Schull Books

Simplifying Your Finances

Leave a Comment October 31, 2009

Finding Grant Money

If you’re searching for grants for starting a small business, the best place to start your search is grants.gov. Grants.gov has millions of dollars in grants for starting a business, funding college, and even paying off debt. I was searching for funds for my pumps shoes business and found grants.gov very helpful for applying to grants. A quick search through grants.gov, and you’ll find out just how easy it is to apply for government grants.

Leave a Comment August 31, 2009

Small Business Loan Proposal

Business

Applying for a small business loan can be exciting and yet stressful at the same time. For the best results and to heighten your level of confidence, be prepared when you visit the lender you’ve chosen for your business loan interview. After you have your business plan prepared, start preparing for the loan by writing a loan proposal to present to the lender.

The loan proposal should state some crucial information, and many details, about both yourself and your business or business idea. It should state who you are, how much money you need and where the money will be spent, how you intend to repay the loan, and what you plan on doing in the even that you cannot repay the loan.

The following are key elements to include in your loan proposal.

1. Summary.

This should be listed first in your proposal, but will be written last. It should contain clear, concise, accurate, inviting information about your business or your business ideas. It should summarize how the proposed loan will be used, how it will be repaid, and how it will benefit your business. Remember your competition in the summary of your loan proposal, and point out features of your business that are different from your competitors.

2. Management Profiles.

The management profile section of the loan proposal should explain, most importantly, who you are. Be prepared to reveal everything about yourself and your experience. Have a current resumŽ included as part of the loan proposal, as well as a summary of your skills, qualifications, and other credentials for yourself, as well as for all other owners and key members of your management team.

3. Business Description.

It’s not necessary to state the same information mentioned in your business plan as in your loan proposal. However, you do need to present a solid description of the business. Include a brief history of the business in your loan proposal, and detail the current activities. If it’s a new business, explain the details of the business that will be developed. Your goal will to be to clearly demonstrate that you fully understand your markets, your competitors, and the industry, including current trends or risks and how you plan to overcome those potential dilemmas. If the loan is for an existing business, include literature that details your products or services, such as current sales sheets, brochures, or catalogs. Include attachments to your loan proposal for this section, such as letters from suppliers, customers, or other business references. Demonstrate through these letters that you provide excellent customer service, and that you pay back your creditors.

4. Business Projections.

Create at least two years’ worth of projected income statements and cash flow statements. Your projections should be clearly stated and, most importantly, realistic in nature. Generally, you probably won’t need to present the “worst case” or “best case” scenario unless the lender asks for you to write the projections that way. You should, however, be prepared to answer questions pertaining to what you’ll do if some of your projections don’t work out as planned. For example, if you anticipate obtaining a large, new contract or customer based on improvements made with the business loan, and that contract never goes through, it could change your loan proposal projections drastically.

5. Financial Statements.

Your loan proposal should include both business and personal financial statements. Be aware that the lender will fully analyze the history of your financial statements, calculating all ratios. Be prepared to point out any significant trends you’ve shown in an introductory paragraph.

6. Loan Purpose.

One of the most important parts of your loan proposal is a detailed description of how you will use the loan proceeds. Have a good understanding of the type of loan that you need, and remember to include the proceeds of the loan in your cash flow projections, as well as the interest in your projected income statement.

7. Repayment Plans.

Repayment plans should also be stated in your financial projections section of the loan proposal, but details of repayment plans should be detailed separately. Propose the terms you want, and prepare for negotiations with the financial institution. The lender will consider a number of factors as they review the overall risk of lending you the money. Understandably, this will impact the repayment terms that they are willing to offer for your business.

Especially if your credit is good, and even if your credit is not so good, remember that in your loan proposal, you are offering the bank a deal that will make them money. Don’t go in asking the lender for an “allowance.” Instead, enter the interview with your loan proposal objective in mind; namely, focusing on how much money you’ll need, and remove the idea of going into the meeting wondering how much they’re willing to lend. Never go into a meeting asking for a loan, wondering whether or not they’ll lend to you. If this first lender won’t approve your loan proposal, have confidence that a different will.

2 Comments August 1, 2009

International Financial Reporting Standards

Financial Report

International Financial Reporting Standards are standards and interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Many of the standards forming part of International Financial Reporting Standards are known by the older name of International Accounting Standards. International Accounting Standards was issued between 1973 and 2001 by the board of the International Accounting Standards Committee. In April 2001 the International Accounting Standards Board adopted all International Accounting Standards and continued their development, calling the new standards International Financial Reporting Standards.

Objective of financial statements

the framework states that the objective of financial statements is to provide information about the financial position, performance and changes in the financial position of an entity that is useful to a wide range of users in making economic decisions.

Underlying assumptions

The underlying assumptions used in International Financial Reporting Standards are:

• Accrual basis – the effect of transactions and other events are recognized when they occur, not as cash is received or paid.
• Going concern – the financial statements are prepared on the basis that an entity will continue in operation for the foreseeable future.

Qualitative characteristics of financial statements

The Framework describes the qualitative characteristics of financial statements as being:

• Understandability
• Relevance
• Reliability
• Comparability

Elements of financial statements

The Framework sets out the statement of financial position (balance sheet) as comprising:

• Assets – resources controlled by the entity as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity
• Liabilities – a present obligation of the entity arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow from the entity of resources embodying economic benefits
• Equity – the residual interest in the assets of the entity after deducting all its liabilities
and the statement of comprehensive income (income statement) as comprising:
• Income is increases in economic benefits during the accounting period in the form of inflows or enhancements of assets or reductions in liabilities.
• Expenses are decreases in such economic benefits.

Recognition of elements of financial statements

An item is recognized in the financial statements when:

• it is probable that a future economic benefit will flow to or from an entity and
• when the item has a cost or value that can be measured with reliability

Measurement of the Elements of Financial Statements

Measurement is how the responsible accountant determines the monetary values at which items are to be valued in the income statement and balance sheet. The basis of measurement has to be selected by the responsible accountant.
Accountants employ different measurement bases to different degrees and in varying combinations. They include, but are not limited to:

• Historical cost
• Current cost
• Realizable (settlement) value
• Present value

Concepts of Capital and Capital Maintenance

Concepts of Capital:

Financial concept of capital, e.g. invested money or invested purchasing power means capital is the net assets or equity of the entity. A physical concept of capital means capital is the productive capacity of the entity.

Concepts of Capital Maintenance and the Determination of Profit Accountants can choose to maintain financial capital in either nominal monetary units or constant purchasing power units. Physical capital is maintained when productive capacity at the end is greater than at the start of the period.

The main difference between the two concepts is the way asset and liability price change effects are treated.
Profit is the excess after the capital at the start of the period has been maintained. When accountants choose nominal monetary units, the profit is the increase in nominal capital. When accountants choose units of constant purchasing power, the profit for the period is the increase in invested purchasing power. Only increases greater than the inflation rate are taken as profit. Increases up to the level of inflation maintain capital and is taken to equity.

Leave a Comment July 27, 2009

The Fastest Way to Eliminate Credit Card Debt

Credit Card Debt

The American public is swimming in credit card debt, and quite often drowning. Everyone would like to pay off these debts quickly, but with wages being cut in many industries, and the unemployment rate approaching 10% nationally, this is becoming more difficult to do. In answer to the consumers’ problems, the credit card companies have raised their interest rates, raised their minimum payments, and lowered consumer’s credit limits. This has pushed many people, who are at a loss as to how to pay their bills, to the brink of bankruptcy.

Now there is another, better, and more honorable way to handle these bills. The consumer can contact a credit card debt settlement company. They are easily found on the internet, and these companies can really obtain results and to making agreements with your creditors so that you can eliminate your debt quickly.

You may try to negotiate with the credit-card-issuers yourself, but this is the hard way. Debt settlement companies — the good ones — can do it quicker, and with better results, as they are used to bargaining with credit card issuers. Many already have a working relation with the lenders, and will be better able to present your case to them. These companies will negotiate a lower interest rate for you with your creditors. They will also negotiate for a forgiveness of some of your debt by your creditors. In many cases, this will end up cutting the amount you owe the credit card companies by 40 to 60%. You will also end up with only one lower monthly payment to the settlement company, rather than a multitude of monthly payments to all your creditors.

With a lower interest rate, the forgiveness of some of your debt, and a set payment schedule, it may be possible to be credit card debt free in a matter of only 18 to 36 months. You will feel better and a lot less stress!

Final Tip: By researching and comparing the best credit card debt settlement services in the market, you will be able to determine the one that meets your specific financial situation. Nonetheless, it is advisable going with a trusted and reputable debt counselor before making any decision, this way you will save time through specialized advise coming from a seasoned credit card debt advisor and money by getting better results in a shorter span of time.

Leave a Comment July 3, 2009