Saturday, April 27, 2013

What a Printing Company Can Provide You

Are you looking for help with getting some professional printing done? If you need to have some eye catching banners or signs made, you should look for a company that knows how to provide their customers with high quality design. You might think that it's easier to purchase a printer and take care of your own paper work, but having the job done by a proven professional will guarantee that your ideas translate perfectly on paper. Why let another company help you out? While you think the layout is right for you, what good is your design work when it's produced on low quality paper? You may not realize it, but people are often turned off by cheap looking ink, which shifts the focus away from anything you're presenting. A professional company understands your needs and has experience with creating dynamic visual art that will make any passerby want to look at what you're trying to express. What kinds of work can these kinds of companies handle? Consider the following:
Banners
If you're trying to put on an event or trade show that will advertise your company, you'll need some kind of flashy banner to catch the attention of your potential customers. Making a good-looking banner on your own can be difficult if you don't have a lot of printing experience. You can depend on a professional company to create high quality banners with full colors at a fast turnaround. Even if you think you'll need a huge banner, there's no reason not to pick up the phone and get a quote. Often, professional companies will have access to materials that would cost you hundreds of dollars to purchase on your own.
Flyers
If you're starting a marketing campaign for your company, you'll need a flashy flyer to grab the attention of your peers. Professional printing companies can provide you with thousands of digitally produced flyers at a reasonably affordable price. Trying to do the work on your own can often be time consuming and costly. You're responsible for paying for ink that can be offered at a high price by the distributor and you also have to worry about having enough paper. With a professional company, you can relax knowing that you'll have great looking flyers delivered to your door in a quick amount of time.
Business Cards
The business card can often be the difference when you're trying to make a good impression on a client. You'll need to find a professional company that can make bundles of high quality designs that will have people wanting to get in touch with you in the future. Instead of going the bland route with a card that just states basic information, why not call a professional printing company and ask them to design you an unforgettable business card? Take a step to the next level and let professionals take care of you. Having a business card that is unique will allow you to stand out from the pack, giving you the chance of making more business.
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Hourly Billing Makes Little Sense For Professionals

Back in the days (not entirely over) when stockbrokers raked in commissions every time their customers made a trade, "churning" was a way to boost the broker's income at the customer's expense. The broker created needless transactions to boost his bottom line.
No lawyer - nor, for that matter, any accountant, financial planner or other professional - should want to ever give a client reasons to feel abused that way. But when you bill by the hour, there is always a risk that things may get out of control, or at least might appear that way to an outsider.
An email glibly using the "churning" description is one of several to become public in a dispute between the law firm DLA Piper and its client Adam H. Victor. The fight has opened the broader topic of whether, and to what extent, attorneys look out for their own interests when deciding how many hours a project should take.
Victor, an energy industry executive, filed a counterclaim after DLA Piper sued him for $675,000 in unpaid legal bills. He contends that the firm's "sweeping practice of overbilling," along with subpar work, grew worse as the firm expanded. The emails in question confirmed his worst suspicions, he said. (1)
Most lawyers and other professionals are honest. Yet, as William G. Ross, a law professor at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, pointed out to The New York Times, "the billable hour creates perverse incentives." (1)
Professional advice must be based on a close relationship of trust. I realized when I set up shop 20 years ago that I couldn't help a client if the client did not call me to say there was a problem. Clients might hesitate to call if even a seemingly simple question could set the meter running, with no end in sight. The hourly billing model didn't make any sense to me.
Instead, I encouraged my clients to call whenever they had something on their minds. If I could answer questions directly, I did so for free. If the issues would take more time and research on my part, I offered fixed-fee quotes up front so clients could decide whether they wanted to proceed. I was experienced enough to make reasonably accurate guesses as to how much time each project would take. Eventually, when I had employees to add to the mix, I could also estimate about how much manpower, and at what levels of experience, to bring to the assignment.
The risk of a bad estimate belonged with me, not with my clients. The people we serve are generally in no position to judge what it will take to complete the assignments they give us. So I decided to operate based on flat fees, agreed to in advance, the vast majority of the time. That is still how Palisades Hudson operates today. Lo and behold, in two decades we have had virtually no billing disagreements with our clients.
Every rule has exceptions. There are situations in which my colleagues and I have very little control over the time involved in a task. In tax audits, for example, the auditor sets the scope of the process and can change it without advanced notice. In those situations, we often work for our clients based on hourly rates. But we document our time closely, and keep the client well-informed about expenses as we proceed. If we determine an issue will cost more to fight than to settle, we tell the client that we believe the matter is not worth pursuing.
Time-based billing can work, especially for small firms or sole practitioners whose clients personally know the individual who handles their projects and where the professional has the experience to get the job done efficiently.
For the most part, however, I think advisers make a mistake when they view their time as the product they sell to the people they serve. People hire us to help them solve problems. We don't want to create new ones in the form of unexpected bills.
Source:
1) The New York Times, "Suit Offers a Peek at the Practice of Inflating a Legal Bill"
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Benefits of Overseas Trading Through Electronic Mode

Today, many residents and Indian companies are investing in overseas foreign trading business, as it yields them good returns on it. There are many online portals which offer lucrative securities provided by different international companies. Such works are carried out by brokers or middlemen, who help the investor's in finding the best offers available in the International market.
The Reserve Bank of India, along with the regularized bodies, formulated rules in order to curb many malpractices by the foreign companies or middlemen. These bodies have cautioned many small investors to check the market condition and the value of the shares, before getting into any deal.
The government has authorized the schedule banks and nationalized banks to evaluate the foreign investment schemes available for investors. The banks evaluate the prices quoted for the purchase of shares in the international market in order to ensure that they are not more than the original ones. The investors can remit their funds through one of the following methods -
  1. Bank transfer
  2. Online transfer through debit card or credit card.
  3. Paying it to the broker or middlemen.
It has been notified by the central government that the broker, company, or middlemen who directly or indirectly collect funds from Indian residents would be responsible for proper utilization of the funds and earn best returns. The companies, brokers, or middlemen would be held liable for any non compliance and can face legal charges, if they deviate from any norms mentioned by FEMA
The authorized dealers or the foreign securities issuing companies are required to refer the rules and instructions notified by the investors. This would help in controlling any unauthorized or illegal transactions, which can impact the interest of the investors. As per the current FEMA rules, 1999 doesn't allow the Individuals to invest in various domestic or overseas markets through one of the electronic mode.
These individuals are however allowed to invest in the following manner -
  1. Currency Future- When the individual enters into a contract of purchasing or selling of foreign shares, which is future-dated and has an expiry date.
  2. Optional Trading- In this type of speculative business, the investors can purchase securities and shares, which have no expiry date, as it allows them to earn best dividends.
The investors have to notify the market value of the shares and inform the same to the prospective customers and enough care is taken to control any cost manipulation by the authorized dealers. An individual can open a demo account, transact and transfer the money to any Indian bank.
Online trading many a times differs with the products and the market securities. There are many types of trading which are as follows -
  1. E-speed Electronic Trading - It indicates that the trading can be carried out with different types of securities. It is very common with some of the developed countries that allow international investment through forex.
  2. Many international trading has opted for electronic mode or online trading method for purchase and sales of the shares from the international market. There are special techniques for trading.
Ms. Sowmya Somaiah is a Company Secretary and Founder of "Sunshine Corporate Solutions Pvt Ltd" at Bangalore, India. For more information visit http://www.sunshinecorp.biz

The Role of Title Companies in Real Estate Transactions

Whether you are buying or selling a house, you will likely be working with one or more title companies during the process. This is because such businesses are involved in a variety of tasks when it comes to real estate. Find out what they tend to do, so you know what to expect when you meet with representatives.
As the name suggests, these businesses are in charge of checking the titles on homes to be sold to make sure they are clear. This means they cannot have liens on them or claims by anyone other than the current seller. This way, the buyer can rest assured he or she will not be challenged for homeownership by a lienholder that no one was aware of during the real estate transaction. This step requires some research and is just part of the preliminary process of selling or buying property.
Even if there are not currently any lienholders, it is possible that the seller owes money to someone who may try to come after the new owner. For this reason, most title companies check to make sure there are no debts associated with this house. For instance, representatives will work to find out if the property taxes are all paid and up to date. They might also check with local utility providers to make sure there are no outstanding bills that the company may try to pass off on the new homeowner.
Another part of the process involves obtaining title insurance to protect the lender. You will be required to have this on your house, so the lender is protected. However, you can also buy your own insurance that will protect you as the homeowner in case someone tries to put a claim on the home or commit fraud against it. This way, you will not lose the house under these circumstances.
You can also expect title companies to help the lender prepare the many closing documents that need to be read and signed. There are hundreds of pages involved with this process, so this is why more than one agency is involved with preparing for closing. They need to be reviewed by a number of people to ensure accuracy. Otherwise, you may have to sign them all over again if it turns out there was a mistake the first time.
Now you have an idea of the role that title companies play when it comes to buying or selling a house. You can expect to be in contact with such a company at least once during the process. Of course, some businesses of this kind do even more, so these responsibilities are often just the beginning.
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Getting Approved for Home Mortgages

Are you looking at mortgages so that you can purchase a home? There are many different options when it comes to getting a loan to buy a house. There are loans that are set up with 30-year and 15-year payback plans, some with fixed interest rates and others with variable interest rates. The type of loan, interest rate, and whether your application will be stamped "approved" or "denied" will depend on a variety of factors. Before bankers approve home loans, they want to find out about your credit, character, and cash.
Credit is a very important factor when you're applying for mortgages. Before approving a loan for you, underwriters will take a hard look at your creditworthiness. What will they look at? For one thing, they will check your score. This is a triple digit number that tells them about your tendencies to pay your debts. If you have a hit-or-miss pay back history with your car loan or credit cards, this will make you seem like a risky applicant. Past behavior often tells a lot about future behavior. The bankers will also want to see how much debt you already have. If you have maxed out your credit card and have two large car payments, you better have a big salary to cover it all.
Character is another trait bankers look at when approving mortgages. They want to see a responsible, hard working citizen when they approve a loan. Typically, they also want to see a stable employment history. This means that you have worked in the same field or for the same employer for at least two years. Your honesty and integrity will also play a part in their determination.
The amount of cash you have to put down on your loan will make a difference, too. Depending on the loan, you may have to put from 5% to 20% down on mortgages. This shows good faith and gives you built in equity right from the start. They also will go over your bank account with a fine-tooth comb to make sure you make enough money to cover your monthly payments. Typically, your monthly salary should be three to four times more than your monthly house payment. You should also have some backup reserves to cover any emergencies that may come up.
Being approved for mortgages can be the key to being a homeowner for the majority of people. While some individuals can pay cash up front, they are in the minority. If you want to buy a house, make sure your credit, character, and cash are adequate for the bankers' approval.
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Baby Stores Are Stocked With The Items You Need

If you're new to the world of parenting, you know that's there's plenty to learn in a short period of time. You'll need to be well stocked with a certain number of items to meet the demand of your newborn. There will be a lot to deal with right after the birth, so it's helpful to plan everything ahead of time to decrease the stress. Where can you go to be prepared? Thankfully, there are plenty of baby stores that are targeted to people in your situation. What kind of items should you buy ahead of time? Consider picking up the following in order to be ready for the new addition to the family:
Strollers
You'll need to have some kind of device to carry around the newborn, and the stroller is the perfect fit. Baby stores are well stocked with all sorts of strollers to fit your personal needs. If you like to exercise, they have strollers that are designed for pushing while you jog. There are also strollers that are lightweight and can easily fold up into a vehicle. Whatever you desire, you can count on choosing from a vast selection of high quality strollers that will make pushing your kid around an easy task.
Clothing
Your child will certainly need some clothing right away. Baby companies carry all kinds of clothing with different styles that will make dressing your child fun. You can choose from plenty of sets and one-pieces that will keep your newborn comfortable at all times. It's always good to have a stock of clothing at your disposal, as you'll never know how many outfits you'll go through in one day.
Diapers
Get ready, because you'll be going through a huge amount of diapers for the next few years. Baby stores carry diapers from top brands by the boatload. Regardless if you're going to go the traditional route or the clothing diaper route, it's important to have enough of them at your disposal. You'll also need to have some accessories, such as ointment and powder, in your cabinet. Your child's health and comfort is your highest priority, so make sure you select from high quality brands with a great reputation. These stores will offer diapers in a bulk amount at a price that cannot be matched.
Cribs
You'll certainly need to build a crib or nursery that will keep you child comfortable while they sleep. Baby stores have access to high quality furniture at reasonable prices. You can select from the material and colors that appeal to you. Also, don't forget the importance of investing in good bedding. Again, your child should always be comfortable and happy, so it's your duty to pay for a good mattress that will guarantee them a safe night of sleep. Another great element of these companies is that they'll often deliver to your home, free of charge. See if delivery is part of the purchase, as not worrying about hauling the crib back will keep the stress off your back.
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Improving Your Business Efficiency and Security With RFID Solutions

RFID stands for "radio-frequency identification," which involves using a small electric device to track items. This device consists of a tiny chip and an antenna and it serves the same purpose as the magnetic strip on a credit card or the bar code commonly found on product packaging. RFID solutions help businesses track inventory and vehicles, perform access control, and check-in truckloads of cargo.
How RFID Solutions Work
Tiny RFID chips are integrated into devices such as tags, cards, and labels. To retrieve identifying information from these chips, the RFID device is scanned by a compatible reader. For example, RFID chips may be integrated in identification badges that employees pass by a reader to gain access to the workplace.
RFID tags can be installed on vehicles such as cars, trucks, and trains. A moving car equipped with an RFID tag will activate the gate arm when the vehicle nears the area, causing the arm to rise so the vehicle can enter the lot. Readers may have long operating ranges, allowing users to track equipped trucks and trains from long distances. Tags can even be combined with Global Positioning System technology for real-time mapping of vehicles and assets.
Unique RFID Solutions
Farmers know that livestock tend to have minds of their own, wandering far into open pastures. Without a tagging system, a farmer will not know whether all livestock has traveled back to the farm. RFID tags allow farmers to verify that their herd is accounted for and no animals have strayed over from a neighboring farm. The same idea applies to car dealerships, where it can be difficult to identify the correct make and model without walking the entire lot. After attaching an RFID tag to each vehicle, it is easy to differentiate the cars and locate the correct vehicle from a distance.
Many office buildings have rooms filled with cartons of archived files. Trying to find a desired file is like looking for a needle in a haystack. If an RFID tag is affixed to each carton and the cartons are inventoried in a special software system, the process of locating a file takes minutes, not hours or days, saving employees time, lost productivity, and lots of frustration.
Why RFID Solutions Are the Best
RFID is the preferred technology to bar codes and magnetic strips for several reasons. An RFID device does not need to be swiped through or over a reader. RFID chips work within a few feet and up to 20 feet from the appropriate scanner. The scanning device can read the RFID tags on all products in a grocery bag once the bag is placed on the scanner. A cashier will see a product list and the total purchase amount on a monitor.
Far from being a newfangled technology, RFID has been around for more than a half-century. It has become more common because the devices have recently become small and inexpensive enough to be considered throwaway items. This means that RFID should be feasible for businesses of all types and sizes.
Online River offers business owners RFID Solutions as well as security equipment, loyalty programs, and crowd control equipment. We are the true one-stop-shop for business owners who want to increase their security and efficiency while at the same time improving their customer loyalty. For more information and a complete listing of our services and products, click here.