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Many things set Fortune 500 and established corporations apart from struggling firms. And just so you know, this is not just about the ability to make sales or generate revenue.

Many startups and even struggling firms make sales but they are not living the corporate dream. One of the major reasons for this is the lack of expert financial guidance. Many of them do not have a Chief Financial Officer to steer the course of business as it concerns finances.

This is very essential and is why every business needs to make the most of a chief financial officer. If you are interested in knowing what these professionals do, you can visit: https://www.investopedia.com/

This article will shed light on the role of a CFO, especially for small businesses. This is very important as these businesses are usually the ones that miss out on the benefits of engaging these experts. You are advised to keep reading especially if you run, own, or work in a small firm.

How a Chief Financial Officer’s Role will Benefit Small Businesses

 By making the most of capable CFO’s, small businesses are likely to benefit in the following ways:

Analytics

In simpler terms, this is about due reporting. Many businesses are unable to make informed decisions not because they are not willing to take the right actions. More often than not, the problem is that they do not have a good picture of where the company stands. This is especially as it concerns finances.

Well, this problem will be resolved if/when a CFO is brought on board. The practice of giving periodic financial reports of the company’s state will help. A CFO will ensure that the reports are presented promptly. This is so that important actions will be taken when the need arises.

Transparency and Accountability

The hope is that business grows in leaps and bounds. But as this happens, several changes need to be made to adapt to the new normal.

Some practices worked in the early stages but they would not work as the business grows. For instance, the bookkeepers are often given more than just bookkeeping roles to handle at the initial business stages.

At this stage, this does not seem like a problem as there is little to be done. However, the structure has to change as growth sets in. By and large, there is a need for transparency and accountability of the highest order.

This is so that financial loopholes will be avoided and checks & balances created at the very least. This is a possibility when a Chief Financial Officer is brought on board to help out.

Proper Financial Management

If your business will thrive or even survive in the long run; bills have to be paid, invoices filed, payments received, salaries paid, payments processed – promptly. All these have to do with a business having a healthy and well-managed financial structure.

Fortunately, a good CFO can help you achieve these financial goals. For more on how this financial expert can help achieve this, you can click here.

Speaking of financial management, working with a good CFO also helps you to make decisions out of foresight. This is about planning for the future. This helps especially when it is time for business scaling. It would be possible because previous financial data will be studied and analyzed to make future decisions.

Sourcing for Capital 

There is nothing wrong with sourcing for capital to grow a business. You should even know that many of the large and well-established corporations do this. However, it is difficult for many small businesses to raise the needed capital because of an unclear financial picture.

With a capable CFO, your financial information will be clearly outlined. This includes the growth experienced and how your business is creditworthy enough to get the needed capital. In other words, raising capital is easier with a CFO on board.

Various Forms of CFO Services for Small Businesses

As explained earlier, many of the established corporations understand the vital role of these experts. This is why many of them hire them on a full-time basis.

However, the case is somewhat different with small businesses. The cost implication of hiring a full-time CFO is one of the reasons for this.

But even at that, some of these businesses have their ways of enjoying what these experts have to offer. Generally speaking, this is by outsourcing the CFO services as this turns out to be more cost-effective. Some of the ways these small businesses make use of CFO services include:

Consultancy System

This expert can go as far as acting as the CFO on an interim basis. However, s/he is involved with a clear mission to help the company.

This might be to see them through a phase of transition financially and even managerially. The professional helps by offering due reports needed to make informed decisions.Another role this consultant plays is setting up procedures to help the business. In such cases, having an expert consultant can significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of these processes.

Virtual Professionals

As the tag “virtual” implies, these professionals are not stationed physically in the business’s location. However, they make the most of digital technology to help in several ways possible. It could even be as much as helping daily.

You should know that this option is very cost-effective. It has also proven very effective for many small businesses in need of this service.

Conclusion

Other than the two kinds that you have right above, there are at least 3 others. These are – single source, consortiums, and staffing firms. As you consider engaging one of these organization, choose one that it local to you may be your best move. While they can operate remotely, one that is local can operate both remotely and also be able to make the occasional physical appearance. If therefore you operate your business in a city like Sacramento, you can carry out a search for Sacramento CFO services to see local options you can choose from.

What Chief Financial Officers bring to the table will benefit even small businesses in lots of ways. We have shed light on this here and hope that you make the most of their services when the need arises. However, you also need to identify and work with the capable service providers in this line of work.

Our posture has a profound effect on various parts of the body, usually the spine, shoulder, neck, and legs. Improving your posture can save you a lot of pain and agony in the future. This article will focus on helping you improve various aspects of your posture for better health.

Stand Straighter

A common concern for those with a bad posture is how to correct their standing posture. Your standing posture is very noticeable and should be the first thing you should try to correct, as doing so solves many other issues.

The common advice is to stand straighter, but what exactly does this mean? To help you visualize what, doctors recommend thinking of it like being pulled upwards by a string. In this posture, your head is straight, your spine follows its natural curvature, and you do not have to strain your neck and shoulders.

Start by relaxing your shoulders and then moving them back. Keeping your feet slightly apart but not quite shoulder width, pull your abdomen inwards. Remember to distribute your weight evenly between your two feet and not tilt your head in any direction. 

Now relax your knees, keep your feet straight and hold this posture when you stand. Doing all this regularly should help improve your standing posture.

Do Some Exercises

One of the best ways to improve your posture is doing exercises that correspond with your posture. For example, if you often find yourself slouching in a chair, that could mean tension in the muscles causing you to seek a more comfortable posture. Sitting up and regularly doing back extensions, planks, and bridges can help with this.

If your bottom sticks out while you stand, that shows your spine is not curving correctly, a condition known as hyperlordosis. Core strengthening exercises, thigh stretches, bottom contractions, and hip flexor exercises can help. Also, be conscious of how you stand and try to make a conscious effort to stand straighter.

Jaw posture is not something many people think about, but how your face rests can profoundly affect how you look. There are common exercises for correcting jaw and facial posture, and this post covers several exercises that can help improve both.

Sit Better

With many people working in an office or sitting down, it is easy to get into bad habits that lead to the wrong sitting posture. You can correct this by doing a few things, starting with adjusting your chair and desk heights. You should adjust both such that your feet lie flat on the floor and your arms are at 90 degrees with your body. Also, ensure your seat is straight and your back is resting fully on the back of the chair.

To avoid bending forward or slouching, move your seat forward until you are in an optimal position. If you work with a computer, adjust the monitor’s height until your eyes are straight, and you can see every part of the monitor without too much strain.

Remember to always keep your shoulders straight and your neck, back, and shoulder muscles relaxed, especially if you sit for long periods.

Change Your Sleeping Posture

Most people do not think about their sleeping posture. Bad sleeping posture is a cause of back pain and not getting enough sleep. Start by getting a firm mattress that offers adequate support. Test it out first to ensure you get one that is just right for you.

Try to sleep on the side or back as these positions are better for your body and get a pillow that supports the shoulders and head.

When you think about improving your posture, look beyond your standing or sitting posture. How you sleep and the types of exercise you do also profoundly affect your posture.

Canada’s largest city, Toronto, has more than 2.6 million people. A world leader in important areas such as business, finance, and technology, Toronto is actually one of the leading cities for entertainment and culture.

With so many diverse attractions and destinations, Toronto will have no shortage of things to do to keep you occupied. From unique shops and restaurants to museums and the colorful entertainment district, Toronto has something for everyone.

If you want to learn more, keep reading to find out some of the best things to see while in the beautiful city of Toronto.

Image via Unsplash

The Royal Ontario Museum 

One of Toronto’s premier attractions is the Royal Ontario Museum. Fondly known as the ROM, this museum has an international reputation for excellence, with its more than 13 million artworks, natural history specimens, and cultural objects. 

The museum features the most extensive assortment of Chinese artifacts outside of China and the world’s most expansive fossil collection.

If what’s inside doesn’t catch your attention, the wonder that is the architecture of this museum is sure to pique your interest. With an ultra-modern and unique design, the museum overlooks Queens Park, located in the north of Toronto.

This attraction is perfect for a whole day outing where you can visit the museum and then travel to the beautiful Queens Park for a picnic.

The Toronto Hockey Hall of Fame

For those who love hockey and sports in general, Toronto has one of the best sporting attractions. Ice hockey has been a significant influence on Canadians since 1917 when the Toronto Maple Leafs was founded. The hockey hall of fame is a must-see for anyone passionate about hockey or interested in learning more about this legendary sport. 

The museum houses the prestigious Stanley Cup and features the history of some of the greatest players of the sport. It does a wonderful job showing these players’ history through different media forms such as film reels and artifacts. Additionally, there is also a state of the art multimedia interactive technology active that allows visitors to interact with the sporting history.

If you fancy yourself a broadcaster, you can recount the play by plays, and if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like playing with the greats, this technology will let you project yourself into a hockey game amongst the sporting legends. You may also read The NHL and Ice Hockey History to learn more

The Entertainment District

The Toronto Entertainment District is comparable to the famous New York Broadway. This district comes to life in the evenings and is an immensely popular attraction worth a visit. Featuring everything from major theatre productions where you can see the latest musicals and concerts to enjoying a night of fine dining at one of the many top-rated restaurants, the Entertainment district has something for everyone. 

The entertainment district is also home to numerous nightclubs. If you want to experience Toronto’s clubbing scene, then the entertainment district is the place to be. Sometimes a night out can become a bit more than you planned it to be, and this might result in some injuries, luckily you can contact a Toronto injury lawyer to assist you with any legal claims you may need to make. 

With the help of a lawyer, you won’t have your memories tainted by unfortunate circumstances as an attorney can often help you resolve any issues you may have speedily. In no time, you will be roaming the entertainment distinct attractions once again and socializing with friends and family along the famous King Street.

The CN Tower

This list of things to see in Toronto wouldn’t be complete unless the CN tower was mentioned. Arguably Canada’s most recognizable icon, the CN tower began construction in 1973 and was completed in 1976 by the Canadian railway company, Canadian National. This gorgeous architectural masterpiece stands at 1815.4 ft. tall.

Almost impossible to miss, this structure definitely should be on your must-see list while in Toronto. You might not think that visiting a tower structure would be enjoyable, but you won’t want to miss out on this attraction with all there is on offer.

The tower features a lookout at 346 meters with a glass floor and wall to wall glass windows; you will be able to look out onto the city sights from this birds-eye view. If you’re an adventure seeker, then the CN tower won’t disappoint. You can take a trip on the adventurous side by walking on the edge walk, which involves a hands-free walk on a narrow ledge outside the main pod.

Let’s not forget the restaurant within the CN tower aptly named the 360 restaurant. Here you can enjoy a meal at a table that undeniably has the best views in Toronto. Those who choose to dine here during lunch or dinner will receive complimentary passes to the CN tower’s lookout and glass floor levels.

There are many more amazing attractions and sites to see while in Toronto. This is but a few of them that are on offer. There is an attraction and activity available, whether you prefer sports and adventure or museums and art; Toronto has something for everyone. 

 

Sigma remains to be among the go-to third-party brands of photographers for lenses and camera accessories. Despite its demand and popularity, why are Sigma lenses cheaper, and will they withstand the various travel adventures you take them on? We’re going to look into factors why Sigma can produce quality lenses while being less expensive than its competitors.

Why Are Sigma Lenses Cheaper?

Sigma lenses are cheaper because they have fewer parts and simpler lens configuration. This results in efficient construction that minimizes manufacturing costs. Besides that, limited focal length ranges also avoid aspherical complexity to ensure lower prices yet quality optics.

As Sigma continues to level the playing field by developing top-notch lenses of various focal ranges, let’s look at how the Japanese photography manufacturing company offers lenses that suit the budget of photographers.

What Makes Sigma Lenses Cheaper

Third-party lenses are optimized for a lower price because Sigma lenses have less complex mechanisms and simpler craftsmanship. Even though these third-party lenses can be used on Nikon and Canon camera bodies, some lens models also lack optional features that became the selling point for premium lenses. 

From the photography industry’s first teleconverter lens in 1961 up to its premium compact prime line last year, Sigma continues to find cost-efficient ways to elevate its status as a front-runner in the lens manufacturing market.

Manufacturing Process and Craftsmanship

The market expects a global shipment of 250 million lens units by 2027 due to the increased demand for high-performance camera lenses. However, complexity is one of the things that directly affects manufacturing costs. This determines the sophistication of a product, including its production processes for the final output.

With 6 decades of optical engineering experience, Sigma was able to develop a unique production system and manufacturing technology. Thanks to testing and quality control phases, Sigma keeps its lens designs simpler to reduce production expenses and make manufacturing faster.

• 3D measurement: Sigma’s processing technology ensures absolute precision in molding parts, especially the lens cells. The fast process enables the company to save time in production, consequently preventing additional costs to consumers.
• Thermally efficient plastic: Expensive lenses typically have metallic materials. In contrast, Sigma can create cheaper lenses using thermally stable composite plastic, which shares the similar thermal expansion of aluminum.
• Raw material selection: Sigma incorporates trivalent chromium in its lens production. It enables the company to create plating films that are only 0.5 micrometers thick. Unlike other lenses that use highly toxic hexavalent chromium, trivalent chromium is an environmentally friendly alternative for preventing corrosion of the lens barrel.
• Motor: Another major contributor to Sigma’s cheap lenses is its motor design. Its cheaper models don’t use Hyper Sonic Motor, which provides silent and highly responsive autofocus.
• Ruggedness: While this also applies to other brands, Sigma can reduce lens prices by excluding weather sealing. This feature isn’t required for lenses, although this is beneficial to outdoor photographers who are usually exposed to environmental elements like water, dirt, and dust.

Optics Production

Sigma starts by refining raw glass into lens shapes. Due to automation, robotic molding finetunes the optical components. This product assembly reduces the number of elements in the lens, reducing production costs.

While considered a generic third-party brand, not all Sigma lenses are compatible with the mounts of leading camera manufacturers, such as Canon, Nikon, Fuji, and Sony. These brands normally have property information about their camera mounts.

Furthermore, Sigma lenses with rounded glasses at the front make them incompatible with screw-on filters. While the design eliminates vignetting, it also prevents lenses from having the fastest apertures possible.

Lens Resolution and Magnification

Sigma has a 1.4m minimum focusing distance, whereas its competitors tend to have 1.2m. In addition, Sigma lenses have a 0.13x maximum magnification rate, while lenses of other brands usually work 0.21x.

However, that is not to say that Sigma lenses have poor lens resolution. It’s just that certain models aren’t on the same status as Zeiss or Leica lenses. This is the tradeoff for having compact and lightweight lenses that offer flexibility to photographers.

Cheaper Sigma Lenses Cater to Beginner Photographers

Sigma lenses are popular among photographers who use mirrorless cameras or are looking for a more budget friendly option for taking travel photos. For example, Sigma has a holy trinity of prime lenses: 16mm f/1.4, 30mm f/1.4, and 56mm f/1.4. All of these work on Sony APS-C E-mount cameras.

It’s not that entry-level photographers don’t deserve high-end equipment. Keep in mind that while lenses can improve your photography, the output still significantly depends on your creativity and techniques.

It would be easy to develop a shooting technique when you can practice on a cheap lens. In effect, it will also be easier for you to post-process images. On the other hand, even the most expensive and best-built lenses would produce blurry images if incorrectly used.

Conclusion

Despite its international reputation, Sigma offers cheaper lenses because of ergonomic construction processes, alternative materials, and simple lens configuration. However, make sure that you weigh in if the low price provides the focal length, features, and benefits necessary for your photography style.