A few weeks back I was giving a coaching session and was baffled to hear that the individual I was talking to had joined a web programming online course so he would have the technical skills to begin an online business.I ended up the call very frustrated.Technical skills are not vital for starting an online business. The main mistake many people do when beginning online is to believe that they need first to know how to code.Somebody is thinking of beginning an online business and… join a programming or web engineer online course.Do you see any logic here?!I now understand why web-programming courses have been flourishing the last few years on the Internet!With individuals intrigued by the opportunity that lies in having an online business, they mistakenly believe that by gaining the technical knowledge they will be able to start an online business.You can be the best online software engineer in the world and still struggle in being a successful digital entrepreneur.I get it – without a site, you can’t go far on the web.The uplifting news is that whether you want to blog or sell products online, you can have a website without having to type a single line of code.I am thinking obviously at WordPress, my favourite website builder platform.But Wix is also another great alternative for any individual who needs an online presence.Don’t let a lack of technical skills alarm you The Internet is always changing, which implies that it offers opportunities for any individual who has something valuable to offer.If you’ve ever considered starting a business, I strongly recommend going online.The Internet offers you the possibility to create a fully automated online business that will give you a passive income and flexibility in your life. You will be able to work anywhere in the world as long as you have a computer and an Internet connection.I like to call it ‘living a digital lifestyle’.Give value to your customers first The Internet tracker, Internet Live Stats, estimates the number of websites live to near one billion.With thousands of websites created everyday, it is fundamental to know how to advertise your business effectively.95% of your work in growing an online business should to be centered on how to give value – and not on learning technical skills.When an online business goes down, it is not a result of technical issues but rather the fact that the owner didn’t bring genuine value to its audience.Many people start online on their own and give up from frustration. Don’t be this one.You might have tried before and have realized that promoting a business online is no easy task.Perhaps you have focused too much on the technical side and lost track on growing the business instead. Or you didn’t know how to bring value to your customers.For sure it requires significant investment to figure out how to give genuine value to the people you want to target, but once you found the right formula, you will see your online business flourish without having you to work harder for it!
The Benefits Of Online Travel Booking
The age of the internet has provided a wide range of conveniences and nowadays, people make travel plans without leaving the comfort of their homes. As long as you posses an internet connection, you are able to plan your holiday without leaving your home. In this rapidly advancing world, making online travel booking has become particularly common. It is not only making travel reservations that you can do through the online systems, but also making vacation package deals.Traveling from one place to another is now trouble free and you ought not to wait till you arrive at your destination to book your hotel. Travelers do not also have to rely on the telephones, which might not be reliable. The internet is more trustworthy since there is little chance of mixing up your reservation or forgetting to fill in reservations log, as compared to dealing with individuals. You are going to get information immediately when you make your booking online.Benefits of online travel booking
Firstly, the internet has numerous websites that claim to offer best online travel deals. Therefore, this has significantly enhanced competition among different companies offering this service, and the best part of this is that the traveler benefits from this. They are coming with better services to stay in business by providing excellent online travel deals to clients. The majority of websites have agreements with the main airlines that offer them discount and other bargains. The websites will pass a portion of the discounts to the clients, and as a result, the client gets cheaper flights when compared to travel agents who also charge their commission on the tickets.You will normally have the opportunity of comparing the costs of travel portals and numerous websites. You may also try different packages introduced by them. These include car rentals, hotel stay among others. There are some travel review websites reviewing many hotels and airlines. You may peruse these reviews prior to booking your ticket. Another main benefit of online travel booking is that you are able to book them anywhere at any time. You may check the flight’s status from your home.You do not have to remit any fees or commission to anyone. Majority of airlines have their websites today that will show you its flight’s status and available seats. The sites have also begun voice support service, and you can now contact customer care service when you have any reservation related to your bookings. Another advantage of online travel booking is that it is extremely convenient and safe than ever before. People have reported a decrease in the number of credit card frauds and scams. Credit card payment today has become one of the most secure alternatives to pay online. Therefore, you are certain of trouble free travel ahead.It is, however, advised that when making your reservations online, you must always make sure that you are dealing with a reputable site. In a majority of cases, you will be needed to pay through your credit card. In order to avoid your money and information falling into unscrupulous hands, you should only deal with the hotel’s official website. You should be cautious not to pay any money to sites that claim to be working on behalf of the hotel.
Alternative Financing Vs. Venture Capital: Which Option Is Best for Boosting Working Capital?
There are several potential financing options available to cash-strapped businesses that need a healthy dose of working capital. A bank loan or line of credit is often the first option that owners think of – and for businesses that qualify, this may be the best option.
In today’s uncertain business, economic and regulatory environment, qualifying for a bank loan can be difficult – especially for start-up companies and those that have experienced any type of financial difficulty. Sometimes, owners of businesses that don’t qualify for a bank loan decide that seeking venture capital or bringing on equity investors are other viable options.
But are they really? While there are some potential benefits to bringing venture capital and so-called “angel” investors into your business, there are drawbacks as well. Unfortunately, owners sometimes don’t think about these drawbacks until the ink has dried on a contract with a venture capitalist or angel investor – and it’s too late to back out of the deal.
Different Types of Financing
One problem with bringing in equity investors to help provide a working capital boost is that working capital and equity are really two different types of financing.
Working capital – or the money that is used to pay business expenses incurred during the time lag until cash from sales (or accounts receivable) is collected – is short-term in nature, so it should be financed via a short-term financing tool. Equity, however, should generally be used to finance rapid growth, business expansion, acquisitions or the purchase of long-term assets, which are defined as assets that are repaid over more than one 12-month business cycle.
But the biggest drawback to bringing equity investors into your business is a potential loss of control. When you sell equity (or shares) in your business to venture capitalists or angels, you are giving up a percentage of ownership in your business, and you may be doing so at an inopportune time. With this dilution of ownership most often comes a loss of control over some or all of the most important business decisions that must be made.
Sometimes, owners are enticed to sell equity by the fact that there is little (if any) out-of-pocket expense. Unlike debt financing, you don’t usually pay interest with equity financing. The equity investor gains its return via the ownership stake gained in your business. But the long-term “cost” of selling equity is always much higher than the short-term cost of debt, in terms of both actual cash cost as well as soft costs like the loss of control and stewardship of your company and the potential future value of the ownership shares that are sold.
Alternative Financing Solutions
But what if your business needs working capital and you don’t qualify for a bank loan or line of credit? Alternative financing solutions are often appropriate for injecting working capital into businesses in this situation. Three of the most common types of alternative financing used by such businesses are:
1. Full-Service Factoring – Businesses sell outstanding accounts receivable on an ongoing basis to a commercial finance (or factoring) company at a discount. The factoring company then manages the receivable until it is paid. Factoring is a well-established and accepted method of temporary alternative finance that is especially well-suited for rapidly growing companies and those with customer concentrations.
2. Accounts Receivable (A/R) Financing – A/R financing is an ideal solution for companies that are not yet bankable but have a stable financial condition and a more diverse customer base. Here, the business provides details on all accounts receivable and pledges those assets as collateral. The proceeds of those receivables are sent to a lockbox while the finance company calculates a borrowing base to determine the amount the company can borrow. When the borrower needs money, it makes an advance request and the finance company advances money using a percentage of the accounts receivable.
3. Asset-Based Lending (ABL) – This is a credit facility secured by all of a company’s assets, which may include A/R, equipment and inventory. Unlike with factoring, the business continues to manage and collect its own receivables and submits collateral reports on an ongoing basis to the finance company, which will review and periodically audit the reports.
In addition to providing working capital and enabling owners to maintain business control, alternative financing may provide other benefits as well:
It’s easy to determine the exact cost of financing and obtain an increase.
Professional collateral management can be included depending on the facility type and the lender.
Real-time, online interactive reporting is often available.
It may provide the business with access to more capital.
It’s flexible – financing ebbs and flows with the business’ needs.
It’s important to note that there are some circumstances in which equity is a viable and attractive financing solution. This is especially true in cases of business expansion and acquisition and new product launches – these are capital needs that are not generally well suited to debt financing. However, equity is not usually the appropriate financing solution to solve a working capital problem or help plug a cash-flow gap.
A Precious Commodity
Remember that business equity is a precious commodity that should only be considered under the right circumstances and at the right time. When equity financing is sought, ideally this should be done at a time when the company has good growth prospects and a significant cash need for this growth. Ideally, majority ownership (and thus, absolute control) should remain with the company founder(s).
Alternative financing solutions like factoring, A/R financing and ABL can provide the working capital boost many cash-strapped businesses that don’t qualify for bank financing need – without diluting ownership and possibly giving up business control at an inopportune time for the owner. If and when these companies become bankable later, it’s often an easy transition to a traditional bank line of credit. Your banker may be able to refer you to a commercial finance company that can offer the right type of alternative financing solution for your particular situation.
Taking the time to understand all the different financing options available to your business, and the pros and cons of each, is the best way to make sure you choose the best option for your business. The use of alternative financing can help your company grow without diluting your ownership. After all, it’s your business – shouldn’t you keep as much of it as possible?