money

How to evaluate stocks in India?

Angela Manning Finance , , ,
How to evaluate stocks in India?

Regular evaluation of your investments is of high importance to make sure your investment is in alignment with your goals. This is especially true when it comes to stock market investments, which could be volatile at times. Let’s discuss certain factors that you can use to evaluate stocks to invest in you own.

Management of the company 

When you own a part of the company, no matter how small, its management should ideally be aligned with your financial goals and risk appetite. Hence, analysing the management of a company is critical in deciding whether you should continue investing in the company. You can also analyse the experience of the upper management and how they have handled other companies in the past. The vision and approach of the company and its management also play an important role here. You could also research whether there is any negative news regarding the company in recent times and if yes, how the upper management has handled it.

Corporate governance 

Corporate governance is an important tool that can be used to gauge the management quality of a company. It is the set of rules that are used to govern the company. A company could keep churning profits but for many investors, that is not enough. Instead, many rightly demand the company to have a balanced approach towards its shareholders, employees, customers, and investors. You could also take a look at what the company’s policy is regarding ethics, integrity and inclusion of people. Checking whether it has ever been part of any malpractices in the past is also important. Hence, a check on the corporate governance of the company is a must in deciding stocks to buy.

Financial of the company  

At the end of the day, you invest in stock market today to earn profit and for that, checking on the financials of that company is very important. You could take a look at its past performance first. While this might not always be indicative of the future, it could give you an idea about the growth potential the company has. It could also tell you how the company performed during difficult economic times.

Debts a company has also plays an important role here. If it is running in a lot of debts, it could eventually turn bad and could hurt its financials.

You could also take a look at how the company plans to take its finances forward and what its expectations are before deciding on stocks to invest in.

Peer to peer comparison 

One accurate way to know how the company has fared in the recent past is by comparing its performance with that of its peers. If a particular sector is showing growth, a company should be able to make use of that and give maximum shareholder value. If the company has failed to do so in the recent past, it may be a sign that you need to start thinking about divesting.

Deciding on what stocks to buy today requires a lot of research. Evaluating the stocks you plan to buy makes it easier for you. This step is also important in making sure the stocks you have invested in are giving you the shareholder value you deserve from your investment. Make use of the above pointers and make sure you are investing right!

Five reasons why investing in mutual funds for a car now is better than taking a car loan five years later

Angela Manning Finance , ,
Five reasons why investing in mutual funds for a car now is better than taking a car loan five years later

Purchasing a car is one of the most considerable expenses an individual makes after buying a home. For many, purchasing a vehicle is a short-term goal, and you can opt for a car loan to meet the same. However, if you plan to buy a car five years later, you can start saving today. In this blog, we help you understand whether you should take a car loan or save for your car using mutual funds.

1. Car loans come with additional costs

All major banks in India offer car loans. Since it is secured by the car, the rate of interest is lesser than personal loans. But, other costs still exist that add up to increase the overall costs. These include processing fees, document charges, and GST.

2. You pay much more with a car loan

Many banks offer 80% to 90% of the car’s price as a loan. Thus, to buy a car, you need to pay 10% to 20% from your savings. For example, if your car’s on-road price is Rs. 15 lakhs, you need to pay Rs. 1.5 lakh or Rs. 3 lakh as a down payment.

Interest is one of the primary costs you pay over and above the principal amount of the car loan. The interest amount is calculated based on the loan amount, interest rate, and loan tenure.

Let us understand this in more detail with the following example.

For your car worth Rs. 15 lakhs, you paid 10% (Rs. 1.5 lakh) as a down payment. The loan amount will be Rs. 13.5 lakh. Suppose the bank charges 8% as the interest rate and the tenure is 5 years; your monthly EMI is Rs. 27,373. Your total interest payout equals close to Rs. 2.92 lakh.

So, a car loan is quite expensive. You pay a lot more than the car’s value as interest and other charges.

3. Your car is a depreciating asset

The value of your car is depreciating. Instead of paying a particular amount as EMI every year, you can choose to invest in monthly SIP and earn returns, which can help you earn more than the principal loan amount at the end of five years.

4. Car loans do not carry any tax benefits

Car loans are categorized as bad loans. You cannot avail of any tax benefits on the same, unlike home loans and education loans. Thus, these are expensive loans.

5. Mutual funds offer superior returns

Equity mutual funds are great for achieving long-term financial goals, such as children’s education, retirement, etc. But, if you are interested in goal based investing and have five years at hand to buy your new vehicle, hybrid or debt funds are ideal for you.

In conclusion

When you have to choose between a car loan or mutual funds, the latter is always better. The Tata Capital Moneyfy App is an ideal choice for new investors. It makes you investment-ready within minutes to make the most of the goal-based investment options.

Can You Get a Personal Loan With a Low Credit Score?

Angela Manning Finance , ,
Can You Get a Personal Loan With a Low Credit Score?

One of the main factors that make you eligible to get approval for a personal loan is your CIBIL score. Essentially your credit score, CIBIL (Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited) generates a summary of your credit profile in the form of a numeric value to inform lenders about your financial status. Lenders gauge your ability to repay loans based on how high/low this score is.

Credit Score and a Personal Loan

A personal loan can be taken by individuals to meet any purpose, from financing medical emergencies to vacations. This is a good way to access funds, and if you have a credit score that meets your lender’s requirements, you can avail a personal loan online instantly. Funds could be in your bank within a day. Typically, banks and other lenders have a threshold credit score or CIBIL score below which a loan may not be granted. This score falls in a range of 300-900, and 600 is acceptable. It’s a good idea to check your CIBIL score  at Finserv MARKETS before you apply.

Why is a Credit Score Important?

A credit score is important (and a high one, preferably) for the following reasons:

  • It lets lenders know about your credit history/creditworthiness.
  • It establishes your relationship with lenders, such as your bank, and helps you get financial benefits like quick loan approvals/flexible tenures.
  • It helps you get fast loans with funds transferred rapidly. Furthermore, you can get online approval.
  • It aids you in availing lower interest rates.

Can You Get a Loan With Low Scores?

If you do find out that you have a low credit score, your number one priority should be to find out how to improve CIBIL score. Nonetheless, with a low score, can you still get approval? The answer is ‘yes’, albeit with conditions. These constitute the following:

  • You may get approval for lower loan amounts
  • You may have to pay high interest rates
  • You may have to display additional proof of stability of an income source
  • You may have to show collateral (like gold, property, etc.) to avail the loan

Can You Improve Credit Scores?

It’s easy to find out how to improve your CIBIL score. Consider the following:

  • Debt Repayment – You should make sure any outstanding debt is paid off before you apply for further loans.
  • Use your Fixed Deposit – In case you hold a fixed deposit, you can get a credit card against it and this improves your credit score.
  • Joint Loan – Take a personal loan with a joint holder. If that holder has a high score, it will reflect on you and you may get loan approval.
  • Timely Payments – Make timely payments on credit card bills and any EMIs you may have availed of.

Planning Ahead

Living in uncertain times has become normal, and planning ahead helps. You may need a personal loan at any point in your life, and you can easily get one if you show creditworthiness that guarantees lenders of sound financial health. Go over to Finserv MARKETS to get the best view of loan products and how to get them easily.

The Easiest Way to go for Home Loan Balance Transfer

Angela Manning Finance , , ,
The Easiest Way to go for Home Loan Balance Transfer

Home loans are among the longest loans to serve. A portion of your income is consistently spent, over a long period, on the repayment of your home loan. The home loan interest rate, although presently low, amounts to a significant sum due to the long tenor. Besides, there is always another lender offering a better home loan deal with lower interest rates. Therefore, by opting for a home loan balance transfer, you can earn yourself a low-interest rate agreement for your prevailing home loan.

Eligibility for a home loan balance transfer

Before anything else, you must find out if you are eligible for the home loan balance transfer. To be eligible,

  • You should have a prevailing home loan from another bank or lender.
  • You should have completed paying at least 12 EMIs of your existing loan.
  • You should not have defaulted in paying any or a specific number of EMIs for your prevailing loan.
  • Also, if your property’s registration is not done, you are not eligible for the balance transfer.

While the exact specifications may vary, these are the common eligibility criteria sought by lenders when you apply for a home loan balance transfer.

Steps to follow for Home Loan Balance Transfer

  1. Visit the website of the lender where you wish to transfer your home loan.
  2. Go through all the terms and conditions and know their interest rate and processing fee.
  3. Once you are contented with their proposition, apply for the balance transfer.
  4. To apply, you have to fill in your personal details, financial details, employment details, current property details, tenure of your current loan, and existing bank’s name.
  5. Once you complete filling in the above-mentioned details, you can view your loan offer.
  6. Upload all the necessary documents and pay all the required fees.
  7. Upon completion of your application, wait for their approval.

But before you apply for the balance transfer from one lender to another, remember to do the following important tasks:

  • Get all the important documents from your current lender, which are necessary for the balance transfer.
  • Get a consent letter from the prevailing lender with the remaining loan amount.
  • These documents are necessary to be submitted to the new lender where you wish to transfer the home loan balance.
  • A home loan EMI calculatorcan help in your decision-making. So, use it to calculate the monthly installment and make a wise decision regarding your home loan balance transfer.

Conclusion

While transferring your home loan, do note that the cost of the transfer shouldn’t be too high. Charges by both the existing and the new lender may eat away some of the cost-benefit you hope to achieve. With that cost kept in mind and under control, you stand to save a lot of money in the long run through a home loan balance transfer.

Five Great Advantages for Investing In the Stock Market

Angela Manning Finance , , , ,
Five Great Advantages for Investing In the Stock Market

Whether you are saving for retirement, purchasing real estate, beginning a family, or just to have a secure nest egg, choosing stocks to invest in is a profit-bearing investment.

The reason people take the risk to invest in stocks is that this system yields the highest return for your money. Also, the longer you invest in stocks, the better your money will perform for you.

The more you learn your way around the stock market the higher your money will be for whatever your financial goals are in life. Owning stocks will help you build on your savings. Investing in stocks also helps to protect your money from taxes, inflation, and other financial losses. You might notice some Amazon insider trading going on. See what the insiders at Amazon are doing and ask yourself if you should be doing it too.

Investing in other forms of financial ventures may require a larger stock market investment than you can afford right now. For this reason, the best return for your money is stock investments. Yes, investing in stocks can be risky but any success in the market will depend on you.

The more you know about stocks, the better your returns. There are many benefits to invest in the stock market. Let’s look at five great arguments in favor of investing in the stock market:

1. Stocks Are Easy to Buy and Sell

The market makes it easy to buy shares in businesses. You can buy them through brokers, through a company’s 401(k) and IRAs, or daily in the market on your own. When you have established an account, you can start buying stocks. There are varying stocks you can buy for just a few dollars and you will be guaranteed a good financial return.

Buy low and sell high. Buying low means watching the stocks as your company investment does not look good, then purchasing shares hoping that it will go up. Selling high is watching the market to see if your stock purchase is increasing. Then at a high, investors can sell their shares for a nice financial reward. A recent example of this strategy was the amazing return of the GameStop stock.

2. Diversification

Putting money into different types of investment products, a stock market investment is one of the benefits of diversifying your portfolio. That is why diversification in the stock market is better for investor portfolios.

Having a combination of small, mid, and large-cap stocks will help you weather losses. Small and mid-cap stocks give you a better chance to grow your investment. Large-cap stocks are a stable investment with good profitability.

3. Dividend Income

Dividend income can be obtained through some stocks. No, not every stock provides dividends, which is why you must do your research. However, those stocks with dividend options provide an annual payment to investors.

Why choose stocks with dividends? Because if the stock loses value, it still generates income for investors. Added profits are yours if you sell the stock. Dividend income helps individuals who are planning for a rainy day. You can also take the extra money to reinvest in the stock market.

4. Invest in Stocks for Tax-Free Profits

There several types of tax-free accounts offered by the U.S. Government whereby you don’t need to pay taxes on your investment. The strategy of not paying taxes on investment gains begins by selling an investment stock with a tax-bearing long-term capital gain in the year that you are due an income. Your gains are not taxed. To be tax-free it is best to invest in stock investments like mutual funds or investment exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

5. Stocks Help to Beat Inflation

Rising prices mean more profit for companies, which in turn boosts share prices. Investors understand that stocks rise faster than the losses that inflation creates. Investing in stocks helps to protect your money from the downward spiral of the effects of inflation but stocks continue to guarantee you good returns.

Rising prices mean more profit for businesses, which boosts share prices. Granted that some stocks are better than others which is why investors must research the right company to invest in.

6. Borrowing Power

Investors with diversified stocks can use their investments to borrow money to pay off debts. You can borrow at lower rates than anywhere else. Yes, you will need to pay interest but the terms are user-friendly and more flexible. Investing in stocks helps to build up wealth, allowing you to take loans against a stock. You can access from 50% to 95% of your stock value.

5 Golden Rules for Beginner Investors in the Stock Market

Angela Manning Finance , , ,
5 Golden Rules for Beginner Investors in the Stock Market

With the high rise in inflation rates, your salary may not suffice all your needs. You can invest your money in real estate, mutual funds, fixed deposit schemes, and many others for good returns. The most attractive and appealing area of investment currently is the stock market investment.

It is a place filled with opportunities and massive potential profits. However, it is a risky investment, even for financial experts. Your success in this market mainly relies on the strategies you use. Read on for five golden rules you can adopt to smoothen your new stock market experience:

1. Avoid Tips and Rumors

When you are involved in the stock market, you are bound to come across market tips and rumors from many sources. Your colleagues and friends may also provide you with buying and selling tips. Some of these may help you, but the majority are just rumors. You may also apply the appropriate tips at the wrong time since the market is continually changing. The following are the common stock market rumors you are likely to encounter:

  • Sale of Unit: It is a rumor that an organization sells its stake and leaves its shareholders with a high share value
  • Corporate Governance: The news that a promoter is involved in the mismanagement of company funds lowers stock prices
  • Plans for Raising Funds: Any news about a company raising funds pushes the prices up
  • Other rumors you may encounter are pledging and delisting of shares. You can always monitor the prices by looking at the stock analyst ratings. This way, you can make better, informed choices

2. Invest Only What You Are Willing to Lose

As mentioned earlier, stock market investment is a risky venture. Therefore, it is normal to be overly cautious when starting. You should avoid using up all your savings since you are not safe from losing everything. Before you decide to invest in the stock market, consider the financial hardships you may go through if you lost your entire stock.

A big mistake that you should avoid making is using a loan as an investment. With the risks that are involved, you may find it challenging to pay back the money. Small investments are cheaper and allow you to be more flexible. If you are a small business owner, you can protect your business by investing some of your profits in the stock market.

3. Monitor Your Investments

Unlike fixed deposits, you cannot invest in the stock market once and forget about it. It is volatile, and the prices frequently change along with the organization. Below are five ways to keep track of your stocks:

  • Keep up with the market trends by checking in to financial news sites
  • Set up a free portfolio tracker with sites like Google Finance and Yahoo Finance
  • If your portfolio tracker offers automatic alerts, sign up to receive emails or text messages about changes in your stocks
  • Read the annual report, which is an appreciable research tool for stock investors
  • If you are involved in individual stocks, check-in with each of the company’s quarterly earnings calls

4. Invest in Companies You Know and Understand

With the risk involved in stock investment, you should have enough information about the company you want to invest in. If you are passionate about cars and often purchase automotive magazines, you can choose a company from the automotive industry. When deciding on where to invest, you can consider the following about your options:

  • Financial health as shown by annual and quarterly financial reports
  • Nurture
  • An organized and easy to understand the business model
  • Willingness to pay dividends

5. Diversify

It is one of the oldest strategies you can use in stock market investment. Investing in a single company is too risky, just like you should never put all your eggs in one basket. There comes a time when a company does not perform well hence decreasing the value of your investment.

It is safer for you to have a combined investment of small, mid, and large-cap stocks. Small and mid-caps have higher chances of growing your investment and returns, but there are risks involved. Large-cap stocks are mainly stable with good returns. Beginners should always start with small and mid-cap stocks depending on how much they intend to invest.

The five rules above are a big step towards stock market investment for beginners. Investors who stay focused and avoid rumors experience massive opportunities from this market.

Learning How to Appreciate the US Dollar on the World Exchange Market

Angela Manning Finance , , ,
Learning How to Appreciate the US Dollar on the World Exchange Market

When Visiting Another Country

If we remain at home and do not travel abroad, we can appreciate what it is like in other countries by looking at the pictures that our friends bring back from their visits to other countries. Not everyone can be a world traveler, but some have the resources to travel and share their experiences. This is the case with a travel journalist who spends their whole life traveling from country to country and taking pictures for others who may be interested in visiting.

Travel Journalist

Of course, tourism loves a travel journalist because people get a chance to see what the country is like before they visit, and this attracts visitors to the country. At some point, the tourist does travel outside the United States or other departure cities and travel to their destinations outside of their native countries. When they go to another country, they will need to exchange their currency with the currency of the country they are traveling in. Foreign exchanges are suitable for businesses who can receive their currency at the point of sale, and tourists can exchange foreign currency on their exit.

Use of Foreign Currencies

When we travel to another country, we are in the habit of using another country’s currency. If we go to Japan, we use the yen, but if we travel to Germany, we use the euro. Again if we travel to Iraq, we will receive dinar value for our US dollars. Many currencies are traded throughout the world. The value of these other currencies change to more or less equal to the US dollar, dependant upon the political and economic factors of the country.

Foreign Currencies Change in Value

While we may not notice the fluctuation in the value of the Chinese yen or the German marc, when we are in those countries, every country’s currency is in constant fluctuation. When we land in a country for vacation, we will trade our US dollars for the currency of that country we are vacationing. When we leave the country, we will again trade our British pound for the US dollar, which may have changed during our stay. Our British pound may have become less valuable to us during our vacation and, therefore, when we receive, we receive fewer US dollars. That is what is called the foreign exchange rate.

US Dollar and the Strength of Other Currencies

The US dollar is seen as probably the most robust dollar in foreign exchanges along with the British pound. A few reasons why there is strength in the US dollar is because of the strong economy and its GDP or Gross Domestic Product. Along with a stable democratic government and a capitalistic economy, it gives the US dollar a leading edge over other countries. Some countries may have a different form of government which causes it to be unstable, or they are at a time of unrest and political war within the state. When a country fails to produce products on a world market and few products are being traded with other countries, this will affect that countries value of its currency. The US dollar has a stable government and banking system, especially the Federal Reserve Bank which keeps the US dollar active in both economic growth or economic slumps in the economy.

Iraqi Dinar Against the US Dollar

Presently, the Iraqi dinar (IQD) is trading about 1166 to a US Dollar, which, according to foreign exchanges, is the lowest it has ever been. The IQD has a high value if it could get itself out of the slump that it fell into after the Iraqi War. The strong possibility of a revaluation of the IQD is reliable, but presently its major commodity is oil and oil is not trading well on the world market.

Oil Prices Could Change

Oil is selling at a lower price because there is a great emphasis on finding other kinds of natural fuels. Another problem with the revaluation of the IQD at present is the political unrest the country is experiencing. Finally, the IQD is not traded on some foreign exchanges because of its meager value, even though they trade almost all other foreign currencies. The potential for a revaluation of the IQD is still being held steady for the future. The reason for this revaluation is because of the possibility that oil prices will increase. If oil prices move from their present value to $100 per barrel, then Iraq would be very wealthy. Iraq has a reserve of 143 billion barrels of oil, and they are the fourth largest exporter of oil in the world. At present, this is outside of the hands of the local Iraqi government, and only the future will tell whether the IQD will receive a greater revaluation on the world foreign exchange.

How to Get Your Whole Family on Board with Tackling Debt

Angela Manning Finance , , , ,
How to Get Your Whole Family on Board with Tackling Debt

Source: Unsplash | Sabine Peters

Debt is an issue that affects the lives of many people in the U.S. Sometimes, problems related to debt are made much worse because family members aren’t all in agreement on what to do about it. Here’s how to get your whole family on board with tackling debt.

Helping Your Children Understand Student Loans

Student loan debt is more prevalent now than it has ever been before. While there are plans being thrown around about it potentially being wiped clean by certain presidential candidates, it’s not a good idea to bet on that idea.

There’s now more student loan debt than credit card debt. And while student loans are often considered to be one of the better forms of debt, as education can boost your employability, the payoff doesn’t always make up for the massive cost.

It’s important for families to understand what it means to have student loans. A lot of young people go off to school without thinking too much about their loans. Times were different for their parents. Plus, if everyone else is doing it, there must be a reason, right?

Families should come together to do some math and get a clearer picture of what it’s going to take to pay off that debt after graduation. Doing this might play a role in determining where you ultimately decide to go to school, and when. You can also come up with a plan for how it makes most sense to tackle this debt if it ends up seeming like the right choice.

Making a Full-Family Budget

Budgeting shouldn’t just be the responsibility of one person in every household. After all, everyone spends money. Shouldn’t everyone play a role in determining how it gets spent?

This doesn’t have to entail the kids getting to determine the candy budget for the month. But there are a few benefits to having everyone come together to build the family budget.

First, this can be a learning opportunity—for everyone. The children will get to see how to make a budget and why it’s important. The parents will get to see what kinds of things everyone is spending money on. And everyone can come together to decide what areas it might make sense to cut back a little.

Getting Your Spouse on the Same Page

It’s always a tough situation when you’re having a hard time getting a spouse to see the importance of reducing your debt. This is something that can drive a major divide in your relationship if not addressed and resolved the right way. This is why it’s so important to come up with a plan, together.

Married couples struggling with thousands in debt can consider utilizing a debt relief program. Looking at Freedom Debt Relief reviews shows they’re a highly reliable resource for this. Many enrollees who leave reviews even mention they decided to try settlement for their family’s benefit following an event like a spouse losing a job or unforeseen medical bills.

It’s always tough when one partner has incurred a significantly higher amount of debt than the other. If you’re the one with more debt, it’s best to address the situation as soon as possible and be open to solutions. When your partner is the one with more debt, it can make things more complicated. You should try to avoid making it seem like you’re putting all the blame on them. Do this by mentioning some of the errors you’ve made when it’s come to debt, too.

Another kind of spouse-debt scenario is when one partner has been hiding debt from the other one. This can have huge financial and relationship ramifications if not addressed in a timely manner. When you’re the one with the hidden debt, get it out in the open as soon as possible. You might think that you’re going to pay it off without them knowing, but this is much harder said than done. You’re also not going to address the root causes of that debt if you continue keeping it under wraps.

Try to establish a team mentality so your family can tackle debt together.

You’re not going to get out of debt if your family isn’t on the same page about it. Sitting everyone down to address any issues will bring you closer together and solve problems.

Simple Ways to Cut Back on Unnecessary Spending

Angela Manning Finance , , ,
Simple Ways to Cut Back on Unnecessary Spending

Money is a major source of stress in our lives, and it just never feels like there’s enough to go around and cover costs. Looking for ways to cut back on unnecessary spending to gain some financial freedom? Ready to make small lifestyle changes to increase your savings and pay off debt? Read on.

You’re Dealing with Debt

One of the reasons that someone might look to cut back on their spending is to increase the amount of money they put towards their debt repayment. For those with large sums of student or credit card debt, the knowledge that you need to make these payments can be stressful. For one, you don’t know how to handle all your payments.

What’s more, debt collectors can be aggressive and sometimes downright intrusive. For financial assistance from qualified financial professionals like Licensed Insolvency Trustees (formerly known as bankruptcy trustees) and credit counsellors, click here for more info about the steps you can take to address and eradicate your debt. With their help, you can establish a debt recovery plan and put a stop to those debt collection calls.

Use Public Transportation

There’s an unsavory quote from the “Iron Lady” herself, Margaret Thatcher, about public transportation. She once said that, “A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure.” For many of us today who are concerned about carbon emissions and saving the planet, taking public transportation can be a smart and socially conscious way to travel.

Some cities have more established transportation systems than others, so using public transportation is relative to your location. Still, taking public transportation is an easy way to save money on transportation while also relieving yourself of the costs that comes with car ownership.

Carpool or Use a Rideshare Program

If driving makes more sense that taking public transportation, then consider alternative ways of using a car. These days, people are getting creative with the ways that they share things like cars and homes, with a boom in the sharing economy seen through recent business booms from Uber, Lyft, and AirBnB.

To cut back on the costs that come with regular car payments, insurance, parking, gas, and maintenance — try using a ride sharing program that lets you easily rent a car whenever you need it. You can also carpool with coworkers or friends and split the cost of gas with each other, another way to reduce the amount of money you spend on a car.

Change Your Cell Phone Plan

Do you really need a phone that lets you check social media every hour? Are you paying for phone series that you don’t actually need, but simply use because you have them? You can save a lot of money by going for a bare-bones cell phone plan.

Look for minor carriers with good service that offer contract-less service. After all, we’re constantly hearing about all of the ways cell phones are bad for us. Scaling back on your mobile use will save your money while improving your health and happiness, too.

3 Ways Your Restaurant Can Make More Money, Today

Angela Manning Business, Finance , , ,
3 Ways Your Restaurant Can Make More Money, Today

Restaurants today face a steep uphill battle: it’s always been a tough industry, but it’s only getting harder. Foodies have never had more choices of where to eat between the explosion of new restaurants and food trucks, so there’s a crowded field competing for their attention and food dollar.

Here are three things you can do which will help drive profit for your restaurant today.

1. Employee Scheduling Software

New employee scheduling software creates schedules all staff will love, and in up to 80% less time than it would otherwise take. This makes a frustrating task easier to perform, but also keeps your employees focused on the tasks that are most useful to the restaurant. It also helps with labor compliance, and saves your restaurant between 1-3% in labor costs, often one of the biggest financial drains restaurants face.

Employee scheduling software lets managers receive feedback from employees after every shift, so they might suggest menu pricing tips to increase your profits or other ideas that you can incorporate right away.

It’s important to let your frontline workers tell you about their perspective; they have unique and invaluable insights nobody else in your business is positioned to see. Employee scheduling software lets your staff submit their feedback anonymously if they chose, so they feel more comfortable speaking candidly.

2. Smart Promotion

Social media has given restaurants a free and powerful tool they can use to let the neighborhood and beyond know what’s going on inside their kitchen. Every restaurant is different, and how you choose to present yourself online needs to be based on your own identity and other circumstances unique to your restaurant.

But once you have your voice, it’s an invaluable tool for gaining public exposure for your restaurant. Be sure to depict your restaurant and food accurately — you don’t want people to leave your restaurant disappointed at the mismatch between your promotion and reality. On the other hand, you want to attract the people who really will love the restaurant once they’re inside it. Give them an accurate preview, so they’re motivated to try your restaurant.

3. Create a Fitting Digital Presence

The trend now for restaurants is undeniable: people are most likely to order food if they can do so through their phone or their computer. Maybe people are just used to doing everything through their phone, but whether it’s to consult a review before dining, calling or booking a reservation through a website or app, or actually ordering the food itself to your door, any restaurant is sinfully negligent if they don’t have a strong online presence.

Be sure you have a website or app that matches the needs and wants of your clientele. If you give them a means of interacting with your restaurant in the way that suits them best, you’ll love the financial return that inevitably follows.

If your restaurant can use modern technology like the latest employee scheduling software, social media, and website or an app, you’ll get the important boost your restaurant needs to stay competitive in this notoriously difficult industry.