Is title insurance worth the extra cost and paperwork? In a word, YES! Title insurance may not be the most talked about aspect of a property transfer but it is something that is hugely important. In a perfect world we would not have to worry about whether or not the person selling the home has the right to do so. They would have clear and free title to the property, enabling the swift transferrence of the property. It is unfortunate that we don’t live in a perfect world. Today’s real estate market has seen the gamut of real estate scams that are focused on title issues. Of course there are also more innocent issues with title, but those are not the ones that typically get noticed.

Title issues that catch public attention are the scams that are uncovered by police investigation units. Some go so far as to steal the identity of a home owner and simply sell the home out from beneath them. It seems unlikely that such large-scale identity theft would be possible but indeed it is. This is where title insurance comes into play. Essentially title insurance protects you as the buyer from issues with the title of the property. The insurance company will do a title search with the additional idea that they will pay any costs resulting from an error in the search. Title insurance protects the new owner of the home in the event that another claimant to the title of the property arises. If such a thing should occur the insurance will cover the legal costs and deal with the cost of the home in the event that the home is lost. In regards to new construction homes this will not be as much of a concern as it would be with a home that is 30 years or older. There can be a lot of action on a property’s title over the years so title insurance is a smart choice when buying a home. Ask yourself, “can I afford to take a chance on this?”

Unless you pay cash for your new car, or make a substantial down payment, odds are your car loan is “upside down” the minute you drive off the dealer’s lot.

An “upside down” loan simply means the amount borrowed to purchase an asset like an automobile exceeds the value of the asset itself. Most recently, you’ve probably heard the term used to describe the hundreds of thousands of mortgages now in default.

Unlike a home, the value of an automobile at any point in its life is predetermined by a depreciation schedule that takes into account make, model, year, equipment, and mileage.

Without exception, every new car, suv, van, or motorcycle loses 15% – 20% of its value the moment it makes the short drive from the dealer’s lot onto the street. At this point, the only thought running through a new car buyer’s head is who she’s going to show it to first. The last thing on her, or any other new car buyer’s mind is that they just lost a fast $6,000 in equity on their newly purchased asset.

For anyone who paid cash, made a substantial down payment, or received a very generous trade-in, the potential problem of rapid first year depreciation will not pose a financial hardship.

But for any new or used car buyer who made a very low down payment or accepted a zero cash down offer from the dealer the potential for financial disaster looms large. Anyone who makes a minimal down payment and has their car stolen or totaled in an accident during the first year of ownership unknowingly faces a shortfall of thousands of dollars owed to the finance company after the insurance company settles the claim.

The difference between the amount the insurance company pays for a total loss and the payoff amount of your loan is the gap in GAP (Guaranteed Asset Protection) insurance.

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Quantum of Solace is expected to be one of the most popular movies of 2008 and Quantum of Solace James Bond Ringtones are already some of the hottest ringtones in the world. Quantum of Solace is the 22nd James Bond film by EON Productions, released in the United Kingdom on October 31st and in North America on November 14th. The direct sequel to the 2006 film Casino Royale, it is directed by Marc Forster, and features Daniel Craig’s second performance as James Bond. In the film, Bond battles Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a member of the Quantum organisation posing as an environmentalist, who intends to stage a coup d’état in Bolivia to take control of its water supply. Bond seeks revenge for the death of Vesper Lynd, and is assisted by Camille Montes (Olga Kurylenko). From the October 31st British opening through the November 14th US opening weekend, the film had grossed a total $322 million worldwide.

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Producer Michael G. Wilson created the film’s plot while Casino Royale was shooting. Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis and Joshua Zetumer contributed to the script. The title was chosen from a 1960 short story in Ian Fleming’s For Your Eyes Only, though the film does not contain any elements of the original story. Location filming took place in Panama, Chile, Italy and Austria, while interior sets were built and filmed at Pinewood Studios. Forster aimed to make a modern film that also featured classic cinema motifs: an antique aeroplane was used for a dogfight sequence, and Dennis Gassner’s set designs are reminiscent of Ken Adam’s work on several early Bond films. Taking a course away from the usual Bond villains, Forster rejected any grotesque appearance for the character Dominic Greene to emphasize the hidden and secret nature of the film’s (and society’s) modern day corporate villains. To get the Quantum of Solace Theme Ringtone for your phone, click on the link below and sign up now!

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The Workersâ?? Compensation system was established to protect injured workers by providing for benefits (and to their families) in the event there is an on-the-job injury or an injury sustained due to the type of work performed. Some Workersâ?? Compensation claims are for accidents on the job such as loss of limb in a machine or a back injury due to heavy lifting. Other Workersâ?? Compensation claims are due to medical problems due to repetitive motion, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Still other Workersâ?? Comp claims are for the inhalation of dangerous chemicals such as asbestos, which often results in a form of lung cancer called mesothelioma. Regardless of the type of injury you have suffered at your job, you should seek the legal advice of an experienced Workersâ?? Compensation lawyer today to ensure that you and your family get the benefits to which you are entitled.

Filing a Workersâ?? Compensation claim is no easy task. The language can be difficult and confusing, and often times, the first filing is quickly denied. Workersâ?? Comp will deny claims for reasons such as a deadline was missed or a form was filled out incorrectly. Workersâ?? Compensation attorneys have a great deal of experience filling out these forms and dealing with the difficult aspects of Workersâ?? Compensation law.

The Claims Process

Before making a workersâ?? compensation claim, the injured worker or their representative must tell the employer that an injury has occurred and provide medical information. In certain cases, a an injured worker will need to submit a written claim form:

â?¢ If the insurer requests one

â?¢ If the worker needs weekly payments for more than 12 weeks or medical expenses of more than $7,500

â?¢ If the insurer decides to not start provisional liability payments, or stops making provisional liability payments, and the worker disagrees.

After this step, the insurer will decide whether or not to accept the claim. Before payments begin, the insurer will need certain facts and will investigate the matter by questioning the employer and the injured employee. Information will also be sought from the medical doctor who examined the injured employee. Within seven of being informed of the accident/injury, the insurer must begin provisional liability payments to the injured worker unless there is a compelling reason to not begin payments.

A claim for workersâ?? compensation benefits must be made within six months of the date of the injury in most states. This may be extended to three years in some cases. A worker is not entitled to compensation unless notice of the injury was given to the employer as soon as possible after the injury occurred.

Secured credit cards can rebuild your bad credit only if you show a historical improvement to your payment history. A secured credit card is one that is prepaid; as long as you maintain a positive balance then a positive history is created.

Can a credit card improve bad credit? Can something inherently bad become something good? However, the consensus of most honest financial advisors is that debt is a disease. An ongoing radio commercial announced that credit card debt is the third largest debt growth area amongst Americans. It states that the average credit card debt is $10,000. Apparently Americans have a serious disease and it is not getting better. Some advertisements promise debt consolidation, whereby a large amount of credit card debt from many credit cards are rolled into one credit card debt. The only improvement is that there is one address to send monthly payments.

There is nothing really good about debt. Americans have been convinced by retail salesmen and the banks that to have good credit one must have a solid credit history through credit cards or credit accounts. A solid history means more than the fact that you have consistently made payments on time without failure. The credit card companies and the banks evaluate your spending tends, the debt load over time, your savings history, checking deposit history and actual check spending history. This personal information is felt by these institutions to be proprietary, belonging to the institution because of their unique methods of collection, rather than belonging to the individual who creates this activity. Debt is bad because it gives total strangers control over your life. It teaches you that spending all of your cash assets is fine, there is no limit or bounds to spending, it is acceptable to owe vastly more money than you make or will ever make.

A credit card, if it is the only credit card you possess, could start improving a portion of bad debt only if you liquidate your current debt in a steady, reliable manner. This will only show a history of reliable payment. As I have already stated banks and credit card companies are not interested only in your reliability, they want the “juice” off of the advanced credit you have obtained. This means they only want you if they can get their interest in a regular and steady manner.

This is not the same as pay your debt regularly until it vanishes. They want you to remain indebted permanently but repaying them in a timely manner. If you are debt free you may not be judged to be a good credit risk. This is the state that underage children and young adults find themselves whenever they attempt to secure a credit card. Simply stated, good credit doesn’t mean what it did just fourteen years ago. The protections afforded the consumer since the Depression of 1929 no longer exist.

The Financial Laws passed through Congress in 1992 allowed banks, insurance companies (especially health insurance companies) investment firms to handle banking, insurance and investment operations. Laws passed after 1929 had prevented banks from insurance and direct stock exchange trading, likewise insurance companies could not pursue banking operations or stock exchange nor could stock exchange companies pursue insurance or banking operations. This freedom was granted without the subsequent protections of the consumer included in these new laws. There currently exists no single body of consumer law. The private citizen must fight the triumvirate of bank,insurance and stock exchange through the court system for his own right to privacy. Remember a credit card is not the way to improve bad credit; it is a quick way to obtain bad credit!

Supporters of healthcare reform are pushing for action to take place as soon as possible. Despite its political risk and an increasingly skeptical public, President Barack Obama has continued to say that he won’t give up on passing comprehensive medical insurance reform legislation.

Although millions of Americans are uninsured–a number that job losses may increase–over 70% still have health insurance. The downsides of healthcare reform, including tax increases and further addition to the deficit, are more relevant to them right now. However, the Obama administration is warning that an event regarding health insurance in California may be the nation’s future if the status quo remains the same.

Recently, Anthem Blue Cross health insurance proposed a health insurance rate increase of up to 39%, beginning March 1st. Over 800,000 customers might be affected, and many of those customers vote. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has demanded a detailed explanation for the rise in medical insurance premiums. The state’s insurance regulator, Steven Poizner, has also expressed his dismay. Although California does not require state approval for health insurance rates to increase, he has requested an inquiry from his department.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is a for-profit corporation, so what gives the federal government the right to get involved in its pricing decisions? That is a legitimate point. However, this particular price increase makes little economic sense. High unemployment rates have decreased the demand for health insurance–fewer people can afford it. The state of California has been especially hard hit by the recession. Basic microeconomics would predict that Anthem would lower its prices to increase its consumer base. Instead, rates have gone up.

There may be a legitimate explanation for the medical insurance cost increase: Anthem Blue Cross may be paying out more claims due to illnesses associated with obesity. They may also be spending money to battle medical malpractice lawsuits, many of which are frivolous. Moreover, the threat of such lawsuits encourages many doctors to perform unnecessary defensive medicine (and passing the cost onto their patients’ health insurance).

Sebelius also wants Anthem Blue Cross and its parent company WellPoint to publicly disclose its medical loss ratio (MLR). The MLR indicates what percentage of health insurance premiums is spent on fulfilling claims and providing health care, versus how much is spent on administrative costs–including executive salaries. Medical insurance companies prefer lower medical cost ratios, because shareholders look upon them positively; customers, on the other hand, would prefer higher ratios. That way, they could pay less for the same level of care.

A spokeswoman for Anthem could not confirm or deny whether Sebelius’ letter was received. It is doubtful whether the stern letter has enough bite to make an impact. After all, many health insurance companies do not appear to feel much shame after months of being vilified. Meanwhile, liberals believe that comprehensive health care reform could help reduce these problems. The public option, although doomed, could have provided more competition for Anthem. As a result, they may have been deterred from increasing rates. Even if only a small percentage of the population actually took advantage of the government run medical insurance program, proponents believe that a competing program without a profit motive would drive costs down. However, it is possible that bureaucratic inefficiencies would prevent the public option from significantly undercutting private rates while maintaining the quality of health care.

Meanwhile, February 24th will see a hearing on the issue in Congress. It was requested by Democratic Representatives Henry Waxman and Bart Stupak. Experts predict that health insurance premiums may see a similar rise nationwide, at a time when already insured Americans need a cost increase the least.

Final expense insurance, also referred to in some capacities as burial insurance, is designed to help families cover expenses resulting from the death of a loved one.

Funeral costs alone can be as high as $25,000 or possibly more, and unanticipated charges such as medical costs that are not covered by health insurance, as well as federal and state taxes and/or other bills in the deceased name can add up, taking a toll on families during what is already an extremely difficult and emotionally taxing time.

By choosing to purchase final expense insurance, you can spare your family much of these expenses, and, in addition, this type of policy also allows you to specify the details of your funeral and burial, including the type of service and casket that you prefer.

If this sounds morbid, consider the alternative: your grieving family scrambling to make important financial and emotional decisions during a difficult time made more difficult by a total lack of preplanning.

According to the national funeral directors association, consumer interest in preplanning of funerals has been rising steadily for the past 30 years, but it is only recently, perhaps as so many baby boomers find themselves approaching retirement age, that the industry has centered on the pre funding of these types of ceremonies.

How were funerals and related expenses funded in the past? Traditionally, funerals were funded with trusts, which were especially complicated to arrange, but do carry tax liabilities and can become complicated if the purchaser of a trust decides to move out of state.

To combat these problems, some consumers created what was termed final life expense insurance policies, i.e. supplementary policies beyond their basic life insurance policies with small coverage limits, sometimes known as face amounts typically of about $10,000 designed to cover the costs of funerals.

The american association of retired persons AARP reports that funerals and burials rank high among the most expensive purchases that older Americans make. For an adult funeral, the average cost is from $4,000 to $5,000, which does not include any funeral service extras or miscellaneous expenses.

In ground funerals can cost an additional $2,500 or more, depending on the state in which the burial takes place, and other factors.

What all of this means is that the traditional $10,000 amount reserved in trust for burial and funeral expenses may simply not be enough, and paying for a typical funeral may necessitate taking funds from the deceased’s life insurance policy. Unfortunately, this is becoming an all too frequent trend.

Final expense insurance policies are individualized, which means that typically anything can be included in them, unless your policy is capped at a specific dollar amount, the highest of which, are typically $25,000.

The types of services and products that you can select will vary by policy, as well as by state, but generally, you can expect to be able to pre purchase and pre pay for the following: cremation, casket or urn, grave marker, flowers, plot, hearses and other funeral vehicles, embalming this is not legally required unless there will be a public viewing, but many people opt for it, in any case burial marker or grave liner, and digging and filling of the grave.

What factors should I consider when purchasing final expense insurance? Your state’s laws and regulations concerning final expense, burial, preneed insurance. The wishes, concerns, and recommendations of your family, your financial planner, and your attorney. The amount of death benefits that you will actually receive from the policy. The verification of the funeral director, agent, or company.

Any free look laws that your state may have in place, which allows you to review your policy before committing. A written list from your funeral home of choice, detailing the types of products and services offered, as well as their costs.

Whether or not the funeral home that you choose elects to give a price guarantee. If the funeral home doesn’t, then your funeral costs will likely be higher than the amount that you pre pay for.

Bringing a trusted family member or friend along to help you shop for the casket and other related products.

Whether or not the funeral arrangements that you make can be moved to any funeral home at any time.

Whether your state requires that the money you prepay to funeral directors be made available to you at any time.

The location of the grave site should be spelled out by section, row and plot number. The policy should specify what type of outer burial container you have purchased e.g., grave liner vs. a vault, and what it is made of.

The policy should specify what kind of marker you have purchased, including size, material, and style, preferably with a sketch. Whether opening, closing, marker installation costs, etc are included. Keep in mind that the costs of digging and filling a grave are not typically included in the cost of the plot.

Whether there are extra fees included if you elect to buy a marker from a monument dealer instead of from the cemetery, as well as if you elect to buy a casket from your own supplier.

Find out what happens if the cemetery ownership changes hands. Know what recourse you have if the cemetery runs out of money and defaults on your arrangement. Ask what happens if your chosen cemetery runs out of burial space.

Survey your desired cemetery to see how well the upkeep is, particularly after a snowstorm.

Look at the contingencies plan if the items you have selected will no longer available at the time of the funeral. Make sure you receive your funeral policy in a timely manner.

Make sure you receive at least one statement each year detailing the status of your account.

Know what happens if you decide to cancel your policy.

How can I obtain final expense insurance? Your insurance broker can help you decide which type of final expense insurance policy is right for your budget and personal preferences. The good news is that most people aged 40 to 85 can afford these types of policies, and the premiums, which generally depend on your age, but are based on other factors as well, are typically low.

As with all financial decisions, be sure to also seek the advice of your certified financial planner before choosing a final expense insurance plan.

How to Get Low Cost Vehicle Insurance

If you are planning to get a low-cost car insurance on line policy, keeping simple things in mind and having some basic knowledge about how insurance works can be very effective. If you do it thoroughly and properly, not only can you get a economical car insurance but you can get it along with best coverage on your policy.

First thing that you must do when planning for a good insurance deal is to go through the market thoroughly. If you can not do it in person, you can easily go online and check all the guidance. Once you have all the information that you need about the premium quotes and the policy coverage offered by various insurers, you can do a comparative study to know the best deal.

After you have chosen the insurance company, look at all the rebates that you can get from them. Always be mindful of the fact car insurance industry is very competitive and all the providers want your business, so let the company dealer or your insurance agent know that you are looking at rebates. You can get concessions for getting multiple vehicles insured from the same provider or getting more than one policies from them. You can also become eligible for some concession if you have undertaken any safe drivers’ program and for maintaining a clean driving history. You can also get some discount based on your work company, or your credit card company, school, or bank.

You can also get rebates in insurance premium rates if your vehicle is fitted with current anti-theft devices. Some states even offer sureshot discounts for taking care of the safety of your automobile. The idea is simple: the less your chances of requiring a claim, the lower the premium rates are. Choosing some auto pay option, such as linking it directly with your credit card, can also bring your premium amount down.

When you are looking to get cost effective car insurance, go for yearly policy instead of semiannually, quarterly or monthly. A number of insurance companies give lower rates on yearly premium polices simply to get long-term business from their customers.

Another beneficial way to get cheap vehicle insurance on line is by signing for higher deductible amount when getting the policy. Deductible is the amount that you are required to pay upfront in the event of an accident before your insurance provider pays the rest of the amount. Opting for a lower deductible can save you thousands of dollars in premium. One thing to keep in mind with a lower deductible is that it means more out-of-pocket expense when you file for a claim.

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How can you get a high risk check processing account?  The key is to think outside the ACH box.

Electronic checks are the most popular alternative payment method chosen by consumers.  Merchants in high risk industries increase sales simply by offering electronic checks as a payment option at checkout.

In the old days, merchants could rely on the ACH network for high risk check processing.  It was an old, slow, reliable batch-oriented system for clearing electronic transactions. But, even in the best of times, it was not designed for the special needs high risk check processing.

The ACH network is governed by NACHA operating rules. These rules have always been restrictive for high risk merchants. There are all types of return codes. The operating rules are hundreds of pages long, complex and hard to understand.

The ACH network has always been challenging for all but the most mundane merchants such as utility or insurance companies. Deciphering and interpreting the rules took time and sometimes expert (and expensive) professional advice.

In the past few years, the NACHA rules have tightened significantly. As a result, High Risk Check Processing through the ACH network is now almost impossible.

Indeed, even traditional businesses are having a difficult time complying with NACHA rules. Chargebacks must be kept under 1%. Returns are closely monitored.

With the current economic climate, 3rd party ACH processors are being driven out of business. And underwriting for ACH accounts by the remaining processors is becoming more restrictive every day.

Still, it’s important to be able to accept echecks as payments. Merchants who offer electronic checks as payment experience sales lifts of 8-20%.

New technology based on Check 21 legislation is the best method of processing high risk checks.  Modern techniques have created solutions which free you from the restrictive ACH network. Improved processing methods provide valuable benefits for high risk merchants that want to offer electronic checks as a payment option.

With the new solution for high risk check processing, transactions no longer go through the ACH network, although the Federal Reserve still clears the checks. There is no more waiting 3-4 days for a transaction to clear and up to 7 days to settle.

Instead, checks are cleared by bank-to-bank transfer. Since there is no middleman, checks clear in 1 day or less. Funds are settled into your account within 1 day.

Checks are cleared faster; therefore, the risk of NSF is decreased. Fraudulent transactions are discovered sooner. Chargebacks are drastically reduced. Saving you money and streamlining business operations.

With modern high risk check processing, you own the depository account. Settlement of cleared checks is directly into your account not into a 3rd party ACH processor account. You control your money and improve access to your working capital

But, wait. It gets better. There are no reserves. That’s right. By using high risk check processing technology, you eliminate needless and expensive hold-backs by an ACH processor. .

Processing the old-fashioned way, reserves were required because the ACH processor acted as a middleman.  In order to protect itself from liability, the processor assessed reserves against the merchants.  Reserves were lost if the ACH processor went out of business or simply decided not to return the reserve.

Smart merchants realize that new technology properly deployed is one secret of business success.  Use the power of technology to take control of your High Risk Check Processing today.

Getting the Basics Right

First things first. It is critical that you have monthly financial statements prepared on a timely and accurate basis. Ideally you should have prior month’s financial statements prepared by Day 15 of the following month. If you don’t have an internal Accountant/Bookkeeper there are many contract bookkeeping services available to do this for you at reasonable rates.

I recommend as a minimum you have the following reports prepared for your review on a monthly basis:

- Profit & Loss Statement
- Balance Sheet
- Aged Debtors Report
- Aged Creditors Report

These should be reviewed in a monthly owners meeting where you analyse these in conjunction with other business issues using a standard meeting agenda.

In addition, I recommend full financial year budgets are prepared to set up the targets you wish to achieve. The actual performance on a periodic basis is then compared to the budget targets you set at the start of the year. This discipline ensures you are regularly monitoring whether you are on track.

Analysis beyond the Basics

The Profit & Loss

Revenue. Ensure that you have different revenue categories for each different income stream. Calculate the percentage of total revenue you earn from each of these streams.

Consider how to increase these and add new revenue streams through other product/service offerings. What marketing activities and customer based activities can you devise and implement to increase these numbers?

Direct Expenses. Direct expenses are expenses such as material purchases and wages for direct labour that vary with your level of turnover. Capture these separately to your general overhead expenses and calculate what percentage of total revenue these represent. How much do these direct expenses vary with turnover and how can you reduce these as a percentage of revenue? Examples include changing material suppliers through importing off-shore, negotiating fixed transport costs or changing your direct labour mix between permanent staff and subcontractors.

Gross Profit. Gross Profit is your profit after deducting direct expenses but before general overhead. What is your Gross Profit Margin expressed as a percentage of total revenue? How can this be maintained or increased?

Overhead Expenses. Overhead Expenses are also referred to as Indirect Expenses and are expenses that don’t tend to vary with sales turnover. These include rent, administration staff and professional fees. Look at expenses that you can reduce such as getting a fixed fee from your Accountant, negotiating a rent free period on an extended lease on your premises or changing your telephone provider and plan.

Net Profit. Net Profit is the most important number to look at expressed both in dollars and as a percentage of total revenue. Consider how this compares to other businesses within your industry and whether it is high enough to keep your business sustainable.

Balance Sheet

The Balance Sheet is an often overlooked financial report which I try and get business owners to look at holistically rather than in detail. The Balance Sheet shows a snapshot of your Assets minus your Liabilities which results in your net assets or equity.

Cash Reserves. If your business has cash at bank, consider how many months of wages or overhead you have covered if the business hit a bad patch. Have you got cash in reserve for a Christmas shutdown or other seasonal decline in revenue. Are you earning a decent rate of interest on these cash reserves or can these funds be used for investment purposes? If you are in overdraft, what amount of undrawn funds do you currently have available?

Liquid Assets. Liquid Assets are your Current Assets less Current Liabilities and shows your current liquidity. This should be a positive number. I also look at Current Debtors less Current Creditors to analyse trade liquidity.

Debtors. The Aged Debtors summary shows the breakdown of what your customers owe you into current, 30 days +, 60 days + and 90 days + overdue categories. You can also calculate the average Debtors Days which tells you how long on average your customers are taking to pay you.

Creditors. The Aged Creditors summary shows the same breakdown as debtors in terms of who you owe money to and how long it’s been outstanding.

Net Assets. Net Assets is simply total assets minus total liabilities. It tells you what your net position is and how much equity you have in the business. This is often a valuable number to build if you want to borrow against the business as the banks look at this within your business as well as debt serviceability from your Profit & Loss.

Advanced Smart Numbers

Advanced Smart Numbers are numbers and ratios you can calculate when you really know the key drivers within your business. Great business owners generally have 3-5 of these that they monitor and can quickly ascertain how the business is performing by reviewing these.

Service Businesses. Some of the smart numbers to look at for a service business might include:

- Blended Rate per hour (weighted charge out rate for hours charged if business based on hourly fees)
- Direct Labour Rate per hour (Average amount paid out per hour to direct labour employees)
- Overhead Rate per hour (Cost per hour of overhead expenses)
- Gross Profit by Direct Labour Employee (Revenue charged less gross wages)
- Other Direct Expense Ratios ( Materials as % of revenue, Transport as % of revenue etc)
- Key Overhead Expenses (Analyse what % of total revenue key expenses cost you including indirect wages, rent, motor vehicle expenses and telephone)

Product Businesses. Some of the smart numbers to look at for a product business might include:

- Average Dollar Sale
- Number of sales transactions
- Number of unique customer sales transactions
- Average margin per sale
- Average margin per product
- Cost per sale
- Material input cost per product
- Direct Labour cost per product

Combined Service/Product Businesses. These businesses would utilise a combination of both of the above.

Darren Bourke, Business Influence, 2008. You are welcome to “reprint” this article online as long as it remains complete (including the “about the author” information at the end).