Notes & Comments

The Growing Threat Of Cyber Attacks To Governments And Businesses

Businesses nowadays are highly dependent on the internet not only for brand awareness and exposure but to attract more customers. For example, the customer base of Suzuki motorcycle dealers in the UK is no longer limited to the people near their area because the website manages to reach customers from other regions.

However, more and more businesses are being threatened by cyber attacks. Because of the pressure from cyber attacks, the growth of economic protectionism and the government’s desire for censorship, “walled gardens” may be created that can disrupt commerce and damage society.

One of the key subjects that were discussed by business leaders, politicians, academics and non-government organizations in Davos, Switzerland last January 23 to 26, 2018 was the increasing reliance of governments, institutions and people to the internet. According to the study made by WEF the growing reliance on technology is one of the major risks that global economies will face this year.

Cyber attacks are increasing. It is now listed as the third most likely threat while cyber dependency is ranked second as the significant driver that will shape global risk in the next 10 years. WEF also said that the prospects of strong economic growth for 2018 provide the opportunity for world leaders to address the different weaknesses of complex systems that are underpinning economies including international relationships and the environment.

According to John Drzik, president of Global Risk and Digital at Marsh, geopolitical friction is the largest contributor to the surge and the growing sophistication of cyber attacks. As businesses become more dependent on technology; the more that they are exposed to cyber attacks.

There are improvements made on cyber risk management but both businesses and the government have to invest more for resiliency efforts. The internet of things where devices and sensors are connected to the internet is expected to grow globally but it will increase the risks of exposure to cyber attacks.

People have become more comfortable with online shopping. When they need a motorcycle, they can simply go online and access the website of Suzuki motorcycle dealers in the UK for new or used motorcycles. There is no salesperson because the customer deals directly with the dealer.

Feb 11 2018

Restaurant owners should know that recordkeeping is very important not just for the daily operation of the restaurant but also for the sales taxes. The business will be negatively affected if does not adhere to the law. Mishandled sales as well as taxes can be the end for the business. Recordkeeping coupled with audit insurance such as audit shield will ensure that your business is protected.

Sales taxes are unavoidable for people who have their own restaurant or if they are investing in one. Restaurant sales come with tax and according to the law, all transactions including purchases and sales, should be well documented. In addition, sales tax such as payroll taxes are considered to be trust fund taxes and the owner or investor of the restaurant has the liability for tax debts incurred by the trust fund.

For restaurant owners, the most important records such as sales transactions and purchase transactions. Sales transactions include sales, amount for every sale, the tax charged for every sale, the tax collected for every sale and documents concerning tax exemptions. Recordkeeping of the receipts, cash register tape, sales slip, guest check and invoice should be well organized.

For purchase transactions, records such as cost of goods, janitorial services, supplies and other purchase records should be kept. Each of the purchase record must indicate if sales taxes have already been paid or if there are taxes due. These expenses will also show if the sales you have in record is a match.

For POS systems, make sure that it is setup correctly and all transactions are properly recorded. The records from the POS must match the receipts of the business included in the record. Therefore, you are the owner or investor, must have control with the POS system to make sure that it is accurate and all transaction records are complete.

If the recordkeeping is not accurate and you get audited, you might be facing some trouble ahead. This is where audit insurance such as audit shield comes in because in case of any errors on your part, you will be covered and your restaurant might be able to recover.

Feb 10 2018

Zoho innovates the Zoho CRM which is a cloud-based platform for customer relationship management (CRM). It handles sales, marketing and customer support features of business-to-customer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) marketing schemes.

Retrieving Zoho CRM can be done with prevailing Web browsers designed for use on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux desktops. The platform can also be accessed using Apple’s iPad and iPhone, and Android phones. It is most suitable for all companies of varying sizes; however, they are more popular with small businesses using its range of tools and pricing options. Users are given CRM abilities, email marketing, marketing automation, social CRM and sales functions.

There are five available editions for the platform which include: Free, for up to 10 users; Standard, $12 per month; Professional, $20 per month; Enterprise, $35 per month, and CRM Plus, $50 per month. The prices vary per user. Every edition offers improved capabilities; however, CRM Plus and Enterprise provide the most storage capacity and tools.

Zoho CRM lead handling tools make users monitor and handle current and new leads throughout its development. Modular control panels and report forms aid users to adapt quickly to the platform with minimal learning experience. Importing leads from external campaigns and sources are possible, as well as exporting lead data to some spreadsheets for analysis.

For the CRM Plus, Enterprise and Professional edition users, the platform includes ZohoPhoneBridge, a call center tool that integrates hosted and on-site telephone applications to have calls directly done within Zoho CRM. The PhoneBridgeprovides customer history data and on-screen caller details whenever ready. Users are also allowed to call current customers which instantly log the data into the system where users can make follow-up tasks or notes.

Zoho CRM can be directly bought from Zoho and its associated partners. Phone calls, emails and social media support are provided. For Enterprise edition users, one can find an enhanced customer support. To check on the capabilities of this platform, one is given a 15-day limited trial. So check this software, especially on what it is all about and how it can simplify your tasks!

Jan 29 2018

Companies In Queensland Solar Project Continue Dispute

With Australia making moves to capitalize on renewable energy sources, new projects involving solar on the Gold Coast and across the country are popping up left and right. Some of them, however, don’t go so smoothly.

One such instance is the Collinsville solar farm project that’s been in dispute since December of 2017, which still hasn’t been resolved, though a potential end to the dispute has been sighted, and is expected sometime in the near future.

The building company in charge of the project, Sydney’s St. Hilliers, recently made a statement regarding the issue, saying that the discussions they held early in January 2018 with the Gold Coast based contracting firm, Pronto Projects.

Pronto Projects stated back in the dispute’s infancy that St. Hilliers owes them approximately AU$2M for the work done for the installation of the piles for the solar panels at the under development Collinsville solar farm, and that, as a result of St. Hilliers not paying, Pronto was unable to pay their subcontractors and suppliers. Meanwhile, St. Hilliers claims that it does not owe Pronto anything, and that they had paid the contractor for the costs.

A spokesperson for St. Hilliers said that the firm recently held discussions with Pronto Projects, and was aiming to conduct further negotiations with the head contractor, France’s Bouygues, in order to reach what the firm calls a ‘satisfactory solution’. The spokesperson said that St. Hilliers would continue negotiations with Pronto and their client in order to come to a proper end to this dispute.

The dispute has had quite the effect on the surrounding area, with Burdekin LNP MP Dale Last saying that he was being swamped by calls for help from companies affected by the dispute, who were still owed thousands upon thousands of dollars due to the project, with some of the companies saying that failure was a real possibility unless the bills were paid.

With the upsurge in solar power leading to new solar on the Gold Coast, the dispute has been carefully watched by the locals, who are hoping that this issue is resolved as soon as possible.

Jan 27 2018

Telecommunications Tax To Replace Existing Franchise Taxes In Georgia

Because of technology, accessing Georgia Tax ID Form has become a relatively straightforward process. All that a business or entity needs is to provide all the information required like the legal name of the entity, a designated responsible party, a valid legal address, email address and phone numbers. Always ensure that all information provided is correct and valid to receive the Tax ID the earliest time possible.

In Georgia, state lawmakers are proposing new taxes on phone lines, TV streaming and maybe online streaming services that include Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The telecommunications tax will be an additional tax to the existing sales taxes on equipment to help defray the costs of building high speed internet lines that will serve 16% of rural Georgia that do not have internet access. The additional tax will add about $200million annually in new revenue.

The telecommunications tax will cover phone and TV services, internet phones and satellite TV’sthat are not currently being taxed. On the other hand, existing franchise taxes on communication services will be removed to be replaced by the new telecommunications tax. Whatever proceeds that will be generated from the new tax will be divided between the state and local governments.

According to Clint Mueller, a lobbyist from Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the new tax will even out the playing field. This will remove the fees and sales taxes that are being applied to bits and pieces of technology. However, it still unclear whether the telecommunications tax will be set at 5% rate and cover online streaming services.

Under the 1998 federal law called the Internet Tax Freedom Act, internet service providers are exempt from paying taxes. Meanwhile, states like Florida and Pennsylvania have started to levy taxes on video streaming services. Both Amazon and Netflix have not issued any comments regarding the telecommunications tax.

It is important for rural Georgia to be able to enjoy fast internet service so that they will enjoy the same conveniences of urban dwellers. For example, with internet access, a rural Georgia business or entity can easily download Georgia Tax ID Form to obtain a Tax ID without hassle.

Jan 22 2018

How To Have A Successful Cafe Fitouts In Canberra

Modern café establishments nowadays come with low partitions to offer some sort of privacy to their customers especially those who need to concentrate on a serious talk or with something they are working on. This contemporary concept and an establishment’s overall design is called fitouts. By having the right cafe fitouts in Canberra, interiors and space are properly utilized or maximized. To come up with an impressive fitout, hire a service contractor that can effectively handle the project. In addition to the completion of a successful project, here are some tips.

Come up with an excellent concept

A successful café fitout can materialize if you have an excellent design. Invision how you want your interior to look like including all other elements such as your furniture, lighting, decors, where your bar will be and the partitions in your café, among others. Most cafes have low partitions to separate tables. You can get ideas from the internet. Check how trendy cafes are designed nowadays for inspiration. You can also refer to magazines and movies to have an idea how your cafe fitouts in Canberra will look in general.

Assign a project manager

There are service providers who can provide services right from the conceptualization of the project down to its completion. However, it is important for you to assign somebody from your establishment who will closely coordinate with the contractor and the implementation of the project. If you do not have one in your rank, you can hire an external project manager for your café. The project manager should have a strong background in design and the experience to put everything together. The project manager will also handle the procurement of materials until the project is completed.

Choose a reliable contractor

It is important to hirea contractor who will conduct cafe fitouts in Canberra with expertise and reliability. A reliable contractor knows how to implement projects within budget and also in accordance of the design preferred by the owner. The contractor should also be efficient with the materials and its utilization. Choose a contractor with more than 10 years experience in the industry.