ABC Money

Guide to Budget Issues and Comprehensive Planning for SMEs

Elliot

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7 March 2018

Guide to Budget Issues and Comprehensive Planning for SMEs

In today’s business world, SMEs face many issues – including producing a comprehensive budget. Financial management is crucial to the success of your company, and you must have great knowledge of your company cash flow and the specific industry of your SME. Without this detailed information, it could spell failure and even the severe consequences of company insolvency. Business Rescue Expert, leading insolvency practitioners in the UK, are sharing their tips to budget planning for SMEs.

According to the Insolvency Statistics – October to December 2017, the number of companies entering insolvency increased by 4.2%, compared to that of 2016. An estimated 17,243 UK companies faced the insolvency process, with even more businesses expected to enter the formal proceedings next year. For many, this will be the result of poor financial management. Managing growth, change and funding are said to be a primary issue for SMEs, stated in recent reports. Without a realistic and adaptable budget in place, you cannot plan for a healthy and profitable future.

Sales Estimate

For businesses that are already established, a comprehensive look back at previous sales is essential for your budget plan. Take a look over the past several years to produce an in-depth forecast, including specific times of the year – peak periods, seasonal periods etc. This data will provide an extensive insight into where you succeed in revenue, and where you need to improve financial planning.

As a startup SME, existing consumer data will not be readily available. However, you can analyse your competitor’s accounts and successes, filed at Companies House. In turn, this will allow you to understand the market and enable you to make any necessary changes to your budget. You should also look into purchasing an industry analysis from a data research tool. There are plenty offering free services, and you could look into the likes of Plimsoll to provide a basis for your sales estimate and, subsequently, company budget.

Expenses

It may seem like we are stating the obvious, but all expenses need to be taken into account. This also includes one-off purchases, such as licensing or software, that may seem insignificant. All financial information available will create an accurate budget.

Again, if you are a startup, this information can be found online. Research your competitors and their online accounts to analyse the time before your company is expected to make a profit. Industry standards and marketing trends will also work as a guide as you produce the budget. A specialist accountant within the industry will have expert knowledge of your specific market, so it may be worthwhile looking into their services.

Peer Groups

Connecting with peer groups within your industry provides endless benefits. You can build your network and relevant connections to aid with the growth of your business. Staying active in these peer groups will ensure you collect vital information for trends in the market, while identifying any changes that impact your sales and budget.

Match your Headings

You can work to create a realistic budget with the costs and insider industry information available. However you find this information, whether from your existing consumer database or research accounts from competitors filed at Companies House, you must ensure your budget income and expenditure subheadings match up exactly with the layout of your company’s management accounts. To do so, you can use the services of cloud based systems, such as Xero and Quickbooks, boasting excellent facilities to help prepare the initial budget draft. Once these are in order and aligned, you can regularly compare costs with your budget and amend efficiently in response to any market changes that could affect your cash flow.

Seek Advice

Advice is essential to getting your SME budget off the ground and into a realistic plan. Established companies boast the benefit of staff members with financial responsibilities, meaning you can gain insights into their day-to-day knowledge of the cash flow, as well as information on targets, costs and production. These additional insights will only strive to strengthen your budget and, most importantly, make it achievable.

If you are struggling to put together a comprehensive budget, financial advisors, accountants and even business mentors can share vital knowledge and review the draft of your budget. Again, these services will not be free, but can mean the difference between a successful future and, possibly, insolvency.

Ultimately, creating a budget taking into account all factors will help improve your chances of making a profit.

What a corporate office design can say about your business

Business

Elliot

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7 March 2018

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What a corporate office design can say about your business

An important element of a business organisation is the design and appearance of its corporate offices. The working environment defines the nature of the work that takes place inside the building and the way your company operates and also indicates company standards. Each space will have a unique purpose and the best designers take that into account.

The office design you opt for should factor in what you do and the personalities of the people who work in that space to enhance their productivity. Let your office space stand as a representation of your business brand and what you offer to your customers. Do not underestimate the influence that the design of your office can have, not only on how your staff will work but also how the public will react to your business.

There are office designs that have become popular for what they say to clients and the public about a business. By choosing one of those, many companies benefit by being able to use a design to promote their brand image to the world. If you are just beginning to work with graphic design and want to save your money on programs, the best choice for you will be to use free graphics software.

Modern office design

A contemporary corporate office design is increasingly popular with businesses. It will typically include high-end finishes to the building itself as well as the furniture used by staff. Classic materials used in such designs include quality, toughened glass for aesthetic appeal and security. The Wholesale Glass Company is just one organisation that provides this type of outstanding glass to businesses wanting the modern look.

Space is left uncluttered and stripped back to allow for work to progress with no interruptions. It also creates a very fresh look that inspires the staff inside and impresses the outside world.

This type of design is very prevalent in financial institutions where the many private offices and meeting rooms perfectly suit the confidential nature of the business that is conducted there. Regarding what it says about your business – the overriding impression conveyed is that of honesty, professionalism and dedication to work.

Open-plan design

At the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the open-plan office design. That is more popular in collaborative sectors such as marketing where colleagues benefit from easy interaction with one another. These spaces see traditional offices or cubicles replaced with large, open spaces. Hot-desking can also be a factor here as it allows workers to move around to where they need to be that day.

This type of office will be light and bright due to the larger, open spaces involved. There will often be bright colours involved too as this helps to stimulate creativity. Big communal spaces to meet and exchange ideas in are also heavily featured in this design. By opting for this look, you are signalling to all that you are a creative, energetic place that values the exchange of ideas to produce new things.

Scandi design

One of the significant trends in all design sectors at the moment is the Scandi look. Such an office can be a very pleasant environment in which to work. The main principles here are a clean look with natural elements, such as the use of wood and sympathetic lighting. Subtle bursts of colour are also well worth using although not too much. The real goal is to create a sense of intimate space and a serene working atmosphere. If members of the public come onto your premises, it will also give them that impression.

This design is perfect for sending out a message to people that you are a business that can be trusted and is reliable. Many commercial units will, therefore, go for this look as will other work sectors such as call centres. If you want to demonstrate that you are a company to be trusted, this is a great office environment to try out.

Eccentric office design

Quirky detailing and bold, bright furniture are the hallmarks of this office design. It will give your premises an eclectic look and mix of styles that make it stand out. This design is great for any business involved in the arts as it is showy and full of creativity. This is one of the best designs for being able to show off a fun, irreverent business brand, if that is what you want to do.

With this is mind, it is beloved across the artistic sector from graphic design agencies to fashion designers. It says that you are a business that is different, unique and not afraid to make an impression! This will help you attract clients who are looking for a business that offers just these qualities.

Industrial office design

More companies are now embracing the Industrial look when designing their offices. This has challenged the traditional conventions around office design by using exposed brickwork and pipes. Industrial metal fixtures and exposed floorboards are also a feature of this office look.

Not surprisingly, many companies involved in the design and construction sector have begun to utilise this approach for their office environment. Other organisations in different sectors have also incorporated elements into their offices too as it gives a bold, urban look. By using this design for your office, you will be signalling a company that is connected to their environment but is also energetic and ready to do things differently.

Creating the right office environment is vital

Taking the time to consider the office environment within your business premises is essential. Not only will it allow you to set the tone you wish your staff to follow but also tell the public what to expect from your brand. Get it wrong, and the messages that you will be sending out could be in contradiction to what you are communicating in other ways. The above designs offer a wide range of use for any business and will be able to effectively convey what you are about.

Are You Young, Ambitious and Ready to Launch Your Own Business?

Business

Elliot

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6 March 2018

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Are You Young, Ambitious and Ready to Launch Your Own Business?

Has it dawned on you that you’d really rather not be working for someone else for the rest of your life? You’re not alone. Research published by OnePoll and FreeAgent last year revealed that 67% of 18-24-year-olds are interested in starting their own business. So, what’s holding you back? If you’re a young, ambitious and aspiring entrepreneur who isn’t sure how or when to take the next steps, this post for you.

Find your space

You’ve got an idea. You think it could work but you’re worried you might not have enough experience or contacts to pull it off. There’s no denying starting your own business is hard work, but whether you’re planning to manufacture your own product or want to rely on the talent and skills you’ve been using in your day job to run a business of your own, confidence in your own credentials is key. If you’re good at what you do it will shine through. However, raw talent and hard work won’t automatically guarantee success, so you’ll also need to do the groundwork. Planning and research are key and you may find it helpful when running through this stage to work with a business mentor. Not only will they be able to coach you into considering questions you’re not yet aware of, you could also find they help you unlock your inner confidence too.

If you already have a business model in mind, you’ll need to do proper market research to explore whether the idea has legs. If your plan requires investment, this research will be fundamental when it comes to scoping out your business plan to prove to the bank you’ve found a space in the market. This could be a geographical space where you seek out a good spot for a store or premises with footfall, your own product or service niche, or a mix. A few words of caution though – remember that customers don’t always know what they want. Henry Ford is often quoted as having said: “If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses.”

Plan your finances

If you’re a skilled professional working in any field from accountancy through to hairdressing, you may be hoping to cut out the middleman and start making money from your own training and talent. If your employment contract allows it, building your freelance base alongside your day job is one of the most popular and least risky ways to make the transition into a small business owner. However, you may still find that you require some capital to get your business started.

Premises, marketing and employees are all potential startup expenses you are likely to have to cover up front. How will you fund these? If you’re hoping for a loan, most banks will want to see some form of financial commitment from yourself before they stump up the rest of the cash towards your business vision. After all, if there’s only their money to lose, it’s a lot easier for you to walk away. You could also go to an alternative lender and apply for a short term business loan. Chances are you may need to save up some of your own cash or ask for investment from friends or relatives. You may also be able to seek grant funding, so take a peek at the latest Government services and information for help in your area.

Poor cashflow is one of the biggest killers of young businesses, so you’ll need to plan beyond the startup phase to be successful. What kind of financing methods will you have up your sleeve? Business loans, invoice discounting, crowdfunding and angel investment are just some of the ways you might seek capital to help your business grow.

Beat the red tape

The truth is, starting any kind of business requires cutting through a little red tape. Even sole traders need to register with HMRC and depending on the nature of their business, they may also require certain insurances such as professional indemnity insurance too. Will you be holding customer information? Well, you best get clued up on data protection. To start a food business you’ll need to be hygiene certified and registered with your local council. Whatever field you’re in, if you are planning on employing staff you’ll need an overview of payroll, pensions and holiday entitlement. Failing to deal with some legislation types before you launch won’t just be an inconvenience, it could close you down before you even get started, so take the time to explore your obligations first. It’s wise to consult a solicitor about matters such as employment law and rental contracts for premises. Similarly, governing bodies and professional member organisations are a good place to start exploring regulations related to your chosen field of business.

Remember, while preparation is crucial, on paper there’s not usually a ‘right’ time to start a business and to a certain extent, a leap of faith is a must.

Is It Legal or Illegal to Gamble Online in Costa Rica?

Legal
World

Elliot

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6 March 2018

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Is It Legal or Illegal to Gamble Online in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is located in Central America. It is flanked by Panama and Nicaragua. On the west side, it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, and on the east by the Caribbean Sea. Costa Rica is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the world, with tropical jungles peppered across its 19,652 mi.² of pristine wilderness. It may seem odd that this pristine natural enclave would be a top destination for online poker players – but it is. This Central American country has adopted a friendly approach towards online gambling, despite the absence of legislation to this effect.

Many gambling countries and territories have gambling authorities responsible for regulating, licensing and policing the online gaming industry. These include the MGA in Malta, the Government of Gibraltar in Gibraltar, the UK Gambling Commission for the UK, the Ireland Revenue Commissioners in Ireland, and the Government of Curaçao in the Netherlands. However, Costa Rica has no such authority, making it difficult to pin down the legality of online casino, online poker, or other online gambling games. In fact, the absence of a Costa Rica Gaming Authority or Costa Rica Gaming Commission is notable. Nonetheless, many online casinos and online poker rooms have attempted to claim authority from these fictional entities.

For the record, there is no gambling legislation in Costa Rica. For gaming companies to set up shop with online poker games such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Razz, Caribbean Stud Poker, 7 Card Stud or other poker tournaments, it’s important to simply follow the existing framework in Costa Rica. This includes the payment of $5,000 for a business license, and $500 for the processing of the gambling license and the legal fees. Unfortunately, that’s all that is required from a legal perspective to set up shop as an official online casino or online poker room in Costa Rica. According to the corruption index, Costa Rica scored 58/100 in 2016. 0 is considered highly corrupt, and 100 is considered very clean. Costa Rica is middle of the ground. It has improved in recent years, given that it’s highest-ranking was 64.50.

What is the status of casinos and gambling in Costa Rica?

At the time of writing, there were several dozen casinos located in Costa Rica, mainly in San Jose. The nightlife in this Central American country is teeming with foreigners, bars, casinos, clubs, restaurants and the like. Many of the top casino companies have targeted Costa Rica as a premier destination for online gaming. Poker is the subject of intense interest in Costa Rica. Annual poker conventions are routinely held in Costa Rica, including the Poker Industry Expo.

High-level attendees include poker executives from ranking online poker rooms around the world, and many of the world’s top players also participate. Some of the highest profile venues that host Costa Rica poker tournaments include the Garden Court, Hotel, and the Fiesta Casino Costa Rica. According to 2006 statistics, there were 32 legal online casinos and poker rooms in Costa Rica across 14 cities. San Jose tops the list with 18 gambling establishments, scores of video poker machines, 1,136 slot machines, 168 table games and more.

What does it mean to have a Costa Rica gambling license?

For the most part, foreign online gambling companies can derive revenues from foreign countries with a Costa Rican gambling license. Additionally, these companies will be subject to foreign tax policies. Oftentimes, companies that operate with a Costa Rica gambling license avoid taxation in this way. Online poker rooms in Costa Rica have a few drawbacks, notably locals cannot be accepted as players, and local banks and payment processing companies will not be allowed to fund poker online games.

The banking industry in Costa Rica is largely dominated by the US, meaning that it may be difficult to get approval. Over the years, hundreds of online gaming companies have opened and closed shop in Costa Rica. Today, only a handful remain. Given that government involvement in online gambling activity is limited at best, the industry is largely unpoliced. It is subject to criminal activity, corruption, and unfair gaming practices.

Players at Costa Rican casinos and online poker rooms routinely complain of poor customer service given that there is no overarching authority to manage activities. The online gambling boom in Costa Rica began with strict regulations in the US. Gaming fans who are seeking out alternative destinations to enjoy Texas Holdem poker and other strategy-based games, eventually settled on island nations and Caribbean countries like Costa Rica. Since foreigners are made to feel welcome in Costa Rica, foreign capital is equally enjoyed.

Entrepreneurs gladly establish themselves in this Central American country. However, the UIGEA of 2006 sounded the death knell for many online gaming operators in Costa Rica. Federal agents and the Department of Justice moved swiftly to shut down online gaming companies. Since then, greater liberalization of online gambling legislation in the US and elsewhere has resulted in a resurgence in interest in online poker and online casino games in Costa Rica.

Where to next for Costa Rica gambling legislation?

Costa Rica may not be the first name on the list when you think of player friendly online gambling legislation. It is an environmentally friendly country that prides itself on liberal government policy, the protection and preservation of the natural environment, and being a tourist Mecca. The absence of legislation is not to be confused with the prevention of online gambling. While locals are not allowed to play online, everyone else is.

An important component of Costa Rican gambling legislation, as it pertains to online poker is the following: it doesn’t matter where the i-Gaming servers are located – at home or abroad. The only requirement is that Costa Rican players are not permitted to gamble online. Recall that the only requirement is a data processing license and a physical address in Costa Rica. However, local businesses make it much easier for foreign operators to set up shop in Costa Rica by providing them with the requisite paperwork. The lack of oversight in Costa Rica for many years led many other gambling authorities such as the UKGC preventing Costa Rican online poker rooms from offering their services to UK players.

Summing it Up:

The Costa Rican Times ran an editorial on 10 January 2018 detailing the bare facts about the online gaming industry. Simply put, it is 100% legal to operate an online poker room in Costa Rica, provided that services are not offered to locals. Costa Rican players can enjoy free play games at online casinos and online poker rooms, but no real money games are permitted.

Economic Problems Come from Our Mind

Economics

ABC Staff

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6 March 2018

0

Overcoming economic problems is not an easy task, but it is simple. Do you see the difference? There are differences between the easy, the difficult, the simple and the complex. When it comes to solving our monetary problems, we usually believe that it is complex, or sometimes impossible. The extreme is when people consider and accept internally that there is absolutely nothing to be done.

Unless you are routed in a project that will soon bear fruit (and that is proven) if you have financial problems, what you have been doing all this time, simply has not worked.

– Do you have a job? It does not work.
– Do you have a company? It does not work.
– Do you have an entrepreneurship project? It does not work.

Because it does not work? Because regardless of what you do, the root of the problem is much deeper than you think, and is really based on something very simple: Your Mind. Your mind determines everything! Suppose if you have a bad credit history and you need a quick loan. If you are a pessimistic person then you will surrender whereas if you are a person with an optimistic nature then you will look for online-based loans such as long term loans.

But do not think I’m talking about something spiritual, esoteric, mystical or occult. I speak specifically of your way of thinking, deciding and acting in the world.

It is curious that many people want to change their financial situation, starting from the outside. When really what is needed is an internal change that allows tending towards the manifestation of better results. A great example that comes to my mind to conceptualize is that of the sheet and the printer: Suppose you have on your computer, a document that you want to print. You print it and it comes up with an error that you want to avoid.

Then, then you decide to correct the error in the result of the impression and you take a corrector to effectively replace the wrong word by which you consider, it must go. Then you propose to reprint the document, after having corrected the problem in paper …

And Oh Surprise! The sheet came out exactly the same, with the same error. Why did this happen? Because the real problem is not on the outside, on the result, on the palpable. The problem is in the intangible. The solution is not to change your environment, your work, your investments, your expenses … etc. The solution is in changing you. In changing that document that you will effectively print to the world.

Imagine your mind as the software that manages the document before it is printed to the world, and imagine the printed sheet of paper as the result of having started the software.

Your software is your thinking, your mentality, your attitude, your character, your ideas, your paradigms … etc. Your hardware is your brain. And the impression is your concrete financial situation: Financial Freedom, Financial Troubles, Wealth, Poverty, Misery … among others.

Simply if you try to erase the error in the sheet (that is, to eliminate the errors in your environment and in your exterior life) there will come a time when you will be exactly the same as before; because you will simply continue to print more of your internal information to the world.

How will Brexit affect fuel prices?

Elliot

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2 March 2018

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Many articles have reported the increase in fuel prices, followed by more articles discussing the drop-in fuel prices. In the UK, fuel prices seem to be on a yoyo, constantly bouncing up and down. The RAC have reported several times on the cost of fuel in the UK – with industry professionals encouraging leading supermarkets to cut fuel prices to make them more affordable following a three-year high in both diesel and petrol prices.

So far in 2018, fuel prices have continued to rise, with motorists experiencing a third consecutive month for price increases in January – large supermarket forecourts appear to have hit drivers the worst with the largest price increases.

According the Simon Williams, a fuel spokesman for the RAC, “Both petrol and diesel are now at their highest points for more than three years which is bound to be making a dent in household budgets.

“We urge fuel retailers to be fair to motorists and pass on the current savings in the wholesale price of petrol and diesel at the pump.

“Reflecting downward movement in wholesale prices on the forecourt, however small, is important for retailers as motorists generally believe there is little transparency in the price of fuel, unless of course costs are on the up when they understand all too well they will quickly be paying more to fill up.”

Thankfully, the RAC’s concerns have been heard, with three of the UK’s leading supermarkets reducing their fuel prices in February 2018, by up to 2p per litre – reflecting the recent drop in the cost of oil. To which the RAC hope will spark a chain reaction prompting other retailers to lower their prices too. However, again this proves the yoyo effect of fuel prices in the UK – January experiencing both wholesale and pump price on the rise, whilst so far in February, the cost has reduced. So, is there a way to maintain steady fuel prices?

Northgate Vehicle Hire, specialists in van leasing consider if the Brexit could be the answer to steady fuel prices. Could this yoyo trend be put to a stop when the UK leave the European Union? In 2013, the UK reached a peak in reliance of imported energy. Whilst it has fell slightly since 2013, the UK still relies on the import of energy for at least 38% of their total energy consumption – and this is a trend mirrored across many European countries. In 2014, all EU countries were importing more energy than they exported. However, the OPEC made a decision to increase domestic fuel production in 2014 too – which led towards a fuel price drop to 98p a litre in January 2016 – the lowest fuel had been since 2009, during the financial crisis.

When the referendum came around, fuel prices rose by around 10p litre, and following the vote to leave the EU, the value of the pound took an immediate fall of 20% against the dollar, leading industry experts to warn that the vote marked the end of cheap fuel in Britain – with imports to the UK costing more than prior to the vote. However, since then fuel prices have been less than steady, with UK drivers experiencing multiple rises and falls in the years since the vote.

Global factors are one of the main reasons that the price of oil fluctuates so often – crude oil prices are on the rise. Alongside this is Brexit, the uncertainty and devaluation of the pound is affecting the cost of fuel within the UK – especially as they import so much of their fuel. Currently, the UK put the significant increase in fuel prices down to the increase in oil costs, with Brexit a small contributor.

Following Brexit, whilst the UK hope that fuel prices remain steady – the RAC warn that 2018 onwards could see higher fuel prices becoming the new norm. Luckily, the US is one of the UK’s main providers of fuel, and Brexit does not put US trading terms at risk.

Simon Williams commented: “While the fuel market is very hard to predict at the best of times there is currently even greater uncertainty as the price of oil went through the $70 a barrel mark in January for the first time in more than three years, while sterling has strengthened against the dollar making wholesale fuel cheaper as it’s traded in dollars.”

However, the UK should prepare for the uncertainty that Brexit poses. If the value of the pound weakens, whilst the cost of oil continues to rise, the UK economy may struggle with new higher fuel prices.

Breaking Into eBay Niches

Business

Elliot

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1 March 2018

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With over 160 million active users across the globe, eBay is a brilliant market for sellers to break into. But, with 160 million active buyers comes a lot of sellers too, and eBay has over 25 million of them who, between them, have over 1 billion items for sale.
Although these figures are overwhelming, and you may think it is impossible to break into eBay niche markets, it is still doable with a little (or a lot) of hard work, dedication and effort.
If you are hoping to jump on eBay and make serious cash right away, then you need to understand that this probably isn’t going to happen. If you are willing to put in some effort and be patient, though, then it is possible. You won’t make money unless you have the right product though and are willing to market it properly.
eBay’s most profitable products are sold in niche markets which have little-to-no other competitors. So, how do you break into these?

Start in a lower-demand niche market

Basic economics dictates that the more in-demand a product is, the more sellers there will be competing to sell it.
If you are looking to break into the eBay market and start to turn a profit by selling laptops, for example, then you are going to be competing with millions of other listings. Plus, you are competing with sellers who are able to offer reduced price, so you probably won’t have much luck.
When finding a niche, you want to find something where there is some demand for it, but not so much that you are going to have to drive down prices in-order to be competitive.

Play to your strengths and expertise

If you’ve got a lot of existing knowledge and expertise surrounding the product you are wanting to sell, it will make things a lot easier for you. Although it’s not essential to have a burning passion for what you are selling, it certainly does make you stand out.
If you are operating in a high-niche market, experience and knowledge is much more relevant as you are more likely to come across serious collectors who may want to know advanced things about your product.
Plus, by having market knowledge, you know where to source your product from for the best rates and be able to make a convincing and effective product description.

Focus on what makes you unique

You need to establish a unique selling point which will draw in customers and focus on this in your listings. What do you offer which your competitors don’t?
Try to make your niche as unique as possible, allowing you to specialize and earn as much profit as possible whilst keeping competition minimal.
Getting started on eBay as a professional seller can be quite difficult, but there is a lot of information out there to help you. Why not check out our infographic, which has a lot of useful facts, figures and information to get you going?

Clearabee ProTip: Don’t Put Rubbish Clearance Bags In Wales – They May Fine You!

Utilities

ABC Staff

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28 February 2018

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Clearabee ProTip: Don’t Put Rubbish Clearance Bags In Wales – They May Fine You!

Wales has the best UK record on keeping recyclables out of rubbish clearance bags and bins, and thereby, diverting the most rubbish away from landfills. In fact, if Wales was a separate nation, it would rank fourth in the European Union for the best municipal recycling record, after Germany, Austria, and Belgium. This is based on official data published in the EU recycling league tables and reported widely in the media.

With an earnest commitment to sustainable practices, the Welch government has now set a highly ambitious goal: zero rubbish clearance going into landfills by year 2050!

An equally ambitious intermediate goal has been set: a minimum seventy percent recycle rate by year 2025, with thirty percent or less of all rubbish going to landfills. In order to achieve these goals, several Welsh officials are proposing the idea of fining people who put recyclables in their rubbish clearance bags. While the majority of citizens seem okay with this idea, even hail it as a positive, there is a vocal minority who oppose it.

It looks like the controversial idea of fining citizens who put their recyclables in with their rubbish clearance will be tested soon by Rhondda Cynon Taf council. It was revealed by Ann Crimmings, a Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s cabinet member for Environment and Leisure, on BBC’s Good Morning Wales programme, that other Welsh councils are watching closely to see how successful this strategy is and how it is received by citizens. If the Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s new fines are shown to improve the recycling rate, there is little doubt that similar fines will be imposed in other councils and counties in Wales.

In response to the Welsh naysayers, who believe these rubbish clearance goals are too lofty and unobtainable, the majority of Welsh individuals, especially those who are committed to ecojustice, point to Wales’ recent rubbish clearance achievements. In particular, they repeatedly tout that Wales reached its goal of a sixty-four percent municipal recycle rate FOUR years ahead of the scheduled goal. This occurred last August, 2017, and was widely boasted about in the media and elsewhere. It is certainly a feather in Wales’ proverbial cap!

Given the rubbish clearance crisis the whole world faces, most Welsh citizens view the next recycling goals that have been set as noble and achievable.

To this end, they do what they can to pitch in and help Wales meet them. However, others refuse to even comply with their local councils’ mandatory rules on recycling. For example, they continue to mix unsoiled paper recycling, tin cans, empty plastic containers, and other recyclables in with their rubbish clearance. Moreover, these non-compliant individuals simply don’t seem to have any interest in composting or other voluntary and highly successful methods of reducing waste removal streams.

The fines imposed by the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council will be an interesting social experiment. Ann Crimmings explained in the BBC interview that an “education campaign” would be implemented before the fines are initiated, most likely in June 2018. Council officials, and perhaps charity volunteers, will be talking with Rhondda Cynon Taf residents who do not put out a recycling bin to encourage them to chance their ways and explain to them why it’s so important to recycle. It would help the effort too if neighbours would chat it up with other neighbours.

Kudos Are In Order

– With much credit to the positive attitude and diligence of their residents, Ceredigion County has achieved the honor of having the best municipal recycling rate in Wales, having reached a seventy percent municipal recycle rate in 2017. Congratulations Ceredigion County! You totally rock! Way to go and keep it up!

– Wrexham County and Monmouthshire County are not far behind Ceredigion County, each having reached a sixty-nine municipal recycle rate during 2017, which is also highly commendable. Insert virtual applause here!

Even the lowest ranked Welsh County Deserves Some Praise

– In 2017, Blaenau Gwent County was the lowest performing county in Wales for municipal recycling, coming in at a fifty-seven percent recycle rate. However, it should be pointed out that this county did improve their recycle rate by eight percentage points in just one year, so it too should be given a much deserved pat on the back for their highly improved recycle rate.

– Furthermore, Blaenau Gwent County already has a better municipal recycle rate than many areas in Britain and Scotland. Everything is relative as they say! As the old timers like to say, Britain and Scotland, you need to get with the programme! You’re lagging behind and we know you can do better!

Now, if we can just get a friendly competition going for “best recycle rate in Wales,” achieving that 2050 goal may not seem so difficult.

It’s amazing what the human spirit can do when people dig in and really commit to a goal. While fines may be a good incentive to get non-compliant people to keep their recyclables out of their rubbish clearance bags, friendly competitions, perhaps with a little grant money for pet project thrown in, would work even better!

If you live in Wales, you may be interested to know that Clearabee, the very popular on demand rubbish clearance service, that started eight years ago in Britain, now covers South Wales. You simply give them a call to schedule a clearing. In Cardiff, they offer same day service. Clearabee offers several advantages over local council rubbish clearance service:

– Clearabee’s recycle rate is about ninety percent, compared to the fifty-eight percent recycle rate last reported in Cardiff.

– Clearabee picks up far more items and they’re more flexible on when to pick up the rubbish.

– Clearabee picks up from almost any location, and even brags about being able to fit into tight spaces where skips can’t go and their willingness to pick up from your garden or anywhere in your home so you don’t have to put the labor in to take it to the street or alley.

– Okay, this one may be hard to believe so check it out yourself. Clearabee often charges less than the local council for many types rubbish clearance jobs. It’s definitely worth a call to check out their services and prices!

55 Handy SEO Facts for Small Business Websites

Elliot

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26 February 2018

0

55 Handy SEO Facts for Small Business Websites (Plus Free Infographic)

Currently, starting a small business requires you to consider a few preparations that you wouldn’t have needed back in the early 2000s. These preparations are building a website, setting up social media profiles, and understanding what the heck those things are.

Signing up for a social media profile is quite easy – that’s why your uncle and aunts are on Facebook. What you will need to babystep in is building a website, and optimizing it for search engines.

Granted, you can hire professionals like LinkBaits to do those task for you. But knowing what you’re in for would help you avoid unnecessary scams. That’s why Webain, in collaboration with Milkwhale, an infographic studio, wrote this article.

Here are facts about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) that you must know before building a website for your business.

Google Owns 81% of the Search Engine Market

Believe it or not, there are other ways to look things up online aside from Googling it. In fact, there are 14 big search engines that are available worldwide. If we took into account smaller, niche-specific, or geographically specific search engines, there are hundreds of them.

However, Google runs over them all by taking 81% of the market share. This is because Google practically owns the most popular smartphone platform, Android – which naturally is heavily integrated to their search engine.

If you’re using an Android phone, you have to sign up for a Google account at some point, which leads to the next statistics.

Google Receives 57,000 Search Queries per Second

You read that right, not an hour, not a day, a second. When you were done reading that statistic, Google would have received somewhere around 100,000 to 150,000 search queries.

This means that the world’s dependency towards search engine is getting more serious. As a small business owner, you should take advantage of this situation by creating an online presence for your company.

In fact, 9 out of 10 online transaction starts from a search engine result pages like Google. That means your ultimate goal should be getting to the first page result for certain keywords.

Starting a website is a heavy task, and that’s to be expected. But there are a few ways you could speed up the growth of your website:

Paid advertising.

You can advertise your website to appear higher in the Google search result pages. Depending on your niche, you can spend anywhere between a few quids up to hundreds of pounds. Keep in mind there could be thousands of other websites that want to rank for the same keyword. In this example search for “pet store in Northampton”, there are 400,000 search results. Advertising results appear on top of the page.

If you’re aiming for local market as target customers, try advertising for more specific keywords such as “pet shop in Northampton” as opposed to just “pet shop” – this nifty trick will save you some money and get more actual customers.

Link building.

Link building is the act of getting your website’s name referred by as many domains as possible. There are a couple of ways of doing this, including guest posting which we’ll cover in a minute. You can also make an infographic relevant to your topic and spread them around to your shoulder niches.

For example, if you own a pet shop, you can make infographic under topics such as how to properly groom your dog, best ways to get your cat to bath, or how to feed your parakeets properly. Then, share it with relevant audience such as local dog owners club, vets near you, and other places that you think would benefit from it.

Guest posting.

Guest posting is essentially writing for other website’s blog, like what we’re doing with Milkwhale with this article. Guest posting can be a little bit challenging if you’re new in the industry, but it is so far one of the best ways to build your expertise, brand, and website at once (in that specific order).

Infographics

Like I mentioned earlier, infographic is a handy piece of content that you can just share in many places. The best thing about infographic is you get to choose how you’re going to make it. You can curate information from various sources, or make your own collection of bite-sized facts. Visual content like infographics and explainer videos are more effective in delivering information.

Learning all kinds of stuff about SEO is a hefty task. That’s why the folks over at Milkwhale have compiled a total of 55 Must-Know SEO Facts for Small Businesses in this infographic for you:

The Highest Personal Injury Compensation Amounts UK vs USA

Elliot

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20 February 2018

0

The Highest Personal Injury Compensation Amounts UK vs USA

The team at LegalExpert.co.uk have explored some of the biggest personal injury payouts in the UK, whilst also comparing it with the biggest payouts received in the US to discover the largest insurance claims in history! It is now widely regarded that the UK has followed suit and joined the “compensation culture” prominent in the US. However this is in fact not the case, the number of compensation claims in the UK has stayed the same since 1989. At Legal Expert, we offer unparalleled personal injury claim advice. As such, we have extensively researched the biggest compensation payouts in history on either side of the Atlantic and see how the UK stacks up against our American cousins.

UK vs USA: Who has the biggest personal injury claims?

As evident in our Infographic the US’s compensation claims are in a completely different league to the UK’s. In terms of the five biggest personal injury claims in history in both countries even the fifth highest payout in the USA is almost five times the size of the largest UK personal injury claim! The highest personal injury claim in the US is a staggering $150 billion, which puts the UK’s highest claim of £28 million to shame. The USA’s highest personal injury payout was awarded to the Middleton family after their child faced life changing injuries after being doused with petrol and set on fire, unfortunately 12 years after the attack he passed away due to injury complications as a result of the assault. Whereas, the largest payout in the UK was made to a young girl under 10 after she was hit at speed from behind when sitting in her stationary parked parents’ car. She now requires 24/7 care and cannot walk independently and has lost the use of her arms.

UK vs USA: Who has the highest medical malpractice compensation claim?

Again the US wipes the floor with the UK for the highest medical malpractice compensation claim – the US’s claimant received $172 million in damages for medical malpractice after suffering from brain damage whilst waiting for an ambulance to arrive and being given the wrong medication sending her into anaphylactic shock. The ambulance that did arrive was ill-equipped as it did not have the necessary life-saving equipment. Whereas the UK’s highest medical malpractice compensation claim only reached £24 million. The claimant was only ten years old when undergoing treatment which entailed injecting glue into her to block off bleeding in blood vessels. Unfortunately, the glue was injected by accident into her brain and she was left brain damaged.

UK vs USA: Who has the largest road accident claim?

It is no surprise that the US has the largest road accident claim in history of $262 million for an automotive product liability claim. There is not much information in the public domain regarding this case, all that is known is the claim involved a US company being held responsible for a deceased child after their family brought an automotive product liability claim against them. The UK’s highest road accident claim is in fact the aforementioned largest personal injury claim in history in the UK which is likely to be due to the young girl’s age and the severity of her injuries.

If you happen to find yourself in an accident which was not your fault Legal Expert are specialists with a no win no fee service designed to help everyone access the legal services they deserve. We believe that no one should be stopped from making a personal injury claim because they can’t afford upfront or ongoing costs. You can start by taking advantage of a free, no obligation, legal consultation with one of our experts. From there we can provide the help and advice you need.

For more information visit www.legalexpert.co.uk

Sales Estimate

Expenses

Peer Groups

Match your Headings

Seek Advice

Find your space

Plan your finances

Beat the red tape

What is the status of casinos and gambling in Costa Rica?

What does it mean to have a Costa Rica gambling license?

Where to next for Costa Rica gambling legislation?

Summing it Up:

Start in a lower-demand niche market

Play to your strengths and expertise

Focus on what makes you unique

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