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Which Business Sectors Are Attracting Investment?

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StrategyDriven Editorial Perspective Article |Investing|Which Business Sectors Are Attracting Investment?When business owners are successful, it’s only natural to start considering how they can make the most of their profits and savings. Many of these people decide to invest in other companies to get a return as they generate wealth, but it’s important to understand which industries represent the most stable investments. Becoming an investor requires just a single dollar, but it could be the start of a profitable portfolio that you, your business and family will benefit from for many years. There are plenty of sectors which offer attractive returns, but here are some of the most secure which are attracting investment.

Which are the best sectors to invest in?

When deciding which industries to invest in, there are some key factors to consider. To get the highest level of returns, you need to be willing to take risks. You can reduce some of this risk by diversifying your investments and keeping investments in place for a minimum of 5 years. It’s also important to review your portfolio on a regular basis and not to buy or sell shares based on panic or impulse.

Electricity, oil, and gas

While the world is seeking renewable energy alternatives to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, the world is still heavily reliant on oil, natural gas, and electricity generated using these fuels. Globally, the energy sector is valued in excess of $7 trillion and by 2035 it is anticipated that the global demand for energy will increase by as much as 30%. World governments have to source fuel to keep their economy and society working which makes this sector a secure investment. Head over to read a blog by engineering and mining expert, Roberto Casula, for some key statistics on the US oil and petroleum industry.

Health care sector

The health care sector offers a wealth of possibilities for investors as it is known as a ‘defensive sector’ (it is largely immune to economic fluctuations) and has steadily increased over the last 10 years and looks set to continue on an upward trajectory. Health care is a particularly fast-growing sector for several reasons, but particularly because we are living longer than ever before.

This increased the need for care items for the elderly and there are plenty of gaps in the market for the healthcare sector. There have also been great leaps forward in biotechnology and even people without investment experience in the industry can find a niche sector to become involved in. Whether the economy is thriving or not, people still need to buy their medication.

Technology

Technology is innovation and looks likely to form the foundation for much of our society for the foreseeable future. From computer hardware and software to technology service providers, app developers and data processing, the potential for growth is seemingly limitless. The biggest technology companies include Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook.

Financial sector

The financial services such as credit cards, banks, insurance companies, and brokers are similar to the health sector in that the aging ‘baby boomers’ are expected to pass on a lot of accumulated wealth to their children and grandchildren. This money will need managing and the financial services sector will be there to facilitate this.

Why You Need Effective Customer Relationship Management For Your Business

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StrategyDriven Customer Relationship Management Article | Why You Need Effective Customer Relationship Management For Your BusinessEvery business organisation exists for and because of its customers. It is for this reason that they have to keep creating, establishing, and maintaining healthy customer relationships. They can do this with an effective customer relationship management. Here are the reasons why CRM is good for your business:

Provides a Deeper Understanding of Customer Characteristics

An effective customer relationship management system can help your business learn more about your customers. Your knowledge of your customers can help your company design better products. It also improves the services that you provide to your customers.

Take for example Effective Logistics. They have a good understanding of the different needs and wants of their customers. They use this knowledge to customise their product offerings. They are also more proactive since they now have an idea of what their customers are looking for in such companies. You can visit Effective Logistics website to have an idea of what we mean.

An effective CRM can help you gain a better understanding of the reasons why they purchase your products. You can use this information to further improve on their buying experiences. Customer relationship management also gives you an idea of who your loyal customers are. You can then create a programme that will further increase their loyalty to your brand.

Your business is in a much better position to anticipate their needs. This is because you have an in-depth knowledge of who your customers are and what they want from you. You can start creating a solution to these perceived needs before they become actual necessities. If your business is proactive enough, more customers will want to stay loyal with your brand.

Improves the Efficiency of Your Business

There is one very important reason why many successful organisations always employ CRM in their operations. It can improve the overall efficiency of the business. Whether you want to admit it or not, your main concern is to drive the profitability of your company.

Having more customers can give you the profits that your business needs. However, you should also not overlook the importance of minimising, if not eliminating wastage. Customer relationship management systems can help you create a more efficient workflow for your employees. You will never waste time and resources on things that do not have an impact in the experiences of your customers.

CRM systems promote efficiency in businesses. It allows them to organise certain aspects of their operations. They can also use CRM information in the automation of different things. Business analytics, sales processes, and marketing campaigns can benefit a lot from the information generated by customer relationship management systems.

Streamlining the different processes can save a company a lot of time, effort, and resources. They can focus more on what really matters to customers. This minimises wastage, making your profits more significant.

Optimises Your Interactions with Your Customers

Your knowledge of your customers can give you the advantage of creating more meaningful interactions with them. Being proactive gives your customers the feeling that you are looking out for their welfare. You are always looking for more ways to improve their experiences with your products and services.

Your marketing and sales team can use CRM data to customise their interactions with customers. They are more knowledgeable. It gives the impression that you know what they want and that your business exists only for them.

Fosters Brand Loyalty

An effective customer relationship management system can help you build brand loyalty by providing customers with more remarkable experiences. You get to streamline the different processes that each customer has to go through. You make it easy for them to avail of your products and enjoy the different benefits that such products provide. You also get to reach out to at-risk accounts and be more proactive in addressing their concerns. This is one way you can dissuade them from turning their backs on your company.

Keeping your customers happy will make them very loyal followers. They will serve as brand ambassadors. They will tell their friends and acquaintances about their experiences with your company. Not only are you building brand loyalty; you are also expanding your customer base.

These things can translate into more revenues for your business. Think about this. If you can reduce customer defection rate by at least 5 percent, you have the chance to increase your profits by as much as 85 percent.

An effective customer relationship management can help your business achieve your bottom line. It strengthens the very foundation of your company. After all, a business without customers is not a business at all.

Best Practices To Optimize Your Self Employment Taxes

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article | Best Practices To Optimize Your Self Employment Taxes | EntrepreneurshipIt’s great to be your own boss and this is the reason that a large number of people are picking up freelancing. Even those in full-time jobs are embracing it as a side hustle. While you can make good money from a part-time or full-time freelance project, you are expected to pay your taxes as well. To start with, you need to be aware of the fact that freelance income is taxable just like any other income is. Also, it will definitely impact how you file the taxes and pay them up. So it is better to understand and plan on the A to Z of taxes on freelance income to ensure that you don’t get into trouble with the IRS. Here are the basics that you must know.

What are the taxes on self-employment income?

Freelancers pay the same income tax rates as employed persons do. Additionally, they are considered independent contractors and are taxed on the net self-employment income. This income is calculated by deducting the tax-deductible business expenses from the gross receipts. This is the tax that takes the extra bite out of the freelancers’ earnings. It includes both Medicare and Social Security taxes. If you were employed, your employer would pay half of these taxes. However, you have to pay both the halves yourself in the form of the self-employment tax as a freelancer.

What are the deductions you can claim?

While you calculate the taxable self-employment income, you will also want to know about the deductions that you can claim. These deductions matter a lot as they can reduce your tax burden to a considerable extent. According to the IRS, you can claim deductions on the entire expenses which are ordinary and necessary for the operation of your business, just like it is allowed for any other business owner. Specifically speaking, you can claim them for a home office, advertising and marketing, computer equipment and software, office supplies, utilities and travel, and business meals. However, you must maintain proper records and documentation for these expenses.

What is the minimum earning that makes you liable for paying taxes?

Obviously, you would want to know whether you actually need to pay taxes on your freelance earning. According to the federal laws, you will be liable to pay them if your earning from freelance work exceeds $ 400 in a given year. The tax attorneys from Travis W. Watkins Tax Resolution & Accounting Firm suggest that you should receive these earnings in a separate saving account for simplifying tax calculations. Further, expect a significant portion of your freelance check to cover the taxes because you have to pay income tax as well as self-employment tax.

How should you keep your taxes on schedule?

Since you are your own boss, the responsibility for keeping your taxes on schedule is yours as well. The IRS prefers a pay-as-you-go basis and this is also simplifying things for freelancers. Ideally, you should send in the tax payments throughout the year, which can be done by remitting estimated taxes. The good thing about doing so is that you will not face a cash crunch in April. You will have to pay up all final tax payments by the April 15 deadline. The better way is to pay the estimated taxes on the quarterly dates of April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15 (of the subsequent year).

What are self-employment tax rates and thresholds?

Another fact that matters is the tax rate and threshold because you would obviously want to know them as well. The self-employment tax is just like a flat tax. It takes a one size fits all approach and everyone has to pay the same percentage to Social Security and Medicare. However, the Social Security tax only is applicable only to earnings up to $132,900 (as of the 2019 tax year). The threshold will increase to $137,700 in the next year. The Social Security tax is calculated at 12.4% of the net income up to the threshold value, while it is 2.9% of total net income for Medicare. The full values are to be paid by freelancers.

Now that you understand that freelance taxes are different from those for the employed professionals, you need to be careful while computing them. Filing the returns and paying your taxes on time is equally important to keep things on track. Having an expert tax professional to guide you and handle your tax returns is a good idea too.

Raising Money When You Want to Start a Small Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article | Raising Money When You Want to Start a Small Business | EntrepreneurshipStarting a business is a common dream, and while you may only need a small investment to get off the ground, it can lead to big things. However, getting that initial seed money can be difficult, especially when you’ve still got rent and bills to pay while you wait for your first profit to arrive. That’s why you need a plan to get your business going, so here are some ideas.

Find Cryptocurrency Investors

While there are a number of platforms where people can invest cash in startups, you’ll find that people are very cautious about giving cash to inexperienced business owners. However, in the world of cryptocurrency, people tend to be more open to taking risks. Putting together an Initial Coin Offering, or ICO, can be a good way to get the money you need to kick things off, and the more unique and exciting the service, the more likely you’ll get funding.

Invest and Raise More Cash

If you’ve saved a little money but need to raise more, you may want to consider investing in and trying to get a return on your cash. For example, you could use Genesis Mining to mine Bitcoins, which you can then sell on an exchange, potentially making a profit. As with any investment, you should do your homework first and ensure you aren’t taking any unnecessary risks.

Sell Things You No Longer Use

A lot of people have things hanging around their house that they no longer need, so why not sell your old items for cash? You may be surprised that you can make hundreds of dollars in just a few days when you list your items online, and as long as you use clear photos and write a decent description, you should get a buyer.

Get A Loan

Understandably, a lot of people are worried about accumulating debt before they even have their first customer, but if you’re starting a business that needs a lot of specialist equipment or supplies, then it is often necessary. Put together a business plan, outlining what you need to borrow and when you expect to turn a profit. This will help impress banks and potential lenders, so they can see that you’re serious.

Scrimp and Save

A lot of small business owners start their ventures by using their own savings. While it’s a big risk to use the money you’ve so carefully saved, at least you don’t owe anything to a bank if things go wrong. Look at what you earn versus what you spend and see where you can boost your income or cut your expenses. You could also start your business as a side hustle with very low expenses. If you do something creative, look out for ways to do it more cheaply, such as finding bulk supplies or buying different equipment. While you won’t be able to quit your day job right away, you can at least start to build a customer base, which in time could take you to the next level.

 

Effective Strategies To Grow Your Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Effective Strategies To Grow Your Business | EntrepreneurshipThe ultimate goal of most businesses is to develop and increase revenue potential. While scaling your business can be challenging, there are plenty of ways to improve business operations, increase sales, and boost profits within your company. With this in mind, here are some effective strategies to grow your business.

Utilize an inventory management system

In today’s society, businesses must advertise and sell on multiple sales channels to remain competitive in the modern business world. However, multichannel retail and distribution can lead to several difficulties such as wasted stock, overselling, and customer complaints. These issues can have a hugely detrimental effect on your business, both in terms of cash flow budget and brand image. Fortunately, multichannel inventory management software can be utilized to manage inventory and fulfill orders in a multichannel structure. Inventory and warehouse management can be complex and difficult to manage when you are using multiple sales channels. For that reason, an inventory management system is essential if you want to scale your business quickly.

Create a customer loyalty program

Customer loyalty programs can be a fantastic way to boost sales and increase profits. While it’s important to look for opportunities to acquire new customers, it’s equally if not more important, to nurture your existing customer base. According to Linkedin “it costs between 4 and 10 times more to gain a new customer than to keep an existing one.” Offering a customer loyalty program shows your customers that you value their business. This will help you retain customers and gain valuable repeat business. An attractive loyalty program may also help you attract new customers as it gives people an incentive to spend money with your business.

Take your business global

Advancements in technology mean that all businesses now have the opportunity to expand globally. Scaling your business globally offers several incredible benefits; it allows you to increase sales and revenue potential, build brand awareness, and access a more diverse marketplace. Global selling platforms like Amazon and eBay make it easy for businesses to advertise and sell their products to overseas customers. Setting up an account on an international marketplace is quick and simple. Once registered, you will have the opportunity to advertise your products and services to potential customers in countries all around the world. Joining an international selling platform and expanding your business globally can be an extremely effective way to grow your business and increase revenue potential.

Hire a social media manager

Social media is a powerful marketing tool that can be utilized to build brand awareness, connect with customers, advertise products to a global audience, and increase sales. All modern businesses should be taking advantage of the power of social media in their marketing strategies. If you don’t have the skills or time to maintain an active presence on social media, then consider hiring a social media manager to run your campaigns for you. Social media is constantly growing and evolving. A social media professional will help you stay on top of this growth and remain competitive in the online business world.