Business and Money Tips

It always amazes me to see how our good government come up with so many handout schemes for businesses, like free consultancy, free ISO etc.  Handouts are good, but for how long?  As a entrepreneur, the motivating factor is not free money, but an environment where they can have a fair fight and prove their capabilities.  So when the government gives out money to the small businesses, the government needs to follow-up with more business opportunities. Otherwise, the money is not put to good use.  We know that in business money grows money, and handouts are good if they can be put to good use to generate more business. Otherwise, the money will be gone in no time. What I think the government should do to give more business opportunities for small businesses include: Law requiring the public sector and all big companies  to, before asking for quotes from foreign companies, to put up their purchase requisition in a website whereby  only local companies can quote, say for 2 weeks. 

As part of Budget 2015 announced by the Finance Minister on 23 February 2015 (summary at here ), the Singapore Government is giving all Singaporeans (aged 25 and above) $500 Training Credit called "SkillsFuture Credit". This training credit can be used for all types of training and will be disbursed to all Singaporeans in 2016 and will be topped up subsequently. We at Asia Trainers know that people want to take advantage of this training credit now, not one year later.  That's why we come out with our own " Quarterly $500 Training Credit" (QTC).  Any individual or company (foreigners included) aged above 13 can sign up for our QTC.  Upon signed up, you will be given $500 training credit, which will be used to offset 25% of our training fees.   This Quarterly $500 Training Credit will expire by 31 December 2015.  It will be topped up quarterly. Conditions: Each individual or company only given one QTC per quarter Each QTC can be used

(Note: You can take advantage of $500 Training Credit now, not 2016, details at here ) A quick summary of Singapore Budget 2015 as announced by Finance Minister on 23 Feb 15: High-income earners hit with higher taxes. Personal income tax top marginal rate to rise by 2% from 20-22% for top 5% of earners with chargeable income of $320,000 and above SkillsFuture $500 Credit f or all Singaporeans aged 25 and above: each will get $500 credit in 2016 that can be used for all types of training.  GST Voucher will be increased by $50 for all. Seniors will get another $300 GST vouchers All individual income tax will be reduced by 50% , capped at $1,000 for each person Companies will enjoy income tax rebate of 30% , capped at $30,000 Domestic maid levy will be halved to $60 from May 2015 for households with children aged 16 and below One-year 20% road tax rebate for cars and 100% tax rebate for commercial vehicles.  But petrol duty tax will increase by $0.15 to $0.20 per litre w