As a young online entrepreneur, choosing the best payment processing system can be a headache. Ask around, and you will hear all sorts of reasons why one solution is better than the other. However, the thoroughly experienced Internet-based retailer will tell you the truth: competition is stiff, and relying on only one means of processing payment is not enough.

How PayPal differs from traditional merchant accounts.

PayPal uses what is called an “aggregator” account, which theoretically accommodates all retailers, as opposed to traditional providers, who offer each client an individual, “dedicated” account. The idea of PayPal’s aggregate method is to balance the risk of all honest retailers against fraudsters.

Consequently, PayPal doesn’t have to vet new retailers to determine if they are potentially fraudulent before signing them up for its service. Instead, it waits to catch a whiff of fraud from a registered user and quickly shut them down.

As a result, setting up an account is quick and easy, and PayPal can start collecting payment fees from clients almost immediately. Moreover, unlike with dedicated merchant accounts, you don’t have to wait hours for an application to be approved, to start accepting credit cards.

Where PayPal falls short.

Having one large account for everyone has the advantage of fast approval processes and quick card transactions, but there is one major problem: PayPal doesn’t know anything about you or your business, and, therefore, doesn’t understand the level of risk. If something unusual happens such as an increase in chargebacks, or suspicion of fraud, PayPal’s only recourse is to freeze the account.

On the other hand, a dedicated merchant accounts provider like eMerchantBroker will conduct a proper vetting process when a merchant applies for an account, and approve applications based on the information presented. These companies, therefore, know your business and understand the risk. If something happens, they have other ways to mitigate the issue, rather than freezing the account.

When to use PayPal.

PayPal accounts have a much higher likelihood of getting shut down than traditional merchant accounts, but they are quick and easy to start and manage.

You should consider a PayPal account if:

• You have a business idea that you are still trying to prove as a viable concept, and are thus not assured of its success. Because an unsubstantiated idea might not be around tomorrow, it wouldn’t be wise to have a contract with a merchant accounts provider.
• Your sales are too low to warrant the need for a traditional merchant account. An account with low sales is also less likely to be flagged down by PayPal.
• You are thinking of an aggregator account as a supplement to your traditional merchant account. Some established businesses can use PayPal to reach customers who won’t buy unless they can use a PayPal account.

PayPal is a great payment option for an entry-level business, but if you want more protection or are in the high-risk business, you will want to have a traditional merchant account set up. Afterwards, you can use PayPal as an added payment option for customers.

For some time now various companies around the world have been using the strategy known as pay per click. I myself have been familiar with the term for over a decade and I know that the popularity of this particular marketing strategy is not going to fade any time soon. In order to be efficient at this sort of strategy, using the services of a PPC company might be beneficial.

Since we have already established that using the services of an PPC Agency such as Clicteq is a good idea and can immensely benefit your business, let me here mention a few questions you might want to ask yourself before you buy such services. Of course, if you are still not convinced because your budget is rather tight, let me tell you why outsourcing this part of running your business to a PPC management company is a good step that will take you in the right direction.

1.Hiring a PPC management company takes the whole burden of your marketing campaign off your shoulders. Why spend hundreds of hours learning something that others feel proficient at? There are some good reputable PPC management companies on the market that have been specialising in PPC campaigns for over a decade and they know what they are doing.

2.A PPC management company is a lot less likely to commit the mistakes that many beginner or even veteran business owners are likely to make. After all, you cannot specliaise in everything. If your focus is to manufacture a product, you should not be responsible for advertising it on the Internet.

3. Hiring a PPC company for the job comes with everything they have to offer such as their expertise, experience, knowledge, as well as industry exposure. This is definitely something that should not be underestimated. If somebody has been in an industry for a long time, you can expect them to be able to offer the services you can trust. In order to be able to do it, you need to first make yourself familiar with their reputation. the best way to do it is to read what others have to say on the topic. The Internet is usually enough to find the reviews of some of the most reputable PPC management companies on the market.

The concept of being a digital nomad is one that a lot of moms and dads are embracing right now, and that’s for good reason. There are plenty of potential benefits that come with this lifestyle, particularly if you’ve already figured out how to make working at home something that is a sustainable career for yourself.

Being a digital nomad takes the idea of working at home a few steps further and gives you the opportunity not just to enjoy a flexible work environment, but also travel at the same time. However, if you’re a single person or even part of just a couple, being a digital nomad can seem a lot easier than it does when you’re a family.

There are ways to become a digital nomad with kids, but it requires some planning and strategy, instead of just having a “let’s wing it” attitude.

Create a Sense of Home

Kids need some sort of routine and structure, and also a place they feel like they can land, so even if you’re traveling the world, having some feeling of home is always good. One way some families create this sensibility is by buying or renting an RV. If buying an RV isn’t an option, there are companies like Outdoorsy that specialize in connecting RV owners with potential renters.

You can often rent them for extended periods, and they’re fully insured. It’s a good way to make your kids feel more comfortable and natural when you start your lives as digital nomads, as opposed to staying somewhere different all the time.

Home Schooling

If you’re going to be working remotely, you’re probably also going to be making sure you have an internet connection most days, so while parents tend to stress most about how they’ll educate their kids, there are excellent online options.

You can choose to homeschool them yourself based on the materials and programs you find online, or you can even enroll them in a free online public school like Connections Education.

Of course, if you’re going to be staying in the same area for an extended time, you can always enroll your kids in a local school.

Double Check Those Internet Connections

As was touched on above, the only thing you really need more than anything else is an Internet connection if you’re going to be working and traveling.

It needs not just to be available, but it needs to be reliable. When you’re first in a location or planning a trip somewhere, make sure that you have thoroughly vetted what’s available and what you need to do to ensure you don’t have outages that impact your work and your kid’s school.

Build Connections

Finally, it’s important for kids (and parents) to feel like they have a social network when they’re living this unique lifestyle. Check out a site like Nomad Together, which offers a podcast hosted by a couple with four kids who work as digital nomads, plenty of informative resources, and a Facebook group that can help people connect with one another both remotely, and maybe even in a shared location.

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With the rise of mobile technology, many people find themselves working out of their car as often as they are working from their home or office. This is great for productivity and can really help you manage all of your responsibilities.

If you do work out of your vehicle frequently, then there are a few gadgets that may make your life a little easier. Many tech companies have people just like you in mind when they are designing new products, and most of them are cheap enough to make you wonder why you never had them in the first place. Here are a few essential gadgets for those who work on the road.

Of course, it should go without saying that you should never drive while distracted, so exercise caution when using any device in your car!

Power Supply

The one thing you can never have enough of when you’re working on the road is a power supply. There are so many different things you can plug in and charge that by not having a reliable supply,  you are doing yourself a great disservice.

Most new cars come equipped with USB ports for charging, but finding an accessory is even better. There are power supplies that have one or two extra USB ports and plug directly into the power supply in your car. Many of these accessories also have the standard three-prong outlets built into them as well, so you can easily plug your computer directly into the car’s power.

Portable Printers

Whether you need to print something off quickly on your way to work or if you travel for business frequently and need a reliable printer, finding the right portable printer is a must.

Fortunately, there are a lot of great options out there through websites like RS Online. There are plenty of options, from full-color printing to quick printers that focus on output rather than quality. The printers range in cost as well, so you’ll be able to find the right one for the right price, letting you print out anything you need wherever you may find yourself working.

Device Mounts

There may be times that you find yourself typing out an email or working on a document while you are sitting in a parking lot. If this happens to you often, then you may want to look into buying a device mount.

These mounts are made specifically for laptops, but there are also mounts for tablets and smartphones as well. Each one will help you use the device more comfortably so you can get your work finished quickly.

Again, for safety’s sake, you should never use a laptop device mount while driving. Using one for your smartphone is fine, especially if you are consulting it for navigation because it allows you to drive hands free.

Just because you work out of your car frequently doesn’t mean you can’t do it with comfort. Try some of these gadgets and see how much more you like working from your vehicle!

With the increasing popularity of the Internet many of us are on the lookout for newer and newer ways to make money online. You probably often meet people who tell you that they try to earn a living on the Web. Some of them are more successful, while some of them are less successful, I am sure that you know exactly what I mean here.

It is important to know what you are doing when you want to learn how to sell online. Looking at your competition is probably one of the first things you will want to do. After all, how else are you gong to realise what works and what doesn’t work? Look at other stores online and try to learn from them as much as possible. Try to especially look at those successful ones as I am sure that there will be something you can learn.

Always be on the lookout for new original ideas to make money. Cloning everything might not always be the key to success like having a copy of Facebook might not be that profitable to you.

If you are newer to the Internet, you might want to consider dropshipping. There is tons of information on the topic all over the Internet, so you might want to make yourself familiar with it. You don’t necessarily have to go straight to China in order to start selling. As a matter of fact, you don’t have to be Chinese at all to be able to sell online. Everything that sells is a good way to make money, so keep your eyes peeled and you should be fine.

There are some things you will need to keep in mind while dropshipping. Generally, the more expensive the product the riskier it becomes to sell it. You might want to look for that perfect price, for that perfect sweet spot of yours that will give you the conversion rate you desire. My personal favourite is the price range between $30-50. It is at this price that I feel comfortable selling and I wouldn’t raise it above that. Some cheaper products might be profitable as well, but it is up to you to decide what really works for you.

The number of people who can claim to be truly happy with their job and don’t sometimes resent being told what to do or think they earn enough money as an employee has to be in the minority.

Some might like the perceived security of a regular wage coming in but could you earn more money and be happier if you took the plunge and decided to become self-employed?

Here is a look at some of the classic signs that you should be working for yourself, plus some pointers on the key questions to ask yourself that can show you the path to follow depending on your answers.

Looking for clues

There are many aspects and levels associated with being self-employed and you don’t have to be a supremely ambitious entrepreneur who wants to change the world to make a success of working for yourself.

There are a number of clear signs that are probably suggesting that you need a change of direction in your career and becoming self-employed might turn out to be the solution you are looking for.

If you find that you are struggling to find a job that you enjoy doing for any period of time and are constantly restless for a new challenge it could be that you are the sort of person who doesn’t really take to rules and regulations that easily, which is what you have to contend with when you are working for someone else.

You have to be disciplined and highly motivated as a self-employed person and running your own business does involve a certain amount of rules and regulations you might need to follow, but it doesn’t feel anywhere near as restrictive when it is you that is responsible for making most of them.

Making the most of your talent and passion

There are always going to be moments when you think that your true potential is not being recognized or fulfilled, such as searching out your new car at somewhere like Adrian Brien Hyundai and having to make some compromises on the spec and model because of your capped earnings as an employee.

Running your own business is not a guaranteed route to unlimited affluence, naturally, but it does open up the opportunity to fulfill your potential in a way that very few 9-5 jobs can, which means there is a chance that you can enjoy your success by raising the bar on the sort of car you can afford in the future.

If you do not feel that your talents are not being fully utilized and you have a natural enthusiasm and passion for something that could be turned into a business, it might be a sign that you are ready to become self-employed.

Small steps

There are several routes toward working for yourself.

It might be that you are made redundant and decide to use that money to take greater control of your future by setting up your own business, or it is possible to dip your toe in the water by setting up a part-time business while you are still an employee, waiting for the right moment to fire your boss and become one yourself.

We all make mistakes, and drunk driving can definitely be one of them. After a night out with your friends, it is easy to have a bit too much too drink and then sit behind the wheel. I am sure that a situation like this has happened to many of us, the difference is that most of us probably have not been convicted of drunk driving because they have not been caught in the act.

It is not rocket science that drink driving can affect your life for at least a few years after being convicted. After all, it stays on your record for some time, and different authorities might want to have access to this sort of information. This is not something that we might want to happen, but sometimes there might not be any way around it.

One area of our lives that can affect us greatly after a driving conviction is our ability to drive a car. I am not saying that you might never be able to drive again, but all I am saying is that it might become more expensive due to the rising premiums for those who have been convicted of drunk driving. If this is the case, finding the right type of drink driver insurance is very important to ensure that convicted drivers are never going to pay more than they should.

There are some companies who shy away from drunk drivers, or try to dramatically raise their premiums, but at the same time there are some insurers who are more forgiving towards those who have made such mistakes in their lives. The key here is to spot those who are not afraid to offer their insurance to those who have a history of driving under the influence of alcohol. This type of task can be a rather easy task provided that you know where to look for it.

If you have been convicted of drunk driving and don’t know what to do, feel free to click on the above link, which will take you to to the right place that will answer many of the questions you might have regarding your record of drunk driving.

It’s time for someone to take a stand against all of the terrible hosts out there. What’s so hard about offering a credible service without any dubious marketing terms or lies? Yes, finding a good host is a little harder than stumbling across one of the thousands of terrible hosts, but it’s time well spent. Here’s exactly what you need to look for in a host for your blog.

Bandwidth and Disk Space

Unlimited bandwidth is a lie, pure and simple. The fact is that unlimited bandwidth doesn’t even exist because there’s a constant flow of data and even all of the servers in the world couldn’t provide this. While there are some good hosts that offer this service, and it’s really not that bad for very small websites that need less than 10GB of bandwidth and disk space, it’s terrible for anyone looking to scale up. It’s much better to get metered bandwidth and disk space with a specific limit. This ensures that you know exactly how much you are getting. Don’t know how much you need? Just multiply the size of your common Web page by your average number of visitors. It’s a fairly simple equation.

Automated CMS Installation

A good host is going to have cPanel, which is also going to have an automated CMS installation program like Softaculous or Fantastico. Yes, you can always install WordPress or Drupal manually, but most of us don’t know or care to know how to do this. Ensure the host has an automated installer for your blog. Uptime Bad hosts are better known for their downtime than their uptime. A host’s job is to keep your website up and running. While downtime is inevitable and it will happen, it should only be for a few hours to days throughout the year. If your host doesn’t supply at least a 99% uptime guarantee, then leave immediately. You aren’t getting the service that you deserve, and who knows what other corners the host is cutting. It’s better to have 99.9% or higher, but 99% should be the bare minimum.

Customer Service

You don’t always need to call customer service because email and live chat are often just as good, but please oh please make sure the customer service team is good. Don’t assume that they will be professional. Most bad hosts have awful customer service teams that just won’t help you out. Grill the customer service team before using the host. Ask about what they will do if a hacker attacks, if their server goes down or if you have a hard time doing something common (like installing a script or using cPanel). If the team doesn’t seem helpful, then move on.

Loading Speed

Hosts don’t like advertising their loading speeds for one reason or another. Maybe it’s too geeky for common users, or maybe it’s because a lot of them want to hide something. Never, ever use a host without ensuring that their loading speeds are good. If your website loads very slowly, then this doesn’t just annoy visitors. It ensures that your site’s search engine ranking will drop, you will get fewer organic links and your number of active readers will decrease. Yes, site loading speed is a big deal and your host has to help you out if you want to survive.

Conclusion

There’s no reason to use a bad host for your blog, and I hope that you never pay a dime to these companies. Most good hosts are about the same price as the bad ones, but the service is much more valuable. Remember, you need a Web host that will help your business grow, not destroy you from the inside.

You own an Android, unlike cell phones of yesterday. The Android is more like a computer than a phone. But some people are intimidated and a bit lazy in getting to know their device, only using it for talking and texting. If that’s all you’re doing with your Android then you’re doing it wrong. Here’s how to make your device more functional.

Be a Pro at Photos

All of your photos can be kept in one place. Most people don’t need a camera these days. But it’s difficult to keep track of photos for later retrieval via a phone. You can create folders within Photos to categorize items. Furthermore, you could search for folders using the voice function. Why waste time toggling through icons?

Get to Saying, “Ok, Google…”

Start using the Android’s voice assistant option. There are tons of useful voice commands at your disposal including record a video, take a selfie, set a timer, etc. Aside from telling, you can ask about things like the weather, what time is the (your team’s name) game, etc.

Use a Mouse

Some people are unaware they can use their Android device with a mouse. Some apps are just easier to use with the aid of a mouse. Alternatively, you could plug your Android into a portable device or home PC. There are other plug-in compatibilities. Use a Bluetooth-enabled mouse or a keyboard if you would like.

Stop Using Data for Navigation

Google Maps is a great service. It’s useful to pull up the information when driving and in need of directions. However, you may grow alarmed to see your data getting used at a great rate, especially if you’re overseas. However, Google Maps allows Android users to view information without using data. Look for the ‘offline areas’ option from the overhead map view.

Take a Screenshot

It’s pretty handy to take a screenshot if you want a copy of your friend’s picture, see a meme you want to share, or if you would like to capture headlines to back up an argument with a spouse. All you do is press the power and volume-down button at the same time. The screen will flash and you’ll hear a shutter sound. You can then save the shot in a certain folder or upload it to social media.

Seta Data Limit

We’ve all been there. No one wants to get an enormous smartphone bill from their carrier. It’s easy to lose track of allotted data but not when you set a limit on your phone’s controls. Be alerted as soon as you exceed the limit set and never have to pay for going over again!

Turn Off Autocorrect

There have been funny and not so funny stories created by the autocorrect function. Android thinks you mean one thing and automatically corrects your spelling. This could be annoying to downright disastrous depending on whom receives a text from you. Don’t worry about it after turning off the autocorrect function.

When starting your own business, it’s best to eliminate the fluff. Too many small business owners fail because of overspending and an inability to budget. Here’s a list of the best ways to take control of your small business and save big.

SUPPLIES AND SERVICE

Frugality is your friend – instead of purchasing the newest software and technology, consider utilizing free software to facilitate operations. Hootsuite offers limited social management tools for free. Asana and Wrike offer free project management systems. WordPress, Wix, Drupal, and others offer free content management. Insightly has a free customer relationship management system, and so on. There are many other free, “freemium” or free-trial software that smaller enterprises can use as they grow. This will help the business operate more efficiently, save costs on budget and allow the company to fully evaluate the software before making the investment in paid suites.

EMPLOYEES

Often times, the people who work for you will determine the success of your business. To lower spending, new businesses should limit managerial hierarchies and contract freelancers when appropriate. You will pay a higher hourly rate for a freelancer than a full-time employee, but contractors tend to have varied experience, meaning they require less management and even less of your valuable time. Writers, designers, software developers and marketing experts are just a few of the roles that many startups hire on a freelance basis in order to cut spending. Additionally, freelancers can work out of their own homes, saving you money on office space and other resources.

OFFICE SPACE

In its early stages, you can save a great deal on rent, utilities, and supplies by running the business from your home. Of course, some businesses require a retail space or office to operate effectively. To minimize costs, consider joining forces with another small company to rent a shared office. You can split expenses and utilities down the middle, and even go in together on office supplies and furniture.

ADVERTISING AND DESIGN

Instead of hiring that top-rated design agency, consider performing some of your marketing efforts in-house. By developing your website and improving your social media presence, you can reach your audience without spending a fortune. As an added bonus, business owners performing some of their own marketing have the opportunity to gain valuable insight by interacting directly with their customers.

T R AV E L & EXPENSE MANAGEMENT

An often overlooked consideration of new businesses, travel and expense (T&E) actually make up the second largest operating expenditure after payroll. According to a recent Entrepreneur article, overspending actually eats up a fifth to a third of total T&E on average. As a startup, you have the power to tackle this trend upfront, before it becomes an issue down the line. Typically, if no policy exists, or the policy does not set clear limits, employees pick the airline, hotel, restaurant, and/or rental car of their choice—usually with convenience, not money in mind. People tend to spend more when it’s not their money. Divvy is the first free and fully automated spend management platform. It includes all of the features of cloud-based automation, without the pesky hidden costs. Within a matter of minutes, Divvy gives you visibility and control to every part of your businesses finances. For example: setup budgets and company spending policy down to each employee. Get real time spend insights. Send/block funds in real time. Generate IRS compliant digital receipts on all company purchases (AKA no more manual reimbursements or filing expense reports). The best part: it’s free.