Going through a divorce can be one of the worst experiences a person can have. It isn’t pleasant to separate from someone you loved.

Unfortunately, divorce has become a common experience. 40% to 50% of couples in the United States end their relationships with divorce.

When you go through this process, you need to have someone on your side. You can find divorce lawyers everywhere, so how do you know who to pick?

Below are five tips you can use to find the best divorce lawyer.

1. Know What You Want

Before you settle on a lawyer, figure out what you want during this process. Do you want someone who is going to be supportive during the process, or are you just looking for someone to do the work?

You can find a lot of different personalities, so make sure you talk with your candidates to see if they are a good match for you. The last thing you want is to go through the process with someone you are uncomfortable with.

2. Ask for Referrals

You aren’t the only one who has gone through a divorce. You can probably find someone who has been through the process and worked with a divorce lawyer.

A referral is one of the best ways to figure out if someone is worth hiring. You can learn the good and bad of working with a particular lawyer, and what the process with them is like.

3. Consider How Many Assets You Have

Are you wondering if you will pay more if you have a lot of assets? Unfortunately, this is true. When you are dealing with a more complicated divorce, you are going to run up more bills.

Because of this, you need to be careful when you retain a high asset divorce lawyer.

Make sure you find someone that doesn’t go through unneeded motions that run up your costs. You may end up paying much more money than you need to.

4. Read All the Fine Print

Someone may sound like a great fit when you talk to them. But when you go to sign the contract for a retainer, there might be new details in the fine print.

Before you commit to a lawyer, read through any contracts all the way through. This way, there are no surprises that cost you more money.

5. Figure out How Hands on They Are

Every hour your lawyer spends on your case can cost you money. Because of this, some lawyers will suggest you handle some things yourself so you can save money.

Figure out what steps of the process you are willing to take on yourself. If you want to save money, you can hire someone that is more hands off.

But if you aren’t worried about the cost, you can hire someone more hands on to deal with the entire process.

Make Sure You Hire the Best Divorce Lawyer

Divorces usually aren’t a fun process. You need to make sure you find the best divorce lawyer so you can minimize headaches and get through everything without problems.

Make sure you do your research so you can find the right choice.

Do you need to get your finances prepared for the process? Head over to our blog to read our finance tips so you can get things ready.

Source

If you are a small business owner whose bank loan application just got rejected, don’t lose heart because you’ll eventually find a way to grow your business. Before you delve into the solution, look through various reasons why bank did not approve your application.

There are many reasons why banks are reluctant to lend to smaller businesses. These include:

• Unconvincing business plan – many new businesses lack a detailed business plan to support their loan application which gives the impression that you haven’t given your business idea proper thought and research.
• Little or no record of success – banks want to see a history of strong market position and financial statements which is something new or smaller businesses cannot offer.
• Lack of collateral – collateral acts as security on the loan and if you don’t have any, the bank has no assets to sell to recover the loan amount.
• Cash flow problems – due to limited revenues in comparison to costs, small businesses often have cash flow problems, so they’re likely to default on interest payments.

Source

Even if you are able to secure a bank loan, the interest rates offered to small businesses tend to be significantly higher than those for larger businesses as it is a riskier investment for the bank – this is evident in the graph above.

Since there are alternative finance options available, you don’t need to get disappointed.

1. SBA Loans

Getting an SBA loan is an excellent funding option for small businesses. These loans are provided under a program initiated by the Small Business Administration.

Lenders (usually banks), are encouraged to provide loans to smaller businesses at reasonably low interest rates for any business purpose, ranging from $5,000-$5,000,000. SBA itself does not lend money – it provides a guarantee to pay up to 80% of the amount, in case the borrower defaults.

2. Venture capitalists

If you have a business idea that has growth potential, you can seek out venture capitalists, willing to invest in your business. These are investors who fund risky business ventures in return for an equity share in the company. Not only do they bring in money but also their expertise, which can be very useful for a small business with little experience of the industry.

3. Partner financing

If you do not mind partnering with another business in your industry or with one that sells related products, partner financing is a viable option. It is beneficial for both parties – the partner provides funds in return for either a share of your sales or special rights of your product or its distribution.

If your partner is a larger business, you can receive other benefits from the collaboration such as, reaching out to their customers to expand your own market.

4. Crowd funding

If you require a small loan for a creative project such as, a documentary or book launch, there are several crowd funding sites where you can put up your case and ask the general public for contributions.

Small amounts of funding from a large number of people adds up to be massive, helping you achieve your goals. You can offer free samples of your products as a token of appreciation in return.

5. Home equity loan

Seeking a business loan by using their home as collateral is also an option utilized by many business owners. Once they are able to offer personal guarantee, they secure sufficient funds for their business. However, the option is risky as you put your home on the line, in case of a default.

The bottom line

To sum up, there are many options for smaller businesses to raise capital so they do not just have to rely on banks anymore. Look into the different financing options available in the market and choose the one that best suits your needs.

Have you heard of Amazon Business and you’re wondering what is it? It’s Amazon’s new online store entirely dedicated to businesses and professionals.

Amazon launched Amazon Business in April 2015 in the USA. It has features tailored to companies’ purchasing needs.

Among the most interesting options are:

• Displaying prices net of VAT.
• The ability to set approval procedures and multi-user accounts.
• Custom spending limits.
• Digital invoice management.

What are the benefits of Amazon business accounts? Is it worth setting one up? We explain everything you need to know about Amazon business accounts.

How Amazon Business works

Amazon Business is similar to the Amazon that we all know. But before you can use it, you need to create a company account. You can even convert your current account into a business account.

The Amazon Business account is free. You can create it without any commitment or the least turnover.

How to Register for Amazon Business

Want to know how to create an Amazon Business account?

Here is the step by step procedure!

• Connect to the page dedicated to Amazon Business
• Click on Create a free account.
• Enter a new email address to create a new account or enter the current email address to convert your account.
• Click on the “Send” button.
• Enter the name and your password.
• Click on the Next step.
• On the new screen enter the company information i.e. company address and the VAT number.
• Finally, click on Send.

The requirement to register an Amazon Business account is a VAT number and email address.

Complete the “Company name” section. Don’t use your personal name or your department’s name in this section.

You can either create a company profile from scratch or convert your existing one.

The procedure will take about 5 minutes. Afterward, everything will pass to the verification process that takes about 3 days.

 

Benefits of Amazon Business

Being a platform dedicated to businesses, it offers a series of specific advantages.

Let’s have a look at them!

1. Multi-user Accounts

First of all, it’s possible to add more users to a single account. You can also create different groups, and share payment methods.

Other features include order customization, set spending limits, and manage the company purchases.

Convenience, variety, and quality! Amazon Business can help you simplify the whole process of purchasing.

You can check, compare, and purchase what you require. It also has a payment option that is fast and flexible with reliable deliveries.

Besides, it can incorporate functionalities only designed for companies.

2. Extra Options in Your Purchase

This is where some more operational changes happen. It’s quite transparent for the client.

Amazon business users will have extra options such as a field to enter a project code or cost center. You can also set up an approval process to control your spending.

Amazon Business can help simplify your whole purchasing process. You can find, compare, and buy whatever you need.

Can you track your Amazon business account expenses?

Of course, yes! The Purchase Analysis tool makes it possible. Companies can track and analyze the various expenses made with their accounts.

3. Precise Control of Your Account

The main problem of using a personal account for business management is that you lose a lot of control. You might mix purchases, and you’ve to keep sharing the account with other users.

We all dread encountering such a situation!

Amazon Business accounts contribute a lot in terms of management. You can configure the Amazon Business catalog based on your purchase policies

It’s also possible to print the purchase receipt or a copy of the invoice.

What Are the Advantages for Small Businesses?

Have you had of the Amazon Tax Exemption Program? It’s a program that assists clients to apply the tax-exempt status to qualifying product purchases.

Account administrators help you set up the tax exemptions for your business accounts.

This tool guides users through the application process. You can use it to update your status and upload or edit certificates.

You can modify which items should have the tax exemption certificate applied. This should be after reviewing your order.

1. Better VAT Management on Your Invoices

This is always a worry to the company managers.

Does it worry you too? It shouldn’t! Keep reading to find out why.

The VAT management system has the following benefits:

• You can view the prices of each product net of VAT.
• You can manage the catalog. Thanks to the ability to specify preferences on products and sellers.
• Limit certain product categories.
• Generate alerts if someone tries to buy products that are not allowed.
• Associate an order number, project code, payment center for your orders.
• You can associate your orders with invoices.
• Integrate Amazon Business with your online systems.

When you adopt the price service with VAT excluded, they receive the Business brand. Do you need Click And Mortar Accounting services? We’ll get you there.

2. Exclusive Price and Quantity Discounts on Products

Obviously, Amazon Business is a service designed to buy large quantities.

Are there any discounts?

Amazon offers a discount according to the number of products that you want to buy. It also reduces prices on multiple purchases.

With it, you can view offers placed by vendors on a single page. Therefore, ensure you get the best price possible.

To show items for sale at a discounted price, you can click “Request a quantity discount.”

Want to spend less money on more goods? Then you got to register Amazon Business.

3. Delivery and Shipping Cost

Wondering how much money you’ll have to spend on shipping?

Amazon Business account has free delivery for purchases. It’s cheaper than that for private accounts.

Always confirm in advance that the seller delivers to your location. You can find this next to the “number of ordered items” and the “add to the basket button.”

Wrap-Up

Amazon Business is a powerful and flexible tool for professionals and companies. It allows them to manage their purchases efficiently and efficiently.

Since the registration is free, it’s worth trying and judging it for yourself.

Are you looking for additional benefits of Amazon Business Account?  Keep checking our blog for this and more business tips.

The number of people living in flats is rising. And as more people all over the world migrate from rural areas to cities and population experts predict a rise in the global populace from 7.6 billion to 9.8 billion between today and 2050, going to borrow some sugar from the next flat is likely to become a way of life for most of us.

This is just one of the many facts that Deacon, the blocks of flats insurance specialist, shared with us recently. We learned, for instance, that if a block of flats were to be under-insured, the insurer could reduce the claim in proportion to the under-insurance. So, let’s say a flat was insured for 50% of its correct value. In the event of a claim being made, only 50% might be paid. When you also consider that such buildings carry a higher risk of claim-worthy events such as storm damage, fire and water damage amongst other things, we can see why choosing the correct insurance product is vital!

Also easily overlooked is professional indemnity insurance. Remember, any advice that a landlord provides to their clients is potentially legally binding. Indemnity insurance can help protect the business from potential financial catastrophe and reputational damage from dissatisfied clients.

To find out what else we learned, read on for 10 things you didn’t know about flats.

The Romans Did It First

Not many people were taught this in class, but the Romans built the first flats. With their successful campaigns and a stable economy in the middle of 100 BC, Rome’s population began to grow and housing became a problem. To figure the problem out, Roman engineers built stronger structures that could go higher in the sky; using lime and volcanic sand to make concrete and standardizing blocks to make construction quick and reliable.

A Forest in Your Flat

The Bosco Verticale are two apartment buildings in the middle of Milan where trees and plants grow all around and through from the ground up. Designed by Stefano Boeri, this “Vertical Forest” has more than 20,000 trees and plants peacefully sharing space with the residents, and his design is being copied all around the world.

A Flat Forgotten

Marthe De Florien was a famous French actress who fled her flat in Paris in 1934, just before WW2 began. She never returned, and nobody is certain why. Her landlord, however, had no idea her flat had been vacated and left it empty until his death in 2010. When agents were asked to value his estate, they found her flat, forgotten all those years and untouched, like a jewel in time.

Shapeshifting Apartments

Fans of Star Trek may be pleased to see the future arriving; the architectural firm, Dynamic Group, has designed the first ever rotating and shapeshifting tower block of apartments, to be built in Dubai by 2020.

Recycling Plastic? Try Entire Buildings!

In the UK, many of our landmark buildings are being pulled down to be “recycled” into blocks of flats. For example, the Hoover Building and Battersea Power Station in London and the BBC Television Center at White City have been repurposed into blocks of flats. This trend is likely to continue as demand for apartments in prime city locations continuously rises.

Choo Choo! Train Coming Through!

In the Chinese mega-city of Chongqing, there are apartment buildings that were constructed with space to let trains run through them!

Size Matters

The smallest two-bedroom flats in the world are in Wuhan, China, where each apartment is only 50 square feet. The largest apartment building is the Copan Building in Sao Paolo, which has over 1,160 apartments in its 38 stories that house more than 5,000 people. The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa. But even at 72 meters high, it won’t be the tallest for long. In 2020, the Jeddah Tower should be set to take that prize, coming in at 1,000 meters high.

Going Down and Into the Water

A few thousand years since the Romans built buildings going up, we are trying to build some going down. Since 2011, Mexico City has been working on plans to build a 35 story upside down pyramid. And in Rio De Janeiro, proposals have been put forth for Aequorea – an underwater city to be built off its coast.

Really Expensive

In the UK, deacon.co.uk tells us that London is the most expensive city to live in, costing £7,090 per month. Brighton, Edinburg, and Oxford tie for second at £5,000 per month. But in areas like Southampton, residents can live a decent life for about £3,000 per month.

Feudal Practices

In England, the feudal system of land ownership is still practiced, meaning it’s entirely possible to lose your flat if you skip out on mortgage or service charges, regardless of how long you have been paying them. In Scotland, however, the feudal system was abolished in 2004, protecting homeowners and leaseholders from such practices.

http://www.deacon.co.uk

When it comes to investing, you can definitely do a lot with just a little. Whether you have $25 or $1,000, it’s actually easy nowadays to start investing with little money. Some other investment platforms actually don’t require a minimum investment for you to open up a portfolio.

[Read more…]

When you are looking to become a better trader, the best option that you have is to start trading with ForexCT.

ForexCT, as one of the most reliable Forex brokers in Australia, is also a great source of information and education.

One of the main goals of the company is to ensure that all traders are able to make good investments and good trades. So, with this in mind, they developed a wide range of education tools that you can use.

[Read more…]

Before making a purchase, you probably check online to see what other people have to say about the product or service. These reviews – often with a 5-star rating system – have an enormous effect on people’s purchasing decisions.

The UK CMA (Competition & Markets Authority) estimate that over £20 billion of sales are a direct result of positive reviews. In separate research in 2016 they also found that a 1/3 of consumers were disappointed by something they’d bought online having trusted the excellent reviews they’d read beforehand. None of us can afford to waste our hard-earned cash in this way. If you do face problems funding purchases, Online Credit USA is a reputable forum to apply for payday loans online.

Reviews are important money earners for businesses, but how can you tell if a review is genuine or a fake? There are some signs that should make you wary of reviewers’ comments.

Style of English

Realising the money to be made from online reviews, some companies hire writing mills (often located in the Indian sub-continent) to churn out online reviews. Although they might pride themselves on the high standard of their English, you can sometimes spot a fake review because the English just doesn’t sound natural. Also, there might be inappropriate use of capitals and/or punctuation marks especially overuse of exclamation marks to transmit a feeling of enthusiasm.

Content

When reading online reviews, consider what information you’ve actually been given about the product or service. Gross generalizations such as ‘Best ever!’ and ‘It changed my life!’ don’t really add anything to your understanding of the product and should be ignored.

On the other hand, lots of technical jargon might be the sign of a professional writer’s research. Similarly, if someone mentions the name of the product in full, it’s often the tell-tale sign of a pro. This would only be written as SEO content and is aimed at a search engine rather than other consumers.

Trust 3-/4-Star Ratings

Are you always 100% happy about your purchases? Often fake reviews cluster at the 2 extremes – enthusiastic 5-star ratings to boost sales or 1-star reviews to trash their rivals’ products. Ignore these reviews unless you feel they make a valid point and concentrate on the ratings in the middle. These are much more likely to be authentic and aren’t written with an eye to making money.

What are the alternatives to online reviews?

Instead of placing your trust in anonymous online reviewers, your research before buying a product or service should be more widespread. Ask around your family and friends for their own buying experiences or access blogs and other forums to see what is being said about these products. You’ll usually find that they discuss matters with more in-depth information and some disagreements too (which can help you decide).

One good example is a recent analysis of instant loans. Visit the page to see how they compared the claims of lenders with the reality to reach an unbiased decision.

Finding the right car insurance company can seem very complex, especially if you’ve never gone through the process on your own. There are many factors to consider, including but not limited to price, policy offerings, billing, claims, and customer interactions, which is why trying to compare insurance companies can really throw even the most brilliant among us for a loop. On top of all this, the persistent myth that the only feature that really matters is price can make one’s search even more challenging. And if you happen to be a millennial, the whole thing may seem unaffordable. But fear not, because where there’s a will, there’s the perfect car insurance for you.  Through online services you can compare car insurance quotes for free in your zip code and find the best deals!

How the search for auto insurance differs for millennials

Fact: nearly 23% of millennials live with their parents, up from 13.5% in 2005. And, while this cost-saving measure may be a financial help in several key ways, car insurance is not one of them. Millennials who live with their parents will pay up to 73% more for auto insurance than those who own their own home. The lucky generation’s premiums average $1750 per year, compared to averages of $1205 for those who own a single family home and $1009 for those who happen to own a condo. And since insurers include age, type of car, zip code, and driving record among their risk factors, millennials do tend to get the raw end of the deal relative to previous generations due to their relative lack of experience with both driving and credit.

The good news? Even if you’re living at your parents’ home and not yet ready to move out, shopping for car insurance regularly can yield real savings. After all, quotes from a variety of carriers can differ by up to a $1500, and careful, selective shopping can save more than $50,000 over the course of a lifetime. And, of course, as soon as you are ready to move out on your own, car insurance is one of the very first expenses to revisit. This is smart even if you don’t end up buying a home, as auto premiums change from zip code to zip code, so your new neighborhood may lead to lower rates.

How to pick the best car insurance for you

Although car insurance offerings are fundamentally the same for many common carriers, and although low cost is obviously a prime consideration, so is a company’s record on customer service, the overall customer experience and the nature and quality of the company’s claim service, among other things. No matter what you do, don’t count yourself among the many who simply pick an insurer after they buy their first car and don’t bother looking at the details of the policy for years to come, because it may come back to haunt you when you actually need to use it.

Consider the following tips on how best to select the car insurance that’s right for you:

• Do an annual rate check. Check rates from other companies to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
• Shop around. If you stick with the insurance company your parents use out of convenience, you might not get the best deal. Or have the best experience, for that matter.
• Ask for discounts. The best insurance companies offer discounts, among them are car insurance discounts for college students. You can usually find information about this when you apply online, but never hesitate to call a provider for more information.
• Pick an insurer with a reputation for dealing well with claims, payments, and non-claim problems too.
• Maintain good credit. Regularly check your credit score since a low score can really impact your premium.
• Set the right deductible. A higher deductible reduces your premium, but of course, you have to pay more in the event of an accident. If you have a good driving record, you may want to opt for a higher premium. It’s a risk, but you could save up to 40%.
• Review your coverage. Check to make sure you have enough liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage. Over time, costs and risk increase, and so should your coverage.
• Report reduced mileage. By driving less, you may qualify for a lower premium. If you’ve changed jobs, are now working from home, or have become unemployed, call your insurer.
• Take note of where your insurer sends you for repairs, as the repair shop may push for cheaper replacement parts rather than original equipment from the manufacturer (OEM parts).
• Choose the right car. Vehicle damage and associated repair costs are a big factor in the price of auto insurance. When looking for a new car, compare the data on collision by vehicle model.
• Don’t be loyal for the sake of being loyal. Unfortunately, sticking with the same company because it’s easier may not get you better rates over time. Some providers may even increase your rates indirectly because they know you’re in for the long haul.

If the above list overwhelms you, take solace in the fact that Clearsurance has already done most of the legwork for you — they’re empowering consumers by providing a transparent, unbiased look at insurance providers through crowdsourced reviews and ratings. Services like this are ideally suited to millennials looking to purchase car insurance for the first time as they go far beyond simply listing the best price: they provide real life ‘trust-scores’ and user experiences from which to glean valuable knowledge. Learn more about who consumers rate as the best car insurance companies in 2019 by visiting Clearsurance today!