You CAN start with empty pockets and piles of bills and build a steady income, even wealth, via the internet. It's a long, hard road though, so it's best to prepare and take along a good map.
First, a comparison to building an offline, bricks-and-mortar business, just for perspective. If you're young, you might educate yourself in your field, go to work for someone else, and build your experience, reputation and equity. Then you could take out a business start-up loan, rent a storefront, buy all the necessary equipment, tools, furniture and merchandise, buy advertising -- and wait years to work your way out of debt and make a profit.
If you aren't young, have a family and all the expenses and debts that go with that,and are not making enough money working for someone else to get ahead, you don't have the same options. Night school, years of part-time education and training, with your creditors hounding you every step of the way...sound familiar?
So you turn on your computer and wonder...wish...that one of those promises of quick riches could be true for you. I wouldn't go there if I were you.
Here are some first steps to getting started as an internet entrepreneur:
1. Honest self-assessment: There are certain qualities necessary to being self-employed. If you can honestly say that you are self-disciplined, self-motivated, determined, self-confident, patient, persevering and maybe even a bit stubborn, you have what it takes.
2. Research: You need to spend some time researching the company, the products, and the people already working the business. Is the company solid and dependable, are the company executives accessible and responsive, are the products of high desirability and quality, and maybe most importantly, is there experienced, successful, and friendly team support?
3. Support: Surround yourself with cheerleaders, mentors, knowledge, and inspiration, both on- and offline. Your family, the company, and others who have succeeded where you are treading for the first time, should all be available to you. You should never feel that you're all alone.
4. Infrastructure: Decide what you need: computer,printer, fax, phone; whatever your chosen business requires. Create an office space that suits your lifestyle and work needs. A corner of the living room can function well if you can work while the kids are at school or if their noise doesn't bother you, but evening work may require a separate room. Don't put your office in the bedroom if you work evenings and your spouse goes to bed early. You need your family's support, not their animosity!
5. Realism: It's tempting to try a business that makes promises it can't keep. Many tell you that one person or a few make thousands of dollars a week and so can you. None of them will point out that maybe you will be one of thousands who quit before they make a cent. "Put money in your pocket today!" Yes, but will any go in tomorrow?
Accept the fact that any business worth its salt can take time. Maybe you can begin making money in a couple months, or maybe a year. You have to be able to maintain life as you know it for however long it takes. Understand that it won't be a steady climb to the top from where you are today; the path will go up and down.
6. Selling someone else's product or your own: Obviously, the big money is in selling your own product. Selling for another company is a great way to get your feet wet in internet commerce, however. At first you may feel like you're floundering in an unfathomable sea of information, but at some point will come the knowledge that you're "getting it." Working for a good company will leave you knowing that you have what it takes to do it on your own, if you choose.
7. Business plan: This keeps you focused, helps you develop goals, strategies and work plans; and aids in evaluating your results. It can include contingency plans, and is never written in stone. As you learn and your business develops, the plan will evolve too.
Now that you've got the road map...take that first step! Your future begins today!
Glenn Beach is a poet, writer and home business entrepreneur in Nova Scotia, Canada. Free newsletter, more articles, and business start-up info at: http://www.work-at-home-business-opportunity-canada.com
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Bad credit loans - Repair your credit rating the right way
How to Repair a Bad Credit Rating ... The Right Way!
If you have a bad credit rating, then you might find that your ability to get financing, loans, and even some jobs is greatly diminished.
Once you have a bad credit rating, it might seem like there's nothing that you can do about it… but you don't have to believe that. It's not as difficult as you might think to get by with a bad credit rating; with a little work and time you can even repair it! Of course, before you do that it's important to realize exactly what a credit rating is.
Every time a lender or other creditor makes a report concerning your payment history to them, this report affects your credit score.
Your credit score is a numerical indication of the positive and negative reports that you've received from creditors and lenders; if the number is high then you have a good credit rating, and if it's low then you have a bad credit rating.
Basic credit repair
Get organized! Make a folder for all your correspondence offline and online. You will have to do some snail mailing but in most cases you can work your repair online.
In the U.S. a 630 rating will qualify you for a mortgage. You can still get credit with a lower score but not at a premium interest rate.
The important thing to do is obtain your credit report and study it. Mark all the negative items.
Most unsecured credit, mostly credit cards, can stay on your report for 7 years. If you find any over that, write to the credit bureau and ask them to remove it. They are required by law to research and report back within 30 days.
If they don't, you can threaten them with a letter to the Better Business Bureau or
Federal Trade Commission.
Find any other negative items and determine they are correct. If not, write the bureau and tell them its not your debt.
Even if you aren't sure, ask the credit bureaus to investigate. Many times, they will not be able to verify the debt because the credit card company, auto loan company or other creditor won't get back them within 30 days (required by Fair Credit Act).
Dan is the owner of Repair Your Credit...The Right Way!. For the contact information on credit bureaus as well as samples of letters to send to them, go to:
http://www.repair-credit-right.com
If you have a bad credit rating, then you might find that your ability to get financing, loans, and even some jobs is greatly diminished.
Once you have a bad credit rating, it might seem like there's nothing that you can do about it… but you don't have to believe that. It's not as difficult as you might think to get by with a bad credit rating; with a little work and time you can even repair it! Of course, before you do that it's important to realize exactly what a credit rating is.
Every time a lender or other creditor makes a report concerning your payment history to them, this report affects your credit score.
Your credit score is a numerical indication of the positive and negative reports that you've received from creditors and lenders; if the number is high then you have a good credit rating, and if it's low then you have a bad credit rating.
Basic credit repair
Get organized! Make a folder for all your correspondence offline and online. You will have to do some snail mailing but in most cases you can work your repair online.
In the U.S. a 630 rating will qualify you for a mortgage. You can still get credit with a lower score but not at a premium interest rate.
The important thing to do is obtain your credit report and study it. Mark all the negative items.
Most unsecured credit, mostly credit cards, can stay on your report for 7 years. If you find any over that, write to the credit bureau and ask them to remove it. They are required by law to research and report back within 30 days.
If they don't, you can threaten them with a letter to the Better Business Bureau or
Federal Trade Commission.
Find any other negative items and determine they are correct. If not, write the bureau and tell them its not your debt.
Even if you aren't sure, ask the credit bureaus to investigate. Many times, they will not be able to verify the debt because the credit card company, auto loan company or other creditor won't get back them within 30 days (required by Fair Credit Act).
Dan is the owner of Repair Your Credit...The Right Way!. For the contact information on credit bureaus as well as samples of letters to send to them, go to:
http://www.repair-credit-right.com
Bad credit loans- declined credit card application
You may already have 2 or more credit cards in your purse or wallet and you have just applied for a third and been declined. This can be very frustrating considering you pay off your other credit cards regularly and you are continually having your credit limit raised.
This is a common problem and the only way to find out more is by getting a copy of your Credit Report. Equifax and Experian are the two main credit reference companies in the UK and hold credit details of over 40 million people. Your file includes information about all your credit cards, loans, mortgages, bank account details, as well as any adverse bill payments or County Court Judgements against you.
When a Credit Provider asses your credit risk they will look at your Credit Report and make a decision based on your scoring. Your score is based on several factors. You may get more points for living in your address for more than 3 years or for having a home telephone, be married or for having children. Your age and profession can also help your score. The more points you have on your file the more chance you have of being approved for credit. The credit provider will use all this information coupled with your credit history to come to a decision. A Credit Providers scoring system is sensitive information so it’s not easy to understand why you were refused credit.
By having access to your Credit Report you will be able to get a sense of why you possibly have not been granted Credit. Another important point is to check and see that everything on your report is correct. You are allowed to make corrections to your file. As most people don’t get their Credit Report they never know what’s on it or why they are being refused credit. If you fell behind in some of your bill payments you are also allowed to add a note explaining why you did. This may also improve your score.
With all the 0% credit cards on offer its worth mentioning that if you are continuously applying for these cards you could be damaging your credit score. The number of times you apply within a 6 to 12 month period can have an adverse effect on your score. If you have been refused credit, don’t just move on to the next lender, find out as much as possible as to why it was declined before applying somewhere else.
You can find out more about your Credit Report at Experian and Equifax. It costs £2 for a basic report.
Grant Marwick is a freelance writer and owner of http://www.only-credit-cards.co.uk where you will find advice and more articles on Low interest Credit Cards and Credit Reports.
This is a common problem and the only way to find out more is by getting a copy of your Credit Report. Equifax and Experian are the two main credit reference companies in the UK and hold credit details of over 40 million people. Your file includes information about all your credit cards, loans, mortgages, bank account details, as well as any adverse bill payments or County Court Judgements against you.
When a Credit Provider asses your credit risk they will look at your Credit Report and make a decision based on your scoring. Your score is based on several factors. You may get more points for living in your address for more than 3 years or for having a home telephone, be married or for having children. Your age and profession can also help your score. The more points you have on your file the more chance you have of being approved for credit. The credit provider will use all this information coupled with your credit history to come to a decision. A Credit Providers scoring system is sensitive information so it’s not easy to understand why you were refused credit.
By having access to your Credit Report you will be able to get a sense of why you possibly have not been granted Credit. Another important point is to check and see that everything on your report is correct. You are allowed to make corrections to your file. As most people don’t get their Credit Report they never know what’s on it or why they are being refused credit. If you fell behind in some of your bill payments you are also allowed to add a note explaining why you did. This may also improve your score.
With all the 0% credit cards on offer its worth mentioning that if you are continuously applying for these cards you could be damaging your credit score. The number of times you apply within a 6 to 12 month period can have an adverse effect on your score. If you have been refused credit, don’t just move on to the next lender, find out as much as possible as to why it was declined before applying somewhere else.
You can find out more about your Credit Report at Experian and Equifax. It costs £2 for a basic report.
Grant Marwick is a freelance writer and owner of http://www.only-credit-cards.co.uk where you will find advice and more articles on Low interest Credit Cards and Credit Reports.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)