http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/turning-your-why-into-small-business-riches.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/turning-your-why-into-small-business-riches.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:05:46 -0600 "If all your bills were paid and you have enough money in the bank to last for the rest of your life, what would you do and how would you spend your time?"  Given the above situation you can imagine any answer provided would be something you wanted to do, not something you had to or something you do for reasons other than your own.  It is really unlikely that you would be out chasing money, working overtime or even hanging around with negative or questionable people.  Your "WHY" could be as simple as wanting to spend more time with your love ones, helping children with specific needs or whatever.  The bigger your "WHY" the better. No matter what your answer is write it down on a 3x5 index card and carry it with you always.  

Using your "WHY" to propel you into unparalleled success.
When you wake up in the morning read your "WHY" and as you experience challenges take a moment or two and review your "WHY" card.   Keep you "WHY" in mind when you experience negative people who are probably miserable and which would be happy to drag you down to their level.   Remember most people do not have any knowledge of their "WHY" and probably feel lost or unsuccessful.  Whenever you need to regain your focus pull out our "WHY" card and begin imagining how good it will feel when you achieve your goal(s) and you can begin to live your why.  At some point every day ask yourself these two questions and record your answers in a notebook.

1. What have I done Today to help me with the achievement of my "WHY"
2. What can I do differently Tomorrow which will bring me closer to the achievement of my "WHY"  

One last thing: Tell other people your "WHY".
In Today's day and age of the internet, fast food, disposable everything, multimedia, online social networking and Google (Millions of websites offering every product and service imaginable) the one thing which sets us apart from everyone else is our like-ability. Almost all people would prefer to do business with a person or company they like and feel they can relate to.   I personally will go out of my way, even pay a higher price in many cases, to do business with someone I like as apposed to doing business with another person or company that makes me feel like a number. Telling people why you do what you do, allows them to relate to you on a more personal level and will add volumes to your like-ability.

Here is my "WHY"

My "WHY" is ... To reach financial independence, so that I may assist 100 other people in the development and understanding of their own "WHY", to mentor and assist these 100 people with the achievement of their financial independence so they can chase their dream(s), too !
visit SmoothCaller.com and then give me a call @ 888.863.9998





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GT Wilson - 35yrs, lives in Tampa, FL and is a successful business man and network marketer.

On a related note: I am building a Multi-Million dollar division of a Billion dollar, rock solid Company, here locally. I am looking for 5 - 7 individuals interested in personal development who would enjoy earning and developing a powerful residual income over the next 6 months.

If you are tired of not being paid what you are worth, not afraid to step outside of you comfort zone and are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful, please visit visit SmoothCaller.com and then give me a call @ 888.863.9998


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/making-your-network-marketing-business-a-success.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/making-your-network-marketing-business-a-success.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:42:13 -0600 SmoothCaller.com (My PTN Business)
Regardless of what type of business you are marketing the falling economy, double digit unemployment numbers, cutbacks in employee hours and lowered pay scales, every day more and more people are deciding to start their own business.   Many people are now looking to Network marketing with renewed interest. Using the power of social media websites, online article directories, youtube.com, etc, etc your network marketing business can literally run on auto pilot and generate a very nice income 24/7 - 365 days a year.

Knowing Your "WHY" and using your "WHY" will help you attain success far beyond the average person.  

Knowing your "WHY" is critical to the success of any business venture or even life in general.   Your "WHY" is very much like you purpose in life.   The reason you do the things that you do, your life's ultimate goal.   The world is full of people spending their lives chasing one opportunity after another.   When they get board or things get too challenging they quickly become disinterested and are off chasing the next shinny new opportunity.   Unfortunately for most of them without a clear knowledge of their "WHY" they are probably going to repeat the process many times without a lot of results.

Knowing your "WHY" or life's purpose is one of the largest factors which separates one individual who achieves outstanding successful results and another individual who has a great idea, gets off to a good start then because of what ever reason or circumstance quits and does not experience success.   Knowledge of your "WHY" is what separates goal setters from goal achievers. Everyone experiences  challenges, obstacles and negative people.   Knowing and understanding your "WHY" is the one thing that will propel you and cause you go far beyond the efforts of the average person.   Knowing your "WHY" will help you persist when things get difficult it will also make your life more exciting, fulfilling and rewarding.

Just so you know, a persons "WHY" is not money.  Believe it or knot there are plenty people who make lots money at their jobs or business and never excel past a certain point or burnout and quit or get fired for poor attendance or poor performance.  Many relationships also end because of differences which are unrelated to money.    I believe the reason for this is largely due to boredom, routine and the fact that most people spend too much time chasing money rather than chasing their dreams.

Determining your "WHY" is easy once you know how.
A really easy way to determine your "WHY" is to ask yourself this question.
"If all your bills were paid and you have enough money in the bank to last for the rest of your life, what would you do and how would you spend your time?"  Given the above situation you can imagine any answer provided would be something you wanted to do, not something you had to or something you do for reasons other than your own.  It is really unlikely that you would be out chasing money, working overtime or even hanging around with negative or questionable people.  Your "WHY" could be as simple as wanting to spend more time with your love ones, helping children with specific needs or whatever.  The bigger your "WHY" the better. No matter what your answer is write it down on a 3x5 index card and carry it with you always.  


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GT Wilson - 35yrs, lives in Tampa, FL and is a successful business man and network marketer.

Here is my "WHY"

My "WHY" is ... To reach financial independence, so that I may assist 100 other people in the development and understanding of their own "WHY", to mentor and assist these 100 people with the achievement of their financial independence so they can chase their dream(s), too !

On a related note: I am building a Multi-Million dollar division of a Billion dollar, rock solid Company, here locally. I am looking for 5 - 7 individuals interested in personal development who would enjoy earning and developing a powerful residual income over the next 6 months.

If you are tired of not being paid what you are worth, not afraid to step outside of you comfort zone and are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful, please visit SmoothCaller.com and then give me a call @ 888.863.9998

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/5-products-to-take-advantage-of-from-alkaline-kangen-water.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/5-products-to-take-advantage-of-from-alkaline-kangen-water.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:05:40 -0600
1. Leveluk SD501-U

This is the newest addition to their superb line of quality products that offers pure power and quality directly to your kitchen sink. No longer will you have to sacrifice your counter space as this unit allows you to operate it with a fully featured compact LCD wall-mounted control panel. It is fully automatic making it easier to use than ever and it generates a number of different kinds of water.

2. SD 501

This is one of the most popular models available as it features 7 electrode plates and produces water with a higher negative ORP. It is fully automatic and comes with a built-in tank that is perfect for the electrolysis enhancer. Although it is larger than the SUNUS, it is still rather compact.

3. Super 501

If you are looking for quality, this is the top of the line for heavy home use. It is an extremely productive machine that comes with a whopping 12 electrode plates, a twin hose system, and an incredible cleaning system. If that were not enough, it also features a build-in tank for the electrolysis enhancer and a water pressure regulating function that is ideal for a large family.

4. JR II

A middle-grade system from Kangen Water is the JR II which is a true energy saver. This system has three solid electrode plates that will help reduce the energy consumption. Because of the solid platinum-coated titanium plates, it can still produce the strong acid and strong Kangen waters these systems are known for. This is perfect for small families or couples because of the lower power consumption and fewer plates.

5. SUNUS

If you are looking for improved water quality but do not need anything above and beyond, the SUNUS unit is perfect for you. This is the starter model for home use as the compact size makes it convenient for traveling or moving. Although it does not produce the strong alkaline or acidic waters, it will produce all drinking waters and improve the overall quality.

Whether you are looking for the top of the line unit or something to improve your water, there is a little bit of everything from Kangen to choose from. These are just a few of the many products you can find today.


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Would you like to have more financial security? Gary Nako invites you to visit his home business opportunity website for everything you need to start and run your own online business. His services include advertising, mentoring, and a full service training and support package to help with your success. Learn more here: http://Kangen-Water.biz

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/sound-financial-planning-for-public-companies.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/sound-financial-planning-for-public-companies.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:44:22 -0600
When the directors of a given company wish to go in a new strategic direction to provide new services and products, they will assess if the company has the resources to put into practice and maintain the new initiative; it might include such tactics as how risk and earnings are distributed between subsidiaries and locations. The study might include satisfactory parameters for non-production items and economic scenarios. Of course, detailed cash flow predictions well into the future with contingency plans and other scenarios are a must. Although this a basic step, most small private companies and private entrepreneurs that want to go public may not be familiarized with the degree of financial oversight that public companies use on an ongoing basis.

CASH FLOW FORECASTING IS IMPORTANT FOR NEW PUBLIC COMPANIES
Market analysts and shareholders are accustomed to being furnished with regular quarterly and annual financial reporting which documents and validates the sound financial leadership of the company they are reviewing or supporting, through stock or debt contributions. Additional federal reporting standards enforced by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), are meant to further protect investors and the US public in general, from the impact of flawed or unethical business financial management. Enron, still fresh in many memories, is one of the best-known US harbingers of the negative consequences of overly inflated valuation coupled with audit failures to adequately scrutinize cash flows. Enron was one of several industry leaders which relied on market confidence, reputation and equity valuation - fooling top analyst and audit firms - while ignoring the reality of corporate cash flows and the importance of cash equity. Stock valuation and good will do not pay corporate salaries or operating expenses. Repeatedly, the US market has had to re-learn this lesson.

Understandably, post-Enron market and other capital funding for public companies in the US has been extremely difficult to obtain, and public and lender confidence is only slowly returning. This lack of confidence has made it even more advantageous for private companies to go public, The importance of sound financial management and leadership - sound P&L and balance sheet review and oversight - is critical not just to that company's profits, but to thousands of families and retirees around the country, whether they are relying on company benefits, or on a sound economy that is supported by each individual company's performance.

FINANCIALS TO TAKE A COMPANY PUBLIC
Private companies are accustomed, in many cases, to operating independently and making financial decisions without outsider oversight or input. Many private companies utilize only limited outside input or financial commentary -- typically engaging a public accountant or CPA for quick review, to complete tax and/or payroll filings -- with limited thought to actual cash flow forecasting or realistic revenue projections and P&L analysis. It is not unusual in the private company world to see many smaller firms operating without any fixed budget, with company ownership relying solely on the revenue side of the financial equation; focusing solely on revenue projections (sometimes without true profit analysis); operating without internal audit controls, without real-time budget checks and balances based on cash flow forecasts; without real-time adjustments to future financial forecasts, to adjust to market or environmental changes such as product price increases, economic impacts to customer demand, workers compensation claims, unexpected losses, or other real-world events. Many private businesses, as public accountants can attest, operate without either the 1-year or 5-year budget and cash flow forecasts which public companies or corporations routinely utilize.

When a business seeks to go public, utilizing a typical time-to-market time frame of 4-6 months, private companies will be well-rewarded to invest focus and resources on an initial detailed audit and financial plan. This should include meticulous cash flow forecasting, historical and forward-looking P&L projections, financial contingency plans based on 2-3 initial offering / market entry scenarios ("what if" budget and scenario analysis and projections): both to satisfy federal regulatory and exchange listing requirements - if applicable, depending on the exchange listing sought - and to present as complete a financial picture as possible to prospective investors and capital funding sources. This initial exercise should also provide an honest and realistic projection for company ownership, of the impact of going public on company growth, revenues, and cash flows.

MARKET ENTRY PLANNING to GO PUBLIC

Many private company owners approach the go public process with a general expectation or awareness of the many benefits of being a publicly traded company -- which typically include enhanced visibility, increased company valuation and credibility, etc -- but with only a vague idea of market strategy, or detailed cash flow predictions. Cash flow forecasting is particularly difficult for start-up companies, as they may lack the historical expenditure perspective to accurately anticipate costs and revenues. This level of financial detail - overhead, true cost of goods, market or product differentiation, and contingency strategies - is typically the calibre of information investors or lenders will demand before funding, however.

Private company subsidiaries or product lines may be accustomed to being carried or subsidized by a parent company or other product lines, without real-time cash flow analysis, or without a true financial model of cost of goods sold. When money runs out in one product line, the company may be accustomed to borrowing from other product lines, without a full appreciation of the level or scope of subsidization. While it may be acceptable to apply this same strategy as a private company moves into the public arena, public companies will be required to more thoroughly identify, justify, and forecast such areas, to meet regulatory and investor requirements. Private owners typically have only one chance to impress potential investors, or analysts, or potential shareholders.

While regulatory and compliance requirements vary based on company longevity, revenue volume, and placement sought, the more complete the audit and financial reporting a company is able to furnish up front, the better.

PUBLIC COMPANY DEFINITIONS

PCAOB (Public Company Accounting Oversight Board): A non-profit private US entity, created by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX), formed to protect investors (and by extension, the general public), from false financial disclosures or inaccurate financial reporting. This entity was created in response to the market downturn and general fear response which began with the economic impact of Sept. 11, 2001; was fueled by inflated and over-emphasized ".com" filings and over-inflated equity valuations among larger traditional firms; and which played out through the spectacular market failings of corporate giants such as Enron, WorldCom, Pacific Gas & Electric, Tyco, US Airways, and other companies -- the loss of USD billions from the US economy.

Regulation D (Reg D): The SEC exemption clause which allows private companies to go public while avoiding reporting and financial filing requirements, based on company valuation and other criteria. For more on Reg D exemptions please see: http://www.sec.gov/answers/regd.htm

SEC (Securities & Exchange Commission): The SEC is a US federal agency created in 1934, to protect investors from malfeasance or fraudulent financial reporting by US businesses, after a period of false confidence, unregulated banking practices, and over-inflated stock valuations triggered the market crash of the Great Depression. Public companies are required to file quarterly, annual, and other reports and company statements with the SEC, which private companies are not required to furnish. Exemptions are granted to companies, US or foreign, meeting certain SEC criteria.

SECURITIES FINANCING
Public companies typically utilize either equity or debt financing or securities trading:

• Equity Financing:
Companies sell public shares in company equity, with valuations based on future earnings and profit projections, as well as existing equity.

• Debt Financing:
Companies sell debt instruments such as short or long-term bonds, contracts or other instruments.

Federal law requires that all sales of securities be either registered with the SEC, or meet an exemption. Reg D under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933 allows companies meeting certain categories of exemptions to be excluded from SEC financial reporting requirements, and to sell stock without this regulatory burden.


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Lucy Carpenter is an experienced Go Public professional and writer. Her background includes financial and management consulting services with go public company experience and an emphasis on providing information about reverse mergers.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/do-you-understand-the-benefits-of-blogging-and-social-bookmarking.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/do-you-understand-the-benefits-of-blogging-and-social-bookmarking.html Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:37:06 -0500
Blogging is where you put your thoughts down in the Internet where people can find them. You can think of a blog as a diary of your thoughts.

Social bookmarking takes your blog post one step further. There are social directories that you can bookmark your blog posts into such as Digg, Stumbleupon, Propeller, and literally thousands more.

The benefit of bookmarking any blog post is that you are creating a back link to your blog for people to find you. You are also creating a backlink to your blog for search engines to find you.

Regardless of how popular your blog is it is to your benefit bookmark your blog posts into the social directories because most of them will be more popular than your blog. This makes sense because a directory such as Stumbleupon has literally getting millions of visitors every day, whereas your own blog may only be receiving a few hundred or a few thousand visitors a day.

Therefore you social bookmark a blog post for the potential traffic you can receive, and to serve as search engine bait. If you do not social bookmark your blog post into some of the top directories you are limiting the potential benefits from them.

If you've done Internet marketing in the past you may understand a little bit about search engine optimization. Search engines need you to tell them what your blog post is about so that they can rank it high for their searchers.

So when you do a blog post you should include relevant keywords where search engine can find them. The easiest way to do this is to put them right at the beginning of the title, include them in your introduction paragraph, and include them again in your closing paragraph. You might even want to bold them for additional emphasis.

You can also include variations of these key words in the body of your blog article as it sounds natural. By doing this you are helping the search engines understand what your blog article is about and they will reward you with a higher ranking for that specific keyword phrase.

This is a few ideas on blogging and social bookmarking. The benefits of using the two together can result in additional quality traffic for your business.

Don Jones is the webmaster of Home Business Information
Where you can sign up for my FREE news letter and get FREE E-Books HERE

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To get the most out of a blog article you should also be social bookmarking it. In this article we will take a look at how to combine blogging and social bookmarking to get the maximum results for your business.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/starting-a-home-based-travel-club-business.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/starting-a-home-based-travel-club-business.html Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:19:48 -0500
There are two types of home based travel agents that you can choose to be. The first is a referral agent and the second is a booking and selling agent. Referral agents do not book or sell any travel products, but rather, they just run a home based travel business that leads consumers in the direction of a travel agency, who will then close the deal and book the actual trip. If you currently have little travel industry experience this might be the best option for you.

If you are interested in getting into details with your home based travel business you will probably want to be a booking and selling agent. If you choose to do this form of business you can do a wide variety of trips or you can get into a special niche, such as cruises or European trips. If this is the type of travel business you create you will need to have more contact with the clients to find out exactly what they want and create their trip around it. This will result in more work but the commissions are higher.

When you start your home based travel business you will need to go out and connect with a host agency. It is important that you understand to separate your travel business from the host agency. Your business will work with the host agency but you are not an employee of the agency, rather, you are just having a business relationship with them.

The benefits of creating a home based travel business are the flexible schedule and being your own boss and in some cases you can even earn rewards like free vacations each year.

Starting your own home based travel business can be a rewarding experience that will benefit you much in the long run. Once you decide on what type of travel business you want and how involved you want to be with your clients, and you create a business relationship with a host agency, you can be on your way to success.



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For one of the easiest and most profitable Travel Club Opportunities, Heidi Moore invites you to visit her wholesale travel club, business opportunity website for everything you need to start and run your own online business. Her services include advertising, mentoring, and a full service training and support package to help guarantee your success. Learn more here:
http://niplink.net/l40

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/how-you-can-earn-money-4-ways-through-home-wealth-university.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/how-you-can-earn-money-4-ways-through-home-wealth-university.html Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:27:29 -0500
The first way you can profit from this program is through fast start bonuses, which allow you to earn money every week. After joining the program and taking advantage of the tremendous training offered for just $29.95 per month, you will then enjoy full resale rights to it. This allows you to make a tremendous amount of money by spreading the love for the products to others.

Every time you sell the program to someone else, you will earn a fast start bonus of $25 the next week. You no longer have to wait around for a few weeks or a month to receive your commission check. Within a week you will earn $25 for every person you have signed up and there are no limits as to how many people you sign up.

The next way to make money with Home Wealth University is through Matrix Commissions. There is nothing sweeter than earning residual income and the 3X6 Double Acceleration Matrix offered here provides you with two separate profit centers you can earn full commissions on every month. The benefit of having two profit centers is that the matrix is going to fill twice as fast.

All it takes is for you to become a member in order to be placed in the Double Acceleration Matrix. From there, you will automatically be qualified to earn commissions 6 levels deep. Another benefit is that members pay their membership fee every month through the matrix which is divvied up amongst all members regardless of who enrolled them.

On to the third way you can make money which is with matching bonuses. This provides you with unlimited income potential in the program. Not everyone enjoys recruiting and building a huge matrix which is what makes this program so appealing. You can make money without ever recruiting another person believe it or not.

You can match a percentage of all of the commissions everyone you enroll earns every month in both of their positions. In addition, you will earn a percentage of their member's earnings and so on up to four generations deep.

The final way to make money with Home Wealth University is through the power pool bonuses. This gives you the chance to earn a piece of the company profits as you can take advantage of a percentage of every dollar that comes into the company every month. If you are a 4 star leader or 5 star leader, you will earn 1% of every dollar that comes in for the month which will quickly add up.





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Would you like to have real financial security? Brad Hensley invites you to visit his profitable business opportunity website for everything you need to start and run your own online business. His services include advertising, mentoring, and a full service training and support package to help guarantee your success. Learn more here:
http://prodoc.HomeWealthTour.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/do-you-want-to-start-a-home-based-business.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/do-you-want-to-start-a-home-based-business.html Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:33:46 -0500 home based business there is a lot to consider. The more information you gather on this the better off you will be. After all, starting any business, home based or not, is a big deal. You need to make sure that you are doing everything right.

Here are a few things to think about before you start your home based business:

1. What industry are you joining? It goes without saying that you want to be experienced with the type of business you are starting. This can help you get off on the right foot and eventually make a good living for yourself.

2. Are you going to work alone? With a home based business you may have no plans on hiring outside help. But remember, this may change at some point in the future. Make sure you plan for anything and everything that could possibly pop up.

3. Do you have enough space? A lot of people want to start a home based business, but they find out soon enough that their property is not big enough. Make sure your home is big enough to accommodate any idea you have, as well as growth that is sure to occur in the future.

It is not difficult to start a home based business. This is especially true if you do the leg work and are 100 percent sure of what you are doing. The three details above are a good place to start - they will help you make the most of your home based business from the word go!

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All The Skills You Need For An Endless Stream Of Income Is Contained In This Free Report. Learn Tactics Like...
* Copyrighting techniques that entertain and engage the reader!
* How to test your product without actually having a product!
* Creating an everlastingsales funnel to keep the money rolling in!
Start your own home based business today!

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/how-to-make-money-from-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/how-to-make-money-from-home.html Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:33:43 -0500
From the start, you should realize that the internet offers a great opportunity to make money from home. With the help of the online world you will find many opportunities ranging from writing to blogging to sales to personal assisting duties and much more. If you can use the internet you can find work at home opportunities that fit your skill set.

To make money from home you should have an idea of what goes into this. It all sounds good, and there are many benefits. But remember, there are some downsides to this as well. The startup process can take some time, and working at home can be lonely. Are you willing to put up with the bad until you close in on the good?

It is up to you to decide how to make money from home. Once you make a determination the only thing left is to get started. Choose an opportunity you believe in, and then see just how much money you can earn.

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All The Skills You Need For An Endless Stream Of Income Is Contained In This Free Report. Learn Tactics Like...
* Copyrighting techniques that entertain and engage the reader!
* How to test your product without actually having a product!
* Creating an everlastingsales funnel to keep the money rolling in!
Start your own home based business today!

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/studies-predict-high-volume-of-small-business-sales.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/studies-predict-high-volume-of-small-business-sales.html Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:19:07 -0500
According to the Small Business Administration, there are more than 26 million businesses in the U.S. that employ fewer than 20 people, and many of those companies are run by Baby Boomers. With more than 3.2 million owners already in their 60s, many might be looking toward retirement.

Moreover, the National Small Business Association reports that one-third of those who own smaller companies may have to sell or liquidate part of their businesses this year for estate planning reasons. That means a lot of small businesses will be up for sale, a task that Eric R. Voth believes may not be as easy or quick as some Boomers think.

"Exit planning takes time, and preparation is the key," says Voth, a business consultant and investor, as well as the author of How to Sell Your Privately Owned Company: A Basic Guide for Independent Business Owners, Baby Boomer's Edition, from ERV Productions, Inc. (http://howtosellyourcompany.wordpress.com/). "You can't just hang out a ‘For Sale' sign and expect to find the right buyer who will offer you the right price. Business owners need to begin by preparing their assets, just like they were preparing a house or a car for sale."

Voth's experience is that many business owners do very little to get ready to sell until a few weeks before deciding to accept offers, which is not the best strategy.

"In truth, many company chiefs leave the task of preparing their company for buyers until the last minute, figuratively," Voth says. "They proceed from the fallacy that their company will be attractive on its own merits, as if a prospective buyer will just stop by and kick the tires before taking out the checkbook. Would you buy a car like that? Not likely. So what makes business owners think investors and buyers would do the same? Most companies take bids just to choose an office supply vendor, so they need to expect more than just cursory due diligence from a buyer for their company."

First impressions are important, so Voth recommends examining the following:
• Is your parking lot in poor repair?
• Are the shrubs overgrown?
• Do you have enough space for employees, handicapped persons and visitors?
• Is there trash on your property?
• Has the entrance way been swept or shoveled?
• Is your reception area or foyer neat and clean?
• Are visitors greeted quickly and with courtesy?
• What are your employees doing? Are they busy, or are they talking, waiting around and drinking coffee?
• Are their desks and filing areas neat or cluttered? How is your lighting?
• Do the walls need paint, is the carpet worn and does everything look "dated?"

Those elements address the physical appearance of your business. To address the inner, financial appearance, Voth recommends bringing on professional assistance to ready your business for sale.

"Most successful business owners are experts in selling their products and services, but that doesn't necessarily make them experts at selling their company," Voth says. "If you wouldn't file your company's taxes without using a tax professional, then why would you want to risk a serious undertaking like selling your company without using professional services for that, as well? There are specialists in the field who can help coordinate and manage the different aspects and administrative issues. Business owners should not expect they can manage all of those functions alone, and still actively run their businesses while they are trying to sell it."


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Rachel Friedman is a Staff Writer at News & Experts.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>