Why Investing in Cryptocurrency is Risky?

Richard

Cryptocurrency is the digital or virtual currency in this modern age that serves as a means of exchange. Over the years, the cryptocurrency network has spread widely to the extent that its means of exchange purpose is adequately met. Without exaggerating, it is safe to say that a little above half of the world’s populace has an understanding of the strings of benefits they stand to gain. However, not every one of them knows about the risks attached to the Crypto network.

Decentralized Status

Although the decentralized Status in the Cryptocurrency world is one of the advantages that digital currency and investors enjoy, however, this same perk is very risky. The lack of physical presence in the cryptocurrency world equates to the lack of a central authority or institution. This lack of central authority, therefore, leaves room for discrepancies to happen. This means that when any form of complication arises, the investors may be left in a lurch because there is no central authority or government to report the case.

Market Manipulation

Due to a lot of social engineering and misinformation on digital platforms, the Crypto network is affected, and investors manipulated. However, the investors affected most are those with little or no knowledge whatsoever about the risks and changes in the market system.

Hacks

Unlike the physical banks where money and other valuables are stolen at gunpoint, the Cryptocurrency world is safe from this. However, this does not outrightly write off the fact that theft and other illegal acts happen in the Crypto world. It is a digital network that is not free from being hacked. 2018 and 2019 recorded the highest attacks on Cryptocurrency. However, hackers got out with more money ($875.5 million) with only six hacks to the Crypto network. In 2019, they could only get away with $283 million. Hence, the risk of being hacked is a significant security threat to the Cryptocurrency world.

Technology

Over the years, investors, as well as financial institutions, have not been able to curb the effect of technological complications in the Cryptocurrency world. This is because there is much technological advancement which everyone does not understand fully. Therefore, investors must read more about Crypto trading platforms to have a full grasp on different opportunities and platforms available in the world of Cryptocurrency for them to invest.

Poor Liquidity

Liquidity in the Cryptocurrency market allows for stability in the prices of goods and assets. However, the same Crypto market battles with the challenges of Liquidity. When the Crypto market faces the problem, it results in a volatile market which will cause an increase in the prices of assets.

Fraud and Money Laundering

Since there is no central authority to report any fraudulent activity, investors are at a loss when or if they become victims of fraud and Money Laundering. Over the years, people believe that the Cryptocurrency world gives room for fraudulent activities of all sorts. Hence, this is a significant risk for all investors to look out for especially those that do not wish to be victims of such criminal acts.

10 tips for finding a great accountant

Richard
The Money Guy

Although an accountant might be capable of what they’re actually doing, they might not be the proper fit for your business. In this article, we have mentioned a comprehensive 10-step checklist for choosing an accountant.

Look for recommendations

It’ll be a sensible idea to ask your friends and other familiar persons for recommendations in case they have used the services of an accountant in the past. You can talk to the accountant in person after getting the referral.

Talk to more than one accountant

It is a fact that there are quite a few accountants in your area, you should make it a point to talk to several of them before appointing one for your business This will help you to compare amongst different accountants and choose the best one out there.

Make certain that they fit your business

Make it a point to select an accountant who is experienced regarding the business that you are operating. For example, if you happen to be an IT contractor, it will be of no use to select an accountant who is specialized in pubs.

Can they advise you about recent changes

The world of business and accounting is always changing. Is your accountant up to speed and can they advise you about the latest changes in tax rules for example. If you in the UK can they advise you about setting up companies in Ireland after Brexit ?

Make sure that he is qualified

Ensure that the accountant does have an accounting qualification and happens to be a member of an accounting body like the ICAEW.  In case he is a tax agent, he will be able to give you advice on tax only. He will also be able to offer financial planning advice in case he has got a Financial Services license .

What services are being offered by them?

Accountants are going to provide different services, and you will be able to select which services you require from them. For instance, although they might be offering a bookkeeping service, you will not require their assistance in case you want to make use of online accounting software. You need to understand what exactly you need from your accountant before appointing him.

Fees

In case you are running a small business, it is natural for you to try to save money. Therefore, it will be imperative for you to go to the correct accountant. There are many accountants on the market offering quality services at reasonable rates at present. Also, try to find out whether they have got any hidden charges.

Personality

It is natural for you to interact with the accountant whom you’re appointing from time to time. Therefore, it will be imperative that your personalities should not clash. Always go for an accountant who is friendly as well as amicable.

Obtain proof

While appointing the accountant, always ask for a copy of the Public Indemnity Insurance of that person along with his operating license. Any professional accountant will furnish you with all these documents, which will provide you with total peace of mind.

Will he be able to prosper your business?

The accountant is going to become involved with your company’s operation from the very beginning, and therefore you should not take this decision lightly. Try to find somebody whom you can trust and who has got the required experience behind him. Good accountants will help your company prosper by dealing with your complicated accountancy work and will also provide you with business advice.

Tips for choosing the right insurance company

Richard

A lot of people have invested in an insurance company, ensured that they always made the payments at the right time, only to later regret why they invested in the insurance company. Despite the high level of insurance company regulation in the United States of America and other countries in the world, people regularly have issues with insurance companies.

The issue ranges from an insurance company refusing to pay the claim and trying to defend that is not part of the insurance coverage even when it seems to be to instances where it takes weeks or months after you needed the claim before it is honored. This is why it is important to invest in the right insurance company. Here are some tips for choosing the right insurance company.

Type of insurance policies

The first thing you want to look out for is the type of insurance company that is provided by the organization. For example, you should not be looking for a house and go to an auto insurance company. Furthermore, even if you go to a house insurance company, they might not be offering a renters insurance policy. Even when offering a renter insurance policy, they might not be covering some of the items you want to cover.

In some cases, they do not make it clear that they are not covering certain things that could have been covered by the insurance policy you are opting for. This is why you must not assume but read insurance reviews and insurance policies to be sure about what the insurance policies from a particular company covers or not.

Read reviews

Reading reviews of the insurance company provides you with an opportunity to know the quality of protection you would get from an insurance policy. You will be able to find many people who have used a particular insurance company but had to back down because of issues with the insurance company.

They would be able to say their experience on the platform and when you see a lot of people having such experience, then it would become obvious that you should excuse yourself from such a company.

The reviews will help you know companies that will claim to cover for some items only to later deny it as well as those that would delay for as long as you can risking your life in the process. It would also help you know those that will stress you out before honoring a claim.

Get a professional to explain

If you are reading an insurance policy and you are confused about an area, you might want to ask a professional to help you with explaining the policy. It might be risky going for a professional within the organization as they would want to convince you to patronize their insurance company. It would be best to go to a neutral insurance consultancy or lawyer to help you with the explanation.

When the explanation contradicts what you are looking forward to, then you could continue searching for the insurance company that would meet all the conditions you want to be covered, especially when they are not unrealistic.

Finding business money transfers service

boss

Your business is almost certainly part of a global economy.

 

You may be based in the UK and offer what seems to be a very local service, yet supply chains are still likely to stretch abroad – just think of some of the supplies and equipment you might want to buy in foreign markets.

 

In this increasingly interconnected world, your business relies on being able to import or export certain goods and services from overseas.

 

The cost of business money transfers

 

So that such necessary international trading is cost-effective, you need to consider how much you are paying on each international money transfer – and find the most effective and cost-saving business money transfers service.

 

When you compare the market, you will find that those costs may vary widely.

 

The Money Saving Expert (MSE) explains that the cost of international money transfers comprises two fundamental elements:

 

Fees

 

  • banks charge a host of fees and commissions for sending or receiving money to and from abroad;

 

  • although most high street banks give you the option of paying those fees in sterling or the foreign currency, they mount up very quickly – and MSE warns that they may be made up of several seemingly small amounts, which disguise the actual total cost;

 

  • you may need to pay a higher fee, for example, if the money transfer needs to be made more quickly;

 

Exchange rates

 

  • in addition to the fees charged by your bank, your transactions are also subject to fluctuating exchange rates;

 

  • those rates can be difficult to establish since banks do not necessarily inform you of the rate they are using when the transfer is made – and rates can vary widely during the course of a single day’s trading.

 

Saving money on your business money transfers

 

In the first place, remember that business money transfers through your high street bank are going to cost more – often significantly more – than those made through dedicated money transfer companies.

 

The fees charged by money transfer companies are likely to be lower and you may achieve a more favourable rate of exchange, too.

 

The newer “fintech” companies specialising in business money transfers are also likely to make those transfers more speedily than your high street bank. Many can make the transfer the same day, whereas your high street bank may need several days to complete the transfer – unless you pay a premium for a faster transfer.

 

In addition to the cost and speed of any transfer, you must also ensure that the bank or money transfer company deals in the currency relevant to your transaction – not all currencies are likely to be supported and those available differ from one company to another.

 

If you are trading abroad regularly, you may find that you are making repeated payments in different currencies – so, once again, you must ensure that your chosen money transfer service provider also deals in all those currencies.

 

Receiving money or making payments in foreign currencies adds a further level of sophistication to your business activities. You do not want it to be a complication, of course, so find a business money transfer service provider that integrates with the accounting and management systems you are using to simplify the reconciliation of transactions.

Amaiz Offers The Most Cost Efficient Banking Services

boss

Amaiz is a Fintech company based in the UK that launched its first banking service for entrepreneurs in the UK. While individual traders use a personal account for their business activities, it can cost more money to combine personal and trading activity, which is why it is much more practical to keep them separate, as it makes it easier to manage money flow.

Amaiz offers to maintain a business account, loaded with distinctive features and serves as a one-stop shop for business banking. It is a brand new app that was released in 2019, and it has all-in-one banking, invoicing, and accounting features.

Pricing of Amaiz

The pricing of Amaiz is really simple and low. The app starts you off a free trial in the advanced program they have developed by listening to several entrepreneurs. As their goal is to improve the daily banking for sole traders. As the situation change, the sole trader can choose the PAYG or monthly package that suits their needs best.

  • The free trial allows you to keep a business MasterCard, get instant notification, PIN reminders, and display the money flow on the app. Along with that, it also allows you to keep a separate jar sub account, freeze the account if the card gets stolen, the transition from web to the phone app without any hassle, send unlimited invoices, and 24/7 customer service.
  • Once you are satisfied with the services of Amaiz, you can set up your monthly up your account on the fee of £9.99. It provides the advanced services, along with self-assessment of tax payment if the trader has overspent.

Banking Service Features of Amaiz

Some of the banking service features provided by Amaiz are:

  • Payments and Account: It offers fast integrated banking solutions, such as a current account which is quick to set up, receiving a MasterCard, which makes managing and transferring the flow of money easier.
  • Managing Card: The Amaiz app not only gives instant notifications but also allows you to see instant PIN reminders. If your card goes missing, the app allows you to freeze your card, so it is not misused.
  • Controlling Money Flow: The app allows you to view your expenses and categorizes transactions where the sole trader may be spending a lot of money, in order to prepare him for the self-assessment of tax beforehand.
  • Direct Debit Management: The app allows you directly manage your debits or cancel any transactions if needed.
  • Invoicing Made Easier: The app offers customizable templates, sending numerous invoices, and also tracking them.
  • Second Separate Account: A second Jar sub account where the sole trader can retain funds for certain reasons, such as paying any taxes.
  • Accountancy Team: Availability of the accountancy team, which is always available for the sole traders if they have any questions regarding basic bookkeeping.

Final Word

Amaiz offers a free trial for solo entrepreneurs to test out if the app matches their needs. With a low monthly fee of £9.99, Amaiz offers all-in-one banking, invoicing, and accounting features.

5 Easy and Sustainable Strategies for Small Business Success

Richard

Smart businesses can find a profitable niche, discover their core differentiator or excel through a combination of smart business decisions, enthusiasm, and productive work.

In this article, you will find five success strategies for your small business that are not only easy to implement but also sustainable.

 

1. Internal Analysis

If a small business has a pool of unproductive workers, it will lose valuable revenue and growth and success potential. Many small businesses tend to be so impressed by their products that they often fail to examine themselves internally, which ultimately leads to failure.

An effective internal evaluation will reveal what you are not doing well so that you can make a course correction before it becomes an emergency. For this reason, it is important to check your bias when performing an internal analysis so you can be impartial and address any issues.

2. Effective Planning

Creating a good business plan will help you, as a small business owner, to rethink important issues and understand potential problems and how to deal with them.

Without a good business plan, you will not be able to plan for the future. Make sure your business plan is coherent and realistic, based on credible information and accurate forecasts for the future to avoid your small business failing due to poor planning.

3. Good Financial Management

Financial management is most effective when used to improve your business. Based on their many years of experience, they confirm that good financial management is the core of a successful company.

Financial management affects all aspects of the business, from management of cash flow to tracking business performance to managing important financia purchases such as new premises or comprehensive business insurance to protect your business.

4. Strategic Delegation

Many business owners burn themselves out easily from trying to shoulder all their company’s responsibilities. The first years of founding a company can put a heavy strain on personal life.

Financial difficulties may also occur until the company is profitable, which may take several months and even years. There is no management competence that is more decisive for your personal and professional success as an entrepreneur than learning to delegate.

5. Leverage Your Unique Selling Point (USP)

You need to know what your Unique Selling Point (USP) is and how to use this to your advantage to gain the consumers interest over your competitors. Your USP could be the thing that sways a consumer to spend their hard-earned cash with your company rather than your biggest competitor, so it is important that you know what your USP is and how to market it.

Your business’ USP should be the driving force behind all of the marketing or branding that you do for your business. Whether it is in your logo, or a new advertising campaign or a social media strategy you should be making rue that all you do communicates that USP to any consumers.

It is also not recommended that you change your USP too much, or at all, as this is likely to have an impact on your brand and your image in the consumers’ eyes.