Actual for You - Business

What Every Borrower Wants to Know
There are a few things that you will want to consistently communicate to every borrower no matter who they are or how much they know about the loan process. Keeping your borrower informed about the things that matter most to them will help build their trust in your ability as a mortgage professional. The more they trust you, the less frustration they’ll experience along the way. Here are a few answers you’ll always want to provide:1. What’s it gonna cost me? Everyone wants to know this whether they’re paying the costs from their savings or rolling them into the loan. Take the time to review the details of the Good Faith Estimate so that your borrower has a full understanding of what they’re paying and why.2. Why should I trust you? Let them know who you are and give them reason to trust in your ability to get the job done. If you’re a veteran with a great track record, let them know that. If yo

orked on that project.

Okay, that is fairly straightforward.

After the client receives their contractual services by the member, the member then bills their time to the consortium in "units" not dollars. Units work better than dollars because they equalize the various billing rates of the members. For example: a CPA may bill four units per hour, a writer three, and a virtual assistant one. The consortium keeps track of everyone’s units and pay members on a regular basis as set up in the consortium’s charter.

When the consortium is properly tax-structured, the revenue and expenses can balance themselves out. It is important to see a tax professional for details on structuring a consortium for tax efficiency.

A challenge when starting a consortium is to make sure that when looking for members, prospects do not mistake the first meeting as a new networking group st

Handling Challenging Situations with a Customer-Focused Mindset
Most Customer Service Professionals deal with many challenging customer situations. These situations may include:• A customer who is upset about the quality or delivery of our product/service.• A product return or a cancellation of services.• Incorrect information given to the customer.• A customer who is negative toward your company due to past experiences.• Confrontational issues and conflict.• Angry customers.• Explaining a company policy or procedure.• Fielding a request to escalate a call to management.The ultimate goal in these challenging situations is to provide a win-win solution. We want our customer to leave the interaction feeling listened to, well taken care of, and valued. A customer-focused mindset will have a tremendous impact on accomplishing these goals. Along with customer focus, an invaluable tool for dealing with challeng

Are you an entrepreneur but don't like selling alone? A consortium is a combination of different industry-types of entrepreneurs working together to attract business as a group. Even though each member maintains their individuality and operates as the same as self-employed.

They band to create a more valuable package to fulfill bigger needs for clients and for increased visibility and credibility.

The positive side to being part of a consortium is that you can work on larger projects. Larger than any single entrepreneur can accomplish alone. Together they can enter into contracts that require multiple skills and still maintain the freedom of their entrepreneur-hood they so desire. They gain being part of a team and organization while still keeping your independence.

A consortium can provide the security of core revenue that helps them breath, not chase prospects as hard, and usually take care of regular living expenses. It is also a great way to transition from employee to self-employment. The transition allows the learning and growth at a slower steadier rate. Each member learns from other group members by sharing their success and mishaps. This way the risk factor of being self-employed is less.

The consortium can also band products to create higher priced, more valuably perceived, packages. Larger packages are easier to sell. A group package of various authors is more attractive to buyers. Everything that the buyer needs is then packaged and available with one purchase.

Being a part of group also removes the pressure of trying to be an expert at everything. And allows each individual to focus and be brilliant at what they specialize. There are many types of group configurations for consortiums. Let me give you a few examples of some of them. These groups formed a single purpose.

An entrepreneur consortium can include: * CPA * A writer specialty in business plans and advertising copy * A financial management consultant * a human resource consultant specializing in benefit programs and employee manuals * An Internet consultant * Web master * Strategic planning consultant * A secretarial service or virtual assistant * Graphic artist * Brand specialist * Public relations firm

A training consortium can include: * Writers (copywriter, web writer, direction mail writer) * Editors (line editor, grammar editor) * Reference checker * Graphic designer * Multimedia specialists * Videographers * Presentation trainer * Voice coach

A software consortium can include: * Programmers * Multimedia specialists * Graphic designers * Marketing consultants * Packaging consultant * Retail consultant * Product Development consultant * Accountant/Bookkeeper * Virtual Assistant * Business coach

A consortium can form that specializes in children books or educational products. The group can consist of educational specialists, graphic designers, marketing consultants, self- publishing expert, agent, and various types of writers. Artist guilds work off the same principle of consortiums. Some consortium, many guilds in fact, purchase real estate together to display and sell their art.

Let us follow the money trail of a consortium.

The client enters into a contract with the consortium. The consortium bills the client. Each consortium member discounts his or her rate and bills the consortium.

The billing difference supports the business side of the consortium. It can pay for marketing or other overhead expenses.

After the client pays the consortium, the consortium then pays the members who worked on that project.

Okay, that is fairly straightforward.

A challenge when starting a consortium is to make sure that when looking for members, prospects do not mistake the first meeting as a new networking group sta

Employment Law, Part I
Just how serious is employment law to the small businessperson? Very serious and let me tell you a true story; a horror story, which will make you think about just how serious these issues can be. In San Antonio TX one of our wash trucks was driving down the road and a border Patrol Officer passed them. We run a company which does onsite washing; www.CarwashGuys.com. Down the road they pulled over two trucks and were handcuffing Mexican illegal aliens from those company’s work trucks. Our crew drove by on their way to work. They had just left the shop and had on board two workers who worked for Labor Ready Co, for a year and a half previously and were still employed from them from time to time. We had gotten extra workers and filled our service truck with workers who were temporaries to work for us since they needed extra help with the full schedule that day.The border patrol officer was then done

and usually take care of regular living expenses. It is also a great way to transition from employee to self-employment. The transition allows the learning and growth at a slower steadier rate. Each member learns from other group members by sharing their success and mishaps. This way the risk factor of being self-employed is less.

Let us follow the money trail of a consortium.

The client enters into a contract with the consortium. The consortium bills the client. Each consortium member discounts his or her rate and bills the consortium.

The billing difference supports the business side of the consortium. It can pay for marketing or other overhead expenses.

After the client pays the consortium, the consortium then pays the members who worked on that project.

Okay, that is fairly straightforward.

A challenge when starting a consortium is to make sure that when looking for members, prospects do not mistake the first meeting as a new networking group st

Market Testing The Key to Advertising Success
Market testing is the key to increasing the effectiveness of your advertising campaign. If you’re like me, just the word testing makes your shoulders slump and a groan escape your lips. Hey, it’s really not that bad... especially when you notice the substantial increase in your bank account!Think about it... how much profit is your advertising campaign producing? Which marketing material is providing the greatest revenue? If you don’t know the answer to these questions, you’re gambling with your advertising money!Cut Out Risks And Rake In More Profits Wouldn’t it be great to be in total control of your business profits? Yeah, knowing that the simple act of putting a set of postcards in the mail with this week's offer is going to net a 20% increase in sales feels great. The key to being in command of your financial future is effective and continual testing.Break down your marketing produ

hem. These groups formed a single purpose.

Let us follow the money trail of a consortium.

The client enters into a contract with the consortium. The consortium bills the client. Each consortium member discounts his or her rate and bills the consortium.

The billing difference supports the business side of the consortium. It can pay for marketing or other overhead expenses.

After the client pays the consortium, the consortium then pays the members who worked on that project.

Okay, that is fairly straightforward.

A challenge when starting a consortium is to make sure that when looking for members, prospects do not mistake the first meeting as a new networking group st

Accounts Receivable Collection
Accounts receivable factoring refers to a process in which you can sell your invoices to a financing company for a rate, less than the face value of the invoice sold.The responsibility of collecting cash against the outstanding receivables lies with the financing company, who then makes a profit by collecting the funds at the face value of the invoice. The advantage of this arrangement is that a firm can receive instant cash, which was otherwise tied up in inventory, to further expand the business.Again, the responsibility of collecting the cash against the invoices lies with the financing company. To collect the cash, the financing company needs to keep the outstanding receivables as current, and then work out a time line to collect the cash. Also, it is very important to keep a track or record of all communications that took place between the financing company and the customers. This can be

t * Accountant/Bookkeeper * Virtual Assistant * Business coach

Let us follow the money trail of a consortium.

The client enters into a contract with the consortium. The consortium bills the client. Each consortium member discounts his or her rate and bills the consortium.

The billing difference supports the business side of the consortium. It can pay for marketing or other overhead expenses.

After the client pays the consortium, the consortium then pays the members who worked on that project.

Okay, that is fairly straightforward.

A challenge when starting a consortium is to make sure that when looking for members, prospects do not mistake the first meeting as a new networking group st

Neon Signs
It is rather difficult to read the ordinary signboards in the dark. For this very reason, many signboards incorporate neon, since it glows in the dark. The Neon signs are a big relief to night travelers specially, as they are easily able to identify and adhere to road signs and instruction. The first neon sign appeared in France in 1910. After its initial appearance, the neon signs went on to be very popular and advertising companies started competing with each other on regards to its creativity and presentation. Neon signs are considered an effective medium of advertisement, as they readily attract attention and have a great impact on the customers.Neon lights are colorful and vibrant in nature. This visual medium meets local marketing needs and consequently helps increase customers and business. In relation to retail and multinational businesses, wholesale neon light purchases prove to be favorable.

orked on that project.

Okay, that is fairly straightforward.

A challenge when starting a consortium is to make sure that when looking for members, prospects do not mistake the first meeting as a new networking group starting up. People confuse the two and show up. This will give the organizers a misrepresentation of the "real" number of interested parties.

Joining a consortium is not a short-term project. It is important to know that joining or starting a consortium is long-term. There is the initial investment of time and money from all members. The startup phrase doesn't occur in one meeting. An agreement on many items needs addressing. Some established consortiums require a minimum of three years, however, many startups can require five, ten or twenty-five years commitment.

Oh, but when they work, they are make being in business so much nicer.

Usually the founding group elects three leaders to handle the administration. One of the three may have a higher voting right. Usually the one given the higher voting right is because of their investment of time or money, but not always. These leaders have the responsibility of organizing meetings and splitting up the consortium responsibilities between members in a fair manner.

Money is an important factor when entering into these types of agreements. It is the main purpose of forming the consortium. Money is also one of the main reasons they breakup -- like most marriages. Because of this, it is important to have a buy-out clause in the agreement that protects the members and the consortium.

Respect, appreciation, and acknowledging of each other’s contribution is mandatory -- put a cap on the M to mandatory. The boundaries and scope of each other’s services must also be clear. It is not uncommon for some members to offer similar services. Thus, the boundaries of who does what is extremely important.

Being a consortium member doesn't ban them from obtaining outside clients for their particular speciality. However, working with other members to gain contracts separate from the consortium breaks their membership in the consortium. And always have consequences stipulated in the consortium charter.

Communication and cooperation are challenges for groups of this size. Each member needs to make big effort to work and be patience in these two areas. The need for professionalism is important so that the group does not degenerate into personality conflicts or professional battles. Having an outside arbitrator for disagreements is a good idea.

Even though there is a challenge in finding the right members and keeping the relationships working, remember the advantages outweigh any and all cons. Consortiums have been in existence for several decades now and have proved their possibilities.

For a list of additional resources, visit: http://www.abundancecenter.com/articles/consortiums.htm

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When employee focus turns to major events outside the workplace (like the NCAA Basketball tournament, a major holiday or the Super Bowl to name a few) try the GAME approach as an antidote to lost productivity. Using the GAME approach in times of distractions can help managers lead more proactively, maintain or grow productivity and increase team morale.

Training is used as the solution and takes the blame for the presence and absence of key skills yet rarely is time invested taking a close look at what makes the learning stick within the social and cultural context. Frequently organizational habits get in the way. To find out what really makes organizational learning work you must see and understand the deeper dynamic.

Paper shredders are used in a number of situations. Doctors, dentists, and psychologists use them to protect their clients’ private medical information. Private citizens use them to destroy papers that contain important financial information.

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