The logistics and freight industry is worth over nine trillion dollars worldwide. This makes it an attractive avenue for scammers to make easy money. To ensure their safety, companies must take stringent measures, such as hiring reputable contractors and following security guidelines. Being aware of common freight bill frauds and how to avoid them can also help companies keep their shipments and profits safe and sound. Some common scams include: Fake load booking In many cases, the scammers work in tandem with drivers to make fake load bookings. Here, they steal the company’s identity and place it on an illegitimate truck. Since this looks legit to an outsider, customers may hand over their shipments for moving. However, this shipment then gets stolen, making one’s company look responsible for the loss. To avoid this, provide customers with proper bill details and a toll-free number so customers can verify the company’s identity. Double brokering Many companies also engage in double brokering, where goods are transferred from one freight carrier to cheaper options without any authorization. This increases the risk of losses, thefts, and delays. Companies must always be notified in case of such transfers and receive formal documentation to maintain transparent transactions.

Getting a loan is a complicated process, and with a bad credit score, the process becomes even more stressful. However, there are some ways to get a loan despite a bad credit score. There are some tips one can follow to improve one’s chances of approval or reach out to some online lenders who offer loans to people with bad credit scores. That said, here are three ways individuals with bad credit scores can obtain money. 1. Add a co-signer In some cases, having a co-signer with a better credit score can be beneficial to obtaining a loan. This means that they take equal responsibility for paying the loan back, which makes it easy to get a loan even with a bad score, as together, one’s credit score improves. It is always advised to make a repayment plan with the co-signer beforehand and ensure clear communication with this agreement. 2. Check with community credit unions Before heading to other financial institutes to check for loans on bad credit scores, one must first approach known community credit and bank unions. If the bank knows a person and their spending habits, they may offer better loan terms than other lenders despite the low credit score.

In recent years, buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps have become increasingly popular. These apps are convenient for users because they allow them to divide their purchases into equal, small payments. At times, with no interest and late fees. Users can find small and long-term financing options for various purchases. Some apps also feature loyalty programs that can be coupled with rewards, in-app purchases, and discounts to help save on purchases. Here are 5 apps one can check out: Affirm Available on both Apple and Android, Affirm is one of the most reliable BNPL apps for phones. Users can access various financing options covering a wide range of purchases. The app offers simple payment options for both small as well as big purchases. When buying via Affirm, users also get an idea about their monthly payable amount against the purchase. With its allowance for high-ticket items, Affirm is equivalent to loans that can be repaid within a set period. The platform integrates with numerous e-commerce platforms and usually has a no-late fee clause. PayPal PayPal is a popular payment gateway available globally. It has recently entered the short-term repayments market. The Pay in 4 by PayPal is a service available to the citizens of the country that distributes their purchases into 4 equal repayment amounts.

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps help save money. People often use these apps to buy expensive products while paying for them later in smaller installments. Since there are many BNPL apps out there, finding one is easy. However, individuals must pick the right option for the best benefits in the long term. Those who find it hard to decide can consider these five most popular apps to save money. Affirm With numerous BNPL plans, Affirm is a top choice among those looking to save big. Its standard pay-in-four plan with zero interest is particularly popular among shoppers. Aside from this, monthly plans such as three-, six-, 12-, and 60-month repayment plans are also available. All of these have interest rates ranging from 0% to 36% APR. Besides, the app has partnerships with some of the most significant online and offline retailers, which makes it more attractive to consumers. The best part is that one does not have to pay fees to use Affirm! Sezzle Sezzle is great for those looking for BNPL apps that offer flexible payment plans. It lets customers push payments and get two extra weeks to pay back. Moreover, the first reschedule for every order costs practically $0.

Nearly all payroll mistakes are caused by incorrect data and poor communication. While these mistakes may seem trivial and correctable, they can have serious legal consequences for employers. In some instances, businesses may also have to shell out money for fines and penalties, affecting their profits. Below are the top four payroll mistakes to avoid. One can easily avoid these errors by being more careful and taking specific preventive measures. Misclassifying employees and contractors Full-time employees must never be mixed up with contracted, freelance individuals. Errors like these can cause payments to be docked incorrectly. Because of that, employers may have to look through old payment records to adjust employee salaries. More often than not, discrepancies in salary result in dissent among employees and, subsequently, staff shrinkage. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), full-time employees who work over 40 hours a week must receive overtime pay. Any errors in employee classification can result in FLSA-related fines for businesses. Maintaining accurate records of an employee’s status is the easiest way to avoid trouble. Employers must also check and verify their records periodically. Making calculation mistakes Calculation mistakes have a cascading effect on both employees and employers. A simple calculation error can cause an employee’s income to decrease steadily if not corrected in the first instance.

Accounting software helps one track how money moves in and out of the small business. Using the tool will help keep detailed financial records so that one can better deal with tax season. However, developers can make multiple mistakes when designing accounting software, which could carry various business risks and even loss of profit. Learning about these five failures in accounting software may help one better deal with such complications. Using outdated software Some businesses may use outdated accounting software because it may save them costs to upgrade to the latest versions. However, this could lead to delays in reporting, a higher volume of financial errors, and inaccurate data analysis. Older software may also lack critical features, including automated data entry, financial planning, and reconciliation. This will require more manual work, which will take up more energy and time. One should always use the latest version of accounting software for best results. If a developer fails to offer timely updates, one ought to consider switching to a more reliable option. No integration abilities While accounting software may come with the latest features, it might only be efficient if it can integrate other software utilized by the business. One might need to manually enter the data into the system, which may result in inconsistencies and errors.

At a time when property prices are skyrocketing, real estate investment is a lucrative decision because the value of a well-invested property is most likely to appreciate. There is a rising trend of people purchasing properties not just to stay there but as a long-term plan to gain a steady income. However, buying property is a major decision, so one needs to beware of certain common mistakes when investing in real estate: Not having a definite investment goal Like any other investment, one also needs to have a definite goal when investing in real estate. The objective should be concrete, such as receiving a specific amount of fixed income by leasing out the property, letting it out as a vacation home, staying in the house, and letting out a part of it as a paying guest accommodation, etc. One should be clear about the purpose of the property once it is bought. Choosing property at the wrong location Where one’s property should be located largely depends on the purpose of buying it. For example, if one plans to rent it out, buying a house in a prime or emerging area in the city makes sense, which can provide one with sufficient rental income.

Online trading is one of the easiest way s to invest money. People can make a lot of quick money in the stock market if they invest in certain stocks at the right time and sell their shares at the right time. Those who are new to stock trading and online stock trading can use a few tried-and-tested tips to increase their income through the stock market. Tips for beginners 1. Selecting the right online broker As anyone with experience investing in the traditional stock market will attest, the broker plays a key role in the buying and selling process of shares. This is why beginner investors must choose an online broker with all the support and tools to match their needs and help them quickly get their money in or out of the stock market without taking out a large commission. Essentially, beginner traders must choose brokers prioritizing customer support, trade minimums, educational resources, and account management. Online broker platforms, where everything is streamlined, easy to navigate, and has the scope of teaching novice traders something new, can be invaluable for beginners. In the digital age, brokers may no longer be people but instead apps. Choosing between these trading apps must be done based on their experience, reputation, credibility with clients, and a sense that they will always keep things transparent and communicative for beginner traders.

While many individuals grow up understanding the importance of savings in financial security, unplanned emergencies can arise, leaving them in need of urgent funds. When facing situations like home repairs or health emergencies, cash loans emerge as a convenient solution. But before one signs any agreement related to cash loans, it is important to learn about the borrowing process and its associated factors in detail to make informed decisions regarding one’s financial security. Determine how much is needed One of the most common mistakes people make is borrowing more than they require. For instance, if one only needs $5000, they take $10,000 as a cash loan only because it’s available. While this could help have additional funds at the ready, one should remember that the more they take out, the higher the interest rate on the loan. So, it is advised to take only the amount one needs. Take time with research It is easy to rush into taking a cash loan during an emergency. But to get the best offer, one must always take and do the necessary research. The first option on the internet may or may not be the best choice. The person taking the cash loan must thoroughly consider various lenders and narrow the options before making a final decision.

Entrepreneurs who want to turn their ideas into full-blown, successful ventures often look for grants to make that happen. As rewarding as applying for a grant can be, many applicants face pitfalls that can diminish their chances of securing funding. Additionally , with many individuals applying for grants , the process has become highly competitive. This also means that aspiring entrepreneurs cannot afford to make mistakes during the application process that could jeopardize their chances of success. Poor research When applying for a grant, one needs to do thorough research on potential lenders, including their priorities and requirements. Applying for grants that are not aligned with the organizational goals, needs, and values should be avoided. As an aspiring entrepreneur, it’s important to steer clear of funding partners with unrealistic or incompatible expectations. Doing adequate research will help increase one’s chances of securing funding. Failing to include supporting documents When one applies for a grant it is important to include supporting evidence to back any business idea. If one is unable to provide the documentation necessary to confirm and validate the proposal, grant reviewers may not consider the application. Not introducing oneself and the venture It is a common mistake to assume that the funder has read about the venture before speaking to the potential entrepreneur.