Author: keepamerica
Keep America Affordable

6 Low-Cost Businesses You Can Start in America

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Starting a business is a good investment and a perfect way to be your own boss.

Once your startup becomes stable, it’s bound to be profitable. However, before your business becomes stable and begins to consistently bring in a lot of profit, you’re bound to experience some challenges.

When starting a business, some challenges you’re bound to face include:

  • Finding the right store in a strategic location
  • Choosing the right niche
  • Attracting and retaining customers
  • Finding adequate capital for operating your business until it becomes stable.

With these in mind, go through various business ideas and choose what seems more viable in your situation and location.

If you’re short of funds and still need to start a business, opt for low-cost business ideas that require little to no funds to start. They range from an ecommerce business to running physical stores.

But…

Online businesses are the most cost-effective to start and operate. Here’re six low-cost businesses you can start in America:

  • Graphic design
  • Fashion business
  • Teaching music
  • Writing business
  • A food business in the hospitality industry
  • Landscaping business

Top 6 Businesses You Can Start in the U.S with Little to No Funds

  1. Graphic design

You need software for designs and a computer to begin a graphics and design business. If you want it to be more flexible, you can use your laptop.

Graphic design is a good business for creative people. You can be a freelancer and design for people to make a living. It’s relatively cheap to start, and once you’ve gained some customers, you can make enough profit out of it.

Most businesses in the current era have gone digital, increasing the demand for graphic design services. This also increases the number of customers you can target.

  • Fashion business

A fashion business can also do well because everyone wears clothes. You only need a good strategy to attract customers. It’s also important to develop interest and passion for fashion to understand the market.

To create a brand that can satisfy your customers’ needs, work on improving your creativity and fashion design skills. In America, most people love fashion; they’re always looking out for the latest trends in wear.

You don’t have to start big with this kind of business. You can get stock with the little funds you have and grow your business. Therefore, once you’ve understood what people like, your business is likely to boom.

  • Teaching music

You must be talented in singing or know how to play an instrument to teach others music. Since the business is solely dependent on your skills, you may not need any capital to begin this kind of business.

Most American culture revolves around music, meaning that if you can offer excellent teaching services, you’re bound to make a good profit.

If you possess good music and teaching skills, and know how to play instruments, you’re in a position to start a music school or online teaching classes. You probably own at least one instrument, hence only need to step up and venture into the new world of business.

Just be creative to make a good music teacher.

  • Writing business

Talented writers have the advantage of using their skills to make money. You need good writing skills and a computer to offer content or copywriting services. You can either be an employed writer or a freelance writer.

Talented writers can write blogs or articles for companies. You can also decide to venture into writing books that you can promote to earn a living. The costs for starting a writing business are relatively low compared to many other businesses.

  • Food business in the hospitality industry

America is home to many successful food businesses. You can easily save some money to start a restaurant or any other business that deals with food. Food is a basic need, and with a growing population, customers increase daily.

You can specialize in offering grilling or barbecue services to different kinds of clients, including those hosting parties. Make sure that you prepare the best grilled meats and veggies to keep your customers coming back.

You’ll need the best grill to offer unmatched barbecue services. But, with all kinds of grills out there, picking a good one can be difficult. Shop around and choose from the most popular grill brand.

  • Landscaping

Landscaping is a well-paying business in America. Most homeowners either don’t have time to care for their lawns and gardens, or simply lack the tools and skills needed to do so.

With the right skills and tools, you can be a landscaper without breaking the bank to begin the business. Simply find out a client’s preferred design, vegetation, existing soil types, and safe environmental use.

Conclusion

Despite the imminent challenges of running a business, you can establish a successful business empire without spending so much on startups. Check out the business ideas above.
Affordable Business Idea

How Affordable Is It For Entrepreneurs To Start a Welding Business in America?

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America has a shortage of skilled welders. With the rise in pre-fabricated buildings and the innovations in machines, more skilled welders are needed. Even with the shortage of welders, welding machines have improved a great deal to make precision welding easier. Those willing to learn to weld in America will find the learning curve much less intense with new MIG and TIG welders and plasma cutters, among others.

Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the market gap and start a welding business. The business involves repairs, restoration, building metal-based items, and much more. A welder and fabricator offer services such as flux core welding, plasma cutting, aluminum welding, metal fabrication, and dump truck box repair, among others. In short, you are tasked with fixing most of the things made of metal.  

How Much Will You Spend to Start Your Business?

A basic welding business will cost you at least $5,000. Here, you will only purchase a basic welder and a few tools to do repairs and simple structures for people in your local area. However, if you need to start a large business, buy steel, and perhaps hire a few people, you will need $50,000 upwards.

The cost of starting a business is dependent on the type of business you want to start. Here is a further breakdown of the figures above:

Local Welding Repair Shop

For a simple repair shop, you do not need employees as you can handle most of the work that comes in. For such a shop, you will need:

  • A welder – This might cost you between $2,000 and $3,000. Because you may not have a shop yet, buy a portable welder.
  • Tools – Welding tools come in handy if you are to create stellar welds. Start with a welding helmet to use at home or away. Then get gloves, vise grips, hammer, hand grinder, and wrenches. These tools will cost you about $1,000.
  • You might need a truck or a small shop to get started. If you have a truck already, then you are good to go. Depending on your budget, choose which will be more appropriate for you.

Welding Contractors

A welding contractor is someone who is skilled in MIG, TIG, and Stick welding. You also need a license to start operating as a contractor. As a contractor, you will work with companies to fix pipelines, fix fleets of boats or cars, and do much more. You might earn up to $100 per hour. To start such a business, you need:

  • Welder and tools – These will cost you more than $5,000, depending on the welder you choose. You might want to go for a more industrial welder.
  • License – While the license will not cost you, you need a certification from a recognized school. The cost varies from one school to the next, and you might end up paying $17,000 for a certificate.
  • Vehicle – You need a truck to get around and carry your tools. You might already have a truck – if you do not and your budget doesn’t allow you to buy one, you can start by hiring one.

B2B Welding Business

As a B2B business, you will be working for other businesses that need welding services. You can work for automakers such as GM and Ford. It would help if you bid the tenders to build racks or any other parts for these automakers.

To start this kind of business, you need:

  • Equipment – These could cost you more than $100,000 as you need more than one welder, grinders, bank saws, shears, forklifts, tools, and a break. The number of tools you need depends on the size of your business.
  • A shop – Because you cannot operate from home, a decent shop will cost you about $150,000. You can put up a shop (which might be expensive for a startup), or you can rent until you are able to build your shop.
  • Employees – If you hire two employees, you will spend about $75,000 a year paying them $18 an hour.

You might end up spending $500,000.

Once you have set up a welding shop, you will still need to pay for ongoing costs such as insurance, welding supplies (such as welding wire, gas, gloves, lenses, and tips), employees, steel, legal advice, taxes, and accounting. These ongoing costs can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars year.

Choose the business size you need to start (based on your budget), and let’s make America great.
Economy War

Is there an Economic Power War Between China and the US?

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The trade war between China and the United States is all about who should be the current superpower. These are economies that the whole world depends on. No nation wants to be seen as inferior in terms of national development or economic base.

It explains the reason why they ever produce innovative products and services just to outdo the other. It has reached a point where the origin of a commodity dictates its quality. China is known for substandard products, especially the ones that reach the African market (affordability).

As much as it has worked to its advantage- dictating the African economy- the developed nations have since rejected their goods.

According to BBC, the bitter trade war got to its worst state to a point. There were hefty tariffs on goods from either of the countries. As much as there was a trade deal between the two to bury their trade differences. It was all an exercise in futility.

What were the reasons for the tariffs?

  • Americans did this to promote their good
  • China did it to prevent goods from America from landing in their country
  • It is an avenue to bring the two economies to a round table
  • A show-off on how a country is self-sustainable
  • To enrich the United States

It was evident that the war between these large economies was not going to end anytime soon. At the same time, the two suffered. The American multinationals could not access the Chinese market and vice versa. At the beginning of the year, they were no option but to sign a trade deal as a sign of ending the war.

What is the trade agreement meant to achieve?

  • Open the markets for maximum savings
  • Allow more revenue for both countries
  • Opens more social and cultural ties between the two warring countries
  • Share ideas on development agenda

What caused the enmity between China and America?

The current US president felt that China had unfair trade practices-like cheap goods; besides he looked at the country as a way of misusing intellectual property to misuse its trade ties. The only way was not to block them from any further business transactions through the tariffs which backfired.

Take note, Trump was a renowned businessman who controlled a high percentage of the market share in the US economy. He understands too well the impact it had on his business when he wanted to expand his market to the Asian continent.

His election as the president was a platform for a payback time not knowing that he holds the business progression of other business owners crucial to build his legacy in politics. There were mixed reactions among the legislative assembly of the United States. The Chinese government was also proud to beg for economic ties instead beat the United States economically? Have you been beaten in your own game?

Chinese trade plan against US business moves

The technology was one area the two economies were looking for dominance. The Chinese made sure they had all American products and made “replica” with no option for patent and copyrights protection- one of the conditions before the trade war was signed. It worked for the Chinese government, although with the emerging economies.

The US never realized that they also import energy products from the Asian continent? What did the Chinese do? They made a trade deal with the Arab countries- the main oil producers to the point that the Americans had no control of the oil reserves. Who lost in the long run- the US business community?

What prompted the signing of the trade agreement?

  • The US economy suffered to an extent there was a drop in the GDP
  • Emerging Economies preferred to work with the Chinese government making the US the losing partner
  • Other mini superpowers also denied trade ties with the US – a trade protest
  • The Chinese needed to work with the US to gain in the technology industry
  • Most developing economies sought grants from China making the US the looser
  • Simple- to humble the self-proclaimed superpowers

The current situation

We can say that the war brought a win-win situation between the two countries. If you are looking for benchmark opportunities in two countries, then China and the US top the list. Business critics feel that the relationship is neither good nor bad since each of them has something to gain from international ties.

This is common because they also have a conflict of interest in politics and security docket. Some countries like Beijing were to follow suit based on the agreement of the two economies.

Business experts feel that it was wise for the two to agree since there was going to be a serious economic gap between developing and developed countries- the main battleground was- the emerging economies.
Financial Plans

7 Financial Backup Plans for Entrepreneurs

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Your employees need a pay rise; the business is running at a loss; the computers need a quick service; your competitors are almost putting you out of business; the list is endless.

These are some of the challenges entrepreneurs experience in a bid to break even in their investments. Some are within your control, while others need a long-term strategy for business success.

They are challenges simply because you are running out of funds to keep the business afloat. A proper financial backup plan to solve all these emerging issues is significant. However, there are cases like the Chinese Corona Virus Outbreak that are entirely out of control.

Here we want to focus on the challenges and the financial backup solutions ideal for entrepreneurs in both start-ups and multinationals.

  1. Save during the peak season

You do not experience a financial strain at all times -there are good times too. Save the vast profits to keep you buoyant during the harsh economic times. It is not the time to use them for growth unless it has fast advantages, and you are sure of their sustainability.

Your annual business turnover provides a clear picture of the peak times. It comes in handy to make you have the best plans before these lucrative moments. It is time to add more goods now to maximize profits.

 For example, in the hospitality industry, the festive seasons are considered the peak time. Get more casual employees to maximize the guest invasion. It means more income; you will need it when you have a low influx of both local and international tourists.

  1. Consider a business line of credit

You cannot wait for the peak season to repair the computers. What happens to stocktaking and overall day to day activities? When there is a new technology in the market, this is an emerging expense that you cannot afford to ignore lest you stay out of business.

It is time to consider a temporary loan that you can comfortably pay. A business credit which enhances business growth is vital. It should not just affect the overall running of the business in the name of servicing the loan.

  1. Diversify the business

The best financial plan is to look at other business aspects in line with the primary investment. Look at a technology business. It is a significant component of numerous business options. Are you developing gaming software?

You know why not diversify and design software for businesses. Moreover, it widens your business income. Many sources of income complement each other to maintain the leading enterprise.

  1. Engage a financial strategist

You are the vision bearer of the business. You cannot be an expert in everything. It explains the role of employees with different skills in a company. Do you know why people employ resident financial analyst? Their work mainly checks on the trends in the business finances. They detect a change in the financial system, which can be detrimental to the business. Start-ups may not afford them, but still, they benefit from their services.

Get a financial strategist to have a brief overview of your income/expenditure and advise on the best business course. Their role includes information on

  1. Seek business financial solutions for your employees

Employees play a significant role in moving the business to the next level. They are demanding a pay rise. They are right for they “think” the company is making more profits. It is time to engage them in round table talk. Take them through how the company runs.

Get ideas from them since they directly deal with the clients. Understand what works for the company or not? Gear the talk towards getting the best financial solutions relevant to the business. These are experts whom you cannot underrate their skills.

  1. Evaluate your current financial state

Your financial strain in the business could be an internal or an external problem. Some of the questions to ask yourself include:

  • Are you working within the budget?
  • Do you have unnecessary expenditure?
  • Are there any cost-cutting ventures you can explore?
  • Can you diversity the income for more profits?

You have a chance to run a financial SWOT analysis to avoid a business flop. These check on the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and threats that affect the business.

A case study of water softeners in America indicates that most households use soft water despite the negative impact on kitchen appliances. The demand is high compared to the supply.

As you get to such a business, you cannot say the company automatically performs. It needs a proper business plan to get roots in the market and control a percentage of the market share.

  1. Reconsider your annual budget      

The close of the financial year is an eye-opener for most businesses. The business indicators prove whether you are making losses or profits. In the case of benefits, then enhance the business strategies to get more in the coming year.

It is a loss; then, it is time to cut down on unnecessary expenses. Review any business strategies that lead to an increase in the profit margins. Every business must make profits. Otherwise, it is time to close the shops.

In conclusion

Every business has a financial strain in one way or the other. Entrepreneurs must have a financial backup plan to sustain the market in such tough economic times. You cannot ignore government policies in this.

Tax and legal documentation can also cause a financial challenge to your investment. Why not look at what works for you to remain relevant in the business environment?
Affordability

The Most Affordable Regent Water Softener for Entrepreneurs Home

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Water is a basic commodity that is widely used at home and in commercial enterprises. Any shortage of it can be fatal if not global news. Not all waters are safe for use, you must make sure that the water has a clean bill of health for consumption. Natural water sources have minerals that make them hard water. It has many disadvantages which include reaction to other liquids as well as toxicities of the body. This is the reason why it is important to have a water softener at home. Entrepreneurs are busy individuals that may not have all the time to run due diligence on the most affordable water softener available in the market.

The bets salt softeners include

· Salt-free softeners
· Reverse osmosis softeners
· Ion exchange softeners
· Magnetic softeners
· Regent water softener

The salt-free softeners use a filtration method whereby the ions are separated by a mineral that is in a higher reactivity series. This is a simple method of softening water. Its limitation is only that for the hard water that has a high concentration of ions then you may not get 100 percent results. The rest of the softening method uses a chemical process through a semi-permeable membrane. Even the water treatment plants use this method for water softening.

Why should an entrepreneur invest in a water softener?

Saves time and money

When you compare hard water and soft water for use; you will notice that hard water take time to even clean utensils. It means that it has to form layers as a result of the high concentration of the ions. The overall effect is a huge amount of water used even simple tasks. The power bill you spend on the same task as soft water is high. Save money by using soft water.

Uses less soap

When cleaning, you notice that you need a lot of soap t make the water easy to use. In this sense, you notice that by the use of a water softener regeneration steps you reduce the amount of soap which also reduces the money you spend on the soap in a month.

Reduces the power bills

Water heaters are common in most households of an entrepreneur sue to the health benefits of hot water. You will need a lot of power to heat hard water as compared to soft water. Most of the treatment plants that supply water to households incorporate the water softener in the process of water supply to save on power bills.

Efficiency and effectiveness on the water heating systems

Remember hard water has ore chemicals within the water molecules. The water systems whether the plastic or metal will react when there is the prolonged use of hard water. No entrepreneur will want to spend money on maintenance costs when there is an option of using a water softener to reduce the bills.

A water softener is a must-have kit for all entrepreneurs since this is a group that is particular when it comes to cost-saving strategy. Moreover, it is also ideal to make sure they have good health to go on their businesses as usual.

Affordability

Affordability of Genesis and Fleck Twin Tank Water Softener in America

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The demand for soft water has been on the rise every day all throughout the world. This can be attributed to the fact that salty water has brought about various disadvantages to many households as they reduce the lifespan and efficiency of appliances. America being one of the leading continents in terms of development and technology is on the forefront in the acquisition and manufacturing of water softeners. Soft water is a very crucial resource that serves various fields. People from all levels of life ranging from a low, medium and high class are all in need of soft water. However, the affordability of the genesis and fleck twin tanks water softeners is the area of concern for the majority of individuals. This article specifically looks into the affordability of such appliances in America.

First and foremost, it’s important to know that the affordability any good appliance depends on its quality. Although nearly all water softeners made in America are of the best standard, there is definitely those that are specifically meant to meet the requirements of low-income earners. To begin with, the whirlpool fleck water softeners are the most affordable water softeners in America. For those willing to import or buy water softeners, then this type is the most affordable. It’s commonly known as fleck 9100 twin tank. https://watersofteners.reviews/best-twin-tank/

First and foremost, it’s important to know that the affordability any good appliance depends on its quality. Although nearly all water softeners made in America are of the best standard, there is definitely those that are specifically meant to meet the requirements of low-income earners. To begin with, the whirlpool fleck water softeners are the most affordable water softeners in America. For those willing to import or buy water softeners, then this type is the most affordable. It’s commonly known as fleck 9100 twin tank. https://watersofteners.reviews/best-twin-tank/

Apparently, Fleck 9100 is on high demand since it contains two tanks whereby one tank is easily available to act as a supplement and a backup when the water in the first tank is used up. It ensures that soft water is provided to the users whenever they need it.

Additionally, it has a high capacity which enables it to store a lot of soft water. It only goes for about $524 which is a pocket-friendly amount for anyone willing to acquire the best product.

Secondly, NUVO H20 is another type of the twin tank water softener series that is very affordable. It uses the most developed revolutionary technology in softening salty water by lowering its pH to the required levels. In terms of affordability, a single package of this genesis water softener comes with a mounting bracket, housing wrench, and screws. This is very cost effective for the user simply because they can repair and give their product a new look without incurring extra charges. Nonetheless, it requires no electricity to function which cuts on the household expenditure. In terms of pricing, it goes for about $574 which slightly higher than the fleck 9100.

The NUVO series is the most affordable Genesis and Fleck Twin tank water softener valuable for you Acquiring this appliance will ensure that the lifespan of your water heater increases. For those living outside America, deliveries at usually made to your doorstep once you have purchased it. Consequently, it’s even much easier for the American citizens to have such appliances since the company agents and suppliers are always available around your vicinity to serve you. Therefore, the affordability of the Genesis and fleck twin tank water softeners in America is relatively low.

Affordability

Affordability of Mig Welders in America

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Most homes have a lot of metal hardware like grills, windows, gates and if frequent repairs are required, it is cheaper for the homeowner to do the repair work himself instead of hiring the services of a welder. In this case, it is advisable to purchase a MIG welder, so that the repair work can be done at home at a low cost. Homeowners usually have a limited budget for their home repairs, and they are looking for information with the title: Affordability of MIG Welders in America so that they can check the features and prices of the welders available, and choose the most suitable welder based on their budget. Some of the factors which determine the affordability of welders are discussed.

Material for welding

One important factor to be considered while using a welder is the material for which it can be used for welding. A review indicates of the welders are suitable for welding mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum, which are the most commonly used materials for hardware in a majority of homes. The thickness of the material for welding is another factor to be considered. Thinner material can be welded in a single pass, while for welding thicker material more passes may be required. So the thickness of the material is specified by the welder manufacturer.

User interface

A major consideration which affects the price of a welder is the user interface, especially the controls for the welder while allowing the user to change the settings as required. Some of the better welders have wire control so that they can control the welding wire. The welder should also has voltage control, to adjust the welding arc, so that the arc is stable for different thickness of materials. Some of the welders have timed bursts, which are suitable for making finer welds. Usually welders with more features are more expensive.

Voltage level, size

Another feature which affects the performance of the welder is the voltage levels of the welder. Some of the welders are designed for hours of power for 110 volts, while others are operating at 220 V, so can deliver more power at the same current. The rating of the welder determines the size and weight of the welder. Welders with a higher power output are usually larger in size and they also weigh more Most of the popular models of MIG welders weigh between 41 and 85 pounds. Smaller welders are popular because they are portable and can be easily carried from one place to another.

Quality, ease of use and price.

Most of the popular MIG welders (https://bestweldinghelmet.review/mig-welders/) are well designed, easy to set up and use. The warranty offered by the manufacturer is widely considered to be an indication of the quality of the MIG welder. If the manufacturer is confident of the quality, they will offer a warranty for a longer period, usually five years, while in other cases, only a warranty of one year will be offered. The price of the welder depends on the quality and country of manufacture. Welders with more features and of better quality, manufactured in the United States, are likely to cost more, while welders with fewer features, manufactured in China will cost less.

Hence, a buyer of MIG welder should consider the above Things to Mention which determine the affordability of a welder while making a checklist.

Keep America Affordable

Water Softener Must Be Cheap!

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Are your water bill keeps on increasing, do your skin and hair feel dry, do your clothes appear to be gray or faded, are the glassware you are using is becoming brittle and breaking easily, are your bathtubs and sinks getting stains with scales, your appliances getting stained, and finally does your piping needs frequent repairing. If your answer to some of the above questions is yes, then there is it a clear sign that you are using hard water and need a water softener.

Finding the right water softener for you should not be a difficult task and it should not make a big hole in your pocket. Consult the water softener manuals to find the right water softener at a reasonable price and get rid of the hard water problem.

The purpose of a water softener

The water softener acts by softening the hard water through the removal of minerals like magnesium and calcium and replacing it with sodium or potassium. Use of soft water gives your skin and hair a healthier look as hard water usually makes them too dry. With soft water, you will save cost on the water pipe repair, maintenance of appliances, electricity bill (low energy requirement to heat water), less the amount of soap and shampoo needs, and maintaining your clothes and utensil in good condition for a longer period. How much a water softener system should cost?

Setting up a water softener system should not be a costly affair. You don’t need a very sophisticated system for home use Sometimes there is a suggestion that the modern salt less water softener system is healthier for your heart as the system does not add sodium to the water in exchange of calcium or magnesium to remove hardness. So it does not change the composition of the water. Although it is true, the amount of sodium added in most cases is too low to be of any concern for healthy adults.

Which one to choose for your home

The choice of water softener depends upon the hardness of the water in question. The water softener manuals have listed all the water softener systems available with the pros and cons of each system. You will also get a clear idea about the water softener system you may need for your home by going through the manual. In most cases, the manual regeneration water softener is enough for your horn. They are much cheaper and the installation cost is also low. On the other hand, you may opt for even timed or metered system which is significantly costlier than the manual regeneration types. The installation cost of these systems is also very high.

Your water softener system should not be too costly

As the amount daily need for water is not very hard for home use, you should not spend a lot on the water softening system. The water softening system for your home should be cheap as the cheaper models are sufficient to provide you with the desired result.

Finally, whatever system you prefer to buy, you should keep a vigil on maintaining the system. You have to disinfect the resins and filters several times a year to prevent the proliferation of possible bacteria. You need to clean and refill the containers of salts regenerating the water (for salt-based water softeners). Do not keep the system idle for long as that can also cause proliferation of bacteria.