Major financial problems that can affect a new business

Published on: 02 August 2018 Last Updated on: 22 February 2020
financial problems

For a new business just fresh out of the concept stage, there’s a lot of excitement ahead. However, there are often troubles on the horizon, and these tend to revolve around money issues. Finance streams may be in place when the business is first created, for example, but they can quickly dry up as time goes on. It’s expensive to hire staff, and this can often push a firm well into the problem zone. Here are some ways that new businesses can get around these problems.

No finance streams :

When a new business first launches, it’s usually the case that there’s some form of finance behind it – at least for a short time. The entrepreneur themselves might be financing it from savings, for example, while there may also be an investor. The long-term plan is usually to have incoming cash replace this stream once it dries out – but revenues and profits don’t come overnight, and in fact, they often don’t materialize for a long time.

Instead of relying on external finance providers, it often makes sense for a new business to be “bootstrapped”. Bootstrapping essentially means cutting down costs until you reach a stage where you have the funds to raise them back up. Instead of hiring an office space, for example, why not knuckle down and work hard in your spare room until you have enough – or almost enough – sustainable income to pay for a desk somewhere? It may be tough doing this sort of thing at first, but it could be the difference between business survival and failure.

Staffing costs :

In a bygone age of manufacturing and industry, the main cost that businesses faced was equipment. This also tended to be where companies made cutbacks when times were hard, either by downsizing their factories, leasing out their equipment or something similar. However, for many modern American businesses, the main cost is staff.

Staff members are, in general, expensive. Some, such as coders and executives, command high salaries that can quickly drain a firm’s budget. Even when a person is hired on a lower salary, there are plenty of extra considerations to take into account, which can make the hire expensive: from the additional insurance premium that a firm might need to pay on their office space to the additional computer and desk space that the staff member might need, the costs can mount up.

It makes sense for many firms to hire contractors instead of as they come with far fewer financial responsibilities for the firm – and the arrangement gives both parties the flexibility to move on if needed. With umbrella companies available to manage the tax side of contractor pay, there’s no need to worry about the effect that it might have on your HR or accounting departments either.

Running a new business is exhilarating in some ways, but it also comes with its problems. Finance is almost always the big one – and from large staffing costs to dried-up finance streams, there’s a lot that can go wrong. However, by focusing on finance methods such as bootstrapping and choosing contractors instead of employed workers, there are ways that you can get that profit and loss sheet under control and move towards a more sustainable financial future for your business.

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

Passive Income

5 Examples Of Passive Income You Need To Learn Now

Passive income is the lifeblood of any investor's portfolio. It provides you with a reliable and consistent stream of income while you take some time away from work. Having a passive income stream is a great way to supplement your existing income or build a retirement fund. As tax season approaches, now is the time to evaluate your current situation and determine if you are taking advantage of this amazing opportunity. Checkout Five Prime Ways Of Passive Income You Need To Learn Now Here are a few examples of passive income sources you should explore now: 1. Real Estate Investments Real estate investments can be a great way to generate passive income. Most real estate investments are done through rental properties. You buy a property and then rent it out for a monthly fee. Property owners may be able to collect enough rent to cover their mortgage payments, leaving them with a steady stream of income. Real estate investors may also want to consider buying pre-construction developments and flipping houses. With pre-construction development, you can purchase a property before it's built and then sell it for a profit when it's done. Flipping houses involves buying a home and making improvements to it before reselling it for a higher price. Both pre-construction developments and house flips can yield considerable profits in a short amount of time. Real estate investors should also look into commercial real estate investments. This type of real estate involves investing in multifamily, industrial, and retail properties. Owning commercial real estate can be a great way to generate income as well as appreciation when done right. Investors may also want to consider investing in REITs, or real estate investment trusts. REITs are investments that pool a variety of real estate assets and offer investors exposure to the real estate market without owning physical properties. Real estate investments come with the potential for great rewards but also come with their own unique set of risks. Investors should consider consulting a financial professional before pursuing a real estate investment. 2. Dividend Investing Dividend investing is another popular way to generate passive income. When you invest in a company through a stock, you become a shareholder and may receive regular dividend payments from them. Dividend payments can vary from company to company and are a great way to make a reliable income without having to actively manage any assets. Dividend payments are usually paid quarterly, but some companies can pay them more or less often. The amount of the dividend payment you receive is dependent on the number of shares you own, the type of stock you purchase, and the amount of capital growth the company's assets have achieved. In addition, dividends are also paid in proportion to how long you've owned the stock. Dividend investing can help to diversify your income stream and reduce the volatility of your investments. Dividend investing also has tax advantages and can be used to help you reach your financial goals. 3. Investing in Index Funds Index funds are a type of mutual fund that tracks a particular market index. By investing in these funds, you’re basically buying an entire portfolio of stocks without having to actively pick and choose which ones to invest in. Index funds offer a great way to get passive income while diversifying your portfolio. Index funds also typically have lower management fees than actively managed funds, which helps reduce the overall expense of your investments. The main benefit of investing in index funds is to get exposure to the broader stock market without having to pick individual stocks. By following an index, you benefit from its diversification and protection against individual stock risk. Additionally, indexes often have a good return on investment and tend to outperform actively-managed mutual funds over time. 4. Peer-to-Peer Lending Peer-to-peer lending is a type of lending that takes place between two individuals. It involves lending a certain amount of money to someone else and then receiving regular payments in return. Peer-to-peer lending is a great way to generate passive income without putting your money at unnecessary risk. It is often used to finance investments and small businesses. As the lender, you can decide how much to loan, the repayment terms, and the interest rate. Peer-to-peer lending helps to diversify your investments and can provide you with returns and future income. 5. Online Businesses Finally, starting an online business can be a great way to generate passive income. Whether it’s an e-commerce store, a blog, or a subscription service, an online business can be scaled up to generate a significant amount of income. Plus, it can be done from the comfort of your own home. An online business can be a great way to create a passive income stream, as it can be scaled up over time to generate more revenue. With an online business, you have the potential to reach a wider audience from all over the world, as the internet doesn’t have any geographical restrictions. You’re also able to work from the comfort of your own home, set your own hours, and have the flexibility to work when and where you want. Depending on the type of business you set up, some possible revenue streams include selling products, offering services, advertising, membership fees, and affiliate marketing. Setting up an online business takes time, dedication and effort, and a solid business plan. It’s also important to have a clear understanding of local and international laws, taxes, and regulations so you remain compliant. No matter which type of passive income you choose to pursue, make sure you understand the ins and outs of government regulations around the area. During tax season, it is important to ensure you complete all the required paperwork and pay taxes on any income you might generate. It is also important to ensure that any sources of passive income are reported on your paystub, otherwise, you could end up owing a lot of money in unexpected taxes. By learning what passive income sources are available, you can start to build a reliable and consistent stream of income quickly and easily. Explore the different options outlined above and determine what works best for you and your financial situation. The rewards can be great and you'll thank yourself in the long run. Read Also: How To Choose A Great Managed Fund 4 Fun Jobs After Retirement That Offer You a Monthly Income A Beginners Guide to Investing: Getting Started in 8 Simple Steps

READ MOREDetails
HAMP Program

When Is The HAMP Program Beneficial To You?

The Home Affordable Modification Program, called HAMP, provided individuals with aid in modifying their existing mortgage loans. This program was designed to provide homeowners with some financial relief to reduce the risk of foreclosure. The application of the HAMP program can make things work for you in all aspects. Do not make your choices in grey. Is HAMP Program Available? At the time of this writing, the Home Affordable Modification Program is no longer available as it was. The United States Department of Treasury established the program in March 2009. It was a part of the Making Home Affordable Program. It was effective on mortgages that were originated on or before January 1, 2009. The program was set to expire on December 31, 2016, with individuals able to apply for it through September 30, 2017. As of now, it is no longer available to individuals. What Did the Home Affordability Mortgage Program Do? The goal of this program was to encourage loan modifications for homeowners who were at risk of becoming delinquent on their loans. It worked to help reduce the frequency of missed monthly mortgage payments. HAMP program was beneficial for you and you have to make sure you do not make your choices in the wrong direction. Who Was Eligible for HAMP? Not all homeowners qualified for the home affordability mortgage program. To meet the requirements, individuals had to meet specific rules including the following: The loan had to be a first lien mortgage (second mortgages and home equity lines of credit did not qualify). It had the be a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae loan. It applied to single-family homes, homes with up to four units, condos, cooperatives, and some manufactured homes. Individuals with an FHA or VA loan could use the program (but this was not a requirement of obtaining the modification). No vacant abandoned or condemned homes could obtain help. Modifications could happen only one time through the HAMP program. If the home met these requirements, a homeowner could then work with their existing lender to adjust their mortgage under some key guidelines. HAMP was not easy to qualify for, but for individuals who needed it, it provides a lifeline of important support. To be eligible for the modifications, the borrowers had to meet specific requirements as well. These included the following: Property owners that were current or no more than 60 days behind on their mortgage payments could be considered for a HAMP Trial Period. However, they must be determined to be in imminent default. Borrowers could be in bankruptcy or foreclosure, or in some type of pending litigation regarding the property, such as in a judgment from lenders. The key to obtaining these loan modifications was proving the borrower was struggling with some type of financial hardship. Borrowers had to have an expense-to-income ratio related to housing expenses of no more than 31 percent (applied to their gross monthly income). Individuals must still have some ability to make their monthly mortgage payments reliably after the modification occurs. Why Did Borrowers Consider HAMP? Borrowers were able to get help if they were struggling with financial hardship with the goal of avoiding foreclosure. This program was designed to help stop the flood of foreclosures entering the market after the housing crisis and financial difficulties that began in 2007. Individuals who qualified benefited by getting some type of modification to their loan. This may have included: A reduction in their interest rate Modifying the loan from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage Getting a principal reduction or a forbearance Getting a long term to help reduce the monthly payment Over its lifetime, HAMP saw several modifications to determine which type of properties qualified and to reduce some financial strain. Most importantly borrowers were able to modify their loans so they could remain in the long term. Lenders benefited from these modifications as well. Lenders were able to secure the loans for borrowers facing immediate financial hardship but had the likelihood of maintaining their mortgage payments over their lifetime. This helped reduce the risk of foreclosure, and an expensive process for lenders. Most importantly, it helped families remain in their homes. What Options Are Available Now? A home modification program is still an option for some homeowners. Other programs are available to help some borrowers such as the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Flex Modification Program. Many lenders offer modifications in-house as well. Borrowers who may be late on monthly mortgage payments or are facing financial hardship should consider speaking to their lender directly. Additionally, the Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP, is available. This option remains in place and can help a homeowner to secure a lower interest rate on their loan, get into a shorter loan term, or adjust their loan from an adjustable-rate to a fixed rate. Individuals facing financial hardship should seek out solutions from lenders. While the HAMP program is no longer accessible, other solutions may be available to help borrowers to avoid foreclosure, late payments, or even the loss of their home. Read Also: Getting Your Personal Finances In Order With A Proper Budget Strategy Work With A Local Mortgage Broker Company For Your Vancouver 4 Payday Loan Facts You Should Know Before You Borrow

READ MOREDetails
Revolving Debt Vs Installment Debt

Revolving Debt Vs Installment Debt – Which Impacts your Credit Score

This is a question that many Australian citizens are asking, and for good reason, as one’s credit score can seriously hinder a mortgage application or a business startup. Before we go into detail about the impact of these forms of debt on a person’s credit score, let’s define both revolving debt and installment debt. Revolving Debt: With a revolving debt, you borrow against an agreed limit of credit, much like a credit card, and as payments are made every month, the debt revolves and continues until such time as either the lender puts a halt on the line of credit, or borrower settles up and no longer uses the credit facilities. For some people, the credit card loop is extremely difficult to stop, as all a person’s salary goes on the card repayment, thus leaving the person with little choice but to continue to use the card until the next salary date, and the cycle continues. If the debt builds up, compound interest takes hold and the debt grows, with the borrower paying accruing interest over an indefinite period, and rather than continuing to use the line of credit. How Revolving Debt Can Impact Your Credit Score: Lenders look at revolving debt to be a strong indicator of the risk and your credit utilization is calculated by totaling the amount outstanding on all credit cards, against your overall credit milt. If your outgoings are high, there is less chance of obtaining another loan, at least until you have cleared one or two. Installment Debt: This is when you borrow a sum of money with an agreed monthly payment for the duration of the loan agreement, and unlike a credit card, you cannot reborrow, rather you must complete the scheduled payments on time until the loan has been paid off in full. Missing payments will result in extra interest charged and if a person has two or three loans to repay, this could lead to problems in the future, which is when many people look to debt consolidation as a way to clear all outstanding debts, leaving you with a single monthly payment to make. There are online lenders who specialize in bad credit personal loans, especially if the borrower wishes to consolidate their outstanding debts by taking out a debt consolidation package. Installment Debt and your Credit Score: Installment debt is viewed by the lender as less of a risk than revolving debt, mainly because the installment loan is secured against an asset. Another factor that influences the lender is the fact that an installment loan is not ongoing, which means there is less of a risk in defaulting on the loan. If you would like to explore the potential that debt consolidation offers, an online search is all it takes to make contact with the right loan provider who can tailor the package to suit your lifestyle. The expert can inform you of several ways to improve your credit score, thus increasing your chances of approval. Read Also: Debt Consolidation Plans For Your Debt Relief Are Debt Consolidation Loans Recommended For Credit Card Consolidation

READ MOREDetails