Tag: entrepreneurship

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Protect Yourself: Spotting Warning Signs of Misleading Employee Retention Scams

In recent years, employee retention scams have become increasingly prevalent, targeting individuals unaware of the warning signs. These scams can cause financial loss and lead to improper filing of claims. To protect yourself and your hard-earned money, it is crucial to identify these misleading schemes and take simple yet effective steps to avoid falling victim to them. This blog will discuss some common warning signs of employee retention scams and provide practical tips to prevent improperly filing claims.

Unsolicited Communication:

One of the most apparent warning signs of a potential scam is receiving unsolicited communication. Scammers often contact individuals via phone calls, emails, or even social media, claiming to be from a government agency or a company offering employee retention benefits. Be cautious if you receive such messages out of the blue, and always verify the source’s legitimacy before sharing any personal or financial information.

Requests for Personal Information:

Through unsolicited communications, legitimate organizations will never ask for personal or financial information, such as your social security number, bank account details, or credit card information. Scammers, on the other hand, may try to extract this information under the pretense of processing employee retention benefits. Remember, guarding your personal information and only sharing it with trusted sources is essential.

High-Pressure Tactics:

Scammers often use high-pressure tactics to push individuals into making hasty decisions. They might create a sense of urgency by stating that you must act immediately to secure employee retention benefits. Legitimate programs typically provide ample time and resources for individuals to understand and apply for benefits. If you feel rushed or pressured, take a step back and verify the information independently.

Upfront Fees or Payment Requests:

Another red flag to watch out for is any upfront fee or payment request. Legitimate employee retention programs do not require individuals to pay anything in advance to receive benefits. Scammers may ask for processing fees or claim that payment is necessary to expedite your claim. Avoid providing any financial information or making payments unless you are certain of the program’s legitimacy.

Lack of Official Documentation:

When dealing with employee retention benefits, always expect official documentation. Legitimate programs will provide you with written materials, application forms, and clear instructions on proceeding. If the communication you receive lacks proper documentation or seems unprofessional, it’s a sign that something might be amiss. Request official documentation or contact the organization directly to verify the program’s authenticity.

Simple Steps to Avoid Improperly Filing Claims:

  1. Educate Yourself: Stay informed about legitimate employee retention programs and processes. Be aware of the official channels through which you can apply for benefits, and regularly check reliable sources for updates.

  2. Verify the Source: Before engaging with any communication claiming to be related to employee retention benefits, verify the source independently. Look up official contact information for the organization or government agency in question and reach out directly to confirm the legitimacy of the communication.

  3. Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Communication: Treat unsolicited communication with caution. If you receive an unexpected call or email regarding employee retention benefits, do not immediately provide any personal or financial information. Instead, conduct your own research and contact the organization using official channels.

  4. Consult with Experts: If you have doubts or concerns about the legitimacy of an employee retention program, seek advice from professionals or legal experts who specialize in employment law. They can provide guidance and help you navigate through the process correctly.

In conclusion, Protecting yourself from misleading employee retention scams and avoiding improper claims requires vigilance, skepticism, and informed decision-making. By staying aware of the warning signs discussed in this blog and following

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Mastering the Art of the First Impression

At National Tax Office, we want to put all our entrepreneur clients on the right track when starting a successful business. Since you’ll be meeting with potential clients of your own, one of the most critical things you need to keep in mind is the importance of a first impression. A first impression can make or break a visit with a client. A good entrepreneur will want to give off a feeling of confidence and competence to potential clients. Here are a few tips that you should follow if you want to make your business a success.

Start with a Firm Handshake

First meetings in professional relationships often start off with a handshake. When shaking hands, make sure to use a firm, complete grip and maintain eye contact. A loose, wimpy handshake can signify weakness. A firm handshake indicates to many people that you’re confident, trustworthy, and you have leadership qualities.

Be Courteous

You should always meet any potential client with courtesy and respect. Although most people know about this and try to be courteous, a person can be discourteous without even realizing it. One of the most discourteous things you can do is to constantly check your phone. Whether it’s to send a text or even just to check your mail, it sends a message to a client that you have more important things to do.

Use Positive Body Language

Just like how a good handshake can indicate favorable factors about you, using positive body language can do the same. Make sure your expressions and gestures remain positive. Keep a friendly tone of voice while you’re speaking. Also, maintain eye contact with your client while either of you are talking.

Be an Active Listener

Instead of spending more time thinking about what you’re going to say, make sure to actually listen when your potential clients speak. Don’t interrupt; listen to everything a client says. Also, be sure to ask questions to show that you’re paying attention and you’re interested in the conversation that’s going on.

Humanize Your Conversations

This is something that many professionals and businessmen can forget. Don’t be too stiff. Try to find some common ground in a topic that can be fun for you both (though taxes can be fun too!). Taking a few minutes to befriend and make a connection will go a long way toward turning your potential client into a client.

Contact Us Today!

For the entrepreneur who has paid attention and adhered to the tips, you’re one step closer to gaining the trust of your client and gaining repeat business. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or by phone at (844) 686-1040. We hope to hear from you soon!

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How Diet Affects Your Work

Entrepreneurs are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and productivity, and if you fit this description, we’ll bet you’ve read countless books, articles, and blog posts on the newest way to enhance your work output. But while you may be up to your eyeballs in time tracking systems and organization tools, there’s one productivity hack we bet you’re not considering: your food.

More Than Just Fuel

For most of us – particularly busy workaholics – food is just fuel. We prepare it (or, more likely, purchase it) and eat it as quickly as we can, eager to get our midday fix and get on back to work. But that’s a flawed analogy, because food gives us more than just energy. Food is literally how the body creates itself on a continual basis, and this constant process of remaking has a big impact on our productivity.

All food is eventually metabolized into glucose, which our brains and cells burn to create energy and keep going. But that metabolizing happens at different rates. For high carb foods, it happens all at once, giving us a boost of energy followed by a crash. For high fat foods, it’s more of a slow burn – but they make our digestive tract work harder, leading to lower brain oxygen levels and a feeling of grogginess. Healthier foods with more lean protein and omega-3 fats lend themselves to a sustained, well-timed release of energy, leaving you motivated, curious, engaged, and productive throughout the entire day.

Contact Your Tax Preparation Business Partners

Once you’ve got your diet optimized for success and are ready to get to work owning your own business, we’re here to help. If you have questions on how National Tax Office can help you start your own tax preparation business, feel free to call us at 844.686.1040, read up on our FAQ, or reach out to us at our contact page with any questions. We can’t wait to hear from you, and we look forward to helping you live the dream of owning your own business.

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5 Things Wealthy Entrepreneurs Do on a Daily Basis

Tips for Entrepreneurship Success Beyond Managing Money Well

Successful entrepreneurs experience success because they visualize and set goals and then follow that up with actions steps that take them closer to achieving those goals. Additionally, most successful people set themselves up for success through preparation and discipline.  Being able to manage finances is essential for success as well. A great entrepreneur has a budget that they stick to, they invest money wisely, have an emergency fund and are constantly looking for new opportunities for financial success and stability. Here are other tips and tricks that successful individuals practice daily and cost NOTHING.

1. Wake Up Early & Meditate

There’s a saying that goes, “The early bird, catches the worm” and this is so true amongst successful entrepreneurs. Early risers start their days ahead of everyone else and are able to naturally making their day more productive than others. Beyond that, they couple waking up early with a good nights rest and meditation. Taking care of your body and mind through relaxation, regular exercise and healthy eating are essential for improving the chances you will achieve success. Entrepreneurs that practice taking care of their mind, body and soul, tend to be overall happier and can achieve their goals faster than an average person.

2. Network! Network! Network!

Networking is very important to get ahead in life even more today than it was back in the day for Hendry Ford. Networking has a way of connecting people in different ways. Successful entrepreneurs who network are more innovative. Additionally, it is a great way to expand your circle of “go to” people to bounce ideas of off, give and gain advice as well open up avenues for new or different opportunities. Entrepreneurs that network tend to be sincere in helping others succeed and are said to rarely complain or be critical. Entrepreneurs know that for them to succeed, they also need to help others succeed. Network is the best way to meet others and become successful.

3. Entrepreneurs Know When To Say, “NO”

Saying yes to everyone or to everything can cause a person to lose site of their goals and distract them from being able to cross things off of their task list. Successful entrepreneurs are able to say no to things that can steer them away from their path to success. Types of activities successful entrepreneurs say “no” to include:

  • Activities that are a waste of time
  • Extra work
  • Negativity and others

By doing this and knowing when to say no, they are able to focus on increasing their productivity and getting closer to their success goals.

4. Create a To-Do List & Keep Busy

A successful entrepreneur never starts their day without knowing what they have to do that day. Before going to bed, they create a “to-do list” for the next day. Determine the priority level of each task and use it as a guide for the day. Entrepreneurs who are successful are rarely idle; they work anywhere between 60-100 hours per week. That may seem like a lot, but it is what’s necessary to be successful.

5. Keep the TV Off & Read More

Did you know that 85% of wealthy people love to read and 88% of those spend 30 minutes or more a day reading a book that is geared to self-improvement? Successful entrepreneurs keep their eye on growth: financial, personal and network growth. As you grow, so does your level of success.

If you own your own tax preparation business, National Tax Office has the tools to help you become a successful entrepreneur! You don’t have to do it alone. Contact us at 844.686.1040 and lets get you and your business on the right track to success!

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Why Do We Procrastinate?

Everyone has been in the situation where you have to get something done, but then you convince yourself to put it off, even if you had the time to do it right in that moment.  Procrastination is just something that we have a tendency to do, but where did this tendency come from? Why are our brains more inclined to do something later than now?

The Reason Behind Slacking Off

The reason lies in the distinction that we each place upon our present selves and our future selves. In our minds, we tend to value our present self more than our future self, and with this comes the desire to enjoy immediate rewards that benefit our present self.  Of course, those immediate rewards can leave our future self overloaded with work or dealing with a whole mess of problems due to our present self not considering the long-term consequences.

You can look back at any moment that you procrastinated and see the battle between your present and future self.  Let’s say you had some work that you needed to finish but the deadline was a few days away, so you decide to procrastinate and relax instead.  The immediate benefits may be that you could do something fun and enjoyable, but the long term cost is that you are stressed, pressed for time, and even have more work on your plate to finish when that deadline finally rolls around.

How To Combat Procrastination

If you want to break free of your procrastination habits, it may be difficult, but it is possible.  The key to beating procrastination is to make your present self place more value on your future self so that you’re more inclined to make choices with long-term benefits. To achieve this, there are three options that help you, but they do require a high level of self-discipline. 

Make Long-Term Behavior Have Immediate Rewards

While the actual long-term benefits of your choices are far off, you can come up with a way to reward yourself for making that choice.  Whether it’s rewarding yourself by doing something you like (that doesn’t counteract the long term benefit of course), or even just visualizing yourself enjoying those benefits.  Even the process of imagining your future self being better off because of your hard work in the moment can help you feel more immediate satisfaction.  For example, after finishing your work today even if it’s due in a week, imagine yourself having a stress-free day later.

Create Immediate Consequences For Procrastinating

When we procrastinate, our present self usually doesn’t have to deal with any consequences.  In order to convince ourselves to not procrastinate, we need to make it so that we realize the gravity of our choice in the moment.  While it requires a lot of discipline, you need to set consequences that would deter you from procrastinating.  Some examples would be making bets with yourself, like each day you put off your work, you put $20 in a jar.  You can even bring friends or co-workers in for help, with them checking in on your progress and ensuring that you’re not slacking off.

Avoid Causes Of Procrastination

There are countless things that can distract us and prevent us from getting our work done. It’s up to you to try and remove yourself from situations or things that can be distracting so you can focus and work efficiently.  Things like shutting off your phone or finding a quiet place to work will put you in a better environment that encourages work instead of procrastination

Stop Procrastinating A Become Your Own Boss

If you’re an entrepreneur and you want to start your own business, it’s about time you stop procrastinating too. With National Tax Office, we make it easy for you to become your own boss, and open up your own successful tax preparation business.  Don’t procrastinate making this positive change in your life, since all you need to do is contact us to get more information.