How to Set up a Business Entity to Obtain Corporate Credit

By Susan Carter

As you begin a new business venture, you have probably already decided what kind of business you are going to run, and even what you are going to name it, but you still have one more important issue to decide. You need to know what type of business structure will be the easiest and most beneficial for your company. Have you heard of the terms LLC, C-Corp, and S-Corp? If your answer is yes, but you dont really understand the difference, then read on.

There are a number of business structures you can use when you are creating a company. Each one comes with different benefits and liabilities. Here's a quick overview:

1. What is a Sole Proprietorship? This is a one-person show where the individual person running the business keeps all the profits. However, they also carry all the responsibility and liability. This is definitely the least desirable form of business structure due to the huge personal risk thats involved for the individual business owner. 2. What is a Partnership? In this structure, two or more people are the owners. They usually put similar amounts of money and/or time into the business and are all responsible for running it. They also incur the debt for the business and can be held personally liable if it were to fail or be sued for the debts. 3. What is a Limited Partnership? In a limited partnership there are at least two partners involved, but they dont necessarily have the same level of responsibility - or authority. One or more of the partners will take part in decision making and the others are silent partners. 4. What is a Limited Liability Company (LLC)? This is the best and most flexible business structure and one of the easiest to set up. Its a good entity for both small and large businesses. It provides personal asset protection and offers an easy format for distribution of profits and losses. With this entity structure the liabilities of the company are only taken from business assets, not the personal assets of those who own the LLC. 5. What is a C-Corporation? There are two ways to file as a corporation: C-Corporation or S-Corporation. The C-Corp is the most structured, and rigid form and the business profits are taxed at both the corporate level and the stockholder level. In this entity, there is no limit to the number of stockholders. This structure is taxed as a separate entity, unlike the S-Corp. 6. What is an S-Corp? This is also a corporation, but its limited by the number of stockholders, which is a maximum of 75. One of the advantages of this type of business structure is that the profits are not double taxed like they are in a C-Corp. This structure is a flow through entity. This means the profits or losses flow through to the individual personal tax returns of the stockholders and are taxed on the individual tax returns.

Financial institutions generally view the LLC and corporation structures as higher rated business entities. By choosing one of these structures for your business, you are presenting a more professional image to the financial institutions and they are more likely to offer business credit and trade credit to the business.

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Learn more about setting up your business structure correctly and learn the pros and cons of each kind of entity. Learn how to present your company as an established business so that you can get business lines of credit from lending institutions and start obtaining vendor credit without risking your personal FICO scores.

Make Good Use of a Retirement Planning Calculator

By William Blake

Calculating your necessities during retirement can be much easier with a retirement planning calculator. It can help you determine how much money you will need each month of your retirement years. Then you will be able to plan accordingly when preparing for retirement. That means that once you reach retirement age you will not be worrying about whether you have enough money to care for your needs and maintain your standard of living.

It is important to begin planning for your retirement early in your career. A Retirement planning calculator can be utilized and if followed can really help one prepare for the future. No one wants to be forced to stay in the workforce and put off their retirement because of poor planning. A retirement planning calculator can help.

Where can you find this useful tool? You can find them online possibly on your bank's website or other financial institutions. You can also visit your bank or as the human resources representative at your place of employment to see if they can provide one for you.

Of course the retirement planning calculator will only be useful if the information entered is accurate. Also, once the information is entered the direction given by the retirement planning calculator must be followed in order to maximize your savings for retirement. So once you locate your retirement planning calculator you must give some serious thought to how you will use it.

Anticipating the Cost of Your Retirement Years

There are so many factors that should be considered when planning for retirement. People need to decide where they want to live when they do not have to hold down a permanent job any more. Many people choose the location of their home based on their job. After retirement, the possible places to live increase considerably. People can choose the location of their home based on the weather, the taxes or the services available.

Some of these decisions could make a substantial difference in the funds available for retirement living. While working and raising a family, people have to consider schools for their children, and they usually have to pay taxes for good schools. After raising their family, they no longer need a community with great schools so they might avoid high property taxes.

People also need to consider their healthcare costs after retirement. Many people get their health insurance from their employment. After a certain age, people will get their healthcare insurance from the government. If people want to retire before they are eligible for government healthcare benefits, they might have to factor in additional healthcare costs. All of these factors could be considered with a good retirement planning calculator. Careful planning with one of these special devices could make for a truly delightful retirement.

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Is credit counseling the ideal way to get out of debt? Possibly, but there's no single best way for everyone. Visit the Debt Smackdown website at http://www.debtsmackdown.com for more helpful tips & advice about getting rid of your debt for good..

Variable Rate vs Fixed Rate Student Loans

By William Blake

Changes in Student Loan Structure

As of July 1, 2006 Stafford loans became fixed rate loans. This was not a new idea. Years ago all Stafford loans had a fixed interest rate. In time the structure changed and they became variable rate loans. Now they have again taken their original structure.

Some lenders make up for what they loose in interest rates by charging fees. In general 3% fees charged on a loan is the same as a point of interest. Therefore, if they keep to the restrictions on the interest rate yet charge you a loan origination fee or loan insurance then they recover what they are missing in interest payments right up front. Some lenders are willing to extend credit and waive the customary fees.

Interest Rate Increases

The interest rate on loans has risen greatly over the past few years. The PLUS student loan has gone up from 6% to 8.5%. That makes this loan quite a bit more expensive than before. 2.5% interest increase means that you loan is going to cost you hundreds of dollars more a year than it would at the lower interest rate.

You can visit www.bankrate.com/brm/mortgage-calculator.asp to see exactly how much your loan will cost you at a given interest rate.

The Future

Financial advisors have a difficult time trying to determine where interest rates are going. It is a good guess at best. There is really no way to be certain how much your interest rate will vary over time. For students and their parents seeking student loans their only option is to base their choices on what the financial advisors are saying and hope for the best.

Follow The Leaders

You can visit Yahoo Finance or other financial websites to see what the experts are saying about interest rates. It is a difficult guess for them and an impossible guess for the average individual. Therefore the best bet is to stick with the experts and follow their lead.

Student loans and other types of loans often vary in conjunction with the Treasury bill. The Treasury bill shows what the government projections are for selling its debt and what the buyers are expected to offer.

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Are debt consolidation non profit companies the best way to handle consolidation? Maybe, but not always. Find out why on the Inside Debt Consolidation website

Consolidate Your 401k's Into An IRA

By Straife Hunaim

The average person switches jobs several times in their life. It is very rare that someone work for the same company the entire length of his/her career. Most companies offer a retirement plan in the form of a 401k, so the average person may come into ownership of several 401k accounts by the time they retire.

So what should you do when you switch jobs and move to another company with it's own 401k offer? It would behoove you to consider a 401k rollover to IRA.

Transferring your 401K to an IRA fund comes with several benefits. I would like to talk now about a few of them.

For starters, imagine someone who changes companies 3 times in their life. That would leave them with 3 401k's from their previous employers and 1 from their current employer. That can get really messy for you. That means you would have 4 times the paperwork to keep up with and monitor to manage your portfolio the way you should. If you are like me, that extra paperwork may cause you to be lax in managing the account and could lead to financial ruin in your retirement years.

Transferring your 401k to an IRA will allow you to consolidate your retirement funds and reduce paperwork therefore making it easier on you to manage and make good decisions for the well being of your financial future. You are able to roll multiple 401k's in to one single IRA. So the person from the example above would only have to deal with their current employer's 401K and one IRA. Much better no?

Also, Leaving your retirement plans in the hands of your previous employers is a bit risky. If the company goes bankrupt you lose everything. Transferring and consolidating those accounts all into 1 IRA with a separate financial institution is much less risky.

This will also allow you to take control of your planning and that is the creates reward. You don't want to depend on others to take care of your retirement because they can't possibly care as much about it as you do.

The 401K offers to match your investment 100%, and you don't see an offer like that from most investment opportunities. So take advantage of it and contribute the maximum that the employer will match. Then put the extra funds into your IRA.

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find out how to do a 401k rollover to ira

Why Should I consolidate Retirement Accounts?

By Frank Dodd

You will hardly ever find a person that stays with the same company of employment for the entirety of their career. In fact, more than likely a person will change jobs and companies several times during their life. Since the majority of companies offer a 401k retirement package, these people that change companies may end up holding multiple 401k accounts under their name.

What should you do with your 401k fund after switching companies? You might look into a 401k rollover to IRA.

Rolling your 401k fund into an IRA can be beneficial in multiple ways. I'll briefly discuss a few of them.

First think about someone that switches jobs and employers 3 times in their life. They would have 3 401k plans to their name from the earlier employers and now a new one from their new company. Having so many accounts is very difficult to follow even for someone financially inclined. The paperwork would be 4 times as much as if you only have 1 account. This usually leads to discouragement and eventually the account holder will take less than the necesarry interest in his/her retirement. What a nightmare!

Transferring your 401k to an IRA will allow you to consolidate your retirement funds and reduce paperwork therefore making it easier on you to manage and make good decisions for the well being of your financial future. You are able to roll multiple 401k's in to one single IRA. So the person from the example above would only have to deal with their current employer's 401K and one IRA. Much better no?

Also, consolidating your accounts into an IRA reduces your risk factor. If you leave the 3 previous 401k plans with the previous companies you run the risk of the companies going under. That would in turn leave your 401k worthless. There is still a small risk when you invest in an IRA with a financial institution, but the risk is much smaller than the alternative.

And the ultimate benefit is that you leave yourself in control of your own future instead of having others do it for you.

But the 401K is still a great investment as it offers 100% return of investment. You don't find a deal like that every day. Contribute as much as your company will match and put any extra funds toward your IRA.

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Learn more about a 401k rollover to ira

Total Visa - Review

By Daniel Moskel

The Total Visa was designed for individuals with a low credit score. It is an unsecured card.

It reports to all the major bureaus monthly. By making on time monthly payments you can start to build a positive payment history.

This is very important when your score is calculated. Your utilization ratio will determine another large part of your score.

This ratio is how the credit bureaus decide if you are in over your head financially. It compares your amount of debt to your amount of available credit.

It is estimated that these two factors alone determine 80% of your score. It can help if you can show available credit.

However it is still a priority to remove any negative marks from your report. This will help to show a positive payment history.

This card is issued by the Plains Commerce Bank a member of the FDIC. It has an initial credit limit of $250, and a 19.92% APR. There is an annual fee of $48.

There is a 19.92% APR for a cash advance, should you have a financial emergency. Also you will be eligible for a limit increase four times a year.

As of late, we have seen a rise in interest rates. This has been happening to customers that have never paid late, their rates have jumped to 20% and higher.

Congress has responded and made new laws to prevent this in the future. However these laws will not go into effect until 2010. Additionally we have seen lower limits and much more stringent approval requirements.

Your card will have fraud protection and free online account access. Your card is accepted everywhere Visa is.

With responsible use a new credit line can help a damaged score. However with irresponsible use it can damage your score even more.

For this reason we feel that it is important for you to examine your budget before you make any decisions to take on a new credit line.

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For more about the Total Visa or for a free credit repair consultation visit us or call 1-800-253-3735, or for more about Easy Credit Cards.

Credit Card History

By Jason Asthworth

Edward Ballamy first introduced the world to the idea of the "credit card" in his 1887 novel, Looking Backward.

However it was initially used as one of the modes of payment for selling gas to the burgeoning population of vehicle owners in the United States of America during the 1920's. These cards were then called as charge cards and soon enough several companies permitted the use of various cards. Earlier days it was easy to fake a credit card, as most of them were printed on some kind of card, unlike the plastics which we use today.

Another type of credit card that appeared in the 1930s and 1940s is the Charga-plate. The credit card was made of a small piece of metal and had the owners name, city of residence, and the state in which the person resided imprinted into it. The Charga-plates were most of the time kept in a store and only large retailers made use of these, and they only issued them to their everyday clients.

Diners club was founded by Ralph Schneider and Frank X. McNamara in 1950, and instead of using many cards people where allowed to use one card. This card had to be paid in full at the end of each month which is differnt from the modern credit card.

The next card to come along was Carte Blanche and then American Express in 1958. American Express led to the creation of a global credit card system. The Visa system also came into existence in 1958 via Bank of Americas BankAmericard. MasterCard came into the world in 1966 when it was first known as MasterCharge.

Credit card use rose in the United States because of the banking practices in place. Cross country travelers could take their credit with them on their journeys, as they could not access their own banks immediately.

In 1966, the first credit card was released in the UK. The credit card system was not accepted by other countries. Reasons cited for not wanting to use credit cards included bank reliability or a preference to use cash.

Before the advanced technology came, there were reported many credit card frauds. But in recent years, microchips in built credit cards are developed which give you safety. Recently, affinity cards are also developed which are linked with specific group or companies.

Usually,when your earning increases you are more able to return debt of your credit card which ultimately lead you to increase use of the credit card.

About the Author:

Jason Asthworth is the content syndicator for applyforvisacreditcardnow.com the leading resource credit cards and applying for a visa credit card.

Learn More About Credit Card Offers

By Darren Cason

It is very important to compare credit card offers. The first thing you need to do is look at the fine print in the Terms and Conditions, where you can learn more about the card offers. Although some providers advertise cards with no annual fees or zero percent APR, the fine print can often tell a different story.

Another area to look at is the credit card company's policy on fraud liability. The fine print can often lay out stipulations which could mean that you are responsible for some of the charges if your card is used for fraudulent uses. Also consider the APR, since some ads claim to offer zero percent during an introductory period, but the fine print sets out limits on the use of the card in order to qualify for the zero interest period.

Cash advances are another thing to consider before applying for a card. Many cards charge up to 31.99 percent APR for cash advances, which is a very high interest rate. In fact, this is the highest allowed by law. Some card providers even go beyond this rate, believing that they will not be caught.

Be careful of catchy ads, because they can lure you into a card that may not be the best deal for you. Carefully investigate any credit card company before you apply for their card, to make sure that the card is legitimate. This will save you many hassles in dealing with the company later. There are many scam companies out there, especially those that offer credit cards regardless of your credit history if you give them a small deposit. These types of companies are illegal, because credit checks are mandated by law. Be sure you know how to spot a legitimate offer before you begin applying or redeeming chase card or other credit cards..

Snail mail credit card ads are often from illegitimate companies, and you should always toss these ads. Even the ones from legitimate credit card companies like MasterCard, Visa, or American Express should be thrown away. You should do your own research, rather than applying for cards based on heir ads. All cards offer unbelievably great deals according to their ads, but these offers are often negated by the fine print in their terms and conditions.

Finally, make sure you know exactly why you need a credit card. Determining whether you will need cash advances and whether you can and will pay your balance in full every month can impact which card is the best choice for you. There are many options, including those with rewards points or cash back programs. What you want from a credit card will change which card you should choose.

Lastly, use your card wisely. It can be great for paying bills, purchasing necessities when cash is low, or for use during emergencies. However, be sure to use it responsibly.

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No Fax Payday Loans-But Are They Hard To Get?

By Jacob Williams

Frequently there is a circumstance in which you will run into an out of the blue expense. This may be a medical emergency or an unanticipated bill. Unless you have savings set away for such expenses you might not have the money to pay for it. These are the times when a payday loan can be of great benefit to you. A payday loan will provide borrowing up to fifteen hundred dollars for a short period of time, ordinarily until your next paycheck.

In order to get a payday loan agency you simply need to search for one on the net. Make sure you do your research in order to get the best deal possible. Not all payday loans are the same. Some have higher interest rates then others. There are different time periods for repayment and also repayment methods. If you would rather not use the net to acquire a loan you can also find payday loan agencies in your area.

In order to qualify for a payday loan you will need to furnish information on your bank account, employment, income, and identification. You will also need to be eighteen or older. After the application is processed and you have been approved you will have the money transferred to your bank account with in 24 to 48.

Previously if you needed money for a unpredicted expense or an emergency, you would have had to fill out numerous forms and applications. Then you would have had to wait while they were being verified before you could get a loan. This was a frustrating process when dealing with a financial or medical emergency. But now there is no longer need for this, because you can now apply for a no fax payday loan.

If an emergency does arise and you want the funds to cover the cost of it, a no fax payday loan is the best option for you. This type of payday loan is really easy and fast to acquire. When looking for such a company all you have to do is search online for one offering a no fax payday loan and then fill out their application. No fax payday loans will just ask you for basic information such as your name, address, bank information, and your employers details. A lot of companies do net even bother to do a credit check. Hence, this means even if you have a bad credit rating or have been made bankrupt it is still possible to get a no fax payday loan.

There are some drawbacks to no fax payday loans. You will have to pay them back with your next paycheck with the interest included. Due to the fact that you are getting out a short term loan it is crucial to go over all the terms before taking one out. Many think that this type of loan are traps set for working class borrowers. For this reason make sure that you require the loan and are able to pay it back before taking out a payday loan.

About the Author:

Jacob Williams is a personal financial adviser, with 3 decades of experiencein the finance industry. For more Free information on Payday Loans try visiting Online Payday Loans or No Fax Payday Loans....

Despite all our concerns, things turned out well

By Rem

For many couples, whether first time buyers or not, the prime consideration when looking at a fixed rate mortgage is the monthly installmet cost. Purchasing a home later in life means that many individuals need to have the mortgage settled earlier. However, there are many factors to consider before signing any papers.

Over the course of the loan, it's important to recall to make sure the interest rate doesn't alter. If you are offered a deal that appears to be too good to be true than it likely is. Loans arranged for a long run fixed rate mortgage keep the same interest rate throughout the entire life of the loan agreement.

In addition to considering loans for a long term, fifteen year fixed mortgage rate we also looked into loans that spanned thirty years as well. The problem was that we weren't very happy about having a mortgage still running close to when we both retired and hoped that a fifteen year fixed mortgage rate would still be available to us. We were worried about the stress placed on early completion of the mortgage but had to agree it was what we desired as well.

Considering an even longer term mortgage was one alternative if we could not afford the monthly repayments on a fifteen year plan. No-one likes the idea of having a mortgage when they are close to retiring, and we were no other, so it was still our hope that a 15 year fixed mortgage rate would still be an option.

After looking at the much lower sum we would be making on our regular payments with a thirty year fixed rate mortgage, there wasn't any alternative but to go with it. Fortunately, we are also able make supplemental installments throughout the year to make the principal shrink faster.

Despite the trepidation of having a longer term loan, the thirty years fixed mortgage rate did lower the monthly installments considerably. Also, where possible, making a few additional lump sum repayments during the year helps bring down the sum of money owed. Just by making a handful of extra payments throughout a one year period you can knock years off of your mortgage period. Although this isn't easy to achieve, in the long run it is well worth it. Taking our current needs and financial abilities into account was more serious than our desire for a shorter term fifteen year fixed mortgage rate program. But looking back, everything worked out right for us in the long run.

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Also have a look at Cheap Home Blog and Low Cost Home Blog