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The Best Cheap Car Insurance

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  Overall rankings: Car insurance rates among the five largest companies 1. Geico For the general population, Geico offers the cheapest car insurance quotes on average nationwide. NerdWallet found an average rate of $1,297 a year in our study. Geico also provides a variety of easy-to-score discounts that can cut costs. Motorists who’ve gone five years without an accident qualify for the company’s good driver discount. There are also opportunities to save by insuring multiple vehicles, driving a car with air bags, always wearing seat belts and taking advantage of various other discounts. 2. State Farm State Farm ranks second for pricing among the four largest companies, but with an average quote of $2,296 per year, nearly $1,000 per year higher than Geico. The good news is drivers have ample opportunity to trim their costs, especially if they have a clean driving record. Among other savings opportunities, State Farm offers four separate discounts that

How to name a business: 7 keys to remember

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Taylor, whose company gives marketing advice to small businesses, offers these tips for coming up with a company name: Make it short. “Remember, your domain will also be used for social media profiles, so shorter is better,” she says. Make it memorable. “We don’t just type anymore, so make your name easy to remember,” Taylor says. “Also, if you have the kind of business that you’ll be promoting via video or radio, you’ll want to be able to say it and have people remember it.” Make it pronounceable. This is just as important as being memorable, Taylor says, “because if people can’t pronounce it, they won’t be able to remember or spell it.” It should be easy to spell a single way. “You don’t want to waste your marketing time and money teaching people how to spell your name. That doesn’t mean that you can’t get creative.” It should be “descriptive” or “brandable.” Taylor cites her own company name, DIYMarketers, which she said is “so clear, so brandable y

5 Best Industries for Starting a Business in 2017

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1. Health care As the 75 million baby boomers age, there’s increased demand for health care services. According to an outlook by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than half of the 20 occupations projected to have the highest percent increase in employment by 2024 are in the health industry. Meeting the needs of an aging population creates opportunities for physical therapists, doctors, optometrists and other specialists to open their own practices. Don’t have the expertise to open that kind of business? Starting a home health aide staffing firm is one idea you could pursue. According to the bureau, employment of home health aides is expected to increase 38% by 2024, and finding employees may be relatively easy since the job doesn’t require a degree. 2. Marijuana Good news for those with green thumbs: 28 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. IBISWorld predicts that industry revenue for medical and recreational marijuana

Where to Find Startup Business Loans 2017

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  SBA loans, and microloans from nonprofits The U.S. Small Business Administration has a microloan program that offers up to $50,000 for small businesses and some not-for-profit child care centers. The average SBA microloan is about $13,000. Here’s a list of providers. The downside of the microloan is the “micro” part: Funding may not be sufficient for all borrowers. The SBA’s flagship 7(a) loan program also offers financing that borrowers can use to start businesses. But 7(a) loans are tough to get. They typically go to established businesses that can provide collateral — a physical asset, such as real estate or equipment, that the lender can sell if you default. The qualifications are strict, and even if you qualify, the process can take several months. Microlenders and nonprofit lenders can be a less difficult route, especially if you have shaky finances. Many focus on minority or traditionally disadvantaged small-business owners, as well as small businesses

Microloans: 13 Top U.S. Nonprofit Lenders

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The Aspen Institute’s FIELD program runs the U.S. Microenterprise Census, which collects data from microlenders across the country. Here are the top five microlenders by total loan amount disbursed, according to the program’s 2014 survey, the most recent data available. Grameen America Grameen America is affiliated with the Grameen Foundation, an international organization known for programs that help poor communities address their own needs. Grameen America has disbursed more than $490 million in loans to tens of thousands of women in the U.S. The organization has a nontraditional lending system: Borrowers must form a group with four other women they trust. That group then participates in a week of financial training, at the end of which each member opens a savings account and receives a $1,500 microloan to build a small business. Microloans disbursed in 2014: $100.7 million LiftFund San Antonio-based LiftFund offers microloans in the southern U.S

iPhone 7S release date, news and rumors

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Apple's iPhone 7S release date is right around the corner, and it's ready to give you new features and fresh specs at a normal iPhone price, according to latest rumors. That's going to make it the right choice for a lot of people who want to upgrade their iPhone and shy away from a potential expensive, experimental iPhone 8. Yes, if true, Apple would be embracing choice with its smartphones, releasing an iPhone 7S, and iPhone 7S Plus , and then a super-premium new iPhone. But what will make the iPhone 7S better than the iPhone 7 ? It won't be size, but it may pack plenty of speed, wireless charging and maybe a new screen.

iOS 11 release date, news and features

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The iOS 11 release date may be Wednesday, September 13, as Apple gets the software update out there between the iPhone unveiling and its actual shipping date. With the iPhone 8 launch event invites set for Tuesday, September 12, we're a few short days from big changes for your iPhone and iPad. What's it like? Is it worth the hassle of downloading unfinished software? We've added our thoughts on every major iOS 11 feature below. iOS 11 is transforming your iPhone and iPad, and Apple's update is either out right now or coming this month, September, depending on who you are. It's an especially big upgrade for the iPad, which can be considered a laptop replacement (for some people) thanks to revamped iOS multitasking. Both the iPad and iPhone get a much-needed Control Center reorganization, too. There are new camera modes, Siri is smarter, and iOS 11 (finally) thrusts Apple to the forefront of augmented reality innovation with ARKit.