Friday, May 17, 2013

Staying Above Board in a Global Economy

The world of work is getting smaller. With the increasing use of technology to link businesspeople across the globe, working outside your own country can be as simple as setting up a conference call and emailing your products to your client.

The beginning of a contract may come with a long-distance relationship, but as you and your new client work more closely together, there may come a point when you need to work with your client in their own country and travel overseas to complete the job you’ve signed up to deliver.


Staying Above Board in a Global Economy

By taking on contracts from overseas, contractors potentially open themselves up to a range of financial and tax issues. However, this shouldn’t stop you from moving into overseas markets and seeking clients wherever there is work for you.

Eligibility to work

When travelling abroad to work, there are a number of issues that you will need to take into account. Depending on the part of the world where you’ll be working, there are different regulations about travelling, working and how long you can stay.

Working in the European Economic Area is a relatively straightforward prospect as there is freedom of movement amongst member states for people to live and work as they wish. There is no requirement to apply for a permit or visa to work in any EU country or in Norway, Iceland or Lichtenstein. This can significantly simplify the process of working within a country rather than working remotely for a client from a base in the UK.

Work in all countries outside Europe is likely to require a permit and relevant visa. If you try to start work without the relevant documentation, you risk being deported. It makes sense to seek expert advice on the requirements in the country where your client resides before starting work to keep you on the right side of the law.

Tax status

It can sometimes seem that tax affairs of purely UK-based contractors is complex enough, but adding an international dimension can further complicate matters. Whether or not you need to pay UK tax on earnings made overseas will depend on a number of factors.

Seeking advice before taking up an overseas contract where you will leave the UK to work in the country where your client is based will help you to plan for the allowances you need to make in terms of taxation. The duration of your contract, your usual base of operations and how long you will be spending out of the country will all have an impact on how HMRC treat your earnings with respect to tax.

Healthcare, welfare and insurance

If you are working in an EU country, as a citizen of an EU member state you will receive the same welfare and healthcare benefits as those offered to citizens of the country in which you’re working. If you were to fall ill whilst in a European country, you would receive healthcare in the same way as anyone else living in your host nation. If your contract takes you to any country outside Europe, you will not receive state benefits or healthcare if you are taken ill during your stay.

Even if you are able to access hospital care equivalent to that of any other resident of your host country, the benefits you receive will not enable you to return to the UK without incurring significant costs. Whether you’re working in the EU or a country where reciprocal healthcare benefits are not provided to foreign nationals, it makes sense to have comprehensive insurance to ensure that if you are taken ill you can return to the UK for your care, if that’s what you would prefer. Seek specialist advice on insurance for business travel to make certain that you are covered while you are abroad and to get you back if necessary.

Conclusion

As with all matters relating to your business, it makes sense to seek specialist advice as early as possible when considering taking work overseas to make sure you don’t fall foul of laws on taxation or end up stranded abroad with no way to get home.
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Thursday, May 16, 2013

Online Trading – What should the Australian online traders know?

Buying and selling products including shares have become quite easy these days. There was a time when only the rich and the affluent people could afford stock trading. Now-a-days, a large number of “common people” own stock and are regular in the field of online share trading. Similar to various countries across the globe, people in Australia are also interested in share trading. The National Australia Bank (NAB) plays a great role in the share trading business of the country. It should be noted here that whether you are a frequent trader or you're a casual investor, the NABTRADE makes it easier for everyone to trade online.

Online Trading – What should the Australian online traders know?

Top 3 features of NABTRADE

The 3 main features of NABTRADE which makes it popular amongst the Australian online traders include the following:

1) Easy for customers to use: NABTRADE has been designed by traders like us. So, it has been basically developed keeping in mind people like us. So, it becomes quite easier for traders to use this option for online trading.

2) Lowest possible brokerage: It should also be noted that NABTRADE offers a competitive online trading rate in the Australian market. Their brokerage starts from as little as $14.95.

3) Vast research: You’ll be surprised to know that NABTRADE has more researched recommendations when we speak about Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listed companies. 

Popular trading tools offered by NABTRADE to the traders

While you opt for online trading in Australia, you should definitely check out the helpful tools offered by NABTRADE. They are an asset for any trader and make things easier for all the online traders. Let’s take a look:

1) Smart Text: This is a tool which will help you interpret as well as analyze complex data and figures.

2) Compare Tool: This is an important tool as it will help you compare the news, research, performance, etc. of the various securities at a given point of time.

3) Tool Wealth: With the help of this tool, you will be able to keep a tab on your assets, investments, cash that you have kept in various accounts, etc.

4) Global scanner: This is a filtering tool which will help you in isolating list of shares.

5) Research Team: NABTRADE found that various providers often disagree between themselves. The Research Team tool is an effective research consensus tool which will help the providers in coming to an agreement.

6) Virtual portfolio: This is a tool which will help any trader to model investment portfolios in order to find out how they will perform in future.
7) Directors’ Interest: This is a unique tool which will help you know the Company Director and holder ownership. This tool will also help you know how these change from time to time.

Online Trading – What should the Australian online traders know?

Trading Services as offered by Australian Securities Exchange
The activities of Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)revolve mainly around the primary and secondary market services. They also work in the fields of central counterpart risk transfer and securities settlement for both equities as well as fixed income markets.

You should note here that ASX mainly works as a market operator. It helps in clearing house as well as payments system facilitator. It uses two operating platforms such as ASX Trade and ASX Trade24. The platform called ASX Trade carries out over 10 million equity trades in a month. If you combine them all, then they have an average value of A$5 billion.

On the other hand, ASX Trade24 is known for its diversified range of futures, options and CFDs. All of these are available on a wide range of different classes such as equities, interest rates, commodities, environment, energy, etc. The value traded on a daily basis is around A$150 billion.

Products traded at ASX

Some of the products traded at ASX include the likes of Commonwealth Government Bonds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Shares, Equity options, Interest Rate Securities, Warrants, Absolute Return Funds, Equity Options, etc.

So, now you have a basic idea about the Australian online trading market and how it operates. This will help you in starting off online trading and make proper investment in the right option.
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Top Seven Budget Summer Holiday Ideas

Most of us love going on holiday during the summer, but don’t want to spend a fortune on it. Unsurprisingly, budget holidaying has become very popular in the on-going recession, and holidaymakers are constantly on the lookout for new locations that are cheap to visit.

Cheap holidays are the best way forward in terms of having affordable fun during the summer. This article lists out seven hot budget holiday destinations for you and your family.

Sri Lanka

Tourism has enjoyed a revival in Sri Lanka in recent years, with the Guardian touting it as the number one cheapest holiday destination, next to Spain. The country is an interesting mix of cultures, enjoying remnants of British, Dutch and Portuguese colonialism.

Top Seven Budget Summer Holiday Ideas

It’s remarkably diverse for such a small island, surrounded by golden beaches, with massive rainforests and impressive mountains in the centre of the island. The food is to die for.

Bulgaria

This is one of the best budget options in Europe. The beaches are great, and there are 1,700 hours of sunshine between May and October. Enjoy water sports and an all-round great family experience.

Tunisia

You just can’t go wrong with over a thousand kilometres of coastline. You can either lounge on the beach for your entire stay, or you can travel into the country to see the Sahara desert. If you’re a Star Wars fan, make sure you visit Matmata, which was one of the original shooting locations.

Goa, India

Make sure you avoid the crowds and visit Goa during the low season. The party hasn’t stopped in Goa for years, and there are always enough local attractions that don’t involve raving till the early hours on the beach, too, like the Portuguese colonial architecture and the beautiful tropical countryside.

Egypt

Egypt’s culture and history is just astonishing and, frankly, second to none. Nearly everyone in the world is familiar with the famous images of the pyramids and the Sphinx, as well as the mighty Nile. Travelling to Egypt and staying there is incredibly cheap at the moment.

Thailand

Thailand has a lot to offer, whether you’re staying in its vibrant, bustling capital city, or if you venture outwards towards the beautiful beaches and dense jungles. The flight might be pricey, but the cost of living there is virtually rock bottom.

Dominican Republic

This island’s various hotels offer all-inclusive accommodation, but it also hosts a bunch of budget places to stay, as well. The food and drink is superb, as well as the beaches and the rainforest.
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Budgeting – 7 Tips that will help you maintain it

Creating a budget is easy. You can do it on your own by taking help of budgeting softwares. If you are not confident enough, then you can take assistance of a financial planner to help you create your budget. What is most difficult is to maintain that budget and follow it religiously. Unless you can do that, you won’t be able to save money and see the benefits of budgeting.

Exploring 7 tips which can help you stay on budget

Here are 7 tips which will help you stay on your budget without losing your sanity or getting frustrated:

1) Give importance to savings – Once you have set up a budget, you will get an idea about your income and expenditure. This will help you decide as to how much you will be able to save each month. Get that amount direct-deposited in the savings accounts.

Budgeting – 7 Tips that will help you maintain it

2) Carry cash always – Carrying cash is a great way to avoid credit card debts and unnecessary purchases which can toss up your budget. Whenever you’re out for a shopping at a shopping mall or your nearby grocery store, use cash to make payments.

3) Get rid of your bad habits – A nice way to stay within your budget is to get rid of your bad habits. Bad habits like drinking and smoking can be quite expensive. So, if you can get rid of them, you will be able to save quite a lot of money and remain within your budget! Also, this will help improve your health and in the long run, you won’t incur medical bills.

4) Pay off as much debts as possible – Unsecured debts can be a headache and you may find that your creditors are increasing the interest rates as and when they like. So, it’s better to pay off the unsecured debts especially the credit cards. Start off with the credit card which has highest interest rate. Pay extra on it every month and make minimum payments on other cards. Follow this with every card and you will soon find that you have reduced your debts.

5) Track your spending – In order to be on your budget and increase savings, you should track your spending. Analyze all your bills and receipts to see if you’re making unnecessary expenditure. Cut those expenses and save more while on budget! For example, avoid expenses by bringing your lunch from home and using a car pool.

6) Balancing check book – Yes, it is quite important. You should start balancing your check book on a time to time basis. Make sure that you never incur overdraft fees. Insufficient funds can also be a major error. If you balance your check book on a regular basis, you are sure to avoid them.

7) Variable expenses – You can create a tight budget for yourself and even follow it diligently. But you should also remember that life is changeable. Things may go out of control. Also, always allot some money for the variable expenses. Do not punish yourself if your budget crosses the limit on some months.

Budgeting can make your life run smooth. It will help you avoid hiccups in the road of life. Thus, you will be able to avoid unnecessary tension!
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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Proper financial bank investments are very important for any kind of asset management

Investments can be categorized in lots of ways. Here bank or financial investments are going to be presented as a subject to risk. Usually the higher the return the larger the risk of loss is going to be. Another way of describing this really is by saying that the conservative investor doesn’t wants to take minimum risk of getting losses but they are well pleased with low returns, on the other hand an aggressive buyer aims for higher returns and accepts losses once they occur. They are keener to get high returns while not thinking about losses which can happen any time to them. But proper financial bank investments are very important for any kind of asset management. Below are three kinds of investments that may be easily accessed via your bank.

Proper financial bank investments are very important for any kind of asset management

Keep in mind, each investor must determine the amount of risk which they can incur during the time of the trading.

1) Reduced return

These are interest bearing savings company accounts with banks or other banking institutions. The rate of interest associated with return varies from bank to bank and financial institutions and also with time. The rate of interests which are given are normally regulated and adjusted by the government of the country and they can also change that according to the need of the country’s financial growth and for several reasons. The interest bearing deposits really are a great starting point investing as you'll have immediate access for your money and you’ll need it for the purpose of asset management. Any amount could be invested.
2) Medium to low return

They are actually money market funds through which banks takes short term investments. The return is usually more than what can be found in interest bearing investments.

3) Moderate return

Certificates of Deposit will also be sound investments along with little risk and can be readily bought from a financial institution or banks. The investor can choose the term of the actual investment, and interest could be paid regularly or even at maturity. The interest rate on the Certificate of Deposit is usually higher than individuals of interest showing deposits and cash market funds.

In all instances the rates associated with return vary with how big the investment and also the span of time for which the fund is actually invested. The returns on single types of opportunities also vary in between banks and banking institutions because each lender has a various business aim and differing amounts of deposits. Do your homework and will also be surprised at the actual differences. In normal cases it has been seen that in those the risk factor is high, the return to the investment is also higher. So it can be of great confusion for a new beginner in this line to start his or her investment. So be caution while doing investments and also clarify the agreement papers that you are going to sign. If you've some lazy cash around, select the expense type that suits your requirements. These investment strategies are between the safest investments currently available. Start making cash now.
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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

The benefits of being an Actuary

A recent survey revealed that an Actuary is the most desired and ‘best ‘profession to work as based on a number of key factors , including working environment, stress, hiring outlook and physical demands.  This is hardly surprising when considering the amazing perks of the role, so let’s take a look at just why it’s so good to pursue a career as an actuary.

The benefits of being an Actuary

Money, money, money

Yes, money isn’t everything, but when it comes to being an Actuary, is one of the most obvious benefits. The industry traditionally offers a very appealing numeration packages with UK actuaries typically earning around £46,000 per year and the more experienced and senior Actuaries (Chief Actuary) taking home over £200,000. Plus, working within the corporate world tends to present you with a few extras such as extensive health insurance/life insurance packages and more.

Job satisfaction

Actuaries get to work with what they love best –  numbers.  As such the job satisfaction that comes with being an actuary can be incredibly high as it offers professionals a chance to problem solve and in many cases have a positive impact upon legislation, individuals and businesses as well as the overall industry itself which can be incredibly rewarding.

Going global

Another fantastic USP of working as an Actuary are the travel opportunities. Being an Actuary is a truly international profession with transferable skills that adapt to the changing financial climates across the world. Whilst many Actuaries choose the stay based in the UK there are a growing number moving abroad to explore emerging market in countries such as the USA, Germany and South Africa.

Safe and secure

Whilst the Actuarial industry can be competitive, it’s very much a case of ‘once you’re in, you’re in.’  Plus is today’s turbulent financial climate where job security is uncertain, unemployment levels climbing and the demand for risk assessment high, there has never been a better time for the Actuary. Actuarial recruiters, Star Actuarial are seeing consistent increases in the number of roles becoming available for Actuaries and currently have a whole host of roles on offer within the Actuarial professional, both in the UK and abroad.

So, there you have it, the most desired and highest rated job in the world today is an Actuary. It’s easy to see why with an extensive range of perks available no matter what level of your career you’re at.
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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The four options that relieve you of IRS tax issues

You cannot completely evade tax or escape tax debts. It is your duty to pay tax and if you have problems in doing so, you can try to make the tax payments through any of the four primary options available under IRS tax relief. In almost all of these programs, you will have to pay at least a part of your tax debt. So, the main aim of these programs is to try and minimize the amount to be paid by you to the IRS.

The four options that relieve you of IRS tax issues


What are your options?

As has been mentioned above, there mainly are four options following which you may find it easier to pay down your tax debts. These are:

Tax Debt Settlement

Tax settlement involves a lump sum payment after the amount you owe gets settled. This program ensures that they get back or recover at least a part of the money you owe them. This program is also helpful for you as it allows you to save money as you aren’t required to pay the taxes in full. The following are the factors which the government considers so as to determine the settlement amount:

1. Your age
2. The assets you have
3. Your income and fixed expenses

Tax Compromise

The program under tax compromise works similar to that of tax settlement. In this case too, the amount to be paid to the IRS reduces. However, the main difference in between the two is the way in which the amount you will be required to pay gets determined. In case of the tax compromise program, the IRS considers your payment ability. So, the IRS mostly considers your investments and savings rather than your income and age.

IRS Tax Abatement

The tax abatement process is nothing but tax forgiveness. Although, it is tough to obtain this relief, if agreed it provides you with the opportunity to get a reduction with regards to your liability and also an increase in the deductions. That is, the penalty for non payment of taxes may get reduced. It is offered to people in genuinely hard situations. People those who aren’t responsible for their hardships may be eligible to qualify for payments under this option.

The Installment Payment Plan

The instalment structure provides you a repayment plan, so that you can manage to pay down the taxes you owe. This helps the IRS in recovering the funds easily and fast too. A repayment plan works best in times of financial hardship. For example, if you have been laid off or if you are unable to work due to any accident or illness, this may be one of the best options.

So, these are the tax relief options through which you can pay down the tax debts.
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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The Big Savings from Small Engines

Whilst the majority of the motorists will look for diesel, hybrid or electrical powered cars when they are searching for an efficient and financially-friendly vehicle many are overlooking petrol cars as a potential source for frugal driving.

Car brands such as the likes of Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Ford are doing all they can to ensure that petrol cars are still a viable option when motorists are searching for a mean green eco-warrior machine. Such manufacturers are achieving these results through the implementation of smaller engines, which in turn result in a better return on fuel than your usual petrol powered hatchback.

The Big Savings from Small Engines

For example Ford’s new 1.0 litre Eco Boost engine is as powerful as the previous unit, but is 30 per cent lighter than its 1.6 litre engine predecessor. More importantly the new engine is 15-20 per cent more fuel efficient and therefore easier on your finances due to it only requiring infrequent visits to the filling station.

Furthermore, the Italian manufacturer Fiat has also been giving smaller engines a go. The two-cylinder Fiat 500 engine has been designed in such a way that careful management of the amount of air that enters the engine helps manage its combustion. Such allows the vehicle to improve its fuel efficiency and works to give the car an impressive 70mpg and an extremely low CO2 output of just 95g/km.

For very high mileage drivers an eco-friendly diesel car might be the best option. Diesel cars tend to be more expensive when purchased however savings can be made in the long-term because diesel engines tend ‘to last forever’ in comparison to their petrol counterpart. Although they can keep on going and going mile after mile, unless you are planning on doing excessive motorway driving and high mileage you may not see any financial benefit.  To aid any potential further financial benefits diesel car drivers should evaluate the option of Diesel Cards from Chooseafuelcard.com

To summarise if you are a high mileage driver who spends hours speeding up and down the motorways, then a diesel car could be a good investment for you. However for the more average driver you are best sticking with petrol engines. Petrol engines are getting better all the time and as seen in the examples from Ford and Fiat such improvements are financially rewarding in regards to fuel consumption.

About the author : Chris writes on behalf of Chooseafuelcard.com whose range of fuel cards will allow you to save money on your fuel today. 
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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

4 Things to Consider Before Filing for Bankruptcy

Taking the option of bankruptcy is one of the most serious financial decisions that you can make.  It has far reaching implications that will affect your life for many years to come, and should always be the very last resort when looking for a solution to your financial problems.  Often, there are other avenues that you should explore before deciding to become bankrupt, ones which have a far less significant impact on your credit rating and financial standing.  Here are 4 important things to consider before filing for bankruptcy.

Understanding What You Owe

Many people start considering bankruptcy when they owe a significant sum of money that they are struggling to pay back.  However, filing for bankruptcy shouldn’t be motivated just by how much you owe, but rather on your ability to organise repayments.  There’s no limit on how much you need to owe before you declare yourself bankrupt, and a creditor can make you bankrupt for any amount of over $5000.  Just because you owe a large amount of money doesn’t mean that you should become bankrupt, especially if you can negotiate for longer terms and decreased repayments with your creditors. 

4 Things to Consider Before Filing for Bankruptcy

Restricted Lifestyle

If you do decide to file for bankruptcy, your entire life will be seriously affected by the decision.  Some of your assets may be sold off, your entire financial records will be closely investigated, and your financial institution may restrict your accounts and freeze your credit cards.  You will not be allowed to leave the country without the permission of your trustee, and you must disclose your status as bankrupt when applying for any kind of credit.  If you violate these terms, or have been found to have sold off property before your bankruptcy to defeat creditors, you could face up to 3 years in jail.

Explore Other Options

Remember that bankruptcy should always be your absolute last resort.  There are many options to explore before you file for bankruptcy, and many of them are viable ways to get yourself out of dangerous levels of debt.  The first step is to speak to all of your creditors and explain your situation.  Work out a repayment plan with them, and see if they can offer you a lower rate of interest and an extended term on your loan.  Consolidating your debt into one single loan is also a great way to simplify your debt, and allows you to keep track of what you owe with one single monthly payment.

Professional Assistance is Available

Talking to your creditors can be a daunting task, especially if they have already been aggressive in their attempts to recover missed payments.  Luckily, there are a range of debt solutions specialists such as Fox Symes who have years of experience helping Australians to overcome their issues with debt.  A professional consultant will review your situation and help you to decide which option will be the best for your personal needs, and can often help you to avoid bankruptcy.  However if there is no other option, they will be able to organise everything for you and give you support and advice every step of the way.

Bankruptcy will change your life, so think very carefully before you make any decisions regarding your financial situation. The best option is to consult a professional debt solutions team with years of experience, such as Fox Symes.  No longer will you have to negotiate with creditors, deal with hostile phone calls and worry about the next letter in the mail.  Professional debt solutions are designed to get you back on track and in control of your finances for good.
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Thursday, April 18, 2013

Pros and Cons of Borrowing from the Bank

With times being tough as of late, more and more people are turning to their bank to get some extra funding, be it for expensive one-off purchases or just to try and reduce the financial pressure in their day-to-day lives. With so many people choosing to go down the borrowing route, it is important to know both the pros and cons of doing so.

Advantages

The most immediate advantage of borrowing money from the bank is the speed at which you can make extravagant purchases. Cars, holidays and deposits on homes suddenly become much more achievable, with the cost then spread over a long period of time via monthly repayments to your lender.

Pros and Cons of Borrowing from the Bank


With so many different banks available, all competing to gain customers, many people fail to realise they can often negotiate better interest rates than the ones they are originally quoted, leading to some very good deals. 

If you refrained from ever borrowing money or using a credit card to make purchases but decide later in life that sourcing extra cash could be a good move, you may find it harder to be accepted. Many lenders will only accept people with a good credit rating and you can only establish a good credit rating if you have borrowed money and made sure to meet your repayment deadlines. There are also other situations where having built up a good credit rating can be of use, such as the hire of a car. 

Disadvantages

The average debt for an American with a credit card currently stands at $15,204. This – and any other debts from borrowing money – must be repaid no matter what, regardless of whether your financial situation improves or worsens from the time you borrow the money. If you fail to make repayments, you will face a substantial fine and your name will be marked with a poor credit history, making it hard to get businesses to trust you in the future.

Pros and Cons of Borrowing from the Bank

Many people who borrowed money via a loan or credit card were unwittingly charged extra for Payment Protection Insurance (PPI); a policy designed to maintain repayments should the borrower become unable to work. It was however, mis-sold in forms that were unsuitable to the recipient, costing people thousands of dollars in unwanted charges. Luckily, help is available to claim the money back but many remain unaware of their entitlement to do so; continuing to pay for cover they do not want or need.

Simply opting to use your bank may sound the easiest option but that does not mean it is the best one. Other financial institutions and lenders can offer smaller rates of interest and loans that specialise in a certain area, meaning that shopping around can be better than just settling for what you know; your bank may not always have your best interests at heart.

Conclusion

Borrowing money can be a great fix for many people’s problems, be they short-term or long-term. It is important however, to always ensure you get the best deal and borrow in the manner that is right for you. You must be certain you will be able to meet the repayments before you accept any deals and end up crippled with debt you will be unable to pay off.
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Ways of working more productively by doing less

Whether you’re starting up a new business or are the owner of an SME, you’ll be aware off the truth to the old adage that ‘time is money.’ Unfortunately, you’ll also have discovered that there is more to running your business than simply running your business. There’s accounts to be done, sales opportunities to chase, networking events to attend, tasks to prioritize and even staff to track. 

While these may all be important to ensuring that your business runs smoothly, how can your business run at all if you can’t dedicate the time you need to run it? Let’s have a look at the five best apps that will help you be more productive, whilst doing less:

1) QuickBooks Mobile. This app is released by Intuit and anyone familiar with the QuickBooks software will know just how valuable it is. In essence, it’s like having a virtual accountant on call at any time and wherever you happen to be. QuickBooks Mobile offers all the standard features of its software counterpart, allowing you to manage your accounts, create and send invoices, make payments and stay on top of all your accounting commitments. Perfect for entrepreneurs and SME owners – especially as Intuit are providing it for free.

Ways of working more productively by doing less

2) Square. This app helps turn encounters into opportunities. Many SME owners lose sales by not being able to take on the spot payment. Square turns your mobile phone or tablet into a virtual card reader. It works just the same as the ones you find in the shops; all your client has to do is key in their security details and the transaction is authorized. Receipts and invoices are issued instantly and can be sent to your accounting software, meaning you never have to be off-duty or miss an opportunity.

3) Momentem is a very useful app for those who lose a lot of time due to poor organizational skills. Momentem can integrate your calendar and address book to help you prioritize tasks and meetings. In addition, because it’s an app, you have access to all that information wherever you happen to be; you can even set alarms and alerts to keep you ahead of your own plans.

4) Google Latitude is great for SMEs with employees out on the road. Whether it’s salesmen or a fleet of taxis, Google Latitude acts as a GPS tracker, allowing you to see exactly where your employees are at any given time; perfect for those instances where your employee is having trouble finding a particular place at a particular time. Late arrivals might not be completely avoidable, but you may be able to mitigate someone’s tardiness using this app.

5) Gist turns your Google mail account into a networking facility. Instead of just being able to send and receive emails, Gist allows you to exploit the contact you have in your address book and, much in the way LinkedIn works, help you discover further contacts that might be of use to you. In many ways, this app is as useful as a marketing campaign, without all the cost and manpower that you need to launch at traditional one.
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