Internet Marketing – Page 334

Startup Due Diligence | What You Need to Know

Home Business Magazine Online

Reality shows like Money Tigers and Shark Tanks have democratized the visibility and access to investment opportunities for startups. But while the requirements from investors have become more diverse and varied, startup due diligence behind the scenes still has more implications. For example, technical due diligence (TDD) may be the highest deciding factor when investors are conducting due diligence for startups offering app-based solutions. This is a rigorous process that can not be done on stage. It may require back and forth with a dev team that provides comprehensive software development service.

Before seeking investment for your startup, it’s essential to understand the key aspects of due diligence. In this article, we’ll provide you with some of the necessary information and tools to make informed decisions in the constantly-changing world of startup funding.

What Is Due Diligence for Startups?

Beyond the startup’s pitch and marketing efforts, investors conduct in-depth assessments before signing on the dotted line and offering their financial, strategic, and operational resources. Just like a bank will not loan you without a proper risk assessment of your credit standing, an investor will not release funds without an appropriate evaluation of your financial viability and potential returns. They will go beyond the information provided to them and do an independent review. That’s due diligence.

Aside from creditworthiness, an investor will typically engage legal professionals to assess the compliance of the products or services with regulations and intellectual property rights before investing. The ability of founders and the team to execute the business plan, drive innovation, and adapt to market changes are also key considerations. In addition, feedback from customers, third parties, and shareholders can not be overlooked as well.

When Is Due Diligence Carried Out?

Due diligence happens before a binding agreement. It’s often conducted immediately after the startup and investors sign a non-binding document known as a term sheet. With that, both parties clearly understand the proposed investment terms and recognize areas of alignment. Startups can then proceed to cross their t’s and dot their i’s wherever needed before a contract is initiated.

What Do Investors Ask the Startup For?

1. Financial Statements: To scrutinize the financial value of a startup, investors will request a profit and loss Statement (P&L), cash flow report, book of accounts, and other related documents. For a startup in the pre-revenue stage, the focus of the financials may shift towards highlighting financial projections, anticipated expenses, funding requirements, and the feasibility of the business model.

2. Intellectual Property: In an age where many businesses depend on open-source tools to build their products, investors often require evidence of strong intellectual property protection and proprietary innovations that differentiate the company from competitors. These typically include proof of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and brand of the company’s products or services.

3. Startup Governance and Staff: During the due diligence, investors will inquire about the documentation of the past and present employee count, their contract terms, expertise, and overall contributions to the company’s growth and success. In short, the document or any other means of communication usually includes details regarding the comprehensive organizational setup and profiles of the management and other crucial staff members.

4. Regulatory Compliance: Startups’ regulatory obligations can not go unscrutinized before an investor decides to invest in the company. From industry-specific regulations to general business compliance requirements, investors want to ensure that the startup understands its obligations and has taken the necessary steps to fulfill them. FinTech startups, for example, must demonstrate robust internal control procedures for regulatory compliance regarding anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations, customer data and privacy.

5. Cap Table: Investors usually require a concise, accurate, and up-to-date cap table. This document must include equity structure, showing the past and present ownership and funding details such as the number of authorized shares, diluted shares, securities issued, and the ownership percentages of each shareholder.

6. Market Position: Investors don’t limit their due diligence to the business alone. They also evaluate the market viability and your position in it. In addition, independent checks and direct inquiries go into measuring competitive forces, market dynamics, potential growth opportunities, and market trends.

7. Customer Information and Supplier Agreements: In startup due diligence, it’s necessary to gather information about agreements that establish the rights of third parties to the companies’ assets. These agreements can include security contracts, employment or distributor contracts, mortgages, and other similar arrangements.

8. Overview of Existing and Potential Revenue Figures: This type of due diligence goes without saying. The bottom line is a big deal to investors. They want to see evidence of strong financial performance and sustainable profitability. When measuring potential revenue figures, investors consider KPIs such as customer lifetime value (CLTV), churn rate, average revenue per user (ARPU), customer acquisition cost (CAC), and repeat purchase rate.

9. Risks and Mitigation Strategies: Investors value startups with strong policies and internal controls to cope with possible risks. This may include the Directors and officers insurance policy used to provide financial protection to the company’s directors and officers in case of legal claims or liabilities. Besides, startups dealing with sensitive customer information, financial transactions, or proprietary data must show proof of comprehensive cybersecurity measures.

10. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Performance: With a market size of USD 715 billion during the peak of COVID-19, the global drive for impact investing is attracting significant attention from investors worldwide. During startup due diligence, funders may assess investments based on the environmental and social outcomes that the startup delivers and its internal governance procedures. ESG makes business sense today, where stakeholders, including policymakers and regulators, increasingly value sustainable and responsible practices.

Summary

Startup due diligence can be a dread, especially for new founders seeking funds without strong personal networks. A prior understanding of investors’ expectations and how to meet or exceed them is crucial to ease this rigorous step. We hope the common requirements mentioned here put you on the right track for securing investment and successfully navigating the due diligence process.

The post Startup Due Diligence | What You Need to Know appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/business-start-up/start-up-fundamentals/startup-due-diligence-need-know/

Energy Bills to Fall: New Price Cap Announced

Energy bills to fall: New Price Cap Announced

Typical household energy bills are to fall by around £425. Energy regulator Ofgem has lowered the energy price cap, meaning millions will pay less on their gas and electricity usage.

From July 1st, the new price cap will stand at £2,074 – down from £3,280. However, due to the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee, household bills were capped at £2,500 for the average household. This protected households from paying too much, keeping bills as manageable as possible.

The price cap reached a peak of £4,279 in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This pushed up wholesale energy prices, leaving people with eye-watering bills. The new price cap is a welcome break for many – with most people’s bills to fall by around 17 per cent.

The new price cap falling below that set out by the Energy Price Guarantee scheme has brought about hope that people may be able to start shopping around again for their energy, to find the best deal they can. It’s hoped competition will pick up in the markets, meaning companies will once again be able to offer new and varied tariffs.

Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearly said:

“After a difficult winter for consumers it is encouraging to see signs that the market is stabilising and prices are moving in the right direction. People should start seeing cheaper energy bills from the start of July, and that is a welcome step towards lower costs.

“However, we know people are still finding it hard, the cost-of-living crisis continues and these bills will still be troubling many people up and down the country. Where people are struggling, we urge them to contact their supplier who will be able to offer a range of support, such as payment plans or access to hardship funds.”

According to the BBC, around 29 million households will be affected by the new price cap. Dual dual households who pay by direct debit will see the cap set at £2,074. If you pay via a prepayment meter, the cap will be similar at just £2,077. However, if you by by cash, check or bank transfer every three months, the price cap will be higher, at £2,211 per year.

Many charities are worried that the new price cap won’t bring much relief to those who have incurred debt as the result of extortionate prices.

Anna Stevenson, senior welfare benefits specialist, at Turn2us said:

“Any decrease in the punitive cost of energy is clearly welcome but the debt people have already incurred through no fault of their own will carry with them into next winter. For lowest income households this decrease won’t help enough. Bills will settle to being around almost double the cost before the pandemic and fuel poverty was unacceptably high even then. Government schemes are also coming to an end, but the crisis is not.”

You can find out more about the new price cap on the Ofgem website.

The post Energy Bills to Fall: New Price Cap Announced appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/energy-bills-to-fall-new-price-cap-announced

SEO and ChatGPT: What’s DAM got to do with it? by Cynthia Ramsaran

In the world of content creation and customer experience, AI’s ability to alleviate tedious tasks has been hyped. However, for a successful digital asset management strategy, librarians still know best how to generate and manage complex information libraries using metadata.

In this webinar, content experts will explain what content creators, managers and users need to know to ensure you can find, use and control your content in order to deliver maximum value.

Click here to view more Search Engine Land webinars.

The post SEO and ChatGPT: What’s DAM got to do with it? appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/seo-and-chatgpt-whats-dam-got-to-do-with-it-427587

Hands-on with Google’s new Search Generative Experience

Google opened access to its new Search Generative Experience and today – and our own Barry Schwartz is one of the first to gain access.

Although he had to head offline for the holiday of Shavuot, he was able to share several tweets with images from his early testing. I’ve compiled most of those in this article so you can get an early look at the experiment that is Google SGE.

The Google welcome email

It’s Barry’s turn to try Search Labs! This is the “you’re in” email Google sent.

Getting started

Yes, we’re ready to get started experimenting with Search Labs.

But first you’ll need to agree after reading this crazy long SGE Privacy Notice:

Search [when does Shavous start?]

Google didn’t show the time, but Barry likes how you can expand the answers.

Also, look at all those snackable organic/free links you can click on.

Barry called the follow-up answers “pretty good”:

Search [where to get a haircut near me]

Onto local search. We’ve got a 5 pack:

And a 3 pack:

Search [where can I learn about SEO]

Where can you learn SEO? Well… here’s what you get from Google:

Search: [who writes at Search Engine Land?]

Some “how to” queries

How do we tie shoes or change tires, Google?

Some Your Money, Your Life queries

Some have AI-generated answers, and some do not, as Google said would be the case:

What about Barry?

Some Barry Schwartz vanity searches:

Mobile interface

Here are a couple of tweets from Barry with GIFs showing off the SGE on mobile.

More mobile pic.twitter.com/mLQ3Zw8OzU

— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023

Editor’s note: I will update this article later with more screenshots. Until then, you can find a lot more searches around politics, shopping, sports and more in Barry’s Twitter thread, which you can find here.

The post Hands-on with Google’s new Search Generative Experience appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/hands-on-with-googles-new-search-generative-experience-427594

5 High-Paying Work-from-Home Finance Jobs in 2023

Home Business Magazine Online

Are you a woman on the hunt for high-paying work-from-home finance jobs that offer flexibility, growth, and the chance to make an impact? You’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ll explore exciting career paths that perfectly blend your passion for finance with the convenience of working remotely. From financial analysts to bloggers, we’ve got you covered! Here they are.

1. Personal Finance Advisor

Personal finance advisors help people make wise decisions when it comes to managing their money. They’re experts at things like budgeting, saving, and investing — all the important stuff! Women have a knack for empathy, communication, and problem-solving, which are all crucial skills in this line of work.

Through inspiring talks with women in finance and related networking events, ladies can strengthen their abilities while connecting with other professionals who share their passion. Personal finance advising offers a ton of flexibility.

Want to work on your own or join an advisory firm? No problem! You can even work from home by using online tools to meet with clients virtually. Say hello to finding that perfect balance between work and family life! Plus, you get the chance to build lasting relationships with your clients who depend on your expertise over time.

2. Financial Analyst

Financial analysts are like detectives who solve mysteries in the financial world! Their main job is to look at investment opportunities by studying various trends and data, which helps businesses or individuals make smart decisions with their money.

Women are often incredibly detail-oriented and have excellent analytical skills — traits that are highly valuable in the finance industry. By using their sharp focus and determination to excel in this field, women can accomplish amazing things as financial analysts.

The good news doesn’t stop there! This finance job offers flexibility too. Financial analysts have the option of working for companies, and banks, or even working from home as freelance consultants. Women who excel in their roles could eventually become managers or move on to specialized areas like risk management or portfolio strategy.

3. Tax Preparer

Tax preparers are the unsung heroes of the financial world! These experts help clients navigate the tricky maze of tax laws and regulations by accurately completing their tax returns every year. And believe me — people really appreciate their expertise!

This job requires precision and attention to detail — traits that many women tend to naturally possess. As a tax preparer, you’ll need to be incredibly meticulous since even tiny errors can have huge implications for your clients.

Another great aspect of this career is its seasonal nature. While the demand for tax preparers peaks during tax season, you’ll have more downtime during other months. This allows you more freedom to manage your work-life balance and take care of personal commitments or explore other interests.

Women who choose to become freelance or independent contractor tax preparers can literally work from anywhere.

4. Online Trading Consultant

Picture yourself as a guiding light, helping new investors make wise decisions in the complex realm of online trading! From stocks to cryptocurrencies, your expert advice can help others succeed in their investment journey.

For starters, being an online trading consultant emphasizes traits like patience, interpersonal skills, and clear communication — qualities that many women naturally possess. Plus, you’ll get to work with diverse clients having different profiles — how exciting is that?

As an online trading consultant, you have the power to set your own schedule. Not an early bird? No worries! You can cater to clients whenever it works best for you. And yes — that includes working remotely too!

This profession also offers incredible potential for growth and learning. The ever-changing world of financial markets means you’ll never stop evolving or acquiring new knowledge.

5. Financial Writer or Blogger

Financial writers and bloggers create informative and engaging content about personal finance topics like debt management, investments, or even retirement planning. A dream job for wordsmiths with a passion for money matters!

Financial writing requires creativity, clarity, and precision — qualities that many women excel at. By sharing their passion for finances in a relatable way, women can connect with readers from all walks of life.

They can set their own work schedule based on their personal commitments and get the opportunity to help people make informed decisions about their finances. The satisfaction of knowing that your insightful articles are guiding someone towards achieving their financial goals? Priceless!

Final Thoughts

Now that you’ve discovered these fantastic work-from-home finance jobs, it’s time to take the leap and explore these opportunities for yourself! Embrace the chance to excel professionally while enjoying a flexible work-life balance, all from the comfort of your own home.

The post 5 High-Paying Work-from-Home Finance Jobs in 2023 appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/businesses/business-spotlights/5-high-paying-work-from-home-finance-jobs-2023/

Enabling a 100% Remote Completion of Form I-9

Home Business Magazine Online

Over the last several years, many companies have transitioned to fully remote workforces. However, this shift has presented several challenges, including the completion of Form I-9, which verifies the employment eligibility of new hires. With the recent updates to U.S. government regulations, it is now possible to complete Form I-9 remotely.

Why Remote I-9 Verification Is Essential for Businesses

As the modern workforce continues to evolve and remote work becomes more common, companies face the challenge of adapting their hiring processes to accommodate remote workers. A 2022 Gallup survey found that 30% of employees are working remotely, and 50% are working using a hybrid model, and this trend is expected to continue.

Remote I-9 verification has become essential for businesses hiring an entirely remote workforce or expanding their operations to multiple locations. Before the recent updates to U.S. government regulations, completing Form I-9 in person was required, which presented a challenge for remote workers who could not be physically present to share their documents with an authorized representative.

However, with the recent regulation changes, remote I-9 verification is now a viable option for companies. Under the updated regulations, companies can verify employment eligibility remotely for employees hired on or after April 1, 2021, as long as the remote verification process meets specific requirements.

These requirements include using video conferencing technology to complete Section 2 of the I-9 form and obtaining, inspecting, and retaining copies of the required documents within three business days of the employee’s start date.

Remote I-9 verification can streamline hiring and save companies time and resources. It eliminates the need for physical paperwork and in-person meetings, benefiting companies operating in multiple locations. Remote verification can help businesses attract and retain top talent, especially in industries with high competition for skilled remote workers, such as technology, finance, and customer service. It also improves the candidate experience by offering a more flexible and convenient hiring process.

Remote I-9 Functionality with Your Onboarding Software

Cloud-based onboarding software with remote I-9 verification functionality provides a fast, accessible, and fully compliant verification process. With 100% remote I-9 verification, you can send new employees their I-9 in seconds so that they can get started on verification. Some software has built-in Section 1 guidance and allows new hires to delegate a friend or family member for Section 2 completion.

Automating this process remotely can boost accuracy and compliance with automated reminders, optical character recognition (OCR) technology, and autofill. These platforms also leave a sophisticated audit trail with IP address tracking, geolocations, and timestamps that protect you in case of an audit.

With convenient remote I-9 processing, you can reduce your candidate dropoff rate and reduce the need for time-consuming paperwork and administrative tasks for your HR team.

Streamline I-9 Verification for Your Organization

Embracing cloud-based onboarding software streamlines I-9 verification, saving your company time, reducing paperwork, and ensuring compliance. With integrated, remote I-9 processing, your organization can see boosted productivity and employee satisfaction. The right software provides a seamless onboarding experience that allows for remote and hybrid work arrangements in the post-pandemic landscape.

The post Enabling a 100% Remote Completion of Form I-9 appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/management/employees/enabling-100-remote-completion-form-i-9/

Google Search bug caused a drop in video traffic

Google has confirmed a bug in Google Search that resulted in a drop in traffic to video content between the dates of May 4 through May 17, 2023. This was not just a Google Search Console reporting bug, but a bug with Google Search.

What Google wrote. Google posted, “A bug caused a drop in video traffic from May 4 to May 17, and has since been resolved.”

I asked John Mueller of Google if this was just a reporting glitch, and he said no, it was beyond reporting. “It was not just reporting,” he told me on Mastodon.

Search Console reports. If you go to Google Search Console, click on the search performance report, and filter it by “video” content, you will see an annotation added to the chart on May 4:

Why we care. If you noticed a drop in traffic between May 4 through May 17 and you publish a lot of video content, it may be related to this bug.

In this case, the reporting was not the issue and the reports should be accurate. There was a bug with Google Search that resulted in less videos showing up in the search results.

The post Google Search bug caused a drop in video traffic appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-search-bug-caused-a-drop-in-video-traffic-427527

Boost your visibility in search with online reviews by Digital Marketing Depot

The “New Business Guide to Google Reviews” by GatherUp is an essential resource for growing businesses looking to attract more customers through the power of Google search.

This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to claim and optimize your Google My Business profile, how to solicit and respond to customer reviews, and how to deal with Google and their overall review process.

With real-world examples and expert advice, this eGuide is a must-read for any business looking to build a better review strategy and improve their online reputation. Visit Digital Marketing Depot to download your copy.

The post Boost your visibility in search with online reviews appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/boost-your-visibility-in-search-with-online-reviews-427442

UK Inflation Falls

UK inflation falls

UK inflation fell to 8.7% in the year to April, new figures show. This is down from 10.1% in March, reaching single figures for the first time in eight months. Although this has come as a relief for many, inflation is still slightly about the 8.2% figure forecast previously.

However, due to food prices in the UK continuing to soar at the fastest rate for 45 years, inflation is falling more slowly than analysts expected. Currently standing at 19.1%, food inflation is close to breaking records for the speed at which it is rising.

inflation falls

Inflation lowering is good news. However, it does not mean prices are declining – it simply means the rate at which prices are rising is slowing. Inflation measures the speed at which costs go up – not the costs themselves. It may take a few months for lower prices to be reflected on supermarket shelves.

According to the data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), although vegetables such as potatoes are more expensive than this time last year, many staples have fallen in price. These include food shop regulars like bread, fish, cereal, eggs and milk.

The cost of housing and housing services has slowed, contributing greatly to the decline in the inflation rate. Similarly, the price of gas and electricity have been a driving force in overall inflation dropping.

Business Finance

Commenting on the latest inflation figures, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said:

“Although it is positive that [inflation] is now in single digits food prices are still rising too fast. We must stick resolutely to the plan to get inflation down.”

Ian Stewart, chief economist at Deloitte, said:

“UK inflation is past its peak, but it is proving stickier and more embedded than expected. Rising levels of core and service sector inflation highlight the risk that domestic inflation pressures persist, even as the shock fades from high energy costs and other commodity prices.

“With growth holding up and recession fears easing, the scene is set for another interest rate rise next month, and perhaps at least one more before the end of the year.”

You can find the full release from the ONS here.

The post UK Inflation Falls appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/uk-inflation-falls

The Essential Guide to Choosing a Payment Method for Your Online Transactions

Home Business Magazine Online

Making online payments is a convenient and secure way to pay for goods and services. With this method, you may make payments without worrying about carrying cash or writing checks. When doing business online, however, it is crucial to settle on a reliable form of payment.

Before deciding on a method of payment, there are numerous factors to think about. This post will elaborate on a variety of points to think about before deciding on a payment method for your online purchases.

Consider your needs first when choosing a mode of payment

When deciding on a payment method, it’s best to think about what you’ll really use it for. Determine whether or not a safe online payment option is essential for you before deciding on a payment processor.

Do you want a simple and fast method of paying your bills?
Do you want or require membership in a rewards or credit program?

Once your requirements are clear, you may begin investigating and contrasting various forms of payment. When picking a choice, it’s important to think about things like:

Costs
Ease of use
Safety
Benefits

If you need a convenient method to make purchases while you’re on the road, mobile payments might be a good option to look into.

Ultimately, the best payment method for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Take the time to research all of your options before making a decision so that you can find the right fit for your lifestyle.

Evaluate the fees associated with each mode of payment before settling for one

When deciding on a payment method, it’s smart to check the fees associated with each service.

Credit cards often come with high processing fees.
Bank transfers may have lower fees but take longer to process.
Cash payments are usually the most cost-effective option, but they can be inconvenient and difficult to track.

Some forms of payment may also include incentives like points or cash back that may be used to reduce the overall cost. For instance, if you are making payments to a PayPal casino, there are chances of being given casino incentives.

All of these considerations should be taken into account before deciding on a certain payment method. By doing so, you will maximize the efficiency and efficacy of your dealings and get the most for your money.

Check the security of different payment methods before settling for one

When making a purchase online, safety should always come first. Do your homework and verify the safety protocols of each available payment option before making a final decision.

When making purchases online with a credit card, for instance, it’s important to use only those services that take precautions to protect your data. Pay attention to PayPal’s and other payment processors’ privacy and terms of service policies if you plan to use them. You may learn a lot about the quality of a service by reading reviews written by its actual users.

Additionally, consider setting up two-factor authentication whenever possible — this will add an extra layer of protection to your account.

Finally, never share your financial information with anyone else — even if they claim to be from the company you’re dealing with.

The post The Essential Guide to Choosing a Payment Method for Your Online Transactions appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/money/personal-finance/essential-guide-choosing-payment-method-online-transactions/