How To Save Thousands On Your Holiday Purchase
One of the most obvious things most people don’t think about is buying direct from the developer directly and not using a local real estate agent. Most local agents are selling either their own projects they developed on their own or some other project that the agent is getting extra commission on. They will go on and on how they sell on unbiasesed basis but the truth remains the same. They sell the properties they make the most commissions on. Some agents do know the local market but are in the business of buying low and selling high. I remember going to see an agent in town when I was new in town. He showed me three different properties. All three I found out later he or his partner owned. So remember you will get the best deal if you go to see the developer directly and save.
Buy properties developers will wheel and deal on
Most developers are trying to make a big name for themselves. The only way to do this is to have successful projects in their portfolio. This means the developer needs to complete a project on time and that the customers who bought in on pre-construction are happy with their purchase.
New developers who lack many successful projects under their belt may be more willing to negotiate on the price. Best thing to ask the developer is what project they have completed in the past. They should be able to provide a few customer references also. If they cannot do this, they may be a new inexperienced developer.
Knowing this will allow you to save because you know you can make a great reference. By letting the customer use your name as a reference he may give you some extra discounts that a normal customer may not receive.
Check local Market prices
Know what the local prices are selling for in the area. Make sure to compare apples to apples however. Some properties and very little common area and other have as much as 25%. Knowing this will help you evaluate the property you looking to purchase. I found the best way to do this is looking at the price list sheets and either downloading them or printing them off. Put all the projects you like side by side and compare them. Also look in the local newspaper for news events and promotion shows. Most places will also have real estate or home shows every few months. This is a great place to pick up new information about projects that are just starting.
Buy pre-construction to save raising costs
There are whole books written about buying pre-construction properties. The pros and cons to both. I like pre-construction properties because you get in on ground level. One of the things you want to make sure here is that the building permit has been issued for the project.
You may even want to keep talking with the developer to make sure your stage payments don’t come until the project is at least 50% complete. If you’re buying in a western country they may even have escrow accounts that can keep your money safe during the early stages of construction. Countries like Mexico and Thailand do not so better to negotiate to keep your risk as low as possible.
Most developers will want 50-80% during construction and the balance due on completion. Thanks for reading and please sign up for my newsletter if you would like more information on saving on your holiday purchase.
Scott Riefler is an expert in
Phuket Real Estate. He has
written several informative articles. He
regularly contributes articles on
Apartments in
Phuket and Patong apartments. Sign up for our newsletter at:
Phuket apartments newsletter
Secrets to Buying Phuket Apartments
One question we are constantly asked is if you have to obtain permission from the government before purchasing Phuket property. To buy a condo or apartment in Phuket is very simple if you are a non-Thai. Most projects have a 51%-49% ownership rule. If the Building is over 51% Thai owned, a foreigner can purchase and own the condo or apartment freehold. If not, you must purchase the apartment as a 30 year lease. Check with the local land office before you purchase if you are unsure about the title deed.
Buying direct from the developer has several advantages: you will get to see a range of properties in Phuket that suit your requirements; you have the benefit of many years experience, as well as a English speaking office to support you in your home country; it may help eliminate any possible misunderstandings; and it helps takes away the stress associated with purchasing Phuket real estate in country or abroad.
Transactions and payments are simply made by wiring from you home bank account. It is always better to let the Thai banks convert your money in Thailand then to let you home bank to convert it to Baht before you wire. This tip along can save you thousands of dollars when you go to wire a large amount. Some developers can lock in a rate for you before you wire. Make sure you can communicate with your agent by MSN chat, Skype or text message in case you have any last minute questions while at the bank.
The Thai currency system is based on the decimal system. One That Baht is divided into 100 satangs. Coins range in value from ten baht to 25 satangs and six bank notes are in circulation: 10, 20, 50,100,500 and 1000. Always keep lots of small bills as it is a very big jump for most thai vendors on the street selling noodles. It is a very big jump between 100 baht and 500 or a 1000. Most street vendors and taxis can not make change for 500 baht or 1000 baht bills. Most motorcycle taxies and car taxi’s can even break a 100 baht bill without having to stop and make change.
Personal effects, household goods and furniture may be imported duty free to phuket. There is very high duty on importing a car. I believe with the hassle of dealing with Thai customs it is better to buy what you need inside of Thailand and leave most of your personal effects at home.
Find out monthly secrets to Buying in Phuket apartments and properties. Subscribe to our monthly Phuket newsletter and get free tips and tricks of the trade. Some tips alone can save you thousands of dollars on your purchase.
Scott Riefler is an expert in
Phuket Real Estate. He has
written several informative articles. He
regularly contributes articles on
Apartments in
Phuket and Patong apartments. Sign up for our newsletter at:
Phuket apartments newsletter
Starting A New Business: Learn What Legal Paperwork You Will Need
Getting A Business License: Once you have met with the zoning and business license departments and have determined that your business meets all the specific requirements for operation as a home-based business, you are ready to officially apply for the license. Business licenses are generally issued through the city or county clerk’s office and require completion of an application form. The most common information asked will cover business name, type of legal structure, location, type of business, number of employees, expected gross income and vehicles to be operated. Upon submission of the application and fee, the application will be reviewed prior to being issued. The license is renewed annually, subject to adherence to the city’s codes and regulations.
Filing Your DBA: If you plan to conduct your business under a fictitious name, you must file a DBA, which stands for “Doing Business As.” It may also be referred to as the Fictitious Name Statement. A fictitious name is any business name that does not contain your full legal name as a part of it. In some states you will be required to file a DBA even if you are using your legal name.
The purpose of the DBA is to inform the general public that you are beginning an operation under an assumed or fictitious name and that you are the individual who will be conducting that business. It must be published in a general circulation newspaper in the county in which your business is located. The ad generally must run in four consecutive issues. During this time, anyone may challenge your right to do business under that name. Following publication, verification must be filed with the city or county clerk.
The DBA gives you the exclusive right to use the name and keeps others from using the same or similar name. The time and money spent is very small compared to the benefits you will derive from becoming the owner of your business name.
Obtaining A Seller’s Permit: A seller’s permit number is required of anyone who purchases items for resale or who provides a taxable service in all states where sales tax is collected. An example of a taxable service would be clock repair. The labor or repair is not taxable, but the parts may be. A seller’s permit is obtained through the state agency responsible for the collection of sales tax. Most often it will be the Department of Revenue.
The retailer or final seller, not the customer, is responsible for paying the sales tax. Consequently, every seller engaged in the business of selling a tangible product or of providing a taxable service in a state where sales tax is collected is required to hold a seller’s permit for the purpose of reporting and paying their sales and use tax liability. The seller’s permit may also be referred to as a resale number or a resale certificate.
Your application must be based on the fact that you will be purchasing taxable items that you will offer for sale to the ultimate consumer or to other resellers or that you will be providing a taxable service. Any other reason for your request may be grounds for denial.
Sales Tax: The rule of thumb is: if you do not intend to resell your purchase through your business, do not use your resale number to buy it tax-free. Contact the agency responsible for the collection of sales tax in your state to determine the regulations on your particular type of business.
Setting Up A Business Bank Account: Often a business owner is tempted to run business finances through personal accounts. It is imperative that you keep your personal and business finances separate. Failure to do so can cause problems with your recordkeeping and tax computations. Business accounts are necessary for credibility when dealing with other businesses. You will not have much credibility with wholesalers or suppliers if you do not pay with a business check.
The first account opened with a bank is usually the business checking account. You must show proof of DBA filing before the account can be opened under your business name. The DBA gives verification that you are authorized to deposit checks made out to the business name. The DBA gives verification that you are authorized to deposit checks made out to the business name. Be sure to take your verification with you. The bank will make a copy for their records.
Tip: When you open your account, request that your checks be numbered beginning with a number higher than 101. This is a tip-off that you are a new business. You want to look established in the eyes of your creditors. The selection of the bank with which you will do business should be undertaken with consideration. Banks vary greatly in the services they offer, as well as in the charges for those services.
Jeff Casmer is an internet marketing consultant with career sales over $25,000,000. His “Top Ranked” Earn Money at Home Directory gives you all the information you need to start and prosper with your own Internet Home Based Business.
Figuring Out Marketing Steps and Budget to Succeed The Way YOU Want To
First of all you really do need to decide THAT you want to succeed!!
I know it sounds crazy to have to tell someone that he must decide to succeed in order to succeed and some doctors might well be putting this issue aside right here with the comment, “Gee, another kind of philosophical garbage.”
Too bad for you, because the truth is that, if you are not where you want to be or are not at least moving fairly well in the direction of where you want to be then you simply HAVE NOT YET DECIDED THAT YOU WANT TO GO THERE!
The mechanics about marketing, advertising, public relations and management, which I will be describing in this article, are important but not even close to as important as the mental attitude.
This attitude also brushes aside all the built-up dislikes toward ALL KINDS of activities such as:
“I don’t like advertising. Marketing does not work. I don’t like giving speeches.”
“I don’t think Public Relations works in my business”, etc.
“I should not have to spend money on any marketing, because I do good work” or, “I must get at least X amount back on any marketing dollars spent” etc.
“I only do what I feel comfortable with” - yeah right, that is the problem. You feel comfortable with too few things. No matter how reasonably high your amount of accepted marketing expenses are, there is NO fixed X amount - there is only success or failing.
15 percent of profit from one million is a lot better than 30 percent of profit from one hundred thousand (only an example).
One will usually always fail if the amount of marketing actions or marketing money is a rather “fixed” predetermined expense. Marketing actions and marketing money spent has to be calculated backwards, starting from the amount of money you want to make in your pocket. (I will show you a bit later).
You should NOT think that if you spend “MORE” on marketing that you will have to deduct that “more ” marketing money spent from your net income. No, it will, even if after a few months only, add to your net income. If in the past that has not occurred then it is not because what I am saying here is wrong or not applicable in YOUR area or YOUR type of practice. It is simply that YOU have made major strategic mistakes in marketing or in managing your practice, which could include but not limited to the following:
- Not enough marketing (Despite appearances to the contrary)
- Not marketed long enough
- id not do enough different and diverse marketing actions at the same time
- Did not have the right message (common occurrence).
- Killed a very wellworking marketing campaign by badly answering your phone or bad delivery of your service.
To end off on that subject it is that you simply did not have the right amount of energy, without which nothing much will happen no matter how much you spend.
In case you have tried to market and market until YOU run out of money before it starts bringing some returns - it was simply YOU who did not have the knowledge to make your marketing money go further and longer with better and faster returns.
In short, the professional knowledge of marketing is NOT for any reason one of the higher paid activities in the world. It is so valuable because the best product without sales = nothing. Actually it equals tears, stress, and domestic quarrels over money and how to spend it, or a feeling of losing in life.
So once, and only once, you have an open mind to the above will the following data actually help you! (Because otherwise you simply won’t implement it - and whether you implement it or not that’ll be the test whether you understood the above.)
Here we go.
Let’s say you make $100,000 net income a year. You are a dentist and have a goal of $300,000 net yearly income and you want to do NO dentistry yourself because you want to be free to do many other activities of yours and also want to have a practice which is (a) easy to sell in case you want to or (b) can bring income to you, until you die.
You will decide whether you sell or keep it when the time comes but you want to be set up for all options and surely want to be free whenever you feel so.
You know that if other doctors do the work you will have to pay them about 30-50% of their production (collection). Thus your profit margin will be lowered compared to when YOU do all the dentistry. There will also be other increased expenses with that new set-up such as personnel turnovers, mistakes, and even added personnel in proportion to what you have now. I don’t mean more personnel because of more production alone. Yes, even that too but that is easy to see. What most doctors don’t see is that with increased business they might need a supervisor due to the increased number of personnel where before they did not need one. You might need more machinery such as more computers, where before you got way with just a few. This may necessitate a steady computer technician. You can see where I am going with this? So, for the sake of this example we estimate your overhead factor including marketing at 80% even if it is currently lower. We use this example of a fairly high overhead office as a safety net and celebrate if it is lower.
So, this at once makes it clear that we need to produce (collect) five times as much as the money we want to take home. $1,500,000 is what we need to collect to take home $300,000 as a very safe operating rule of thumb.
It is important that you know that the only way to see whether YOUR estimated numbers are right is to do all the actions and to constantly adjust them and readjust them in all areas from the top to the bottom. Keep in mind; all the numbers are just numbers. Percentages and numbers mean nothing unless the end numbers (the amount you take home, and with the conditions you stipulated) are present.
However the most important thing is to reach our goal, which is $300,000 net profit and where we would not have to be the actual dentist ourselves. Now, how many patients do we need to get $1,500,000 of collection?
Sure, every patient spent a different amount and this amount can vary heavily. But if you look at the last two to three years you will see that if you simply divide the new patients by the dollar amount taken in the same time period you have a pretty good idea what each patients is worth to you.
Try it; it works very well where no major changes in new patients or a change in type of patients (such as changes from private patients to HMO) has occurred.
You could also see how many patients you now are getting and how much money you are making then increase the amount of new patients to see what it would take to make the $1,500,000.
It would be wise to calculate the increase of the new patients need by 20% - 40% higher as a safety net in case the newly gained patients spent somehow lesser or due to the increased volume in the practice you and your crew make some mistakes at the beginning. Anyhow let’s say a patient is worth about $1,000, which means you need about 1,500 new patients per year and about 125 per month or about 32 per week. Now and only now can you start to establish how much marketing will be needed.
Not necessarily an easy thing right away and yes, you will be wrong quite a few times; you will underestimate what it will take or overestimate what the particular marketing steps will bring (same thing).
Also it might not be easy right away to do all the marketing options needed because well, there might not be enough money to go around to do so.
All that is common and at first even normal considering that you usually want to grow because you do not have the money and free time you want. If you happen to be in a financial situation where you right away can start spending the money needed to increase then you are in good shape and will expand very fast.
Why do you think Microsoft has such an “easy time” out-dusting their competitors and can enter new markets better than anyone else? Money, of course - plenty of it. But keep in mind that Mr. Bill Gates had to do the right thing for a long time to get there! And I bet he is calculating his expansion in a very similar way all the time - which again is why he always knows what and how much of it to do to succeed.
In the end, it still boils down to knowledge and some guts. Nobody asks you to play Russian roulette whereas you die if you were wrong. No, but a bit of courage, guts, or leaving the comfort zone is surely needed to put the icing on the cake (your practice).
In short, the money and fun you have today or the lack of it stems from not having marketed and managed correctly and in sufficient quantities in the past years. And the money you will have in a couple of years and up till you die will be determined by how much you know about marketing with the right message in the right quantity. The future of your financial state depends on the knowledge you possess to do the right quantity of marketing at the correct time and in perfect harmony.
There is no winning the lottery - only learning the right thing to do and then doing it! Doing it, and doing it, and doing it despite our shortcomings along the way. Winning the lottery or finding oil is based on luck, - the above is not.
Helmut Flasch is a marketing consultant who uses Un-advertising rather than the traditional advertising methods. Find out more information about his marketing strategy at Un-Advertising Info.
Build Your Real Estate “Investor” List in Eight Steps
Building an investor list is the key to success in real estate investing. The concept is simple: Find a list of investors who buy houses, then go out and find the inventory to flip to such investors. Let these investors know that you buy houses, too. The more people in your network, the easier it will be to buy and sell houses.
Building an investor list is easy, in fact, “ITS MAGIC.” Here’s how the acronym plays out:
I - Have an identity: Superman has an identity. Batman has an identity. Do you have an identity? When you go to meetings like your local real estate investors’ club, people need to remember you.
Wear the same pink tie, yellow shirt, or red hat so people always remember you. You want people to identify you with something they can remember, so they will always call you when they want to buy houses from you or when you call them to sell them houses.
T - Title records: Sophisticated investors who buy and sell a lot of houses will show up over and over again on the title records. Get access to local records through your friendly real estate broker or title company. Make note of the names that come up over and over again. Put these people on your list.
S - Street signs: You see them everywhere: “We Buy Houses” signs stapled to a telephone pole or stuck in the ground. Call them. If they really buy houses, you want these people on your investor list. And, if they come across deals that they don’t want, make sure they know to call you.
M - Marketing: Do some good marketing to generate a list. Start with a good business card and brochure and pass them out to everyone you know. Ask your title company rep if you can leave brochures in their office, so when other investors close deals, they can be introduced to you. Your goal should be to pass out 500 business cards a month or more.
A - Auctions: Auctions attract lots of investors. Go to local foreclosure auctions and pass out your card. Collect the cards of others you meet to generate your investor list.
G - Groups: Join every business group that has luncheons or meetings. Investors or potential investors come in every walk of life. And, people who are not investors will call you when they come across a house in foreclosure or a couple in divorce. Everyone within your influence should know what kind of business you are in, so they can refer business to you.
I - Internet: The Internet is loaded with real estate message boards and discussion groups where investors congregate. [Check out the CRE Online Main Real Estate Forum and other discussions.]
(Even if people you meet on these boards are located in other states, keep them on your list. You never know when you will come across someone who has moved to their city or when they will come across someone who is moving to yours.)
C - Real estate investment clubs: Obviously, this would be a great place to get some names from, for your list. If you are not part of any investor clubs in your area, you should seriously consider getting involved.
This article was written in collaboration with Bob Yeager and more information like this can be found as well as a FREE Private Money Report at http://Report.PrivateMoney4Deals.com
How to Manage Sales Stress
You can’t get away from it. But you can learn to manage it.
Added stress is inevitable in sales and I actually believe that a little stress can even productive.
Whether they admit it or not, most people in this industry are affected in some way by the stress of this career. While I feel strongly that the excitement and benefits of this business are worth more, you still must be able to handle the stress that comes with a sales career in I.T.
There are a few things that I have found to consistently manage stress when things get crazy (too many opportunities to manage, quarter end pressure, new product launches, excessive travel commitments). They are simple, reasonable and effective.
1. Drink more water. Cold water is better. Your brain functions better when your blood is more hyposmolaric (the word used to describe increased viscosity in your blood, from higher water intakes). Stress increases cortisol levels in the blood, which the renal system has to deal with. Increasing water intake can help minimize the negative effects of this hormone. You will go to the bathroom more frequently, but the stress reducing effects are well worth the visits.
2. Get more sleep. Sleep is critical to managing stress. I actually plan for it near the end of a quarter when I know that my efforts and activities are increasingly critical. Sleep also helps manage cortisol levels. Chronic stress can lower productivity and mental acuity, both of which can be minimized with more sleep.
3. Meditate. Ok…I’m not talking about loin cloths and medieval chants here. Rather, I’m suggesting you try this. See if you can find a quiet place to sit still with your eyes closed for at least 60 seconds. Don’t move. Don’t do anything. Don’t open your eyes. Sit perfectly still. Just focus on your breathing. Think about the air going in an out of your lungs through your nostrils. It is amazing to me how many people CAN’T do this! If that’s you, chances are there is way too much “white noise” in your mind which is dramatically affecting your ability to sell. People say to me “…but Brooks, I’m too busy to even take a minute out to do something like this!” My response is always the same, “That’s exactly when you MUST do this.” Get rid of the clutter in your mind that stress creates and do this daily.
These three practices I feel reduce my stress levels by 50% or more on any given day. More importantly, they make me feel more in control and focussed.
A sales career in technology requires an inquisitive nature, a desire to succeed and a smart plan. You can start right from where you are today with the plan and the information I have outlined in my book New Economy Selling.
http://www.neweconomyselling.com
Selling ANY House in a Slow Market: 5 Tips
The market is slowing and investors are drowning in house payments. Is there an end in sight? Probably not. But, there is something you can do about it. Dropping the price until you get it sold is one way to do it. But, Ive got a better solutionsell the house.
What amazes me is that most sellers dont sell their houses. They advertise houses, they list houses, but they dont SELL houses. In a good market, you can rest on your laurels, but in a soft market you have to be willing to do something different. Stop whining about the slow market and start SELLING your houses!
1. Make Your Listing Look Great!
Most MLS listings are boring, informative, and dont sell the house. Thats because most people leave it up to the real estate broker to create the listing, which is communicating with other brokers. Instead, take charge of your listing. Make sure the pictures are great, not average.
Photoshop the pictures, so there are excellent photos of the front, the kitchen and the most appealing features of the house. If theres a grey sky, wait until theres a blue sky. If there’s a dead lawn in the photo, pick up that Photoshop paint brush and make it GREEN.
When a buyers agent is scanning the MLS with their clients, youve got two seconds to catch their attention and initiate a showingmake a good first impression!
2. Use Lots of Directional Signs
A sign in front of your house is good if you are on a main street, otherwise you have to get traffic by your house. Use dozens of directional signs from the nearest main road to your property. On weekends, tie bunches of balloons to the main sign on the road.
3. Use a Professional Sign in Front
Do not, I repeat DO NOT use the cheap sign from Home Depot, particularly the info tube that requires you to roll up your flyer. Invest in a solid metal-framed sign that has an attached flyer holder that makes it easy for people to pull out your flyer.
If the house is vacant, have an arrow with the words More info pointing to the house, and put your flyer box on the stoop of the home. This will get people peeking into the home, which is what you want.
4. Get a GREAT Flyer
It amazes me how boring and technical most home information flyers are prepared. The lazy real estate broker usually prints the flyer in black and white off the MLS listing computer. Instead, use a full-color flyer with excellent high-resolution photos of the inside.
If you are not a digital camera buff, go on craigslist.org and hire a high school kid to shoot and edit some photos. Sell the features of the house, not the facts.
5. Sell People on the House
Most sellers show houses, and say, in effect,Yall come back now. Let me ask you a question: Is this what car dealers do? Of course not! The cardinal rule of a car salesman is to NEVER let a customer off the lot. Why should selling houses be any different? If you elicit the right information out of the buyer to understand that he is in the decision making mode, push him to make a decision.
Can you remember walking into a car dealer thinking to yourself, Im just looking, I have not made up my mind yet And then, for some inexplicable reason, you left with a new car! Why? Because that salesman SOLD it to you, he didnt just let you test drive.
Not all buyers are ready to make a decision, but if he’s been looking at a few houses for a few weeks, he may be ready, even if he says otherwise. Be ready with a contract and try to get the buyer to leave you a deposit check, even if it is refundable. Get as much commitment as you can. Instead of showing the property, SELL it!
Find more articles written on these same topics in collaboration with Bob Yeager at http://report.PrivateMoney4Deals.com
Binary Network Marketing Pay Plan Explained
There is so little information floating around on the internet these days on the comparison of network marketing pay plans. Companies and distributors always play the high points of their plans against the competition without helping the prospect (potential new recruit) really understand what are the benefits of each plan.
Our focus here is to highlight one such plan which may help you in your research for the best network marketing plan in the direct selling industry. Please do not think you must stop reading now if you do not like a binary plan. The next few paragraphs are important to anyone in the industry.
A network marketer’s success depends on two important factors. One if how much you get compensated by the plan you are in. The second is how much you can take advantage of the plan and make the most money from it. By this we mean that with proper structure in your business you can build a very strong organisation which in turn will compensate you handsomely.
Every network marketer wants to earn the most income for his or her efforts. Be cautious about plans that pay too little as there are ones out there that pay more. With that said I would like to point out that plans that pay more than the industry average must be looked at closely as they may go out of business soon with over paying. Remember that the company has to make a decent profit to stay viable. Companies can only pay a certain amount out to their distributors. If they choose to pay more then this amount will come out from the profits of the company and or the quality of the raw ingredients of the product being sold. A poor quality product will not stay on the market for too long.
There are a number of different pay plans that are present in the direct sales industry. In the last 60 odd years we have seen compensation plans come and go and a few have been very successful. Some of these plans may seem on the surface to be the same yet they all differ as you dig deeper into the plan structure. Companies such as Amway and Herbalife have been around for years and their plans have withstood the test of time. More recent companies such as Usana Health Sciences use a more modern day approach to the direct selling industry and have been making a lot of head way towards being recognised as a leader in the direct selling arena.
One such plan is the binary plan now being used a lot in the last 16 years in the industry.
Binary means two and so all you need to do is to introduce the products to two people and you are in business. It is very much like a human cell dividing into 2 and then 4 and then 8 and so on. In matter of months or a few years the organisation of distributors and customers can far exceed many thousands.
Most binary plans have their volumes capped at a certain figure so that the compensation does not eat into the company profits. This allows the company to distribute commission more evenly down the ranks and more to share for the lower levels. Look for a binary plan that offers their distributor at least 38 to 42% payouts as this is the industry average that most sales companies use to pay their distributors in other conventional fields.
Please don’t fall for the old saying that “my plan pays the highest” as this will normally come at a price.
Claude Fullinfaw would like to share with you his personal experiences in finding a good home based
network marketing company in Malaysia .
How To Ship Hazardous Material
There have been a lot of inquiries into how to ship hazardous material and questioning whether you can ship it at all with today’s transportation laws. The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) heavily regulates the transportation of materials in the United States.
The specific regulations define hazardous materials and specify how to conduct practically every aspect of hazardous material shipping. The shipping of hazardous materials can pose a serious danger to anyone who might come in contact with the shipment. The inappropriate shipping of hazardous materials is a serious problem that can result in injury, loss of life, major fines, jail time, and damage to property. Therefore, it is critical that one carefully follow the rules so that any possible unsafe condition is minimized.
The D.O.T. can and does impose severe penalties for anyone who knowingly or unknowingly violates these regulations. Packages that contain hazardous materials need to be properly labeled for shipping and the label designates the type of hazard the material presents. Hazardous material items that are commonly shipped incorrectly are aerosol cans, cosmetics, perfumes, nail polish, lipsticks, alcohol, products containing alcohol such as cleaning products and even alcoholic beverages are considered dangerous. The following are the officially designated hazard categories:
o 1.1 - EXPLOSIVES 1.1
o 1.2 - EXPLOSIVES 1.2
o 1.3 - EXPLOSIVES 1.3
o 1.4 - EXPLOSIVES 1.4
o 1.5 - EXPLOSIVES 1.5
o 1.6 - EXPLOSIVES 1.6
o 2.1 - FLAMMABLE GAS
o 2.2 - NONFLAMMABLE GAS
o 2.3 - POISON GAS
o 3 - FLAMMABLE LIQUID
o 4.1 - FLAMMABLE SOLID
o 4.2 - SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTIBLE
o 4.3 - DANGEROUS WHEN WET
o 5.1 - OXIDIZER
o 5.2 - ORGANIC PEROXIDE
o 6.1 - POISON INHALATION HAZARD (zone A or B)
o 6.1 - POISON (other than inhalation hazard)
o 6.2 - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE
o 7 - RADIOACTIVE WHITE-I
o 7 - RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-II
o 7 - RADIOACTIVE YELLOW-III
o 7 - EMPTY (empty packages of radioactives)
o 8 - CORROSIVE
o 9 - CLASS 9
D.O.T. shipping labels are available for all of these categories. These shipping labels are 4″x 4″ and come on rolls of 500, have semi gloss face stock, permanent adhesive, and come on a 1″ inch core. They also have the ability to custom make these labels to have a special blank white region to write your own personal messages or instruction on. This region does not come on the stock labels. It has to be requested and it can be requested blank or with a message preprinted.
If your application calls for a little more durable label, there are several material solutions for you. They can offer several different films such as polyester, Kimdura, and polypropylene. These materials will withstand water, chemicals, UV rays, and other environmental factors that paper will not.
These special materials are not stock and would have to be custom made by most manufacturers. They would also have a 7-10 business day lead time. FedEx and UPS both offer shipping methods for hazardous material. They also offer guides that explain their rules and regulations for shipping these products.
Shipping hazardous material can be quick and easy as long as the appropriate steps are taken. Knowing how to ship hazardous material the correct way is important. Please pass this information to those that are interested in this topic.
John Barth founded Adazon Barcode Labels and Barcode Equipment www.adazonusa.com in 2003 and has a wealth of information in the barcode arena from over 20 years of experience in distribution. John’s experience allows companies to cut costs on shipping labels, custom labels and total barcode solutions. For more information call 847-235-2700.
One Million Dollars or $22,000? Tax Planning May Be the Difference
Donald Trump says that if you want to be a millionaire, you must get your tax affairs down to the legal minimum.
Money Mastery is a book written by a gentleman named Alan Williams, who said the exact same thing.
There are a lot of reasons for that, but Donald Trump used a slide in a presentation that he allowed my friend Sandy Botkin to use that inspired this article. It’s a very interesting slide. It shows what happens if you’ve got a dollar that doubles every year.
Ok, you start with $1. At the end of year one, it becomes $2. At the end of year two, that doubles and becomes $4. At the end of year three, it becomes $8. At the end of year four, it becomes $16. At the end of year five, it becomes $32. It just keeps doubling.
When you get to 20 years, it is $1,048,576. That $1 bill doubled for 20 years is now worth over $1-million.
Now, watch this. Same dollar doubling, but let’s assume you’re in the 35% bracket. You pay 35% of what you make in taxes, and you add all of the income taxes, the state income taxes, the capital gains taxes, the sales taxes, the transfer taxes, the property taxes, I can go on and on, the hotel taxes, the internet taxes, and gasoline taxes. And 35% is actually conservative.
This time take taxes out of the doubling effect, take that dollar and double it, instead of it being $2, like in the other example, it’s only worth $1.65 because you’ve got to pay at least 35% of that in taxes. And the $1.65 doubling isn’t $3.30, because you’ve got to pay part of that in taxes. It’s only worth $2.70.
Even though it is the same dollar doubling, but now with taxes, take a guess how much that’s worth at the end of 20 years. Remember, the other one was $1,048,000 without taxes. Take a guess how much it’s worth with taxes each year?
Would say probably around $600,000?
Try again. Maybe you’d guess $400,000?
Nope, $400,000 is too high, go ahead give it another shot and try again.
Can’t be less than $300,000 can it?
Much less!
Is it $200,000, less? You’ve got to be kidding! How about $150,000?
Not yet, keep going, one more guess…Less than $100,000?
Yes, much less. You’re never going to get it. It’s $22,370.
That is amazing.
People, you may think I’m crazy so go try it out on your calculator or accounting program and you’ll find its true.
The reason it’s true is not only do you lose 35% on everything you make, but here’s the important point, you also lose all of the interest, all of the compounding year after year.
That is why it’s worth only $22,370. There is nothing more important than tax planning, absolutely nothing. It’s better than a raise. It’s after-tax money.
Scott Letourneau is the CEO of NCP,Inc. and an authority in helping people form entities,grow their business,and protect the assets of that business. For more info contact: Scott Letourneau at 702-367-7373 or http://www.nvinc.com/save.htm
