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LOCATION, The Key to a Successful Business

The most crucial element to your business besides a sound plan of operation is location. Depending on the business you have, poor location can ruin your business before it even starts. Location decisions are strategic and should be made with the big picture in mind, success. When selecting a location one must also take into account the over all cost of establishing a business in a particular location as well.

Labor cost should be considered when choosing a location for your business. This is when one must do solid research to determine if the demographics fit your financial needs and capabilities. It is suggested that unemployment be calculated into this equation. A high unemployment area provides a business owner two critical luxuries. First, these areas give you a better chance of picking up the number of employees you need. Second, it gives you the ability to quickly replace anyone who is fired or quits. However, it should be noted that areas with high unemployment are less likely to have money to spend. Land and availability are also important elements to the success of your business. Having to pay too much for rent and things of that nature brings your profit margin down considerably. Potentially, this will cause you to have to shut down and loose the business altogether.

Another key element to your location is your workers ability to make it to and from your business. No matter what type of employment opportunities you offer, if people can’t get there you have issues. In order to be successful every business must be able to reach there customers. If you are starting a new business, you might want your business situated in place where people are constantly walking by. These increases your visibility and opportunities to sell your particular product. Location is also relevant to those businesses that pride themselves on maintaining a certain image. This however, can cause high rent and upkeep that brings potential profits down. Ideally, you want your business in a place where your particular niche is not dominating the scene. The last thing you want to do is be the fifth or sixth electronics store on the same block. Also, you want your business location in place that provides room for expansion if the need arises. Experts in this particular subject suggest you put the work in yourself and not trust it to others.

Conclusion
Location is a matter of life and death when it comes to a buy and sell business. If your business is internet based then location isn’t a issue. However, if your company is in the mainstream then your location is pivotal. Many business have opened up with solid plans and calculated modes of operation. The problem was their location wasn’t visible to the public and subsequently they went out of business. Research and study before you invest your money or join the club of failed business, the choice is yours.

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How to take care of your Debt Problem?

Are your debts getting out of control? Are you unable to manage your multiple debts? If your debt is giving you sleepless nights, it is important to seek help quickly. Remember, ignoring your debts won’t make them go away. It will only make things worse.

If you are in debt, here is a list of questions you should ask yourself:

Question 1

Are you finding it difficult to meet your monthly repayments?

Answer

Consider rolling all your multiple debts into one monthly repayment. It will:

>> Reduce the amount you pay each month; and

>> Make your debts easier to manage.

Question 2

Do you have multiple debts (i.e. mortgage loan, credit cards and store cards)? Are you having trouble managing these multiple debts?

Answer

Multiple debts means:

>> Paying multiple sets of interest; and

>> Finding it hard to stay on top of your multiple debts.

So, consider consolidating your debt because it will:

>> Enable you to keep track of your debts; and

>> Enable you to pay down your multiple debts.

Question 3

Do you have negative listings and defaults listed in your credit file?

Answer

If you do have a bad credit history, you will find that your loan options may be limited.

Question 4

Do your multiple debts have high interest rates?

Answer

Consolidating your debt should enable you to get a loan with a lower interest rate.

Question 5

Do you have equity in your home?

Answer

If you do have equity in your home, you may be able to use it to pay down all your multiple debts.

Question 6

When is it the best time to consolidate your multiple debts?

Answer

You can consolidate your multiple debts:

>> Whenever you consider you are ready; and

>> When you are unable to manage your multiple debts anymore.

Before you Borrow

If you are thinking of borrowing money, here is a list of steps you should consider and which may help you:

Step 1

Use a budget planner to work out what you are spending now.

Step 2

Use a borrowing power calculator to calculate:

>> How much you can afford to borrow; and

>> If you can afford the repayments.

Step 3

If you decide to borrow, shop around for the best deal and take time to compare:

>> Interest rates;

>> Product features on offer; and

>> Fees and charges.

Step 4

Know who you are dealing with. This means anyone engaging in credit activities (e.g. anyone providing credit or providing credit assistance to you) must give you:

>> A copy of the “Credit Guide”; and

>> A “Credit Proposal Disclosure Document “(CPDD), with the required information listed such as their Australian Credit license (ACL) number, fees and details of your right to complain.

Case Study

Judith is a single mum with two children. She is struggling to pay her multiple debts and her payments are now three weeks in default.

Judith met a professionally qualified finance broker who was able to help her:

>> Negotiate a one loan repayment plan;

>> Reduce her monthly repayments; and

>> Save her money on interest charges.

The benefits available to Judith are best illustrated in the following simple example. The example assumes that Judith has a mortgage loan of $300,000 and a credit card with a credit limit of $12,000:

Example of Getting Out of the Debt

From the example above you can clearly see that:

Judith has saved interest of: $91,003.00

Judith’s monthly repayments will be reduced by: $401.00 per month

So, if your debts are getting out of control or you are struggling to make ends meet. It is important that you seek help from someone who can fix your debt problems. This is the time for you to contact a professionally qualified finance broker who will help you to obtain a loan for consolidating debts with:

>> One monthly repayment; and

>> One lower interest rate.

Useful Tip

Avoid seeking help from someone who makes unrealistic promises about getting you out of debts or who advertises that they can help you, no matter how much you owe. Remember to choose a reputed, qualified and experienced finance broker who will go the extra mile in solving your problem.

Singh Finance is a reputed Australian finance brokerage firm that employs a team of expert and professionally qualified finance brokers who will obtain a pre-approved loan to consolidate debt. Call on 0424 190 908 today or enquire online now.

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Why Software Cybersecurity and Quality Assurance Go Together

Digital data is the new gold, and hackers will stop at nothing to get yours. In a study by cybersecurity experts at Maryland University, researchers found that cyber-attacks happen once every 39 seconds. As one of the first organizations to quantify cyber-attacks, Maryland University also says that these attacks can affect one out of every three U.S. citizens.

Furthermore, the number of connected devices today is estimated at around 200 billion. Combined with the fact that 77% of organizations have no cybersecurity response plans in place, America’s application security is far from being an adequate response to the rapid-fire threat posed by hackers. These frightening statistics underscore why the fields of cybersecurity and quality assurance (QA) need to integrate their key processes.

Both QA and cybersecurity are about risk management

In the development lifecycle, QA teams are all about filling in the gaps in order to minimize risks to the quality of the end product or user experience. Meanwhile, cybersecurity processes such as Mobile Application Security Testing (MAST) are all about identifying security-related risks. From authorization concerns to data vulnerabilities, MAST is about analyzing all the potential risk that comes with every possible action on that app.

In turn, this type of testing makes the job of QA teams easier down the line. With fewer security risks comes less risk to the overall quality of the software as well. And the better the quality, the easier it becomes to spot any cybersecurity risks. Because of how security testing and cybersecurity intersect in terms of risk management, coordinating with one another can significantly lighten the workload of both parties.

Security testing is ‘shifting to the left’

This simply means that cybersecurity or application security training is now being integrated within software developers’ daily responsibilities. Rather than being a discrete step in the development lifecycle, this leftward-shift means that cybersecurity is becoming part and parcel of the QA testing process. In their task to build the test infrastructure, today’s software developers, data scientists, and QA testers are expected to have a solid grasp of security.

A similar shift to the left can be observed in cutting edge tech training institutions, like the long-standing and web-based Maryville University. Aimed at producing well-rounded developers and software experts, the online school’s different advanced tech programs were developed with cybersecurity integration in mind. In fact, the online bachelor’s in cybersecurity at Maryville University is designed to be paired with its masteral-level data science, software development, and MBA courses. Furthermore, with coursework mostly happening in the university’s Apple-distinguished Virtual Lab, students can train in a fully online and mobile platform that they can access anywhere. This includes working on defensive digital tactics for real-world companies – under the remote supervision of cybersecurity experts.

This gives students real-world experience in remote and collaborative cybersecurity work. When they graduate, this hands-on remote training will be valuable in terms of collaborating with QA experts. Whether they go on to focus on cybersecurity or branch out to other in-demand fields like data science, software development, or business administration, the security experts of the future are being trained to more easily integrate their security expertise with companies’ existing QA testing infrastructures. From training to implementation, this impending partnership between security and QA is inevitable.

In an age where high-value targets like the Defense Department, other government offices, financial institutions, social media platforms, and tech giants are being constantly assailed by hackers, the integration of software QA and security is the best defense. It’s no secret that cybersecurity concerns have led to software developers and QA teams being spread out too thin. But with security being integrated as a top-of-mind priority for anyone involved in the testing infrastructure, then security experts, developers, and QA teams can breathe a little easier.

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