilators have been delivered unusable to a number of hospitals, and potential emergency medical treatments have been rendered unavailable due to major flaws in national shipping and logistics systems.

Now, businesses and non-profits are stepping up and stepping in to fill the gap. Respected business leaders aren’t waiting for the federal government to deliver supplies and resources that healthcare workers need. Instead innovative companies are retooling their operations to help protect those who are most at risk. They are also empowering their customers and fans — many of whom are also at home wondering what they can do to helpwith pressing problems during this unprecedented crisis.

One such business is Tieks by Gavrieli. Tieks by Gavrieli is the world’s leader in Italian leather split-sole flat shoes — a reenvisioning of the ballet flat designed to fold and fit perfectly in a purpose and be worn all day, every day. Stylish, comfortable, and durable, their shoes have led to accolades including being recognized as one of the 25 Most Innovative Consumer Brands by Forbes, a spot onInc.‘s 30 Under 30 list, being listed as a Top 30 Startup To Watch by Entrepreneur, and an appearance on Oprah’s O List.

CEO and co-founder KfirGavrieli, has made empowering women a centerpiece of the firm’s ethos.Through the Gavrieli Foundation, Tiekshas given more than $10 million through Kiva to offer micro-grants to female entrepreneurs around the world.

Gavrieli leveraged his business experience, contacts, and leadership skills to launch Operation #SewTogether— a game-changing way to use Tieks’ resources, along with the company’s massive and dedicated fanbase, to help fill in the major gaps in personal protective equipment (PPEs) and create equipment for medical providers in dire need.

Kfirsprung into action after a friends’ sister, a doctor in Los Angeles on the frontlines of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, told him about the lack of masks about a week before major news outlets began reporting on this. Reaching out to his business contacts around the world, he sourced whatever masks he could and made a major cash donation to purchase and deliver them as quickly as possible.

That was the first step. In late March, Tiekstransformed itsLA-based production facility from making shoes to making masks. They bought sewing machines and trained team members to make them, rapidly scaling in-house production. They then also created an opportunity for fans of the brand to get involved, offering a $50 gift card for customers who sewed and donated 25 masks and a $100 gift card for customers who sewed and donated 50 by following detailed instructions that the brand shared online.

Within 24 hours of launch, Operation #SewTogether was responsible for delivering thousands of masks to hospitals and clinics in need, and made a significant, measurable, and positive impact in their communities. Even during this challenging and turbulent time, Tieks has been able to produce hundreds of thousands of masks, using the power the company and its community to save lives.

Gavrieli explained said the response to this incredible mission moved him. “As soon as I learned of this coming shortage, I knew we had a responsibility to reorient our business to get masks into the hands of those who need them most. We’ve seen the tremendous power of our Tieks community many times before, but the response so far has been beyond anything I could have imagined.”

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Why BTSC and Other Stocks Stand to Benefit from Bitcoin’s Next Bull Market

Bitcoin (BTC) is not an asset class for the weak-stomached. It has made some investors incredibly wealthy, but it has also crashed no less than fourteen times in its history. If you’re serious about investing in BTC and other cryptocurrencies, you must be prepared to HODL, or “hold on for dear life.”

With that disclaimer out of the way, 2020 is a great time to prepare for the next BTC bull market. After the COVID correction, BTC/USD bottomed out at around 7,500 USD. At present, that price is sitting just above 9,000 USD.

With unprecedented instability around the world, we believe BTC will increase in the short to medium-term. We also expect bitcoin adjacent equities to rise as well. In today’s report, we’ll examine four bitcoin stocks that have been getting a lot of attention lately.

Bitcoin Services Inc. (OTCMKTS:BTSC)

According to its website, Bitcoin Services Inc. is a firm that engages in bitcoin mining, blockchain software development, and escrow services. And, when you look at their past performance, it appears they did well during the 2017 BTC super spike.

However, when you dig deeper, it’s hard to determine precisely what they do. BTSC’s website mostly contains information most bitcoin investors already know about. In other words, you won’t find a unique selling proposition that clues you into their competitive advantage.

When you search for news headlines that feature BTSC, the trail disappears around 2017. Despite radio silence since then, markets continue to trade BTSC stock. If you’re smart, you probably realize what’s going on – they are taking advantage of the mania around BTC.

In a previous life, BTSC was known as Tulip Biomed. In 2016, they to Bitcoin Services Inc. The following year, bitcoin caught fire, and their stock got swept up in the mania. At its peak, BTSC was worth $0.41.

Today, they are worth $0.02. Should you buy BTSC today? First, realize that, at best, BTSC only offers run-of-the-mill services that don’t stand out from the crowd. As such, you shouldn’t bet your life savings on this stock. However, if you feel like gambling, this stock will likely rise with the next BTC boom. 

Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (OTCMKTS: GBTC)

Many investors are interested in purchasing BTC. However, this process can be intimidating to some. First, you have to sign up for a bitcoin wallet. Then, you have to buy your BTC on an exchange. Lastly, you have to remember your private key. If you forget it, you lose access to your BTC – forever.

Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) has made this process less complicated and risky. Instead of going through the steps outlined above, you only need to buy their securities. Their entire business is buying BTC, and then selling securities based on its value of their holdings.

In other words, the value of GBTC shares tracks roughly with the worth of BTC. Times may be uncertain, but Grayscale continues to believe in this cryptocurrency strongly. According to the Asia Times, they were buying one-third of all newly-minted bitcoins as of May 2020.

Shortly after the apex of the 2017 super spike, GBTC’s shares soared to its all-time high of $18. A new wave of investors were interested in BTC, but not the complicated process of buying/storing it. While GBTC stock tanked with the price of BTC in 2018, it has since settled in the $9 to $15 range.

Should you buy GBTC? Given their profound belief in BTC, the company itself is almost certainly legitimate. Earlier this year, “The Halving” triggered a modest increase in prices. And, in the years ahead, BTC has growth potential that institutional/retail investors keep missing. For instance, in developing economies, users are adopting BTC to avoid high remittance fees and to hedge against inflation.

GBTC is the only significant trust that manages a fund exclusively consisting of BTC. Given the points mentioned above, we feel GBTC would make a great addition to your bitcoin portfolio.      

Riot Blockchain (NASDAQ: RIOT)

Central banks don’t print BTC. Rather, teams of “bitcoin miners” produce this decentralized asset by solving complicated mathematical problems. However, crafting BTC is not easy/cheap, as the amount of computing power required is enormous.

In 2020, the cost of processors and the electricity needed to run them has squeezed out hobbyists. In this environment, only companies like Riot Blockchain have a shot at operating profitably. This Colorado-based firm runs a bitcoin mining facility in Oklahoma City. As of 2020, they’ve successfully produced 281 BTC.

Riot Blockchain also runs a fund that invests in cryptocurrency and blockchain-related businesses. On their site, they highlight three major investments – Coinsquare (Canadian crypto exchange), Tesspay (blockchain-based escrow service for telecom companies), and Verady (crypto accounting and auditing service).

Despite their varied business interests, the price of RIOT stock has languished since the 2018 crypto crash. However, after bottoming out below $1 during the COVID crash, RIOT is now trading around $2.29. 

Should you invest? To be honest, it’s a toss-up. They do have a robust BTC mining facility, but their investing arm is their real wildcard. If one of their horses takes off, it could boost their profits significantly. On the other hand, a lack of results could keep RIOT anchored in penny stock territory.

Treat RIOT like a high-risk, medium/high-reward investment. 

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA)

Compared to the other companies on this list, Nvidia appears to be out of place. After all, the GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit, is their primary income generator. These specialized circuit boards power high-end gaming PCs and smartphones alike.

However, in recent years, crypto entrepreneurs have harnessed the GPU to mine bitcoin. Compared to CPUs (central processing units), GPUs use electricity far more efficiently. The more efficient a bitcoin miner is, the more BTC it produces, and the cheaper it is to run.

As the interest in bitcoin mining has risen, Nvidia has seen a boost in their stock. Before the 2017 BTC super spike, NVDA was worth less than $100 per share. Through 2017, Nvidia doubled in value. However, even as BTC tanked through 2018, NVDA held its value (through 1H 2018 at least). Today, even as BTC sits at half its all-time high, NVDA is trading around its all-time high.

BTC mining has contributed to NVDA’s success. However, NVDA interests are diversified across a range of technologies. As a result, we strongly recommend buying NVDA, as it will add a backbone to your BTC portfolio.      

Are You Ready For The Next BTC Bull Run?

As the world embraces digital assets and seeks refuge from unstable currencies, interest in BTC will only increase. By adding solid BTC stocks to your portfolio, you’ll stand ready to capitalize when this cryptocurrency enters its next bull market.

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4 Signs Your Company Must Implement Sales Enablement Strategy

Almost every company sometimes gets to a point when the profits are low, motivation decreases and there is no particular plan or strategy to improve the situation. Some employers decide to cut the salaries then, or they put blame on their workers and change the crew. However, in this situation, these are not the best solutions, as they may eventually lead to a deeper crisis and loss of the workforce.  What is far better in this case, is to re-think your overall strategy. If it doesn’t work properly, it’s advisable to change the whole company’s approach, especially within it. A good option to achieve that is to implements a sales enablement strategy. With a little effort and planning, it will allow your company to grow and escape the crisis. To read more about this strategy, visit https://saleshood.com. What are the signs that your company must think about this kind of strategy? Below we present four most probable situations.

1. You lose your customers

A sudden loss of customers interested in your products or services is always a sign that something is wrong. The sales strategy may be faulty or simply outdated and not adjusted to the company’s needs. You may not be concerned with your customers enough, or maybe you focus on sales planning too much? You should discuss these questions with your team and analyze the current situation. Once you do it, you can think of working on the sales enablement strategy. One of its main points is to focus on the customers, their needs, and their habits. You can achieve it through in-depth sales and customer analysis, that can be assisted by some analytic tools and programs. You can find some for example here. When you know a lot about your customers, it’s easier to adjust to their needs. Gathering feedback is also a nice idea – you’ll understand which products or services are the most appreciated, and what areas of your business need improvement. The power of the sales enablement strategy lies in the customer-orientation.

2.  You have problems with communication in a team

Lack of communication and consistency within a company may be a reason for the temporary crisis. When you don’t communicate properly, the whole strategy becomes incomplete and you may make various mistakes. That can also result in the lack of income or customers’ interest, as no understanding between the co-workers is easily visible outside. What can you do to change it, though, is to implement some inner training programs, as sales enablement strategy suggests? The high level of employees’ qualifications and also their social skills are vital elements that lead to success. If you, as a manager, feel strong in certain fields, you can organize and conduct the training yourself. In other cases, it’s also a good idea to use the services of external companies or freelancers who are willing to hold such meetings. Also, there are plenty of courses available online – you may buy access to online learning for your employees. It will surely result in cooperation and communication improvement, plus it’s a nice way to enhance motivation and general knowledge among the team. You can find some workshops ideas here.

3.  You don’t pay attention to assessment and documentation

Every company needs some assessment and organization tools in order to function properly. When you don’t monitor the documentation regularly, it may generate problems with the brand communication, analytics, and fulfilling the customers’ needs. If you feel that this field is not cared for properly, it may be a sign that you should start using the sales enablement strategy. It is strongly based on documenting all the processes and their effects, so the goals achieved. In order to boost your sales, you should start doing that, too. If you don’t monitor the sales, you are not able to estimate the possible profit and identify the mistakes you may make.

4.  You don’t monitor the workers and their motivation decreases

If you notice that your employees do not meet their deadlines or they are simply discouraged and not motivated, you may immediately think of ending your cooperation with them. This may be a mistake. Remember that the lack of motivation in workers maybe also the employer’s fault. The truth is, that the less the workers are monitored, the more discouraged they become. That’s why it’s a good idea to implement the sales enablement strategy, which is based on monitoring and assessing the sales representative’s work. In the long run, the profit you’ll make is going to prove that it is the right way to develop a strong relationship with your employees. You can find some more advice in this area for example here.

Sales enablement strategy may become a key point for the development of your company. It is first essential to identify the mistakes that you make and assess the situation objectively. Once you know your mistakes and goals, it is easier to monitor the improvement. Sales enablement strategy is a perfect, overall solution for businesses that are in crisis and need some long-term guidelines.

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How Inc & Co is transforming the Digital Landscape – Q&A with Founder Jack Mason

Inc & Co is a unique creative collective aiming to redefine the digital landscape through collaboration, shared services and high-level group support. In just over 11 months, Inc & Co has acquired six digital businesses, all under the strategic direction of Founder Jack Mason. 

This Q&A with Jack Mason explores Inc & Co’s formation, success to date, how the company is transforming the digital landscape. Plus, ambitious future plans.

Q: Inc & Co is a very different proposition from other collectives and holding companies – where did the idea come from?

Jack Mason: I was approached by private investors who wanted to go into business together, and the idea grew from there. Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of talk from business owners about collaboration, but rarely see it happen between agencies. I wanted to set up a group collective to bring agencies together, as I see huge potential in true collaborative working. 

We initially acquired software developers Cuhu and digital agency NEON and soon realised the wealth of talent, services, creativity and drive that we had brought together. The agency scene is traditionally closed off. Inc & Co is different, we’re the framework that allows digital agencies, app developers and tech businesses to truly work together. They support each other, but also retain their own brand, culture and identity. 

Inc & Co – transforming the digital landscape

Q: How does Inc & Co work as a collective? 

Jack Mason: We have a hugely talented group of experienced finance managers, recruiters, talent acquisition experts, strategic experts and business managers on board as part of the Inc & Co Group. When we bring businesses on board, they can use the support from group level in any way that works for them. We’re here to support them with strategy and business structure, leaving them free to concentrate on the product or service they are best at. 

Any agency or digital business that grows beyond 10 people forces the owner or founder to step away from the innovative side to concentrate on the business side and logistics of running the company. This is the burden we take off our acquisitions, so that they can refocus their talent on their original goals. 

At the same time, Inc & Co grows its collective of talent across different sectors, all of whom benefit each other. The idea of the group is to ensure each company can cross pollinate with ideas, expertise and clients and that we can collectively offer an end to end service. 

Our USP is that we have group resources that are accessible to our collective. This is what makes Inc & Co different. We troubleshoot the business upon acquisition, make changes where we need to, ensure it’s as lean and functional as possible and continue to provide support as when it’s needed. Whether that’s across social media, finance, talent, digital strategy or a mix of those. 

Q: Which companies are currently part of Inc & Co? 

Jack Mason: As well as NEON and Cuhu, we’ve also acquired on-demand laundry service Laundrapp, marketing agency brass and most recently digital innovation agency Skylab. Each acquisition expands our vision and inspires us to pivot. While our original concept was agency only, acquisitions such as Laundrapp are giving us a wider stage. 

Through digital disruptors, innovative service apps and truly original digital agencies, we are reshaping the digital landscape. Skylab brings on board Bafta-winning Nigel Collier and David Logan, with clients including Manchester United, Fifa and the British Paralympic Association, among others. 

Skylab further strengthens our digital capabilities and offers more specialist skill sets across the collective. It’s such an exciting time for the business.

An ambitious acquisition strategy 

Q: You’ve mentioned that Inc & Co has an acquisition strategy for 2020 – what are your plans? 

Jack Mason: At the start of the year, we decided to shift from our original focus of solely agencies and widen our scope to include digital. We’re always looking out for new innovative businesses to join the collective. 

We’re approached by businesses every week. Some are experiencing tough times and others that are flying high in niche areas. Our selection process always begins with the company’s team, and reputation. Bringing Skylab on board for example was a no brainer. They have an amazing team of strategists and developers, which we’re delighted to harness across the collective. 

Much of our approach to acquisition is client driven. Our clients let us know what they want, and we take this on board and expand Inc & Co to match. I’m not much of a fan of the phrase ‘one stop shop’ but Inc & Co truly does offer clients an end to end service across digital development, app development, marketing, sales and more through each agency’s specialities.

By the end of 2020 we want to have doubled our workforce and service offering through acquisitions. And we’re very much on target to achieve this. We have a number of opportunities in the pipeline and are looking to achieve an all-round service offering. Inc & Co can already offer a huge range of complementary services and our 2020 plan will see this grow even more. 

Inc & Co on expanding overseas 

Q: What else are you working on? 

Jack Mason: I think it’s important to make clear that, although we offer collaboration, cross-pollination of services and high-level group support, each of the companies acquired by Inc & Co retain their own autonomy. They retain their own office space, their branding, identity and culture. We’re not here to homogenise our acquisitions, but to allow them the freedom to innovate and create. 

Our first birthday in July and, by the end of the year, we’re on track to complete nine acquisitions in total. We’ve grown steadily and have also branched out with Inc & Co Property – a different sector for us, with huge potential in the serviced office arena. Our long-term plans include acquiring a range of agencies in Europe and further afield. We want to tap into other markets and further expand our digital reach. 

We’re launching Laundrapp in the US at the end of 2020, and currently finalising our European city launches too. The strength of this acquisition is widening our digital scope away from agencies. And should another opportunity arise that takes us into different spheres, we’ll look at how this will compliment the existing business model. As long as our acquisitions fit within our digital business strategy, we’re open to different sectors. 

While Inc & Co have big plans to become a global brand, we’ll never lose the personal touch. We’re not interested in becoming another hands-off PLC and will always retain the touchpoints that make us different. The ethos we started with of collaboration and cross-pollination will remain. This is why companies approach us and want to be part of our collective. You never know when the next opportunity will come up for Inc & Co. Watch this space! 

Read more about Jack Mason at his website here. 

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Maintaining Your Small Business in a Challenging Economy

Small businesses play a key role in our present economy, but they often face the most challenges whenever the economy suffers. Government regulations, wage inconsistencies, and tax structures can seriously impact the longevity of a local business since they operate on a lower scale and smaller profit margins than larger businesses.

There are a number of avenues you can take as a business owner to position yourself securely in an ever-changing economy. 

Watch Your Inventory

Be careful not to leave yourself with an excess of leftover merchandise. When economic times warrant cutting back your inventory levels, consider adjusting how much you carry in-house to find a balance between retail sales and backstock. Continue to monitor how your products are moving to ensure you’re cutting costs effectively while still maintaining adequate inventory levels.

Maintain Your Client Base

While you may see a slump in sales, keeping the lines of communication open with your clients will only benefit your business in the long-run. Continuing to reach out to existing clients even during economic uncertainties shows a keen interest in their business and can help keep competitors away. Try offering clients pre-payment plans, discounts, or long-term investment opportunities to help keep revenue flowing.

Manage Your Finances

Managing your revenue is key to weathering any economic storm and is one of the key ways to prepare your small business. If you’re able to save extra money and set it aside, as you’ll be in a better position to come ahead when the economy stabilizes and your business can resume at full capacity.

If you’re in a position where you require short-term financial help, consider looking into alternative payday loans that offer quick application and instant decision making processes. These types of loans provide convenience and assistance during an irregular cash flow shortage. Unlike traditional bank loans, the right provider can help push past the red tape and offer a faster, simpler short-term solution. Most providers only require basic information such as employment history and banking information.

Utilize Your Hybrid Talent

Hybrid talent refers to employees who possess multidisciplinary skills. By utilizing your current talent across various aspects of your business, you’ll be able to cut labour costs without sacrificing quality. Ideally, you’ll want someone who is a team player, who is consistent, and can come up with creative ideas and solutions.

If you need to look into hiring this kind of talent, consider utilizing the tools at your disposal in order to maximize the benefits of hiring hybrid talent.

Look Out for Any Grants

Knowing what to look for when it comes to grants and bursaries can be an asset for small business owners. There are various grants, awards, tax credits, and subsidized loans available if your business meets the qualifications. This process relies heavily on research to find the right opportunities for your business. Oftentimes, government websites will offer resources and links to a number of grants or loan opportunities.

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Tips to Secure Health through maintaining Personal Finances

We are living in times where managing personal finances has become extremely difficult. The term “personal finances” indicates saving and managing money in your life. However, many people are stuck with the severe cycles of debts, which puts a significant risk on their health. Now, with the rise in economic crisis and pandemic fallout, the uncertainty for the risk has increased to dangerous levels. Many successful businesses are already suffering a lot of challenges imposed by the pandemic. People always ignore these financial management factors and break their bank.  Financial management is the key to live a peaceful life. It is the typical behavior of the people that they spend more cash when they are wealthy. However, saving money in the present can lead to a better and healthy future. 

It is alright to worry about your family’s health and life during this crisis. For that, health must always be the top priority. Better finance management can assist you in leading a healthy lifestyle in the future. In this case, everyone needs to spend some time discovering their essential needs and savings from earning. Doing so will assist you to not only secure health but also get through the crunching financial hardships in the future. With that said, let’s discuss tips to ensure health through maintaining personal finances. 

SETTING HEALTH AND FITNESS GOALS

The first and most valuable practice to secure health is by setting yourself with health and fitness goals. You might already be living a peaceful life with financial freedom. However, setting goals can reduce significant risks for you in the future. The primary purpose of these goals is to keep your spendings balanced with your savings. More money does not mean you should spend all of it at once. 

While setting the goals, you do not have to make them look impossible to achieve. You can plan to invest in the health coverage to keep a safe side from the medical expenses. Only realistic goals can allow one to stay motivated to achieve them and live a healthy and financially secure life. 

RESEARCH PERSONAL FINANCES

Not everyone has the track of managing accounts and dealing with finance. However, you can research and study personal finances to learn finance management. Tons of research and education material can help you to cut out your spendings and shift them to savings. At the start, it might seem impossible to cut a portion from your earning to the savings. However, consistent motivation for achieving health goals for your family can persuade you to change your money management approach. 

EATING HEALTHY FOOD

Apart from cutting expenditures, eating healthy food is also an excellent approach to live a healthy lifestyle. People always complain about eating healthy food can impact their budgets, which is entirely absurd. Start by reducing the consumption of junk foods, and you will start to see the difference. Our bad habits and the food’s marketing have destroyed our health structure that takes up a significant portion of our earnings. No matter how tempting they are, junk food can also lead to chronic health problems. 

On the other side, keeping a healthy diet might seem expensive, but it removes the risks of developing a chronic disease. Saying goodbye to cravings can result in a physically more active lifestyle. 

CHANGING SPENDING HABITS

Spending habits are the prestigious practice to save extra money for your family. As discussed earlier, life goals can set you up to change your spending habits and improve your lifestyle. Personal finance also details the practices that allow you to spend mindfully instead of buying anything in your sight. For instance, always avoid making purchases online because this habit can withdraw continuous money from your banks. Moreover, you can make purchases with cash rather than credit cards. This way, you can save yourself from rising debts and save more for your health. 

INVEST IN WORKOUT GEAR

Speaking of online purchases, those who are looking to maintain fitness and live a healthy life can invest in workout gear. You do not have to pull up your living standards just for living a healthy lifestyle. A simple costume like an old t-shirt or sweatpants can assist you to with the benefits of exercise.

MAINTAIN FINANCIAL SECURITY

After hitting the age of 30, many people start to think about financial securities and retirement. It is always a valuable decision to think and plan for maintaining financial security. The term financial security suggests the planning of your future for your earnings without breaking the bank. This planning is not related to retirement either, and you can expect your financial security at an early age. However, you will be required to write down all the budget and expenses for the future to lead a long term financial securities. It can be started by paying all debts and setting a budget for expenditures. Since you want to secure a healthy life in the future, bad obligations and liabilities can destroy your planning. 

BUILD AN EMERGENCY FUND

Many people think of the emergency funds as the savings kept aside and will utilize in case of emergency. But the actual meaning is a little different as the money which is beyond usage in the personal budget. This fund is not for accidental car repairs, house renovations, or tooth diagnosis. But it can be withdrawn only in case of medical emergency like illness or injury that hurdles your earning. Building an emergency fund requires time for three to six months. In these uncertain times, keeping emergency financial support has become necessary to ensure health safety. However, you can put it in your regular expense items to maintain a safe side from financial emergencies. 

The process for the emergency fund is similar to financial security, which starts with defining the expenses. Apart from that, you will need to consult a financial expert to decide the period for saving emergency funds. The finance professionals will advise you on the specific policies based on your day-to-day expenses. 

FINAL WORDS

Financial stress is one of the important things that impact health. In this case, maintaining finance is the key to secure an healthy life. All you need to do is to audit your credit and narrow your expenses to save money for the future.

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Laying out the Costs in Detail: 8 Commercial Real Estate Leases to Know About

The process of renting a commercial building may seem straightforward to those who have never done it. Some business owners assume that once he or she has decided what space to lease, it’s just a matter of negotiating the terms, signing on the dotted line, and moving in. In reality, things aren’t quite that simple. There are actually many different types of commercial leases and business owners need to know what each of them entails so they can know what they are signing. Read on to find some basic information about eight types of commercial real estate leases.

Gross Leases

Gross leases, also referred to as full-service leases, require renters to pay only the base rent. The landlord will cover 100% of the building expenses, which typically include insurance, real estate taxes, and basic maintenance fees. They are common in commercial real estate. Business owners offered this type of lease should take a look at how much he or she will owe for common area maintenance, as this is where landlords often regain their costs spent on other services.

Net Leases

Net leases stipulate that tenants must pay some of the building’s operating expenses, including real estate taxes, insurance, and maintenance fees. The landlord will cover the rest. There are actually three types of net leases, each of which divides responsibility for operating expenses differently.

Triple Net Leases

These leases are basically the opposite of a gross lease. Tenants agree to pay all of the building’s operating expenses. The trade-off is that most triple net leases have reduced rental prices to help make up for the fact that the tenant or tenants assume all responsibility for ongoing operating expenses.

Double Net Leases

With double net leases, tenants are not responsible for 100% of operating expenses, nor are landlords. Landlords pay for things like structural maintenance, while tenants pay for utilities, property tax, and insurance. Double net leases are common in shared office buildings, where landlords typically divide real estate taxes and insurance expenses so that all tenants are responsible for paying an equal part.

Single Net Leases

Single net leases require tenants to utilities and property taxes, but not insurance and maintenance expenses. As with double net leases, the responsibility for paying the real estate taxes is typically divided equally among tenants in shared commercial buildings.

Modified Gross Leases

Modified gross leases vary substantially from contract to contract, but what all of them have in common is that they sit somewhere between gross leases and triple net leases. Tenants always pay the base rent, almost always pay the utility bills, and typically pay some portion of the building’s ongoing operating costs. The terms of modified gross leases may vary from year to year.

Absolute NNN Lease

Absolute NNN leases are similar to triple net leases, but they’re not the same. With triple net leases, landlords often assist with building repairs, but with absolute NNN leases, the landlord is completely absolved from all responsibility for the building.

Percentage Leases

Tenants with percentage leases pay a base rent and a percentage of business sales. Seven percent is the norm, but some unscrupulous landlords charge as much as 12%. These leases are common in retail.

The Bottom Line

Don’t assume that all commercial leases are largely the same. Find a landlord who offers not just affordable base rent, but also good terms.

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7 Skills Every Online Bookkeeper Should Have

Being a competent online bookkeeper requires you to have more than being good with accounting and mathematics. It comprises of various soft and hard skills. If you’re serious about being an online bookkeeper, you need to work on many skills.

What is the difference between bookkeeping and accounting? Many people use these terms as synonyms. This article talks in detail about the difference between bookkeeping and accounting. Here, the sole focus will be online bookkeeping.

What Skills Set You Apart From Average Online Bookkeepers?

Listing all skills for online bookkeepers will take some time. Instead, this article will focus on only listing critical skills an online bookkeeper must have to perform their job well. Here are seven vital skills to acquire as an online bookkeeper:

1. Amazing Data Entry And Basic Mathematics 

The first step to becoming a bookkeeper is to ramp up your data entry and mathematics skills. You must know how to use various pieces of software and accurately add data on time. As a bookkeeper, you will be responsible for entering a lot of numerical data. Although the software does most of the calculations, you need to still be aware of simple calculations and principles of bookkeeping.

You will have an easy time if you are good with numbers and can organize a series of transactions.

2. Communication

Whether you’re working with a small or a large organization, you need to communicate with the owner or staff of various departments. You, as a bookkeeper, need to be able to explain different information to other stakeholders. Sometimes, the people in other departments need your assistance in carrying out their operations.

Be comfortable with all forms of common communication mediums like email, phone, or video conference.

3. Tech Savviness

You won’t be working with basic calculations in today’s organizations. You need to be able to learn various types of software quickly to be able to perform efficiently. Start loving technology and embrace its power to help you finish things up quickly.

Some organizations may want you to use software like Microsoft Teams, Slack, or Zoom for communication. Aside from communication software, you also need to work with various cloud-based accounting tools like Freshbooks or Quickbooks. Saying no to technology means denying an opportunity in this era.

4. Organization Of Records

There is a need to finish works in time for tax return or VAT. You need to plan your tasks for months. Organizing your time and work will be vital, and it will be a determining factor for your career. Make sure you are OK to work with tight deadlines if you want to be an online bookkeeper.  

5. Attention To Details

Organizations or business owners expect you to keep track of all financial transactions. They don’t want to see even a single penny mistakenly placed or omitted in their accounting books. You need to monitor financial transactions, all while keeping both the company and government’s monetary policies in your head.

Many stakeholders will question your skills and integrity if you consistently miss out on essential details. Sometimes, you may even have to look back on past financial transactions to ensure every detail is accurately recorded on the company’s database.

6. Problem-Solving Skills

No software in this world will help you figure out every error in your accounting records. There will always be errors and misinformation in your files. As a bookkeeper, you must develop your logical and problem-solving skills.

If you see a problem in a transaction, you need to find the root cause of a problem. Identifying and reconciling the problem without changing any outcome is what you need to do as a bookkeeper.

7. View The Bigger Picture

Only focusing on minute details like a one-time employer expense won’t do much good for you as an online bookkeeper. Your employers will expect you to look at the bigger picture when performing the job. They won’t expect you to do a detailed financial analysis, but they expect some sort of analytical capacity from you.

When you record transactions and move the balance from one book to another, you need to consider its future consequences. Think about what will happen if something goes wrong or how it will impact the overall accounting outcome.

Final Thoughts

Online bookkeeping can be a great starting point for those looking to get their feet wet in a professional world. It has little barrier to entry, and you can quickly earn your living as an online bookkeeper.

If you’re committed to being an online bookkeeper, start acquiring the skills mentioned in this article. Are you ready to pursue a career as an online bookkeeper? 

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How to Give Business Shares To Your Employees

Employee motivation remains a key aspect of your business. However, giving out shares as a reward equates to ceding part of your company. Though a positive move in the sight of your employees, there are some critical concerns that you should analyze.

Some of the risks that are associated with giving shares to employees include: –

Company secrets may be at risk.It erodes the per value of shares.Additional expenses to acquire them back.Risk of conflicts when employees leave.

When the company is not performing well or during bad financial times, employee motivation can be achieved by way of giving shares. This can also be used to attract and retain top talent.

What modalities can you use to give employees shares?

Here are some ways to execute this reward system 

1. Decide on How to Reserve the Equity Plan

This can be discussed during a shareholders meeting to develop a consensus on the matter. These are some possible solutions that can be weighed: –

Issuance of new shares- It involves creating a new class of shares. This can shield existing shareholders from tax liabilities which normally arises if they choose to give a part of the existing sharesAllocate shares from an existing class of shares- By using the authorized share capacity, a new class of shares can be issued to execute this plan.Institute qualification criteria- This can either be several years worked, waiting period, performance metrics, and any other metrics. 

When planning to execute the issue, it is important to disclose to shareholders the full details about possible tax liabilities, dilution of value, and any other effect. 

2. Administering the Plan

Depending on the size of the company, it is important to have a solid management system for this scheme. Creating an online platform can help you manage the scheme better. These are some of the reasons you need a solid system to manage this scheme: –

Eliminate paperwork- For big companies with thousands of employees, qualifying individual staff manually can be tedious. The system helps keep an updated database on the files.Manage share transfer and Exit Plans- Developing a robust system capable of handling transactions of the shares is beneficial. This includes internal transfers and sale requests

A management system is important as it can provide a point of audit quickly.

3. Institute Measures to Protect Shareholders and the Company

As mentioned above there are risks associated with this move. It is therefore important to work closely with a management consultant and a legal team to craft the scheme. Below are some measures to enhance protection: –

Putting a cap on the rights of the holder- Creating a policy that clearly defines what rights the holders have is crucial. This includes voting rights, access to crucial information and any responsibility is crucial.Exit rights- It is important to define in the articles what will happen should an employee leave. This can include clauses that further restrict the rights of shareholders after leaving to avoid any sabotage after leaving the company.

The exit rights could also be flexible depending on the reason for exit e.g. disability or incapacitation.

4. Some of the Available Equity Plans 

Equity compensation involves gifting shares to employees with or without cash. It can also be issued with a pre-determined discounted price. This option to acquire shares can be vested—meaning there are conditions to be met before redeeming them.

Below are some of the available plans: –

Restricted Stock Unit- This specifically utilizes a vesting plan. Employees exercise or redeem the right to acquire after achieving a certain threshold. This can be performance targets or after passing a test of loyalty.

Restricted units have a deferred value. After meeting the metric for instance 10 years working for the company. The share assumes its value which can then be redeemed through a sale.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan- This scheme gives unrestricted ownership to the company. This plan helps employees acquire full shareholder rights, who in turn appreciate the responsibility. This normally propels employees to improve their performance.

This plan has tax benefits to current shareholders which is a great incentive to issue them.

This plan is used to secure interest in the company and enhancing succession planning.

Equity compensation plans can help incentivize employees but at the same time promote the agenda of the company like the going concern.

Business Shares Conclusion

Business shares is a great way to enhance trust from your employees while keeping them motivated. However, with respect to existing shareholders, it’s great to craft ways that can protect them.

On the other hand, investing in a quality management system can help administer the plan successfully.

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