Most have heard the saying ” keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” When it comes to business, an entrepreneur should consider following those guidelines. Founders rely on investors to assist financially when starting or growing a business. These finances are derived from three types of investors: family and friends, angel investors, and venture capitalists. By no means is an angel investor or venture capitalist an enemy, but due to a lack of trust or personal relationship, the entrepreneur tends to initially ask family and friends for financial capital. Investments from loved ones are very common, although businessmen should take precaution in relying solely on those funds.

Family and friends are critical when running a business and, “investments from friends and family are often what make a startup possible in the first place” (Wasserman 257). Those individuals also provide support, encouragement, and constructive criticism for the entrepreneur. The ability to bounce ideas off others and gain confidence in presenting a business plan is invaluable. “A founder is greatly influenced by the family and culture in which he or she grew up in. The most powerful influences may come from the early messages sent by the words and action of older relatives or by the culture in which a person grew up” (Wasserman 30). The founder will ultimately have the final decision though loved ones take part in a powerful influence.

Regardless of the business stage, startup or growth, the entrepreneur should be prudent in choosing an investor(s). According to David Amis and Howard Stevenson in the book, The 7 Fundamentals of Early Stage Investing, an investor can participate in one or more of the five fundamental roles: Silent investor, reserve force, team member, coach, controlling investor, or lead investor. Other considerations when selecting an investor should include:

1. Investor’s goals and passions

2. Market knowledge/expertise

3. Social capital in a specific industry

4. Successful experience and reputation

5. Financial capacity

It is not out of the realm of possibility to have a friend or family member(s) invest in the entrepreneur’s business and attain a high level of success. The founder either provided a professional structure for the member to abide by or the friend/family member encompassed several or all of the characteristics listed above.

Investments from family and friends are difficult to handle when the member values the small amount of wealth donated, does not provide any business skills or industry knowledge, and struggles with a professional relationship. “A boss-subordinate (entrepreneur-investor) relationship may make perfect organizational sense but will not suit a pair of best friends very well; nor will positions of equal authority suit a father and son” (Wasserman 102). The success of the business sits on the shoulders of the entrepreneur and all decision-making is his/her responsibility. Stressful business situations and differences in opinion can significantly increase tension in a personal relationship. Retaining a friend or family member as an investor eliminates a non-business environment, which can cause impacting relationship damage.

In conclusion, family and friends will …

The news today does not project sunny conditions with so much unemployment and closing business but not to despair, there is some good news for the homeowner. The latest good news for the one who owns his home but still is making mortgage payments is that of Streamline FHA Loans.

Mortgage rates have gone through the overhead due to the downturn in the economy and the government has realized that there needs to be a better way for the struggling homeowner to stay in his home but not be under this outrageous financial burden. It is with this realization that we now have options available.

There are some magnificent faces to this new financial bandage. Qualifications for the Streamline FHA Loans are those who are already FHA mortgage holders and therefore, it is not necessary to complete many of the steps that one might be required to do if going outside the FHA for refinancing. There is no credit check and no debt-to-income verification as that was already completed with your initial application. You have proven your credit worthiness previous. Much of this application can actually be done with a please phone call or even over the Internet. No appointment with a loan officer is the end result.

It is your call as to whether or not to have your home re-appraised for this loan. In the event that you do not have re-evaluation, the Streamline FHA Loan can not exceed the original loan amount. With having the property re-approved, you could qualify for the higher amount if the property has accrued equity. This is the determining factor but this should be determined prior to making applications so as to expedite the loan process and prevent problems.

With these loans, there will be no cash back as with other types of refinancing but the benefit means that each month you will be paying a lower payment on a permanent basis.

There are some prerequisites to these loans. With the Streamline FHA Loan, you must be occupying this property as your primary residence and you must be current on your FHA mortgage. If you are not current, there are other options that you may discuss with an FHA advisor.

So even though the economy is struggling you do not have to struggle with your mortgage payment if you already have a FHA mortgage loan. Streamline FHA loans can be the homeowner's life raft for millions of Americans! …

The internet plays a major role in every aspect of our modern life. Internet technologies play a major role in business. As a business owner, knowing the role of internet in business will help you take advantage of the powerful opportunities it offers to grow you business and make operations more effective.

Here are different ways in which the internet has contributed to the success and growth of businesses.

Communication: The internet makes communication fast and cost efficient. Businesses use internet technologies such as Skype internet and video calls, email and video conferencing to make communication virtually instant.

Growth: The internet plays a big role in the growth of businesses. It gives businesses an opportunity to reach a wider global audience. Promoting through the internet is also a way to increase sales and reach the desired growth level. Business can also expand by having an online division.

Marketing: One of the role of internet in business involves marketing and advertising. Most businesses are taking advantage of the internet to market their products and services to a global audience. The most notable internet technologies here include search engines such as Google.

Networking and Recruiting: Social networking websites play a role in business networking by connecting like-minded professionals. Through the internet, people have found business partners and great employees.

Outsourcing services:The internet has helped cut costs by outsourcing services to countries where it is cheaper to provide these services. Apart from the cost reduction through the outsourcing role of internet in business, outsourcing enables businesses to concentrate on their core services and become more efficient.

Online Shopping Role: One role of internet in business is the birth of ecommerce websites and online payment solutions that allow people to shop online from the comfort of their own homes.

New Opportunities: The internet has opened up new business opportunities and giving rise to a group of successful online business owners. This is a powerful role as anyone can now start an online business.

The role of internet in business cannot be overstated. New businesses are taking advantage of the powerful role the internet plays in business to grow and succeed at a faster rate than was previously possible. Traditional businesses are also not being left behind as they are creating online divisions. A business owner can only ignore the role the internet plays in business at the peril of his or her business.…

Here are the most high-paying consulting jobs today:

1. Corporate Consulting. This is a professional service designed to help organizations or businesses in developing and later on, achieving their goals. Corporate consultants usually offer a wide range of services that include fine tuning the company's processes and operations, evaluating an existing structure or process, and offering practical trainings or seminars to key people within the corporate structure. This type of consulting can focus on specific areas of business or can address the overall function of organizations.

2. Software consulting. This is one of the most lucrative consulting jobs because it is not as competitive as other consulting fields. Right now, there are only a few people who are sinking their teeth into this endeavor as it requires technical skills. A software consultant assess the processes being used by organizations and they offer solutions based on their assessments. They typically integrate customized software into business processes with the aim to increase efficiency at the same time, minimize cost and manpower.

3. Engineering consulting. This is a type of service that aims to help businesses in meeting their constructions and design needs. Engineering consultants offer different services depending on their expertise and field experience. There are those that focus on mechanical engineering and some who are creating solutions to electrical problems.

4. Web consulting. As far as I am concerned, this is one of the most lucrative consulting jobs today as more and more entrepreneurs are taking their businesses online. Web consultants offer various services from creating a website, to optimizing it, to creating an online marketing campaign. Their goal is simple; Help their clients become more visible online and help them increase their sales and revenue. …

It is easy to understand how a business cash advance works. Small business owners can have constant access to funds, simply by following four easy steps.

Apply

Applying consists of completing a two-page application and submitting the last four months of your merchant statements, along with a copy of your business lease and a voided check.

If your business processes at least $ 5,000 in credit card sales each month, you've owned it for six months or more and you have at least one year left on the property lease, you will most likely be approved for up to $ 500,000.

Your application can be approved in only 48 hours.

Receive

Once you have been approved, funding only takes about a week. Your business cash advance provider will wire the funds into the account of your choice, then you are free to use them however you please, because typically, there are no restrictions on fund usage.

Repay

Repayment begins as soon as you are funded and your business begins to process credit card sales. Fixed monthly payments with interest are not required, because payments are automatically deducted as a small percentage from daily credit card sales. It usually takes about eight months for an advance to be repaid. Still, should the advance be repaid sooner than eight months, there are no penalties. Likewise, there are no penalies if it takes more than eight months to repay the advance.

Renew

Renewal opportunities are one of the most unique features of the business cash advance. When merchants reach 60 percent repayment (usually about 3 months months after funding) they become eligible for renewal. Merchants can have another sum of cash wired into their accounts in as little as 24 hours. They do not even need to submit another application.

Now that you understand how a business cash advance works, you can search for a business cash advance provider that works for you and get up to $ 500,000 in business funds. …