Myth One

Myth:Wall decals are stickers

Reality:No. A “true” wall decal is cut from vinyl. Vinyl is a synthetic material that appears like a thin plastic,but it is not plastic. A decal will have a backing paper and a low tack application tape on the front. It will be very thin so it appears hand painted.

Vinyls are self adhesive,much thinner than a sticker,and are able to withstand heat which can be used to ensure it sticks properly to the surface. A sticker would just bubble,but vinyl likes the heat and will contour to the surface.

Stickers are on a sheet,and you peel up the corner of the design and pull it off the backing paper and then stick onto another surface. Basically a sticker is a print onto paper which has adhesive. Sometimes this paper is glossy,sometimes it is plastic coated etc. They can be made of vinyl,but are much thicker and don’t look like they are hand painted. Generally stickers look cheaper and more temporary than a true decal.

Myth Two

Myth:Decals are only for walls

Reality:No. In fact,decals are best applied to the hardest,flattest surface possible. They love drywall,glass,formica,painted wood,steel,plastic. Can be applied to painted plaster,(might require heat to assist in application),and absolutely does not work with stucco and brick surfaces.

In reality,decals and surface graphics can be applied to any surfaces that you imagine as long as they fit with the above. Try applying decals to a ceiling! A floor! A fridge! A filing cabinet! A reception desk! Decals and surface graphics work on many surfaces.

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Myth Three

Myth:Wall decals and surface graphics are as easy as PEEL AND STICK.

Reality:No. This is not true. Wall decals come with a backing paper and a low tack application tape. These are used to assist in applying the pre-spaced letters and designs to the surface. You need to follow the instructions,work slowly and often require two sets of hands to complete the application. However,once applied they are absolutely worth the effort!!!!

Myth Four

Myth:Surface graphics ruin the paint.

Reality:Mmmmm. Always a hard one when it comes to paint. If your paint is poorly applied or old,anything will ruin it,not just decals. Bubbling paint will lift simply by running your hand over it,so never mind having something stuck to it.

We always recommend using heat to remove the decals or surface graphics. Heat will loosen the adhesive and make removing the vinyl a simpler task. If you paint was good to start with,it will survive having a surface graphic placed on it.

Myth Five

Myth:Decals can only be used inside.

Reality:Decals and surface graphics can be used inside and outside. The rule is that decals won’t stick to rough surfaces,so if you are trying to apply to a rough surface outside,no,it probably won’t stick. But,if you are sticking the decal to the outside of a garden shed,or applying the decal to an outdoor patio as a feature,then absolutely it work. Exposure to UV,rain and other environmental elements will be okay for the vinyl for up to 7 years (depending on the level of exposure).

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Myth Six

Myth:Wall decals are reposition-able.

Reality:No. They are not. Many companies claim they are,but the fine print is they accept no responsibility if they don’t. Very convenient for those companies. You have already paid your money for something you think will restick and then it doesn’t.

Decals are made of self adhesive vinyl. Good decals are made of ultra thin vinyl. So if you can imagine lifting a very thin sticker off a hard surface,it will most certainly be damaged where a) you have picked at the corner to lift it and b) where it stretches as it is lifted away from the hard surface. Plus,some of the adhesive is left on the surface,so the next time you apply the stretched,damaged decal,it won’t stick for very long.

The team at Cool Art Vinyl know their stuff. When purchasing wall decals or surface graphics,think of it as a single application purchase and you won’t be disappointed.

Myth Seven

Myth:Decals look like hand painted murals and designs on the surface.

Reality:Right On! Well-made,good quality decals are absolutely fantastic as a decorating item. Generally they are low cost and beat the price of someone hand painting or doing calligraphy on the wall. We regularly do comparison quotes against painters and our prices are a third if not a half of the competition.-

Umbrella Company Pension Schemes – What You Need to Know

Pension schemes help employees put money aside for retirement directly from their wage. The problem for self-employed professionals is that they need to manage this themselves,either by setting up a pension scheme or saving money from their income.

Fortunately,umbrella companies class contractors as employees,giving them all the benefits of employment. That includes a pension scheme,which now requires contribution from the umbrella company too. Let’s take a closer look at the statutory pension schemes available through umbrella companies.

Auto-enrolment pensions

In 2012,the UK Government decided that workers weren’t saving enough for their retirement. People were relying too much on the State Pension,which had not received adequate funding to match the continuing rise in life expectancy and an ageing population.

To combat this,they introduced automatic enrolment. The new system,rolled out from 2012 to 2018,requires employers to automatically enrol eligible employees onto a workplace pension scheme. Employers are also responsible for deducting contributions from their pre-tax income and making a minimum statutory contribution to the employee’s savings.

In October 2012,this minimum contribution was set to 1 percent for employees,which was matched by employers,rising in 2018:

• October 2012 to 5th April 2018: employers 1%,employees 1%
• 6th April 2018 to 5th April 2019: employers 2%,employees 3%
• 6th April 2019 onwards: employers 3%,employees 5%

However for anyone that doesn’t want to contribute to a pension once you’re enrolled you can still opt out.

Umbrella company pension scheme

Working through an umbrella company,contractors are classed as an employee. That means,yes,you are automatically enrolled onto the umbrella company’s pension scheme as long as you meet the following criteria:

• Your work is primarily UK-based
• You earn more than £10,000 per year
• You’re between 22 and the state pension age.

Until 5th April 2019,3% of your pre-tax salary will go directly into a pension fund,with the umbrella company contributing a further 2%. From 6th April 2019,5% of your pre-tax salary will go into the same pension fund,with your umbrella company contributing a further 3%.

The benefits of an umbrella company pension

Some contractors may worry that this will eat away at their wages. Don’t. Pension contributions are made before your wages are taxed. That means anything that goes from your wage into your pension fund is tax-free rather than being taxed at 20% or even 40%. So,instead of receiving 60% of your income,you receive 100% via a pension fund.

Let’s say you earn over £46,351 per year,which puts you in the higher rate band of income tax. Anything you earn beyond that £46,351 per year (roughly £3,863 per month) is taxed at a rate of 40%. You get just £60 for every £100 of income. Why not put the full £100 straight into the pension fund instead?

That’s why many people,especially those in the higher rate band of income tax,choose to put more than the minimum into their pension fund. And this is entirely possible. Contractors can contribute up to £40,000 to their pension scheme per year,comprising tax-free income and employer contributions. Currently,there is a lifetime allowance of £1,030,000 which can be contributed before incurring any tax.

Using your funds

With the increased earnings of contracting,it’s common for contractors to retire early. Alternatively,you might simply want to get some of the money out for a holiday,new car or home improvement. The good news is: you don’t have to wait until the state pension age to access the pension funds you’ve built up through your umbrella company pension.

Once you’re 55 or over,you can access up to 25% of your pension pot as a tax-free lump sum. Anything beyond the 25% will be taxed as an addition to the rest of your income that tax year – either 20% over £11,850,40% over £46,351 or £45% over £150,000,as things currently stand. That’s why most people choose to take their pension as regular income once they have retired,to minimise the amount of tax paid.

What about limited companies?

Contractors who operate as a limited company can still benefit from the tax relief of a pension scheme. However,as with most things relating to limited companies,this requires a lot more effort on their part. Firstly,they have to get the right balance between salary and dividend payments to increase the limit on their pension contributions.

Because employer contributions,such as pensions,count as a business expense,they are subject to tax relief. So,when you contribute to your pension scheme,as a director,the company could save money in corporation tax.

However,this has added complications because it needs to be fully compliant as an allowable expense. Any other employees,for example,should be given comparable packages to prove to HMRC that it is a genuine business expense.

On top of all that,using a limited company pension scheme means setting up and paying into the pension fund yourself. Along with all the other administrative work for limited company owners,it’s definitely worth seeking advice and assistant from a trusted accountant.

Get the right assistance

Whether you’re looking to compare umbrella companies or find the right accountant,you can make the right choice with -. Our online comparison tool lets you assess multiple companies in a matter of minutes. It couldn’t be easier to take the hassle out of contracting. Contact us today for more information.

5 Easy Facts About Invoice Generator App Free Shown

After putting in the details,you can then conserve or just instantly print the professional-looking invoice. Invoice Generator App. Track your billings the amount paid,balance due and total. Allow your customer to pay using a credit card. You will know when your customer opens the invoice. Stay arranged the payment and customer record. Able to publish your own logo. Unlimited storage and customer contacts. Create your in. Track your invoice template by Spark Invoice Maker.

You can use it to send billings for several types of work. All you have to do is put in details about the work and payments. You can then download the invoice as a PDF and have a professional-looking way to request payments. You can to add and modify row any time. Able to modify and add text within the template. Automated compute Tax and totalDownload the invoice in PDF format. It’s a complimentary tool by Invoicely. You can do more handle clients,accept payment online,etc,when you register with them (It’s free!)Sample of a complimentary invoice template at Spark Invoice Maker.

Utilizing the three templates,you can develop your own billings by entering your info and downloading it as a PDF file. You can also print it or send it straight from the site after you finish customizing your invoice. Usage various invoice template (3 layouts to select from)Modification to the currencies that fits you. Add your own tax and discount rate valueUpload your logo design and add a note to the invoice. Send the invoice through email and receive paymentCreate a complimentary represent more innovative features. Choose the invoice template that fits your organization by Online Invoices. Zoho is understood for using a wide variety of web-based organization tools such as Zoho CRM,Zoho Reports,Zoho Inventory,Zoho Expenditures,and Zoho Books.