business plan Archives - Foreign policy

Steps to Open a Company Bank Account in Europe

Published on September 9, 2020September 9, 2020

The procedure for opening an international company bank account is a lengthy and cumbersome process. This complicated procedure can be troublesome for those who have no prior experience of doing it.

The requirements and documentation needed to open a company bank account in Europe will be different depending on your country of choice. You will need to abide by the jurisdictional policies as stated by the banks of that location. For corporate bank accounts, most banks will need to see proper identification and evidence that the company is legally eligible to do business in that country. Additionally, all banks will require a business plan submitted with the application.

Obtaining a company bank account is required for European registered companies. In many cases, a company is required to pay the share capital into a corporate bank account before the company is incorporated. While it is preferable to open a company bank account in the country that the business is registered, it is not always required. It may be possible for the company to hold a bank account in another European jurisdiction, where the Euro is the main currency. Having a European business bank account provides credibility for your company when participating in business locally as well internationally.

EuroCompanyFormations.com can help you to form a European company and open a corporate bank account to facilitate your overseas financial transactions and payments. Using a licensed company formation agent will ensure your company is compliant with business regulations and ensure is it ready to start trading quickly. Euro Company Formations provide corporate services and can help you to set up a new business in over 50 countries across Europe.

They have an excellent track record and have set up more than 35,000 companies for their clients within the UK, Ireland, Germany, Bulgaria, Malta, Hungary, Netherlands, and many other countries across Europe. They can build a bespoke company formation package containing essential services such as local office address, document translation, VAT and Corporate Tax registration, bank account opening, accountancy and much more.

Benefits of using a Company Formation and Compliance Specialist

Opening a corporate bank account in any European country is a much simpler task when you have the professional assistance of a licensed company formation and compliance specialist.

These professionals will help you with the formation of your new company and lead you through the process to open a corporate bank account. It is essential for business owners to have a corporate bank account with online banking facilities so that the company finances can be managed from anywhere in the world.

The expert agents can assist you to open a bank account with minimal complications and in the shortest timeframe. They can even provide remote bank account openings in many cases eliminating the need to travel.

Some of the other services provided include:

Facility to open European Bank Accounts for local and Foreign-Registered Companies
Facility to open International Bank Accounts for European-Registered Companies
Merchant Account Services for payment processing using e-commerce, telephone and point-of-sale

What are the Features and Advantages of Opening a Corporate Bank Account?

A business startup package can be customed to your needs and include excellent features to benefit your new company such as the bank account introduction. When a European company is registered it becomes its own legal entity, separate from the owners. For this reason, a company must hold its own corporate bank account so that its finances are held separately to the business owners.

Once the bank account is created the plans and agreements are solely between the registered company owners and the bank it has chosen to work with.

While there are many business advantages of having an international corporate bank account, it is highly recommended that you read the bank’s terms and conditions carefully, before signing any paperwork. Some features and customized services offered by leading European banks.

Some banks offer waiver of maintenance and transaction fees for certain years.
Most have a dedicated Business Startup phone assistance line for both local and international assistance.
Prolonged Business Enterprise programs aimed at building long term business relationships.
Quick and Easy access to an extensive library of free to use tools, informative guides, and online assistance.
Business Debit Cards enabled with contactless payment features.
Support of mobile, digital, and tablet banking 365 days in a year. This facility is provided to users at any time and from anywhere in the world.
Some banks do not charge overdraft facility fee to their customers.
Customers are provided with a wide array of business deposit options.

Funding

Business Loans – International businesses may need loans at times for sustaining or expanding their operations. If you maintain a good relationship and positive transactions with the banks it will become easier to access business loans when you need them. Many business load applications can be applied for online via the banking website/client portal.
Asset Finance – Some banks offer a facility to organize your asset finance needs over the phone.

Ways to Bank

Source:bankingserviceonline.blogspot.com

To make it easier for their client companies to interact with their team of competent staff and customer care representatives, they provide multiple ways to get in touch with them. Including email, online chat, internal phone support and more.

Online Business Banking

This facility enables business people to manage their bank account from anywhere in the world. Online banking offers the convenience to manage business transactions while on the move.

Payment Acceptance with Merchant Account Services

Everyone who is in business very well understands the significance of providing a facility to accept payments via card. With Payment Acceptance services, you can:

Expand your business by accepting payments via debit and credit cards
Offer alternative payment options such as cheque, bank transfer or PayPal
Provide the facility to accept payments online or over the telephone
Enhance management of cash flow with next day banking settlement to the account

Conclusion

Many international companies need to open a corporate bank account in Europe and register for taxes quickly so that they can start trading. With the support of a company formation and compliance specialist firm, you can easily and quickly open your international corporate bank account. Be sure to ask about merchant account services to ensure a safe and secure payment solution for your business.

How to Get a Business Loan

Published on August 7, 2020

Business

You have a great startup idea, but ambition alone is not going to make it a reality. You will need cash to bring your idea into a reality. There are different options, you can choose to borrow from friends and family or look for investors. You can also get a loan from a lender.

One mistake many people make is going to the bank before they are properly prepared. To make it even worse, most people don’t know the right amount of money they should borrow for their business. You need to avoid such mistakes. The tips below will go a long way helping you secure a business loan and make your ideas come to life.

Having a good business plan

Your business plan is going to be your road map according to Singapore lenders to Katong Credit. This is what defines the business, its goals, and a plan for meeting those goals. For the business owner, it offers a cohesive vision and helps them in overseeing the business. It is also important for bankers because they are able to know more about the business and how it is going to make a profit.

The banker will be able to know more about the stability of the business, which will help them determine whether to give you the loan or not.

You don’t have to worry if you don’t know how to write a business plan. There are a lot of resources online that can help you learn more about writing business plans. There are business plan templates online that will make things easy for you.

Once you have the business plan ready, double-check it to make sure it answers three very important questions.

Does the business plan have measurable objectives and clear goals?

Are there strategies to be used in meeting the goals (have you explained the strategies)?

Does the business plan cover the competitive landscape?

Identifying the long-term business goals

Just saying “making money” is not going to be goal enough. You need to have a vision for the future.

The banker is interested in knowing the plans the business has for its growth. For example, are you looking to double the size of the business in five years? Are you looking to expand the product line of your company?

The banker will have a look at your long-term goals and see whether you can reach the goals, and also recommend the best products for the business.

Bringing the right documents

You will also need to bring bank statements, tax returns, proof of business and personal insurance, registration or trademarks, letter of incorporation, and applicable business licenses.

Be ready to talk about numbers

You should know your expected revenue and current cash flow. The banker is interested in knowing whether you have a revenue stream and how you track it. Be prepared to talk about your business costs such as rent, payroll, utilities, equipment, and supplies. For a seasonal business, you have to talk about what you do about the slow months.

Another thing you have to talk about is financial contributions. Banks feel comfortable lending business owners who have skin in the game. They will ask what you have invested in the business, and how much you are ready to contribute in the future.

The information the banker gets from this discussion will help them decide whether you have the ability to pay back the loan. You need to try your best so you can be seen as a great investment.

Credit score

Your credit rating will have a significant impact on whether you will receive a loan and what amount will be granted to you. All lenders pay a lot of attention to this and it affects how they view a particular business. So first make sure your credit scores are good. You will do this by regularly repaying all your installments and other things. Because remember that lenders also check your personal credit rating, as the owner of the company, and do not view the business as something separate from you. It will depend on each individual lender what your score must be to get a loan, but you will not get money from anyone if you have a bunch of unpaid installments, bills and the like.

Cash flow

Cash flow is a guarantee that you will be able to pay installments regularly. Cash flow shows if your business is doing well and that customers are paying regularly. Landers will also check whether you regularly pay salaries and other financial obligations, because all this speaks of the company’s solvency. Take care that you do not have any debts in at least the last six months, otherwise they can cause you a problem due to only one unpaid salary, for example. And it’s best that you haven’t had any late payments in the last year. Then you can count on a bigger loan.

Collateral

If you are asking for a larger amount, it is very likely that they will ask you for collateral. It would be best if your business has enough things that it can use for collateral, like equipment, real estate and everything else. In case the value of everything the company owns is small, then you will have to put personal belongings as collateral. It’s even riskier, so be careful. It’s better to have things like jewelry or a car than your house. Be prepared that you can potentially lose every thing that is collateral.

Conclusion:

Now all you have to do is wait for approval. If you have done everything right from the beginning and listened to our advice, your chances of success are great. Don’t worry if you don’t get any response for weeks or even months, the higher the amount you ask for, the longer the approval process will take. And once you get a loan, use it wisely and pay the installments regularly. Only in this way you will make most from the loan, instead of making it an unnecessary burden.

Can You Earn Bitcoin without Mining and Investing

Published on June 18, 2020

Business

Doing a job that you do not like is truly a tough thing. You probably have a good salary. However, in most cases, the salary you have can’t cover all the costs that you have. Lack of money is not the only problem that people have. Let’s say that you like to travel a lot. Even if your salary is above average, will you have time to do what you like?

All these problems convinced people that they have to look for alternatives to make money. Fortunately, advanced technology brought many opportunities to our lives. This especially counts when we talk about finding ways to make more money.

Despite that, the Internet also brought some new industries to the world. For instance, traditional gambling is not as popular as before. Many people now support online gambling because of the benefits it brings. However, the online gambling industry is not the place where you should look for more money. We do not want to say you can’t earn it. Yet, only a small group of people manage to get rich from this entertaining activity.

On the other hand, the cryptocurrency industry is experiencing popularity growth. Indeed, this industry has a turbulent past that distracts people from investing. Fortunately, more and more people understand that certainty in the business world does not exist. The Coronavirus pandemic showed that neither of the industries is perfectly safe.

As you know, Bitcoin is the most popular digital currency in the world. People that have never participated in this industry heard about it. The two most popular ways to earn Bitcoin are mining and investing.

Should I Start Mining and Investing Now?

If you have enough money for investing, why not? You can now get BTCs for a relatively fair price. The pandemic also harmed the market cup of this industry. The consequences of the crisis are visible in the value of Bitcoin as well.

The price reduction is not something that should scare you. As we said, all industries were turbulent and this especially counts when we talk about cryptocurrency.

If you do not have enough money and knowledge, this could be a problem. Fortunately for all of us, the two most popular ways of earning Bitcoin are not the only ones.

How to Earn Bitcoin without Investing and Mining?

We do not want to say that alternatives are equally profitable as investing and mining. However, when lack of money is the problem, you can’t expect to earn a lot. The good thing is to start participating in this industry. How are you going to start investing if you have never met with any cryptocurrency? Our solutions are multi-practical. You will get some experience and Bitcoins to start. Let’s find them out together.

Entrepreneurs Should Accept BTC-based Payments

We know very well that this piece of advice is not suitable for everyone. It can be useful for entrepreneurs and people that plan to start a private business. Let’s imagine that you are preparing yourself to become a business owner for the first time. Logically, you created a business plan that covers all the aspects of your business.

Well, our recommendation is to add different payment methods to your business plan. More precisely, accepting Bitcoin-based payments will allow you to earn Btc without investing or mining. This is a message to all the people that run a private business.

Work for Bitcoin

Some people are not just big fans of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. They invest a lot of effort to make them more popular among people. Achieving that in today’s world is tough. Because of that, these people use different methods to change the way of thinking of people. Some of them invest in education and they strive to teach the world more about them. However, some companies accept to pay their workers in Bitcoins.

First of all, you can visit websites where you can do some simple tasks. These websites a perfect place for people that look for easy money. Fortunately for you, some of them will pay you in Bitcoin in exchange. We do not want to be too optimistic here. As you know, simple tasks are not profitable at all. The amount of BTC you will get is not going to be impressive. Still, this is a good way to make mini-steps in this industry.

If you want to make more, there is a good alternative you should know about. Some companies like to collaborate with freelancers on certain projects. Hiring a new employee for a couple of months would be unnecessary. If the owner of that company is a BTC supporter, be sure he will accept to pay you in BTCs. This is a good opportunity for people that possess certain skills. For instance, you can start working as a freelance content writer, graphic designer, etc.

Online Gambling

The online gambling industry is experiencing popularity growth in the entire world. Because of that, online casinos need to follow the latest trends including those associated with payment methods. Some casinos will pay you off in Bitcoins.

Still, there is one thing that we have to say about this method of earning Bitcoin. It is the riskest way of earning Bitcoins of all. Indeed, you need to take certain risks when investing and mining. However, gambling is not going to be profitable for you if you do not possess the necessary gambling skills. Some people managed to earn Bitcoins in that way, but be careful if you choose this method.

Bonus Tip: Trading

In the end, we would like to talk about one of the most effective ways to earn Bitcoins. Indeed, small investments of money will be necessary here if you plan to start. Despite that, you will have to create an account by using a reliable provider.

Still, this type of earning Bitcoins is not good for everyone. The entire cryptocurrency industry is complex. You will need to spend months or years to understand how the industry’s system functions. Because of that, education to become a successful BTC trader is education.

Research this subject in theory before you even start. After that, you can find a reliable broker/mentor that will share his knowledge and experience with you. If this seems like a good option for you, we recommend you visit cfds-trader.com. Here you can find a mentor that will teach you everything you should know about online trading. When you possess those skills, you will easily manage to trade with BTC successfully.

The Importance And Purposes Of A Business Plan

Published on April 24, 2020

Business

Most of the times when you go through articles underscoring the importance of having a business plan. The usual norm is for people to only draft them when they intend to use them for sourcing funding. However, it is more than just a tool for sourcing funding. It also carries with it so many uses for you as an entrepreneur. In this article we discuss why it’s important to have a business plan plus the purposes for which it’s drafted.

The Importance Of A Business Plan

Disciplined Thinking

Many times we are told that failing to plan is planning to fail. It’s quite true and even the bible points out one must count the cost before embarking on venture. According to Startupbiz Global, Drafting and subsequently adhering to a business plan forces you to think objectively and critically. The components are interconnected and feed into each other. For example, your market segmentation informs your marketing strategy and in turn feeds into your cash flow projections.

So, neglecting one area ignites a chain reaction to results in failure. Therefore, having a proper action plan is important in that it causes you to employ disciplined thinking in planning and executing your operations. You’re essentially seeing the end from the beginning when coming up with a business plan and that obviously requires extreme discipline in your thinking. It helps do away with assumptions by testing your hypotheses so as to establish facts.

Refining Your Idea

Usually, when an idea strikes your mind you get excited. This is actually good because all great ideas start out as just mere thoughts. However, thoughts aren’t always in sync with the material world and this can usually be revealed once you start refining the idea. For instance, your idea might seem potent in your mind but as you work out your marketing plan (which is a component of the plan), you might realize that there’s no market for it.

So going through the paces of drafting a plan helps you refine your idea by subjecting it to rigorous real-life scenarios. In the process, you might even realize that you’ve to reimagine your whole approach. In a sense a plan gives meaning and structure to your idea. Once you’re through with it, you would have refined your business into something that wields substantial prospects.

Gets You Started

The late Dr. Myles Munroe once said that the richest place on this earth is the cemetery. The point he was expressing was that many people end up dying without doing what they were called or meant to do. I believe one of the causes of this sad scenario is procrastination. Most people have excellent ideas locked up in their minds and are either hesitant or reluctant to get started. Several surveys have shown that people who write business plans are about 3 times more likely to start off than those who don’t draft plans. So it’s quite apparent the effort one puts into drafting will gear them up into action. It’s usually the case that when you commit something to paper along with the thought processes that occur as you do that you increasingly get hyped to act.

Purposes Of A Business Plan

Sourcing Funds

That was alluded to in the opening remarks how that most people write plans to source funds. Most prospective financiers require a comprehensive blueprint so as to make an informed decision on whether to fund your idea or not. Most financiers will have a keen interest in your product(s) or services offered, value proposition, marketing strategy and financial projections. The plan broadly addresses 2 issues namely, what you intend to achieve and how you’ll achieve it. So since financiers are mainly interested in those aspects they will need to see your plan which comprehensively covers those details. It’s almost impossible to get funding if you don’t have a good sketch. This is something every company must go through.

Detailing The Model

One of the most crucially important components of a business is its model. It lays out how material and immaterial resources will be used to generate revenue and earn ROIs (returns on investment). This is central to informing the financials which are usually very key in assessing viability. Issues such as scalability and sustainability can be easily judged by looking at a business model. So the plan is drafted in such a way that it goes at length to explain the model.

Reference Document

Let’s suppose you’ve done your plan and you’ve gotten the necessary funding to start working. It will serve as a reference point for key decision-making and operational issues that might pop up along the way. Remember that your plan stipulates your intended results and how you’ll attain them. So the process of monitoring and evaluation will be very easy to conduct because you’ve goals, activities, responsibilities and KPIs (key performance indicators), amongst several other variables. Especially in cases where you would have shared your finished product with stakeholders and shareholders you’ll definitely have to stick to it to achieve promised outcomes. In a way, you can say a business plan is your compass as you navigate your way in materialising your ideas.

So the word of advice is that you must come up with a plan before starting out. Most people just venture into businesses based on assumptions or simply because others are doing them. Based on that background they then think it’s unnecessary to have a written way of doing things. Just as unique as fingerprints are so it is with businesses; no two businesses are exactly the same. So it’s important to have a plan to help you define, make sense and structure your own pathway.

5 Elements of a Business Plan to Secure Bank Loan

Published on August 6, 2019

Business

According to Mark Abell, the Senior Vice President and SBA Division director at the NBH Bank, “About 75% of the business plans that come with application-based projections lack at least one or more key areas. Most of the plans that I come across consist of very few pages of half-written points. And those points lack the most important business details, which is just what banks need to know to decide to make a loan.”

Business plans are critical for high-growth companies and startups as well as for those seeking to finance a business acquisition.

Reputable companies that are looking to take things to the next level usually need capital to work. For this, they must have a concrete business plan that identifies how they will achieve growth and demonstrates that their strategies will generate an adequate flow of money to guarantee repayment.

Businesses that are looking to acquire other companies or people seeking to buyout an organization requires a detailed plan that describes the new owners and how they will manage it successfully, as well as what they perceive as opportunities. Here are a few elements to keep in mind that can significantly increase your chances of securing a bank loan for the first time.

FastCapital360.com can help you find and compare loan options and be a great help, especially for first-time loan applicants.

Business plans are for your team and the bank

Creating a detailed business plan is not only to check-off a bureaucratic formality to get a bank loan. It works as a guideline for the company – one that disseminates essential ideas and facts to administrative teams and employees. Creating the plan is a crucial exercise to help founders think about the details while devising the future of their business.

Detailed projections

Getting a “yes,” i.e. a go-ahead for your loan application, banks need to have enough details to ensure your business will generate enough cash flow to pay off its debt. Your plan must detail the exact way in which the company will achieve its financial objectives and estimated expenses. It should also state how you expect to make long-term succeed. The statement “our service’s market potential is $100 million, and we estimate that we will earn 7 percent of this” is inadequate.

You should state the exact way you are planning to achieve those earnings and how you seek to capture the market. Your plan should also include an in-depth analysis of your estimated operating costs, and it should also take into account market and economic trends. If the local market is limited, it should state as it is most likely, the banker is already aware of this. Other than this, declare your hiring strategy and how it will affect costs. The purpose of the plan is to categorize all essential ideas and explain them.

Marketing strategy

Your plan must also summarize the marketing strategy that you have contemplated for your company. Before giving a loan, banks make sure that they know how the business will design and execute its marketing strategy. The plan must answer this question in detail: Why is our product needed, and how can we communicate our message?

Previous experience in business

Before they approve any loans, banks make sure if the owners have enough prior knowledge to run a business. It helps banks to be sure that the estimates are realistic and that they can be successful.

All businesses require a different skill set. A founder with a great CV as a director in a large company may not be the ideal candidate to set up a restaurant. In the case of acquisitions, it is necessary to provide all details about the administrative transition.

Location, location, location

The site of the business can be a surprisingly important detail that contributes to the success. If you want to set up a coffee shop, you must be in a place where people travel every morning. If your success is going to depend on the drivers who pass by, then you need to have parking. If you want to set up a hair salon per se, you do not want to be in a poorly located mall. The business plan must state the exact location and the reason why you think it is ideal for your success.

People in business who do not have the time or experience to put together a detailed plan can hire people who offer assistance at a little cost, and it is worth asking for their help.

Remember that, contrary to investors, the leading precedence for banks is to make sure the return of capital rather than a return on equity. If you have the right plan and proven financial ability to pay the debt, your probability of securing the loan becomes high.

How To Write A Business Plan

Published on February 13, 2019

Business

Writing a business plan is one of the most if not the most important part of starting a small business. You need to know where you are starting and set yourself goals and milestones to grow into a successful business. Businesses can take years to become truly profitable. To get to that important moment in a small businesses life you need to plan and account for the next few years, yes you heard me, years.

We are going to breakdown the important moments of planning and writing your business plan.

Step One: The Business Overview

Now that you have settled on the idea and are sticking with it, you need to know that idea like the back of your hand. You need to decide on important things such as

Name
Slogan
Logo
Executive Summary (Like a contents page)
Company Description
Owners

Get info here to know more on brand identity for small businesses.

Step Two: The Market Analysis

So, you have spoken about who you are as a company, and the small details and now you need to develop them further. In the Market Analysis, you discuss in depth, the industry in which you operate. For example, if you run a movie theatre, you operate in the entertainment industry and therefore you speak for that industry as a whole. Find out who your market will be and refine that. Furthermore, look into the competition and learn all you can about who they are, how they do it, what they do and how you can compete with them.

Step Three: The Service or Product

What are you offering? You need to nail down all the aspects of the service or product that you will be supplying. In order to gain confidence from investors or partners, you need to know these small details to show your idea has been well thought out.

Step Four: Marketing

How will you be marketing this business given its existence in the grand scheme of the industry as a whole? It is also important to take into account things such as;

Location – where you are is a big indication of how you will market. You won’t spend money on something that doesn’t work in the given location.
Demographics – who are you targeting. Men? Women? Kids? Adults? How you speak to each of these demographics will be different and knowing that voice is important.
Competition – who is the competition and how do you plan to challenge them? Fast Food restaurants are the perfect examples of competing brands Burger King vs. McDonald’s, Wendy’s Vs. Everyone. They use these feuds to benefit their own brands by targeting their competitors and stating why they are superior. People enjoy seeing the comedic value of these feuds and rebel in the satirical humor. At the same time, they actively discuss both brands creating word of mouth marketing one of the most powerful forms of marketing around.

Knowing the competition is a vital part of developing your business. You need to ascertain if the business is a viable option. Is there too much competition? Is the market oversaturated with this business model?

Step 5: Money, Money, Money

In order for you to be able to execute your business what will you need to start? Beyond that what will you need for the next three to five years? Investors and partners are generally how small business are started. Owners put in the starting capital but beyond that might need more funding. Big or small, never devalue the business plan. Map out your immediate expenses, consider monthly expenses and consider what the business needs to make to breakeven. While the goal is to make a profit, it should also be to breakeven anything below that, is dangerous.

Project earnings for the next few years and supply balance sheets with supporting evidence backing up your claims.

There you have it, some of the tips to writing an award-winning business plan. You can practically smell the profits.

Beyond the statistics, it is important to set goals for yourself and your business. Work towards a set of goals that apply to your business. It can be sales related, reaching targets, customer satisfaction, all of the above. Do not, however, set unrealistic goals that are unachievable. Be realistic in setting goals and work hard to make the business a success.