Not every project manager can be an entrepreneur, but all entrepreneurs must be project managers to run their businesses successfully. Whether it is about a startup or securing an investment that involves a series of steps, it must be dealt with as a project. While many elements of project management remain the same for both startups and corporations alike, small businesses have a slightly different approach from large organizations.

In large organizations, disciplines, and principles are usually taken for granted, including teamwork on standard processes and within a defined system of steps with clear scope and timelines. However, in small-scale businesses, the project management teams are not as established, and there is often a controlling environment. The owner usually takes on the role of project manager, which is more expansive than larger organizations. They rarely have formal training as a project manager, which is a drawback. 

Principles of Project Management 

The basic principles of project management that help founders and owners of startups include goal establishment, setting strategy, planning, and implementing actions. Weekly prioritization and tracking of these actions until completion should occur, and separate management and strategic meetings might be needed to assign and track these actions. A development plan for the business should be created against these goals and used as a filter to evaluate progress according to that plan.

Communication, setting achievable goals, and organizing new plans are among the project management skills that are most useful in developing a platform. These skills are essential for every entrepreneur to become successful.

Starting a business is a project with various milestones to meet if you want to run it successfully. Project management teaches people the skills to develop the mindset necessary to overcome challenges.

Learning what true leadership means, balancing motivation, mediating, and inspiring people is one of the essential project management practices. However, you cannot be a great leader if you cannot communicate correctly. Project management also requires understanding people, listening to their concerns, and resolving their queries. As an entrepreneur, you must become a good project manager and an example for others.

Advantages of Project Management in Startups

Startups usually have a limited number of projects associated and cannot afford to lose any of them. To ensure that everything remains in proper order, completing the projects within the given timelines and according to requirements is essential. Project management ensures that every project remains within timelines and is completed accordingly.

The task window is essential for any project, and a single mistake can jeopardize the whole project. Project management divides all these tasks and creates an effective workflow to prevent disorganization. It helps to identify all stages that need completion before moving to the final phase.

Risks are also essential to a business and are associated with almost all projects. To minimize the chances of failure, you must identify the risks involved. It would help if you tried to identify what actions can cause the project to go off-track. Project management allows users to assess all the potential risks and take necessary actions to prevent their impact on the project. An integral part of project management is risk mitigation. Not every project can go according to plan, and there are hurdles along the way that project management helps identify.

The successful completion of projects requires their completion within budget and timelines. Every project has a cost that you need to control for successful completion. Project management helps identify the initial cost and the steps necessary to stay within budget. Project management gives an effective resource allocation that pinpoints activities for completion.

Final Word

Project management is essential to every small business, as entrepreneurs need to ensure everything operates smoothly. Therefore, it is a must-have tool for your startup. With effective project management, you never have to worry about missing any project details or completion date.

You can smooth every activity from the initial level to the final phase easily through project management. As the startup owner, you must embrace this importance and make it a part of your organization.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity. Reviewed By: Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.

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What is the Internal Rate of Return (IRR)?

According to Expansion, “The IRR of a financial debt asset is that one rate of discount or discount that equals the price of a bond with the flow of payments generated by the bond. In the case of debt assets, it is an indicator that reports on the average annual return on the maturity of a bond or obligation. It is useful when comparing bonds with various characteristics, coupons, and maturities. “

What is the Coupon, and How Does it Differ from the IRR (Yield)?

The coupon is the interest the bondholder will receive periodically for lending money to the issuing company/state. It is a fixed percentage established contractually, expressed in the bond’s prospectus.

The bonds become issued with a nominal value of $100 (or any of its multiples). This is when the coupon matches the return. Once they start trading on the market, their prices fluctuate according to supply and demand. In these cases, it is where the IRR can get away from the coupon. Each investor will buy the flow of funds (coupons + capital amortizations) at a specific value given by the current bond price. This price will determine the performance of each investor.

What is the Relationship Between the IRR and the Price of the Bond?

The price of a bond is based on its performance and has an inverse relationship. If the bond price drops, we buy it cheaper, so we have more profitability, and the IRR will increase. In other words, the investor is willing to pay less for the same flow of funds. If, on the contrary, the bond price goes up, we will buy it more expensive so that we will obtain less profitability, and the IRR will go down. In other words, the investor is willing to pay more for the same cash flow and coupon.

Issues to consider

The IRR calculated at the time of investing in the return that we will obtain at the end of the term and includes three elements:

• Coupons receivable throughout the life of the voucher
• Collection of the principal (capital amortizations)
• Reinvestment of coupons

What conclusions can we obtain?

For each sheet with a nominal value of $100, we will receive $8,375 annually in interest to be paid semi-annually.

• The bond is quoted on par. The purchase price is $117 (greater than $100).
• Consequently, the 8.375% coupon is higher than the 6.71% yield.
• The company will only obtain a yield of 6.71% if we keep the bond until maturity and reinvest the coupons to this same IRR. If we do it at a lower rate, we will obtain a lower yield; if it is at a higher rate, the product will increase.

With a duration of 10.04, the investment is expected to recover in about ten years.

American Market

The actions ended the session on Friday with a massive rally that helped push them to end the week with solid gains. The barrel price presented a recovery, and the shares responded accordingly. The US consumer sector is currently the leading economy. The supply of properties is limited, which helps maintain and even increase prices, but this situation can be reversed if wages do not improve.  

The Bank of Japan also contributed to Friday’s rally after unexpectedly adopting a hostile interest rate policy for the first time. We should remain skeptical of the real benefits of this policy, given that Europe failed, although it is a sign that central banks are willing to act on the matter. 

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) rose 1.7% in the week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($ DJI) increased the indexes by 2.3%. The Nasdaq (QQQ) had a minimum rise of 0.03%, while the small caps (RUT, IWM) rose 1.5%. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) is outside correction territory, but markets are expected to remain volatile. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

A mortgage loan is a loan taken by an individual to purchase real estate or by property owners to raise money for any other transaction by mortgaging their property. A mortgage loan is one of the most common loans taken by individuals and businesses. Mortgage loans have an interest rate and amortize over some time, usually 30 years. This article discusses various types of mortgage loans and helps you decide the right one for you!

Fixed-Rate Loans

A fixed-rate loan is one of the most uncomplicated mortgage loans. The borrower must pay a single monthly interest rate, which usually ranges between 15-30%. The loan is for homeowners who avoid taking risks and want to pay a fixed amount until the life of the loan. The changes in the interest rate in the economy will not impact the mortgage loan; therefore, the borrower enjoys high predictability. However, a Fixed-Rate Loan is not for people who plan on moving to another house soon.

FHA Loan

An FHA loan is a type of mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration and is very popular amongst people buying their first home. The loan allows a down payment of 3.5% for people with a score above 580. The loan for people with credit scores between 500-579 gets a 10% down payment. The interest will be higher for people with low credit scores. To get an FHA loan, the borrower must be at least two years out of bankruptcy with a well-established credit score after the bankruptcy. 

Conventional Mortgages

A conventional mortgage is a mortgage that the federal government does not insure. There are two types of traditional loans: non-conforming and conforming loans. A conforming loan is a loan that is within limits set by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. Non-conforming loans do not meet any such guidelines. The lenders pay private mortgage insurance on various conventional loans when 20% of the purchase price of the real estate is settled. The overall cost of borrowing a traditional mortgage is lower than other mortgages. However, sometimes the interest rate is higher. 

Adjustable-Rate Mortgage

An adjustable-rate mortgage has an interest that keeps changing throughout the loan, with the country’s interest rate changing. The loan initially has a fixed interest rate for five to ten years, after which the interest rate changes as per the prevailing interest rate. The variable interest rate is based on an index rate benchmark that varies with the market conditions. The borrower enjoys a lower interest rate in the fixed-rate period than a traditional fixed-rate loan. 

Non-Confirming Loans

Non-conforming loans are loans that exceed the limits of conforming loans. The conforming loan limit Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set is $424,100 for the United States. The loan limit may go up to $635,050 for high-cost areas of the United States. 

There are various types of Conforming Loans. A Jumbo Loan is a loan given to borrowers when the limit of their respective area has been exceeded. However, since the amount is higher, the Jumbo Loan is difficult to get. Most lenders require a score above 680 to qualify for the Jumbo Loan and a 15% – 20% down payment. Jumbo Loans go over 1 million and are called Super Jumbo Loans. Lenders may give up to 3 million to borrowers with an excellent credit score. 

Cash-Out Refinance

A Cash-Out Refinance means that the mortgage is refinanced, and the cash is acquired using the house’s equity. The borrower will have to make one monthly mortgage payment, and the interest rates are lower than other equity loans. You can cash around 80% of the house’s value with the Cas-Out Refinance loan. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Among the many mistakes you can make in finance, one of the most damaging is extra expenses. We often lie to ourselves to make certain purchases and not feel guilty. But to tell you the truth, we could use our money better or even wait to buy it comfortably.

Unnecessary Expenses

You don’t necessarily have to be going through the wrong economic time to eliminate this type of expense. It never hurts to modify our habits that affect finances. We have a list of the most prominent and, without a doubt, those you can do without it.

1. Clothing for events

It is usually an enormous expense and an article you cannot use very often. There is always the option of renting a suit or dress, so you do not have to spend large amounts. Besides, most of the time, after using it, you should send it to the dry cleaner or to a special wash, which is also not economical. As another option, you can also borrow from your friends.

2. Prepared and cut foods

It is undoubtedly very comfortable, but such products have a higher cost to save a few minutes. What you can do is better organize your time to save this money.

3. Gym clothes

Apart from the sneakers, any other garment you use will not affect your physical activity performance. The primary use of sportswear will be to soak in sweat. That is why you should wear an old shirt or shorts, instead of expensive ones. When you go to the gym or go jogging, it is an activity to develop. You do not do it so that your clothes combine or try to get a partner. If this is the best case, you should visit restaurants or clubs.

4. Newspapers and magazines

More and more in past generations sitting down to read the newspaper and magazines while having coffee. Now, the information is usually consumed electronically. Even so, most newspapers and magazines are complimentary. While taking care of the environment, it saves money by buying magazines and printed newspapers. Although some have a cost in their electronic version, this is usually much lower for a monthly or annual subscription than the printed version.

5. USB storage memories

These types of products are offered because people are buying fewer and fewer memories. With so much technology available, sending the information through email, shared documents, or uploading it to the cloud is possible. All this is because its primary use is transporting or sending documents to print or delivering jobs and tasks.

6. Expensive appliances

It is not necessary to have a machine for hot sandwiches or to make waffles. You can certainly survive without these appliances. They are not cheap products, and you can also find alternatives such as bread in the pan, toaster, or hotcakes. These types of products are known as luxury and impractical products.

7. Lack of personal awareness

You must have self-awareness, as it can severely affect your finances if you don’t have it. It also makes all the difference in your mindset around your money. Your financial progress will be ruined and quickly out to creep. It will happen when you don’t know about yourself and your money tendencies.

You must know which thing you are attracting, and you should protect yourself. Make sure you want to be a spender or saver. You must know you are a nerd or an unpaid spirit. Is your safety valuable or status? Take classes of a free quiz to find the reason behind handling the income you wish. Learning how to break lousy money habits for good would be best.

8. Money management resources

With complete financial knowledge, people quickly transform their passion into a profession. If you want to manage your cash rightly and have some exciting stories, you can get the best financial advice from an expert. By learning inspiring stories, you can efficiently focus on the best version of yourself in finance and investment. Be careful while following the expert’s advice, as you should take the core pieces of advice that can help you solve your savings. If your financial jargon may be out of your league, apply more for those kernels of wisdom.

You should always keep yourself well-informed, and practice sound financial management. As a result, you can become the best personal financial expert, or you must hire thousands. If you are not a millionaire, you should share your content and strive to exercise your expertise on the right track to manage your money. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Asking for a salary increment from your boss is probably like paying taxes, and cleaning gutters is your favorite thing to do. But having a freezing salary lets you compel for this request.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report, from 2012 to 2013, American compensation increased by around 1.9%. According to the research of executive search firm Salveson Stetson Group in the US, the settlement of senior executives who transferred last year increased up to 17%. Now, you dare to speak up for your salary increment as you should.

Asking for a salary increase is something deeply rooted in Anglo-Saxon culture. However, here we are still “afraid” of asking for something that undoubtedly corresponds to us if we have been doing our job well. Let’s see what you can do to ask your boss if it is time to raise your salary.

1. Choose the time to ask for the salary increase

The first thing you must do is find the right time. If you have been in the company for a while, you already know whether it works well. You will even know how to detect the signs that indicate if you are in a moment of prosperity or if problems are coming.

2. Follow the internal protocol

Your performance may be so good that you deserve a salary increase. But your request may fall into the broken sack if you ask for it inappropriately or to someone with no decision-making capacity on this issue.

Each company has an internal protocol for this type of thing. You should know the one that applies to yours. The best thing is to make the process as formal as possible. Please don’t talk about it. They are your boss while you drink coffee or comment on it while preparing for a meeting. Please make an appointment with him, indicating the topic you want to discuss.

3. Prepare your exhibition

Indeed, in your company, they already know how valuable you are. Still, if you ask for a salary increase, you must “sell” a bit, highlighting all the good you have contributed and can contribute. You better not leave anything to improvise. Prepare a small script that collects all your arguments a few days before the meeting.

4. Prepare the documentation

When talking to your boss, we have just pointed out that there is nothing about looking at the “chop” with the script to defend your arguments. But what you should have on hand and show your interlocutor are the documents that can help your opinion.

You should bring documents highlighting your value in the company: essential reports that you have prepared, over time that you have done, and tasks that are not your own and that you have appropriately done when replacing a partner, etc.

5. Don’t focus only on yourself

If you ask for a salary increase, the conversation will revolve around you. Still, it would be best not to forget to value the company. Let your boss know you are comfortable with your work and appreciate what the company brings you. You want this relationship to be long-term because of what you contribute to the company and what she brings to you. A salary increase would help strengthen that relationship.

6. Ask without demanding and without specifying

If you have decided to be brave and ask for a raise, do not back down when asking, but do it with discretion. Experts advise not to ask for a specific figure. Instead of asking for a certain amount, propose an upward revision of the salary range to your interlocutor. In this way, you are leaving the decision on how much you can increase your salary.

7. What should you do at the time of request rejection?

Undoubtedly, hearing or facing rejection is the most challenging feeling. But don’t give up or be discouraged. Ask in a simple tone when you will get a raise in salary in the future. It will be the green signal if your boss makes an excuse for the poorly structured company. If your boss explains how to step forward your game for the coming go-round, it won’t be the end of the story.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Investments come in many forms. You can invest in businesses, stocks, bonds, and many other options. However, real estate investing is unique in several ways. When many think of investing in real estate, they envision it as costly.

Purchasing property can be expensive. However, there are ways to invest in real estate, even if negative financial issues prevent you from investing. Also, real estate investment comes in many forms and may involve several properties. There are many reasons for using this option, and it may vary from one person to another.

How to make a profit? What are the risks? What about taxation? What are the different types of real estate investments that exist? Here are the answers to these questions and the reasons you should consider investing in real estate.

• Establishing a Legacy: Though many of us invest to earn income, you should also consider what you leave behind for your family. It would help to believe what you leave behind for your children and grandchildren. Everyone wants to leave behind a mark. Setting your family up for the future is a priority when making investments.

• Preparing for Retirement: Another reason to invest in real estate is to finance your retirement. Most people reaching retirement age will not make ends meet, relying strictly on social security. Real estate can help solve this issue and give you peace of mind during retirement.

• Save on Taxes: Real estate often has significant tax breaks. Those who understand tax exemptions have understood the principle and indulged them to their heart’s content. However, it is essential to remember to focus on the bottom line. While reducing taxes, you should also be able to grow your net income.

• The Enjoyment of Owning Real Estate: Owning real estate and using it as income can be completely satisfying. Many people look at the financial bottom line and don’t realize that investing in real estate can be fun and profitable. Owning and managing real estate can be a highly satisfying investment opportunity.
• Real Estate is Here to Stay: While many other investment opportunities may be a trend or short-term, real estate is an investment that will never become obsolete. Until the end of time, people will need a place to live. Though real estate and homes may change with innovation, the basic need for housing will not change.

Why Should You Invest in Real Estate?

As an active person, it is essential to build up savings. The rental is recommended if there are many opportunities for real estate investment. This makes it easier to build your wealth and grow it over time. As for the question of where to invest, you should choose a city with high dynamism. Only in this way can you ensure good profitability.

Some people opt to invest in beautiful neighborhoods. Only it is not always paying. You will benefit more from a small studio in a high-traffic area than a house in a nice neighborhood. In this case, the price per square meter is relatively high, directly affecting the rent. As a result, the room for maneuvering is reduced, and your customers are, too.

Conclusion

As mentioned earlier, real estate has become a solution to find many people securing their assets. This is why the market has continued to increase and has more enticing offers than others. Some people use intermediaries, but is this a good option? Everything depends, but some owners prefer to delegate the various administrative procedures. 

The advantage of this option is that you can go to other occupations while looking for tenants. As can be imagined, the intermediary will be paid for the services rendered. By using a real estate agency, you will pay a fee. This is why it is recommended to evaluate the situation before starting.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

It doesn’t matter if an entrepreneur is beginning with their venture or has already been operating in their market for quite some time; growing competition hurts every business. However, it simultaneously brings the best out of every business and helps them grow and expand rapidly. If you searched for some marketing tidbits online, you would have most likely come across the profiles of many marketing gurus who claim they have the secrets to achieve marketing success.

The marketing sector is, however, not that easy to get a hold of. Marketing strategies and techniques are changing almost daily, and we have new research related to this field nearly every other day. With constant evolution, it is difficult to tell which marketing technique is best suited for a business and whether conventional marketing methods would work for that business according to its nature or not.

Even with the latest digital marketing methods, there is no way a business can grow its brand overnight. There is no shortcut in this field. As a famous quote says, “Rome wasn’t built in a single day, but they had to work for it every single day.” This quote best explains the marketing world; it is a slow and steady process, but results are guaranteed if you work your way through the right approach.

Many scammers fool small business owners with marketing hacks and shortcuts, but the fact is, there aren’t any. These scammers often de-track entrepreneurs from the actual path of success by spamming them with rapid success ideas. Their sole purpose is to grab entrepreneurs’ attention via catchy phrases and bind them with a marketing campaign that will take time and produce the desired results.

If we talk about digital marketing of the present era, brands will eventually have the required audience on their websites if they stick to the right approach and not for scams. Although no digital marketing technique would fit all types of businesses, an entrepreneur must recognize their business’s needs and choose the digital marketing approach accordingly. Many infamous yet influential tricks in digital marketing can do the job for you if you are looking to up your business’ marketing game.

Marketing is indeed a marathon, not a sprint. Here are some hidden digital marketing secrets that will help you build better and long-term customer relations and help you provide your brand with a boost.

The 80:20 Rule

As an entrepreneur, you must have observed that your brand interaction with its target audience is significantly less through your online content. Most of your customer interaction occurs due to your involvement with other brands, content, and customers.

It is called the 80:20 rule. Your brand should approach its target audience via 20% of its content and 80% of other brands’ content and customer engagement.

Paid Social Media Promotions

Many entrepreneurs claim that their social media marketing campaigns didn’t work for the first. They commit a common mistake because they don’t promote their brands through ads on various social media platforms for the second or third time. Paid social media promotions are cheap and effective. They might not produce results for the first time, but there are endless marketing possibilities for brands via this channel, and luck finally does its job.

With algorithms of social media platforms changing daily, it might be challenging for brands to communicate their message across their target audience, let alone make new customers. Still, social media is an effective way to expand your customer reach, as most of a brand’s target audience is available online throughout the day.

Influencer Marketing

Influencers are people or organizations that have a solid online presence. Getting help from them to promote the content has been an effective way for brands to channel their offerings in the market. Through an influencer, a brand can quickly expand its customer reach as the influencer brings their traffic to the client brand’s website.

Video Marketing

Video marketing is another practical way for brands to get their message across the market. The perks of video marketing are that this type of content is creative and engaging. People tend to pay more attention to videos, which makes this technique highly effective in gaining quick organic traffic.

There are many other tips and tricks associated with the field of digital marketing that brands implement to boost their marketing reach.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Enhance Your Smart Home IoT Security with These Tips

Smart home IoT security starts with securing your router, changing default passwords, segmenting your network, keeping firmware updated, and turning off features and data sharing you don’t truly need. When you consistently apply these basics—plus enable strong encryption (WPA2/WPA3), multifactor authentication, and active monitoring—you dramatically reduce the odds that a compromised camera, speaker, or thermostat becomes the “back door” into your home and your financial life.

As someone who leads a financial services firm and manages both a very connected home and sensitive client data daily, I’ve witnessed firsthand how a single unsecured device can cascade into identity theft or costly business interruptions. Over 20 years as CEO of Complete Controller, I’ve worked with businesses across every sector and seen the devastating financial impact when IoT vulnerabilities meet unprepared households. This article will walk you through the exact layered security approach I personally implement—one that protects your devices, data, and peace of mind without requiring an IT degree.

What is smart home IoT security and how do you get it right?

• Smart home IoT security means protecting every internet-connected device and the home network they sit on by hardening devices, segmenting Wi-Fi, encrypting traffic, limiting data sharing, and monitoring for unusual activity.
• It starts with your router: strong admin password, WPA2/WPA3 encryption, and a separate network for smart devices and guests.
• Each device should have unique credentials, automatic updates enabled, and unused services (like remote access or Bluetooth) disabled.
• Your data is safer when you review privacy settings, reduce what’s collected or sent to the cloud, and choose reputable vendors that ship security patches.
• Ongoing monitoring—checking router dashboards, device logs, and alerts—helps you catch rogue devices or strange behavior before they become costly breaches.

Understanding Smart Home IoT Security Risks Before You Add Another Device

Smart home IoT security becomes manageable once you grasp why attackers target these devices. With 18.5 billion IoT devices worldwide in 2024—projected to reach 40 billion by 2030—the attack surface expands daily.

Research shows 57% of IoT devices contain medium- or high-severity vulnerabilities, while 98% of IoT traffic travels unencrypted. Your home network faces approximately 10 distinct attack attempts every 24 hours, part of 820,000 daily hacking attempts globally.

Common smart home IoT vulnerabilities and attack paths

Weak or default passwords and open services represent the primary entry point. A staggering 86% of people have never changed their router’s default password, while 91% of IoT devices ship with exploitable vulnerabilities.

• Many consumer devices arrive with published default credentials and exposed services like Telnet or UPnP
• Attackers use automated scans and botnets to commandeer devices for spying, DDoS attacks, or network pivoting
• The infamous Mirai botnet compromised 600,000+ devices using just 60 common default username/password combinations

Flat home networks with no segmentation amplify the damage. When cameras, laptops, work devices, and tablets share one network, a single compromised gadget exposes everything.

• Enterprise experience demonstrates segmentation sharply limits lateral movement after breaches
• Low-cost smart devices rarely receive firmware patches or quietly stop receiving support
• Known vulnerabilities remain unpatched, creating permanent openings

Why this matters to your finances and identity

Identity theft and social engineering leverage IoT data in sophisticated ways. Connected devices reveal schedules, presence patterns, voice samples, and personal habits cybercriminals weaponize for targeted attacks.

Smart devices expose work and business assets when you access banking, bookkeeping, or client portals from flat networks. An insecure plug or camera becomes a bridge into accounts that matter. A single IoT security failure costs an average of $330,000 to remediate, with 34% of breaches reaching $5-10 million in cumulative costs.

🔐 Protect your finances with Complete Controller.

Start with Your Router: The Front Door of Smart Home IoT Security

Your router controls everything; strengthening it delivers the highest security impact for time invested.

Securing Wi-Fi settings and admin access

Change default router credentials and SSID immediately. Rename the SSID to hide brand/model information and family names, then create a complex admin password unique to this device.

Use strong encryption: WPA2-AES or WPA3 exclusively. Security experts universally recommend WPA2 minimum, with WPA3 preferred where available. Older WEP and basic WPA protocols fall to modern attacks in minutes.

• Enable router firewall and disable WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)
• Turn off remote management unless absolutely necessary
• Schedule automatic firmware updates or check monthly

Building a separate smart home IoT network

Create dedicated IoT and guest networks using your router’s built-in features. This critical step isolates vulnerable devices from computers containing financial data.

• Place all smart home devices on the IoT network
• Direct visitors to guest networks rather than main networks
• Configure firewall rules blocking IoT-to-main network communication

Implement basic “zero-trust” principles through router controls:

• Restrict IoT devices to outbound connections only
• Allow only required ports and destinations
• Block peer-to-peer and local discovery where possible

Hardening Each Device: Passwords, Updates, and Features You Should Turn Off

Network security creates the foundation; device-level controls build the walls.

Strong, unique credentials and multifactor authentication

Change default usernames and passwords before connecting devices. Use unique, lengthy passwords for each camera, lock, hub, and account—password managers make this sustainable.

Enable multifactor authentication (MFA/2FA) everywhere available. Modern IoT platforms support authenticator apps, SMS codes, or hardware keys. The December 2019 Ring doorbell compromises affected families who reused passwords without 2FA enabled, allowing attackers to spy on children through baby monitors.

• Generate passwords of 16+ characters mixing cases, numbers, and symbols
• Store credentials securely in password managers
• Never reuse passwords across devices or services

Firmware updates and secure configuration

Turn on automatic updates whenever possible. Manual update checks should happen quarterly minimum, or immediately when security advisories appear.

Disable unused features and interfaces systematically:

• Turn off UPnP, remote admin, and cloud access you don’t actively use
• Disable Bluetooth when not needed
• Remove third-party integrations installed “just to try”
• Close unnecessary ports and services

Take Control of Your Data: Privacy-First Smart Home IoT Security

The data your devices collect often holds more value than the hardware itself.

Choosing reputable vendors and reading the fine print

Prioritize devices with clear security commitments. Look for vendors publishing security advisories, maintaining bug bounty programs, and promising multi-year support.

Review privacy settings in apps and cloud dashboards carefully:

• Limit access to contacts, photos, location, and microphones
• Turn off social-sharing defaults
• Opt out of data collection for “product improvement”

Minimizing data collection, retention, and exposure

Store and process data locally when feasible. Many modern devices offer local-only operation modes that eliminate cloud dependencies.

Set retention limits and review logs regularly:

• Configure video storage to delete after 7-30 days
• Clear voice assistant recordings monthly
• Download and remove cloud backups you no longer need
• Review which devices actually require cloud connectivity

Real-World Lessons: When Smart Homes Go Wrong (and How to Avoid It)

Understanding past failures prevents future compromises.

Case study: Smart cameras hijacked for spying and botnets

The Mirai botnet attack of October 2016 hijacked 600,000+ internet-connected devices—primarily home routers, DVRs, and security cameras with default passwords. These devices launched record-breaking DDoS attacks exceeding 1 terabit per second, temporarily disabling Twitter, Netflix, Reddit, and CNN.

Security analyses identified three failure points:

• Default credentials left unchanged
• Devices exposed directly to internet without VPN or firewall protection
• No firmware updates applied despite available patches

How I apply these lessons at home and in my firm

In my own setup, every camera and voice assistant receives the same security attention as our financial systems: dedicated VLAN isolation, MFA on all accounts, quarterly security audits, and immediate removal of unused devices. This disciplined approach has protected both my family’s privacy and our clients’ sensitive data for over two decades.

Your 30-Day Plan to Level Up Smart Home IoT Security

Practical implementation beats perfect planning.

Week 1: Map and lock down your network

Inventory every connected device using your router’s dashboard plus manual verification. Document device names, IP addresses, and purposes.

Secure the router completely:

• New admin password (16+ characters)
• WPA2/WPA3 encryption enabled
• Guest and IoT networks created
• Automatic updates scheduled

Week 2: Harden high-risk devices

Focus on cameras, locks, thermostats, and voice assistants first—these present the highest risk profiles.

• Change all passwords to unique, complex values
• Enable 2FA using authenticator apps
• Configure automatic firmware updates
• Disable unnecessary features and ports

Week 3: Tame data and permissions

Audit app permissions on all phones and tablets. Scale back location, microphone, camera, and contact access to absolute minimums.

Adjust cloud settings aggressively:

• Reduce retention periods
• Delete historical recordings
• Disable analytics and sharing
• Download important data locally

Week 4: Monitoring, habits, and a quarterly checklist

Set recurring calendar reminders for quarterly reviews:

• Scan for unknown devices on your network
• Remove unused hardware
• Check firmware update status
• Review security advisories for your device brands

Consider adding monitoring tools: router alerts, login notifications, or basic intrusion detection from reputable security suites.

Final Thoughts

Smart home IoT security succeeds through consistent habits rather than one-time heroics. Secure your router, segment networks, harden devices individually, control data flows, and maintain quarterly reviews. This layered approach has protected my home and Complete Controller’s operations for two decades without requiring excessive time or technical expertise.

Transform these practices into automatic habits that protect your family and business assets. If you’d like expert guidance implementing similar security frameworks for your business operations and financial systems, visit Complete Controller to discover how my team can support your security journey.

Frequently Asked Questions About Smart Home IoT Security

How do I secure my smart home IoT devices?

Secure your router with WPA2/WPA3, put IoT devices on a separate network, change all default passwords, enable automatic updates, turn on 2FA where possible, and disable unused features like remote admin or UPnP.

What are the biggest security risks in a smart home?

The top risks include default or weak passwords, unpatched firmware, flat networks with no segmentation, overly permissive apps and cloud services, and devices that expose services directly to the internet.

Is it safe to use smart home devices?

Smart home devices can be reasonably safe when you choose reputable vendors, keep software updated, use strong encryption and MFA, segment your network, and review privacy and data-sharing settings regularly.

How often should I update my IoT devices?

You should enable automatic updates where available and manually check for firmware updates at least quarterly, or immediately if you learn of a new vulnerability affecting one of your device brands.

Do I need a separate network for IoT devices?

You don’t strictly need one, but experts strongly recommend a separate IoT or guest network to prevent a compromised smart device from directly reaching your laptops, phones, and work systems.

Sources

• Bitdefender. The 2025 IoT Security Landscape Report. Bitdefender, 2025.
• Cloudflare. “Inside the infamous Mirai IoT Botnet: A Retrospective Analysis.” Cloudflare Blog, 2016.
• Cogniteq. “Key IoT Security Risks and Trends You Should Watch in 2025.” Cogniteq Blog, 2025.
• ConnectWise. “How to Secure IoT Devices in 2026: Best Practices for MSPs and IT.” ConnectWise Blog, n.d.
• DeepStrike. “IoT Hacking Statistics 2025: Threats, Risks & Regulations.” DeepStrike Blog, August 2025.
• Harvard University. “Best Practices – IoT Devices.” Harvard Information Security Policy, Harvard University, n.d.
• IBM. “Router reality check: 86% of default passwords have never been changed.” IBM Think Insights, 2024.
• Illinois State University. “Addressing IoT Vulnerabilities in Smart Homes.” ISU ReD, Illinois State University, n.d.
• IoT Analytics. “Number of connected IoT devices growing 14% to 21.1 billion globally.” IoT Analytics, Fall 2025.
• IoT For All. “How to Improve IoT Security in Your Smart Home.” IoT For All, n.d.
• Merrill Lynch. “Best Practices for Securing Your Smart Home Devices.” pbig.ml.com, Bank of America, n.d.
• NETGEAR. “Five Tips to Protect Your Smart Home.” NETGEAR Blog, n.d.
• PatentPC. “IoT Security Challenges: Device Vulnerability & Attack Stats.” PatentPC Blog, 2024.
• Sattrix. “Best Practices to Secure IoT Devices in 2025.” Sattrix Blog, 2025.
• Turn-Key Technologies. “Best Practices to Secure IoT Devices for Optimal Network Security.” Turn-Key Technologies Blog, n.d.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity. Reviewed By: Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.

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Artificial intelligence has now been considered a foundation of anxiety for marketers. The simple mention of AI entering marketing groups triggers doubts about being boxed in by stiff analytics or automated out of a job entirely. Instead of their hesitancy, AI may be the only marketer’s best bet for making close connections with their clients.

Defining Brand 

So, how perfectly can artificial intelligence brands be more reliable?

To begin, it is worth tracking down the definition of a brand. Although numerous marketers see brands as the collective content and design they make, those are only one feature. At its heart, the brand is the shared impression clients contain of an organization. Every client experience with an organization pays to the organization’s brand. With that definition in mind, artificial intelligence is building an authentic brand experience that comes in some forms.

Brand Accessibility

One of the beginning levels, brand legitimacy, starts with availability. Avialicity brings brands to a massive audience and enables those audiences to experience them more fully.

As marketers make as much video content as possible, they can eliminate hard-of-hearing and deaf customers. Manually producing captions takes time and might not be necessary for marketers facing a crowded content calendar. Enter artificial intelligence-produced video captions, which enable brands to enhance video availability easily. Even on live video, AI-powered cations add a depth of experience to video content. 

For those with visual damage, the image-rich world of social media marketing can be challenging to steer, let alone enjoy. Instagram’s and Facebook’s integral AI-generated photo caption elements are breaking those barriers. This means that people get entertainment from social media content, irrespective of whether a brand has added a product description.

In a busy marketing schedule, availability – while necessary – could be seen as only one more thing to keep in mind. AI enables broader brand connections by eliminating the effort needed to make an available brand experience. 

Understand Customer Experience

Away from removing obstacles to inaccessibility, artificial intelligence could also remove barriers to knowing. For various marketers, gathering customer feedback is equally time-consuming and enlightening. While online mentions and brand reviews give way to customer brand observations, they are mostly hidden in the depth of raw information. AI-powered emotions analysis lets AI do the dirty work of characterizing data to generate insistence on how clients see brands. Far from opposing, neutral, and positive observations, newer AI-driven approaches- driven emotion analysis- are even starting to weed out mockery in client feedback.

Creating Brand Assets

Marketing may more eagerly accept AI part inaccessibility, personalization, and analysis, but fully creative AI could still be disaffecting. But even AI’s ability to produce content and design significantly makes the brand experience more reliable. 

At first look, opening artificial intelligence’s text to image production and producing text abilities looks like a natural hazard to creatives. I have heard that some designer companies that AI companies were taking apart from designers. Although these AI implementations might look like a hazard, they can also help improve brands.

Registered brands need a good angle that sets them apart from opponents. Still, marketers spend much of their efforts on standard first drafts. They produced content and design to enable marketers to put their efforts into good taunting rather than concerned about foundations. Giving more time to work on the details that make a difference in brands, AI-produced resources shift the concern towards client experience, so marketers might invest their time in the feature of their assets that clients will remember.

Manufacturing Brand Authenticity 

From the start of brand accessibility up to the production of brand resources, AI might be a decisive element for marketers. Rather than adding an obstacle to the best customer and brand, AI excels at eliminating barriers. For marketers almost rave enough to make the rise, they may only find their brand’s humanity advantages a bit of automation.

Bottom Line

Artificial intelligence plays a remarkable role in every industry, such as education, health, finance, etc. Just like this, AI also plays a vital role in marketing and brand awareness. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

There are numerous benefits of sound entrepreneurship. For instance, you get to your boss, pursue a career you’re passionate about, and reap fruitful rewards if the business turns into a massive success. Unfortunately, entrepreneurship often requires significant risk, and without proper strategies, a drowning business can also tank your finances. 

Every entrepreneur aims to make his business venture successful. They prefer to operate their own business to work independently. The purpose is to generate revenue, which is essential to meet regular operational expenses. 

The success of any business is determined by financial stability and accounts management. The financial stability of a company is considered one of the boosts of having diverse resources always available, but this can be critical for the smooth running of your business. 

As an entrepreneur, you must always have an alternative plan to keep you tolerant during worries. Here’s a list of a few strategies for maintaining your business’s sound financial health.

Keeping Personal and Business Finances Separate

There should always be a wall between your personal and professional finances. It will ensure you’re not utilizing your private funds for business operations. Moreover, you’ll be protected from liabilities in the case of corporate debts or legal troubles. 

Your company must be registered as a separate legal entity with its finances. Otherwise, you’ll pay any debts the company incurs out of your funds. 

Professionalize Yourself

As an entrepreneur, you might not wish to work under someone else again, but updating your resume while working for your business is still feasible. Maintaining a financial record of your financial role within the company can provide potential employers with an overview of your skills and abilities. 

Online classes and certifications are a great way to keep your qualifications updated if you’re on a tight schedule. These certifications will let potential employers know you haven’t fallen behind in your field while working on your business. 

Function with New Clients and Repeated Customers

The charges require attracting new clients if higher than working with the same repeated clients. The report of having regular customers and attracting new clients indicates that your business is exceptional at generating revenue. You can seclude your business from modifying attitudes and buying patterns by contacting new customers. 

Consult with Professionals

Consulting a professional accountant or an adviser is always helpful regardless of your current business condition. A financial adviser can advise you on investing the money correctly, deciding the resources’ budget, structuring the finances, and protecting your business from liabilities.  

Many entrepreneurs skip consulting with financial planners as they don’t fully comply with them. Consulting a professional and developing a productive financial plan takes little effort. They consider that a reasonable financial strategy determines the difference between stability and going broke; there is no reason to avoid a consultation to prepare remedial measures beforehand. 

Focus on the Profitability Ratio

One of the best ways to determine financial health is the profit margin. This determination includes taking out your annual net profit and dividing it by the annual sales. In this way, while you might be generating sales, your profit ratio can still be lower depending on the pricing structure, initial costs, or other elements. The profitability ratio of your company is considered healthy if it’s on the higher side. 

Consider Your Financial Goals

You’re more likely to be successful in your business if you have already considered your financial goals. These objectives must be distinct and represent your ideas regarding the growth of the business. Moreover, you’ll efficiently structure the cash flow management in the best way possible. 

With sound financial stability, your business will follow the path of success. However, you’ll need to be aware of the responsibilities of this path. 

 

Evaluating the financial health of your business can be as facile as reviewing the profit and loss statement or as crucial as analyzing all the several elements of your business bookkeeping. Understanding the mechanisms of your business finances is a great way to remain profitable. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.