hanmanth 38

Properties for Sale in Bulgaria: A Look at Rural Real Estate

A great deal of attention has been paid to properties for sale in Bulgaria in the major urban areas in that country. In addition, the growth of property investment in Bulgaria in resort communities -- particularly in the mountainous regions of the country and around the Black Sea -- has been phenomenal in the past few years. However, when it comes to property investment in Bulgaria in some of the more rural areas of the country, people have been a bit slower on the uptake, perhaps a bit reluctant to put money into buying real estate in rural areas.


In point of fact, if you are interested in properties for sale in Bulgaria, you would be well served in taking a close look at the rural parts of the country.
(Indeed, Bulgaria -- with a population of just at 8 million souls -- remains a largely rural country.)


Perhaps the primary reason that you will want to consider property investment in Bulgaria in the rural part of the country rests in the reality that tourism is expected to increase markedly when Bulgaria becomes a part of the European Union in 2007.


For generations, Bulgaria has been a popular holiday destination for men and women who are residents of some of the other Eastern European countries. These holiday travelers flocked to the Black Sea resorts by the thousands annually. (As mentioned, properties for sale in Bulgaria in the resort communities have
been very buoyant recently.)


With the opening of the borders that will accompany admission into the European
Union, Bulgaria will experience an even more significant influx of holiday travelers in the future. A good number of these people will be interested in touring Bulgaria, including visiting some of the interesting and historic
destinations in the more rural parts of the country. Thus, a person with the foresight of taking advantage of property investment in Bulgaria will be in a position to profit from the increase in tourism that is anticipated in all sectors of the country.

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hanmanth 37

The Advantages of Full Color Brochure Printing -

A brochure can be a great promotional tool, whether it is for is a real estate listing, a trade show handout, a data sheet, or another application. The most professional and eye-catching brochures are usually those that are full color.

Full color brochure printing usually means standard four-color printing, and is now offered at almost every brochure printing company. Four-color printing is also referred to as standard color printing and employs cyan (blue), magenta, yellow, and black inks, often abbreviated to “CMYK.” Most computer software programs will convert any text or image to CMYK, and this is usually a requirement of printers.

Brochure printing companies will usually provide a clear explanation of the four-color process. Most high quality, full color commercial printing is done on offset presses using this four-color build process. These four colors are used to create or build the many color shades seen in a brilliant, full color printed brochure.

Color can be tricky, because what you see on your computer screen is called RGB color; it is a different color model than the four-color process. Frequently there is a wide variation in monitor technologies and calibration, and colors will be similar, but not exactly the same. Make sure you communicate to your printing service what color you need to see in the final product. If you print a sample color brochure on your inkjet or laser printer, there may be some variation from the color produced from your printer to the offset lithographic presses.

One of the many advantages of the four-color process is that computer-controlled inking and chemical mixing systems provide color consistency. Automatic color and register control maintains consistent quality, making four-color process the most popular printing choice.

When an exact color match is essential, a spot color of specially mixed ink is used in printing. These specially mixed inks are called pantone colors. You can find color books showing thousands of pantone colors and get an exact match. Spot colors are used most frequently for one- and two-color jobs and when an exact color needs to be produced every time. Full color brochure printing is easy and affordable; so let your imagination soar.

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hanmanth 36

The Exercise Infomercial Phenomenon -

It all started with Jane Fonda. She started an industry with a simple video tape that included a 30 minute beginners program followed by a 60 minute full workout. For Jane it formed the nucleus of an empire that included books, audio recordings and fitness salons that are still in existence today. More importantly, capitalizing on Jane’s success, her workout tapes were followed quickly by everybody with a cut chiseled physique or a machine to help you work off those extra pounds and bring out those abs which quite unbelievably is bigger today than it was yesterday but not as big as it will be tomorrow.

Like they say in the record biz, the hits just keep on coming. Everybody has jumped into the market through the years: Chuck Norris, Lou Ferrigno aka The Hulk from the TV show, even Governor Arnold tried his hand at it. Models, celebrities and just plain folks with a machine have created exercise infomercials and you can count on one thing – more are coming soon to a TV channel in your house.

There’s Pilates, aerobics, toning, step dynamics, yoga, stretch, even specialty exercise tapes for pregnant women, women who have just given birth, women who are thinking about getting pregnant, kids, seniors – and that’s only a small fraction of what is available. Right now there are over 700 titles currently available and at one time or another all of them were presented to the public as an infomercial.

Some exercise infomercials utilized a new form of advertising called the hybrid infomercial. In the hybrid infomercial the product is available immediately as a direct response item and at the same time the item is available in retail stores. Here the infomercial is serving a dual purpose – to make a profit for the manufacturer immediately with credit card phone orders and by creating a brand name identity for the product available in the retail marketplace. With so much product available in today’s infomercial exercise tape market, it’s difficult for any one tape or exercise machine to make a profit for its manufacturer. By utilizing the incredible power of infomercials to reach a wide public base and selling them as a direct response item and a retail item simultaneously, manufacturers have learned how to profit from infomercials even though the market may be oversaturated.

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hanmanth 35

The Rise of Real Estate Infomercials -

From the very beginning of the industry, real estate infomercials have been very successful. There’s something about the idea of making money in real estate that appeals to a lot of people.

In fact, most of the real estate infomercials that have appeared through the years have been scams for several reasons. First the information that they purported to have, the secrets that only they knew but would sell to you for some small or not so small sum of money, were fairly common knowledge easily gleaned at a local library or available for free from the government. Second, the “testimonials” from other, satisfied clients of the “plan” turned out to have been paid actors reading from a script and playing a role designed by the infomercial producers. And finally, some of them are using every advertising trick in the book to cover up the fact that they are outright lying.

The most famous example of real estate infomercials that turned out to be total frauds was a very successful program, that, to this day, many viewers remember seeing. It stars a small, Vietnamese immigrant named Tom Vu who pitches his real estate magical formula from his mansion, his yacht or one of his many expensive cars while surrounded constantly with bikini clad swimsuit models. What was Tom Vu selling? A seminar where he would reveal how he, a dirt poor immigrant, made a fortune in real estate and how you could copy his formula and get wealthy yourself by buying the information. What was he really selling?

Tom Vu sold the bodies of those gorgeous swimsuit models. Most people sat transfixed, watching this opulent display of wealth and flesh, hearing very little of what was actually being said and instantly got hooked. Before they knew it they were calling and signing up for old Tom’s seminar not because they were so taken with him and what he was saying, but because somehow he made them believe that they could be surrounded with beautiful women, just like Tom. If that little, funny looking guy could do it, then so can I! Somehow, this worked. Tom has had some legal problems over this venture and the only secret he had to sell was the secret of making infomercials that mesmerized an audience into calling and spending some money without ever really knowing why. This was early on in the growth of the industry when there was little accountability, but even so, Tom Vu was the model for almost all of the real estate infomercials that followed through the years.

Nowadays, real estate infomercials have learned how to use some of the fantastically successful Tom Vu techniques and avoid the legal problems. They do deliver a product - a book, a guide, a history of profitable real estate transactions that could be followed and could be profitable. You’ve all seen the young, good looking guy talking about the fortune he has made buying houses for no money down, fixing them up and then selling them for a profit. Have you noticed he’s sitting poolside in Hawaii talking with one of his clients, a beautiful woman in a skimpy bathing suit? Tom Vu technique. Or the guy telling you how he’s bought nothing but foreclosures and turned them over quickly for a healthy profit? He’ll sell you a detailed guide of how he does what he does and a list of where to find foreclosures that you can get for free from the government just by making a few toll free phone calls. Is it worth it? You decide.

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hanmanth 34

What Goes Around Comes Around

I’ve spent a lifetime committed to helping others. It’s what gives me the greatest joy, fulfillment and satisfaction in life. I’m also a true believer in the old adage - “What goes around comes around.”

This is reinforced on many occasions when I encounter an old co-worker, friend or acquaintance who reminds me of how I inspired them, gave them guidance or helped them through a difficult time. These kinds of experiences always motivate me to keep putting good things out into the world.

We never know in advance what good may come from the gestures we put out there. Maybe it will inspire, encourage, educate, motivate or actually change someone’s life. In any event, people will always come away knowing that they matter to you.

In business, as in life, it all comes down to people. People are your customers, co-workers, employees, leaders, managers, investors and vendors. Success in your business depends on the people you encounter. How you treat those people will have a significant impact on your bottom line.

Here are some ways to help people in your business and show them that they matter:

1. Deliver incredible customer service.
2. Give a single parent the afternoon off.
3. Pay someone more than you need to.
4. Send a hand-written note to an employee acknowledging a job well done.
5. Loan a subordinate a book that you’ve found to be helpful.
6. Tell someone struggling “I want to help you succeed,” and mean it.
7. Stop by and talk, without an agenda.
8. Share a resource that you’ve found useful.
9. Create a safe space for openness and honesty.
10. Let people tell you how they feel, and listen without interrupting.

I encourage you to think about the people that you impact, the lives that you touch and the positive changes that you can make. These are the true signs of leadership and in my opinion are more important than the money that you make, the position that you hold or the size of your office.

You can do good while you’re doing well. It may require you to think of new ways to do it, but when you focus on helping others, you’ll succeed in ways beyond measure.

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hanmanth 33

Where to Find Cheap Brochure Printing -

Whether it is for is a real estate listing, a trade show handout, a data sheet, or another application, brochures can be a great promotional tool. They can be very expensive or surprisingly affordable, depending on your needs and where you look. Two of the easiest ways to find good prices is to search online or to call printing companies for quotes. There are so many competing printing companies – both offset and digital – that the job of finding a cheap brochure printing company couldn’t be simpler.

Digital printers tend to be less expensive than offset printers, but some argue that their quality is not as high. It is best to investigate what each kind of printer offers and see a sample before making a judgment.

If you have limited internal marketing services, you can still easily make a brochure that will be of high quality, appealing and cheap. The key elements are creating and implementing a clear design plan and doing all of your electronic file work in-house. This will avoid enlisting the extra services printers offer, and help keep the cost low.

Companies will often prominently list their no-frills prices to attract customers looking for bargains. The prices will usually include a few standard paper choices, full color and a standard fold, and shipping (sometimes this is free). If you are sure of what you want and you don’t need any consultation or custom work, your cost will remain very reasonable.

Another option is to build your own brochure online. There are many companies that now offer do-it-yourself graphic design options. This is a fast and easy process that is a very inexpensive route.

Be on the look out for free options and special deals such as seasonal discounts or discounts on discontinued papers. Additionally, make sure when you are pricing your brochure printing job that it includes full color; it is a buyers market and there is no reason to compromise on color. One of the most affordable options is single color or color brochure; this uses only one color and is not appropriate for every brochure.

With the advent of new technologies, digital printing and desktop publishing prices could not be lower. It’s a great time to use a brochure to get your message out there.

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hanmanth 32

Buy a Flower Shop: Serious Considerations

You've always liked flowers and you think the idea of turning emotions into floral expressions sounds like tremendous fun. You are between careers and have been investigating business opportunities in your community. Yesterday, while perusing the real estate magazine in your county, you notice that the family owned, downtown flower shop is for sale. The ad says it's a turnkey operation. This is your lucky day. Or is it?

Let's look before we leap, OK? Here are some factors to consider:

What is the current state of health of this business?

You should be able to see the financial records and consult professional help if needed.

What is the reputation of this business in the community?

If there are negative feelings about the business in the community, you need to consider a name change and making a big show of the change in management. Factor in the cost of a face-lift on the façade of the physical facility.

What assets are included in the selling price?

If you are buying the building, equipment, coolers and inventory, you need to carefully assess the age, condition and viability of these items. For example, there may be $10,000 worth of inventory in the store, and the seller may be able to document the value by showing invoices. However, if the inventory is shop worn, out of date or not in keeping with your business plan, the value of that inventory to you may be quite a bit lower than that $10,000.

Are you also buying the Accounts Receivables as an asset? If so, you should do some serious research into the exact state of these accounts. Many traditional florists have struggled with house accounts. They have extended credit as a matter of tradition, rather than good business sense and have found themselves in extreme cash flow trouble.

What liabilities are you buying?

You'll need to be very clear about any debt or bills you will be taking over. Be sure that you hire professional help to outline any such debt in your sales agreement. Because of seasonality of the flower business and the existence of house accounts, many retail florists have difficulty with cash flow; you should avoid any situation where you will be paying bills run up by the previous owner.

Also, you should take time to consult with the Wholesalers that you will be buying from. Discuss your payment terms and lay the groundwork for a healthy business relationship with a reputable Wholesaler or two.

What about the business name?

If the name of the business is valuable in your market, you probably won't want to change the name of the business. In any case, consider a clause in the bill of sale limiting the use of the name by the previous owner in the future. This can be very sticky in the case of an owner's own name, for example "Smith Florist".

Will you need to hire all new staff?

Sometimes a previous owner chooses to stay on and work for the new owner. This can pose tremendous difficulties for all involved, so tread lightly on this territory. It's an extreme analogy, but think about the difficulties in open adoptions between birth and adoptive parents. Everyone has their own style and it can be difficult to accept change or let go of something you have worked very hard to build.

That being said, many valued staff members at successful florists have weathered the change in ownership of their place of employment. Do make every effort to retain good people. Just be sure to be clear about your expectations so that the separation can be as painless as possible should that become necessary.

What is the correct timing?

Take the holidays into account when you plan your purchase of a flower shop. Valentine's day is the single largest day, but Christmas is more of a marathon. Mother's Day, weddings, proms, graduations and anniversaries team up to make the spring months a nice busy time. Depending upon your market, the summer can be a difficult time to make ends meet.

Ideally, you'd take over a shop with enough time to get your feet wet before a holiday, but not with so much down time that your funds dry up before you can get going.

What other opportunities exist, and at what cost?

Here's the acid test. Take the time to sort out the options. Let's work on the assumption that you WILL own a flower shop in the next year. Take a big sheet of paper and draw a line down the center. At the top of the left column, write "Buy and Existing Flower Shop". In the Right column, write "Open a New Flower Shop". Now draw a line through the middle of the paper, so you have a top and bottom. The top is for pros and the bottom is for cons. Fill in the grid with as many items as you can figure. Ask your trusted business friends and floral professionals for help. You'll be considering such items as the finances and the marketing plan of your business. When you have completed this exercise, you should have two things. One is a good tool to help you make a decision. The second is the beginnings of a business plan.

Whatever your decision, a business plan is essential. It is your roadmap for success and will be necessary for a business loan. It is worth the extra time at the onset of this journey to compare the options and make the best decision you can.

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hanmanth 31

Canadian Debt Consolidation

Life throws people a number of challenges often on a daily basis and unfortunately, some of those are financial challenges. The loss of a job, an illness and many other situations can make paying off loans difficult to do. Sometimes people simply overextend themselves with their financial commitments and find that they can’t always make even the minimum payment on all of their loans. People from all over the world are finding that they are running into similar financial situations including Canada. Canadians as other nationals have the option of trying to qualify for Canadian debt consolidation.

A Canadian debt consolidation loan is when a bank or other lending establishment loans an individual enough money to pay off his or her loans in order to repay back the entire amount in a single payment often at a competitive interest rate. The creditor gives the companies that are owed money, in effect taking over the loan in order to help lower monthly payments and possibly improve the credit score of a person. Not every Canadian debt consolidation loan is offered at the same interest rate, so it is a good idea to look around for the best deal.

Another type of Canadian debt consolidation is where an individual contacts a debt consolidation specialist who in turn contacts the individual’s creditors in order to make arrangements for lower payments or interest in order to satisfy the debt faster for less money. The purpose of this type of Canadian debt consolidation is to help individuals who can still make lower payments on their debts and to avoid having to file for bankruptcy. As with the Canadian debt consolidation loan, the outcome of using a debt consolidation service is to be able to make a lower monthly payment in order to satisfy debt but a good debt consolidation service allows a person to do so without taking on another debt.

A Canadian debt consolidation service works because instead of losing all of their money to bankruptcy or simply never being repaid at all, most lenders want to be able to get a good portion of their money back through a debtors payments. A Canadian debt consolidation service is trained to deal with lenders and lenders are comfortable dealing with a debt consolidation service. If an individual were to attempt to make the same type of arrangements a Canadian debt consolidation does on his or her own it isn’t likely that he or she will meet with much success.

When approaching any type of Canadian debt consolidation service, make sure that the terms of either the consolidation loan or consolidation agreement are acceptable and possible. It doesn’t make sense to get into another loan situation if it isn’t possible to make payments. If a Canadian debt consolidation service arranges to make lower payments on existing debts, make sure that those payments can be made.

Successfully using a Canadian debt consolidation service can make dealing with financial issues much easier on most individuals and can also help him or her to avoid filing for bankruptcy. The benefits of using a Canadian debt consolidation service are immeasurable and can even mean an bringing past due accounts to a current status and improving a credit score over time. If financial obligations are beginning to feel overwhelming or if bankruptcy is being considered, it would be a good idea to look into Canadian debt consolidation and see if it would feasible.

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hanmanth 25

Do You Need Bad Credit Help

? Are you one of thousands with no
credit and no collateral to help secure approval, or you just
have extremely bad credit and no one wants to help you, and all
you hear is stories and more stories?

Bad credit is a term used to describe a poor credit rating.
Common practices that can damage a credit rating include making
late payments, skipping payments, exceeding card limits or
declaring bankruptcy. Bad Credit can result in being denied
credit.

Bad credit can result in a negative rating from the credit
reporting agencies. Many factors can contribute to someone
getting a "bad credit" rating, among these are non-payment of an
account or late payments over an extended length of time.
Whether non-payment of an account is willful or due to financial
hardship, the result can be the same, a negative rating which
will result in a low credit score. However, lenders are more
willing to work with individuals if the person contacts the
lender to let them know they are having problems meeting their
commitment to pay. 100% Online Debt Relief! No Phone Calls! You
must have at least $2,500 of total debt over two or more
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A credit score is defined as a statistical method of assessing
an applicant's credit worthiness. An applicant's credit card
history; amount of outstanding debt; the type of credit used;
negative information such as bankruptcies or late payments;
collection accounts and judgments; too little credit history,
and too many credit lines with the maximum amount borrowed are
all included in credit-scoring models to determine the credit
score.

Raising your credit score is possible. It's a well known fact
that lenders will give people with higher credit scores lower
interest rates on mortgages, car loans and credit cards. If your
credit score falls under 620 just getting loans and credit cards
with reasonable terms is difficult.

Here are five things that you can use to raise credit score.

1. Correct obvious mistakes.

Your credit score is what shows up in your credit report. Review
your reports from all three credit bureaus for accuracy once a
year as well as several months before applying for a loan.
Changing a mistake on your report can take 30 days to three
months, or more. Get Your credit report from the three major
bureaus: Experian, Trans Union and Equifax.

2. Pay Your Bills On Time

Your payment history makes up 35% of your total credit score.
Your recent payment history will carry much more weight than
what happened five years ago.

Missing just one payment on anything can knock 50 to 100 points
off of your credit score.

Paying your bills on time is the best way to get started
rebuilding your credit rating and raising your credit score.

3. Reduce your credit card balances.

A heavily weighted factor in your FICO score is how much money
you owe on your credit cards relative to your total credit
limit. Generally, it's good to keep your balances at or below 25
percent of your credit card limit, said Jeanne Kelly, founder of
The Kelly Group in Brookfield, Conn., which helps clients
improve their credit scores.

4. Don’t Close Old Accounts

In the past people were told to close old accounts they weren’t
using. But with today's current scoring methods that could
actually hurt your credit score.

Closing old or paid off credit accounts lowers the total credit
available to you and makes any balances you have appear larger
in credit score calculations. Closing your oldest accounts can
actually shorten the length of your credit history and to a
lender it makes you less credit worthy.

If you are trying to minimize identity theft and it's worth the
peace of mind for you to close your old or paid off accounts,
the good news is it will only lower you score a minimal amount.
But just by keeping those old accounts open you can raise credit
score for you.

5. Avoid Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is the single worst thing you can do to your credit
score. Bankruptcy will lower your credit score by 200 points or
more and is very difficult to come back from.

Once your credit score falls below 620, any loan you get will be
far more expensive. A bankruptcy on your credit record is
reported for up to 10 years.

The reality of a bankruptcy is it will limit you to
high-interest lenders that will squeeze out high interest rate
payments from you for years.

It is better to get credit counseling to help you with your
bills and avoid bankruptcy at all costs. By getting credit
counseling instead of declaring bankruptcy you can raise credit
score over a much shorter period of time.

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hanmanth 24

Financing and Refinancing Programs are Plentiful

As cliché as it may sound, the “Money makes the world go round” adage still holds true. Especially nowadays when everything and anything tangible or intangible can be bought with one’s dollars, money is apparently of extreme importance. What if you want to buy a home or start your own business? How do you go about your financing endeavor? Read on for the best avenue that will “show you the money!”

Coupled with management and planning skills, financing is what will aid one in venturing into business if he/she wishes to make it grow and get the desired profit. Many financial institutions are offering various types of financing that may assist in tackling this matter.

To better understand the wide array of financing options for your money needs, here is a rundown of the types of financing that you can avail.

1. Revolving Line of Credit

This is the most usual and most low-cost kind of business loan for small and medium-sized businesses. A revolving line of credit will fund a company’s working capital. This working capital typically consists of the sum of present assets minus the present liabilities.

2. Non-Capital Goods Financing

This is a type of financing that is for short-term deals. These deals are with settlement terms of about a year or may be less for buying goods, i.e., construction materials, products, and other non-capital stuff.

3. Project Finance

Financial companies offers financing for projects that need longer than 5 years repayment terms. Depending on the predicted cash flows and kind of revenue that a project is about to generate, this kind of financing undergoes extensive analysis.

4. Capital Equipment Financing

Extension of funding plans is possible if one chooses this financing. As the transaction requires it to be, the extension can go from 1 to 10 years.

5. Subordinated Mezzanine Debt

This is one of the more expensive types of financing compared to revolving line of credit and term debt. Lenders usually ask for equity like warrants to add on their earnings from interests.

6. Equity Financing

This form of financing is for investors that are brave enough to face major risks that this kind of financing brings. But with that warning of a great risk comes the expectation of high returns on the part of the equity investor.

7. Piggyback Financing

This program caters to homebuyers who avoid the required mortgage insurance when the mortgage is in excess of the 80 percent of the purchase price. Two mortgages with possible varying costs are available for the borrower with this type of financing.

8. Creative Financing

This option is when the buyer of the house is with a third-party lending institution, i.e., a bank or a loan company.

9. Owner Financing

This is when the property owner or seller finances the buyer.

These are some of the most popular financing possibilities one can acquire for his/her business or any money-involving activity. What would further serve you best in your decision making on which to stick to is considering payment terms you can afford and the right timing when applying for the funding plan.

With the many options mentioned, you are more armed with the several financing choices that will help you pull it off with yourbusiness, home buying or any endeavor that requires financial aid.

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hanmanth 23

Forgive All Ebay Sins!

Over the years, I have been amazed at the “blinding” greed and reckless approach
to commerce that some business owners have employed. Lying to customers, selling inferior merchandise, and not offering refunds, left a firestorm of irate customers in their wake. Without fail, all of this “ill will” led most businesses to bankruptcy, and in some cases, Federal Prison.

I realize that not everyone engages in “business criminality” that rises to the level of fraud and incarceration. Most people try to be good stewards, and approach their enterprise in an honest and forthright manner. For those of you who own thriving business concerns you already know that in most cases the customer is always right. You make sure that you communicate effectively, refund monies if the buyer is truly unhappy, and try to meet the needs of the people who buy your goods or services.

However, there are more than a handful of Ebay sellers that are of the mind that customer service and effective communication is not something that they need not participate in. Take the case of a woman named Barbara, (Nickname: BobAnn) who recently posted her disappointment on the Ryze Business Network:

Quote:
Barbara Cerda wrote:
Greetings Everyone,

“When will sellers on Ebay understand that customer service is key? And when will Ebay sellers learn using customer friendly approaches can only make their business grow?” Again today I've bought from a less than friendly seller.

Thought I was placing a bid and instead bought the item at the buy now price. Of course the seller refused to allow the retraction, nor was I allowed to place a bid. I always pay for my winning bids immediately upon email confirmation.

And did so in this case. But it would have been customer friendlier for this seller
to accept my retraction to be replaced with a bid. He would have gotten repeat business from me and my friends. His "Buy Now" price is 30% over the retail price for this item. Lesson learned by me again - that there are way too many sellers on Ebay out to grab a buck and the hell with fair practice. Lesson learned yet again.”

BobAnn
End quote…

The operative phrase here is “repeat business from me and my friends”. There is no better endorsement of your product or service than word of mouth advertising. Lack of flexibility on the part of the seller, not only cost them one customer, but also destroyed the possibility for future business. Good news travels fast, but bad news travels faster!

As an auction seller, (Ebay auction ID: LevelBest77) I would have accommodated her request right away. And while I have never had anyone use “Buy It Now” by accident, I have had several people over the years ask me to retract bids. The number of people who have made that request can be counted on one hand! Some, did not even understand the process, (bid retracting) and I was more than willing to guide them through it.

People make honest mistakes, and you should never “abuse” a buyer for doing so. If you plan to get into Ebay auction selling for the long haul, always practice good will toward your customers. Unless someone is totally unreasonable, and you have done everything in your power to accommodate their request, never deny people the ability to change their mind, return an item, or retract a bid! Developing good will also requires that you anticipate customer needs…..

For instance, I had a few overseas customers bid on a wireless router. This particular item needed to be powered with a Universal Adapter, since voltage requirements in France and Australia are obviously different from those here in the United States.

I made this abundantly clear to both bidders before they sent me any payment. The purchase of such an adapter, not to mention the shipping price, would have doubled the US retail cost. I told them that they could probably get the product cheaper at their local electronics stores. Without hesitation, I let them out of their obligation to pay for the item. I then contacted the next highest bidder and offered that person the chance to make the purchase.

Both bidders thanked me for my honesty. They had forgotten about the electrical differences. I could have ignored that little detail, and sold them the item anyway. I just had to put myself in their situation. Think of how frustrated they would have been if I did not reveal that information. Buyer’s remorse would have set in quickly, once they realized that they could have purchased the same item for a lot less in their native countries.

While the benefits of these actions may not have an immediate effect, you can be sure that should I ever have another “item of interest!” these two gentlemen would not hesitate to purchase from me. They can count on me to accommodate their needs, instead of catering to my wants. Creating this type of good will instills trust, and the knowledge that you have the customers best interest in mind.

“Me thinketh thou doth protest too much!

Do you accentuate the positive? Or, do you run on negativity? Negative Ebay feedback is a tool that everyone should use with restraint, or not at all. As a rule, I never leave negative feedback. Unless someone has blatantly lied about your product, or attacked you personally without merit, then I would not leave any feedback in the “minus” side of the isle!

“Flame” wars are not pretty. I have seen a lot of unnecessary back and forth “banter” that could have been avoided, if they (the seller) just resisted the urge to make their “two cents” known. Sometimes it gives customers the impression that you are more concerned about arguing, then conducting your business.

I have also witnessed seller feedback that has included some pretty foul language. Engaging in this type of verbal sparring is not much of a confidence builder either. It is more telling of what you are, then about revealing the sins of your customers. Don’t go out of your way to register a negative response if you can help it. Heed the sage advice that our Mother’s use to tell us: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!”

“What we have here is a failure to communicate!”

Communication with your customers should not amount to the sound one hand clapping! Bottom line, if someone e-mails you with a question--answer it! Here is an example of the type of feedback I obtained by doing just that……

“He was very Helpful and cooperative in answering questions. Follow-up: Will DEFINITELY use his services anytime he has items of interest! Great Seller!”

The gentlemen who left this positive review, wanted to know about some of the particulars of a “Mickey Mouse” clock I had up for auction. His wife is a collector
of all things Disney, and thought it would be a nice surprise for her birthday. The
clock, to say the least, was in sad shape. It was incapable of keeping time, and the
only part of it in working order was the second hand. I thought for sure that he would be disappointed with the item despite full disclosure of all of it’s imperfections.

To my surprise, not only did I receive positive feedback, but he also told me that his wife absolutely loved it! In this instance, one man’s junk, truly, is another man’s treasure! I never thought this item was worthy of any praise! The time it took to answer his questions—all of five minutes!

I know that some of you will say that I am not being realistic. You just can’t answer e-mails all day; “I have a business to run!,” you might proclaim. If you plan on making a living on Ebay, then you better think about hiring someone to help you answer your daily inquires if it is just too overwhelming. If you specialize in a particular product, set up a Frequently Asked Questions page to any Auto-Responder.

If you use Ebay on an infrequent basis, and have less than thirty listings a month, then you really don't have any excuse not to provide great customer service and e-mail communication. You shouldn’t be inundated with questions regarding that many items, unless the product you are selling is technical in nature.

If you ignore your customers, they will go away. Good customer service should be woven into the fabric of every good business. I cannot overemphasis the importance of this issue. I continue to be perplexed by the fact that it is last on the list of business priorities for some Ebay sellers!

Will good customer service and communication alone make you rich on Ebay? That would be a resounding "no”. You will have to understand your market, and provide products that the Ebay community will bid on consistently. There will be “bidders & buyers” out there that will make mistakes and commit some auction sins! Forgive all Ebay sins and you will be rewarded with happy, repeat customers!

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hanmanth 22

Government Grants - What are they and how to get them ?

None of these Government Grants require a credit check, collateral, security deposits or co-signers, you can apply even if you have a bankruptcy or bad credit, it doesn't matter. Its Free Money Never Repay!

The Federal Government is Giving out over 155.5 billion dollars in Business Grants!

Receive Government Small Business Grants for virtually any type of business. Whether it is to start a business or expand your existing business there is money for waiting just for you. The Federal government provides this money to help existing small business owners and those who want to start their own business change their lives and achieve financial independence.

The United States Government wants your Small Business to succeed and you will be amazed at the lengths they will go to help ensure your success. At Grant Seeker Pro™ we have designed a State of the art software program that will aid you in locating the perfect grant or grants for your small business!

Once you find the programs for Small Business Grants that fit your needs you can use the Grant Seeker Pro™ software program to complete the applications! Don't forget to use your Grant Seeker Pro™ to complete your business plan also!

Facts About Government Business Grants:


# Over 20 million people gets Government grants every year

# Over 10 BILLION dollars for entrepreneurs in the form of Low Interest Small Business Loans.
# 4,000,000 people get money to invest in real estate!

# Did you know that if every business in America were to apply for and receive an equal share of Government Small Business Grants that each and every business in this great country would receive a $70,000 free cash grant?
# Did you know that H. Ross Perot has received Government Small Business Grants?

# Did you know Paul Newman has received Business Grants.
# Did you know Donald Trump has used Small Business Grants to fund many programs.
# Most recently the airlines have received Billions in grants to make sure they stay afloat through these troubled times.


Learn about complicated Tax Refunds or Tax Credits. These are programs largely overlooked by the Small Business owner. At tax time these special incentive programs can (depending on the size of your business) save you tens of thousands of dollars!

In spite of the perception that people should not look to the government for help, the great government give-away programs have remained so incredibly huge that if each of the approximately 8 million businesses applied for an equal share, they would each receive over $70,000.

Thought Affirmative Action was dead? If you did you thought wrong. Though many of the catch phrases are no longer in use most of the money that was available still is.

Every year Congressmen and Senators make promises to the people that put them in office. Many of those promises are made to minority groups in specific areas but most are made at a National level.

There are also Reserved Free Government Cash Grants now available for the following special interest groups. American Indians, Veterans, Family Members of Veterans, Low Income Families, Community Block Grants, Non Profit Organizations, First Time Home Buyers, Artists, Musicians, Nurses, Teachers, Researchers, The Disabled, People Suffering From HIV and AIDS, Substance Abuse. There are literally Millions Available; All you have to do is ask!

Can You Imagine receiving:

One Billion Dollars in Minority Business Grants for business start up!

Millions in Minority Business Grants to expand your existing business!

Receive $8,000 in Minority Grant for Free Legal Advice!

Millions Available In Minority Grants for the purchase of your first home!

Receive $75,000 Housing Grant to Remodel Your House!

Receive $6,000 in Minority Scholarship Grants for College Tuition!

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hanmanth 21

High Volume Merchant Accounts

As your business continues to grow and customers buy more goods and services, you may want to consider joining those who are applying for high volume merchant accounts. When you are approved for a high volume account, you can get good prices on mid- and non-qualified sales, along with debit processing, monthly statement fees, and additional expenses. The greater your volume of business, the better deals you may be eligible for when working with financial institutions or companies who can provide this valuable service.

The way it works is that you apply for a merchant account at a bank that offers great pricing and low-cost fees. These can be packaged in a variety of ways. For example, you may want to pay a few cents for each transaction, but if you experience high-volume sales, this could become a costly option. The other route to go is to pay a low monthly overall percentage, often between 1% and 2%, for the entire sales volume you experience via your credit card and debit-processing program. High volume merchant accounts can save you money over time because you will be able to pay smaller fees for each transaction or get a better rate for the amount of profit that you bring in.

If you currently have a sizable volume of sales and perhaps expect to do more in the near future, keep in mind that high volume merchant accounts have helped others in your position. Your customers will appreciate the ease of using up-to-the-minute technology for processing their orders with your company. And your employees likewise will be happy to turn their attention to other tasks within the organization. Your company may even see profit increases within the first few months as the word spreads about your merchant account status and credit card processing capabilities.

You can apply for high volume merchant accounts through your local bank or a preferred financial institution that can process Visa and MasterCard credit accounts. Your application should demonstrate that your company is not involved in illegal or shady dealings that the underwriters are unlikely to approve, including gambling, pornography, pharmaceutical offerings, and telemarketing. Then you will want to be able to show that your company is fiscally solvent and maintains a solid credit history. You might include documentation to support the notion that your company will be able to pay merchant account fees in a timely manner.

In upgrading your business to accommodate e-commerce solutions like credit card processors through a merchant account, be sure to calculate in advance the type of fees or expenses that will be affiliated with this move. You don’t want to start something you can’t finish, so project related expenditures for the coming year to see how they fit with your company budget. If it appears a credit card processor or wireless unit will tax your operating budget, you may be able to take out a low-interest loan to fund the initial start-up expenses. Discuss this option and any other questions you might have with the bank representative who manages applications for high volume merchant accounts.

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hanmanth 20

How to Choose a Bank for your Home Business

You should thoroughly consider your business needs when selecting a financial institution or bank for your small/home business. You may want to consider the following points:

- The types of products and services that are offered.
- The bank's criteria for qualifying for a loan.
- The minimum balances for accounts, interest rates and charges for account services.
- Location and Access to ATMs
- Online Banking Services

One bank may specialize in home loans or auto loans while another may focus on commercial loans for businesses. Some banks may only offer basic deposit accounts while others have lock box services, sweep accounts, and even online banking! It's very important to evaluate your business needs before you select your banker.

Here are some of the things that your banker may be able to help you with:

- Help you with the cash management needs of your business.
- Offer investment products of varying maturities or risks.
- Provide advice regarding what it will take to qualify for the loan that best meets your needs.
- Provide special loan programs for small businesses, including SBA loan programs and other government-guaranteed or agency loans.
- Assist you with finding financial information on your industry.

So compare different banks in order to find the one that will serve your business's needs and will also provide support and assistance during the infancy stage of your business. Selecting a bank that you can work with will be especially important as your business grows.

Start shopping around by gathering information to help you make this important selection. Compare interest rates on deposit accounts and basic consumer loans (most business loans are negotiated, so the rates won't be posted at the banking center). Also, look carefully at the charges for services. Tell them about your business and the form of organization so that they can tell you what special products and services or restrictions might apply.

Before selecting a bank, be sure to have a good understanding of your own business needs, and what you need from your bank. If you know what you will need from a bank, it will be much easier to evaluate and compare between various services. Remember, it is a good idea to establish a relationship with a banker, before you need money. The right banker will be someone that understands the needs of emerging and growing businesses. They will be interested in your business dreams and will help you achieve them.

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hanmanth 19

How to Cut Credit Card Debt

Most Americans have too much credit card debt. Duh, we've all heard that
before, right? Only now its gotten a bit personal... right again? You
personally have too much credit card debt and its about to drive you crazy.

Well there IS hope so don't file those bankruptcy papers just yet. One
major thing you have to keep in mind is your creditor is probably very
willing to work with you. Its in their best interest to have you making
some payment versus no payment. So here are a couple points to help you deal
with your credit card debt.

The first thing you have to do is simply contact your creditor and let them
know your situation. Ask for a lower interest rate or a repayment plan.
You might not have thought of it because you're just naturally so polite but
its a very good strategy to be courteous at all times when negotiating with
your creditor. Polite, but firm. Come across as one who knows what you're
asking for and expect to get it. If you're not sure what you're asking for
in the first place you might consider a reputable credit counseling service.
There's a lot of great, honest organizations out there whose mission is to
help you work things out with your creditors.

Next you've GOT to stop using your cards. Cut them up, freeze them in a tub
of water, whatever you need to do to get them out of your wallet or purse,
do it! You simply can't keep adding to the problem by running the debt up
any higher. This is actually one of the hardest parts of cutting your
credit card debt. Its like you're addicted to spending money you don't
have. So go cold turkey and drop the habit.

Start paying the ones with the highest interest rate first and work from
there. How do you do that? Concentrate on those high interest rate cards
by paying more than the minimum balance each month. The minimum is just
designed to keep you on the hook longer anyway. The credit card companies
are in this business to make a profit and want to have you paying them for
years to come. Even a little extra each month makes a big difference in the
long run.

Lastly, keep your chin up and have a good attitude. Millions of folks just
like you have begun to cut their credit card debt by following the common
sense steps outlined above. You can do it too. Good luck.

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hanmanth 18

Improving Your Financial Situation With Investments and Business Ideas

With financial information and virtual business transactions just a click away, people are finding themselves more financially savvy and in the know on how to fatten up their financial portfolios.

While most people rely on banks and properties to secure their retirement days, others who are smart enough and worldly enough with the affairs of the green buck opt for more lucrative financing opportunities. They do not just let their money sit idly inside a bank vault and wait for the interest to add up. A few actually roll their money and invest them in the high stakes of stocks, bonds and currency.

Stocks can be very risky but if you start small and give yourself time to get the hang of it, you may enjoy it and may even discover that you have the gift of foresight. Watch for stocks that are just on the rise. These are often companies that are very promising. Their value will still be relatively small compared to blue chips so you really don’t have to shell out much. If you want to risk more, you can actually buy blue chips or those stocks that established companies offer to the public. Examples are Microsoft and Dell.

Bonds on the other hand may have modest returns but they are probably the best and most secure of financial investments. Bonds come highly recommended and should not be absent in any financial portfolio.

Currencies are trickier to deal with as their value are affected by so many forces, local or within the country involved, regional and global. Though banks also offer currencies, most have high exchange rates. Others just buy but they do not sell, choosing to keep the currencies within the financing institution.

Debt is perhaps the single worst thing that you can do to damage your financial portfolio. Do not get the wrong idea, debt can be good when used the right way. In fact, successful businessmen have debts too. This is because they have their money tied up in other ventures that have a higher return of investments than the interest of the loans. After all, you cannot make money without having some money to begin with. So, if you feel that you can yield more money using the money that you got from a loan, then by all means, get a loan!

What should be avoided are debts that come from credit cards. Credit cards hold the highest interest rates in debts perhaps because the whole debt business is risky. Getting into deep credit card debt can mean paying a lifetime for the interest without even touching the principal. It is important that when you use the credit card, make sure that you pay on time and that you pay for the whole amount. Otherwise, you would find yourself slowly falling into a financial trap.

It will be risky but the fastest way you can earn big money is to venture on a business. Even something as small as operating a cafeteria in a factory or school or engage in buying and selling of goods over the Internet, can be a great start. With the advent of technology, it is even easier now than before, not to mention faster, to conduct financing and business transactions. You don’t even have to meet face to face. You just have to learn to communicate through emails and mobile phones.

This is not intended to give financial advice and professional advice is suggested before investing.

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hanmanth 17

Incorporating Your Business Using Three Simple Steps

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on
your web site as long as the byline is included and the
article is included in it's entirety. I also ask that you
activate any html links found in the article and in the
byline. Please send a courtesy link or email where you
publish to: support@multiplestreammktg.com

-------------------------------

Incorporating Your Business Using Three Simple Steps
By Abe Cherian
Copyright ? 2005


Incorporating your business today is much easier than it
was 10 or even 20 years ago. Here's three steps; securing
your corporate name, filing the necessary documentation and
paying the necessary filing fees. You can complete these steps
yourself, use an incorporation service provider or have an
attorney complete them for you.


When incorporating, you must first ensure that your
corporate name is available in the state in which you want
to incorporate. Your corporate name must not be deceptively
similar to a name that is already in use in that state. A
name check must be performed in the state of incorporation.


You must also prepare and file all the necessary
documentation. the Articles of Incorporation, with the
appropriate state agency in the state of incorporation.



Additionally, you must pay all state filing fees, initial
franchise taxes and any other initial fees. Each state
charges a filing fee to form your corporation in that
state. These state filing fees vary greatly by state. They
range from under $100 to over $400.


Do It Yourself. Use An Incorporation Service Provider Or
Use An Attorney. If you decide to incorporate on your own,
you need to be well versed in the laws of the state of
incorporation. You will need to prepare and file your own
documentation and undertake all communications with the
necessary state agencies.


If you use an incorporation service company, you submit the
necessary information, and the company checks your name,
prepares and files your documents and pays the initial
state filing fees on your behalf.


Incorporation service companies charge a nominal service
fee on top of the state filing fees, and you can submit all
the necessary information to them over the Internet.
Attorneys will also undertake all of the necessary steps
for you. If you use an attorney to incorporate, you can
expect to pay their hourly fee on top of the state filing
fees.


How long this will take depends on the time the state
requires to approve and return your completed Articles of
Incorporation varies by state. On average, it takes 4-6
weeks to become incorporated.


Most states will allow you to expedite the filing process
for an additional charge. Expediting filings typically take
about 1 week. Those charges also vary by state.


After your corporation is formed, an organizational
meeting of directors must be held. At this meeting bylaws
are adopted, stock is issued and the incorporation process
is completed. Minutes of the organizational meeting should
be kept in a corporate record book.


Incorporation is an important step in the life of a
business, but unfortunately the true value of incorporating
a business is often not seen until the business faces a
negative situation such as a law suit or bankruptcy. A
primary advantage of incorporation is the limited liability
the corporate entity affords its shareholders "The Owners".



Typically, shareholders are not liable for the debts and
obligations of the corporation. Creditors will not come
knocking at the door of a shareholder to pay debts of the
corporation. In a partnership or sole proprietorship the
owner's personal assets may be used to pay debts of the
business.


Other Advantages include

¡è A corporation's life is not dependent upon its members.
A corporation possesses the feature of unlimited life. If
an owner dies or wishes to sell their interest the
corporation will continue to exist and do business.


¡è Retirement funds and qualified retirement plans "like
401k" may be set up more easily with a corporation.


¡è Ownership of a corporation is easily transferable.


¡è Capital can be raised more easily through the sale of
stock.


¡è A corporation possesses centralized management.


Corporations are not without disadvantages. The primary
disadvantage to a corporation is double taxation. Profits
of a corporation are taxed twice when the profits are
distributed to shareholders as dividends. They are taxed
first as income to the corporation, then as income to the
shareholder.


All reasonable business expenses such as salaries are
deductions against corporate income and can minimize the
double tax. Further, the double tax can be eliminated by
making the S corporation election with the Internal Revenue
Service.


Other Disadvantages Include


¡è There is a certain level of complexity and expense of
forming a corporation.


¡è Corporations have extensive record keeping requirements.


¡è Operating a corporation across state lines requires the
corporation to qualify to do business in the other state.


Both the Limited Liability Company "LLC" and "S"
corporation also provide the limited liability to the
owners/shareholders of the company, without the potential
disadvantage of double taxation. While like corporations
these two entities also have advantages and disadvantages,
it is a good idea to learn about all three when deciding
what form your business should take.

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hanmanth 16

What Are Business Loans?

Business loans can be defined as money lent for a specified amount of time at a specific interest rate to a specific person or people that operate a business or plan to operate a business. This definition is very broad, but so are the various types of loans available to business people. Deciding on which type of business loan that you and your company will benefit from the most is very important. Often times, a start-up business or someone that has never owned a business will find themselves more or less applying for a “personal” loan. This can be a very risky endeavor, mixing business loans with personal loans, however, often times it is the only available means for first time business owners.

One of the first things personal business owners need to do is establish business credit. Business credit can help you get a business only loan without using your personal credit. Establishing business credit can be done by:

1.) Opening up a business credit card account and paying it in full.

2.) Buying equipment and supplies from companies that will report good standing to the business credit bureaus.

3.) Having a good business plan with potential earnings, letters of intent, and any type of customer contracts already laid out.

All of these types of endeavors can help in receiving a business loan. Often times, financial institutions require in-depth business plans, be prepared to spend days working on just the certification paperwork prior to applying for a business loan. A business only loan can be obtained in the business name without use of personal credit as long as the business can justify the loan amount and the ability to pay it back.

There are several different types of business loans available, ranging from those secured with collateral, non-secure loans, which are based upon the credit worthiness of the applicant, and even government loans for small business ventures, women and minorities. Government loans are those loans secured by the government; in most instances these loans are available when the business or owner can prove that the community will prosper based upon the business at hand. For the most part, government loans are based upon personal credit.

The basis for which you may need or require a business loan may vary. Some of the most common business loans available to business owners are:

• Acquisitions or a loan to acquire an existing business
• Inventory loans
• Account Receivable Loans
• Working Capital Loans which converts a companies assets into working capital
• Equipment Leasing
• Commercial Property loans
• Warehouse financing
• International business loans
• Franchise loans

One of the most important tools when deciding on what type of business loan your company needs is research. Researching the different types of loans available to you and your company can save you money. First, look into the different type of business loans available to you in your state. Many states have government loans available; some even offer grants, which is money available for specific purposes that do not require repayment. Research the different type of Federal loans available. You can do this at the following website: www.sba.gov. Call your local bank and investment companies regarding the business loans they have available for you. Many times, business loans are not that hard to acquire. With research and a good business plan, your dreams may come true.

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