trapez-finance.org

Credit cards are considered to be one of the most important financial tools in modern society. Not only are individual people getting benefits from credit cards, even businesses, small and large alike, are now using credit cards to provide financial assistance to their business on times they need it most.

If you are one of the many business owners in America, having business credit cards can definitely be an asset to your business. The main advantage that business credit cards can provide your business is that it will enable to assist your business on its financial needs with greater ease. And, it will also bring you a lot of savings if you use it right. Here are some of the things you need to know when choosing a business credit card in order to make sure that you choose the right one for your business.

First, just like ordinary credit cards, there are quite a number of business credit card offers available. When choosing a business credit card, it is important that you determine what you will primarily use it for. Try asking yourself what kind of purchases you will make with the business credit card. By asking this question, you will be able to know what kind of business credit card you should choose. For example, if your business will require you and your executives to travel a lot, then you should choose a business credit card that offers accumulating points or air miles. Or, you can also get a gas credit card if you and your business associates frequently use cars for travel.

After making a decision of choosing the kind of business credit card to get, the next step is to shop around for it. Like shopping for a regular credit card, you should also choose a business credit card basing on the features it offer. It is always important to choose a business credit card that offers the lowest interest rate. If you are lucky enough, you may come across a business credit card that doesn’t have any interest rate. However, business credit card offers like this will usually have an annual fee that can cost as high as 200 dollars. If you can’t find an interest free business credit card, go for the lowest possible fixed interest rate.

Rewards are also an important feature you should look for in a business credit card. In business credit cards, you will typically see benefits, such as air miles, office supplies discounts, and gasoline discounts. You also have to know what stores are participating with the business credit card reward offer. Try to look for stores, hotels, airlines, gas stations, and etc. that you normally do business with in order to make the most of the points you earn on the business credit card.

Another feature you should look for in a business credit card is the balance transfer feature. If you have an outstanding balance in another credit card account, you can consolidate the balance in your business credit card. This is a great money saving feature that you certainly would want to take advantage of. Also, not all business credit cards offer this kind of feature. By shopping around, you will be able to choose from the best business credit card offers. If you do need to provide your department heads a business credit card, you may request a daily online reporting to keep track of the purchases made.

125

So you’ve decided upon the idea and thought long and hard about the name – now it’s time to get your new business up and running. You may have an amount of capital from investors, which needs putting into a business account. It’s also now time to seriously consider applying for a business credit card that can compliment that initial capital investment.

Many new business owners are unsure as to why they might need a business credit card. Surely it’s just as easy to put any funds into a personal account and run the business from there? Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Separating personal and business finances should be a priority for all new business owners. Not only will it minimise the amount of paperwork necessary during accounting periods, but it will also look far more professional to the Inland Revenue Service when it comes to submitting accounts. Business credit cards also offer spending reports, allowing you to identify spending habits – an advantage which most personal credit cards do not offer. Having separate accounts makes finances easier to manage and also makes it far simpler when it comes to things like declaring expenses – something that the majority of employees have to do at some point. In addition, you can request further credit cards for employees; a facility that is not possible with a personal credit card. These cards can have spending limits attached to them and transactions can be tracked online to ensure that all employee spending is necessary and within the set limits. In addition, the business owner can see exactly what has been spent, even if an employee forgets to submit the appropriate receipts.

A business credit card also allows a new business to qualify for particular deals and discounts that are designed with companies in mind. These can include perks such as reward schemes on certain products and services or offers on Airmiles or travel insurance. These benefits can be particularly advantageous to small and medium-sized businesses if the card is selected with the perks in mind. For example, a business whose employees travel a lot might choose a card where travel insurance is discounted.

The security offered to a new business through a business credit card is also a very important factor. These cards offer protection against fraud, theft and there are even capabilities that offer protection against employee misuse. Card security can give the new business owner far more peace of mind and prevent unnecessary expenditure in the event of the ever-present threat of Internet fraud or ID theft.

The most vital aspect of a business credit card for a new business is the credit itself. Credit can be used for a variety of reasons, not least of which is managing the company’s finances during times of restricted cash flow. As the credit does not touch the business’s cash account, supplies can still be bought and services paid for whilst you’re waiting for customer balances to be settled. Of course, the APR and monthly repayments have to be considered, but there are plenty of introductory offers out there to suit even the most lowly of beginnings and these are often matched by cheap rates once the introductory offers have expired. Using credit also helps to build up a company’s credit rating and opens the door for further business credit and greater sets of benefits and perks.

It may appear easier to simply trust your company finances to your personal credit card, but the advantages of a business credit card specifically designed for your business needs are obvious. Business credit cards are designed specifically to deal with the stresses and strains demanded by a company. A personal credit card is not. Finding the right business credit card for you is a process of elimination, comparing and contrasting the deals on offer in the marketplace. With over 500 business credit cards available, comparison websites are an extremely useful resource to help you make the right decision and provide your company with a practical, useful and valuable asset.

125

November 1, 2009

For Florida homebuyers this is great news! Congress both extended and expanded the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit program Thursday for Florida homebuyers.

The White House says the President will sign it into law.

The up-to-$8000 tax credit’s expiration date has been pushed forward to spring, requiring Florida homebuyers to be under contract before April 30, 2010, to take advantage and to be closed by June 30, 2010.

The program’s basic eligibility requirements remain the same:

• Florida Buyers can’t purchase the home from a parent, spouse, or child
• Florida Buyers can’t purchase the home from an entity in which they’re a majority owner
• Florida Buyers can’t acquire the home by gift or inheritance
• All parties to the Florida purchase must meet eligibility requirements

The new law includes some notable updates, however.

For one, the definition of  Florida “first-time home buyer” has been expanded to include most homeowners with at least 5 years in their current Florida home. “Move-up” buyers like these are now eligible for IRS tax credits, but with a cap gain at $6,500.

This means that you don’t have to be a true Florida first-time home buyer to claim the “Florida first-time home buyer tax credit”.

Other eligibility changes include:

• The Florida homes sales price may not exceed $800,000
• The Florida home must be a primary residence
• Income thresholds raised to $125,000 for single-filers and $225,500 for joint-filer

And remember, the Florida First-Time Home Buyer program grants a tax credit as opposed to a deduction. This means that a tax filer would receive a cash payment of $2,000 from the U.S. Treasury if his “normal” tax liability totals $6,000 and he was eligible for all $8,000 available under the new tax credit law.

125

Florida FHA Loan, Florida FHA home loan down to 530O

 Under 620 Credit Score

Purchases (Min 530 score)

• 12 month cancelled checks or Management VOR
• Must have 3 good recent trade lines
• Payment shock limited to 1.5 times
• 33/45 DTI max
• No late’s or collection in last 12 months
• NO late’s after BK

Refinance’s (NO Min score)

o 0?30 on Mortgage

o 35/45 MAX DTI

o No cash in hand

o Tangible net benefit

o NO late’s after BK

With the Help of HUD/FHA Florida mortgage applicants can now own a home with less than stellar credit. The fact is, there is a wide range for FHA loan programs available to Florida mortgage applicants with a minimum credit score of 530. The real truth is, FHA/HUD loan programs do not consider your credit score. Many Florida mortgage applicants find this very difficult to believe that under HUD/FHA guidelines that there are NO MINIMUM CREDIT SCORE requirements. It’s the private Florida FHA approved mortgage lenders that set the minimum credit score requirement. Today most walk-in Florida banks require a minimum of 620 credit score to qualify for a Florida FHA mortgage. With an FHA loan only credit quality is used when HUD/FHA endorses mortgages made to Florida loan applicants. FHA home loans give Florida mortgage applicants who would have been declined solely based on a lower credit score the opportunity to own a home. Because of the easy qualify guidelines that only come with an FHA home loan Florida mortgage applicants can now qualify for a home with a low fixed interest rate mortgage.

     Florida home loan applicants should know the advantages to the FHA home loan. FHA loans were created to help increase homeownership during the great depression. For the Florida mortgage applicant FHA home loans simply the purchase of a Florida home making it easier and less expensive then other Florida mortgage programs.

Minimal Down Payment and Closing costs.

• Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price Gifts are allowed
• Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards closing and prepaid costs.
• 100% Financing available
• No reserves required.
• FHA regulated closing costs.

Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as:

•  
  • No minimum FICO score or credit score requirements.
  • FHA will allow a home purchase 2 years after a Bankruptcy.
  • FHA will allow home purchase 3 years after a Foreclosure.

Florida FHA mortgage Questions

Florida Quick FHA Mortgage Application

125

Mortgage Broker strategies are important as you very well know, but have you considered all the marketing you can do on a day to day basis. This is not the type of marketing where you put an ad in the paper or hire a call center. These are the little things you can do to make sure that your mortgage business continues to grow. These are the things that cost very little but are huge in terms of keeping business as well as high customer satisfaction.

Fist Tip

Whether you are sending out a letter, a card, or even an ad for the paper, make sure you use effective writing techniques. First among these is to make sure that you have a headline on everything you do. Whether people realize it or not, the headline grabs the reader. Once they see a headline, they are way more likely to read the rest of the piece of text. Always make sure that the headline has a benefit in it so that your client has a reason to keep reading.

Second Tip

Keep writing! For many people, the thank you note has raised their income by large percentages. Every person, customer or friend, loves to show appreciation. They like to know that you are happy for them and that you realize what they have done for you. When you thank them you are connecting with them and helping to cement a future relationship.

If you make it a point to write thank you notes every day, you can really help your return business. Thank people who didn’t even work with you on a mortgage. You can thank those who did something for you: your mechanic, mailman, or even the teacher your kid has at school. Whatever you do, just make sure you send those thank you notes. It will definitely pay off for you.

Third Tip

Be a braggart. When you do something for a client, make sure you tell them. You want to make yourself valuable to the client for a couple of reasons: so that he or she understands why you are getting paid, and so that he or she would refer you to someone else in the future. This can be very valuable down the road. Even though bragging seems harsh normally, so be humble and just point out the things you accomplished because in business you want to be valued.

Fourth Tip

This is a strange one for many, but make sure that if you have a phone person, that he or she always suggests that you are with a client. If he or she says “I’m sorry but he is working with a customer right now, give me one second to see if he can take a call right now”.

This allows you to look busy and confirms that you are worth the effort to work with. It also gives you an out if you don’t want to talk with a certain person for one reason or another.

Last Tip

Though there is an unlimited amount of advice that could be given about mortgage marketing techniques, there are some that are certainly more important. One of those is this: never stop marketing. Even if you are the best mortgage broker that ever walked the planet, if you cannot market then it won’t matter. Nobody will know you are great, you will have no business to close, and you will not make any money.

Above everything else, mortgage is about getting clients in your door. The rest is just paperwork and learning the ropes of the loan biz. With that in mind, there is one other thing you should consider:

Form realtor partnerships whenever you can. If you can find a program that will help you hook up with realtors the right way, you should jump on it. By giving yourself that extra advantage, you are enabling your business to grow without making yourself do more work.

With a partnership with the right realtor, you may find yourself with a large number of renters turned buyers on your desk each day. What a great way to run the mortgage business huh?

So no matter what you do, implement a new marketing tip each day. Try to send out thank you notes, thank people in person, look for times to brag about your self, and even try to keep marketing. Above all, find ways to form those partnerships. Getting hooked up with a realtor and with changing renters into buyers, you will grow your business faster than you ever imagined.

125