The Home-Based Business: Basics to Consider

by NFS | Sep 20, 2015 | Archives

More than 52 percent of businesses today are home-based. Every day, people are striking out and achieving economic and creative independence by turning their skills into dollars. Garages, basements, and attics are being transformed into the corporate headquarters of the newest entrepreneurs–home-based businesspeople.

And, with technological advances in smartphones, tablets, and iPads as well as a rising demand for “service-oriented” businesses, the opportunities seem to be endless.

Is a Home-Based Business Right for You?

Choosing a home business is like choosing a spouse or partner: Think carefully before starting the business. Instead of plunging right in, take the time to learn as much about the market for any product or service as you can. Before you invest any time, effort, or money take a few moments to answer the following questions:

• Can you describe in detail the business you plan on establishing?
• What will be your product or service?
• Is there a demand for your product or service?
• Can you identify the target market for your product or service?
• Do you have the talent and expertise needed to compete successfully?

Before you dive head first into a home-based business, it’s essential that you know why you are doing it and how you will do it. To succeed, your business must be based on something greater than a desire to be your own boss, and involves an honest assessment of your own personality, an understanding of what’s involved, and a lot of hard work. You have to be willing to plan ahead and make improvements and adjustments along the way.

While there are no “best” or “right” reasons for starting a home-based business, it is vital to have a very clear idea of what you are getting into and why. Ask yourself these questions:

• Are you a self-starter?
• Can you stick to business if you’re working at home?
• Do you have the necessary self-discipline to maintain schedules?
• Can you deal with the isolation of working from home?

Working under the same roof that your family lives under may not prove to be as easy as it seems. It is important that you work in a professional environment. If at all possible, you should set up a separate office in your home. You must consider whether your home has space for a business and whether you can successfully run the business from your home.

Compliance with Laws and Regulations

A home-based business is subject to many of the same laws and regulations affecting other businesses and you will be responsible for complying with them. There are some general areas to watch out for, but be sure to consult an attorney and your state department of labor to find out which laws and regulations will affect your business.

Zoning

Be aware of your city’s zoning regulations. If your business operates in violation of them, you could be fined or closed down.

Restrictions on Certain Goods

Certain products may not be produced in the home. Most states outlaw home production of fireworks, drugs, poisons, sanitary or medical products, and toys. Some states also prohibit home-based businesses from making food, drink, or clothing.

Registration and Accounting Requirements

You may need the following:

• Work certificate or a license from the state (your business’s name may also need to be registered with the state)
• Sales tax number
• Separate business telephone
• Separate business bank account

If your business has employees, you are responsible for withholding income, social security, and Medicare taxes, as well as complying with minimum wage and employee health and safety laws.

Planning Techniques

Money fuels all businesses. With a little planning, you’ll find that you can avoid most financial difficulties. When drawing up a financial plan, don’t worry about using estimates. The process of thinking through these questions helps develop your business skills and leads to solid financial planning.

Estimating Start-Up Costs

To estimate your start-up costs include all initial expenses such as fees, licenses, permits, telephone deposit, tools, office equipment and promotional expenses.

In addition, business experts say you should not expect a profit for the first eight to ten months, so be sure to give yourself enough of a cushion if you need it.

Projecting Operating Expenses

Include salaries, utilities, office supplies, loan payments, taxes, legal services and insurance premiums, and don’t forget to include your normal living expenses. Your business must not only meet its own needs, but make sure it meets yours as well.

Projecting Income

It is essential that you know how to estimate your sales on a daily and monthly basis. From the sales estimates, you can develop projected income statements, break-even points, and cash-flow statements. Use your marketing research to estimate initial sales volume.

Determining Cash Flow

Working capital–not profits–pays your bills. Even though your assets may look great on the balance sheet, if your cash is tied up in receivables or equipment, your business is technically insolvent. In other words, you’re broke.

Make a list of all anticipated expenses and projected income for each week and month. If you see a cash-flow crisis developing, cut back on everything but the necessities.

If a home-based business is in your future, then we can help. Don’t hesitate to contact our office if you need assistance setting up your business or making sure you have the proper documentation in place to satisfy the IRS. Check back our website tomorrow when we will post “5 Tax Tips for Starting a Business”.

3 Life Changing Events That May Change Your Insurance Needs

by NFS | Sep 17, 2015 | Archives

Your life insurance coverage should be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure you have adequate coverage, but a major life change is a particularly important time to assess your life insurance needs. Here are three life events when you should review your life insurance policy:

1) A change in family situation: Did you get married, divorced, have a baby, adopt children, or change jobs? Any of these life events are likely to change the amount of life insurance coverage you need.

2) An upward change in your income: A big promotion or a raise may be a good reason to review your coverage. Life insurance is often purchased to replace the income of the breadwinner in a family. If your income increases, you may need to review the face value (the amount paid to beneficiaries at the policyholder’s death) of your life insurance policy.

3) Retirement: If retirement is just around the corner, it may be time to assess your life insurance policy. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), life insurance can keep surviving spouses from receiving reduced Social Security benefits. For example, those who begin collecting
Social Security survivors benefits at age 60, rather than at the full-benefit age of 66 or 67, receive a permanently reduced Social Security benefit. Having life insurance coverage in place may prevent your spouse from having to live on less.

These may not be the only reasons to review your insurance policy; however, these events cover three times in your life when you should review your life insurance needs. Please contact us for your Complimentary Review.

Think Life Insurance

by NFS | Sep 17, 2015 | Archives

Life Happens

by NFS | Sep 15, 2015 | Archives

No one knows what the future holds. Hopefully, only good things are in store for you.

But realistically, bad things will happen too.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a cautious person, you take little steps every day to improve the odds that good things will happen and guard against the possibility of bad things happening.

You wear seat belts.

You lock your doors when you leave home.

You try to eat well and exercise.

In other words, you may not be able to control the future, but you can stand up to it. You don’t have to get wet when it rains. You can carry an umbrella.

True, it’s easy to take these little steps. The bigger steps, though, can require contemplating some pretty unpleasant things.

What would happen to your family if you became ill or injured and couldn’t work? Or, worse yet, if you died? Or if your spouse died?

Standing up to the future means making sure you and your family can carry on, even in the face of a disaster. That’s where life insurance and other forms of insurance come in.

Life insurance won’t guarantee you’ll never face a tragic situation, just as wearing a seat belt won’t keep you from crashing your car. But it will provide your family with financial protection. And whatever hopes and dreams you have for your loved ones can still be realized, even if the worst were to happen.

That’s why we say LIFE Happens. It really does. No matter what the future throws at you. September is Life Insurance Awareness Month and we here at Northeast Financial Strategies are offering Complimentary Life Insurance Reviews – contact us for your appointment now!

Business Tax Filing Deadline for 09/15

by NFS | Sep 14, 2015 | Archives

If you run a corporation or partnership and took an extension to file income tax returns, you have until today, September 15, to file. The due date applies to any business the fiscal year of which is also the calendar year.

The IRS said it continues to see strong growth in corporations and partnerships shifting from paper returns to e-filing. As of August 30, more than 6 million corporations and partnerships e-filed returns this year, almost an 8 percent overall increase from the prior year. The IRS had received 78,762 e-filed returns from large partnerships, an 11 percent jump over the same time in 2014.

Most large corporations and partnerships already e-file: Corporations with $10 million or more in total assets are generally required to e-file Forms 1120 and 1120S. Partnerships with more than 100 partners are also generally required to e-file their returns.

E-filing has also shown strong growth this year among businesses not required to use it, the IRS said, adding that it expects to receive millions more e-filed returns by the deadline.

Please contact our office you need to get your corporation filed today.

Life Insurance: Why Do I Need It? What Does It Do?

by NFS | Sep 13, 2015 | Archives

So, why do you need life insurance?

What often comes to mind when thinking about life insurance is that you can use it to pay final expenses. You’ve seen the commercials: Funeral expenses, burial costs and medical bills can add up to a hefty amount. The last thing you want is for your loved ones to shoulder this extra burden. Life insurance can be used to plan for these final expenses. Permanent life insurance is available in various amounts, so you can pick a death benefit that meets your needs.

But there are other considerations to keep in mind. You can use life insurance …

As mortgage protection. Whether you live by yourself, with a spouse or significant other, you may want to buy life insurance as mortgage protection. Think about it: You don’t want the person you live with to be homeless if you die unexpectedly, do you? Term life insurance can be used to pay off an outstanding mortgage balance. Just select a term that matches the length of your mortgage payment period. Some companies even offer decreasing term insurance, which means the death benefit decreases along with your mortgage balance.

For income replacement. You and your significant other may have planned for a future based on two incomes, but what if one of you passes away unexpectedly? Life insurance can be used to replace the lost income so the survivor can maintain the same standard of living.

For college funding. Yeah, I know. You don’t have kids, so this one only applies if you do or if you have grandchildren you want to help. Have you seen the tuition rates lately? Life insurance can help fund a college education. If you die, the death benefit may be invested and potentially grow to the needed amount by the time your children or grandchildren reach college age. If you have permanent policies, the cash value may be used to help fund tuition costs. Feel better knowing that you helped prepare for their future—even if you are not there to see it.

There are also a few provisions—additional benefits, if you will—that you may not be aware of.

Probate protection. If the beneficiary of a life insurance policy is a named person and not your estate, the death benefit is free from probate costs.

Incontestability. After the policy has been in force for two years, it becomes incontestable, meaning that the policy cannot be revoked, unless it was fraudulently obtained.

Free from the claims of creditors. In many states, the cash values of the life insurance policy are free from the claims of creditors if the policy is personally owned.

So, are you starting to see the need for life insurance? You will call me right now, right? The number is 800-560-4637 x14. Don’t put it off! Remember, the younger you are when you get insurance, the lower the cost and the easier it is to get approved.