Category: American Business News

Female construction apprentice flourishes with “best career move” to housebuilder

A 29-year-old Trainee Assistant Site Manager from Livingston says joining residential housebuilder Bellway Homes was the best career move she ever made after being named runner-up in the national housebuilder’s Apprentice of the Year Awards.

Charlie Devlin, who works for Bellway’s Scotland East division, was one of just four apprentices from across the country to be honoured in this year’s awards.

She previously worked in the outdoor industry as an instructor, but decided to make the switch to construction, embarking on an apprenticeship with Bellway in 2022.

Charlie said: “Everyone on site has been incredibly supportive and I am so grateful for all the time people have invested in helping me throughout this journey.

“I’ve learnt so many transferrable skills and there are so many opportunities to explore here at Bellway. It’s the best career move I’ve ever made.

“As with everything, there have been ups and downs – particularly as this is a completely new industry to the one I was working in before. But, I’m very driven and determined to learn as much as I can, and Bellway have done everything to support this.”

Charlie has been working at the divisional head office for the last seven months. She recently moved to the Carrington View development, Midlothian. As part of her apprenticeship, she also spends one day a week studying at West Lothian College, doing an HNC in Construction Management and is completing a SVQ Level 3 in Construction Management.

“I’m still scoping out the industry as a whole” she added. “But, I love the time I spend on site – both the Site Manager and Assistant Site Manager have embraced my enthusiasm and helped me flourish. 

“No two days are the same here on site, which is great – my days are very varied and never boring.

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How to Report Revenue on a Business Credit Card Application

⏰ Estimated read time: 4 minutes

When reporting annual revenue on a business credit card application, issuers generally want to know your verifiable gross revenue from the previous year. While it’s tempting to puff up your total or include projections, a big revenue number isn’t necessary to get approved.

Annual business income is just one factor issuers consider; most card issuers also look at your personal credit history and income. That means even new businesses with little to no revenue can qualify for one of the best business credit cards if the owner has a strong personal credit score.
Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card Credit Card
Chase

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

What is annual business revenue?

Annual business revenue is the total income your company generates over the course of a year — from products sold, services performed, fees received and interest or dividends earned — before subtracting tax deductions or operating expenses.

How to report revenue for business cards

It’s important to stick to the facts when reporting your business’ gross annual revenue on a business credit card application. But don’t sell yourself short. Here’s what to do.

  • Determine your gross annual revenue. This is your revenue before taxes and other expenses are taken out. This is different from profit, which is revenue minus costs.Gross revenue can include several sources of business income, such as selling business products and services, surplus equipment or property or even stock in your business.

  • Exclude any personal income. If you work a full-time job and sell items on eBay as a side hustle, for example, income from your full-time job shouldn’t be considered “revenue.” Instead, include it in the “income” field of the application.

  • Pull revenue from the right time frame. Your figures should be from the previous year. Generally, that means you shouldn’t be reporting sales projections as

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The 201+ best Black-owned businesses to shop in 2024

There are over three million Black-owned businesses in the United States, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau, many of which are led by talented artists, chefs, hair stylists, parents and fashion designers. Over the past few years, we interviewed dozens of Black entrepreneurs to learn about the successes and challenges they face while running their companies, and most stress that they’ve had to overcome barriers like a lack of access to capital and higher rates of financial distress compared to white-owned businesses.

But along the way, they’ve established support networks that lift them up, including passionate, loyal customers who shop from them year round, not just during Black History Month, which takes place every February. That’s in addition to efforts from nonprofits like The Fifteen Percent Pledge, which is working to get more Black-owned brands on the shelves of major retailers nationwide.

Our guide of Black-owned businesses spans across shopping categories like beauty, home and kitchen, fashion and more. We’ve also confirmed that each company is at least 51% Black-owned, the threshold required to be considered a Black-owned business, according to the Census Bureau.

SKIP AHEAD Beauty brands | Clothing & accessories brands | Food & beverage brands | Home & kitchen brands | Baby and kids brands | Bookstores and educational brands | Health & wellness brands

Black-owned beauty brands

Absolutely Everything Curly

Owner Gaby L. Longsworth founded Absolutely Everything Curly with the desire to educate people about textured hair, hair products and ingredients. The company offers a handful of downloadable hair care guides via its website, including hair products for curly-haired kids and babies, hair oils and butters and frizz fighters. 

Alodia Hair Care

Alodia’s hair care products are  with non-toxic, organic and natural ingredients, says founder Isfahan Chambers-Harris. “Alodia was [created] out of

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Revenued Business Card Review 2024

Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

The Revenued Business Card is a no-annual-fee business card that will consider approving you according to your business income (instead of your credit score). It’s great for those with low credit scores — but it will do no good in helping you build credit, as the card won’t show up on your personal credit report.

But take caution before you apply. This card’s mandatory “factor rate” fees can be a deal breaker.

Revenued Business Card

Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star

3/5


Recommended Credit

Bad to Good

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No credit history required for approval
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. Unavoidable interest charges
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. No real ongoing benefits
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. Sole proprietors are ineligible

Product Details
  • No annual fee and no draw fee
  • Includes flex line, similar to a line of credit and only pay for what you use
  • Access cash on demand with funds deposited straight into your bank account
  • Fast and easy application process – apply online and receive a funding decision in as little as an hour
  • Approvals based on your business revenue and not personal credit
  • As your revenue increases, spending limits also increase
  • Access to business
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U.S. News & World Report Ranks UNC Greensboro Among Best Online Programs

Multiple UNC Greensboro online programs have been ranked among the state’s and nation’s top 2024 Best Online Programs by U.S. News & World Report, including #1 in North Carolina for the online Bachelor’s in Business program.

UNCG receives recognition for the following online programs:

Bachelor’s in Business (Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs)

#1 in North Carolina
#38 in U.S.

Graduate Nursing (Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs)

#3 in North Carolina
#14 in U.S.

Graduate Education (Best Online Master’s in Education Programs)

#3 in North Carolina
#52 in U.S.

Graduate Information Technology (Best Online Master’s in Info Tech Programs)

#3 in North Carolina
#43 in U.S.

Graduate Business (Best Online Master’s in Business Programs)

#4 in North Carolina
#62 in U.S.

MBA (Best Online MBA Programs)

#5 in North Carolina
#86 in U.S.

Bachelor’s (Best Online Bachelor’s Programs)

#8 in North Carolina
#90 in U.S.

Three online programs are also recognized for veteran support:

Veterans-Graduate Education (Best Online Master’s in Education Programs for Veterans)

#2 in North Carolina
#15 in U.S.

Veterans-Graduate Business (Best Online Master’s in Programs for Veterans)

#3 in North Carolina
#27 in the U.S.

Veterans-Bachelor’s (Best Online Bachelors Programs for Veterans)

#4 in North Carolina
#54 in the U.S.

U.S. News evaluated schools in each category based on a variety of factors, such as student engagement, faculty credentials, and services and technologies.

“UNCG online programs have a legacy of state and national recognition, and to see this recognition yet again is a testament to the consistent, high quality of education our faculty deliver,” said Chancellor Frank Gilliam. “Equally important, these programs are known for their flexibility, helping busy students access the education they need to achieve their goals and change the trajectory of their lives. Yet another way UNCG continues to

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4 Perks Of Having Personal And Business Cards From The Same Issuer

Key takeaways

  • If you’re a business owner in the market for a business credit card, there can be benefits to getting a credit card from the same issuer as your personal card.
  • Building a positive, lasting relationship with a card issuer can lead to more credit opportunities. It also might be easier to manage multiple credit accounts in the same place.
  • Credit card rewards can often be transferred from card to card within the same issuer. That way, you can make the most of the card with the highest redemption rate.

If you’re running a retail shop, freelancing or managing another type of small business, it’s important to keep business and personal expenses separate. Many credit card issuers offer a wide span of credit card types. And you may be wondering whether to stick with the same issuer for both your personal and business card needs.

Here are a few perks of having business and personal credit cards from the same issuer:

1. Improves your chances of qualifying for a business card

Generally, banks value customers who hold several types of accounts, including savings accounts and checking accounts, car loans and home loans and a variety of credit cards. Having both a personal and business card with an issuer may help you qualify for higher credit lines, lower interest rates on other credit products and even free banking services.

The best business credit cards may require high credit scores, which can make it a challenge for a new business to be approved for a card. According to Markia Brown, Certified Financial Education Instructor behind The Money Plug, having a personal relationship with a lender can help you get approved for new accounts.

“If a consumer has established a mutually beneficial relationship with a bank or credit union, then they can

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Best Printers for Small Business of 2024: Expert Picked

Print speed: If your business relies heavily on a printer and you have multiple employees who will use it, choose one with a fast print speed. Solid printers print at around 25-30 ppm, and really fast ones can churn out pages at more than 50 ppm. Some niche printers, like sublimation printers, print much slower than that. Most businesses that don’t rely heavily on a printer will be able to get by just fine with a printer that can print at around 25 ppm.

Print quality and resolution: If you print lots of images and photos, choose a printer with a resolution of at least 1000 dpi. If you only print occasionally, all of the printers on this list can do that perfectly fine.

Connectivity and network compatibility: Most modern printers support Wi-Fi connectivity, but some only connect to a network through an Ethernet cable. If Wi-Fi is important to you, you may be able to buy a network adapter for printers that don’t have it. Some printers also work through USB or MicroSD, which can be handy for photography-focused businesses. “Ease of access is key for both employees and your tech team. Ideally, you want a device that can be paired with a cloud-based printing so after the software is loaded, your employees can print from anywhere and even install new printers on their own without waiting for the support team,” said Nathan Marshall IT Director at Prompt.

Multifunction capabilities: Most consumer-level printers support scanning, copying, and even faxing, and the same is true of many business-focused printers. Not all businesses need these features, and there are plenty of printers that will only print. But if you think you might need scanning or copying functionality, it’s worth buying a printer

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Top 11 Stocks to Buy From all 11 Sectors | Investing

In investing, a sector is a broad business category that a given company belongs to. Grouping companies, especially companies that offer stock to the public, by sector is a helpful way of sorting them into convenient groups.

There is no law or regulation that dictates the official names and criteria of sectors, but the financial industry has adopted and generally adheres to a specific set of sector groupings called the Global Industry Classification Standard, or GICS. The GICS was developed in 1999 in a joint effort between Standard & Poor’s Global and Morgan Stanley. It has been a reliable industry standard ever since.

Under the GICS there are 11 sectors. They are as follows:

Knowing a company’s sector is very useful when selecting stocks to buy and hold in an investment portfolio. Because different sectors can perform differently according to their own specific market and economic conditions, diversifying holdings among sectors can reduce the overall risk of a portfolio. In this way, sector diversification is an effective risk reduction strategy.

Unfortunately, with thousands of stocks grouped into 11 sectors, picking the right ones to buy can seem like a daunting task. Here’s a look at one top stock from each of the 11 different sectors:

SHW

Sector: Materials
Industry: Specialty chemicals

With manufacturing, distribution and retail outlets in 120 countries, SHW is a world leader in the development, production and distribution of paints, stains and coatings for retail and commercial customers.

SHW is a large-cap

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What is Inventory Management?

Inventory management is a crucial aspect of business profitability. However, many small businesses don’t effectively manage their products or materials. Some stock too little inventory, driving customers away. Other businesses overstock items just in case, causing cash flow issues.

Effective inventory management strikes a balance between these two extremes. We’ll share tips for stocking what your customers need while maintaining a solid financial position for your business.

Tips for managing your inventory

Smart inventory management techniques can increase a business’s profitability and cash flow. Consider the following 10 tips to improve your inventory management. 

1. Prioritize your inventory for better inventory management. 

Categorizing your inventory into priority groups can help you understand your ideal ordering quantities and frequencies. You can also determine which items are essential to your business but may cost more and move more slowly. 

Experts suggest segregating your inventory into A, B and C groups. 

  • A group: Items in the A group are higher-ticket items. You need fewer of these items. 
  • C group: Items in the C category are lower-cost items that turn over quickly. 
  • B group: The B group consists of in-between items. These moderately priced items move more slowly than C items but faster than A items.

2. Track all product information to manage inventory better.

Keep product information for all items in your inventory. This information should include the following: 

  • SKUs
  • Barcode data
  • Suppliers
  • Countries of origin 
  • Lot numbers

You might also consider tracking each item’s cost over time so you’re aware of factors that affect pricing, such as scarcity and seasonality.

FIFO (first in, first out) and LIFO (last in, last out) are two common ways to value inventory. FIFO aims to reduce inventory waste by selling older products first. In contrast, LIFO helps businesses with nonperishable inventory take advantage of price increases

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Delta, AmEx up card fees and add more perks

Cardholders of American Express and Delta’s six co-branded credit cards will receive new benefits and increased annual fees in changes the companies revealed Thursday.

Delta SkyMiles American Express credit cardholders can already make use of the new benefits, the companies said. 

Under the updates, people who use their co-branded cards for some Resy restaurants, certain rideshares and prepaid Delta Stays accommodations can earn annual statement credits of varying amounts depending on their card type, according to American Express. The total value of the credits range from up to $300 for Gold to $610 for Reserve Business.

The Delta Air Lines logo on a plane

A Delta Air Lines passenger plane is seen in Washington, D.C., in February 2023. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Platinum, Platinum Business, Reserve and Reserve Business card holders will get a leg up on meeting the qualifications for Silver Medallion status in Delta’s loyalty program with $2,500 medallion qualification dollars each year.

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Delta said last month customer engagement with its SkyMiles program “reached an all-time high, with record membership growth, co-brand spend and revenue from travel-adjacent services.”

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
DAL DELTA AIR LINES INC. 39.98 +0.22 +0.55%
AXP AMERICAN EXPRESS CO. 206.40 +3.21 +1.58%

In another travel-related perk, the companies have added Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America as destinations that cardholders can get companion certificates for, they said.

DELTA ADJUSTS LOYALTY PROGRAM CHANGES AFTER CUSTOMER BACKLASH

Platinum Business and Reserve Business customers will see “new everyday business spending categories” as well as an “expanded buying power” feature that gives them “flexibility to spend above their credit limit” to a point, according to American Express.

American Express logo

The logo of American Express. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson / Reuters Photos)

They add to the

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