Once upon a time, in a place not far away, but in an era long since forgotten, there was a magical thing called a full service gas station. Do you remember? People would actually come out and pump your gas for you! It may sound like just a fairy tale, but it’s true, it really did happen!Now days, our travel agents are going the way of the full service gas station. People just don’t have time anymore, time to go in and meet with a travel agent, time to go over options, basically – they don’t have time for full service. Online travel agents are all around us now, on the internet. They are convenient, but not quite the full service “station” we are used to when making our travel plans.What is an online travel agent? An online travel agent is more like an online booking resource. It is any website that you can go to make travel arrangements. I am sure most of you have visited a site like this. You can log in, do multiple searches for flights, hotel rooms, car rentals etc. and place your order online – very convenient!Online travel agent bookings sites are helpful in many ways; people can explore all of their different options for travel right in one spot. If you are looking for a flight to Europe, for example, and your route is flexible, users can map out different itineraries online. Then, the user can pick which works best for them and make a decision about what they want to do. Also, the user gets exposed to options that they may not have thought of before; therefore broadening their horizons of what type of travel arrangements are available to them.Another pro for using an online travel agent website is the wide variety of products that they offer. Not only can a customer browse airfare, car rental, and hotel options. Travel insurance, airport shuttles, and tour tickets are also available for purchase. This is very helpful to an online travel planner, as they can cover most of their travel planning needs in one visit to a website.After booking a confirmation on a travel website, the customer will receive an email with confirmations and contact information. The information that is provided to the customer usually includes information about any E-tickets, car rental policies (or where to go to look for the policies), and provides information on what to do if the travel plans change. All of this information right at the fingertips of the travel planning consumer.Many people wonder if booking these types of travel arrangements online is safe. Yes – it is. Websites spend a lot of time and productivity making sure that their payment systems, whether outsourced or not, are safe. It is important for their reputation to provide reliable payment systems and to maintain secure sights. Bad news travels fast, and if a website wasn’t taking care of their customers, it wouldn’t take long for the world to notice.Taking from personal experience I have never had a problem with booking with an online travel agent. I have been booking travel online for over ten years and I can’t say that I have had one problem! I have even found that after booking my super cheap airfare on a we site, after I received my reservation information via email, it was s easy to tweak my reservation details with the actual airline after the fact. I have never had a situation where I have paid for my booking online, and had it not be legitimate when I showed up for the reservation, either. Basically, booking online with an online travel agent website is an easy, affordable, and safe way to book your travel.Online travel agents may seem scary to some. With news about security breaches and privacy issues, I can’t blame people for being shy about booking travel plans online. I have to say though, give it a try! You are bound to have a great and educational travel planning experience. And who knows, it might even be fun!
How to Improve Your Finances in 3 Simple Steps
Money begins in the mind. Don’t confuse the little pieces of paper in your wallet with money. Dollar bills are only a symbol. The value of money is that which you hold in your consciousness.Since money is an idea it’s imperative to associate money with positive emotions. Look around. Do most people see money in a positive light? When did you watch your last Ferrari commercial? How many advertisements a day do you hear trumpeting “Hot Deals”? The general public has a scarcity consciousness when it comes to money. It believes that money is finite. This is ludicrous since ideas are not finite and money is an idea.Fill your mind with positive ideas about money and money flows to you with ease.Begin The Day With Positive AffirmationsAn affirmation is a statement repeated to one’s self which is accepted as true. When an idea has been accepted as truth it manifests. Once an idea has been sufficiently affirmed it becomes true.If you’re short on money the idea of money associated with lack was affirmed to you tens of thousands of times. Maybe your parents always spoke of losing the house, or being broke. Perhaps you were praised for getting a good deals when shopping. This affirmed the idea of lack, the idea that you could never have enough money to buy what you want so you better save, save, save, and be stingy with the few dollars which you possess.To change your financial situations develop a new set of affirmations. Emotions power affirmations. Generate deep positive feelings when stating that you are abundant, you are prosperous, you are wealthy.Perform affirmations in the present tense. Now is when you’re getting rich. Unless you have access to a time machine you can’t get rich in the future because the future never arrives.Turn Off The NewsThe news is mental junk food. When was the last time a wealthy person was praised on the news? If you catch a wealthy person on the news the talking heads are likely celebrating their downfall.See these images thousands of times and you’ll be programmed to dislike wealthy people. If you dislike wealthy people you’ll probably dislike money. Oh you’ll still want plenty of money, but you won’t receive much because your mental programming is hard-coded to reject money.Turn the news off for good. The news is primarily death, jealousy, poverty, and envy. What good does it do you?Leave Negative People BehindThis one is a sore point for most. Out of a sense of loyalty they hold on to worn out relationships. Never leave your friends behind no matter what, they say.What if you want to be successful? What if you want to make more money? Ask yourself this question. Why does Bill Gates hang out with Warren Buffet? Wealthy people associate with like-minded people because the relationship breeds more wealth for each party. Bill Gates is not going to associate with someone who whines about the wealthy having too much money. He’d much rather talk to someone who has billion dollar ideas. A negative person would poison his mind and he has too much respect for himself to let that occur. Do you respect yourself enough to let go of negative influences?If you want to become wealthy you must let go of people who think about being broke. If they’re broke but their mindset says “Wealth” they can stick around. Their poverty is only temporary. But if someone constantly complains about money they don’t like money and will never have much money. Lose them. At least if you plan to become wealthy.Feed Your Mind The Right IdeasThere is no secret when it comes to wealth creation. Those who are wealthy fed their mind images of wealth before acquiring their fortunes. You can do the same.
Business Capital Solutions In Canada: Accessing Proper Cash Flow & Commercial Financing
Business capital requirements in Canada often boil down to some basic truths the business owner/financial mgr/entrepreneur needs to address when it comes to financing for businesses.
One of those truths? Knowing the true state of their financial condition and what financing they do and don’t qualify for when it comes to meeting commercial lending requirements in Canadian business.
Business Loans In Canada
Whether you are smaller or start-up firm looking for information on how to get a business loan or a larger established firm looking for growth financing or acquisition opportunities we’re highlighting 3 mistakes that commercial loan seekers like your company need to avoid making when addressing, sourcing and negotiating your cash flow / working capital and commercial financing needs.
1. Understand the true condition of your company finances – These are almost always successful addressed when you spend time on your financials and understand how your financial statements reflect your access to commercial loans & business credit in general
2. Ensure you have a plan in place for sales growth and financial needs as it relates to commercial financing
3. Understand that actual hard facts about cash flow which is, of course, the lifeblood of your company
Can you honestly answer or feel positive about all those 3 points. If so, pass Go and collect $ 100.00!
A good way to address your company’s finance plans is to ensure you understand growth finance solutions, as well as how to manage in a downturn – i.e. not growing, losing money, etc; It’s never fun to fund yourself in an economic or industry downturn such as the COVID pandemic of 2020!
When we talk to clients of new or established businesses it seems they are almost always talking about sales, so the ability to understand and focus on the differences in their profits and cash fluctuations is key.
How do cash flow and sales plans and projections affect the type of financing you require? For one thing sales growth usually starts out by consuming your cash, not generating it. A poor finance plan will drag your business down and addressing financing simply gets tougher and tougher.
Three basics always emerge when it comes to your search for the right business capital and financing.
1. The amount of financing you need
2. The type of financing (debt/cash flow/asset monetization) The business loan interest rate will be dramatically affected by whether you choose traditional or alternative financing solutions. Private business loans in Canada come from non regulated commercial finance companies most often known as ‘ alternative lenders ‘. These lenders are typically highly specialized in one ‘ niche ‘ of business financing and may be Canadian firms or branches of U.S. banks and non-bank lenders
3. How the financing is structured to be manageable with your day to day operations
What Finance Company In Canada Can Meet Your Borrowing Needs & Why Is Capital Important In Business
Let’s identify and break down key financings your firm should know about and understand if they are applicable and achievable to your business. They include:
A/R Financing / Factoring / Confidential Receivable Finance
Inventory finance / floor planning / retail inventory
Working Capital term loans
Unsecured cash flow loans
Merchant working capital loans/advances – these loans are geared toward short term cash needs and are typically one year in duration. Loan amounts are typically 15-20% of your annual sales revenues.
Royalty finance
Asset based non bank business lines of credit
Tax credit financing (SR&ED bridge loans)
Equipment Leasing / Sale leasebacks – Equipment financing in Canada is used by almost 80% of all companies looking to acquire new, and used, assets.
Govt Guaranteed Small Business Loan program – Government Loans in Canada are sometimes referred to as ‘ SBL’, aka Note: BDC Finance solutions are available from this Canadian non-bricks and morter crown corporation. A small business loan via the government-guaranteed loan program comes with true flexibility around term loan duration, market rates, no pre payment penalties, and of course the low personal guarantee that is required by borrowers. These two ‘ government ‘ loan solutions are often perfect for financing a new business.
If you’re focused on not making mistakes in your business finance needs and want to capitalize on the solutions your competitors are probably already using seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your cash flow and commercial financing needs.
Stan has had a successful career with some of the world’s largest and most successful corporations.
His employers over the last 25 years were, ASHLAND OIL, ( 1977-1980) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, ( 1980-1990) ) CABLE & WIRELESS PLC,( 1991 -1993) ) AND HEWLETT PACKARD ( 1994-2004 ) In 2004 Stan founded 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL – He is an expert in Canadian Business Financing.