United States Capital Corporation Blog

Recently, we’ve been honored with a number of testimonials from our wonderful customers. We’re extremely grateful to have the opportunity to do business with such generous people, and it’s great to hear that the feeling is mutual. Here’s a testimonial we got earlier this week:

To whom it may concern:

Recently I took advantage of a financing offer from US Capital in order to expand my Laundromat. I had previously worked with two other financiers that specialized in financing of laundry equipment.

I could not let the experience with US Capital go unnoticed to my colleagues. In my many years in business I have not encountered such caring, personable, professional and friendly service as I did from this company and especially from Kirk Stone and Susanne Leopold! They wowed me with how they handled our request and had the loan approved in less than twenty four hours!

I regret not having heard about this company earlier and would recommend them to anyone looking for a loan.

Bravo! Thank you US Capital.

-Laundromat Owner, Western New York

If you have financing or leasing needs, call us at 866-590-8506. We look forward to hearing from you!

This is the second and final part on our series about counterfeit goods in the Unites States. If you’d like to read part one, where we discuss the top five most common counterfeit goods, click here.

6. Perfume – Counterfeit perfume can be a dangerous thing, because more effort is put into copying the packaging and bottles than the perfume itself. This can not only cause the scent to be way off, but it means that anything could be in that bottle– things you probably don’t want touching your skin.

7. Watches – People have been making fake watches for a long time, but new technology has made it so counterfeiters can make them look surprisingly close to the real thing. Be sure to look closely at the box, certificate, and serial numbers.

8. Cigarettes – The chemicals used in counterfeit cigarettes are often even worse than the real thing. Also, they don’t have the controlled burn that real cigarettes have, so they’re an even larger fire hazard.

9. Computer Hardware – These may be easy for some counterfeiters as far as looks are concerned, but you’ll be able to tell right away if your motherboard or modem doesn’t work. Another tell-tale sign is the documents and instructions they come with — these are rarely done well.

10. Toys and Games – This category covers everything from video games, to stuffed animals, and even Legos. Since the manufacturing of these products isn’t regulated, there’s a higher chance that they could be hazardous to children.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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According to CNN Money, over 25,000 shipments of counterfeit goods were being shipped into the country last year. All these shipments totaled to a whopping $178.9 million. Here are the first five most common counterfeit goods, and some ways to avoid being tricked into buying them:

1. Electronics – This category is as broad as it sounds. Everything from music players, smart phones, and even headphones are falsely sold under popular brand names. The best way to avoid this is to only buy the brand’s products from authorized sellers.

2. Shoes – Counterfeit shoes can also come in all brands and styles. Whether it’s athletic shoes or dressy high-heels, no shoe is off limits. Once again, it’s recommended to only buy from trusted outlets, but if you’re a connoisseur, you might be able to tell just from trying it on.

3. Drugs – With the high price of pharmaceuticals in the United States, some people are turning to cheaper, online ordering. Many of these counterfeits contain ingredients that could do even more damage than the malady they’re supposed to cure.

4. CDs and DVDs – Since movies, music, and software can be copied digitally, it can easily be transferred to a disc. From there, the packaging can look stunningly close to the real thing. These counterfeits are usually new releases, so be particularly wary of ordering new products online.

5. Clothing – Counterfeit clothing is often made in foreign countries, and they do a good job of making them look like the original. Logos are easy enough to replicate, but where the counterfeiters usually have trouble is not being able to match the feel of the clothing, since they use cheaper material.

Be sure to come back later this week when we post part two, or see it on Twitter and Facebook.

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Very few people actually enjoy tax season, but that doesn’t mean you should rush the process. This year, taxes are due on April 17th instead of the standard April 15th, due to a holiday. We recommend using these extra two days to get the most out of your tax return.

According to CBS News, there are eighteen credits and deductions to keep an eye out for. It’s unlikely that all of them will apply to you, but as long as you’ve got two more days to work on your taxes, these are worth learning more about:

1. IRA/Roth Conversion
2. Roth IRA Conversion
3. Itemized deductions and personal exemptions
4. Child Tax Credit
5. Earned Income Tax Credit
6. Child and Dependent Care Credit
7. Retirement Savings Contribution Credit
8. Energy and Appliance Tax Credit
9. The American Opportunity Tax Credit
10. Lifetime Learning Credit
11. Tuition and Fees Deduction
12. Miscellaneous deductions
13. Sales tax
14. Medical expenses
15. Mileage
16. Mortgage insurance deduction
17. Enhanced adoption credits
18. Classroom deduction for teachers

Ron Hirsch, President of Direct Machinery, recently shared this testimonial about his company’s experience with United States Capital Corporation:

We are very pleased with the finance partnership we share with US Capital Corporation. We have found their service to be dependable, creative and quick! Their ability to work with each customer and assistance in closing additional sales is appreciated.

The whole team at Direct Machinery truly appreciates the great cooperation and follow- through experienced with all of our finance opportunities.  Laura Bentley in particular has gone to great measures to get all of the information from the customer that is required.  She has made what for us has been typically difficult information for us to obtain an easy and quick process.

US Capital has the same philosophy in customized service that Direct Machinery prides itself on great personalized service!

Ron Hirsch, President

Direct Machinery

Hicksville, NY

Thank you for the kind words, Ron — we look forward to doing business with you in the future!

For many, “taxes” is a dirty word. Even if you’ll get a hefty amount back in your return, the hassle itself is reason enough to put it off until the last minute.

According to U.S. News, that may not be the wisest choice. Having the initiative to file early comes with several benefits:

1. Save money — If you end up owing money, you’ll want to know about it as soon as possible. Filing early will give you the maximum amount of time to budget and plan out how you’ll pay your debt. On the other hand, if you end up getting a refund, you can use it to pay off loans and other debt. This will lower the net amount of interest you pay.

2. Reduce stress — Doing your taxes is one of those tasks that weighs on your conscience until it’s done. If you wait too long, you’ll be more stressed and hurried to get it done, and more likely to make a mistake.

3. Good help is easier to find — The best accountants and tax professionals get taken fast. If you file early, your chances of finding the best help is much higher.

4. Receive your refund faster — In #1, we mentioned the benefits of getting your refund sooner, but if you file early you’ll also get it faster. The wait time for getting your refund is lower the earlier you file, because the IRS isn’t swamped with other filers.

5. Give yourself a grace period — You can never accurately guess how long it will take to file your taxes. Maybe something will happen in your life that demands your immediate attention, or maybe you’ll spend a week looking for a document that you didn’t know you’d need. Things happen, and it’s best to be prepared for the worst.

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This infographic looks at how the average American household spends its yearly income.

Do any of these numbers surprise you? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook, or leave a comment below.

Dick LaMaina, President of Equipment Marketers, was kind enough to make this testimonial, where he discusses how much he has enjoyed doing business with us over the years.

Thank you for the wonderful words, Dick, the feeling is certainly mutual!

For more videos, visit our YouTube channel.

Last week, Yahoo! Finance posted a great article relating credit mistakes to the seven deadly sins. These are mistakes that people make all the time, but are easily avoidable.

When you’re reading these, keep in mind that your personal finance and credit can affect how easy it is for your business to get financing. Here are seven things you can avoid to make your credit much stronger:

Gluttony: Bumping Up Against Your Credit Limit

When you know that you’re credit limit is a certain amount, it’s tempting to take full advantage of it. Not only does this increase your chance of slipping into debt, but it looks bad on a credit report.

Pride: Not Checking Your Credit Score

Even if you know that you should have a terrific credit score, it might not be the case. Mistakes happen, and it can take a long time to fix them once you find out about them. By that point you may have missed the opportunity for a loan that you needed, all because you didn’t bother to keep track of your credit score. Everyone can get one free report a year, and it’s wise to use it.

Greed: Taking Out a Cash Advance

Cash advances often come along with a shocking interest rate, and hardly make it worth the trouble. It’s much smarter to save your credit card for purchases that only require a swipe.

Envy: Applying for a Card That’s Out of Your League

These days, a lot of credit cards come with bells, whistles, and rewards. While some of these may seem flashy and appealing, credit cards are not a one-size-fits-all luxury. What works for your friend might not work for you, and vice-versa. It’s important to be realistic about what kind of card you need, and what kind of card you can get. That way, you’ll get the card that’s perfect for you.

Wrath: Closing All Your Credit Card Accounts

When you have a sour experience with your credit card, it may seem like a good idea to close your account and rid yourself of the hassle. But if you do this too much and without a good enough reason, it can end up negatively influencing your credit score. Instead, just stop using that particular card, but leave the account open.

Sloth: Not Checking Your Monthly Credit Card Statements

A lot of people sign up for automatic payments with their card, and then forget about them. But once these start to add up, it can take down the fast track to debt. It’s a good idea to look at your statement every month. Plus, if you fall victim to identity theft, you’ll know about it right away.

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