Author: Stephen Huck

Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful relationships, and this holds, especially in the realm of customer interactions. Shifting the focus from viewing customers as mere conduits for profits to acknowledging them as individuals is a fundamental step in enhancing communication skills. The language you choose and how you convey messages are pivotal in shaping these interactions.

Whether it’s face-to-face communication or digital correspondence, the methods employed and the content of your messages significantly impact the customer’s perception. Avoid the temptation of sending generic email blasts and expecting swift responses. As you observe how a shopkeeper addresses you, recognize that your customers are equally observant of your approach.

How do you build relationships with people? These techniques are the same ones you would use to build a relationship with your customer. First, the foundation for building any relationship is trust. When you put your trust in someone, and they trust you in return, you both work on building something that can last for a long time. If that relationship is the foundation of your business, then trust is the cement used to fortify that relationship.

Improve Your Communication Skills

Communication is the bedrock of any good relationship. Work on how you communicate with your customers and treat them as humans instead of a means for profits. If you notice how a shopkeeper talks to you, it stands to reason that your customers would notice the same in you.

Language choice is critical, and communication methods and messages matter significantly. Do not send email blasts and expect quick responses. If a customer walks in, be prepared, and do not give them the impression that they are an imposition.

Consumer’s Point of View

Some states require a form of agency disclosure at the beginning of a relationship. Forget about legal requirements from the agency from the perspective of the licensee and regulatory agencies. The main reason agencies exist is to impose the licensee’s fiduciary duties that need them to protect the customer. Customers trust you because you are representing them under agency employment. You are bound to keep their information confidential, disclose facts, obey the lawful instructions, safeguard all monies entrusted, and be loyal to them.

Consumers do not care about the intricate nature of the regulatory agency rules. They genuinely care whether we will protect their interests and if they can count on us.

Use Realtor Pledge of Performance

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has summarized the Code of Ethics in a single-page document. The document sets a promise that each realator is bound to uphold in working with consumers and ensuring that their interests are placed above all others.

Ensuring customers that they can trust you because you adhere to a code of ethics and will promote their interests increases customer confidence and loyalty.

Gather and Use Testimonials 

Trust is essential, but you cannot convey that clients must trust solely you. Take a lesson from those businesses and companies that have spent millions of dollars learning and using the power of customer testimonials. When we go to Amazon to purchase a book, what is the first thing we see? Testimonials from others. What determines when you look up a new restaurant or hotel? Testimonials. People tend to trust others’ experiences more than what the hotel or restaurant has to say.

Gather testimonials from your previous and current clients and post them on a visible platform like LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and your website.

Ask for Feedback and Use it

When you ask for feedback, the customers feel heard and valued. It also helps improve your brand, products, services, and processes.

Ask your customers to review your products online and check your reviews at least every week. Timely replies to feedback show how attentive you are to your customers. However, feedback is only valuable when you act on it, so be attentive to customer needs and demands for maximum profit. Be aware of customer feedback because it is critical to building any relationship.

Conclusion

You must do your best to build a long-lasting relationship with your customers. Customers want to buy something from a company they can trust and support. Similarly, create a necessity and use all your selling skills, but remember that customers are people just like you who want a positive buying experience.

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.

By: Jennifer Brazer

Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.

Fact Checked By: Brittany McMillen

Essential Insights for Your Business Structure Guide

A business structure guide provides entrepreneurs with the critical framework needed to select the optimal legal entity for their company, directly impacting personal liability exposure, tax obligations, and growth potential. The choice between sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation shapes everything from how much you pay in taxes to whether your personal assets stay protected during lawsuits.

Over my 20 years as CEO of Complete Controller, I’ve witnessed firsthand how the right business structure can make or break a company’s future. One client avoided personal bankruptcy by switching from sole proprietorship to LLC just months before a major lawsuit hit—that single decision saved their family home. This guide walks you through the exact process I use with clients to match their business goals with the perfect legal structure, covering tax strategies that save thousands annually and growth frameworks that attract investors.

What is a business structure guide and why does it matter?

• A business structure guide helps you choose the legal framework defining ownership, liability protection, tax treatment, and operational flexibility for your company
• Legal structures create barriers between personal assets and business debts—sole proprietorships offer zero protection while LLCs and corporations shield your home and savings
• Tax implications vary dramatically: pass-through entities avoid double taxation while C-corps face both corporate and dividend taxes
• Growth potential depends on structure: corporations attract venture capital through stock options while LLCs limit investor appeal
• • State regulations add complexity: California charges $800 annual LLC fees while Texas requires biennial reports

Core Business Structures Demystified

Each business structure serves different entrepreneurial needs, balancing simplicity against protection and tax efficiency against growth flexibility. The four primary structures dominate the American business landscape, with 21.6 million active LLCs representing the fastest-growing category.

Sole proprietorship: Simplicity and risk

Sole proprietorships offer the easiest entry point for new entrepreneurs—no formal paperwork, no separate tax returns, just you and your business idea. You report income on Schedule C of your personal tax return, maintaining complete control over every decision. The dark side emerges when liability strikes: your personal assets become fair game for business debts and lawsuits.

Partnerships: Sharing the load

Partnerships split ownership between two or more people, allowing flexible profit-sharing arrangements through operating agreements. General partnerships expose all partners to unlimited liability, while limited partnerships (LP) and limited liability partnerships (LLP) provide varying protection levels. Law firms and medical practices often choose LLPs to shield partners from each other’s malpractice claims.

LLC: Flexibility and protection

The Limited Liability Company revolutionized small business when Wyoming introduced it in 1977 for Hamilton Brothers Oil Company. LLCs combine corporate liability protection with partnership tax flexibility—your personal assets stay safe while profits flow directly to your tax return. This hybrid structure explains why LLCs grew from zero to 21.6 million entities in under 50 years.

Corporations: Growth and complexity

Corporations create the strongest legal separation between business and owner, ideal for companies planning major expansion. S-corporations limit shareholders to 100 and require all to be U.S. citizens, but avoid double taxation through pass-through treatment. C-corporations face corporate tax rates (currently 21%) plus shareholder dividend taxes, yet remain the gold standard for venture capital investment due to unlimited stock classes and global investor access.

Tax Implications: Your Make-or-Break Factor

Tax treatment often determines which structure saves or costs you thousands annually. Pass-through entities (sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, S-corps) report business income on personal returns, paying individual tax rates ranging from 10% to 37% in 2025.

Self-employment taxes hit sole proprietors and single-member LLC owners hardest—15.3% on all net income. S-corporation election changes this equation dramatically: you pay employment taxes only on reasonable salary, not distributions. A consulting firm owner reduced taxes from $24,000 to $9,000 by electing S-corp status, splitting $200,000 income into $70,000 salary and $130,000 distributions.

C-corporations face double taxation—first at the corporate level (21% federal rate), then shareholders pay taxes on dividends (0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income). This structure makes sense primarily for businesses reinvesting all profits or planning public offerings.

Liability Protection: Safeguarding Your Assets

Business structure determines whether a lawsuit can touch your personal wealth. A café owner operating as sole proprietorship lost their home and savings when a customer sued after slipping on a wet floor—the business had no legal separation from personal assets.

LLCs and corporations create legal firewalls between business obligations and personal wealth. This protection requires proper maintenance: separate bank accounts, formal record-keeping, and avoiding personal guarantees on business loans. Even with an LLC, signing a personal guarantee on a lease makes you personally liable for that specific debt.

Industry risk levels guide protection needs. Professional services face malpractice claims, restaurants encounter slip-and-fall lawsuits, and manufacturers risk product liability. Statistics show 21.5% of businesses fail within their first year—proper structure prevents business failure from destroying personal finances.

Growth Trajectory: Aligning Structure with Ambition

Your business structure either accelerates or limits expansion opportunities. Venture capitalists typically take 20-40% ownership during Series A funding, preferring C-corporations for their stock flexibility and established investor frameworks.

Attracting investors: Why structure matters

C-corporations dominate the startup ecosystem because they offer multiple stock classes, employee stock options, and unlimited shareholders. LLCs struggle with venture funding due to pass-through taxation complications for institutional investors and restrictions on foreign ownership.

S-corporations fall between extremes—attractive for profitable small businesses avoiding double taxation but limited by the 100-shareholder cap and single stock class restriction.

Scaling and changing structures: A roadmap

Business evolution often demands structure changes. A sole proprietor hiring employees should consider LLC conversion for liability protection. An LLC hitting $250,000 in revenue might elect S-corp status for tax savings. A startup securing venture capital typically converts from LLC to C-corp.

Structure changes involve state filing fees, potential tax consequences, and operational adjustments. Planning ahead minimizes disruption—many entrepreneurs start with simple structures knowing they’ll evolve with growth.

Your Step-by-Step Selection Process

Choosing your business structure requires systematic evaluation of current needs and future goals. This framework guides optimal selection while avoiding common pitfalls.

Assessing your business risk and goals

Start by mapping your risk profile:

• Industry liability exposure (high for construction, low for consulting)
• Personal asset protection needs (homeowners need more than renters)
• Growth ambitions (lifestyle business vs. venture-backed startup)
• Tax situation (high earners benefit more from S-corp elections)

Calculate projected revenue, planned hiring timeline, and funding requirements. A freelance writer might thrive as sole proprietor while a tech startup needs immediate C-corp structure for employee equity plans.

Consulting the experts: When to seek help

Complex situations demand professional guidance. Multi-state operations, foreign investors, or industry-specific regulations warrant attorney consultation. CPAs model tax implications across structures—sometimes paying $2,000 for proper setup saves $20,000 in first-year taxes.

State-specific rules add complexity. Delaware attracts corporations with business-friendly laws while Nevada offers strong LLC privacy protections. Your home state’s fees, taxes, and regulations often override these benefits for small operations.

Conclusion

Selecting your business structure ranks among your most consequential entrepreneurial decisions—one I’ve guided thousands through during two decades building Complete Controller. The right structure protects your family’s future, optimizes tax obligations, and positions your company for sustainable growth.

Your business deserves a foundation as solid as your vision. Whether you’re launching tomorrow or restructuring for growth, making informed structure decisions today prevents costly corrections later. For personalized guidance on structuring your business for maximum protection and growth potential, connect with our expert team at Complete Controller.

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Structure Guide

What is the simplest business structure to set up?

Sole proprietorship requires no formal filing or fees—you start doing business under your own name immediately. However, this simplicity comes with unlimited personal liability for all business debts and lawsuits.

Which business structure provides the best personal asset protection?

LLCs and corporations legally separate business liabilities from personal assets, preventing lawsuits or debts from touching your home, car, or savings. Maintaining this protection requires following corporate formalities and keeping finances separate.

How do taxes differ between LLCs and S-Corps?

Both use pass-through taxation, but S-corps split income between salary (subject to employment taxes) and distributions (not subject to employment taxes). LLCs pay self-employment tax on all profits unless they elect S-corp tax treatment.

Can I change my business structure after starting?

Yes, businesses commonly evolve structures as they grow. Moving from sole proprietorship to LLC involves state registration and new tax ID numbers. Converting LLC to corporation requires additional steps but remains feasible with proper planning.

What structure works best for businesses seeking venture capital?

C-corporations dominate venture capital due to preferred stock options, unlimited shareholders, and familiar legal frameworks. VCs rarely invest in LLCs due to pass-through tax complications for institutional investors.

Sources

• Checketts Law. “The History of LLCs as a Business Entity.” 2025. https://checkettslaw.com/the-history-of-llcs-as-a-business-entity/
• DHJJ. “Choosing the Right Business Structure: Tax Implications.” 2024. https://www.dhjj.com/tax-implications-business-structures/
• Eqvista. “Business Structure Guide.” 2025. https://eqvista.com/business-structure-guide/
• HubSpot. “Business Structures: How to Choose.” 2025. https://www.hubspot.com/business-structures
• Indeed. “5 Common Business Structures.” 2025. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/business-structures
• Internal Revenue Service. “Small Businesses and Self-Employed.” 2025. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed
• Legal Dictionary. “Sole Proprietorship – Definition, Examples.” 2016. https://legaldictionary.net/sole-proprietorship/
• LendingTree. “Percentage of Businesses That Fail.” 2025. https://www.lendingtree.com/business/small/failure-rate/
• NerdWallet. “Business Structure: How to Choose.” 2022. https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/small-business/business-structure
• RSM. “Business Structure and Entity Choice.” 2025. https://rsmus.com/business-structure-guide
• Small Business Administration. “Choose Your Business Structure.” 2025. https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-business-structure
• Texas Secretary of State. “Selecting a Business Structure.” 2023. https://www.sos.texas.gov/corp/businessstructure.shtml
• TurboTax. “How an S-Corp Reduces Self-Employment Taxes.” 2025. https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/small-business-taxes/how-an-s-corp-can-reduce-your-self-employment-taxes/
• UpCounsel. “Venture Capitalist Percentage Ownership in Startups.” 2025. https://www.upcounsel.com/seed-funding-percentage-ownership
• Westfield Insurance. “Pros and Cons of Different Business Structures.” 2019. https://www.westfieldinsurance.com/resources/business-structures
• Wikipedia. “Corporation.” 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporation

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.

Moving for most people is like a nightmare that never stops haunting their dreams. Uprooting your life and packing everything up into different boxes is traumatizing. Changing your residence to an entirely new location can be stressful, and that can easily overwhelm you. To ensure your move is as smooth as possible, avoid these common problems during an activity.

Unnecessary Items

Retaining unnecessary items is a common mistake when beginning life in a new home. It’s impractical to pack belongings that have been collecting dust on shelves for years, especially when you know you won’t use them. To streamline your move, consider parting with items unused for over a year. Donate them to charity or include them in a yard sale—avoid investing time and money in things destined to remain unused.

Lack of Planning

The lack of planning is akin to setting oneself up for failure; as the saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” This phrase aptly captures the essence of moving without careful consideration. Would you embark on a skydiving adventure without a parachute, adopting a “Let’s see how it goes” approach? Moving shares similarities, albeit a bit scarier. Without thorough planning up to the last detail, things can quickly spiral out of control.

Here are the things you need to prepare

• Plan your finances (enough money in the bank for payments)
• Getting all the paperwork in order
• Make a timetable or calendar of the involved tasks
• Discussing your moving details with the moving company (how you want things done)

Before engaging a professional moving company, it’s essential to consider a few key factors. Movers won’t automatically identify sensitive or fragile items within your boxes and won’t be aware of your budget unless you communicate your needs. Establishing a two-way relationship with clear communication is crucial. Here are some effective strategies to optimize your moving experience and save money.

Hiring Professional Movers

Contrary to common perception, hiring professional movers is often more cost-effective than attempting a DIY move. When you enlist a moving company’s services, you ensure precision in handling every box and item according to your preferences. In a DIY scenario, the responsibility for any breakages rests solely on you, and you bear the expenses of replacing the damaged items. Opting for professional movers provides a service guarantee and minimizes the financial burden associated with potential damages.

Proper Labeling

It is crucial to label and categorize each box during packing meticulously. Proper labeling serves several purposes, including facilitating quick retrieval of items and ensuring that everything has been successfully moved to the new location. Additionally, clear labeling aids both you and your movers in identifying the designated area for each box in your new home. This simple yet effective practice enhances organization and streamlines the unpacking process.

Planning Ahead

Prioritize planning by ensuring you have all the necessary supplies well before the moving day. Avoid a last-minute rush for packing boxes when your belongings are already outside. If you’re opting for moving services, it’s advisable to make your booking in advance, especially before the peak season hits. Additionally, consider early bookings for other essential services such as painters, rental supplies, and cleaners to secure a smooth and well-coordinated moving experience.

Looking for any Leakages and Cracks

Upon moving into a new house, conducting a thorough check for any leakages and cracks is essential. Ensuring everything is in proper working order is crucial to avoid surprises. You wouldn’t want your first bathing experience in your new home to become a disaster due to overlooked issues. Taking the time to inspect for potential problems early on can save you from inconvenient and costly repairs later.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, we understand that moving is a challenging endeavor. To assist you in navigating this process more smoothly, here are crucial money-saving tips that can contribute to a comfortable and hassle-free experience in your new place. By following these recommendations, your next move, whether to a new home or office, can be executed quickly, comfortably, and, most importantly, cost-effectively.

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.

When we go to a store or search for a service, we usually ask what the value of what we are about to buy is. But do you know that there is a difference between price and value? And as much as we do not always make that distinction when we go shopping, we’d better think about whether we are getting something for value or value when it comes to investments.

Are you confused? What do you think of going deeper into this idea to understand it better? Follow the post we prepared and ask your questions!

How Much Does it Cost to Produce and Distribute Products and Services?

When a company produces a commodity or a service, it calculates the resources needed to deliver the solution to its customers. This calculation includes fixed costs (water, electricity, telephone, internet, rent) and variable costs (inputs, payroll, and distribution). Once you calculate the cost of production, then you will add the taxes due and the profit margin together. At the end of the process, we have the price of the product or service!

What Relevance Does the Consumer Usually Give to Products and Services?

Whoever values ​​an investment is the buyer. So, what is a priority for you may be relevant for another person. For example, it is a case of taking a trip or buying a car. Both options populate the dreams of various consumers. While some want to cruise, others want to buy a new vehicle to make their family more comfortable. And neither of the two profiles is wrong! They are only different points of view, adapted to the reality of each one.

In the End, is it Better to Prioritize Price or Value?

We tend to prioritize lower prices when discussing everyday items such as pens. We can satisfy our needs in the same way as its more expensive counterpart. However, when making investments, you must consider other factors. Here comes the value of a good, which can have an influence overall.

You want to buy a new car because your family is growing. This may seem like an unnecessary luxury. However, this acquisition has excellent value for you, so much so that the price to pay does not equal the benefits you will get once you have your new car in the garage.

For those who dream of traveling the world, the money spent on travel, lodging, food, and other necessities does not compare with the experience of meeting new cultures, experiencing exotic foods, and people of different profiles.

However, you do not have to pay more than the fair price for what you are getting, do you? And this is worth it even if experiences, comfort, and safety have the most incredible value in the world for you! It is the case of buying a property, for example. You have the good at your disposal in less time by opting for financing, but for a higher price than it is worth it. Already choosing a real estate consortium, you can plan yourself more peacefully, paying less, but not for that, letting you see your dream come true!

The same logic holds for other investments. Do you need to travel today, or can you wait? Is the new car urgent, or does it still have time until the children arrive? Think about it: what you save with planning can be used in other investments!

And why are we talking about it? Simple: only end up spending what is necessary. You need to find the balance between price and value, investing wisely!

Conclusion

Distinguishing price from value is crucial for your brand’s success. Value, a magnet for lasting customer loyalty, is exemplified by American brands like Mac and Coke, which are desired by over 90% monthly. Satisfy customers with top-notch quality, and they’ll willingly pay higher prices, ensuring sustained brand reputation and customer satisfaction.

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.

Value investing involves strategically purchasing assets or investments at prices below their intrinsic value. Instead of relying on complex definitions or abstract financial theories, value investing boils down to a straightforward principle: buying something for less than its true worth.

To illustrate this concept, consider the scenario of a store, such as a clothing outlet, undergoing liquidation. During this process, merchandise is often sold at significantly reduced prices. Value investors recognize the opportunity in such situations, as they can acquire items at a favorable cost compared to their regular market value. This principle extends beyond retail scenarios to encompass investments in companies.

Similar to a store in liquidation, there are instances when a company is facing financial distress or undergoing a phase that can be likened to “liquidation” mode. This might be due to factors such as economic downturns, poor management decisions, or industry challenges. In these situations, value investing is a strategic approach to evaluate and capitalize on undervalued opportunities.

Value investors analyze companies experiencing temporary difficulties or market mispricing, allowing them to identify potential bargains that other investors may overlook. By delving into a company’s fundamentals and examining its assets, earnings, and growth potential, value investors aim to uncover discrepancies between the market price and the investment’s intrinsic value.

Value investors gain a distinct advantage through this careful study and understanding of a company’s true worth. While the broader market may be influenced by short-term fluctuations or sentiment, value investing remains rooted in the long-term perspective of identifying and acquiring assets at prices below their intrinsic value, ultimately seeking to benefit from their potential appreciation over time.

Is Value Investing a Fad?

Here is a humble opinion on value investing, and I will also point out what is and what is not. For those who do not know this investment flow, I will start from the beginning:

Value investing was developed as such by Benjamin Graham in the 1928 environment. Its investment philosophy is to buy assets for less than they are worth (intrinsic value) to generate a profit in the subsequent sale.

As you can see, nothing from the other world, buy cheap and sell at its price or more expensive. Sure, before Graham thought about it and carried it out, but Graham was the one who created the school.

Then came other mythical investors such as Warren Buffet, Peter Lynch, Carl Icahn, Seth Klarman, and Jeremy Grantham. It is fashionable because, in an increasingly efficient market, the way to excel is by finding inefficiencies such as those exploited by value investing.

Today, managers are doing things very well by following this philosophy. Therefore, the term and its followers have become popular, but we will study it to avoid mistakes.

Are There Different Types of Value?

Value investing is evolving. People like to make distinctions, although we discuss the same thing.

These subtypes are:

• GARP (growth at a reasonable price). We could not consider these companies cheaply concerning the market average, but this is because their development is much higher than the average of companies. For this reason, they do not list multiples such as PER and EV / EBIT, which are as low as those of other value companies.
• Deep value investing. It is value investing using elements of the “old school” balance. It is about finding companies looking at the balance. They usually hide jewels that are typically true treasures. For example, the NCAV, Graham & Dodd liquidation value, P / Net cash, and modifications of both.

What is Not Value Investing?

Value investing is NOT buying “apparently” good companies and keeping them forever. As much as they are called Coca-Cola, Santander, or Iberdrola, they are large and good companies because they have worked for years. Buying and maintaining them is not value investing. It will be a buy-and-hold or buy-and-hold strategy, but not value investing. See this continuously.

Investors who invest in Telephone or BBVA for dividends deceive themselves by telling themselves and others that they have made a “Valiu” investment when, in the best case, they will long-term aspire to approach inflation.

How Do You Learn About Value Investing?

There are valuation methods. Suppose you want to learn to detect sound and priced companies to enter the world of value investing. In that case, I leave you the link to the most recommended article in my blog on performing a “Fundamental Analysis for Rookies.” A common mistake is to use the same valuation method for all companies.

Each company is different and is in a different cycle (growing, already mature, expanding). Therefore, the considerations we need to know about each company are additional, and we will weigh variables more than others.

The differences are the most complicated part. Although there is a more rational and logical part, I explain myself. Once we understand the analytical role better or worse, we must see if our assumption is crazy.

Conclusion

As we explore value investing, this article aims to demystify its principles, dispel common misconceptions, and equip readers with the tools to discern true value. In a world where financial landscapes evolve, value investing remains a stalwart philosophy that transcends market trends, offering astute investors a timeless advantage.

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.

We have all had the opportunity to take out insurance to cover the possible risks we may suffer at a given time. The contract signed by the client and insurer is a fundamental pillar you should not overlook. We tell you everything you need to know about him!

Whenever we decide to approve insurance on a particular branch, from the beginning, we must be clear that we are creating a contract between the company and us. In this way, we agree with the company for certain services. The agreement we are referring to has a series of characteristics that we show you below.

What Does the Contract with Your Insurance Imply?

Signing the contract with your insurer shows a series of points and values that you and the company assume bilaterally.

Commitment

Both parties express their commitment to conduct what is communicated in writing in the contract. Both parties affirm your consent at the time of signing the policy. You and the insurer start a marriage you hope is as prosperous as possible.

Insurmountable Obligation

This feature involves both parties since both are going to do something. You, as insured, will cover the risk described in the policy, while the company will pay the insurance price, the so-called premium. The obligations are impassable and reinforce the commitment in the contract.

The Law, Above All

The contract you sign with the insurer is not outside the law. The contract will become a legitimate link between the insurer and you as soon as the contract is born. Contracts use legal mechanisms that force compliance with the agreement or repair breaches of either party. For this reason, we recommend that you read every detail of the contract before signing anything to ensure compliance with all clauses.

Qualities that All Contracts Have

The legal nature of the insurance contract uses a series of qualities that we explain in this section.

Unprecedented randomness

It may seem like a joke, but it is the reality. The principal obligation of the contract you sign is unknown if it will take place or not. It is unknown if the fact that the policy provides will happen. The situations reflected in the contract are strange until they happen: a fire in the home, a robbery, and the insured’s death are factors that highlight the randomness of this agreement.

To this, we must add another important aspect. Insurers do not specify the extent of the intensity of the incident. For example, it differs from burning only the kitchen as the entire property. Well, companies do not specify this.

In addition, unlike other contracts, we do not know when you will fulfill the obligation. In terms of insurance, the client can do nothing to cause the event. It would be best if you were foreign to the contractor’s will, which does not occur in other agreements.

Mandatory formality

To ensure that everything you agree upon with the insurance company is guaranteed, it is essential to follow a straightforward process. According to legal requirements, the agreement’s formalization occurs through signing a written document known as a policy. This document serves to secure all aspects outlined in the contract. It’s crucial to note that only the terms explicitly stated in writing will be considered valid; verbal approvals do not constitute a binding insurance right under any circumstances.

The good faith of the parties

The contract will always reflect and demand good faith from you and the insurance company. The insurer completely ignores the risk characteristics, for the good faith of the same must exist so that the needs of both parties are fully met.

Typical bilateral

As in all contracts, the insurance company and the insured approve insurance. There are cases in which the insurance is conducted with two companies simultaneously. It is known as coinsurance. Something more frequent is that the policyholder and the insured are not the same people. Despite this, we would only have two contracting parties for individuals who could be in each part.

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.

Since purchasing a property mobilizes an incredible number of resources, it is necessary to negotiate the right way. We have mentioned this step before, but it is never too much to point out. For this purchase, you must first evaluate your financial situation to study the possible impact on your budget. With that in mind, you will have three forms of payment: financing, consortium, or cash. Check out the major features of each alternative.

In Cash

To make the cash payment, you must have many resources in one go. So, it is recommended to think twice before making a final decision. Thus, if the property costs two hundred thousand dollars and you have 250 thousand dollars available, this may not be an innovative idea since you will immobilize a tremendous amount of your money.

On the other hand, if 200,000 dollars correspond to 10% or even 20% of what you have, this is a beneficial alternative.

Financing

With the financing, you pay the property’s value (plus an interest rate) in a diluted way over the years. It is usually the preferred option of familiar buyers, but it can also be possible if your budget involves a commitment of about 30% of the monthly income. In this case, you will need to get the property back as quickly as possible so that the rent is responsible for paying the most massive portion of the financing.

Consortium

The consortium, in turn, is the option that unites the best of cash and financing. In this form of payment, you pay monthly installments to an administrator, which can be contemplated with a letter of credit in the property’s value at any time.

The detail is that you can make monthly bids to ensure early contemplation. With the letter of credit, you can negotiate the property’s value insight and acquire it to make the subsequent resale or monetize it through the rent. So, suppose you want a real estate of two hundred thousand dollars and have 250 thousand available. In that case, you can bid in the consortium of fifty thousand and increase the chances of being contemplated. With this, you can buy the property by trading sight – and therefore, more cheaply.

What Should You Evaluate When Investing in Real Estate?

When it comes time to choose the property to buy effectively, you must consider factors that can make a massive difference to the success of your investment. To increase your chances of profit, you should evaluate:

Location

Remember that location is one of the few items that cannot be changed on a property, regardless of what you do. Therefore, choosing a property situated in a valued place is essential since this increases the exposure to sound investments. A residential property usually works best in a safer neighborhood with access to different city services. In turn, commercial property should be as close as possible to the city’s financial heart. It is not that complicated.

Appreciation

It is also necessary to keep an eye on the possibilities of valuing both the property and the region. Sometimes, the area is still not highly valued but is in development. Thus, it is possible that soon, it will become a stronghold of highly prestigious real estate. If you realize this trend of acquiring property there while still cheap, you can benefit greatly when the region is more valued.

To do this, check the data on the investments made in the region, look at the development and the local economy, and look for news about future installations and improvements. The more attractive the future looks to the area, the greater the potential for property appreciation.

Age

Another factor to consider is the age of the property. Although this is not a rule, the ideal is to look for newer properties or, if possible, still in the plant. But take your time, too. No discarding older real estate! That is because they tend to be more spacious and are great options, especially if you plan to renovate and improve to achieve more profitability later.

Future

As the property is a durable good, when choosing, you should also consider the future and the projections. Remember: a property that shows trend today may not always be the most sought after, and one that does not seem incredibly attractive at present can become rare and much sought after in the future.

This analysis requires good market knowledge to understand, for example, that a smaller property may make more sense in each area because of the natural reduction of households. At the same time, more significant commercial real estate can be beautiful.

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.

In economics, there are fundamental differences between depression and recession. For example, in the US, the last natural depression was the Great Depression of the 1930s. The US economy has experienced frequent episodes of recession, however.

Depression VS. Recession

Generally, a recession in the economy is much less severe than a depression. A recession decreases a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for over a quarter of a year. The GDP decrease is smaller than a 10% decrease.

Also, the economic recession tends to be measured in quarters of a year rather than whole years. Depression is a decrease in GDP of 10% or more each year. The fourth drop rate was more than 10%, which you could not describe accurately as a depression unless the same conditions existed for one year.

If economic conditions improve in the fourth quarter of the year, and the decline in GDP becomes an increase, then the year is considered to have been the subject of a recession. However, GDP has declined steadily, and year totals show a reduction of 10% or more in GDP.

Recessions tend to occur more frequently than depressions because a country’s economy is fragile, and slight changes or shocks, such as the dot.com outbreak, produce a decrease in spending that reduces GDP by less than 10%. A diversified economy quickly recovers from this kind of shock because of other ways to spend money.

The dot.com recession lasted for years. People mistakenly call this a depression. It did not reduce GDP by more than 10%, hence the economy in recession, and it was not depressing.

Economic Dynamics

People tend to produce a term that reflects more than its real meaning. A depressed economy is reminiscent of the type of depression people find when they must do less, spend less, or invest less. A recession seems more neutral or more favorable in comparison.

Sometimes, people deliberately use the terms to give a negative or positive turn to declining economic conditions. A politician who supports a particular monetary policy may refer to depression as a recession to lessen the responsibility of the wrong approach. A politician on the opposite side of economic policy could call a recession a depression to exaggerate how politics affects people.

However, depression and recession can use specific terms, and economists often visibly correct those who misuse words.

• Getting a job during both a recession and a depression can be difficult.
• In general, depressions cause difficulties for everyone, not just a particular part of the population.
• Recessions tend to occur more frequently than excavations do.

Great Depression’s Situation in the United States of America 

• Depression stayed in the country for 43 months
• The crust and trough rate of GDP decline was 26.5 percent
• The reduced rate of industrial Production is around 46 percent
• There was an 80% decrease in stock share.
• A significant drop in the labor force increased unemployment; that percentage was 24.6%

Ways to Overcome Depression and Recession

Governments should take the initiative to arrange different programs to strengthen the clients’ pocketbooks to level up small businesses. It should include enhanced unemployment benefits. There are other ways to overcome the issue of recession or depression.

Throttle Your Expenses

Lockdown mode has made our financial condition worse. On the one hand, people cannot earn, and on the other hand, there is a complete restriction on extracurricular activities. But there is the best opportunity for saving maximum money. This period also lets us know our rate of prodigality. Track your budget, whatever the situation is. Do not compromise in this regard.

Keep Your Emergency Funds Active

A financial emergency is an exposure that brings you into a state of desperation. In such cases, your only focus is to keep yourself stable financially. At that time, you need extreme demand for an emergency fund to cool down your financial catastrophe. The best way to keep it safe for these is to throttle the amount from your annual or monthly income.

Conclusion

In economics, the distinction between depression and recession holds crucial significance. While recessions are less severe, characterized by a GDP decrease lasting more than a quarter of a year but below 10%, depressions are marked by a 10% or more annual GDP decrease. The dot.com recession is an illustrative example, lasting for years but not meeting the criteria for depression. People’s tendency to use these terms interchangeably, often influenced by political motives, highlights the importance of precision in economic terminology.

Examining the Great Depression’s impact on the United States provides a historical context, emphasizing the challenges faced during that period. Overcoming economic downturns requires proactive government initiatives, such as programs to bolster small businesses and enhanced unemployment benefits. Additionally, individuals can navigate challenging times by managing expenses, tracking budgets, and maintaining active emergency funds to weather financial crises.

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.

The insurance contract contains two different natures. One refers to the insurance of damages, and the other to the insurance of people, concepts that, although they can resemble in principle, in this article, we will see that they are opposite.

What is Damage Insurance?

Damage insurance will be responsible exclusively for repairing the damages suffered by the insured, there being a direct relationship between the covered warranty and the injuries suffered.

Its nature is compensatory so that the insured can never obtain any benefit. At most, you will restore your situation. You will return to the exact point just before the incident occurred.

It would be best if you did not profit from damage insurance.

The Insurance Contract Law exposes articles that make obtaining any insured benefit with insurance difficult. Let us mention the most prominent:

Insured Interest

The owner of the covered asset receives the compensation. You cannot repair damage to someone who has not suffered it.

Sum Assured

It will be the maximum amount that the insurer will pay to the affected. Two values will determine the amount to be repaid: the damages produced and the sum insured. The total that the insurer will receive will be the smallest amount between those two values.

Underinsurance

Underinsurance is the case that occurs when the sum insured is less than the value of the insured good. If an accident occurs, in this case, the compensation will be the maximum of the sum insured. But if the incident is partial, the thing is complicated since the affected party will only receive an amount in proportion to the capital. How is this figure calculated?

With an established formula, we call the proportional rule:

Insured Sum and Damage Value

Over-insurance

Over-insurance would be the opposite of the previous when the sum insured is greater than the guaranteed substantial value. The insured will only receive the amount of the value of the damage that has occurred, the insured amount. But you will be thinking, would the difference that paid more lose it? No, of course not. The insurer would return that part that was overpaid.

Coinsurance

When we ensure an object by insurers, this procedure is legal and, in principle, does not have to be a problem as long as the total amount insured does not exceed the absolute value of the asset. If this were the case, the procedure followed would be the same as in the previous point.

Subrogation

In this case, we are facing a transfer of rights of the insured to the insurer. This process occurs when there is a third person responsible for the incident. With this, the company manages to claim from the person causing the accident the amount he had previously paid to his insured.

What is personal insurance?

Here, the situation changes completely. There is no longer a relationship between the covered warranty and the damage suffered. As with damage insurance, reversing to the point before the accident is impossible.

In the case of death or amputation of a member, it is impossible to repair the damage caused. In these cases, people insurance gives the affected party or beneficiary an amount previously agreed upon and reflected in the policy.

As it is impossible to calculate the value of human life, here we are not talking about compensation but the nature of savings or capitalization. Capitalization means that the insured will pay fees for what may happen in the future through salvation.

Summary

In summary, damage insurance focuses on compensatory measures to restore the insured’s situation after an incident, ensuring no profit is gained. The intricate nature of insured interest, sum assured, underinsurance, over-insurance, coinsurance, and subrogation form a legal framework that restricts unwarranted benefits. On the contrary, personal insurance diverges by offering predetermined amounts in the face of irreparable damages like death or amputation, emphasizing a form of savings or capitalization rather than mere compensation.

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.

When we think about business, we may conjure thoughts of sole entrepreneurs, large corporations, or mid-sized offices; we always think about the great American Dream and giving our best to deliver a valuable product.

History and business are inevitably intertwined since huge business players could shape history altogether, and innovators have taken advantage of those opportunities of all historical circumstances.

Here are some historical business facts.

 Business in the Pre-Industrialized World

The economic activities before industrialization were the world’s agriculture. But even during those times, there were non-agricultural activities in handicrafts, trade, household, and rural industries. Exchanges began as barter between individuals and families but gradually grew into a systematized form and spread across multiple countries and continents. Evidence of local and international trading can be traced throughout the major ancient civilizations, showcasing extensive economic interactions.

Historical records and archaeological findings in China reveal the Silk Road’s significance, facilitating trade in precious jewels, silk, and spices. The Roman Empire thrived on international commerce, exchanging goods such as metals, wine, and olive oil. With its strategic location, Egypt engaged in the trade of precious metals, papyrus, and spices. These transactions exemplify the diverse and valuable commodities exchanged globally, highlighting the interconnectedness of ancient civilizations in their pursuit of economic prosperity and cultural exchange.

During the early days, manufacturing had diverse levels. The rural accumulation consisted of metal crafts, weaving, and wood-based manufacturing. In the urban centers, trade activities dominated. Like always, multiple classes of people specialized in these trading activities only.

By the century B.C., international trade spread across Europe and Asia. All the traders would cross across the countries and exchange products. During this time, there were significant empires across regions in Europe, Persia, India, and China. Just the existence of large conglomerates helped trade to thrive.

Business During Industrialization 

Industrialization developed a new meaning for business with the advent of machines. Before that, the factors of production were labor and land, both of which were limited. Machines came into technology, which multiplied the labor competency and allowed for extra production far beyond the producer’s consumption capacity.

This capacity of surplus production created the incentive for trading and, in turn, shaped the modern markets. The surplus production gave rise to the need to find a new trade route and markets. The European sailors started to attempt their historical journeys to find new ground. Christopher Columbus, who went on a search journey of a sea route to the East, discovered the new world now called America. From 1602 A.D. onwards, the Dutch East India Company enjoyed its dominance over these routes for two centuries. It became the first multinational corporation until the British East India Company later replaced it.

The colonization of Asian countries was based on gunpowder power, and industrial wealth was just a by-product of international trade, which these trading companies dominated globally.

In the 19th century, business and trade reached unprecedented levels and took center stage in human social existence. It was at that time the economy became monetized. Money that seemed like gold or silver was now just held as paper. Additionally, this was also the time when artificial business identities started taking deep roots in America. By the end of the 19th century, the company recognized future giants.

And these involved the Carnegie Steel Company, which Andrew Carnegie created in the 1870s. By the early twentieth century, European countries were competing to dominate the world business, followed closely by the American company. Japan made noteworthy progress, but the rest of Africa. Asia and even Latin America should have been included.

The efficiency of business of certain countries in today’s age placed them in the developed category, which is why creating a North-South division in the global community. Plus, it also made stakes that were entirely worth it.

Overall

If you sit to talk about business history, it is a vast, complex, and controversial topic for most. You will hear people telling you different stories and concepts. We are not saying pictures are wrong, but every country, continent, and region has ways of figuring things out and continuing a business. 

Learn as much as you can about the business history; it can help you while producing your corporation ideas or establishing a business. Learn from the mistakes of previous business owners.

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.