When it comes to finding out information that you need, it’s usually a good idea to get it right from the horse’s mouth; consulting an official source usually gets you the most accurate and up-to-date information. However, there are times when you might want to look into an un-official source for your needs. Here’s why you shouldn’t be afraid of going off the beaten path.

Un-Official Doesn’t Mean Bad

Most of the time when you see something that’s billed as the “un-official” guide to something or other, there’s a value judgment there that warns you: if it’s an un-official information source, there might not be the same kinds of quality control that you would get from an official source of information. However, this isn’t always the case, especially when it comes to things where the official information source is severely lacking in user-friendliness or ease of use.

For example, if you’re looking for information about the driving laws in California but you can’t make heads or tails of the state’s official Department of Motor Vehicles website, you can either begin asking your friends and relatives until you find someone that has a clue, or you could instead look for an alternative source of information. There are un-official third party websites out there that aren’t affiliated with the state in any way but simply act as reference guides for puzzled drivers trying to find out exactly what they’re going to have to do to pass their driving test or how they go about selling their car themselves, and these sites perform a valuable service. The best part about information websites like this is that the lion’s share of them are completely free to use; you won’t be able to conduct any official online transactions either of course such as renewing your license or registration, but a site that offers California DMV information will tell you exactly what you need to do and where to go to accomplish it on your own without any muss or fuss. In the end they are simply fantastic time-saving tools that can also preserve your sanity (and maybe even keep you from spending too much money, either!).

Un-Official Sources Can Provide Insider Information

Another great reason to rely on un-official sources instead of the official one is because the kind of insider information you might be in need of won’t be available anywhere else. For instance if you’ve ended up with a parking ticket that you really don’t want to have to pay – especially if you feel that you didn’t deserve the ticket in the first place  – you’re not going to find any information on beating a bogus parking ticket by going to the official Department of Motor Vehicles. Instead you’re going to have to go to an un-official source of information on beating parking tickets if you want to get out of that mess.

Six years ago I became fed up with the rat race. Two hours every day stuck in traffic. A boss who I wanted to punch in the nose. Co-workers who would stab me in the back given half a chance.

Maybe you can relate?

One day I woke up and decided I couldn’t go on like this any more. My life had to change.

I’d always wanted to start an online business, but never got round to it because I was scared of failure. This time things were different though. I was so fed up with my situation, that I knew I had to take a chance.

A couple of weeks later I quit my job and took the plunge. There was only a few thousand dollars in my bank account. This had to work.

I thought my family and friends would be supportive, but this was far from the case. In fact, they laughed when I started an online business…but once they saw me driving a Ferrari, their opinions started to change.

Fast forward six years and my business now has a multi-million dollar turnover every year. Want to discover my secrets? Read on…

It starts with being organized

If you want to follow in my footsteps to online riches, then it’s essential that you are organized. This means planning out your day the night before and not wasting a single second of productivity.

I’ve always used software from http://www.paypanther.com and I can’t recommend them highly enough. I can do things like manage business contacts, track upcoming tasks, and even automatically invoice my customers. Check it out.

The law of least effort

When you are first starting out in your online business venture, then you should practice the law of least effort. This means focusing on the few essential tasks that will take your business forward. Forget about everything else, it’s irrelevant.

You might want to look further into something called the Pareto Principle, which basically says that 80 percent of your results will come from 20 percent of your effort. I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, this is true.

Being aggressive

I didn’t become a multi-millionaire online business tycoon and recognized thought leader by being a big scaredy cat. Not a chance.

Instead, I aggressively went after my goals, and never gave up. Sure, at first I was a bit tentative, but once I set the wheels in motion and started to see success, nothing could stop me.

If you are looking for a credit card solution for your business, then you may have come across some companies offering free credit card processing.

Surely this can’t be true?

How could any company offer free processing without going out of business?

You’re right to be skeptical, as in this case, free doesn’t actually mean “free.”

Sure, you might get a free credit card processing machine or even be able to process credit cards free of charge for a certain period of time, but after a while you will have to start paying.

Not only that, but many of the companies offering these free deals, start to charge you very high rates once you are locked into a contract. These rates are way above the industry standard, which means this can seriously start to affect your bottom line.

Unfortunately, canceling these contracts is often impossible, unless you are prepared to pay a hefty fee to be released.

So do this mean you shouldn’t take advantage of free credit card processing offers?

Not exactly. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you have to read the terms and conditions to see what happens once you are locked into a contract.

For example, if a company is offering a free credit card machine, with no rates for the first month, and then very competitive rates for the remainder of the contract, then this is actually a very good deal and should be considered.

You can find out more information about free credit card processing by visiting http://www.paymentsavvy.com/Pay-N-Seconds-Convenience-Fee-Solutions

Ultimately though, it’s a wise idea to never get tied in to a long term contract. The reason? Because if you are on a monthly rolling contact and you find a cheaper deal elsewhere, then you can quickly get out of your obligations and go with the other company.

The credit card processing market is changing at a rapid pace, with new companies constantly entering the scene. This means you should always keep a close eye on what is currently being offered on the market, and never get complacent with your current provider.

If you are thinking of switching providers, then before you make the change, contact your current provider and inform them of your plans. They may be willing to negotiate if they value your business, so you can work out at even cheaper deal.

Ultimately though, there is no place for loyalty in the credit card processing world. If it’s time to jump ship and go elsewhere, don’t hesitate to do so.