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Insurance Tips with Amber Thomason

Staring a by Amber Thomason by Amber Thomason by Amber Thomason Teaching your kids emergency preparedness Teaching your kids emergency preparedness Small BusinessUp Your

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Weather emergencies may scare your kids, but helping them understand what to expect can reduce the stress. Carefully go over your family emergency plan and teach them how to stay safe whatever the disaster. Getting your family prepared for any disaster Complete the following with your family so severe weather doesn’t catch you off guard: • Create an emergency supplies kit. Include a threeday supply of water, nonperishable food, flashlights, blankets and kid-friendly activities. The Red Cross provides a listing of emergency supplies to help you prepare. • Practice your emergency plan. Include two evacuation routes, a safe room and two different meet-up locations — and make sure kids can run through it calmly. • Run through the basics. Kids should know how to call 911, identify themselves, identify their location, reach emergency contacts and get to predetermined safe locations. Teach your kids the various severe weather conditions According to Forbes, more than 500,000 small businesses open each month. If you're looking to join the entrepreneurial club, consider this planning guide for starting a small business. Laying the groundwork It's important to have a well-developed business proposal that meets an untapped need. Follow these steps to think yours through: 1. Decide on a business idea. Think about your strengths and interests: What could you do forever? What could you never do? How do you feel about interacting with people or spending your time at a desk? Ask yourself these questions to narrow down your business ideas and options. 2. Research market demand and competition. You should feel confident that your product or service will have a hungry audience and that you can offer it in a better way than your competitors. 3. Write your business plan. You'll need the following components: • Executive summary • Organization and management • Funding requests Weather emergencies may scare your kids, but helping them understand what to expect can reduce the stress. Carefully go over your family emergency plan and teach them how to stay safe whatever the disaster. Getting your family prepared for any disaster Complete the following with your family so severe weather doesn’t catch you off guard: • Create an emergency supplies kit. Include a threeday supply of water, nonperishable food, flashlights, blankets and kid-friendly activities. The Red Cross provides a listing of emergency supplies to help you prepare. • Practice your emergency plan. Include two evacuation routes, a safe room and two different meet-up locations — and make sure kids can run through it calmly. • Run through the basics. Kids should know how to call 911, identify themselves, identify their location, reach emergency contacts and get to predetermined safe locations. Teach your kids the various severe weather conditions When starting a business—from freelance photographer to a trendy bakery—it can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. We have some simple tips to set you up for success when you start your business. While it can be tempting to keep all your finances together, it won’t be simpler down the road. From taxes to future investors to your own memory, keeping your business and personal expenses in a separate account by Amber Thomason Entrepreneur Game • that a severe storm is heading your way there are ways to be more prepared. If a storm is sudden, go indoors if you see lightning or hear thunder, and don’t use items that plug into electrical outlets. Avoid using running water, as faucets can conduct electricity. • Earthquake. Practice the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” method, and learn to recognize safe places in each room at home and at school. • Hurricane. When you know a hurricane is expected, prepare your home for the possibility of impact. During the storm stay away from glass windows and doors, and be ready to follow hurricane evacuation instructions from emergency officials if necessary. • Flooding. Don’t go into flooded areas. Just six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet, and standing floodwater could be contaminated or contain sharp objects. If your car is affected in the storm, assess the damage. Also, being prepared with a Home Inventory might be helpful if you need to file an insurance claim in the case of lost or damaged possessions, help secure a settlement, and prove useful when verifying property loss for taxes. Setting up shop Before getting your small business up and running, you'll need to complete the following legal requirements. Consult an attorney and/or accountant for guidance relevant to your specific situation. 1. Decide your business structure. Is your business a sole proprietorship or a partnership? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can provide more information on types of business structures. 2. Most states require you to apply for one or more licenses, permits or identification numbers. Learn more about the small business requirements for your state. 3. If you plan to employ people to help run your small business, you'll need to apply for employee identification numbers through the IRS. 4. Determine whether you will use the calendar year or a fiscal year for taxes. Also talk to your State Farm® agent about special small business insurance needs. You'll want to do your best to protect the investments you've made, and important coverage can vary by business. We are small business owners and would love to help you get started on your dream today. • that a severe storm is heading your way there are ways to be more prepared. If a storm is sudden, go indoors if you see lightning or hear thunder, and don’t use items that plug into electrical outlets. Avoid using running water, as faucets can conduct electricity. • Earthquake. Practice the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” method, and learn to recognize safe places in each room at home and at school. • Hurricane. When you know a hurricane is expected, prepare your home for the possibility of impact. During the storm stay away from glass windows and doors, and be ready to follow hurricane evacuation instructions from emergency officials if necessary. • Flooding. Don’t go into flooded areas. Just six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet, and standing floodwater could be contaminated or contain sharp objects. If your car is affected in the storm, assess the damage. Also, being prepared with a Home Inventory might be helpful if you need to file an insurance claim in the case of lost or damaged possessions, help secure a settlement, and prove useful when verifying property loss for taxes. 1. Open a small business checking account. With a separate account and credit or debit card connected, you’ll have a log of all your business costs. Just be sure to use the right card when you’re checking out and ask for two separate transactions if you’re mixing business with pleasure. 2. Manually categorize your expenses in a spreadsheet. If you’d rather not open a new account, do this the old school way: keep a spreadsheet and update it religiously. A simple workbook with the date, merchant, cost, and a quick description will save you incredible amounts of time come tax time 3. Find out if you need to file a separate tax return for your business. Depending on your type and size of small business, you might need to file a separate tax return or just a separate section of your personal tax return. You’ve got customers to take care of to keep your small business running smoothly. But behind the scenes, you need to be taking care of your finances to avoid a mess down the road. For the sake of the IRS, future investors, and your own sanity, separating small business accounting is an essential • Company description or spreadsheet will help reduce financial angst in the part of being the rock star entrepreneur we know you are.Teach your kids about the different natural disasters and how to react in each. • Tornado. If you are in the path of a tornado, go into a tornado safe place. This is typically the lowest level of the building and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls. If you are outside with no car or nearby • Service or product line • Financial projections • Market analysis • Marketing and sales plan 4. Separate your business and personal expenses. While it can be tempting to keep all your finances together, especially Teach your kids about the different natural disasters and how to react in each. • Tornado. If you are in the path of a tornado, go into a tornado safe place. This is typically the lowest level of the building and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls. If you are outside with no car or nearby future. Come tax time, you’re going to separate business expenses and personal. Keeping them separate upfront will make April 15 a breeze while setting you on the right Amber Thomason and her staff have over 15 years of insurance and financial service experience and would love the opportunity to earn your business. Come home to a local agent that is dedicated to the life and needs of her Amber Thomason and her staff have over 15 years of insurance and financial service experience and would love the opportunity to earn your business. Come home to a local agent that is dedicated to the life and needs of her customers. 221 Thompson Dr., Kerrville. 830-315-5433. Amber Thomason and her staff have over 15 years of insurance and financial service experience and would love the opportunity to earn your business. Come home to a local agent that is dedicated to the life and needs of her Amber Thomason and her staff have over 15 years of insurance and financial service experience and would love the opportunity to earn your business. Come home to a local agent that is dedicated to the life and needs shelter, lie down in a ditch and protect your head. when there aren’t too many biz expenses at the beginning, it shelter, lie down in a ditch and protect your head. path to making sure you and your business get the max customers. 221 Thompson customers. 221 Thompson of her customers. 221 Thompson • Severe thunderstorm. If you have advanced notice won’t be simpler down the road. • Severe thunderstorm. If you have advanced notice tax return. Dr., Kerrville. 830-315-5433. Dr., Kerrville. 830-315-5433. Dr., Kerrville. 830-315-5433.

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