By Jai Arek Business/Business & StartUps

Leveraging the Benefits of Technology

In the rapidly evolving business world, technology has become a crucial factor in determining success. For startups and established businesses alike, the ability to embrace innovation and leverage technology can mean the difference between thriving and falling behind. From streamlining operations to reaching new markets, technology plays a vital role in the success of modern businesses.

However, to make informed decisions about how to use technology for financial gain, it’s important for business owners to have a strong foundation in financial literacy.

The Benefits of Technology for Startups

Startups have a unique opportunity to leverage technology to gain a competitive edge. With limited resources, startups can use technology to maximize efficiency and reach their target audience more effectively. 

Digital tools and platforms also provide startups with access to a wealth of information and resources, making it easier to launch and grow their businesses.

The Challenges of Technology Adoption for Established Businesses

While technology presents exciting opportunities for startups, established businesses can face challenges when it comes to adopting new technologies. Resistance to change and the need to maintain existing systems can make it difficult for established businesses to embrace innovation. 

In addition, the costs associated with technology adoption can be a significant barrier for established businesses looking to modernize.

Overcoming the Challenges of Technology Adoption

Despite these challenges, established businesses must embrace technology if they hope to stay competitive and continue to grow. To overcome the challenges of technology adoption, businesses must take a strategic approach and carefully consider their technology needs and goals. 

This can involve investing in training and development programs to help employees embrace new technologies, as well as partnering with technology experts to ensure successful implementation.

The Importance of Innovation for Business Success 

Innovation is key to success in today’s rapidly changing business landscape. Whether you’re a startup or an established business, the ability to embrace new technologies and leverage innovation is crucial for staying ahead of the competition and continuing to grow. 

By embracing technology and committing to ongoing innovation, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and position themselves for long-term success.

Technology plays a critical role in the success of modern businesses and startups. By embracing innovation and leveraging technology, companies can streamline operations, reach new markets, and gain a competitive edge. Whether you’re a startup or an established business, it’s essential to embrace technology and commit to ongoing innovation to stay ahead in today’s rapidly evolving business world.

By Jiřina Karlová Business & StartUps

Which Insurance Should Company Founders and Entrepreneurs Need?

Insurance

 

There are important insurance policies for aspiring founders both in the personal and operational areas. Health insurance is mandatory for the self-employed anyway. However, depending on the company, some risks are more likely than others. However, liability, business content, or company legal expenses insurance are relevant for most founders.

It is important that you assess risks, check the insurance needs and compare the offers for important insurance. Getting insurance certificates from firms is something you should also get into consideration.

At the start, also consider important insurances

If you want to start a business, many questions shoot through your head at the beginning. What does your own business idea look like in concrete terms and can you really be successful with it? What should the company be called? How do I write the business plan? And many more questions. When all these questions are answered and everything slowly takes shape, then another question arises:

What about insurance coverage?

To answer this question, you have to consider what risks the company faces and how best to protect them from them. This has to be decided individually for each case. Nevertheless, there are some risks against which every young entrepreneur should insure himself. Important insurances are presented below.

Important insurance in the private sector

Illness, absence from work, occupational disability – the risks in the personal area of a founder are manifold and the consequences can be expensive. Important insurances are accordingly health insurance and occupational disability insurance. In the case of health insurance, there is basically a choice between statutory or private health insurance.

TIP: Private health insurance is often the more attractive choice for the self-employed. Make a non-binding and free comparison in order to be able to compare the costs and services of the respective tariffs.

The most important commercial insurances

In order to get an overview of commercial insurance, you should first consider what risks can occur for your own company and how serious a loss can be. Accordingly, below are three common risks that can quickly threaten the existence of a business.

 

ALSO READ: Marketing Means For Buying A House Business

 

Risk 1: Damage to office equipment

In order to insure against the risk of damage to the business inventory or furnishings, the following applies: business content insurance is often important insurance and a conclusion is recommended. It applies in the event of damage caused by:

  • Fire
  • Storm/hail
  • tap water or
  • Burglary (including vandalism as a result of a burglary).

If, for example, a short circuit in your offices ignites a fire and damages or destroys the furnishings, you will be compensated for the damage incurred by the insurance company – at replacement value.

Another risk is that, as a result of such damage, work in the company will be severely impaired or even come to a standstill. Therefore, it is advisable to supplement the business content insurance with a so-called business interruption insurance. In such a case, this replaces the lost operating profit and supports you in coping with ongoing costs – so also important insurance.

Risk 2: Liability claims against your company

Despite the most careful work, mistakes can happen again and again. If you or your employees make a mistake and this leads to damage to a third party, they can assert liability claims against your company. And that can be expensive. Therefore, you should protect yourself for exactly this case – with business liability insurance. The following types of damage are covered by this important insurance: personal injury, property damage, and consequential damage (caused by personal injury or property damage). If, for example, a customer slips in your business premises because the floor has been freshly mopped and the warning sign has not been clearly visible, the insurance will cover the resulting costs.

In the event that a customer suffers a so-called real financial loss due to a mistake of the company and asserts a liability claim, it is advisable to have financial loss liability insurance. A real financial loss is understood to mean purely financial damage that is not caused by a previous personal injury or property damage. If, for example, a customer suffers financial losses due to your incorrect advice, the resulting damage will be covered by the insurance. For some professional groups, such as lawyers or tax consultants, the conclusion of such insurance is required by law – so it is clearly one of the important insurances.

TIP: Which commercial insurance is necessary for your company? Use the needs analysis for an initial assessment.

Risk 3: Legal disputes

In order to be protected against the risk of litigation, every self-employed person is strongly advised to take out insurance as important insurance. A company’s legal expenses insurance to increase. Should there be a legal dispute, for example with one of your employees or the landlord of your business premises, the insurance will cover the costs – from the first consultation by a lawyer to a possible court case.

Customize insurance cover

Damage to office equipment, third-party liability claims, or legal disputes are risks that every company will be confronted with sooner or later. Therefore, it is essential to take care of the appropriate insurance coverage and to take out important insurance. However, it should be remembered that there is no lump-sum package for commercial insurance that adequately protects every company founder.

It is therefore strongly recommended to inform yourself in the best possible way about the potential risks of your own company and to select the commercial insurance coverage and important insurances accordingly: make the non-binding Needs analysis for your insurance cover.

It is also important to consider risks arising from hacker attacks or the like because you will only protect against damage caused by such attacks. This does not protect you from cyber attacks, but subsequently takes care of damaged company property, liability claims against your company (e.g. due to data protection violations), or legal disputes.

By Jai Arek Business/Business & StartUps/StartUp

The Ultimate Startup Guide to Creating Your Life Insurance Business

Everyone has their reservations when it comes to starting a business. Starting your own business and creating your own job at the same time? Even scarier. If you want to start your own business and also protect yourself, it would be a wise move to be in the life insurance business.

As a matter of fact, there are many different businesses that revolve around life insurance, such as being an advisor, broker or agent in this field or even starting your own agency.

If you’ve been a life insurance agent in Canada and want to start your own business, we’ll show you how to get started with it to create a new business venture around life insurance instead of working for one. Let’s dive in!

What is a Small Business Life Insurance Company?

A small business life insurance company is a company that offers life insurance as an investment rather than as a protection or savings vehicle. The insurance is usually term-based, which means it will expire after a certain amount of time.

Why Start a Small Business Life Insurance Company?

Life insurance is big business. In the United States alone, there are roughly $10 trillion in individual life insurance policies.

It is also a great way to protect yourself and your family in case something happens to you. Life insurance is also a great way to start your own business.

When you are an agent, broker or advisor at an existing insurance company, you will be limited to what products and services you can offer your customers.

How to Start a Small Business Life Insurance Company?

There are various kinds of policies for life insurance that you can find. But in order to start a small business life insurance company, the first thing that you have to do is to decide on what policies you wish to offer to your target market.

There are many different types of policies you can choose from, such as term life insurance, term life insurance with a cash-value option, whole life insurance, universal life insurance and more. You can also choose to offer a combination of policies.

After you have chosen the type of policies you want to offer, the next step is to get your insurance licenses. In most states, you will need a broker license and a sales agent license to start a small business life insurance company. These licenses will allow you to sell and issue policies to individuals.

By Iva Sedlaříková Business/Investing/StartUp

A Good Business Started with Good Planning

When you start a business, you often have to spend money on stuff or training that you need to start your business. This is a leap of faith because you already spend money before you even sent out your first invoice. But, as the well-known proverb goes, ‘the cost outweighs the benefit’. Business investments pay for themselves in the long run. For example, you may need a good laptop, a new desk, or a machine to manufacture something. These operating costs affect your income tax. You can usually (partially) deduct them from your profits and this can ensure that you have to pay less tax. By planning this well, you can make optimal use of the tax rules and benefits. By the way, visit this page for some information

Ordinary costs and investments

When you spend money on your business as a freelancer, a distinction is made between ‘normal’ operating costs and investments. For example, printing paper, a box of pens, or a conversation with a coach or advisor are not seen as an investment, but a laptop or sewing machine is. Here you can see exactly what the tax authorities consider to be ‘normal’ business expenses. The difference between ordinary costs and investments lies in the value, nature, and lifespan of what you purchase. In this article, we will focus specifically on investments.

What exactly is an investment?

According to the tax authorities, investments are all purchases of goods or products that have a value of €450 (excluding VAT) [i] or more. In addition, there is an investment if your purchase lasts for several years and the purchase must directly contribute to the turnover of your company. We refer to all purchases that meet these criteria as “assets.”

Investing in your business

Almost every self-employed person needs a laptop

Investment Plan for your company

As an entrepreneur, it is smart to make an investment plan. The investment plan provides an overview of what you need to get your business off the ground and what it will cost. In this plan, you can also estimate how long you expect the investments to last. It is not only nice for yourself to have everything in order, but it also offers you insight into which you can make optimal use of all tax schemes.

Investment deductions

Investing is good for the economy and is therefore stimulated by the government. Still, novice entrepreneurs are often reluctant to spend large amounts of money before money has come in. That makes sense because the step to start for yourself is exciting enough in itself. To encourage entrepreneurs to invest, the government has therefore created various incentives. Think of a discount on your income tax or corporate tax.

Small-scale

investment deduction (KIA) If you invest more than €2,300 in business assets as a freelancer, you may be entitled to the KIA (small-scale investment deduction). The amount by which your profit is reduced depends on the size of the investment. Please note, not all purchases you make for your company are eligible for the KIA. Examples of business assets that do qualify for this deduction are a laptop or tablet, a mobile phone, and office furniture.

Environmentally friendly assets

invest in environmentally friendly assets? Then you may qualify for the MIA (environmental investment deduction) or the Vail (arbitrary depreciation of environmental investments). Here too, the investment amount must be at least €2,300, and the investment must be eligible for investment deduction. An additional condition is that the asset must be on the environmental list. In addition, you must register the investment in advance.

Energy Investment Allowance (EIA)

The business asset must then be eligible for the investment deduction and must be on the energy list of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. You can submit an annual proposal for new business assets.

Depreciation of investments

The ‘normal’ costs that you incur for your company can be deducted from your profit in the year of purchase. This is not allowed with investments. You have to deduct the costs over several years. We call this ‘depreciation’. You then reserve a part of the profit every year for the moment that the business asset has to be replaced.

Do investments affect VAT?

Investments do not affect VAT. After all, you can set off and reclaim the VAT if you have provided services that are taxed with VAT. When you make an investment, you do not have to take VAT into account.

Investing is lucrative

Investing in company assets can provide tax benefits. These resources must then meet all kinds of criteria set by the government. It is therefore important that you have a clear investment plan in advance and that you are aware of the options you have. We hope this article has at least helped you a little further. If you have any questions or need help drawing up an investment plan, we can of course help you with this.

By Iva Sedlaříková Business/StartUp

Startups and Small Businesses

business-startup

Over and over again you hear this term from left to right: Startup! Too often we think of a small company type. But have you ever stopped for a moment and wondered, “What really is a startup?”

Is it simply a trendy expression for a quickly developing tech organization, or is there a genuine and significant contrast between what establishes a startup and what qualifies as a “small business”?

Truth be told, there is a genuine contrast between a small business and a start-up. We went through the specific definitions and today we give you genuine clues about them.

Why do startups talk so often about investors and stocks?

Small businesses and startups have one thing in common: the challenge of finding financing options. Because opening a coffee shop and running it successfully is often associated with considerable costs.

With traditional business models, founders often turn to traditional banks or online lenders. They carefully check that the risk is not too high, then offer principal amounts and charge interest on the financing. Small business founders often remain 100 percent shareholders in their business.

Startups tend to take a different approach. Since the risk is often significantly higher here, startup founders like to turn to venture capitalists or angel investors. Although they also carry out extensive review processes, they are prepared not to receive any guarantee of their financing when in doubt. In exchange for capital, the founders give their investors shares in the company so that they can recoup a multiple of their investment in the event of a subsequent sale.

When startups and small companies choose a path without external financing, they speak of the so-called “bootstrapping”.

And how is the future different for startups and small businesses?

startups are assumed to be temporary. If all goes well, the supplier of the product will be established. From time to time it is made public. In these successful cases, we speak of the so-called “unicorns”. Extremely rare exceptions, which nonetheless keep the motivation of many founders and investors high.

And even if they don’t fully explode, the business model can turn into a lucrative venture. Once the idea has been established, that is, tested, the old startups become permanent companies.

Of course, every entrepreneur has different intentions about what to expect from their company, but in general, all founders have the intention of starting self-sustaining and sustainable businesses. And that definitely includes a lot of joy, energy, and a little bit of luck to find out more.