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Undoubtedly, one of the keys to invest successfully is to have a vision for the future. Having clear decisions to be taken with regard to long-term financial investments becomes vital, in order to achieve the desired results in investments and profits, after all, investment is the result of careful analysis.Generally, the goals are achieved by determining how far away the investment horizon is. But why is it so important to establish a horizon? Very simple. Establishing what the long-term investment is (5 years, 10 years, 15 years) has a great importance, since it directly influences the investment strategy. Generally, long-term investments allow investors to take more risk when investing.A clear example is the investment in gold , and that despite the ups and downs that occur in the market, the long-term trend is always upward, so that it always comes as a great way to invest safely long term and is profitable for your money. The key to any long-term investment is that it will ensure future financial security.

Here are just some key elements to successful investing:

1. Get control of your expenses before investing - Pay off your credit card debts and other high interest rates as fast loans or mini-credit is something unavoidable before you even think about starting to invest. If you get some extra income, I dedicate it to pay your debts and thus bring the moment you can start investing. Learn to cut your expenses and a little short in one of your unnecessary purchases to get away with your debts as soon as possible.2. If you're going to invest, do it - Once you have your financial house in order, no debt, and a good emergency fund set up , start investing.First start with simple investments in which you feel confident and let it rest there money for a while to see how you react to the ups and downs of profitability. Do not sell quickly to take short-term profits or bands to avoid big losses. Wait until you actually have a good reason to change your portfolio.3. Do not forget risk - Do not put all your money in one place. Make sure you have invested in at least a couple of different assets. Especially, do not put all your money into risky investments such as a large number of shares of small cap companies.4. Begin preparing for retirement. Your first objective should be to prepare to invest for retirement. If you have not started yet, do it now. Do not hesitate for a second, even if you do not know 100% what you are doing or exactly how you want to invest - invest your money in an index fund.5. Stop worrying about how to invest and just do it. Whether you later modify your investment for improving, then so be it, but do not get caught in the paralysis of the investment and become stagnant.6. Be sensitive to your impressions. If your gut tells you it's a bad investment, stop putting new money into the asset for a while.If after your instinct keeps saying it's bad, even long after you stop investing, move your money to another investment. Do not just keep putting money into something that does not work for you.7. Make sure you have the ego at the door. Do not ever think you're a great investor. The moment you think you are, your wallet will fall apart.8. If everyone invests in something, do not follow them. If you see that everyone is investing in the same asset, then it means that something is trending, but will not last, so you should be as far away from that kind of investment as possible.Your Virtual Office London are experts in helping businesses become more successful. We provide virtual office services including a prime mail forwarding address in London, telephone answering and registered office address. If you would also like advice about investing we have an accountant who is always on hand to help with professional advice.

Electronic billing is constantly evolving. In Europe, the European Commission requires Member countries of the EU to implement electronic invoicing. The purpose of the Commission is to get in Europe a predominance of electronic invoicing in the very near future, so it is very important to all SMEs, freelancers and entrepreneurs at the forefront in the opportunities and advantages offered by this technology. Here, we will analyse three of the most critical trends for your business and how to answer them.

1. Crucial Benefits

The benefits of online billing software align with the improvements in the speed of processes and resource efficiency. According to a global study conducted in 2012, 67% of companies believe that e-invoicing could improve operational efficiency, compared with 50% in 2011. Faster billing cycles and cost savings on billing paper are the two main benefits experienced by issuers.

Save time, money and space

Savings in administrative costs and manual labour are clear. It is easier to reduce the annual costs of messaging, mailing and faxing; printer paper and even volume of printing. No more printing costs of bills and handling of paper invoices. Speed and efficiency is the aim and now you can instantly send invoices via the Web. Up to 8 invoices can be processed every second on average.You manage all the information and only you have access to it, meaning security is tighter. No more typos, you can be sure that all your bills are generated with the appropriate data.A safe investment for any business is to have a flexible electronic invoicing system, even if there are changes in your system. Adaptable to any operating systems and platforms, there are major companies requesting electronic invoicing that are mandatory for its suppliers.

2. The Electronic Invoicing

At this time, customers have high expectations of those who bill, so excellent customer service over the Internet can be a key factor to converting into real customers loyal followers of the company, which is an aspect that should not be neglected. In this respect it is necessary to adopt the concepts of Web 2.0 and social marketing, which can be done by using cloud-based Software as a Service (Saas).

3. Comprehensive Customer

Knowing the customer is vital in business. This information can be extracted by digitising billing processes and provides a strategic basis for decision-making at the level of business. SMEs, freelancers and entrepreneurs that issue electronic invoices recognise the power of intelligence they can get about their client to boost ties with them and make them more profitable and beneficial through behaviour-based experiences. This improves loyalty and sales.For SMEs, freelancers and entrepreneurs, it is important to adapt to the digital environment and adopt solutions that help the company to be in a position of advantage. Today, there is great interest in the billing software online, as they are now available to companies who could not afford to adopt a proper solution beforehand.Electronic billing software in the cloud must maintain assurances that it is issuing and filing invoices in accordance with regulations. With billing software in the cloud, organisations experience a lower percentage of discrepancies in receipt of your payments, save on printing, time, space and may have access to an automated and integrated system that helps improve the efficiency of processes. It also allows access to the control of the company from any computer without installing any application on your PC, Mac, Linux, tablet or Smartphone.Today, SMEs, freelancers, companies like Your Virtual Office London and entrepreneurs can deepen relationships with their customers, improve your cash flow, reduce costs and accelerate sales through the use of programs for billing in the cloud. If you enjoyed our business article you can read more articles in our blog.

In business you will come across many potential clients, suppliers and partners. It is very important to build a picture of that person before agreeing to work with them. Spotting someone who is trustworthy is a very important skill in the business world. The old adage of not judging a book by its cover can often be a wise and effective saying to call upon. However a new report is explaining that most people actually form a judgement of a person in a very quick time.Many people may think they are non-judgmental, however a report is now suggesting that we actually form a decision if we can trust them within a split second of first laying eyes on themResearch carried out by the New York University has suggested that human brains automatically compute the features of another person`s face upon first viewing. This then relays to us a judgment based on the appearance before we have had time to properly assess the persons face.

Need to improve the face of your business?

Your Virtual Office London has always helped smaller companies improve the face of their business. We provide professional business services to help improve the image you portray on your potential business clients and suppliers. It is a well-known fact people will form a judgment on a person and of a business, having a professional image is key to really succeeding in the market you are competing in.Your Virtual Office London provides prestigious business address and virtual office services to help sharpen up the small fledgling business. In competitive sectors having a professional image is a vital tool to help you build a thriving business. We provide key services to help with the progression of your company`s success. Services such as a London registered office address and business mail forwarding services in a prominent central London location will help to portray a professional image which will help your business increase is success and growth rate.Customers are very savvy when it comes to researching your business and doing their homework. Research has shown that a client would prefer to deal with a larger company as opposed to a home-based one man band, our services are aimed to give your small business then professional face it needs to develop itself.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, is due to unveil a plan which could see the British government exploring the role that digital currencies such as Bitcoin could play in the existing financial system and whether they need to be regulated. The measures included in the plan are intended to make Britain the global centre of financial innovation.The growing popularity of Bitcoin has sounded alarm bells in the regulated financial system and as it is not controlled by a central bank it is therefore much more difficult to regulate.A Bitcoin is a new type of money, it is completely virtual and can be used to buy products and services just like an online version of cash but is currently limited by the small number of shops and retailers that will accept it.

Currently there are 3 main ways to get a Bitcoin:

- You can buy Bitcoins using real money. The current value of one Bitcoin is approximately £500.- You can sell something and receive payment in Bitcoins- Or they can be created using a computer, this is called “mining”Bitcoins have become popular due to the fact that some people like the fact that Bitcoin is not controlled by the government or banks, which in turn means there are no taxes or bank fees to pay, at least for now.People can also spend their Bitcoins anonymously and although the transactions are recorded publicly, unless someone knew your Account number it would be almost impossible to check on your transactions.Every transaction is recorded publicly so it's very difficult to copy Bitcoins or make fake ones or even spend ones you don't own.It is possible to lose your Bitcoin virtual “wallet” or delete your Bitcoins from your phone or PC and lose them forever. This is one of the main drawbacks of the current system and there have also been thefts from websites that let you store your Bitcoins remotely.At the moment the value of Bitcoins goes up and down a lot, so it's impossible to say whether it's safe to turn your 'real' money into Bitcoins.Speaking at London's Canary Wharf , the Chancellor said that it is "only by harnessing innovations in finance, alongside our existing world class knowledge and skills in financial services, that we'll ensure Britain's financial sector continues to meet the diverse needs of businesses and consumers here and around the globe".He also announced the government is to investigate the potential for virtual and digital currencies such as Bitcoin to encourage innovation in the UK's financial sector, while also examining their potential risks.More than 60,000 online retailers now accept virtual currencies worldwide and the growing popularity has seen backers of the currencies push for greater mainstream adoption. However, their use has also been linked to illegal activity online.BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said: "Enthusiasts say it is the future of money, detractors claim that it is extremely volatile and is used mainly by drug dealers and money launderers."Now the government says it will examine whether this and other virtual currencies should be regulated, how they could help stimulate innovation - and their potential risks."

In business, professional image is the key to your success. Many more people are now taking the plunge and starting a new business venture within the comforts of their own home. The internet has made starting a company a simple process and operating a business from home even easier.What many of the start-ups in our own experience frequently overlook is the information required during the formation of a new Limited Company. Key details such a registered office address, director`s details and even shareholders details can often be confirmed without properly thinking about the ramifications of the details provided to Companies House.Most new business start-ups have not been through the company formation process before and such terminologies as a registered office address can be overlooked. It is important to understand that any details provided on formation will be permanently on public records.

Security and peace of mind

Using our London mail forwarding service with a registered office address has many benefits for your company. Firstly we have to imagine what would happen if you were to use your own residential address for your business. Many of our business clients always intend to provide the best possible service to their own customers, however as the business grows so will the potential for possibility of a disgruntled customer. We have had many scare stories where customers have turned up at a person`s house to discuss something very trivial, they managed to obtain the residential address via a company search online. You can imagine how awkward this could be if it`s unexpected and you were at home with your family.Our London mail forwarding address and registered office provides you with a safe and secure service that keeps your residential address of public record. This means there is no chance of customers turning up as and when it suits them. It gives you peace of mind and helps you to concentrate on providing the best possible service to your clients.

A professional image is the key for your fledglings` business success

Clients are becoming very aware that more and more businesses are operating from home. Many potential customers will do their homework first, and looking at where your business is operating from is part of their process. If you have a residential street address on your website then most customers will have a look at where you are trading from. Again a customer is more likely to go with an established larger company as this provides security over a small one man band operating from home. Our London mail forwarding address service is designed to give the smaller business an equal footing, it makes your company appear well established.Our London address is located in a prestigious location in central London. Using an established address in the heart of London can help persuade those clients who may have been reluctant to purchase from you due to knowing you were operating out of a residential address.

Why use Your Virtual Office London?

Your Virtual Office London have been providing leading expert advice to small businesses since 1971. Having started out as a company formation agent in City Road where Companies House were once based, our services have since grown to provide a more complete package for our clients.We understand starting a company is an important step, often a milestone in one`s personal life, and that we are here to ensure you do things correctly. Using our experience we can help guide you through the formation process and help provide guidance on the supplementary services that we provide to our clients.Our mail forwarding and registered office can be combined with a director`s service address to provide complete anonymity for peace of mind. Further into your businesses life span you may require professional advice for accounting, we have trained qualified accountants who can help talk plain English to you about the requirement`s HMRC set out for Ltd companies.Whatever your need, get in touch today, we are always happy to help.

The latest Markit UK Construction PMI report has stated that in July 2014, the new UK house building grew at its fastest rate for nearly 11 years, not since November 2003 has home building seen more activity, driven by the demand for new new projects and the growing demand of the first time buyers.Although the house building market is one part of the PMI index and the overall index was down slightly from 62.4 to 62.6 in June, growth in the market is indicated by anything over 50.Tim Moore, the senior economist at Markit, stated that "July's figures suggest the UK construction sector is enjoying its strongest cyclical upswing since the global financial crisis, while a new record rise in employment highlights that construction firms are increasingly confident about the sustainability of the upturn,"The growth in the construction industry has been positive for the past 15 months and has given rise to a reported fastest rate of labour hiring since April 1997 when the survey first began.It is expected that this period of growth will have the usual knock-on effect in the home and DIY markets but this will not be reflected until later in the year.With the markets anticipating an interest rate rise sooner rather than later Ray Boulger, of the mortgage brokers John Charcol, is expecting and average 2014 house price rise of around 8%. Which is based on the Halifax and Nationwide indexes.This rise reflects a similar increase seen towards the end of 2013, and which caused a surprise due to the slow growth experienced at the start of 2013.This view is rejected by the housing market commentator Henry Pryor who predicts that although house prices will rise, the scale of the rise will be only 5% nationally in 2014, but 8% within the M25 motorway. The London market is expected remain buoyant with demand still outstripping supply.If you enjoyed this blog you can read more on our business and economy blog section.

Boris Johnson, mayor of London, has said that Britain could be better of if without the EU (European Union). The mayor has made the comments to coincide with a publication of a new report which is expected to say that London`s economy would not really suffer is they did decide to leave the EU.Boris who is scheduled to make a speech regarding the report on Wednesday is expect to discuss an 8 point outline on how the EU should reform. The plan he has come up with is expected to far exceed any demands being put forward by the prime minister David Cameron, who is also trying to reform the EU. David Cameron is holding a meeting with EU leaders at the summit in Brussels, and is expected to discuss his idea of reform. Boris Johnson is pushing a more rigorous reform plan with more pressures which the EU leaders will not be happy about.This is widely thought to be a political point scorer with Boris expected to stand for a MP in 2015 with a bid for the Conservative leadership in tow; if David Cameron fails to win the general election.If you found this news article interesting, you can find more in our business and economy blog.

European home owners are now worrying about soaring energy bills a new survey has explained. With lack of security over supplies and increased localised conflict, Europeans are now starting to think about the consequences and what they can do to help combat the increasing costs.Many home owners are now looking to maximise the energy efficiency of their houses, in order to combat the rising cost of energy.Over 77% of European home owners surveyed explained that they are looking to changing their home in order to meet better regulations on energy efficiency. The driving force behind this is the rising cost of energy and uncertainty of stable supply from Russia.Read more business and economy news in our business blog.

Wondering about top employer questions to ask at an interview? Having your questions prepared in advances is a good idea, this helps to add structure to the interview and helps the meeting progress its natural course.

Some timeless questions that must be asked in an interview:

• What are you main strengths?
• What are your main weaknesses
• What makes you different?
• What would your past employers suggest are you best qualities?

These questions will help you assess how honest the candidate is and well as if they are confident and bring the correct skills to the role. A good candidate will highlight one weakness but turn this into a positive.

Some good questions to ask the candidate about the company:

• What makes you want to work for our company?
• What do you know about our business?
• What skills do you think will make you suitable for this position?

These questions will help you find out if they candidate has done their research, any well prepared candidate will do their homework on your company, they will find out exactly what you do and how they can fit in using their skill set. You want to find out if they have applied for your position knowing they can bring their experiences and knowledge and apply them to the available position for the greater good of the organisation.

Progressive questions

Again these questions will help to find out vital information about your candidates. Many employers will be looking for a long term fill for their position, assessing your candidates future plans is important for planning. Some questions which can help assess their plans are as follows:What are your main goals in your working life?Where do you plan to be in five years?These questions will help to see how important the position is to them. If they are keen and see their future with you, the replies will be about progressing in your company. Of course some positions are short term or a stop gap, and thus the answers will be different. These questions can help the employer understand the candidate and plan appropriately.

What drives the candidate?

Finding out what motivates the candidate is important, this will give you a great insight into the mind of the potential new staff member. Understanding what drives them can help you integrate them into the surrounding team and lead to better performance and higher output.

Simple questions to ask:

• What part of work do you enjoy most?
• What motivates you?
• What tasks give you great satisfaction?
• What tasks do you dislike the most?

Conclusion

When interviewing staff always make sure to ask the same questions to all the candidates, this may sound simple but having an organised structure to the interview is not always easy, especially when you are in full flow conversation with the candidates. Make sure to make notes of all answers, as this will prove invaluable when it comes to reviewing the candidates after the interviews have finished. If you find it difficult to choose between candidates we would strongly recommend inviting them back for second or even third interviews if the caliber of candidates is that high.If you found this blog insightful you can read more tips and tricks in our business blog.

If you`re starting a business, whether you`re a sole trader, Limited Company, Limited Liability Partnership or even a Public Limited Company you may want to use and display a prestigious London business address as either your primary or secondary address. Your Virtual Office London provides you with a prominent address in a prestigious central London location. Our business address and mail forwarding service is designed to give your business instant credibility for a very minimal initial outlay.

Why wouldn't I just use my residential address?

There are a number of good reasons why you may not want to use your own residential address as your trading address. If you display a residential address to your clients as your main business address it instantly tells your client that you are more than likely to be working from home, this can give the client an unprofessional image as they will think you are a very small company that may not be well established. If you upset any customers they may be inclined to visit your work address and if you are using your residential address as the trading address then this can lead to awkward and embarrassing visits when you are least expecting them.

What benefits do I get from using your mail address service for my trading address?

Our service comes with many features which can really help boost your businesses overall client acquisition and retention rate. Many people overlook the importance of image, however image is everything in business and in order for your business to progress you must impress your clients.

Mail Forwarding & London Business Address Features:

• Central London EC1 location
• Private & Secure
• Signed For parcels accepted
• Customer service at door for visting clients
• Collect or have mail forwarded to any location worldwide
• Unlimited mail volumes

How easy is it to setup?

We have made the process very simple, all you need to do is purchase online and complete a very simple online form. Once the order is received our end, we try and get your accountant live and activated within 2 hours on a working day. We do need two forms of Identification, one photo graphic and one proof of address dated within the last 3 months. Once this is received we are able handing the mail you receive out to you.

Why Your Virtual Office London

We are the leaders in Company Formation and Virtual Office Services. We have been providing supplementary business services such as registered office address, mail forwarding, directors service and accounting for over 20 years. When you decide to choose us are your professional service provider you are taking on a team that has experience and a great working knowledge. If you would like to find out more information on any of our services please don`t hesitate to get in touch, we are always happy to help.