SBI educates entrepreneurs in fine points of starting a business
Entrepreneurs considering starting a new business in Northeast Pennsylvania, or seasoned business owners and managers seeking ways to improve and grow their businesses can take advantage of a new program called the Small Business Institute (SBI) offered by the University of Scranton's Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Initiated in February of this year, the SBI offers what they "need to succeed."
Starting a Not-for-Profit Organization
Not-for-profit organizations (NPO) generally are exempt from paying taxes, including income, transfer, and sales taxes. While large organizations can contribute greatly to the welfare of their members and society, Woods claims that a need also exists for smaller NPOs. He further discusses several steps on how to start an NPO.
Wholesale business unclear
A lack of transparency in the accounts of wholesale businesses run as subsidiaries of European PTTs does not increase investor appetite for the segment. That was the view expressed by Bridget Cosgrave, the president of Belgacom Carrier and Wholesale, speaking at last month's Carriers World conference in London. "We want 'full cost' financial transparency and that should results in a more rational segment structure," she said. She believes it's only a matter of time before financial analysts start knocking on doors demanding the sort of disclosure that pin-points exactly who is losing what where. And as long as investors can't be sure of what they are buying - apart from a stake in a very tough market - they are likely to stay away.
More and more people pick franchise option
Franchise Players
The franchise strategies of Starbucks and 7-Eleven differ, but they have one major similarity: they're expanding. Starbucks and 7-Eleven have been following and adjusting their franchise strategies for years. In the last three fiscal years, the percentage of franchised Starbucks store locations has risen steadily from 809 in 2001 to 1,475 in 2003. As a percentage of total stores, franchises accounted for 21.4% in 2001. The figure grew to 26.5% in 2003. Dallas-based convenience store giant 7-Eleven has a much higher franchise-to-corporate ratio. At the end of last year, independent franchisees operated 3,338 7-Eleven stores in the US. That's more than 60% of its US store base.
Focus on franchise value
The Texas Bankers Association Board of Directors and staff are poised and ready to take on the goals and objectives that will help them map the future of the industry. Bankers need to focus on franchise value, because the value of the banking franchise is extremely important to stockholders, communities and customers, not to mention members' personal retirement plans, salaries and net worth.