5 Financial Risks of Starting a Small Business and How to Avoid Them

by

26 June 2021

Finance

Financial Risks

Small companies are a vital ingredient of the national economy. In the United States alone, there are 31.7 million small businesses. They provide 64% of all new employment produced in the country. More than half of all small firms fail within the first year, and more than 95% fail during the first 5 years.

Furthermore, 66 percent experience financial woes. For 43 percent of small companies, the challenge is paying operating overhead. This happened after work from home became the mainstream, with a majority of Americans working remotely in the year 2020, lowering expenses for businesses to prosper. Additionally, 60 percent of businesses closed as a result of the virus.

Here are 5 major financial risks to avoid while establishing your business:

1. Don’t Go Up-Beat With The Prices

1. Don’t Go Up-Beat With The Prices

It is very hard for a business to start with a high price for a product or a service and then tone it down due to lack of engagement. Instead, you should be moderate and even low with the prices at the start because it will get you enough traffic.

But don’t rely on those prices for too long because business needs to thrive, start increasing prices gradually. Use customer service and social media to inform the people of the quality you maintain, people always are ready to pay a little extra if they know the quality is maintained.

2. Avoid Taking a Loan if You Don’t Need One

Just because you are starting your business, does not necessarily mean that you have to have a good amount on one hand. This type of thinking can stress you out even before the process starts and can numb the creative juices.

Furthermore, bank loans are always given with interest, and if your business does not keep up, you might end up in a filthy debt. Try to work with the resources you have and once you have established your name then maybe consider taking out a loan to expand.

3. Think About Having Multiple Business Models In One Business:

3. Think About Having Multiple Business Models In One Business:

If you are a product-based business, don’t just rely on that, if you are a service-based corporate, don’t say that the revenue will be generated only from that. Instead, create an online presence and figure out other means of generating revenues as well. Social media campaigns and blogs can help you get ads and thus more revenue from multiple sources.

4. Getting People Employed When You Don’t Have Money

It’s true that you are on the road to progress but test your business out with self-help in the first months, and when the processes of revenue generation are smooth, then look for additional help. It will save you from the unnecessary mental pressure of paying someone when you are struggling with profits.

5. Always Get a Legal Framework In Order

5. Always Get a Legal Framework In Order

Work hard on your policies related to customers and services. Invest in getting licit legal help and building the right nest for your legal protection. Getting the right insurance is also a part of building your legal frameworks.

Talisman Casualty is a leading provider of general liability insurance for small contractors in Las Vegas, you can consider them for your business legalities. Having professional help will aid you in making the right decisions timely.

Read Also:

 

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Financial Reports

5 Best Practices For Ensuring Accurate And Reliable Financial Reports

In the realm of business, reliance on accurate and reliable financial reports is more critical than ever. They provide a backbone to corporate strategy and investor confidence, serving as a navigational tool that would assist businesses in steering stormy markets in today’s economic landscape. This significance is even more prominent given the fact that the global financial system keeps negotiating a phase of heightened vulnerabilities. This is underscored both by the turbulence in March 2023 and the protracted challenges posed by elevated interest rates and an indeterminate growth outlook, as revealed by the Financial Stability Board's Annual Report for the year 2023. In this context, financial reporting mirrors a corporation's fiscal health and its ability to adapt while thriving amid the changes in global economics. To sail in these turbulent waters, businesses have to follow best practices in financial reporting. In this post, we’ll discuss five practices that can guide you in the stormy seas of global finance, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of financial reports. Use of Specialized Accounting Software The first approach to attaining precision in financial reporting is to embrace the use of technology, particularly specialized accounting software. In today's market, there’s software that’s able to fit the peculiar needs of various businesses. For instance, if you just launched your business, this software comes as an invaluable tool for accounting for startups. It provides customization tailored to their financial processes, scalability to grow with the business, and automation capabilities to reduce human error and improve efficiency. The software has to have comprehensive functionalities that allow real-time financial tracking and startup data. As well as other business systems integration with only a minimal amount of effort and wide reporting abilities. By automating these routine tasks, startups will be able to focus their efforts as much as possible on strategic financial planning and analysis so that the resultant reports are not only accurate but also provide invaluable insights for business performance improvement. COSO Internal Control Framework Implementation However, accurate financial reporting is not just about being armed with the right tools – strong internal controls are also equally necessary. This is exactly where the role of the framework provided by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission’s (COSO) Internal Control Framework becomes relevant. The COSO internal control framework is a worldwide accepted framework that provides a structured approach to managing business risks and enhancing the reliability of financial reports. The implementation of the COSO framework involves evaluation and enhancements in the internal control systems within the organization. It underscores features such as the control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information, and communication, as well as monitoring activities. Incorporation of this framework into financial reporting processes helps organizations to identify and even address financial risks effectively so that the final financial data is accurate and reliable. Regular Financial Audit and Review Regular financial audits and reviews are a different pillar to ensure the integrity of financial reports. The process is paramount in the identification of discrepancies as well as areas for improvement in the process of financial reporting. For financial audits to be effective, they have to be comprehensive, have to be conducted by independent and qualified auditors, and should cover all the areas of financial reporting, from the recording of transactions to the preparation of the final report. For continuous monitoring, there are also necessary informal checks, known as reviews. The essence here is to make use of whatever the audits and reviews reveal in a constructive light by using them as opportunities for fine-tuning and improving financial reporting practices. This incessant process builds on findings that not only achieve compliance with accounting standards but also develop stakeholders' confidence in the financial health of the company. Staff Financials Training and Development The accuracy of financial reports heavily relies on the capabilities of those who prepare them. Therefore, the training of your financial staff is an investment that every business should put its resources into. From this viewpoint, companies are to maintain a continuous learning environment in which the members of the staff are updated with current accounting standards and technologies and know how to work and report best. Such things could be taken care of through training programs, workshop sessions, and professional development courses. Furthermore, a culture that encourages knowledge sharing and teamwork among the finance staff will produce more innovative and efficient reporting practices. An informed and well-trained member of staff will come up with accurate and comprehensive reports more often, following the regulatory requirements. Embracing Transparency and Ethical Practices The final practice, not least important, is the maintenance of ethical standards and transparency in financial reporting. Ethical practices refer to any behavior considered honest and having substantiated integrity. They go beyond simple compliance with the laws and regulations, involving a commitment to honesty, integrity, and responsibility in all financial disclosures.  Companies have the duty of creating and implementing a sturdy ethical framework to regulate all processes and decision-making that pertain to finances. When that frame is in order, it needs to be explicitly communicated to all employees throughout the organization and led from the top.  Transparency in financial reporting not only builds trust among investors, stakeholders, and the public but also reinforces the company's reputation and credibility in the market. In the long run, ethical and transparent practices eventually pay off by nurturing a good corporate culture and resulting in sustained business growth. Final Thoughts In summary, precise and dependable financial reporting is essential for effective business management and maintaining investor trust. Implementing key practices such as using advanced accounting software, adopting the COSO internal control framework, conducting consistent audits and reviews, providing thorough training, and enforcing ethical standards are crucial for enhancing the quality and reliability of an organization's financial reports. While this is an ongoing process, it yields significant improvements in business integrity, operational efficiency, and sustained performance. Read Also: Tips for Breaking Into Finance and Banking Sox Compliance As A New Business: Where Are The Pitfalls How Many Jobs Are Available In Commercial Banks?

READ MOREDetails
Binance

HybridBlock: Why Binance Is Investing In Crypto-Fiat Trading

Binance is currently known as one of the largest cryptocurrency exchange firms in the world. Changpeng Zhao heads the company, and he recently unveiled that the company will be focusing on a shift to trade cryptocurrencies for fiat money. According to Zhao, this move would make it possible for investors to perform an increased number in trading volume, an increased number of participants in the market, higher liquidity, and more speculators. He said that it would also boost the trading industry, and more people will be drawn to the world of cryptocurrency which will bring positive effects to the industry. Changpeng Zhao’s idea was lauded by financial experts around the world, saying that his plans for the future of cryptocurrency exchange are one of the most plausible given the factors that affect the market today. Zhao has been a veteran in the financial industry, and he previously established several companies; one of them is Fusion Systems which was founded in 2005 and presently headquartered in Shanghai. It became his stepping stone to know more about trading and how the financial world works. As cryptocurrency started to develop and to draw in more investors, Zhao decided to learn more about this new mechanism in the financial industry. He chose to join Blockchain.info in 2013 to develop his skills in dealing with cryptocurrencies, and he successfully learned new tips and tricks on how to become successful by trading cryptocurrencies. He, later on, founded several other companies that relied on blockchain technology, and in 2017, he decided to establish Binance. Initially establishing the company’s headquarters in China, Changpeng Zhao decided to move it in Japan after the government started pressuring him. He later opened offices in Taiwan, while at the same time looking at how his company grew tremendously. In 2018, Zhao expressed his idea of moving his company to Malta after he received several warning letters from the government of Japan and Taiwan. They are telling him that his company is not registered, and there can be legal consequences if he did not abide by the country’s financial rules and regulations. Despite these warnings, Binance continues to grow, and in 2018, it managed to gain a market capitalization worth more than $1.3 billion. It is more successful than traditional banks, and Zhao stated that the future is bright for their company as he sees that cryptocurrency will further increase in value. Changpeng Zhao stated that after his company completed its transfer to Malta, he will enable their users to convert the digital tokens that they have in their wallets into various fiat currencies. He also added that Malta is one of the few countries on Earth that are supportive of cryptocurrency traders, just like him. He wanted to transfer his operations in Malta because he said that there would be fewer legal problems in the small European island state. The government of Malta is working hard to persuade cryptocurrency giants to transfer their operations to the tiny Mediterranean Island. Malta wants to become known as the Blockchain Island, and they are developing new legislation that would encourage cryptocurrency traders to transfer their operations. One of the most important advantages of the idea proposed by Zhao would be the generation of new cryptocurrency traders and the balance to the world economy that it would bring. If the participants in the market increased, it would signal a rise in the demand for more cryptocurrencies, and it would transform the whole industry into one that could easily surpass traditional companies that are not keeping up with technology. Zhao wants to change how the world looks at the global economy, and he stated that his idea could become a reality. According to Zhao, fiat money is one of the best materials to be traded for cryptocurrency because it has a designated value given by the government. He is optimistic about the effects of his decision on the future of trading, and he believes that more people will become aware of its advantages. He continues to inspire a lot of people because of his perseverance to create new mechanisms that would innovate the financial sector. The experts who are working with the largest financial companies are saying that Binance have really shaken up the competition in the industry, and they are hoping for more people like Changpeng Zhao to come out and increase the competition in the sector. Read more about Changpeng Zhao and Binance at the HybridBlock Blog. Read Also :  Hiring A Blockchain Developer 5 Awesome Facts About CryptoCurrency What Should Be There In An ICO Whitepaper? Expert Take

READ MOREDetails
Bitcoin’s 10th Birthday

Bitcoin’s 10th Birthday: Does Satoshi Nakamoto’s White Paper Still Hold Relevance?

For the Bitcoin enthusiasts asking how come Bitcoin was celebrating its 10th birthday when it was launched in 2008. Well, you are right about the fact that Bitcoin was launched in 2008, but it was not on the open-source network. It was 2010 when Satoshi Nakamoto gave the reign of Bitcoin to open source and disappeared in thin air. This is why 2010 was considered the unsaid official year when Bitcoin was introduced to the world. In this article, we revisit Satoshi Nakamoto’s original paperwork and see if it still holds any resemblance to the current Bitcoin industry. Bitcoin’s 10th Birthday - Satoshi Nakamoto Vision Previous attempts to make digital currency came close to fruition, but the projects never ended positively. Whenever people thought they had created a digital currency rivaling the fiat currency, one major problem keeps surfacing: the need for a trusted third-party platform. This is where Satoshi’s white paper solved the problem by distributing the process of maintaining a transparent network of the public ledger. The system is secure as long as an online miner does not control the mining operation by more than 50%. Was The Vision Accomplished? The white paper itself was not explicit about the goals. The main goal of creating a digital currency was to attain a secure form of online cash that doesn’t depend on a third party for any validation. This concept has already been demonstrated by the digital currency Bitcoin. The only question remains, to what extent will it be adopted? A clue to that question lay in the recent event when Venmo started accepting Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies. Not only Venmo but also PayPal and Square have also announced plans to add features where the user can efficiently use these platforms to send and receive Cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, countries like South Africa are experimenting with applications and platforms like bitcoin code, which may help people who don’t have a bank account. Satoshi Nakamoto's Vision has been fulfilled to some extent, But will Bitcoin permanently replace fiat currency and become the first global currency? That is something we must wait and watch. Bitcoin: The Most Revolutionary Fintech Project In The World According to Nakamoto's vision, the external validation from an institutional organization can be replaced easily by a more innovative and safe Cryptographical approach. This means the sender and receiver will share a bond of trust in the cryptographic network. Unlike the concept that Bitcoin is a coin, the true definition of Bitcoin is the digital signature. Every time you receive a Bitcoin, it carries the signatures of its previous owners. These digital signatures prove that nobody can double-spend the same Bitcoin. Bitcoin’s 10th Birthday - The Next 10 Years Of Bitcoin In the past ten years, we have seen Bitcoin reaching meteoric heights and historic lows. The volatility of this digital currency has attracted the imagination of everyone, from investors and traders to hackers. Everyone is looking for ways to reap the benefits of the new industry. For instance, investors are trying to engage with the news industry to have the upper hand in the future, governmental organizations are trying their best to keep the citizens out of the adverse effect of Cryptocurrencies, and hackers are trying to use the loopholes to make money. In these ten years, Bitcoin has established itself as one of the top digital assets. In that light, the next ten years promise to be historic. This is primarily because of the changes which are expected to happen in the near future. Final Thoughts While Bitcoin has supposedly moved beyond the EARLY phase, there is a still larger picture to look at with the involvement of bigger names. Now that the popularity of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies is soaring high, it would be safe to imagine that it could create a climate for a more investment-centric look-in. But, then again it would take more than just a statue and a few announcements to solidify its position. What’s needed more today is the targeted approach to better understand Cryptocurrencies' concept, security issues, and investment-specific perks. Read Also: 5 Awesome Facts About CryptoCurrency Investors Agree: Gold And Silver Is The Way To Go How To Care For Your Eye In 5 Medically Proven Ways

READ MOREDetails