5 Ways to Achieve Financial Independence

May 2021

Jan 2025

Most people will never know what it is like to have true financial independence. However, you don’t have to be one of them. By taking the right step today, you can build wealth that can allow you to have the passive income that you need to achieve financial independence. Here are five steps that you can take today.

1) Create a plan

The first thing that you need to do is have a plan. Figure out how much of an income you would like to have after you officially retired. The rule of thumb is that you should save up to 25 times your annual desired passive income. For instance, if you would like to get $50,000 annually in passive income, then you would have to build up to $1,250,000 in your savings by the time you are planning to retire.

2) Save and invest

To start building the wealth that you need for financial independence; you will need to save and invest. Don’t worry if you don’t currently have a high income. You can have time to work on your side. Through the magic of compound investing, you can build some incredible wealth by investing in stable, dividend-paying stocks. Aim to save at least 10% of your income each month to achieve your financial independence goals.

3) Live below your means

As you get older, you will likely increase your income. This can lead to “lifestyle creep” which can cause you to spend more. It is important to continue to live below your means so you can save and invest. The higher rate of your savings, the faster you can achieve financial independence.

4) Have an emergency fund

One unforeseen medical or life emergency can derail your financial independence plans. Therefore, you will want to have money set aside in case the unexpected happens. Some situations that may require emergency cash include a setback in your business, medical emergencies, or a natural disaster.

5) Study the economy

The economy plays a big role in how your business operates, the purchasing power of your money, and your income. Be sure to study the stock market, the economy, interest rates, and other factors that can play a role in your business and investing life. A great way to stay on top of the economy is to read top economic books and to read up on the latest economic articles on sites such as Bloomberg, CNBC, and The Wall Street Journal.

Keep your business on track and achieve your financial goals

Make sure that your business stays on track. With 2M7 Financial Solutions, you can receive the merchant cash advance that your business needs to stay on top of expenses. To learn more, please contact us. We are always ready to assist your business today.

April 3, 2019

January 24, 2025

The Pros and Cons of a Merchant Cash Advance

When considering financing options for your small or medium-sized business, a merchant cash advance (MCA) may seem like the perfect alternative to a traditional business loan. While there are certainly many benefits to this type of lending choice, there are also some cons to keep in mind when determining whether an MCA is right for you. Learn more about pros and cons of a Merchant Cash Advance.

Benefits of Merchant Cash Advance

PRO (Benefit): MCAs are available to those with poor credit

Business loans typically require a business owner and business to have good credit ratings. On the other hand, merchant cash advances consider your future sales projections, not your credit history. Since MCAs are repaid using future credit and debit revenue, a poor credit rating and collateral aren’t relevant to the lender.

PRO(Benefit): MCAs get you cash faster

The approval process for a merchant cash advance is much quicker than a business loan. In some cases, a business owner can have the money requested in their bank account in less than 48 hours.

Cons of Merchant Cash Advance

CON: Lenders are unregulated

The MCA industry is largely unregulated, which makes it possible for some lenders to charge hefty interest fees and take advantage of their customers. Be careful, read reviews, and ask questions of your lender before you decide on a merchant cash advance.

CON: Daily deductions can hurt cash flow

Repayment of a merchant cash advance occurs by deducting funds from credit card receipts, sometimes on a daily basis. Make sure to check with your MCA provider the repayment details of the plan you are signing up for.Merchant cash advances are an alternative lending method for small business owners who need cash fast and may not have the collateral or credit to get bank loan approval. However, before you apply for an MCA, make sure you do your homework, ask questions, think about pros and cons of a Merchant Cash Advance and if you need advice on alternative lending solutions, we are always here to help.

August 19, 2021

January 24, 2025

5 Ways To Market Your Small Business On A Budget

Marketing is one of the aspects of your business that takes a lot of your revenue. Business owners are sort of blackmailed into spending too much cash just because they have to outweigh their competitors and sort of 'steal' customers away from them. That's how the world of business works. However, a small business is already short on funds, and they can't pour that much money into marketing without affecting operational costs. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to up your marketing game but don't have the funds to do so, you're at just the right place. Here are five things you need to know about marketing small businesses on a budget.

1. Stay Active on Social Media

Social media is one of the best forms of marketing that you have, and it's totally free. A lot of businesses look at social media as a tool just for outreach. It's a lot more than a way just to communicate with your audience. Social media provides your business with access to millions of people all over the world. The best part is that it doesn't matter what kind of business you have. You'll find tons of customers through social media.

2. Focus on Loyal Customers

Finding new customers is something that every business has to do to survive. You have to scale your business to grow substantially, and that can only happen when you have new customers. However, in an effort to obtain them, companies often overlook their current loyal customers. We consider that a huge opportunity being missed. You can offer rewards, dedicated customer support, and discounts to ensure that these people stay interested.

3. Think of Local Communities

Many businesses can take advantage of their local communities for growth and brand recognition. The best part is that you can advertise your business at some charity events, major gatherings, fairs, etc.

4. Reward Programs

Your current customers can be a gateway to obtaining brand-new clients as well. Reward programs are an amazing incentive that encourages people to recommend your company or service to their friends and family. Word of mouth drives an average of $6 trillion in revenue for businesses globally. That's more than enough incentive you need to start a rewards program.

5. Merchant Cash Advance

If you're planning to ramp up your marketing efforts but don't necessarily have the budget on-hand to make it happen, there are many financial organizations in the market that provide merchant cash advances. These MCAs are a lot different as compared to standard business loans. Instead of having to pay the money back in a lump sum, you’ll be returning the money through a percentage of your profits.

Closing Thoughts

Marketing does work, especially when it's carried out effectively and with consistency. Many will argue that it's one of the most profitable and, if you can’t seem to get your marketing done on a budget, 2M7 financial solutions is here to help you. We offer merchant cash advance to businesses in Canada. So, if you need some extra cash to fund your marketing campaigns, give us a call today to learn more.

December 14, 2020

January 24, 2025

5 Effective Ways to Solve Seasonal Cash Flow Business Challenges

The great majority of small businesses go under because of cash flow issues. You know the importance of cash flow for that reason. That doesn’t mean you don’t face seasonal cash crunches.Seasonal cash flow struggles are quite common, even among established businesses. You can take the strain off by employing these five effective methods of solving cash flow challenges.

Know Your Problem Seasons

The first step in combating cash flow challenges is know your problem seasons. For seasonal businesses, this may be obvious. If you run a golf course, you might find cash flow tightens up during the winter. If, by contrast, you have a ski club, then winter could be boom season for you.Knowing when you’re most likely to run into trouble can help you plan for those dry spells more effectively.

Shift the Timing of Financial Commitments

Once you know when your cash crunches are most likely to happen, you can work on scheduling around them. Try to shift any major financial commitments to other times of the year.This might include adjusting when you order stock or how you organize your tax year. A golf course may not want to make a major tax payment at the end of April, because funds are already tight.You may not be able to move every financial commitment, and that’s fine. By shifting some earlier or later in the year, though, you can make all your obligations easier to manage.

Offer Incentives for Customers to Pay Early

Another tip for meeting seasonal cash flow challenges is to entice customers to pay early. If you invoice your customers, you could offer them a discount if they pay before the indicated due date.You may encourage prepayment or even down payments. For example, if you run a mattress shop, then you could ask people to put a down payment on their purchase.You can make this a seasonal offer and encourage customers to “buy ahead.” With more money flowing in, you’ll have an easier time managing your cash flow.

Get a Merchant Cash Advance

Sometimes, the answer to cash flow challenges is credit. That’s particularly true of seasonal cash crunches since they’re usually temporary in nature.A merchant cash advance is one of the better choices you have to manage seasonal cash flow. With one, you get the cash you need against expected future sales. As sales take place, you’ll pay back the advance.

Diversify Your Business

One of the best ways to solve seasonal cash flow issues is to diversify the business. If you run a golf course, you might also operate a banquet hall. Acting as a wedding venue can keep cash flowing, even during the winter season.If you face seasonal challenges, think about the ways in which you can diversify and offer more to your clients all year long.

Get a Helping Hand with an MCA

If you’re feeling pinched, it might be time to get a merchant cash advance. Get in touch with the experts and discover what the right financing option can do for your business.