The Philippines has a long way to go to match the growth of its neighbors, such as Singapore and Malaysia. It doesn’t mean that it’s not making any progress. IMF’s World Economic Outlook report revealed that the country has the world’s second fastest-growing economy for the past two years. It’s also the rising star in Southeast Asia.

Different challenges, though, might stunt the growth. These include urbanization issues such as housing. Population in the cities has the potential to grow by as many as 102 million by 2050. The supply is not enough.

The Housing Deficit in the Philippines

BMI Research predicted the property market of the Philippines to grow an average of almost 10% until 2026, making it one of the fastest in Asia. In spite of this, the demand for property far exceeds the available supply, particularly with regard to housing.

Based on the 2016 housing need study, the country has to provide 6.57 million new homes by 2022. Almost 700,000 of these will be in the National Capital Region (NCR). The need will also increase each year until the end of the forecast period. For example, in 2018, additions should be about 826,000. By 2019, it will climb to 870,000.

The report further highlights at least two of the emerging markets for new homes. These include the low-income households and families who will lose their homes to calamities and infrastructure projects. The first group is more likely to have a house, but the property tends to be unacceptable by standards. It means the home is unsafe or is in a lot not owned by the household.

Seeing the Opportunities

For small to medium-scale contractors and builders, the massive gap between the demand and need can be a golden opportunity for growth. Large companies and the government are less likely to satisfy the significant deficit.

Fledgling players can also receive quick support when it comes to new technology from businesses such as Topspot Heavy Equipment. The modern types of heavy equipment can speed up the job. In turn, it can lower the labor costs and make the project more efficient. It can increase volume and bring the prices of the residential property down.

One of the significant developments in the housing sector is the lowering of PAG-IBIG’s interest rates. In 2018, it declined to 3% from 4.5% for mortgages up to 450,000 pesos. It means that a household might have to pay less than 2,000 pesos for the next 60 months. The loan term can still be up to 30 years.

The annual tax savings further made their loans more affordable to the underserved markets. These are individuals who earn no more than 12,000 pesos outside NCR. Due to their low income, they are less likely to get a mortgage approval from a mortgage lender.

The increase in the volume of homes also tends to have government backing. BMI Research report showed a 24% increase in approved construction permits in the second quarter of 2017. It was equivalent to 30,000 new residential properties in the country.

Granted, it takes more than new homes to make a city competitive or solve the urbanization problem. The growth needs to be both inclusive and sustainable. Providing roofs over the heads of millions of Filipinos is one giant step in that direction.

 

Having success as a small business in the early days comes down to funding more often than not. Most people need some type of assistance to pay the bills early on, since limited money is coming in.

Over the years, iAdvance Now has helped out a lot of different people get the money they need, when they need it. No matter what type of business a person is in, they allow people to get money faster than any other alternative virtually.

 

While getting a loan is a great way to successfully fund a small business, there are other options as well that can help along the way. Using a few of the strategies will help a person get through those rough times in the beginning.

Crowdfunding

Running a crowdfunding campaign can lead to some pretty good money if done correctly. It is starting to become very popular, so some hard work needs to be put into things before lunch.

Some people use iAdvance Now to get some additional funds, and then they jump into a crowdfunding opportunity later on. Having a lot of financial backers can kickstart an idea in a big way.

Taking advance orders

Is there a way to bring in money before the product is ready to ship? If possible, look into advance orders as much as possible. Customers might be willing to pay in advance, as long as the product is delivered on time.

This can come back to haunt some people if they aren’t good at making deadlines. Make sure that everything is set up to speed the process up, and it will turn out fine.

Getting money from friends and family

Every small business owner can benefit from a wealthy friend or family member. If they are willing to give money towards a new project, it’s worth looking into.

Not everyone is comfortable getting money from family and friends, but one way to get around the awkwardness is to treat it like a formal loan. Come up with terms and a repayment process, and it will be a little less awkward.

Grants

A lot of small business owners aren’t aware of the fact that there are grant opportunities out there in certain fields. If a start-up is a nonprofit or connected to the government, there is a better opportunity to land a grant.

This is very beneficial from a financial perspective. As long as the money is used correctly, it can launch a business in a big way.

Loans

There are many different ways to obtain a loan to fund a business. Some people go the traditional route, while others rely on a company like iAdvance now. There are positives and negatives for every single situation, so it’s important to research the different options beforehand.

More and more people are liking the benefits of a fast turnaround like with iAdvance Now. As long as a person is diligent about repaying, it can be a great option.

 

The term or word labor, in its most basic sense, refers to a dedicated and concentrated effort which is done with an end or goal in mind. This effort could be of any sort or dimension; hence we talk of mental physical or manual labor.

In the world today, it is a commodity of great worth in itself which can also be gotten for a price. And depending on what it is that is being sought for, and the skillset that is required to achieve, it can be very costly.

Basically, it is generally classified into skilled and unskilled labor. The reality today is that skilled labor is generally valued more and earns more in terms of financial returns.

Now, it should be understood fundamentally that all labor is necessary for a society to function well and fulfill its potential thus, it should be appreciated and respected. However, and sadly so, this is not always the case especially with unskilled workers.

This however, does not negate their importance to the society in general, and to individuals in particular. They are also a great source of income for most families around the world.

Who Are Day Laborers?

A lot has been written on this issue some of which can be seen here. But in summary, it can be said that day laborers generally fall into the unskilled category of workers.

However, in their case they are hired and paid on a day to day basis. This means that there is no guarantee of work for the next day. While this does not mean that their services must end with the passing of a particular day, it just highlights the temporal nature of their work.

Are There Advantages to Working with or Hiring Them?

The answer to this question is a big yes! As a matter of fact, depending on how you look at it, it could actually be a smart decision to hire them for the following reasons.

1. They Are More Affordable: It is actually a norm that their services are affordable. This thus enables upcoming entrepreneurs and business owners to build or carry out whatever plan or endeavor they want to do without much cost.
2. They Are Available: They are usually always available for work no matter the location or time of call. This is why they are usually the best contingency plan.
3. They Offer a Broad Range of Basic Practical Skills: This is so because of the different varieties of work that they are exposed to. Resulting that over time, they have a wide range of basic skills that usually prove useful to their hirers.

Are There Disadvantages?

Well, it is said that everything that has an advantage has a disadvantage. The saying runs true in this particular situation. The Disadvantages Include:

1. You Walk in Blind: This is so because you do not have the opportunity to verify or run a background check on who or those you are hiring. This poses a risk because, the character or qualification of the individual or individuals you are hiring cannot be ascertained.
2. Quick Results but Poor Quality Work: This is an off shoot of the above mentioned point. This occurs as a result of your inability to ascertain the technical know-how of the person or persons you are hiring.
3. You Might Be Breaking the Law: It should also be pointed out that you might be unwittingly breaking the law by hiring a person that is not qualified to carry out certain tasks.
4. Legal status: This is an issue if the individual is an immigrant, whether the individual is a legal or illegal immigrant. This is important because, hiring an illegal immigrant is against federal law.

The point in giving all this information is not to scare you off, rather it is to enable you find and hire the best day laborers so as to avoid making a mistake in your hiring process.

How Do You Engage Them?

The First Step Is to Determine the Number You Need: This is very much dependent on the type of work and the speed with which you need to get it done. This is very important because it determines what you are to pay them.

You Have to Check the Labor Laws: This law stipulates what is to be fair pay and good working condition for workers. Falling short of this might get you running afoul of the law, thus it is important to have this in mind before going out to make any engagements.

Agree and Settle with The Workers on a Rate of Pay: When you meet with the laborers, they usually will want to know what they will get and what the job entails before setting out with you. So agree on the rate with them before setting out for the job so as to avoid disagreements.

Things to Note

1. You Can Use a Labor Agency: This is a good option if you would rather not handle the hiring and payment process yourself. They also are in a better position to know the right people to call depending on the job available.
2. Another Option Is the Community Day Laborer Programs: These programs try to make the process of matching workers to employers safe and legal for everyone involved
3. It is Generally Better to pay Cash: The bulk of your workers might have difficulty processing their payment from the bank. Some might not even have bank accounts.
4. Keep Record: This is especially very important if you constantly have to hire workers. This way, you’re able to keep track of the transactions that go on around you, especially the financial transactions.
5. Your Workers Have Rights: Make sure you comply with the various labor laws that apply in your business location both at the federal and state level. Avoid situations or issues that could bring law suits against you.

You can visit https://www.wikihow.com/Pay-a-Day-Laborer%3famp=1 for more details on this issue and much more.

Conclusion

Day laborers still remain a smart and cost effective way of getting your projects done, especially if you are a small business owner. Getting the best possible workers is an added bonus and makes for more efficient execution of your projects.

Why not try them out today? You stand to benefit a lot.

 

Opening an ecommerce business isn’t without its risks. If your ambition is to keep it afloat, you’ll need to come to terms with the fact that your sales won’t be trouble-free 100% of the time. And this is where the issue of returns comes in—it’s a fairly common pain point in ecommerce, especially in retail, and one that entrepreneurs must face for the sake of their company, their shippers, and their customers.

Addressing returns with a well-crafted returns policy will be good for an ecommerce business in several ways: (1) it will increase trust in the business, (2) it will help retain customers, and (3) it will pose different opportunities to improve sales. It’s in your best interest to create one now, taking the following into consideration:

1. The logistical end of the returns process. The first thing you’ll need to work out is who will handle the logistics of your store’s returns. If you sell a lot of products, but don’t have enough space to sort, inspect, or re-ship them yourself, you may want to consider getting high-quality ecommerce fulfillment services from a third-party logistics (3PL) provider. Their expertise and solid protocols for returns will surely reflect well on your business, even over perceived mistakes in shipment.
2. Types of compensation possible. Another thing that will keep you in the good graces of your customers is the presence of options in your return policy. There are several that you can offer them in lieu of a replacement—one example is store credits plus free shipping, so that the money will remain in the pipeline.
3. Return fees. Any fees that will be involved in the returns process must be disclosed to the customer. After all, you wouldn’t want be perceived by them as greedy, opportunistic, or dishonest. If you want to keep this from happening, determine what the shipping fees will be and communicate them to your customers. In addition, you can soften the blow of having to pay fees by offering shipping discounts on the customer’s next purchase or throwing in a free gift certificate.
4. Product condition. What condition should the product be in for it to still be eligible for returns? You will need to stipulate that you only accept returns of unused, unworn, or lightly used products, so as to prevent customers from sending back broken or worn-down items. Be especially aware of how fragile certain products are as compared to others, so that you can anticipate which ones will be returned more often.
5. Timeframes. Do mark the different steps in the return process, and consequently what the most realistic timeframes for each of them are: allowable period to file for a return, expected number of days to receive a replacement, and the like. Depending on the step involved, a good timeframe would be between 30 to 90 days. Just remember that nobody likes overly tight deadlines—giving your customers a wide enough berth to complete the returns process will make you appear reasonable and considerate.
6. Instructiveness and clarity. Once you’ve covered all the terms in your returns policy, it will be time to put everything in writing. Your goal is to publish a document that’s readable, easy to understand, instructive, and as unambiguous as possible. Outline the details of the process flow in a clear and concise manner. Finally, try to avoid unnecessary jargon and legalese.
7. Accessibility to customers. Sadly, some ecommerce entrepreneurs resort to the rather cheap tactic of obscuring their returns policy from customers, all in the hopes of discouraging them and making a quick buck. Prove that you aren’t like that bunch and show good faith to your customers instead. You can do so by making the link to the policy visible on your landing page, adding a reminder about the policy to the customer’s order confirmation, and printing return labels on your shipments to them.

To complement a strong and clear returns policy, you should also move to reduce returns in the first place. Some examples of how you can do so are releasing demo videos of products detailing proper usage, providing size charts on individual product pages, or hosting a virtual fitting room. In cases where returns are necessary, the key points of action are proper expectation setting and an efficient process. This is what will guarantee better transactions on your ecommerce site and a better experience for everyone.

 

Being smart and savvy are two hallmarks of successful business owners. They ask questions similar to this one asked by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon:

The common question that gets asked in business is, ‘Why?’

That’s a good question, but an equally valid question is, ‘Why not?’

You might ask yourself if business loans are the way to go because you don’t want to take on debt. However, to grow your business exponentially, you need more capital.

So as Jeff Bezos would recommend, why not decide whether you can get a loan before contacting a lender? A way to do that is to use a financial tool called a business loan calculator.

How a business loan calculator helps you manage finances

Some small business loans become financial headaches because they’re expensive and come with inconvenient terms.

For example, some people don’t make sure they’ll be able to repay a loan because they don’t know upfront how much the interest will amount to.

For example, payday loans are short-term loans with an annual percentage rate of 398%. Most people can’t repay these loans. Of course, this is just an extreme example, most small business loans have decent interest rates, but you still need to make sure you know how much your debt will be.

As a borrower, you need a way to obtain answers to common financial questions like “Will I be able to pay my loan?” “How much will I end up paying each month?” “Will a loan help or hurt my finances?”.

And that’s exactly how a business loan calculator can help you.

You can enter the desired loan amount, repayment terms, and interest rate into the calculator. The digital tool calculates the total interest you pay, the monthly payment amount, and the closing fee.

At any time, you can reset the calculator and enter new information to come up with a comfortable loan amount and repayment terms.

Use the business loan calculator wisely: 4 tips

The business loan calculator helps you make smart financial decisions. But in order to invest wisely, follow these tips whenever you use a business loan calculator.

1. Make sure the monthly payments don’t exceed 80% of your monthly net profit. If your net profit is $1,000, your monthly payment shouldn’t exceed $800.
2. The total cost of the loan shouldn’t exceed the total return after the investment. For instance, if you recognize a $10,000 profit on a 36-month loan with total loan costs of $7,000, your return on investment exceeds the total costs.
3. Make sure you can afford the loan. A business loan calculator’s purpose is to help you figure out how much you can comfortably afford. By having financial data to review, you can narrow down your choices. If you can’t borrow money, you can find ways to cut down on expenses.
4. Map out a financial strategy in months or years. The calculator helps you make plans for the next 24 to 60 months. By using the financial tool, you can create what-if scenarios to determine whether to repay the loan in 2 to 5 years. As an example, your budget may be able to handle a higher payment for 24 months so you can use the money to purchase inventory and equipment and launch new product lines.

You’re in charge when you have answers

No one likes surprises, especially financial ones. A business loan calculator removes any doubt as to whether you should apply for a loan. Within a few seconds, the calculator crunches the numbers so you don’t wonder whether applying for a loan is a good idea. Why not use the financial tool today and plan your business’s next steps toward success.

 

A freelancer does not enjoy all the freedom that the name suggests. Success in freelancing is dependent on how well you play by the rules. WritingJobz provides a constant flow of work and excellent returns to contracted freelancers.

 

Expert freelancers have understood what the industry requires so that a professional can thrive. Though there are different sectors in freelancing, the rules point at areas that require attention if the freelancer is to enjoy a satisfactory career. Here are rules that will turn you into a successful freelancer.

• Set A Working Schedule

Freelancing allows you to work from anywhere and at any time. In fact, a lot of people prefer freelancing because of the freedom it provides. However, this is a fallacy that will keep you from hitting your potential or delivering to the expectations of your client.

Develop a consistent work schedule that guides you on where to be at each time. The schedule will push you to still report to work even though your morale is low. A constant schedule enhances your productivity since the body, mind, and environment are in synch.

• Prepare A Comfortable Working Space

Office space would turn you into a more productive freelancer. Some projects will require you to work for long hours because of short deadlines. It is impossible to concentrate and deliver if you are uncomfortable. Invest in an ergonomic table and chair that will enable you to focus on the assignment without fatigue. Space must be lit, warm, and away from the noise.

• Understand The Instructions Provided By Your Client

The best freelancers are professionals who meet the expectations of their clients. It will be impossible to meet these expectations if you do not understand the instructions provided. Read through the instructions in detail and ask for clarification in case the instructions are unclear.

• Master Your Communication Skills

The secret to a successful freelancing career is to be available whenever the client needs your attention. A client who does not find you within a reasonable time will pass the tasks to another freelancer. This could lead to permanent loss of the client. Provide communication channels that will enable the client to get you in the shortest time possible. Delays in communication could also cause cancelation or penalties.

• Be Cautious Of Fraud

Freelancers are exposed to fraud through fake accounts or unremitted payment. Insist on working through formal channels to avoid fraudsters. Do not enter your banking or personal details on unverified platforms. Ask for down payments or use Escrow services to safeguard your finances whenever you are handling a project.

• Know Your Value

The freelancing market has no set prices. Clients are ready to pay the highest price if it guarantees value. Set prices that will guarantee the best value for your time and skills. However, it must be within a reasonable margin. Still, you can enhance your package to attract more clients.

• Be Honest To Your Client

Tell your clients about your skills and capability. Promise deadlines that you can deliver. If you do not have a particular skill that the client needs, tell the client. Do not raise the expectations of a client and then disappoint him or her when you cannot deliver.

• Offer Value

The biggest winners in freelancing are those who deliver value. No client will ever leave a freelancer who is offering value. Sharpen your skills so that you can deliver the best value to your clients.

Track your progress and find innovative ways of improving your earnings. Review your skills to ensure that you are competitive at all times. As long as you can deliver value, the clients will stick with you and pay the best prices.