4 Tips To Managing Your Business Loan’s Interest Rate

How can you or your business better manage its current interest rates?Four tips:1) Should You Have A Loan In The First Place?Interest rates are essentially a cost of doing business. Thus, just like any other cost to your company, if your interest rate is too high compared to the returns that those funds will bring in via increased revenue or through cost savings – then you are better off not taking the loan in the first place.What better way to manage high interest rates then not to have to pay them.And, if you already have the loan in place (say to buy some new equipment or inventory), if the loan is costing more than it is worth to the business sell off those assets and pay back the loan. It will be better for your business in the long run.2) Understanding Your Interest Rate:Most rates are based on some risk profile of the borrower. Either credit history, cash flow realization or use of funds.Think about it. A borrower realizes that running a business is not all that easy and simply walks away from their business loan. That is a big risk especially in this economy.Or, a business’s cash flow is barely enough to cover the loan payment to begin with then has a slow revenue period. Will that business be able to make the next loan payment?Or, a borrower wants funding to open a new online business. But, that business is an online gambling site that could be shut down by the government at any time.If you understand how and why lenders price loans, then you can work to mitigate those risk factors (like improving your credit and cash flow or running a legitimate business).Thus, you take away their reasons to charge a high rate or increase your interest rate. Even if you have already taken the loan, when your situation improves, go back to the negotiation table and threaten to take your business elsewhere.You can only help yourself through knowledge.3) Protect Yourself Before You Take The Loan:Small increases in interest rates really should not effect your payment all that much (unless it is for very short-term loans like under 12 months).Example: Let’s say you have a $100,000 business loan at 8% for 3 years. Then, your rate increases to 10%. Your monthly payment will rise less than $100 per payment. Not great but not really all that bad either. Here is why:When making your decision to take a loan, you should always understand what you are getting in return for that new cost. If a $100,000 loan costs you $12,000 over three years in interest, then those funds should return much more to your company over that same period. If it does not, you should not take the loan.But, you should also create a buffer in your revenue estimates especially if you know the economy is in a rising interest rate environment.It your rate does not rise, then that is pure benefit to your company. But, if it does, you are protected or have managed for it.Let’s say your business requires a 30% return on investment and a $100,000 loan will cost you $12,000 over its life. Thus, your company needs to realize some $145,000 to achieve that 30% ($100,000 in principle with the remaining to cover your interest costs and return requirement). Thus, you make sure or look for projects that will return at least that amount.Or, if you think your rate will rise or we are in a poor economy like we are now, then add a cushions. Only accept or look for projects that will return $150,000 or more. Thus, your interest rate can rise a few percentage points and your business will still realize that 30% return.The goal here is to manage your interest with your decision before you request any outside debt or funding by picking the right projects or getting a business loan for the right situation only.4) Paying More:You can always manage your overall interest rate by paying more in principal. Thus, instead of paying more in interest over the life of the loan to your lender; work to reduce the principal that they can charge interest against.A $100,000 business loan at 10% for three years has a payment of $3,227. And, if you pay the loan out, your total interest would be $16,162.But, if you add a little extra to your payment each month (say $580 or 18% increase in your payment) then your overall interest for the life of the loan would drop to $12,811 – essentially making your interest rate 8% (not 10%).Here, you are paying more to reduce principal (to your benefit) then to your interest (their benefit).Further, you end up paying off the loan 7 months earlier.The higher your interest rate gets (say with a variable rate that keeps rising), the more benefit paying additional principal will help.The bottom line is that in a rising interest rate environment, your will pay more. But, you can also manage your business loans to ensure that what you do have to pay is being paid to your benefit and not just going to your financial company.

Gold As a Reserve Asset and the Online Finance Service To Manage It

In many areas of everyday living, gold performs vital functions. Gold is actually a quality, high tech metal and very well demanded by the industry. Therefore, investors are content with the decision to pursue the best investment opportunity.Even as gold is no longer the backbone for the brick and mortar international financial system, most banks still find it to be an important asset. More importantly, gold is the only reserved asset that is not held liable due to its face value. Meaning it is not held responsible or accountable for the trend of economic policies or disturbed inflation. It continues to retain value over many centuries.As it appears, the current level of demand for gold outweighs the gold supply for the gold miner to produce. Throughout history, due to its beauty, warmth and spiritual connotation, it is now the most admired metal. The gold miner continues to produce gold at massive levels. The exported revenue is vital as it brings royalty and investment opportunity for low economic countries.Gold can be repudiated and held as a safeguard against potential crisis because it is not any individual’s liability. More so, the gold bullion does not vulnerable to the political issue compare to major asset classes such as United States government bonds, or Treasury bills. Gold as a valuable investment is also excluded from the disadvantages of the economical and/or monetary polices of any government. Significantly, gold has developed into a revolutionary digital or electronic currency, or what we normally heard of as e-currency all over the world.If you are keen to invest in gold, then the problem of purchasing, holding or keeping the physical gold can be your major drawback as it will cause you too much hassle, not only for you but also everybody else. Alternatively, you can purchase digital gold via online and keep it in the reliable and trustworthy internet payment processor system. This way, no storage space is needed and no worry.

Online Finance Education – More Than Just a Finance Certificate

It is no doubt that knowledge and skills is what today’s world need the most. The economic recession has just exposed how ill equipped most of us are in managing their finances. This ill equipment ranges from personal finances to business finances. It no wonder that many people especially in America have been caught pants down with lives that were just but borrowed. How else would you call the huge credit card bills that are taking down gigantic economies such as the USA and Europe?Finance education has to be redefined from the traditional finance for picking mistakes in accounting to a contemporary finance education that allows you to be have skills to better manage personal finances or business finances.The revolution brought about by the information technology (IT) is an opportunity through which finance education has been revolutionized. The emergence of online finance education propelled by the linkages between students and tutors via the internet has made it easier to share facts on finance education. In addition, people are now able to ask questions that build their daily skills through asking or providing answers that have practical solutions. This can be achieved though blogging.Online finance education also has the benefit of providing templates from which the practical application of finance theories can be based. For example, a budget planner can be customized to calculate allowable expenses to what proportions.The traditional training in finance can also be delivered using the online finance education. There are now available e-business degrees that cover training in accounting, business management, actuarial sciences, human resource management, insurance, and international business management among others.The demand for online training opportunity has fuelled the growth of online colleges or universities. The challenge in enrolling in online colleges is that you have almost no chance of ascertaining the authenticity and quality of service. At most, you can only view information about the college from the websites. The websites are however easy to manipulate to present incorrect information in a seemingly correct form.As you search for the information on where to find online college or education to improve your financial knowledge, check for an institution that will provide more than just a certificate. You should be able to learn tips on how to get out of credit card debts, how to make the most from your mortgage investments and much more contemporary financial needs.