Looking for Remax rental homes in Ventura, California? There are Remax homes for rent on the market in Ventura County, California, and the best place to go online to find them is located at Remax Gold Coast Realtors, ventura-county-relocation.com. At this website, there is a full service Remax real estate service that has an easy-to-operate site for your convenience in locating rental property in Ventura County, California.
At Ventura-county-relocation.com, you can find homes everyplace within the county of Ventura in Califonia, as well as many homes located within the area to be sold, if you are in the market to buy. There is a Remax Gold Coast Realtors office located right within the city of Ventura, for your convenience, and all the contact information that you will need is located right at the official website for you to get in touch quickly with a Remax realtor in one of the Cold Coast Realtors offices.
So, what are you waiting for? You can go there right now, and search around the site, see what's available online, and get in touch quickly with one of the Remax agents at the office. This site is ideal for those interested in Remax rental homes in Ventura California.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Doing Internet Business
Internet provides good opportunities for the entrepreneurs and the small businesses, doing business online offers unique challenges & needs new skills. Get knowledge that you require with hands on advice from qualified e-business professionals. There are many ways to earn money on Internet. You will be able to sell your item, sell other peoples item & make some commissions, take reviews for gifts & cash and play some games for money; just to name some.
With all opportunity Internet needs to present, it is no doubt that thousands of businesses have now emerged. Internet has turned out to be a perfect place to market that anybody has to present & has made one of the largest home business chances of centuries. Many people who might not have been capable to start the business are now getting their option. The Internet business is completely achievable if you concentrate on right things. Put up your business with the customer in mind and learn to reach out problems & after that bombard it with the solutions. Be receptive, caring, & considerate. Know that it takes some money to earn money. Think about all decisions cautiously, listen to experts, & be constant. If that is not sufficient here are some additional starters, which are positive to make the difference.
Internet is not just good place that will make you rich with good ideas and service, however is also great means to help in the business transactions. Major benefit is that info about products and selling of the products is linked like never before. Web is great for the business on equal ends of exchange due to convenience & speed. Customer will just order the products with given codes that eliminate need to copy code and double check to make sure the accuracy.
Setting up the business on Internet is a profitable way to draw customers, increase your market, & increase the sales. For most part, steps to starting the online business are same as beginning any of the business. However, doing business on Internet comes with the additional legal & financial considerations, mainly in areas of security, privacy, copyright, & taxation.
Doing business Online can as well mean moving or supplementing existing business purposes, not only opening the online shop. It is significant “first impression” & a powerful tool for the info. When geared to existing clients and customers, it will significantly raise their satisfaction & loyalty.
By: Regon Wilamsen
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
99% Of The Time You Are Not Making Any Money Online Is Because You Got The Rules And Foundation Totally Wrong (And Upside Down). Learn How To Make A Real 4 Digit Online Income Every Month By Grabbing Welly Mulia's Free Report "Your First 100 Dollars Online" And By Visiting His Blog For More Internet Business Make Money Online Secrets and Tactics.
With all opportunity Internet needs to present, it is no doubt that thousands of businesses have now emerged. Internet has turned out to be a perfect place to market that anybody has to present & has made one of the largest home business chances of centuries. Many people who might not have been capable to start the business are now getting their option. The Internet business is completely achievable if you concentrate on right things. Put up your business with the customer in mind and learn to reach out problems & after that bombard it with the solutions. Be receptive, caring, & considerate. Know that it takes some money to earn money. Think about all decisions cautiously, listen to experts, & be constant. If that is not sufficient here are some additional starters, which are positive to make the difference.
Internet is not just good place that will make you rich with good ideas and service, however is also great means to help in the business transactions. Major benefit is that info about products and selling of the products is linked like never before. Web is great for the business on equal ends of exchange due to convenience & speed. Customer will just order the products with given codes that eliminate need to copy code and double check to make sure the accuracy.
Setting up the business on Internet is a profitable way to draw customers, increase your market, & increase the sales. For most part, steps to starting the online business are same as beginning any of the business. However, doing business on Internet comes with the additional legal & financial considerations, mainly in areas of security, privacy, copyright, & taxation.
Doing business Online can as well mean moving or supplementing existing business purposes, not only opening the online shop. It is significant “first impression” & a powerful tool for the info. When geared to existing clients and customers, it will significantly raise their satisfaction & loyalty.
By: Regon Wilamsen
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
99% Of The Time You Are Not Making Any Money Online Is Because You Got The Rules And Foundation Totally Wrong (And Upside Down). Learn How To Make A Real 4 Digit Online Income Every Month By Grabbing Welly Mulia's Free Report "Your First 100 Dollars Online" And By Visiting His Blog For More Internet Business Make Money Online Secrets and Tactics.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Online Banking Is It For You?
Before signing up for online banking I'm sure you will want to know how safe your money will be. There are stories that abound of how people have their money stolen via online transfer and other online banking services. It is true that at a particular time during the inception of online banking, great losses were recorded in relation to fraud and theft. However, today banks now use highly sophisticated software that detect fraudulent activities and restrict unauthorized access to your account.
The evolution in the banking sector really began with automated teller machines (ATM) and later moved into the telephone stage, where you can make financial transaction by calling your bank. Later the direct bill payment and the full online banking financial transactions came into the picture. Up to today, online banking has proved itself useful and acceptable, but there is always the issue of security popping up.
Online banking has facilitated various banking operators with ease for the bank and you the customer. The success of this kind of banking originates from the ability of the banks to give the account users unique usernames and passwords. Whenever you logon to the bank's website with your unique username and password, you will be able to access your account.
As an online account holder you can avoid the fees usually charged for check writing or other transactions. Also, online banking offers better deals such as reduced or no monthly charges. Many online banks also now even allow online trading; giving you the opportunity to use their systems for other financial needs.
Internet banking is the type of operation that is carried out by the bank for its customer via the Internet. It has been able to expand the banking operations. Internet banking has cut off lots of costs on the banking operation and has improved the conveniences enjoyed by the customers.
With the advent of online banking, it is now possible to search for banks beyond the shores of your residence country. With this method you can take advantage of banking services that are not provided in your country of residence.
Are you the type of person that doesn't really like to socialize and doesn't like being around too many people. You can avoid the crowd at the banks and at the centers where they pay your bills by simply using your online account. With online banking, you can make deposits and withdrawal without walking into the crowded banking hall.
Using the bank of America online account to settle your bills will reveal to you that it is a step ahead of other banks' online banking offers. Apart from the ease in transaction, your account is not debited until the payment is received by the payee. That means unlike other banks that debit your account immediately you authorize payment, your money still accrues some interest for say 4-7 days for your account before it actually leaves it.
By: ChristyJonpns
This author writes about insightful resources about Mbna Online Banking , or even Setup Online Banking With Chase on the website --> www.onlinebanking.theinfofiles.com
The evolution in the banking sector really began with automated teller machines (ATM) and later moved into the telephone stage, where you can make financial transaction by calling your bank. Later the direct bill payment and the full online banking financial transactions came into the picture. Up to today, online banking has proved itself useful and acceptable, but there is always the issue of security popping up.
Online banking has facilitated various banking operators with ease for the bank and you the customer. The success of this kind of banking originates from the ability of the banks to give the account users unique usernames and passwords. Whenever you logon to the bank's website with your unique username and password, you will be able to access your account.
As an online account holder you can avoid the fees usually charged for check writing or other transactions. Also, online banking offers better deals such as reduced or no monthly charges. Many online banks also now even allow online trading; giving you the opportunity to use their systems for other financial needs.
Internet banking is the type of operation that is carried out by the bank for its customer via the Internet. It has been able to expand the banking operations. Internet banking has cut off lots of costs on the banking operation and has improved the conveniences enjoyed by the customers.
With the advent of online banking, it is now possible to search for banks beyond the shores of your residence country. With this method you can take advantage of banking services that are not provided in your country of residence.
Are you the type of person that doesn't really like to socialize and doesn't like being around too many people. You can avoid the crowd at the banks and at the centers where they pay your bills by simply using your online account. With online banking, you can make deposits and withdrawal without walking into the crowded banking hall.
Using the bank of America online account to settle your bills will reveal to you that it is a step ahead of other banks' online banking offers. Apart from the ease in transaction, your account is not debited until the payment is received by the payee. That means unlike other banks that debit your account immediately you authorize payment, your money still accrues some interest for say 4-7 days for your account before it actually leaves it.
By: ChristyJonpns
This author writes about insightful resources about Mbna Online Banking , or even Setup Online Banking With Chase on the website --> www.onlinebanking.theinfofiles.com
A Tax Refund To Aid The Education Revolution
Following through with the yet another scheme that was announced in the 2008-09 Federal Budget, the Rudd Government has recently introduced to Parliament legislation that will see the enactment of the Education Tax Refund.
As set out in the budget, the Education Tax Refund will see the current Government invest $4.4 billion over the next four years to fund the all-important continuing education of the next generation of Australians.
Whilst the most recent cut to interest rates has moved to somewhat ease the current financial pressure on families, the new refund provides further relief and also moves to make it easier for parents to purchase the necessary equipment that is required for their children’s academic development.
Families who are eligible to claim the refund will be able to receive a 50 percent discount each year for costs incurred when purchasing nominated education equipment.
The criteria is such that for expenses up to $750 incurred for each child who is undertaking primary school studies, a maximum of $375 refundable tax offset is available each year. Additionally, for each child who is undertaking secondary studies, for expenses up to $1500, a maximum refundable tax offset of $750 is available each year.
The costs of education expenses that are able to be included when claiming the Education Tax Refund include:
* laptops;
* home computers and associated costs;
* home internet connections;
* printers;* education software;
* trade tools for use at school;
* school text books; and
* stationery
Generally speaking, parents who are entitled to receive the Family Tax Benefit Part A for children who are in primary or secondary school as eligible to claim the Education Tax Refund.
Similarly, those parents who would be eligible to receive the Family Tax Benefit Part A except that their child/children receive other government payments or allowances such as Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY living Allowance of Disability Support Pension are also eligible to receive the Education Tax Refund.
The refund will be available for parents to claim through their Income Tax Return on all expenses that are incurred from 1 July 2008. Hence, the first Education Tax Refunds will be claimed after 1 July 2009, when tax returns for the 2008-09 financial year are completed. So, from this date forward all parents who are eligible to claim the offset should retain all receipts for purchases relating to their children’s education so that they can make a claim for the necessary offset amount/s when they are preparing their returns at the end of this financial year.
For those who do not need to lodge a tax return, they can still claim the Education Tax Refund by completing a separate form that will be available from the Australian Tax Office.
This is a general overview of the Government’s new Education Tax Refund. There are various other details regarding the refund that you will need to be aware of if you feel that you may be eligible to claim the offset on your 2008-09 tax return. In particular there are further eligibility criteria that apply to other specific circumstances such as students that are considered independent of their parents, as well as children in shared cared arrangements.
For more information on the Education Tax Refund or for any other tax related queries you might have, contact the tax and accounting experts at The Quinn Group on 1300 QUINNS or click here to submit an online enquiry form.
By: Michael Quinn
The Quinn Group is an integrated, accounting, legal, and financial planning practice offering expert advice to help you achieve your business and personal goals. With more than 15 years’ professional experience, we are committed to building long-lasting relationships with our clients by providing superior service in a timely and cost-effective manner. For more free advice please visit Tax Lawyers.
As set out in the budget, the Education Tax Refund will see the current Government invest $4.4 billion over the next four years to fund the all-important continuing education of the next generation of Australians.
Whilst the most recent cut to interest rates has moved to somewhat ease the current financial pressure on families, the new refund provides further relief and also moves to make it easier for parents to purchase the necessary equipment that is required for their children’s academic development.
Families who are eligible to claim the refund will be able to receive a 50 percent discount each year for costs incurred when purchasing nominated education equipment.
The criteria is such that for expenses up to $750 incurred for each child who is undertaking primary school studies, a maximum of $375 refundable tax offset is available each year. Additionally, for each child who is undertaking secondary studies, for expenses up to $1500, a maximum refundable tax offset of $750 is available each year.
The costs of education expenses that are able to be included when claiming the Education Tax Refund include:
* laptops;
* home computers and associated costs;
* home internet connections;
* printers;* education software;
* trade tools for use at school;
* school text books; and
* stationery
Generally speaking, parents who are entitled to receive the Family Tax Benefit Part A for children who are in primary or secondary school as eligible to claim the Education Tax Refund.
Similarly, those parents who would be eligible to receive the Family Tax Benefit Part A except that their child/children receive other government payments or allowances such as Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY living Allowance of Disability Support Pension are also eligible to receive the Education Tax Refund.
The refund will be available for parents to claim through their Income Tax Return on all expenses that are incurred from 1 July 2008. Hence, the first Education Tax Refunds will be claimed after 1 July 2009, when tax returns for the 2008-09 financial year are completed. So, from this date forward all parents who are eligible to claim the offset should retain all receipts for purchases relating to their children’s education so that they can make a claim for the necessary offset amount/s when they are preparing their returns at the end of this financial year.
For those who do not need to lodge a tax return, they can still claim the Education Tax Refund by completing a separate form that will be available from the Australian Tax Office.
This is a general overview of the Government’s new Education Tax Refund. There are various other details regarding the refund that you will need to be aware of if you feel that you may be eligible to claim the offset on your 2008-09 tax return. In particular there are further eligibility criteria that apply to other specific circumstances such as students that are considered independent of their parents, as well as children in shared cared arrangements.
For more information on the Education Tax Refund or for any other tax related queries you might have, contact the tax and accounting experts at The Quinn Group on 1300 QUINNS or click here to submit an online enquiry form.
By: Michael Quinn
The Quinn Group is an integrated, accounting, legal, and financial planning practice offering expert advice to help you achieve your business and personal goals. With more than 15 years’ professional experience, we are committed to building long-lasting relationships with our clients by providing superior service in a timely and cost-effective manner. For more free advice please visit Tax Lawyers.
How To Make Money Quickly
I know times are tough and seem to be getting tougher everyday economically.
The separation between the "haves" and the "have nots" is further increasing.
And it seems that the chance of EVER crossing over to becoming a person that actually has everything they need instead of struggling everyday, week to week, is becoming increasingly more difficult.
But there is ONLY two secrets separating you from having everything your ever wanted in life.
Those 2 secrets are keeping you from achieving your goals.
Those 2 secrets are keeping you from discovering your purpose in life.
Those 2 secrets are keeping your from making money quickly & consistently.
The 2 Secrets Are:
1. Lack of correct knowledge and information about what to do.2. Lack of taking consistent, focused action on that information.
Wouldn't you say that is a mighty small thing to keep you from every dream you ever wanted for you and your family?
It's not that there isn't a TON of information out there that can help you make money. It's just trying to find an opportunity that fits you at the right price, along with finding someone that you can trust.
Now, as far as taking action. There is ONLY one mental change that you need to make that will give you all the motivation and focus that you'll ever need..
....You need to find ONE reason that is FAR more important than just making money, and once you do that you'll realize that any obstacle that stands in your way is an enemy to you and is keeping you from your stuff.
You'll roll up your sleeves and say "Baby, you ain't gonna stop me from living the life I have always dreamed of! If I have to cry, punch, scream, kick, bite, get a stick, pull hair, I ain't gonna let you stop me!"
THE Secret To Making Money Quick - Daily:
If you want to make money quickly you simply need to discover a want that people online are ALREADY desperately seeking a solution too...
...Then, give them a solution to the problem they are ALREADY looking to solve! But that's NOT it! That's where most "smart" opportunists stop...Not that you can't make money with just that info right there...
BUT that's the old way of making money. The new way, takes it one step further. See, you weren't put here to solve just any problem.
You were put on this earth to solve a very specific problem (s), and when you can match problems that you are capable of solving with problems that people are desperately looking for a solution to, you'll find: happiness, fulfillment, purpose, motivation, and money..
....And if you don't, you will find yourself constantly seeking new opportunity after new opportunity, blowing good dollar after good dollar AND you'll finally realize that there is something missing. This IS that something!
By: kenneth
The Money Secrets Co-Author, Kenneth Edwards, teaches members how to make money quick and discover their purpose in life! Private Invitation: 18 Free gifts to help you make money: FinancialBreakthrough101.com
The separation between the "haves" and the "have nots" is further increasing.
And it seems that the chance of EVER crossing over to becoming a person that actually has everything they need instead of struggling everyday, week to week, is becoming increasingly more difficult.
But there is ONLY two secrets separating you from having everything your ever wanted in life.
Those 2 secrets are keeping you from achieving your goals.
Those 2 secrets are keeping you from discovering your purpose in life.
Those 2 secrets are keeping your from making money quickly & consistently.
The 2 Secrets Are:
1. Lack of correct knowledge and information about what to do.2. Lack of taking consistent, focused action on that information.
Wouldn't you say that is a mighty small thing to keep you from every dream you ever wanted for you and your family?
It's not that there isn't a TON of information out there that can help you make money. It's just trying to find an opportunity that fits you at the right price, along with finding someone that you can trust.
Now, as far as taking action. There is ONLY one mental change that you need to make that will give you all the motivation and focus that you'll ever need..
....You need to find ONE reason that is FAR more important than just making money, and once you do that you'll realize that any obstacle that stands in your way is an enemy to you and is keeping you from your stuff.
You'll roll up your sleeves and say "Baby, you ain't gonna stop me from living the life I have always dreamed of! If I have to cry, punch, scream, kick, bite, get a stick, pull hair, I ain't gonna let you stop me!"
THE Secret To Making Money Quick - Daily:
If you want to make money quickly you simply need to discover a want that people online are ALREADY desperately seeking a solution too...
...Then, give them a solution to the problem they are ALREADY looking to solve! But that's NOT it! That's where most "smart" opportunists stop...Not that you can't make money with just that info right there...
BUT that's the old way of making money. The new way, takes it one step further. See, you weren't put here to solve just any problem.
You were put on this earth to solve a very specific problem (s), and when you can match problems that you are capable of solving with problems that people are desperately looking for a solution to, you'll find: happiness, fulfillment, purpose, motivation, and money..
....And if you don't, you will find yourself constantly seeking new opportunity after new opportunity, blowing good dollar after good dollar AND you'll finally realize that there is something missing. This IS that something!
By: kenneth
The Money Secrets Co-Author, Kenneth Edwards, teaches members how to make money quick and discover their purpose in life! Private Invitation: 18 Free gifts to help you make money: FinancialBreakthrough101.com
How Your Attitude To Life Can Greatly Affect You As An Entrepreneur
Personality preferences have always been a bit of a mystery to most people. But if you look closer you'll see that many of us behave in similar ways - now is this just a co-incidence? Not according to Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung. He studied many of his clients' behaviour and was surprised to find that he could actually predict their behaviour in certain circumstances..
For example, he looked at how people lived their lives and the attitude they take. He divided them into two different types, those with a preference for Judging and those with a preference for Perceiving. It's important to note that in personality type theory Judging doesn't mean judgemental and Perceiving doesn't mean perception.
A person with a preference for Judging needs to have things decided and final. They often plan well in advance and make lists for almost everything. They are not keen on 'going with the flow' and need to have a well-organised approach to most things in life. In business, they often excel at organising systems and people. However, if they are too focused on the planning process they can often miss out on last minute business opportunities where they need to 'fly by the seat of their pants to achieve success.
In contrast, a person who has a preference for Perceiving dislikes being organise and having to plan in advance. They are much happier having a more spontaneous attitude to life and tend to 'go with the flow'. Perceivers like to leave themselves open to new opportunities and accept life as it comes. In business however, if they fail to plan, they plan to fail, as the saying goes. Their casual attitude can often be offputting to their customers and partners who prefer to do business in a more organised way.
By: Irene Houston
Irene Houston helps online business owners, solopreneurs and service professials how to add Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs, audio, videos and info products to their sites to attract more clients. Sign up for her free weekly teleclasses at www.StartAnInternetBusinessBlog.com
Irene Houston helps online business owners, solopreneurs and service professials how to add Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs, audio, videos and info products to their sites to attract more clients. Sign up for her free weekly teleclasses at www.StartAnInternetBusinessBlog.com
Mom Entrepreneurs - How To Lead By Example And Model What You Learn
As women we get to know ourselves and grow in our relationship to others. That's why women tend to lead -- not by words alone -- but through our example and by modeling what we learn. This is the kind of leadership that's most impactful because it's accomplished day in and day out.
At some point in our lives we are all leaders especially in the minds of our children. The traits we exhibit in business should align and be the same ones we want our children to value. When they have the opportunity to see for themselves what mommy believes in and is doing, what's working and not, and how she deals with it and moves on and grows...that makes a tremendous impact. Often better than anything you can directly say.
It's not just at home where your example and model is needed. Most likely there are women that are in your team, are part of your direct sales organization, or who look to you to take the lead in a mastermind or networking program. How can you to take on a leadership role, learn to enjoy it and thrive?
Who You Are BE-ing?
The key to being a leader is exactly that -- who you're BE-ing. This is something that I address frequently since people want to follow those that are attractive. Think about the qualities of leaders that you admire -- their focus, vision, character, initiative, communication, commitment, competence, self-discipline and passion.
When you model these leadership qualities it makes it easy for others to duplicate what they see. Beyond qualities, success in business and in life also requires skills. Take a look at the following list of skills that fantastic leaders (and parents) model. Then read the action tip for practical suggestions on enhancing your natural ability as a leader.
Natural Leaders (and parents)...
Care about helping others and being of service
ACTION TIP - When you step out of your own personal focus and begin asking how you can be of service to others, that's when true leadership emerges. When I started in my first business I "needed" to earn an income and was internally focused on that. That's what others felt when they were around me. That was not very attractive. When I turned my attention to what other's needed, everything shifted. Stop and notice when things aren't going smoothly. Ask yourself, "Where's my focus?" Are open to learning
ACTION TIP - You can't just rely on past knowledge and experience. Natural leaders see the need to continually put good information in. One way to do this is by starting each day reading something positive. This thirst for knowledge is something that your children will naturally absorb. Take the time to follow and learn from those you admire. In the words of Debbie Ford in her book The Dark Side of the Light Chasers, "If you can see it in someone else you've got it in yourself. "Attract other leaders
ACTION TIP - You can't be a leader if you're hidden in the shadows. Be on the lookout to share with sincerity and enthusiasm what you know works especially with beginner work at home moms. What's really great to see are the "potential" leaders that will gravitate to you as a result. You'll also enhance your children's leadership abilities that they can put into practice whether they're in kindergarten or college.Don't make excuses
ACTION TIP - Someone shared with me a powerful idea, "you can make excuses or you can make money, but you can't do both." When your head is in a negative place of excuse-making you literally can't see anything better yourself, your brain shuts opportunities down. When you make that shift, stop making excuses and see the smallest possibility, you're able to think of what small step you can do and you can begin to move forward.Find ways to make things happen
ACTION TIP - Leaders are proactive rather than reactive. This might mean making calls vs. relying solely on emails to communicate with your customers. This also means you take the initiative and always follow-upBrush themselves off when they go through a flat spot
ACTION TIP - It's not that leaders don't get upset, but they don't let it linger. Develop the tools to dust yourself off and get going again. This might mean spending some time analyzing your mindset. Attitude is everything.
Some of these skills might seem natural to you and some might require more effort. I really believe that we can all be leaders in different ways. Every time you encourage, inspire or support someone, be it a business partner or your child, you're displaying leadership.
As a parent you always wonder, "Can I trust that in the choices I make -- even if I make mistakes along the way -- I'll be teaching my kids through modeling?" In a recent conversation with my 10-year old daughter about career choices, I felt compelled to share with her that I was still on a journey that always includes following my heart and my gut. To me that's the most important lesson I can teach her.
Take a moment and reflect on what lessons you'd like to help your children to learn. Think about the advice you share with your friends and colleagues. If you're modeling what you teach then you'll be an inspiring and natural leader.
By: Kim DeYoung
Kim DeYoung (aka "The Metromom") is committed to helping moms—with entrepreneurial spirit—to be successful in all aspects of life. She provides dynamic coaching and trainings at Metromom.com, an interactive community for mom entrepreneurs. Order your own FREE CD - "The 7 Deadly Sins Women in Direct Sales Make... And How to Avoid Them" and learn more at www.metromom.com.
At some point in our lives we are all leaders especially in the minds of our children. The traits we exhibit in business should align and be the same ones we want our children to value. When they have the opportunity to see for themselves what mommy believes in and is doing, what's working and not, and how she deals with it and moves on and grows...that makes a tremendous impact. Often better than anything you can directly say.
It's not just at home where your example and model is needed. Most likely there are women that are in your team, are part of your direct sales organization, or who look to you to take the lead in a mastermind or networking program. How can you to take on a leadership role, learn to enjoy it and thrive?
Who You Are BE-ing?
The key to being a leader is exactly that -- who you're BE-ing. This is something that I address frequently since people want to follow those that are attractive. Think about the qualities of leaders that you admire -- their focus, vision, character, initiative, communication, commitment, competence, self-discipline and passion.
When you model these leadership qualities it makes it easy for others to duplicate what they see. Beyond qualities, success in business and in life also requires skills. Take a look at the following list of skills that fantastic leaders (and parents) model. Then read the action tip for practical suggestions on enhancing your natural ability as a leader.
Natural Leaders (and parents)...
Care about helping others and being of service
ACTION TIP - When you step out of your own personal focus and begin asking how you can be of service to others, that's when true leadership emerges. When I started in my first business I "needed" to earn an income and was internally focused on that. That's what others felt when they were around me. That was not very attractive. When I turned my attention to what other's needed, everything shifted. Stop and notice when things aren't going smoothly. Ask yourself, "Where's my focus?" Are open to learning
ACTION TIP - You can't just rely on past knowledge and experience. Natural leaders see the need to continually put good information in. One way to do this is by starting each day reading something positive. This thirst for knowledge is something that your children will naturally absorb. Take the time to follow and learn from those you admire. In the words of Debbie Ford in her book The Dark Side of the Light Chasers, "If you can see it in someone else you've got it in yourself. "Attract other leaders
ACTION TIP - You can't be a leader if you're hidden in the shadows. Be on the lookout to share with sincerity and enthusiasm what you know works especially with beginner work at home moms. What's really great to see are the "potential" leaders that will gravitate to you as a result. You'll also enhance your children's leadership abilities that they can put into practice whether they're in kindergarten or college.Don't make excuses
ACTION TIP - Someone shared with me a powerful idea, "you can make excuses or you can make money, but you can't do both." When your head is in a negative place of excuse-making you literally can't see anything better yourself, your brain shuts opportunities down. When you make that shift, stop making excuses and see the smallest possibility, you're able to think of what small step you can do and you can begin to move forward.Find ways to make things happen
ACTION TIP - Leaders are proactive rather than reactive. This might mean making calls vs. relying solely on emails to communicate with your customers. This also means you take the initiative and always follow-upBrush themselves off when they go through a flat spot
ACTION TIP - It's not that leaders don't get upset, but they don't let it linger. Develop the tools to dust yourself off and get going again. This might mean spending some time analyzing your mindset. Attitude is everything.
Some of these skills might seem natural to you and some might require more effort. I really believe that we can all be leaders in different ways. Every time you encourage, inspire or support someone, be it a business partner or your child, you're displaying leadership.
As a parent you always wonder, "Can I trust that in the choices I make -- even if I make mistakes along the way -- I'll be teaching my kids through modeling?" In a recent conversation with my 10-year old daughter about career choices, I felt compelled to share with her that I was still on a journey that always includes following my heart and my gut. To me that's the most important lesson I can teach her.
Take a moment and reflect on what lessons you'd like to help your children to learn. Think about the advice you share with your friends and colleagues. If you're modeling what you teach then you'll be an inspiring and natural leader.
By: Kim DeYoung
Kim DeYoung (aka "The Metromom") is committed to helping moms—with entrepreneurial spirit—to be successful in all aspects of life. She provides dynamic coaching and trainings at Metromom.com, an interactive community for mom entrepreneurs. Order your own FREE CD - "The 7 Deadly Sins Women in Direct Sales Make... And How to Avoid Them" and learn more at www.metromom.com.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Top 5 reasons to use online banking
by: David Lynes - Loans4
In recent years online banking has become increasingly popular, and many consumers have benefited from being able to conduct all of their banking transactions online without having to resort to queuing in the local bank or spending time trying to get through automated switchboard in order to speak to someone on the phone.
Online banking allows you to run your day to day finances, and manage your bank account, with ease and convenience, and with this method of banking you are always in control. With online banking you get to enjoy convenience, ease, speed, and increased control, which is why so many people now decide to conduct their banking transactions online rather than at a branch. The main reasons many people opt to use online banking are:
1. The ultimate in convenience: When you use online banking you can conduct your transactions from the comfort and privacy of your own home, so you won't have to worry about going out to your local branch, spending time queuing up, and trying to fit your banking commitments into your busy day, which can be particularly difficult for those that work full time.
2. No time constraints: With regular banking you are restricted in terms of when you can contact or call in to the bank in order to conduct transactions, and this can prove difficult for those with busy lifestyles and full time jobs. However, when you opt for online banking you can conduct transactions at any time of the day or night, which means that you can effectively manage your account around the clock.
3. Do everything you need to online: You will find that you are able to conduct pretty much any banking transaction that you can perform by phone or visit to your branch by going online, other than withdrawing and depositing cash. This means that you can effectively control your finances from the privacy of your own home.
4. Increased security: Banks now use very secure software to ensure the safety and security of customers, making it safer than ever to bank online. Just remember never to link to your bank account from an email link, as this could be a false link, and do not save your banking passwords and security details on a shared computer that could give others access.
5. 24 hour access to your account: With online banking you can access your account 24 hours a day, conducting transactions such as making bill payments, checking your balance and statements, setting up or cancelling direct debits and standing orders, and more.
Gone are the days when you could only gain access to you bank between the hours of 9.30am and 3.30pm
In recent years online banking has become increasingly popular, and many consumers have benefited from being able to conduct all of their banking transactions online without having to resort to queuing in the local bank or spending time trying to get through automated switchboard in order to speak to someone on the phone.
Online banking allows you to run your day to day finances, and manage your bank account, with ease and convenience, and with this method of banking you are always in control. With online banking you get to enjoy convenience, ease, speed, and increased control, which is why so many people now decide to conduct their banking transactions online rather than at a branch. The main reasons many people opt to use online banking are:
1. The ultimate in convenience: When you use online banking you can conduct your transactions from the comfort and privacy of your own home, so you won't have to worry about going out to your local branch, spending time queuing up, and trying to fit your banking commitments into your busy day, which can be particularly difficult for those that work full time.
2. No time constraints: With regular banking you are restricted in terms of when you can contact or call in to the bank in order to conduct transactions, and this can prove difficult for those with busy lifestyles and full time jobs. However, when you opt for online banking you can conduct transactions at any time of the day or night, which means that you can effectively manage your account around the clock.
3. Do everything you need to online: You will find that you are able to conduct pretty much any banking transaction that you can perform by phone or visit to your branch by going online, other than withdrawing and depositing cash. This means that you can effectively control your finances from the privacy of your own home.
4. Increased security: Banks now use very secure software to ensure the safety and security of customers, making it safer than ever to bank online. Just remember never to link to your bank account from an email link, as this could be a false link, and do not save your banking passwords and security details on a shared computer that could give others access.
5. 24 hour access to your account: With online banking you can access your account 24 hours a day, conducting transactions such as making bill payments, checking your balance and statements, setting up or cancelling direct debits and standing orders, and more.
Gone are the days when you could only gain access to you bank between the hours of 9.30am and 3.30pm
What is in a Franchise UFOC?
by: Bob Richman
There are 4 parts to a UFOC:
* Cover Page
* Table of Contents
* Items 1-23
* Exhibits
The format for each of these sections is very specific and covers the following:
Cover Page . The Cover Page identifies the franchise business, including the name under which the franchisee would operate and what type of business it is. It also includes the amounts of the initial franchise fee. In addition, any additional risk factors are included on the cover in all capital letters. Risk factors that may be included pertain mostly to which state is governing the franchise agreement and where any litigation is permitted to be filed and heard. Table of Contents .
The Table of Contents contains the specific 23 items listed below, as well as the exhibits, in a standard format.
Items 1-23 Item 1: The Franchisor, Its Predecessors, and Affiliates This section gives you a background on the Franchisor, including anyone he/she has purchased the franchise from, and any affiliates, meaning anyone else who has a controlling interest in the franchise. Do your research on these representatives, including a credit check if possible. You're quite possibly investing your life savings with these people and knowing any other businesses in which they have been involved and how well they manage financial aspects is important.
Item 2: Business Experience This section gives you a background on the officers and directors of the franchise for the past five years. Similar to the information you will review on the Franchisor itself, you want to carefully review the expertise these people bring to the table. These are the people you will be working with and who will contribute greatly to the success of your franchise. You should get to know them as well as you can.
Item 3: Litigation Any history of litigation, including cases terminated by settlement, must be disclosed in this section. Any Franchisor who is under some kind of restrictive injunction is one to stay away from. Additionally, if a franchisor or any officer has a criminal history or any litigation pending that may affect his or her ability to maintain a franchise then this opportunity is not a worthwhile risk.
Item 4: Bankruptcy The bankruptcy disclosure requires that they tell you up front about any bankruptcy in the last 10 years concerning, "the franchisor, its affiliate, its predecessor, officers, or general partner". Entrepreneurs often have several failures before they are successful. Learning from failed business is not the experience you want to have, which is why you are considering a franchise. This doesn't always mean that having a bankruptcy in the disclosure is a sure prediction of a bankruptcy in the future, but you want to review the circumstances of the bankruptcy carefully, including the amount of time that has lapsed since that bankruptcy. You typically don't want to give your money to someone with a proven track record of not being able to manage it.
Item 5: Initial Franchise Fee The initial franchise fee is the fee you pay to purchase the right to operate as a franchise. This does not include all of the other fees that may be required to get started or continue operation. The important thing to know about the initial franchise fee is exactly what you are getting for those dollars. Knowing how they came up with that number is important. A large initial franchise fee does not equate to a larger earning or a better investment. Consider this fee in addition to the Other Fees (Item 6) and Initial Investment (Item 7) before concluding what it will actually cost to open a franchise.
Item 6: Other Fees Other fees include any other monies you will be required to pay to the franchisor, including royalties, advertising fees, service fees, training fees, or any other ongoing or one-time fees that you as a franchisee will be expected to pay directly to the franchisor.
Item 7: Initial Investment This is the key item in terms of figuring out what is will cost you to get a franchise up and running. This section is laid out as a table, and includes the estimated costs for training, equipment, opening, inventory and other costs associated with starting your franchise. For each item in the list, you are given the amount, the method of payment, when it is due and to whom the payment is to be made. Review this information carefully. Speak with other franchisees and see if the estimated costs were realistic. Expect that you will need more for unexpected expenses. Remember that most businesses are not profitable for at least a year, so include the amount of money it would take you and your family to survive for a year without income.
Item 8: Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services If the franchisor requires you to purchase or lease from designated sources, investigate further. Sometimes the purchase restrictions are because the franchise has negotiated a lower price for certain goods in return for guaranteed orders. However, sometimes the cost of the supplies is not competitive and the franchisor makes a bit of money from the procurement of supplies. This makes the franchise more expensive to run, even if the startup costs look attractive. If the costs are reasonable, the restrictions are not a big issue. Again, talk to existing franchisees to see if they feel these restrictions are reasonable and whether or not they are satisfied they are receiving their money's worth.
Item 9: Franchisee's Obligations Your obligations as a franchisee can be laid out in various agreements, including but not limited to the franchise agreement. This section explains what your obligations are and exactly where in the legal documentation you can find the information governing your obligations. This is an important section for you to review carefully, as they define your contractual obligations and if you breech these obligations your franchise can be terminated. Talk to current franchisees and see whether meeting these obligations has presented any difficulty. If the obligations seem unreasonable, move on.
Item 10: Financing Sometimes the financing required to start-up a franchise comes from the franchisor him/herself. As with any financial contract, review the conditions and be sure that they are competitive and make sense. Have an accountant or banking representative review the terms and give an opinion. Having a credit check would, again, be handy here.
Item 11: Franchisor's Obligations Just as the UFOC lays out your obligations as a franchisee, the obligations of the franchisor must be clearly disclosed in this section. You are putting your financial future into the hands of the franchise that you purchase, at least in part. Be sure you understand exactly what you are getting for what you are paying. You may want to approach this section in a different manner than the others...perhaps backward. Rather than reading what they will provide, begin by making a list of what you think you will need to be successful. Determine what kind of training you will need and see whether they provide it, when it will be offered, what kind of training it is, and whether or not it meets your needs. What kind of ongoing support or documentation do they include? Also determine what you would need after you have opened the franchise and see whether those items are included in their list of obligations. If they are missing things that you think you will need to be successful, ask to have those things added to the franchise agreement. Verbal promises from salespeople are not sufficient - promised items should be added to this section.
Item 12: Territory Opening a franchise just to see another franchise open up a half mile down the road would be enough to make anyone crazy. The territory section of the UFOC is designed to lay out exactly what rights you have to any territory. Having the right to an "exclusive area" cuts down on the competition, at least from within your own franchise. Unfortunately, not all franchisees are alike. Some will take full advantage of their area and develop the market to its fullest. Others will assume that the lack of competition in their immediate area means they have a right to the business and therefore don't work quite as hard to develop that area. There are many other situations in which an exclusive area causes issues for a franchisor, and most will not grant them. Some will grant an exclusive area only for a specified amount of time or only as long as a certain level of achievement is reached by the franchisee. Understanding what options the franchise offers is very important.
Item 13: Trademarks This section discloses any trademarks, service mark, service name or logotype used in the franchise business and whether or not that trademark or service mark are registered with the US Patent Office. Using a trademark symbol (™) is not the same thing as having a registered trademark. The registered trademark (®) means a certificate of registration has been granted to the franchisor. A trademark registered in the Supplemental Register does not have the same legal rights and there should be a statement in the Trademarks section disclosing this information.
Item 14: Patents, Copyrights, and Proprietary Information This section is important to you only if patents are important to the franchise. If so, get a copy of the patent from the U.S. Patent Office and review the status of the patent. Be familiar with any copyrighted or proprietary information outlined in the UFOC, as the franchisor has a right to modify or prohibit use of anything patented, copyrighted, or proprietary information disclosed in the UFOC.
Item 15: Obligation to Participate in and the Actual Operation of the Franchise Business This section outlines any requirements for the franchisee to personally be involved in the operation of the franchise. If the franchise does not require the franchisee to run the business him or herself, then there must be a statement outlining whether or not a manager running the day-to-day operations of the franchise in place of the owner must complete the franchisor's training program and/or own an equity share of the business, and any limitations placed on the manager (such as being approved by the franchise).
Item 16: Restrictions on What the Franchisee May Sell Restrictions on what you may sell will affect those franchisees who want to operate an expandable business while they own the franchise. This section is also important if you are limited to selling goods or services that won't make you enough return.
Item 17: Renewal, Termination, Transfer, and Dispute Resolution This section is one of the most important in the entire document, and is presented in a table format for easy browsing. The best contract is one stating that as long as you do not breech your contract you can renew your franchise agreement, forever. Contracts that place a limit on your possibility to renew solely at the discretion of the franchisor are bad. Also pay close attention to extensive repairs or decoration that will required as a condition of renewal. The amount of money expected to be spent should be reasonable and there should be some kind of formula so that costs are not incurred all in the same year. Additionally, the refurbishment should keep you industry competitive. There are many types of transfers. Transferring among business entities, such as from a sole proprietorship into a corporation, should definitely be allowed. A good agreement will also allow your franchise to be transferred to your heirs. If this is not allowed and you're still interested in purchasing the franchise, try to make some provision for the repurchase of your franchise by the franchisor. This section also outlines the causes for termination of the franchise agreement, states whether the franchise can be sold and who has the right of first refusal (your own blood relatives should not, ideally, come after the franchisor on first rights), and delineates your right to arbitration. Essentially, the more rights you have to control the renewal and transfer of your franchise, the more rights you have for the continuation of your business and the better the agreement. Make sure your franchise attorney reviews these rights as well as your rights to litigation (or requirement to use arbitration). Any additional risks for litigation will also be on the cover page, remember.
Item 18: Public Figures This section requires the disclosure of any public figures the franchise uses as a spokesperson, how much they were paid, and how much control they have in the business (if any). Find out how this arrangement relates to you, whether you can use that figure in personal appearances or advertising, how much it would cost and how frequently you would be allowed to do so.
Item 19: Earnings Claims It is very tricky for a franchisor to project, estimate, or in any way forecast financial sales. There are so many variables in play for an individual franchise that it would be mostly guesswork and optimism to project for a prospective franchisee how much money they will make with their business. Any claims made by the franchisor to this effect must be substantiated, so rarely will you see any earning claims included in a UFOC. The best way to get an idea of what to expect for earnings is to talk to existing franchisees. Find out how long they've been in business, when the business turned profitable, and what their average profits have been. Remember that each business is unique and that each franchisee does not run a business equally well. Speak to several franchisees to get a clearer picture of a range that you might be able to expect.
Item 20: List of Outlets All of the existing franchise locations, along with the franchisee's contact information, is listed in this section. This is the pot of gold, right here. Contacting franchisees with questions about their relationship to the franchisor, their ability to meet their contractual obligations, their general earnings, and how realistic the start-up projections are is the best bit of research and review you can possibly do before purchasing your franchise. Prepare your questions and schedule time with franchees in advance; this one is important.
Item 21: Financial Statements This section points you to the exhibits containing the audited financial statements of the franchisor for the last three years. Take these statements to a qualified accountant for review. The financial status of the franchisor is a track record, showing you not only the ability of the franchisor to run the business, but also the likelihood of success or failure.
Item 22: Contracts All contracts or agreements a franchisee will need to sign must be attached to the UFOC. This includes the Franchise Agreement, purchase agreements, lease agreements, and others.
Item 23: Receipt This document is a receipt of acknowledgment of the UFOC. This has to be provided as the last page of the document for the franchisee to acknowledge that they have received it. This is only important because no monies can legally be exchanged until 10 days after the receipt of the UFOC (the "cooling off" period provided for by law).
Exhibits Any documents that have been identified in the UFOC for the franchise to review or sign must be included as an Exhibit. The exhibits will include copies of such things as the financial statements, Franchise Agreement, leases, or Loan Agreements
There are 4 parts to a UFOC:
* Cover Page
* Table of Contents
* Items 1-23
* Exhibits
The format for each of these sections is very specific and covers the following:
Cover Page . The Cover Page identifies the franchise business, including the name under which the franchisee would operate and what type of business it is. It also includes the amounts of the initial franchise fee. In addition, any additional risk factors are included on the cover in all capital letters. Risk factors that may be included pertain mostly to which state is governing the franchise agreement and where any litigation is permitted to be filed and heard. Table of Contents .
The Table of Contents contains the specific 23 items listed below, as well as the exhibits, in a standard format.
Items 1-23 Item 1: The Franchisor, Its Predecessors, and Affiliates This section gives you a background on the Franchisor, including anyone he/she has purchased the franchise from, and any affiliates, meaning anyone else who has a controlling interest in the franchise. Do your research on these representatives, including a credit check if possible. You're quite possibly investing your life savings with these people and knowing any other businesses in which they have been involved and how well they manage financial aspects is important.
Item 2: Business Experience This section gives you a background on the officers and directors of the franchise for the past five years. Similar to the information you will review on the Franchisor itself, you want to carefully review the expertise these people bring to the table. These are the people you will be working with and who will contribute greatly to the success of your franchise. You should get to know them as well as you can.
Item 3: Litigation Any history of litigation, including cases terminated by settlement, must be disclosed in this section. Any Franchisor who is under some kind of restrictive injunction is one to stay away from. Additionally, if a franchisor or any officer has a criminal history or any litigation pending that may affect his or her ability to maintain a franchise then this opportunity is not a worthwhile risk.
Item 4: Bankruptcy The bankruptcy disclosure requires that they tell you up front about any bankruptcy in the last 10 years concerning, "the franchisor, its affiliate, its predecessor, officers, or general partner". Entrepreneurs often have several failures before they are successful. Learning from failed business is not the experience you want to have, which is why you are considering a franchise. This doesn't always mean that having a bankruptcy in the disclosure is a sure prediction of a bankruptcy in the future, but you want to review the circumstances of the bankruptcy carefully, including the amount of time that has lapsed since that bankruptcy. You typically don't want to give your money to someone with a proven track record of not being able to manage it.
Item 5: Initial Franchise Fee The initial franchise fee is the fee you pay to purchase the right to operate as a franchise. This does not include all of the other fees that may be required to get started or continue operation. The important thing to know about the initial franchise fee is exactly what you are getting for those dollars. Knowing how they came up with that number is important. A large initial franchise fee does not equate to a larger earning or a better investment. Consider this fee in addition to the Other Fees (Item 6) and Initial Investment (Item 7) before concluding what it will actually cost to open a franchise.
Item 6: Other Fees Other fees include any other monies you will be required to pay to the franchisor, including royalties, advertising fees, service fees, training fees, or any other ongoing or one-time fees that you as a franchisee will be expected to pay directly to the franchisor.
Item 7: Initial Investment This is the key item in terms of figuring out what is will cost you to get a franchise up and running. This section is laid out as a table, and includes the estimated costs for training, equipment, opening, inventory and other costs associated with starting your franchise. For each item in the list, you are given the amount, the method of payment, when it is due and to whom the payment is to be made. Review this information carefully. Speak with other franchisees and see if the estimated costs were realistic. Expect that you will need more for unexpected expenses. Remember that most businesses are not profitable for at least a year, so include the amount of money it would take you and your family to survive for a year without income.
Item 8: Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services If the franchisor requires you to purchase or lease from designated sources, investigate further. Sometimes the purchase restrictions are because the franchise has negotiated a lower price for certain goods in return for guaranteed orders. However, sometimes the cost of the supplies is not competitive and the franchisor makes a bit of money from the procurement of supplies. This makes the franchise more expensive to run, even if the startup costs look attractive. If the costs are reasonable, the restrictions are not a big issue. Again, talk to existing franchisees to see if they feel these restrictions are reasonable and whether or not they are satisfied they are receiving their money's worth.
Item 9: Franchisee's Obligations Your obligations as a franchisee can be laid out in various agreements, including but not limited to the franchise agreement. This section explains what your obligations are and exactly where in the legal documentation you can find the information governing your obligations. This is an important section for you to review carefully, as they define your contractual obligations and if you breech these obligations your franchise can be terminated. Talk to current franchisees and see whether meeting these obligations has presented any difficulty. If the obligations seem unreasonable, move on.
Item 10: Financing Sometimes the financing required to start-up a franchise comes from the franchisor him/herself. As with any financial contract, review the conditions and be sure that they are competitive and make sense. Have an accountant or banking representative review the terms and give an opinion. Having a credit check would, again, be handy here.
Item 11: Franchisor's Obligations Just as the UFOC lays out your obligations as a franchisee, the obligations of the franchisor must be clearly disclosed in this section. You are putting your financial future into the hands of the franchise that you purchase, at least in part. Be sure you understand exactly what you are getting for what you are paying. You may want to approach this section in a different manner than the others...perhaps backward. Rather than reading what they will provide, begin by making a list of what you think you will need to be successful. Determine what kind of training you will need and see whether they provide it, when it will be offered, what kind of training it is, and whether or not it meets your needs. What kind of ongoing support or documentation do they include? Also determine what you would need after you have opened the franchise and see whether those items are included in their list of obligations. If they are missing things that you think you will need to be successful, ask to have those things added to the franchise agreement. Verbal promises from salespeople are not sufficient - promised items should be added to this section.
Item 12: Territory Opening a franchise just to see another franchise open up a half mile down the road would be enough to make anyone crazy. The territory section of the UFOC is designed to lay out exactly what rights you have to any territory. Having the right to an "exclusive area" cuts down on the competition, at least from within your own franchise. Unfortunately, not all franchisees are alike. Some will take full advantage of their area and develop the market to its fullest. Others will assume that the lack of competition in their immediate area means they have a right to the business and therefore don't work quite as hard to develop that area. There are many other situations in which an exclusive area causes issues for a franchisor, and most will not grant them. Some will grant an exclusive area only for a specified amount of time or only as long as a certain level of achievement is reached by the franchisee. Understanding what options the franchise offers is very important.
Item 13: Trademarks This section discloses any trademarks, service mark, service name or logotype used in the franchise business and whether or not that trademark or service mark are registered with the US Patent Office. Using a trademark symbol (™) is not the same thing as having a registered trademark. The registered trademark (®) means a certificate of registration has been granted to the franchisor. A trademark registered in the Supplemental Register does not have the same legal rights and there should be a statement in the Trademarks section disclosing this information.
Item 14: Patents, Copyrights, and Proprietary Information This section is important to you only if patents are important to the franchise. If so, get a copy of the patent from the U.S. Patent Office and review the status of the patent. Be familiar with any copyrighted or proprietary information outlined in the UFOC, as the franchisor has a right to modify or prohibit use of anything patented, copyrighted, or proprietary information disclosed in the UFOC.
Item 15: Obligation to Participate in and the Actual Operation of the Franchise Business This section outlines any requirements for the franchisee to personally be involved in the operation of the franchise. If the franchise does not require the franchisee to run the business him or herself, then there must be a statement outlining whether or not a manager running the day-to-day operations of the franchise in place of the owner must complete the franchisor's training program and/or own an equity share of the business, and any limitations placed on the manager (such as being approved by the franchise).
Item 16: Restrictions on What the Franchisee May Sell Restrictions on what you may sell will affect those franchisees who want to operate an expandable business while they own the franchise. This section is also important if you are limited to selling goods or services that won't make you enough return.
Item 17: Renewal, Termination, Transfer, and Dispute Resolution This section is one of the most important in the entire document, and is presented in a table format for easy browsing. The best contract is one stating that as long as you do not breech your contract you can renew your franchise agreement, forever. Contracts that place a limit on your possibility to renew solely at the discretion of the franchisor are bad. Also pay close attention to extensive repairs or decoration that will required as a condition of renewal. The amount of money expected to be spent should be reasonable and there should be some kind of formula so that costs are not incurred all in the same year. Additionally, the refurbishment should keep you industry competitive. There are many types of transfers. Transferring among business entities, such as from a sole proprietorship into a corporation, should definitely be allowed. A good agreement will also allow your franchise to be transferred to your heirs. If this is not allowed and you're still interested in purchasing the franchise, try to make some provision for the repurchase of your franchise by the franchisor. This section also outlines the causes for termination of the franchise agreement, states whether the franchise can be sold and who has the right of first refusal (your own blood relatives should not, ideally, come after the franchisor on first rights), and delineates your right to arbitration. Essentially, the more rights you have to control the renewal and transfer of your franchise, the more rights you have for the continuation of your business and the better the agreement. Make sure your franchise attorney reviews these rights as well as your rights to litigation (or requirement to use arbitration). Any additional risks for litigation will also be on the cover page, remember.
Item 18: Public Figures This section requires the disclosure of any public figures the franchise uses as a spokesperson, how much they were paid, and how much control they have in the business (if any). Find out how this arrangement relates to you, whether you can use that figure in personal appearances or advertising, how much it would cost and how frequently you would be allowed to do so.
Item 19: Earnings Claims It is very tricky for a franchisor to project, estimate, or in any way forecast financial sales. There are so many variables in play for an individual franchise that it would be mostly guesswork and optimism to project for a prospective franchisee how much money they will make with their business. Any claims made by the franchisor to this effect must be substantiated, so rarely will you see any earning claims included in a UFOC. The best way to get an idea of what to expect for earnings is to talk to existing franchisees. Find out how long they've been in business, when the business turned profitable, and what their average profits have been. Remember that each business is unique and that each franchisee does not run a business equally well. Speak to several franchisees to get a clearer picture of a range that you might be able to expect.
Item 20: List of Outlets All of the existing franchise locations, along with the franchisee's contact information, is listed in this section. This is the pot of gold, right here. Contacting franchisees with questions about their relationship to the franchisor, their ability to meet their contractual obligations, their general earnings, and how realistic the start-up projections are is the best bit of research and review you can possibly do before purchasing your franchise. Prepare your questions and schedule time with franchees in advance; this one is important.
Item 21: Financial Statements This section points you to the exhibits containing the audited financial statements of the franchisor for the last three years. Take these statements to a qualified accountant for review. The financial status of the franchisor is a track record, showing you not only the ability of the franchisor to run the business, but also the likelihood of success or failure.
Item 22: Contracts All contracts or agreements a franchisee will need to sign must be attached to the UFOC. This includes the Franchise Agreement, purchase agreements, lease agreements, and others.
Item 23: Receipt This document is a receipt of acknowledgment of the UFOC. This has to be provided as the last page of the document for the franchisee to acknowledge that they have received it. This is only important because no monies can legally be exchanged until 10 days after the receipt of the UFOC (the "cooling off" period provided for by law).
Exhibits Any documents that have been identified in the UFOC for the franchise to review or sign must be included as an Exhibit. The exhibits will include copies of such things as the financial statements, Franchise Agreement, leases, or Loan Agreements
Monday, October 20, 2008
Corporate Security for your Home Business
by: Nick SmithThe words Corporate Security may conjure up images of a group of techies working in a wire-filled basement room of Microsoft or HP, combating hackers and terrorists online using words like algorithm and encryption. If you own your own business, do not allow yourself to think that security is only for big corporations. Every company, big or small, technological or traditional, has two major security concerns: protecting information, and protecting hardware.
Corporate Security: Information
Information is the commodity that makes companies unique. That information could be a process your company does better than others; or it could be how to make the unique product you sell; or it could be a collection of information that you have that others want access to. In any case, protecting the information that makes your company viable could mean financial life or death for your venture. There are three simple corporate security solutions you can implement to decrease the likelihood that your information will be leaked or lost.
Make back ups often. If you are like 90% of computer users out there who use Windows, pressing [ctrl] + S is a habit well worth forming. Besides information, time is one of your most valuable resources, so you can’t afford to lose hours of work every time the system crashes. Save your work as often as you stop typing. Making additional copies of master files in other places beside your hard drive will mean you won’t lose everything if your hard drive becomes corrupted. Keep these discs in a safe place where you can easily access them if you need to.
Keep secret passwords secret. This may seem like a no-brainer, but too often we think of passwords as annoyances slowing us down. Systems are password-protected to ensure that only those persons who should be allowed access are granted access. If you are working out of a home office and have little face-to-face interaction with clients or customers, you may be tempted to leave your system unlocked or pin a list of your user names and passwords near the computer. Remember that children are both curious and smart, and in only a few clicks of the mouse they can accidentally erase important files. Do yourself the favor of memorizing your passwords and changing them on occasion.
Maintain an up-to-date computer system. Computers that run slower also have the terrible tendency of getting overloaded and shutting down. The internet is one of the biggest culprits of bogging down your processing speed, but running several programs at the same time will also do it. Keeping your processor and memory up-to-date will help ensure that you are able to perform all the tasks that are required of you without having to spend a lot of time waiting for your computer to catch up.
Corporate Security: Hardware
Chances are good that IBM’s annual technology budget is quite a bit larger than your home business’s budget. Between putting food on the table and covering the operating costs of your business, purchasing new equipment might seem like a luxury you’ll never have. Protecting your computer system from viruses, spy ware, and malicious software is one of the most cost-effective ways to ensure your computer will last as long as you need it to.
Know what is on your computer. Viruses can come through email, discs, or the internet, and are typically well-hidden on your hard drive. Perform systematic checks of the temporary internet files, cookies folder, and the rest of your hard drive to ensure that you have not accidentally picked up a virus. Software can be purchased that filters spam and helps you manage the internet files and cookies that are downloaded automatically on your computer. A proactive approach in combating viruses and spy ware is usually the most effective way to make sure your hardware stays protected.
Though corporate security solutions may seem like a luxury your home business can not afford, protecting information and hardware are priorities that all companies should have. Following these simple, inexpensive solutions to common security concerns your company may have will go a long way in helping you succeed.
Corporate Security: Information
Information is the commodity that makes companies unique. That information could be a process your company does better than others; or it could be how to make the unique product you sell; or it could be a collection of information that you have that others want access to. In any case, protecting the information that makes your company viable could mean financial life or death for your venture. There are three simple corporate security solutions you can implement to decrease the likelihood that your information will be leaked or lost.
Make back ups often. If you are like 90% of computer users out there who use Windows, pressing [ctrl] + S is a habit well worth forming. Besides information, time is one of your most valuable resources, so you can’t afford to lose hours of work every time the system crashes. Save your work as often as you stop typing. Making additional copies of master files in other places beside your hard drive will mean you won’t lose everything if your hard drive becomes corrupted. Keep these discs in a safe place where you can easily access them if you need to.
Keep secret passwords secret. This may seem like a no-brainer, but too often we think of passwords as annoyances slowing us down. Systems are password-protected to ensure that only those persons who should be allowed access are granted access. If you are working out of a home office and have little face-to-face interaction with clients or customers, you may be tempted to leave your system unlocked or pin a list of your user names and passwords near the computer. Remember that children are both curious and smart, and in only a few clicks of the mouse they can accidentally erase important files. Do yourself the favor of memorizing your passwords and changing them on occasion.
Maintain an up-to-date computer system. Computers that run slower also have the terrible tendency of getting overloaded and shutting down. The internet is one of the biggest culprits of bogging down your processing speed, but running several programs at the same time will also do it. Keeping your processor and memory up-to-date will help ensure that you are able to perform all the tasks that are required of you without having to spend a lot of time waiting for your computer to catch up.
Corporate Security: Hardware
Chances are good that IBM’s annual technology budget is quite a bit larger than your home business’s budget. Between putting food on the table and covering the operating costs of your business, purchasing new equipment might seem like a luxury you’ll never have. Protecting your computer system from viruses, spy ware, and malicious software is one of the most cost-effective ways to ensure your computer will last as long as you need it to.
Know what is on your computer. Viruses can come through email, discs, or the internet, and are typically well-hidden on your hard drive. Perform systematic checks of the temporary internet files, cookies folder, and the rest of your hard drive to ensure that you have not accidentally picked up a virus. Software can be purchased that filters spam and helps you manage the internet files and cookies that are downloaded automatically on your computer. A proactive approach in combating viruses and spy ware is usually the most effective way to make sure your hardware stays protected.
Though corporate security solutions may seem like a luxury your home business can not afford, protecting information and hardware are priorities that all companies should have. Following these simple, inexpensive solutions to common security concerns your company may have will go a long way in helping you succeed.
PROVEN Online Business Success In 3 Easy Steps
by: Mal KeenanSome marketing experts would have you believe that the key to a successful home business is limited to a select few and that this chosen bunch have tapped into vast secrets where riches are to be found in abundance.
Others will push forward the idea that their product or service is all you need to make a monthly residual income a reality.
Statistically only 5% of budding entrepreneurs will make it online.
To be perfectly honest I don't know which if any of these ideas are true but I do know what has worked for me and I believe it can work for anyone who is willing to take a risk, invest the little cash it takes and make a consistent effort for the next year or two to build their own work at home business. Note I am not saying that this will work overnight, I'm not even saying 6 months. Yes I did indeed say a year or two.
Having worked online for over five years now I believe I have finally found a PROVEN system for building a successful home business which will continue to grow year after year and, because it is MY business, it can be passed on to my children and childrens' children.
This is not a new idea but it took me a long time to realise it and just as long proving to myself that it works.
How do we know it works Mal and you're not just spurting us a load of old cobblers?
Well the proof IS in the pudding and the fact is that the five websites that I own all have a Google rank of PR6 and feature in the top pages of all the top search engines icluding Google, Yahoo and Altavista for many popular "home business"/"work at home" search terms and it is all down to my strategy.
Just do a search for the term HOME BUSINESS on Yahoo or Google and you will see my site (http://www.freeadvertz.com) at number 3(At the time of writing) out of over 17 million sites.
Try doing a search for WORK AT HOME BUSINESS in the same search engines, see my site (http://www.workfromhomebiz.biz) at number 6(At the time of writing) and climbing.
How about BUSINESS TIPS or BUSINESS NEWSLETTER, and again my site (http://www.home-business-tips-newsletter.com) is number ONE(At the time of writing) for both terms. We are numer 21 in Google for the term NEWSLETTER out of 71,000,000 sites.
These results are repeated across all the major search engines.
Have you seen enough? Do you need any more evidence that this works? These are only a few of the terms that we rank highly under. We are actually in the top rankings for scores of other "home business" search terms.
I could easily put this evidence and info into e-book form and sell it but I neither have the time nor know-how to do so(If you can help me out in this area then get in touch). So I've chosen to write this article and tell you exactly how you can build your own business to great success in three easy steps.
You have the proof now here is the plan:
In a nutshell the best way to build any online business, and the least expensive, is through a twin track approach of website search engine optimisation and reciprocal link building. As I mentioned above this is not a new idea but you now that you have proof that it works, do you have the conviction to follow through?
Here it is in 3 easy steps:
Others will push forward the idea that their product or service is all you need to make a monthly residual income a reality.
Statistically only 5% of budding entrepreneurs will make it online.
To be perfectly honest I don't know which if any of these ideas are true but I do know what has worked for me and I believe it can work for anyone who is willing to take a risk, invest the little cash it takes and make a consistent effort for the next year or two to build their own work at home business. Note I am not saying that this will work overnight, I'm not even saying 6 months. Yes I did indeed say a year or two.
Having worked online for over five years now I believe I have finally found a PROVEN system for building a successful home business which will continue to grow year after year and, because it is MY business, it can be passed on to my children and childrens' children.
This is not a new idea but it took me a long time to realise it and just as long proving to myself that it works.
How do we know it works Mal and you're not just spurting us a load of old cobblers?
Well the proof IS in the pudding and the fact is that the five websites that I own all have a Google rank of PR6 and feature in the top pages of all the top search engines icluding Google, Yahoo and Altavista for many popular "home business"/"work at home" search terms and it is all down to my strategy.
Just do a search for the term HOME BUSINESS on Yahoo or Google and you will see my site (http://www.freeadvertz.com) at number 3(At the time of writing) out of over 17 million sites.
Try doing a search for WORK AT HOME BUSINESS in the same search engines, see my site (http://www.workfromhomebiz.biz) at number 6(At the time of writing) and climbing.
How about BUSINESS TIPS or BUSINESS NEWSLETTER, and again my site (http://www.home-business-tips-newsletter.com) is number ONE(At the time of writing) for both terms. We are numer 21 in Google for the term NEWSLETTER out of 71,000,000 sites.
These results are repeated across all the major search engines.
Have you seen enough? Do you need any more evidence that this works? These are only a few of the terms that we rank highly under. We are actually in the top rankings for scores of other "home business" search terms.
I could easily put this evidence and info into e-book form and sell it but I neither have the time nor know-how to do so(If you can help me out in this area then get in touch). So I've chosen to write this article and tell you exactly how you can build your own business to great success in three easy steps.
You have the proof now here is the plan:
In a nutshell the best way to build any online business, and the least expensive, is through a twin track approach of website search engine optimisation and reciprocal link building. As I mentioned above this is not a new idea but you now that you have proof that it works, do you have the conviction to follow through?
Here it is in 3 easy steps:
1. Register and host your own domain name: http://www.workathomebiz.info/hosting.html (Put some home business keywords in your domain name, ie workathomebusinesssuccess.com)
Or:
Get a FREE website with hosting here: http://www.workathomebiz.info/pluginprofitsite.html
Please don't settle for a FREE domain name as this will NEVER be your own and can be taken away from you at any time or if the company goes bust you have lost all your hard work in building your web presence. Register your own business name.
Or:
Get a FREE website with hosting here: http://www.workathomebiz.info/pluginprofitsite.html
Please don't settle for a FREE domain name as this will NEVER be your own and can be taken away from you at any time or if the company goes bust you have lost all your hard work in building your web presence. Register your own business name.
2. Download webposition gold, optimise your site for your keywords and submit your website to all the major search engines: http://www.workathomebiz.info/webposition.html (You can download a free trial from this site. You will need a full version to work this strategy.)
3. Start building those reciprocal links using linksmanager: http://www.workathomebiz.info/linksmanager.html (Put your keyword terms in your linking text when exchanging links)
I currently get around twenty reciprocal link requests per day, and this will increase with time. At the beginning I barely got two daily. It may be slow at the beginning but as your business gathers momentum after a few months it will be like a steam train at full throttle, absolutely unstoppable.
I am a 31 year old father of two from Ireland who started from scratch, so if I can do it anyone can.
Believe me people it doesn't come any more simpler than this.
So if you are serious about really building a successful online enterprise then DO IT NOW and tell me about your success in the coming months.
One more thing before closing. If you are going to give up on this strategy when you don't see immediate results then please don't even beign. The key to building success is PERSISTENCE PERSISTENCE PERSISTENCE.
I currently get around twenty reciprocal link requests per day, and this will increase with time. At the beginning I barely got two daily. It may be slow at the beginning but as your business gathers momentum after a few months it will be like a steam train at full throttle, absolutely unstoppable.
I am a 31 year old father of two from Ireland who started from scratch, so if I can do it anyone can.
Believe me people it doesn't come any more simpler than this.
So if you are serious about really building a successful online enterprise then DO IT NOW and tell me about your success in the coming months.
One more thing before closing. If you are going to give up on this strategy when you don't see immediate results then please don't even beign. The key to building success is PERSISTENCE PERSISTENCE PERSISTENCE.
Bad Credit Loans: Help Give Your Credit A New Look
by: Simon Tauffel You have bad credit problem. If you can find a lender who will even consider approving you, the loan will be at an interest rate high. The fact of the matter is that it is after all a fashion to obtain bad credit loans. These loans have resurrected the financial feeling of the people with poor credit in particular. You need to determine candidly the reason why you have been tagged to bad credit. It might be that you do not take paying bills on time. But more often than not, people just find themselves in a situation where they have a lot of personal debt and something has happened to prevent them from making timely payments, like a job layoff, high medical bills, and many more very valid reasons that are out of the borrowers’ control. It may be possible to obtain such personal loans from a professional organisation. More so, many other commercial institutions too are working in this direction. You can obtain such money provisions from building societies and high street lenders too. If you are just running short of time, you can use internet tool as for your loan accessing. It is very simple and convenient way to obtain a loan. For all of this, you need to fill out an online application form. Later, your forms are transferred to different websites. Lenders review your application forms and make their mind if you are touching their yardsticks. For better financial feasibility of the borrowers, these loans have been formatted into secured and unsecured forms. For the secured form of borrowing, you need to place a worth asset as of the assurance of you loan repayment. On the other hand, unsecured forms of borrowing which are obtained without any sort of pledging placing. Unsecured loans are best suited to tenants, and for those too who need money urgently. Yes, since there is no evaluation takes place, lenders do not have to calculate the value and make documentation. Likely that other loan, the raised fund under bad credit loans is invested as other personal loans are. You can invest the raised amount for your children’s education, home improvement, and business development and above all you can truly invest the amount to pay off your pending liabilities elegantly.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
How to Successfully Navigate Your Business through an Economic Downturn
An economic downturn is a phase of the business cycle in which the economy as a whole is in decline.This phase basically marks the end of the period of growth in the business cycle. Economic downturns are characterized by decreased levels of consumer purchases (especially of durable goods) and, subsequently, reduced levels of production by businesses. While economic downturns are admittedly difficult, and are formidable obstacles to small businesses that are trying to survive and grow, an economic downturn can open up opportunities. A well-managed company can realize the opportunity to gain market share by taking customers away from their competitors. Resourceful entrepreneurs capture the available opportunities, from an economic downturn, by developing alternate methods of doing business that were never implemented during a prior growth period. The challenge of successfully navigating your business through an economic downturn lies in the realignment of your business with current economic realities. Specifically, you, as the business owner, need to renew a focus on your core clients/customers, reduce your operating expenses, conserve cash, and manage more proactively, rather than reactively, is paramount. Here are best practices that will help you to successfully navigate your business through an economic downturn: Goals: The primary goal of any business owner is to survive the current economic downturn and to develop a leaner, more cost-effective and more efficient operation. The secondary goal is to grow the business even during this current economic downturn. Objectives: • Conserve cash. • Protect assets. • Reduce costs. • Improve efficiencies. • Grow customer base. Required Action: • Do not panic… History shows that economic downturns do not last forever. Remain calm and act in a rational manner as you refocus your attention on resizing your company to the current economic conditions. • Focus on what YOU can control… Don’t let the media's rhetoric concerning recessions and economic slowdown deter you from achieving business success. It´s a trap! Why? Because the condition of the economy is beyond your control. Surviving economic downturns requires a focus on what you can control, i.e. your relevant business activities. • Communicate, communicate, and communicate! Beware of the pitfall of trying to do too much on your own. It is a difficult task indeed to survive and to grow your business solely with your own efforts. Solicit ideas and seek the help of other people (your employees, suppliers, lenders, customers, and advisors). Communicate honestly and consistently. Effective two-way communication is the key. • Negotiate, negotiate, and negotiate! The value of a strong negotiation skill set cannot be overstated. Negotiating better deals and contracts is an absolute must for realigning and resizing your company to the current economic conditions. The key to success is not only knowing how to develop a win-win approach in negotiations with all parties, but also keeping in mind the fact that you want a favorable outcome for yourself too. Recommended Best Practice Activities: The Nuts and Bolts… The following list of recommended best practice activities is critical for your business' survival and for its growth during an economic downturn. The actual financial health of your particular business, at the outset of the economic downturn, will dictate the priority and urgency of the implementation of the following best practice activities. 1. Diligently monitor your cash flow: Forecast your cash flow monthly to ensure that expenses and planned expenditures are in line with accounts receivable. Include cash flow statements into your monthly financial reporting. Project cash requirements three-to- six months in advance. The key is to know how to monitor, protect, control, and put cash to work. 2. Carefully convert your inventories: Convert excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory items into cash. Consider returning excess and slow-moving items back to the suppliers. Close-out or inventory reduction sales work well to resize your inventory. Also, consider narrowing your product offerings. Well-timed order placement helps to reduce excess inventory levels and occasional material shortages. The key is to reduce the amount of your inventory without losing sales. 3. Timely collection of your accounts receivable: This asset should be converted to cash as quickly as possible. Offer prompt payment discounts to encourage timely payments. Make changes in the terms of sale for slow paying customers (i.e. changing net 30 day terms to COD). Invoicing is an important part of your cash flow management. The first rule of invoicing is to do it as soon as possible after products are shipped and/or after services are delivered. Place an emphasis on reducing billing errors. Most customers delay payments because an invoice had errors, and therefore, will not pay until they receive a corrected copy. Email or fax your invoices to save on mailing time. Post the payments that you have received and make deposits more frequently. The key is to develop an efficient collection system that generates timely payments and one that gives you advance warning of problems. 4. Re-focus your attention on your existing clients/customers: Make customer satisfaction your priority. A regular review of your customers' buying history and frequency of purchases can reveal some interesting facts about your customers' buying habits. Consider signing long-term contracts with your core clients/customers which will add to your security. Offer a discount for upfront cash payments. The key is to do what it takes to keep your current customers loyal. 5. Re-negotiate with your suppliers, lenders, and landlord: i) Suppliers: Always keep your negotiations on the level of need, saying that your company has reviewed its cost structure and has determined that it needs to lower supplier costs. . Tell the supplier that you value the relationship you have developed, but that you need to receive a cost reduction immediately. Ask your supplier for a lower material price, a longer payment cycle, and the elimination of finance charges. Also, see if you can buy material from them on a consignment basis. In return for their price concessions, be willing to agree to a long-term contract. Explore the idea of bartering as a form of payment. ii) Lenders: Everything in business finance is negotiable and your relationship with a bank is no exception. The first step to successful renegotiations is to convince your lenders that you can ultimately pay off the renegotiated loan. You must point out to your lenders why it would be in their best interest to agree to a new arrangement. Showing them your business plan and your action plan that includes your cost-savings initiatives, along with "the how" and "the when" of the implementation of your plan is the best way to achieve this goal. Explain to them that you will need their cooperation to insure that you can survive, as well as, grow your business during the economic downturn. Negotiated items include: the rate of interest, the required security to cover the loan, and the beginning date for repayment. A beginning date for repayment could be immediate, within several months or as long as a year. The key is to realize that your lender will work with you, but that frequent and continual communications with them is critical. iii) Landlord: Meet with your landlord. Explain your need to have them extend the term of your lease at a reduced cost. Make sure you have a clause in the lease agreement that entitles you to have the right to sublet any or all of the leased space. 6. Re-evaluate your staffing requirements: This is a very critical area. Salaries/wages are a major expense of doing business. Therefore, any reduction in the hours worked through work schedule changes, short-term layoffs or permanent layoffs has an immediate cost saving benefit. Most companies ramped up hiring new employees in the good times, only to find that they are currently overstaffed due to slow sales during the economic downturn. In terms of down-sizing your staff, be very careful not to reduce your staff to a level that forces you to skimp on customer service and quality. Consider the use of part-timers or the current trend of outsourcing certain functions to independent contractors. 7. Shop for better insurances rates: Get quotations from other insurance agents for comparable coverage to determine whether or not your present insurance carrier is competitive. Also, consider revising your coverage to reduce premium costs. The key is to have the right balance-to be adequately insured, but not under or over insured. 8. Re-evaluate your advertising: Contrary to the other cost-cutting initiatives, evaluate the possibility of increasing your advertising expenditures. This tactic realizes the advantage of the reduced "noise" and congestion (fewer advertisers) in the marketplace. The downturn period a great opportunity to increase brand awareness and create additional demand for your product/service offerings. 9. Seek the help of outside advisors: The use of an advisory board comprised of your CPA, attorney, and business consultant offers you objectivity and provides you with professional advice and guidance. Their collective experience in working with similar situations in past economic downturns is invaluable. 10. Review your other expenses: Target an across-the-board cost-cutting initiative of 10-15%. Attempt to eliminate unnecessary expenses. Tightening your belt in order to weather the downturn makes practical, financial sense. Proactively managing your business through an economic downturn is an enormous challenge and is critical for your survival. However, through well-planned initiatives, an economic downturn can create tremendous opportunity for your company to gain greater market share. In order to take advantage of this growth opportunity, you must act quickly to implement the above best business practices to continue realigning and resizing your company to the current economic conditions.
By : Terry H. Hill, Copyright © 2008 Terry H. Hill
By : Terry H. Hill, Copyright © 2008 Terry H. Hill
Saturday, October 11, 2008
US tech stocks not immune to market downturn
by Chris Lefkow Sat Oct 11, 12:41 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Even the giants of technology did not emerge unscathed from the bloodbath this week on Wall Street.
Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Yahoo!, eBay, Dell, Intel, Cisco, Hewlett Packard and Oracle, key components of the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index, all saw their share prices fall by double digits in percentage terms.
The Nasdaq tumbled 15.3 percent for the week to finish at 1,649.51 points on Friday.
Apple was one of the few tech stocks to buck the trend, closing on Friday at 97.07 dollars, a loss of just 0.27 percent for the week.
Apple, which hinted on Thursday it would unveil a new notebook computer next week, clawed back most of its losses for the week on Friday, when it surged by 9.08 percent.
Computer giant IBM, one of the 30 blue-chip stocks which make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average, shed 15.16 percent during the week to close at 87.75 dollars on Friday despite releasing third quarter results which were slightly better than analysts' expectations.
Hewlett Packard, the world's leading computer maker, which announced this week it would open a new computer factory in China, closed at 37.00 dollars, a loss of 13.95 percent for the week.
An announcement by struggling US computer chip-maker Advanced Micro Devices that it had received a massive capital infusion from Abu Dhabi and would be splitting into two companies was not enough to lift its share price.
AMD closed at 3.81 dollars on Friday, a loss of 15.89 percent for the week.
Software giant Microsoft shed 18.31 percent during the week to close at 21.50 dollars while Internet search king Google finished at 332 dollars, down 14.19 percent from a week earlier.
Retail giant Amazon lost 16.04 percent during the week to close at 56.25 dollars and the bleeding continued at wounded Internet company Yahoo!, which rejected a takeover bid from Microsoft earlier this year.
Yahoo! lost 23.18 percent during the week to close at 12.29 dollars.
An announcement by eBay on Monday that it was cutting its global workforce by 10 percent failed to lift the share price of the online auction house as it lost 11.66 percent during the week to close at 16.73 dollars.
Software maker Adobe closed at 27.12 dollars, a loss of 19.50 percent for the week, while computer manufacturer Dell lost 12.85 percent finishing at 13.29 dollars.
Computer chip market leader Intel lost 12.24 percent during the week to close at 15.19 dollars while business software maker Oracle finished at 16.68 dollars, a loss of 14.37 percent.
Networking giant Cisco dropped 18.91 percent to close at 17.23 dollars.
After a week in which their share prices were dragged down along with the rest of the market, technology firms could only hope that Fred Dickson of DA Davidson & Co. was speaking about them in his comments on the volatile market.
"At some point, the raging fear shown in the stock market will begin to be replaced by rationality and investors will wake up and realize that hundreds of wonderful companies have been dumped overboard along with the banks and financial institutions that have deservedly seen their stock prices decimated," he said.
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Even the giants of technology did not emerge unscathed from the bloodbath this week on Wall Street.
Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Yahoo!, eBay, Dell, Intel, Cisco, Hewlett Packard and Oracle, key components of the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index, all saw their share prices fall by double digits in percentage terms.The Nasdaq tumbled 15.3 percent for the week to finish at 1,649.51 points on Friday.
Apple was one of the few tech stocks to buck the trend, closing on Friday at 97.07 dollars, a loss of just 0.27 percent for the week.
Apple, which hinted on Thursday it would unveil a new notebook computer next week, clawed back most of its losses for the week on Friday, when it surged by 9.08 percent.
Computer giant IBM, one of the 30 blue-chip stocks which make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average, shed 15.16 percent during the week to close at 87.75 dollars on Friday despite releasing third quarter results which were slightly better than analysts' expectations.
Hewlett Packard, the world's leading computer maker, which announced this week it would open a new computer factory in China, closed at 37.00 dollars, a loss of 13.95 percent for the week.
An announcement by struggling US computer chip-maker Advanced Micro Devices that it had received a massive capital infusion from Abu Dhabi and would be splitting into two companies was not enough to lift its share price.
AMD closed at 3.81 dollars on Friday, a loss of 15.89 percent for the week.
Software giant Microsoft shed 18.31 percent during the week to close at 21.50 dollars while Internet search king Google finished at 332 dollars, down 14.19 percent from a week earlier.
Retail giant Amazon lost 16.04 percent during the week to close at 56.25 dollars and the bleeding continued at wounded Internet company Yahoo!, which rejected a takeover bid from Microsoft earlier this year.
Yahoo! lost 23.18 percent during the week to close at 12.29 dollars.
An announcement by eBay on Monday that it was cutting its global workforce by 10 percent failed to lift the share price of the online auction house as it lost 11.66 percent during the week to close at 16.73 dollars.
Software maker Adobe closed at 27.12 dollars, a loss of 19.50 percent for the week, while computer manufacturer Dell lost 12.85 percent finishing at 13.29 dollars.
Computer chip market leader Intel lost 12.24 percent during the week to close at 15.19 dollars while business software maker Oracle finished at 16.68 dollars, a loss of 14.37 percent.
Networking giant Cisco dropped 18.91 percent to close at 17.23 dollars.
After a week in which their share prices were dragged down along with the rest of the market, technology firms could only hope that Fred Dickson of DA Davidson & Co. was speaking about them in his comments on the volatile market.
"At some point, the raging fear shown in the stock market will begin to be replaced by rationality and investors will wake up and realize that hundreds of wonderful companies have been dumped overboard along with the banks and financial institutions that have deservedly seen their stock prices decimated," he said.
Rough week on Wall Street
CNN - Sat Oct 11, 9:15 PM ET
What can the U.S. government do to stop the stock slide?
CNN's Stephanie Elam reports, ...Rough week on Wall Street
What can the U.S. government do to stop the stock slide?
CNN's Stephanie Elam reports, ...Rough week on Wall Street
Bush, allies seek to calm jittery investors
By JENNIFER LOVEN and MARTIN CRUTSINGER, Associated Press Writers 2 hours, Sat Oct 2008, 11, 9:13 PM ETWASHINGTON - President Bush and financial leaders from nations rich and poor pledged Saturday to intensify their efforts to unblock a frozen financial system before it does more damage to an increasingly shaky global economy.
While there were no concrete offers of new moves, Bush vowed anew that his administration was doing everything possible to halt the biggest market disruptions since the Great Depression. The finance ministers spoke in unusually somber terms about the need for action.
Bush started the day shortly after daybreak with a Rose Garden appearance with finance ministers from the world's richest countries and later made an unexpected evening visit to the headquarters of the 185-nation International Monetary Fund a few blocks from the White House.
With Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, he participated for about 25 minutes in a discussion with the Group of 20, which includes rich countries and major developing nations such as China, Brazil and India.
Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said that the president told the finance ministers that he was doing all he could to involve other countries in efforts to resolve the crisis. According to White House spokesman Tony Fratto, Bush acknowledged the problems began in the U.S., with a meltdown of the market for subprime mortgages in the summer of 2007. The president felt it was important to take the rare step of coming to such a meeting because the problems were spreading globally.
"It doesn't matter if you're a rich country or a poor country, a developed country or a developing country — we're all in this together," Bush said, according to Fratto. "We take this seriously, and we want to work with you."
In response, the G-20 countries issued a joint statement in which the finance officials pledged to work together "to overcome the financial turmoil and to deepen cooperation to improve the regulation, supervision and the overall functioning of the world's financial markets."
The financial turmoil also dominated discussions at weekend's annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank. The IMF strongly endorsed a five-point plan put together a day earlier by the so-called Group of Seven wealthy powers, in which the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada jointly pledged to use all means possible to prevent major financial institutions from failing and to keep pumping money into the banking system to unfreeze lending and get credit — the lifeblood of the economy — flowing again.
"The depth and systemic nature of the crisis call for exceptional vigilance, coordination and readiness to take bold action," the IMF said in its joint statement. That statement, in an unusual move, repeated verbatim all of the commitments made in the G-7 statement that had been released on Friday.
"There is a resolve that this crisis will be resolved, that no tools will be spared to address this issue," Egypt's finance minister, Youssef Boutros Ghali, chairman of the IMF's policy panel, told a news conference late Saturday.
In his Rose Garden appearance, Bush made a plea for nations work together to address the crisis, avoiding the go-it-alone protectionist trade strategies that worsened conditions during the Great Depression.
"In an interconnected world, no nation will gain by driving down the fortunes of another. We are in this together. We will come through it together," Bush said, flanked by representatives from G-7 nations, the IMF, World Bank and European Union. "There have been moments of crisis in the past when powerful nations turned their energies against each other or sought to wall themselves off from the world. This time is different."
Fratto said Bush's commitment to collaborative action was repeated and agreed to by every official and minister who took part in the White House meeting.
Bush did not mention any specific action that prompted his call. But Ireland recently moved to guarantee all bank deposits, triggering similar actions in Germany and other countries concerned that nervous depositors would move their bank accounts to Ireland.
In his White House remarks, the president barely noted a significant new step from his administration — partial nationalization of some banks. After days of speculation this move was coming, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced late Friday night that the government would buy part ownership in an array of American banks.
President Hoover tried something like that in 1932 during the Great Depression. No detail was provided about how the Bush administration's approach would work, only that it was similar to Britain's move to pour cash into its troubled banks in exchange for a stake in them. The U.S. government would use an unspecified portion of the $700 billion approved by Congress a week ago to purchase stocks in a wide variety of banks and other financial institutions.
The rescue program originally was sold to Congress and the public as a plan to buy mortgage-related loans from financial institutions. The goal was to remove troubled assets from those institutions' books and inspire them to restart more normal lending operations.
Congress passed the massive and hard-fought legislation, and Bush signed it. The government raised the amount of bank deposits it insured. Billions of dollars of reserves have gone into banking systems in the U.S. and other countries. Yet credit has remained virtually frozen.
This paralysis in the credit markets has translated into intense turmoil in the stock markets. The Dow Jones industrial average just completed its worst week in history, plummeting more than 18 percent. Over the past year, people in the U.S. have watched $8.4 trillion drain from investment accounts and retirement savings.
So the administration decided to use the bailout bill to pump equity directly into the banks — an idea never mentioned during the congressional debate. The administration says it is authorized by an obscure provision of the 400-page legislation.
Officials are not saying how long it will take to get this program under way — just as is the case with the even more complicated effort to buy mortgage-backed securities.
Bush seemed to acknowledge that the lag is feeding anxiety on Wall Street. "These extraordinary efforts are being implemented as quickly and as effectively as possible," he said. "The benefits will not be realized overnight."
The president said the G-7 nations have together pledged to "do what it takes to resolve this crisis."
Officials in Europe prepared for a meeting Sunday of the leaders of the 15 nations using the euro currency. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Saturday they opposed to the creation of a common financial rescue fund for Europe.
For Bush, it was the 22nd day in the past 27 he had spoken about the financial crisis, since evidence first arose that the year-old subprime mortgage mess was evolving into a broader and more calamitous meltdown.
Bush also addressed the crisis in his weekly radio address, as did Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden in delivering his party's response. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, in a series of Philadelphia rallies, also focused on words of calm.
"I know these are difficult times. I know folks are worried," he said. "But I also know that now is not the time for fear or panic. Now is the time for resolve and steady leadership. Because I know we can steer ourselves out of this crisis."
Bush started the day shortly after daybreak with a Rose Garden appearance with finance ministers from the world's richest countries and later made an unexpected evening visit to the headquarters of the 185-nation International Monetary Fund a few blocks from the White House.
With Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, he participated for about 25 minutes in a discussion with the Group of 20, which includes rich countries and major developing nations such as China, Brazil and India.
Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said that the president told the finance ministers that he was doing all he could to involve other countries in efforts to resolve the crisis. According to White House spokesman Tony Fratto, Bush acknowledged the problems began in the U.S., with a meltdown of the market for subprime mortgages in the summer of 2007. The president felt it was important to take the rare step of coming to such a meeting because the problems were spreading globally.
"It doesn't matter if you're a rich country or a poor country, a developed country or a developing country — we're all in this together," Bush said, according to Fratto. "We take this seriously, and we want to work with you."
In response, the G-20 countries issued a joint statement in which the finance officials pledged to work together "to overcome the financial turmoil and to deepen cooperation to improve the regulation, supervision and the overall functioning of the world's financial markets."
The financial turmoil also dominated discussions at weekend's annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank. The IMF strongly endorsed a five-point plan put together a day earlier by the so-called Group of Seven wealthy powers, in which the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada jointly pledged to use all means possible to prevent major financial institutions from failing and to keep pumping money into the banking system to unfreeze lending and get credit — the lifeblood of the economy — flowing again.
"The depth and systemic nature of the crisis call for exceptional vigilance, coordination and readiness to take bold action," the IMF said in its joint statement. That statement, in an unusual move, repeated verbatim all of the commitments made in the G-7 statement that had been released on Friday.
"There is a resolve that this crisis will be resolved, that no tools will be spared to address this issue," Egypt's finance minister, Youssef Boutros Ghali, chairman of the IMF's policy panel, told a news conference late Saturday.
In his Rose Garden appearance, Bush made a plea for nations work together to address the crisis, avoiding the go-it-alone protectionist trade strategies that worsened conditions during the Great Depression.
"In an interconnected world, no nation will gain by driving down the fortunes of another. We are in this together. We will come through it together," Bush said, flanked by representatives from G-7 nations, the IMF, World Bank and European Union. "There have been moments of crisis in the past when powerful nations turned their energies against each other or sought to wall themselves off from the world. This time is different."
Fratto said Bush's commitment to collaborative action was repeated and agreed to by every official and minister who took part in the White House meeting.
Bush did not mention any specific action that prompted his call. But Ireland recently moved to guarantee all bank deposits, triggering similar actions in Germany and other countries concerned that nervous depositors would move their bank accounts to Ireland.
In his White House remarks, the president barely noted a significant new step from his administration — partial nationalization of some banks. After days of speculation this move was coming, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced late Friday night that the government would buy part ownership in an array of American banks.
President Hoover tried something like that in 1932 during the Great Depression. No detail was provided about how the Bush administration's approach would work, only that it was similar to Britain's move to pour cash into its troubled banks in exchange for a stake in them. The U.S. government would use an unspecified portion of the $700 billion approved by Congress a week ago to purchase stocks in a wide variety of banks and other financial institutions.
The rescue program originally was sold to Congress and the public as a plan to buy mortgage-related loans from financial institutions. The goal was to remove troubled assets from those institutions' books and inspire them to restart more normal lending operations.
Congress passed the massive and hard-fought legislation, and Bush signed it. The government raised the amount of bank deposits it insured. Billions of dollars of reserves have gone into banking systems in the U.S. and other countries. Yet credit has remained virtually frozen.
This paralysis in the credit markets has translated into intense turmoil in the stock markets. The Dow Jones industrial average just completed its worst week in history, plummeting more than 18 percent. Over the past year, people in the U.S. have watched $8.4 trillion drain from investment accounts and retirement savings.
So the administration decided to use the bailout bill to pump equity directly into the banks — an idea never mentioned during the congressional debate. The administration says it is authorized by an obscure provision of the 400-page legislation.
Officials are not saying how long it will take to get this program under way — just as is the case with the even more complicated effort to buy mortgage-backed securities.
Bush seemed to acknowledge that the lag is feeding anxiety on Wall Street. "These extraordinary efforts are being implemented as quickly and as effectively as possible," he said. "The benefits will not be realized overnight."
The president said the G-7 nations have together pledged to "do what it takes to resolve this crisis."
Officials in Europe prepared for a meeting Sunday of the leaders of the 15 nations using the euro currency. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Saturday they opposed to the creation of a common financial rescue fund for Europe.
For Bush, it was the 22nd day in the past 27 he had spoken about the financial crisis, since evidence first arose that the year-old subprime mortgage mess was evolving into a broader and more calamitous meltdown.
Bush also addressed the crisis in his weekly radio address, as did Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden in delivering his party's response. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, in a series of Philadelphia rallies, also focused on words of calm.
"I know these are difficult times. I know folks are worried," he said. "But I also know that now is not the time for fear or panic. Now is the time for resolve and steady leadership. Because I know we can steer ourselves out of this crisis."
Associated Press writer Harry Dunphy contributed to this report.
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