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FINANCIAL RATIOS

Ratio Analyses is a tool used to measure the performance of a company based on the information provided in the financial statements. The results are compared against other companies in the industry, the industry in general or any predetermined targets set for the company. Ratios are also useful in tracking movements or trends in the financial data that could signify that critical changes in the company’s operations may be needed.

The following are the most frequently used financial ratios and the related calculations.  A very brief analysis is included to help in understanding how the ratios may be interpreted.

  1. Operating Profit Margin:

This is a profitability ratio that examines the company’s operating performance at a basic level. What is an acceptable profit margin will depend on the industry, the other players in the market and the company’s objectives.

Example:

Year ended Year Ended
   Mar 31, 2015 31-Mar-14
Operating Profit Margin: 17.04% 8.50%
 (Profit before tax and Other Income ÷ Total Revenue)    
Profit before tax and Other Income 40,283          19,462
Total Revenue 236,355  

228,936

The operating profit margin for Y/E March 2015 is higher than 2014 due to significantly higher earnings and higher total revenue.  This implies that the expenses for the current year are significantly lower than in 2014.

 2. Net Profit Margin:

This ratio seeks to measures the profitability of the company’s operations for every dollar’s worth of revenue and/or income it earns.

Example:

Year ended Year Ended
  31-Mar-15 31-Mar-14
Net Profit Margin 17.32% 9.71%
(Profit after tax ÷ Total Income)    
Profit after tax 45,877          22,895
Total Income (Revenue + Other Income) 264,888 235,807

The net profit margin for 2015 increased over that of 2014 resulting from a reduction in overall expenditure in 2015.  This margin is well above industry performance and in line with the company’s expectations based on promotion and expansion efforts put in place in 2014

  1. Return on Assets:

This ratio seeks identify how effectively the company in utilising its total assets in order to generate revenue, and therefore profit for the business.

Example:

Year ended Year Ended
  31-Mar-15 31-Mar-14
Return on Assets 5.44% 0.31%
(Profit after tax ÷ Total Assets)    
Profit after tax 45,877           2,290
Total Assets 842,621 728,214

The Return on Assets for 2015 increased significantly over prior year as a result of reduction in operational expenditure.   Again the activities undertaken in 2014 may be bearing fruit, possibly the closure of a loss making unit or the acquisition of a profit making one.

  1. Return on Equity:

Here we are looking at the interest of the shareholders what they can expect to gain from their investment in the business. Shareholders usually benchmark their expected return based on say, industry practices or maybe government bond rates.

Example:

Year ended Year Ended
  31-Mar-15 31-Mar-14
Return on Equity 8.31% 0.42%
(Profit after tax ÷ Total Shareholders’ Equity)    
Profit after tax 45,877           2,290
Total Shareholders’ Equity 552,024 547,436

The Return on Equity for 2015 increased dramatically over that of 2014 due mainly to significant increase in profitability.  The performance may still be well below industry results and the company will need to consider what, if any, actions need to be taken.

  1. Current Ratio:

This ratio measure how many times total current assets will cover (or take care of) total current liabilities.  Industry best practice suggests that a minimum ratio of 2 times is generally acceptable.

Example:

Year ended Year Ended
  31-Mar-15 31-Mar-14
Current Ratio 2.12 times 2.85 times
(Current Assets ÷ Current liabilities)    
Current Assets 581,761 469,073
Current Liabilities 274,148 164,328
Working Capital (Current Assets less Current Liabilities ) 307,613 304,744

The Current Ratio is higher than the generally accepted minimum ratio of 2 times, which implies that the company is more than capable of meeting its short term/current liabilities from its current assets.

  1. Quick (Acid Test) Ratio:

This ratio is derived from the Current Ratio in that, only liquid (can be easily converted to cash) or near liquid current assets), and “true” current liabilities (excluding things like deferred income) are only considered. A minimum ratio of 1 time is generally accepted by most companies.

Example:

Year ended Year Ended
  31-Mar-15 31-Mar-14
Quick (Acid Test) Ratio 11.58 times 9.30 times
(Liquid Assets ÷ “True” Current liabilities)    
Liquid Assets (Cash & short-term investments) 513,369 421,881
“True” Current Liabilities 44,351 40,747

The Quick (Acid Test) Ratio  more than exceeds the minimum acceptable ratio of 1 time (numerous times over),

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Starting Your Own Website-Business and Individual (Part 3 of 3)

Merine Tulloch, FCCA

 What should it cost to start your own website?

The challenge is to find a cost effective Content Management System (CMS). This is a web-based application which has the facility for multiple users with different permission levels to manage the website project or internet application.

Web Software developers Joomla have made this process seem fairly easy with Artisteer, their template generator platform.  Joomla maintains that Artisteer is the first and only Web design automation product that instantly creates fantastic looking, unique Templates.  You can download the free version, or invest in the Standard version for $129.99 or the Premium Artisteer Projects version at a much higher cost.

Another popular CMS is WordPress.  It offers multiple services for your website including Domain Names, Hosting Services, Free Domain Names and 1-Click Installations, all for one low monthly fee.  Their promotions sometimes include all the above for one low monthly fee, say $3.95 per month and WordPress has Bluehost as its hosting platform.

These CMS programs have a number of things in common.

  • They provide themes or templates that are easy for the beginner to use and modify,
  • Live chat support where the user can interface on a group level and learn for other users as well receive technical help
  • Telephone support for local as well as international clients.
  • The option to upgrade to a more comprehensive package of features which include more themes, add-ons, varied hosting features and affiliate programs.
  • Tutorial support
  • They make available tools for one-to-one marketing. This is user specific advertising that your website can be tailored create based on Search Engine Optimisation protocols.

If you decide to create your website on your own the quickest and most effective way to do it is by using your web hosting service’s design tools of the CMS of your choice. Always bear in mind the complexity of your business, the cost, and your long-term goals.

Other considerations

Forum Scripts

The support area of your website is important and the instructions for how this is created and functions is a called a script.  There are many forum scripts on the market and they range in structure and capability. Some forum scripts include PhpBB found at http://www.phpbb.com/.This is considered to be the best BBS (Bulletin Board System). PhpBB is completely free and it’s open-source. It’s easy to use, upgrade, install, and customize.  Another is vBulletin found at http://www.vbulletin.com/. This is reputed to be good forum script, from the users’ perspective. It costs as much as $85 per year or a one-time fee of about $160.

Web Shop

When your website offers tangible products for sale online you will web shop software for E-commerce to happen through payment gateways.  They connect your customers’ credit and debit cards to your bank. Needed are a shopping cart solution and a merchant bank account that can process the payments. Free shopping carts and payment gateways solutions are usually available; however, low-cost transactional fees can range between 1 percent and 5 percent based on usage volume.

Hopefully, these three articles have given a better appreciation of what is involved in owning your own website.

© Merine Tulloch -2015
All Rights Reserved
No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author, unless otherwise indicated for stand-alone materials.
You may share this website by any of the following means:
1. Using any of the share icons at the bottom of each page

  1. Providing a back-link or the URL of the content you wish to disseminate; and
    3. You may quote extracts from the website with attribution to www.merinetulloch.com.For any other mode of sharing, please contact the author at the email: merine.tulloch@yahoo.com

Commercial use and distribution of the contents of the website are not allowed without express and prior written consent of the author.

 

Starting Your Own Website-Business and Individual (Part 2 of 3)

By: Merine Tulloch, FCCA

There is some basic expenditure that you incur to start your own website and these include:-

Domain Name: This is the right to use the name that you have chosen for your product or service.  Domain names cost approximately $13.99 per year.

Hosting Account: This account connects you to the World Wide Web and costs about $6.99 per month. You can always upgrade your hosting package at a later date and choose higher end packages with which you can create unlimited number of sites on one account.  You will see savings if you pay for both domains and hosting years or months in advance.

Auto Responder: This facility allows you to create a client list which will eventually be the source of your online income. The cost for this facility is approximately $19 per month.

Web Software: If you create your own HTML website then you need software. You could learn HTML and CSS and build your site from scratch with the help of templates.  Other options include purchasing web software such as Artisteer  which starts at $50 or Dreamweaver which can cost as much as $400. Artisteer is a designer tool most suitable for beginners while Dreamweaver is a well develop tool for someone who is into the complete mechanics of web design.   Buying domain and hosting as one package can usually get you free WordPress ebook/guide and tutorials and other extras.

Logo Design Cost: If you are thinking of getting a professional logo, you need to consider the value if investing in a logo design. This could be as low as $20 or as high as $500 depending on the expert that you hire and the quality of work that you need done.

If however you are launching an E-Commerce (business) website that offer tangible product consider the following:

Financial Transactions cost: E-commerce happens through payment gateways.  They connect your customers’ credit and debit cards to your bank. What is needed is a shopping cart solution and a merchant bank account that can process the payments. The up-front investment in shopping carts and payment gateways are usually low-cost but transactional fees can range between 1 percent and 5 percent based on usage volume.

Hosting and Security cost: The e-commerce site needs to protect privacy and personal information, as well as be online even when traffic levels fluctuate. You need to verify Service Level Agreements (SLAs) as well as prices before choosing a hosting company.
The Cost of Your User Interface and Architecture: Your site needs to be user-friendly- for your customers, manufacturers and designers,  administrators and customer service reps. A template-based e-commerce site can cost as low as $250 per month to service while the Enterprise edition (all-in-one solutions with customized programming) can be as high as $500,000 per year.

Your website is the face of your online business and the cost will depend on the nature of that business.

Please see part 3 for other considerations in starting your website.

© Merine Tulloch -2015
All Rights Reserved
No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author, unless otherwise indicated for stand-alone materials.

You may share this website by any of the following means:
1. Using any of the share icons at the bottom of each page

Providing a back-link or the URL of the content you wish to disseminate; and
3. You may quote extracts from the website with attribution to www.merinetulloch.com
For any other mode of sharing, please contact the author at the email: merine.tulloch@yahoo.com

Commercial use and distribution of the contents of the website is not allowed without express and prior written consent of the author.

© Merine Tulloch -2015
All Rights Reserved
No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author, unless otherwise indicated for stand-alone materials.
You may share this website by any of the following means:
1. Using any of the share icons at the bottom of each page

Providing a back-link or the URL of the content you wish to disseminate; and
3. You may quote extracts from the website with attribution to www.merinetulloch.com.
For any other mode of sharing, please contact the author at the email: merine.tulloch@yahoo.com

Commercial use and distribution of the contents of the website is not allowed without express and prior written consent of the author.

Starting Your Own Website-Business and Individual (Part 1 of 3)

A website is a virtual storefront that facilitates you in marketing and selling your products or services to a wide of customers. There are numerous types of websites, including the reselling goods, carrying out a service or providing information. Consequently, there are many markets for websites and the competition is extreme.  While an internet business using your own website may be easier to start and requires less start-up capital than the than the brick and mortar business, they require an equal amount of investment in time and effort.  Here is some guidance on starting your own internet business and website

1. What you are interested in will determine the type of website you decide on.

  • Blogs and informational websites can evolve into a business by allow advertising and incorporating affiliate programs.
  • Marketing you own products and services is another option and depending on the complexity of your products and services may have a very low upfront-cost
  • Reselling or retailing the goods and services of another business. The cost associated with venture tends to be high since you are purchasing and selling products through your website.

Regardless of the type of website that you are interested in you need to develop a business plan that clearly defines what you are trying to do.  The business plan will include an executive summary (summary perspective of your business), market analysis (research on your competition and market), a company description, your organizational structure and plans for management. Also required would be your marketing and sales management, your funding plans and budget.

2. Defining your online presence

  • Choose your domain name very carefully. It could be related to your interest or whimsical but it should also be search engine friendly.  This will make it easy to promote your business.
  • Select the most effective web host for your website. Research web hosts that have self-design options and E-commerce solution packages, such as Yahoo Small Business. The E-Commerce package is necessary should you need to process payments online where you are selling a physical product. This feature in the E-commerce packages will help you quickly set up a shopping cart and online payment processing options.
  • Be sure that the web host that you choose meets your requirements in terms of budget and features.

3. Design your website.

  • You can choose to design your website yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. The decision really depends on how much you wish to invest in starting your own website business. Just ensure that you do not infringe any IP (Intellectual Propriety) laws.
  • For large scale projects it would be wise to contact a web designer. The designers will be able to recommend compatible e-commerce shopping cart software best suited for your type of business.
  • If you decide to create your own website on your own the web hosting service’s design tools are always available

4. Website Promotion

  • If people are going to know about your business, marketing must be given the right level of importance. Search Engine Optimisation is the best way to accomplish this for your website.  Before starting your business you could try sites such as Google AdWords to make your presence known.
  • You can also market your website online through pay-per-click advertising, blogging, emails, social media, newsletters and even commenting on other sites.
  • You can also advertise your website business through regular advertising methods such as regional and local magazine and newspaper ads.

Please see parts 2 and 3 for other considerations in starting your website.

© Merine Tulloch -2015
All Rights Reserved
No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author, unless otherwise indicated for stand-alone materials.

You may share this website by any of the following means:
1. using any of the share icons at the bottom of each page

  1. Providing a back-link or the URL of the content you wish to disseminate; and
  2. You may quote extracts from the website with attribution to www.merinetulloch.com.For any other mode of sharing, please contact the author at the email: merine.tulloch@yahoo.com

Commercial use and distribution of the contents of the website is not allowed without express and prior written consent of the author.

TRACKING YOUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

By Merine Tulloch, FCCA

A business that is allowed to accept goods from suppliers before paying for them need to keep very accurate accounting of their payables.  Here, I have provided instructions on how to make your own Excel template that will help you do just that.

  • Why Accounts Payable (A/P) Tracking

When your suppliers  allow you to open a credit account and you purchase from many vendors, how can you know your true accounts payables (A/P) and to which supplier?  Without a proper tracking system, chances are you won’t, and when these credit accounts become due for payment, you’ll be searching for the invoices if you don’t have a good tracking system. Also, at month end you will be spending a lot of time trying to figure out the right expense account to allocate the disbursement to.

To help you appreciate accounts payable cycle, please see below snapshot of an accounts payable template in a Microsoft Excel format that can be utilized as a model for your A/P tracking.

  • The A/P Ledger at a glance

On the screenshot, to the right you can see an accounts payable ledger that keeps track of each vendor, all the transactions done with this vendor, ending balances for each vendor, and total overall accounts payable balances for all vendors.

Almost all accounting software programs will allow you to set up vendors (your suppliers) and the expense accounts connected with those services or supplies that you acquire from them.

Tracking your own accounts payable can be easily done, even if you are without an accounting software program that carries the accounts payable module.

Accounts payable-April 9, 2015

REMEMBER THAT THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE BALANCE IS USUALLY A CREDIT BALANCE IN THE GENERAL LEDGER.

Here are some steps in using the accounts payable template provided-

  • Collect all Invoices – First, batch all invoices for the month by credit supplier.
  • Update Invoices – Next, you update each supplier with details from the invoices. This is posting in the accounts payables due. You debit the expense account (e.g. office supplies) and credit your accounts payable account. This entry to accounts payables will allow you keep a running total of what is owed to each vendor.
  • Pay the Vendor – When you make payment to your credit accounts, the cash in bank account is credited and your accounts payable account is debited.  Please note that this spreadsheet allows you to keep track of what is owed after each entry.  It is very easy to insert a row if more is needed for that supplier.
  • Subtotals  This accounts payable spreadsheet allows total for each vendor and gives a quick overall glance as to total accounts payable.  It can be sorted by date and be maintained to provide an annual or a Year-to-Date position.

Where a business buys goods and services on credit it is imperative that accurate records of the accounts payable are kept in order to ensure that payments are made on time. This also allows for confidence in the reports generated from the monthly Balance Sheet.  Finally, when you enter information for the credit suppliers and the corresponding entry is made to the expense account it allows for quick and efficient cross checking and accurate capture of the business activities.

© Merine Tulloch -2015
All Rights Reserved
No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author, unless otherwise indicated for stand-alone materials.

You may share this website by any of the following means:
1. Using any of the share icons at the bottom of each page

  1. Providing a back-link or the URL of the content you wish to disseminate; and
  2. You may quote extracts from the website with attribution to www.merinetulloch.com For any other mode of sharing, please contact the author at the email: merine.tulloch@yahoo.com

Commercial use and distribution of the contents of the website is not allowed without express and prior written consent of the author.

Search Engine Optimisation-Training

By Merine Tulloch,FCCA

Search Engine Optimization –SEO is a very important current skill to have.

The job market current has a lot of vacancies for the well qualified SEO expert.  This is despite the high level of unemployment that is being experienced in other fields.  The cause of this very simple, there are not that many SEO experts around and those that have the skills set to be called an expert prefer to be self-employed rather than work for a company despite the large amount money on offer.

The main factor behind the unavailability of SEO experts is that there are no training courses available on the subject.  There really is no day or evening institute offering training in SEO, it is not offered as college course and the opportunity to learn from another SEO Expert is limited.

The experienced, trained SEO consultant may be reluctant to train others for two main reasons.  Firstly, it would take away time from them that they would be earning by doing the SEO work.  Secondly, the SEO expert may well be training the competition or worse, his replacement.  In carrying out SEO functions for his client the SEO expert may find that the student is utilizing the strategy taught by him on behalf a client competing in the same market as the teachers’ client.

In reality, the majority of SEO consultants are self-taught.  They utilize resources such as online programs and online courses as well as ebooks, and video tutorials. Professional SEO experts have now evolved into being able to offer intensive training courses complete with one year support and help.

SEO training courses –Are they absolutely necessary?

SEO training courses are not absolutely necessary.  You may be able to engage the services of a SEO expert who has a mentorship or training program.  Having this training will make it that much easier to appreciate much quicker, what is involved in SEO.

What type of SEO training programme should I go for?

When trying to engage SEO training opportunities be sure that program is run by professionals who have years of experience and personal training.  It is imperative that they are still conducting SEO services for clients and remain current.

What should it cost?

The services of a professional SEO is in high demand, so the consultant who is willing to offer training will need to be compensated for the jobs that he would not be doing while training you.  Don’t forget that in training you they are creating competition for themselves, so the cost of training tends to be very high.  If you find training offers that are very cheap, be careful that you don’t actually waste your money when they can’t deliver the training that you need to be an effective SEO professional.

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Other considerations

One very important aspect of SEO training is what occurs after the curse has ended.  The real test of the training is the actual implementation of the skills learnt.  Support for at least one year should be part of the training provision.

Philanthropy-The Power of Charitable Giving

By Merine Tulloch,FCCA

One of the fastest growing sectors in the United States is that of Tax exempt organizations. Currently there are close to a two million non-profit organisations with more being created each year. This has brought the fierce competition for donations into focus and yet most of us give very little thought to philanthropy.

Of all our financial activities, philanthropy is often the least considered and very ad-hoc.  We are aware that contribution to charity saves us on taxes but we never usually ask how we can maximise this tax benefit.

Philanthropy is a very potent and effective tool.  With well-planned giving you can make changes in the areas that you have strong interest in, teach wisdom and values to your community and invariably leave a legacy that will continue to influence others. The more thought and effort you put into philanthropy, the more rewarding it will be financially, socially and emotionally.

Here are some guidelines that you can follow in making sure that your philanthropy is effective and powerful.

  1. Get the facts straight about your finances. The main reason why most people don’t give more is due to lack of information. They basically do not know how much money is available and are therefore unsure of how much they can give. This can be overcome through conducting detailed financial planning with the assistance of an advisor.
  2. Review your finances regularly. Here four simple, but smart rules that you can follow:
    1. Invest wisely
    2. Spend less
    3. Save more
    4. Give generously

Be sure not to overdo the last rule else there no funds for the first.

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  1. Make good use of professionals. Charitable giving can be rather complex when figuring out the legal requirements and financial benefits, so it is better not to try doing on your own. You need the services of an attorney, a financial advisor, an estate planner or an accountant. Just ensure that they are of good repute.  It is common knowledge that many people do not include charitable donations in their will, so feel free to raise it at your next professional consultation.
  2. Include the entire family. You can use philanthropy to teach children about goals, managing their money and ethical and moral values.
  3. Consider posterity. The philanthropy you practice will leave a lasting effect on your community and the organisations that you sponsored. Recognition may be as simple as a memorial plaque or as complex as a perpetual scholarship. The charity that you will be remembered for should reflect your values. Bear in mind that the most influential philanthropist are not necessarily the ones with the highest net worth, but usually those that are financially aware, confident and passionate about their cause.

Philanthropy is powerful when thoughtful focus is placed on an activity that you feel strongly about.  This allows others to be influenced by your ideals and as they buy into it and contribute, it can literally change the world.

© Merine Tulloch -2015
All Rights Reserved
No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author, unless otherwise indicated for stand-alone materials.

You may share this website by any of the following means:
1. Using any of the share icons at the bottom of each page

  1. Providing a back-link or the URL of the content you wish to disseminate; and
  2. You may quote extracts from the website with attribution to www.merinetulloch.com.
  3. For any other mode of sharing, please contact the author at the email: merine.tulloch@yahoo.com

Commercial use and distribution of the contents of the website is not allowed without express and prior written consent of the author.

BUSINESS CARDS: ARE YOURS EFFECTIVE?

It is very important to have a business card to give to your potential clients and you must pay special attention to its design and overall appearance.  Here are some of things to bear in mind when you are getting your next set of business cards.

Remember What Your Business Card is For

When making your business card make sure that at a glance your potential customer can know about your business.  It should very distinctly and quickly capture their attention.  It should be more than just logo and contact information. The business card must represent your business so that it will generate a response for them to do business with you in the future.  It is not always necessarily to highlight job title or your position in the business. That is not the most important thing.

The structure and layout of business card should give an indication of your type of business and you can enhance this by using bullet points about your products, industry appropriate images and catchy slogans.

Make Your Business Card Remarkable

Some business cards are very lack-lustre and unappealing.   It is imperative that you need to make your card stand out and be remembered.  How you achieved this will depend on the industry you are in and what would be most appropriate to your prospective customers. To begin with, make sure that the business logo is strategically located on the business card.

Now add some value to your business card and enable the holder to retain it by promoting special offers on the back of the card which is redeemable on presentation.  Let function as a loyalty cards which qualifies the holder for a discount.  The use of the back of the business card is a very effective marketing tool as it encourages the holder to retain the card and utilize of the services of that business.

Contact Details must be useful and appropriate
Contact information on the business card need to be current and relevant with the most commonly used number highlighted.  If your business has social media addresses such as Facebook, Linked-In or
Twitter they should be included on the card, as well as the company’s web and email addresses. Because we now function in a digital age we are able to utilize a lot more space on the business cards than before, so all of this information will fit.

Use A Quality Printing Service

Designing your own business costs will reduce your printing costs, but the end product however, must be of high standard. The cost of having a commercial printing service preparing your business may not necessarily be prohibitive. They are able to have volume discounts, multiple order discounts and referrals and special offers that will allow you to pay less for the excellent product that they will do for you.  Also, with the commercial printing services, delivery and quality is normally guaranteed.

AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION-GETTING IT RIGHT

It is has become very simple and easy to move from one point to another due to the many options for transportation that are available.  It becomes very tricky, however, when dealing with air transportation.  Based on ones’ expectations, this method of transportation can prove to be rather difficult.   You should get your information together before hand so you can know what is involved and what you are committing to.

Research has shown that not many passengers complain about the air transportation option that they selected.  The air transportation of goods, on the other hand, has a different reputation. Despite having a mind-set to expect disasters, it is extremely hard to bear when disasters happen.  The risks involved in air transportation of goods are many and varied, therefore choosing the right company is very important.

Firstly, where you have special needs you must ensure that the service you require is available.  An example of this is wheelchair facility for the disabled.  Also, when travelling with children, you need to confirm what support services are provided for them and indicate where necessary any specific service that you would require.  If you are unable to obtain the basic services that you need, you should decide not to take the risk.

With regards to flight arrangements, it is imperative to be on time.  Give yourself enough time to get to the airport and check in and avoid last minutes struggles.  There are companies that provide ground transportation services that will enable you to stick to your travel plans.  You can call their customer service centre and their representatives will provide guidance on how this is done.

Cost is an important consideration in deciding on which company to provide your air transportation service.  The service needs to be appropriate and cost effective.  Their reputation for timeliness and efficient delivery is also important.

Be sure to cover all the details so that all parties are aware of what service is being provided.  Where special diet, specific personal accommodations or entertainment is an option, it must be specified.  You need to know costs involved and what is covered in the price.  Where this information is not available on the website, you should call their customer service department.

When planning your travel, be sure to book early so that you can take advantage of any discounts that may be available.  Last minute rush may cause you to pay penalty.  Remember, any special needs that you have must be addressed very early.

The air transportation industry has seen a new trend in the provision of its services.  They have become simpler and more accessible to all though the World Wide Web (web).  You can access the services though a desktop computer, a laptop or even a mobile phone.  This facility enables you to track your progress while you manage your booking.  This service may also be a special feature based on the company that you choose.

You can go online and search for information on companies that provide air transportation service.  Check the number of flight destinations and their reviews.  Make sure that you choose one that comes closest to meeting all your requirements.

Holiday Safety Tips

The holiday season is always a special time of the year.   It is also a time when busy people become careless and vulnerable to theft and other crimes.   We can never be too careful, too prepared or too aware.   Listed below are a few safety tips and you may wish to share them with family, friends and neighbours.

While Driving

  • Avoid driving alone at nights.
  • If you must shop at night, park in a well-lighted area.
  • Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car; lock them in the trunk or put under the seat.
  • When approaching or leaving your vehicle, be aware of your surroundings.
  • Never leave your vehicle with the engine running.
  • Be sure to locate your keys prior to going to your car.

Shopping

  • Dress casually and comfortably.
  • Avoid wearing expensive jewellery.
  • Stay alert to your surroundings.
  • Avoid carrying large amount of cash.
  • Avoid overloading yourself with packages.

If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member