More and more business owners are going into stock trading, doing it through their companies as a means of managing money and generating more. It can
More and more business owners are going into stock trading, doing it through their companies as a means of managing money and generating more. It can be a really effective way to expand on the potential of a business and improve relevant skills. Could it work for you?
Keeping money active
Every business aims to keep a certain amount of capital in reserve in case of emergencies and so that it doesn’t miss out on great opportunities that may come along and need to be funded quickly. If money is just sitting in a standard business bank account, however, then it’s inactive – it isn’t doing anything for you. If you transfer it to a high earnings savings account, then you won’t be able to get at it quickly if it’s needed. Putting it into the right kind of stocks means that it can start generating dividends straight away and you’ll always have the option of turning it back into cash quickly.
Sharpening your skills
If you’re an employee, then it’s generally assumed that you’ll know more about a sector if you’ve worked for several companies within it. If you’re a business owner, however, then it’s difficult to do this unless your business ventures keep failing. Investing in stock is one way of getting a feel for the way that different businesses operate and thereby expanding the possibilities that you can see for your own. Make the right choices and it can give you insights into the supply and distribution dynamics on which your business depends. Although you should never use inside information to inform your trading, you can legitimately use your trading to get an education.
Building connections
Buying stock in other companies can also be a convenient way to expand your networks, potentially generating opportunities for your company in the future. As a shareholder, you’ll be entitled to attend board meetings and you’ll have the chance to get to know senior personnel. You can take the opportunity to pinpoint particular people who can be directly useful to you or who can introduce you to other, more influential individuals who could help improve your company’s prospects.
Other investment options
If you find that you’re putting a lot of money into investing, then you may want to start building up a balanced portfolio in order to give your business ongoing stability, creating a fund that will increase its day-to-day income as well as gradually building up to enhance its overall value. In this situation, it’s advisable to bring in additional asset types. Investing in bonds or property (such as the premises you work out of) can add stability. Investing in your employee pension fund can increase employee loyalty, brighten up your own future as an individual, and reduce your corporation tax bill. Adding in some more immediate options can increase your flexibility and immediate earning potential.
Forex and hedging
One immediate option that can be especially useful to businesses trading internationally is forex. This is because it can enable you to hedge against shifts in the comparative values of currencies over the period between negotiating a deal and actually paying (or being paid) for it. In effect, it enables you to trade on the global market without the risks entailed in currency fluctuation. Forex Explained is a useful place to find out more. Although there’s a learning curve involved in every new area of trading, you don’t need a high skill level in order to start hedging effectively.
Don’t try this at home
When they know that their employers are investing in the stock market, employees often ask if they can buy stock in the companies that they work for. The answer to this is yes – but it’s usually a bad idea. Why? Because first of all, it means that they have all their eggs in one basket – if something happens to the company, then they could lose their job and their investment at the same time. Secondly, it could put them in a position where they’re accused of insider trading, which can be very difficult to disprove. If you want to form this kind of relationship between your business and employees, then start a cooperative – otherwise, advise them to steer clear.
Moving into stock trading can really expand your horizons as a business owner, restoring some of the excitement you felt when you first started out. It’s relatively simple to do, and if you approach it in the right way, then it can give you a lot of advantages. All you need is a diligent approach to research and an eye for opportunity.
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