Financing FAQ

Posted on Friday, 1st July 2011 by Vanessa Miller

When times get tough, companies increasingly look to temporary employees to fill their needs- at least that’s what this recent article over at CNN suggests.

As a small business owner, relying on temporary or contractual hires may seem like a quick and cheap solution to getting a particular job done, and these days with the rise of Internet-based networking and temporary employment services, it’s even easier then before. However, the truth is that sometimes it just pays more to bring in a permanent employee. Here are three reasons why:

1. It may end up costing you more. In a previous post, I offered three reasons why bringing in temporary or contractual help may actually end up costing your business more than a regular employee. That is, your temporary help may be more expensive then you think due to several “hidden” costs, such as bigger wages, a high learning curve, and the need for a lot of directing.

2. Capitali

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Tags: Small, Small Biz
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Posted on Friday, 1st July 2011 by Vanessa Miller

When the group discount site Groupon first appeared on the Internet radar in 2008, it seemed like a bane for small business owners looking for a way to pump up sluggish sales and attract new customers. It’s daily deals are known to attract hordes of interested, deal seeking consumers.

But as other deal sites have set up shop, and numerous businesses have bought into the group buying model enough to try it out, an unmistakeable backlash has evolved, with many being quick to point out that the actual benefit of participating in Groupon to small businesses and their communities seem small. So does that mean you should throw in the towel, avoiding Groupon and the like altogether?

My answer: not necessarily. But for your Groupon experience to be successful you need to know how to use the service properly. Here are three things to keep in mind:

1. Know what you are getting into. Make sure that you understand the nature of “a Groupon” and the kinds of customers it attracts. The pe

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Tags: Groupon, Small Business
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Posted on Friday, 1st July 2011 by Emily Smith

Investors got an early fireworks show in the stock market on Friday as the indexes kept chugging higher with the S&P 500 up nearly 20 points in the final hour of trading before the long holiday weekend.

A better-than-expected ISM manufacturing survey for June lit a fire under stocks on Friday.

SPDR S&P 500 ETF was on track to close the week with a nearly 6% gain, but some technical analysts see a classic bearish pattern emerging in the tracking index.

Stock ETFs have run the table, while Treasuries have fallen every day every day this week as markets see the end of the Federal Reserve’s second round of bond purchases, known as ‘QE2.’

The iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury is down 3% for the week, and ETFs that short bonds have benefitted from higher yields.

In particular, yields on 5-year notes have soared this week, punishing ETFs that focus on this part of the Treasury market.

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Tags: 500, Sp 500
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Posted on Thursday, 30th June 2011 by Emily Smith

The Statistics Bureau has today revealed Japan’s core consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.6% in May on an annual basis – the second consecutive monthly rise due to higher commodity prices.

The rise was higher than forecasts of a 0.5% gain and comes after the 0.6% rise in April – which represented the first in two years as the world’s third largest economy overcame deflation.

A short period of deflation (where prices fall rather than increase) is a serious threat to an economy because it deters consumers and businesses from spending in expectation of falling prices.

Deflation was a problem for Japan during its so-called “Lost Decade” in the 1990s in which the economy struggled with falling prices.

However, according to analysts, the CPI is expected to return to negative territory in July and the economy will continue to battle with deflation for some time.

In

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Tags: Consecutive Month, Month, Second Consecutive, Second Consecutive Month
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Posted on Thursday, 30th June 2011 by Emily Smith

From China and India to Southeast Europe and South America, the upward thrust of big young populations of middle class patrons is creating rich possibilities for non-public equity and venture capital investors. Top targets for investment in these emerging markets include companies in the web, monetary services and clean technology sectors.

These were among the key points of venture capital panelists, many of whom are currently working in developing states, at the 2011 Wharton Personal Equity and Venture Capital Conference. Partakers on a panel titled Challenges and Possibilities for World Venture Capital addressed the developing areas of China, India, Southeast Europe, Turkey and South America in the session, which was moderated by Jeanne Metzger, director of selling for the national Venture Capital Association in Washington, D.C.

The internet sector is very engaging in Chinas vast and speedily growing market, expounded Andras Forgacs, CEO of Richmond Worldwide a New York City-based venture capital firm that focuses on technology.

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Tags: Capital, Creating Rich, Venture Capital
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Posted on Thursday, 30th June 2011 by Emily Smith

ORLANDO, FL – Many predictions were made early in 2011 about the issues that would challenge healthcare finance leaders this year.

As the HFMA ANI Conference occurs mid-year, it’s an auspicious time to re-evaluate the issues that could (or already have) impact costs and revenues at healthcare organizations.

Here are ten predictions made by consultants, providers and policymakers in January 2011. Are they still accurate, from your organization’s perspective, in mid-2011?

1. Insurance membership will take a hit from slow recovery. Few unemployed will take advantage of COBRA while employees, faced with paying more of their health plan premium, will select high-deductible, low-premium PPO plans, hurting HMOs.
2. No easing on payment pressure. Although health plan payments will keep pace with inflation and operating cost increases, they will not make up for declining or stagnant Medicaid and Medicare payments.
3. Patients will postpone care, hurting providers. With high unemployment and underemployment and increased out-of-pocket costs, people will continue to put off treatment, keeping volumes soft at hospitals, ambulatory centers and physician offices.
4. Cost is king. Soft volume, downward pressure on revenues and a deteriorating payer mix with increased bad debt will drive providers to seek more cost savings. H

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Tags: 2011, Healthcare Finance
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