Have you ever been asked that question?I was! Back in 1979 while doing a "pressure cooker" course on selling with an insurance company!I wondered how relevant that question was, considering my personal and financial situation at the time.No wife! No job! I was a solo dad with three children, one of them a baby less than a year old. "You must be kidding", I thought to myself at the time! What relevance can that have to me learning to sell...more
Sales turnover and net profits may follow a rollercoaster pattern familiar to most business but when the cash flow dries up the game is over. Urgent attention to the management of working capital can provide every business with the cash resources to exploit its potentialMost businesses will experience periods of lower sales and times when losses may be incurred as expenses exceed sales income. The situation is recoverable by producing higher...more
There are 4 parts to a UFOC:* Cover Page* Table of Contents* Items 1-23* ExhibitsThe 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...more
Whether you are planning to start a brand-new business, expand an existing company, or get financing for a business venture, you will need to write a business plan. A business plan not only lends your business a sense of credibility, but also helps you to cover all your bases, increasing your chances of success.Although writing a business plan can...more
Exchange Traded Funds, better known by many investors as iShares, the brand owned by Barclays Global Investors ('BGI') have been around in the UK since April 2000, with the launch of the iFTSE100 on the London Stock Exchange. From a slow start, by the end of 2005 (the latest figures available), some 125 billion was held in assets under management....more
Superior business leader and American investor Warren Buffett is often called "Oracle of Omaha" or the "Sage of Omaha" and philanthropist. (Wikipedia, 2007) Buffett is the CEO, and the biggest shareholder of the Berkshire Hathaway Company. Buffett's has an estimated current net worth of approximately $52 billion in US funds. Forbes Magazine ranks Buffett the third richest person in the world in September 2007 behind Carlos Slim and Bill Gates.Warren Buffett is known for his economical and plain lifestyle. Buffett still lives in the same Omaha, Nebraska house that he purchased in 1958 for $31,500 with a current value of $700,000. In 1989, Buffett spent $9.7 million of the Berkshire's funds on a corporate jet. He jokingly named it "The Indefensible" because of his past criticisms of such purchases by other CEOs. (Wikipedia, 2007)Warren Buffett decided to make a commitment to give his fortune to charity back in June 2006. Buffett's charity donation is approximately $30 billion, which is the largest donation in the history of the United States. The donation was enough to more than double the size of the foundation with 83% of it going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Buffett...more
People are losing their homes and many more will lose their jobs before the mortgage meltdown works its way through the system.To paraphrase Alan Greenspan's remarks on March 17th, 2008, "The current financial crisis in the US is likely to be judged...more
For many people, even those with good spending habits, creating and sticking to a budget may seem like a significant challenge. Learning to budget wisely, however, isn't just a tool for getting by from month to month. Good budgeting is the first step...more
Obviously, when it comes to credit card debt, the easiest answer for "how to get out of it" is simply to pay everything off. Unfortunately, everyone isn't in a position to do something like this, especially those with extreme credit card debt....more
Does listening to the news or reading the newspaper make you feel scared? Does walking to the mailbox invoke feelings of gloom and doom? Do you walk around the majority of the day feeling anxious and afraid as if waiting for the other shoe to drop?...more
Sources for goods in ChinaFirst establish who the supplier is! It seems obvious but there are many routes to buying products in China through agents, trading companies, wholesalers and factories or any number of "back door" sources. Agents operate on...more
Payday Generator is a new company with a product built for this economy. This business is marketing a travel membership second to none. Consumers can now save hundereds of dollars at week long luxury condo stays. The best part is, this unique travel...more