First of all, welcome to this new lunar year of the horse on the Chinese calendar and happy Chinese New Year! Based on the Chinese literature, people born in horse years are skillful with their money. We hope this is the case for all of us. In fact, finance analysts predict this year will be a great year in finance and accounting. Here are several top finance and accounting trends to watch in this new year:
The Rise of Small Business Entrepreneurship
With the economy on the rebound and technology on the rise, there’s a lot of talk about start-ups. Recent news and analysis show that top entrepreneurs are calling this year as the year of the entrepreneur. This is referred not just in developed nations but also across the world. The rise in entrepreneurship could be a result of employers wanting to save money by not paying benefits. A small business expert, J. Blasingame said that entrepreneurs who want to succeed need to focus on having a purpose beyond profit.
Dominant Role of Social Media & Internet
From small start-up businesses to big banks, more and more people are using social media and technology to do business. In fact, Apple recently announced that there are now more mobile devices on Earth than people. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? So this year, expect to see more finance based companies, like credit card companies and banks, with their own social media page and more promotions for customers. Maybe your small business should try this?
Increase of Property Market
The real estate market is finally making a comeback with the end of the housing crisis. Foreclosure filings were the lowest last year in almost 8 years. This year, analysts predict interest rates will go up three to 5%. This is obviously an encouraging news for everyone.
Use of Mobile Apps for Payments
We have seen some trends in using a rewards credit card (such as a airline or hotel) with some great benefits. In 2014, many companies are adding apps that track your expenses or let you know where to shop. We expect to see more mobile payment apps and even person-to-person payment services to send, receive or request money from anyone including friends, family and even landlords. Major banks in Australia and New Zealand such as Commonwealth Bank (with its Kaching apps) and ASB Bank (with its Mobile Banking Apps and Facebook Payments) have already introduced the funds transfer service. This could be a good idea for your small business to receive payments faster.
There are a lot of new finance trends for 2014. Hopefully, like those born in the year of the horse on the Chinese calendar, we are all skillful with our money. In the meantime, look out for these upcoming trends, which could help you save money in the future. Good luck with the new challenges ahead.