- 2009
- Jan
- 12
Is A Small Business Franchise Opportunity For You?
Small business franchise opportunities are definitely not limited to food kiosks and carpet cleaning. There are literally hundreds of businesses franchised in the United States, ranging from automotive and children’s franchises to pet and travel service franchises. Whatever kind of business you might be looking for, the spectrum of choices is limited only by your imagination and level of determination.
But how do you determine if a small business franchise opportunity is really right for you?
Franchise versus business opportunity
Perhaps the best place to begin your research is to briefly explore the difference between franchises and business opportunities.
A business opportunity is purchased outright. You, and perhaps your partners, own it and operate it under the name you have chosen. Typically, the seller makes his profit by delivering the equipment, real property, training or service that you just purchased. In some cases, the seller might earn residual income from your success (as is the case in a network marketing business). In most business opportunities, though, your relationship with the seller ends when you purchase the business. Basically, you are on your own at that point.
A franchise, on the other hand, is an ongoing relationship between franchisor and franchisee. The franchisor collects a fee up-front and also receives ongoing royalties in exchange for brand name recognition, an established business model, training and support. The franchisee receives the benefit of this brand name recognition and proven-successful business system. In exchange, the franchisee is required to follow established guidelines and policies regarding the operation of the business in order to ensure consistency from store to store.
Home business franchises are booming
One of the really marvelous benefits of a small business franchise is the ability to run it from your own home. In fact, many franchise companies encourage you to do so.
A home business franchise, allows you to enjoy the enormous benefit of an established company while avoiding the expense and headache of a storefront environment. Plus, many franchise companies invest their time in training you to run your franchise business from home. Your success is certainly in their best interest, so they will make sure you are properly trained and equipped.
One of the great benefits of being a home business franchisee is the ability to drawn upon the experience of other franchise owners. You will find that this network can provide a wonderful source of advice, encouragement and camaraderie.
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses are important when considering a small business franchise
While small business franchises have a considerably higher success rate than start-up businesses, you need to consider your natural strengths and weaknesses when deciding whether this is a good fit for you.
For example, being a team player is an essential factor in running a successful franchise of any kind. While you may be your own boss, you do not make the rules. You must be able to carefully and completely follow a system that someone else created. If you are willing to do so, you can successfully avoid many of the pitfalls responsible for the early demise of thousands of businesses.
Another necessary trait is the willingness to ask for help when it is needed. Again, this is the beauty of the franchise environment in that the small business franchise wants and needs you to succeed. In fact, the motto of the franchise industry is that you are in business for yourself, but never by yourself.
Do you consider yourself a “people” person? Do you enjoy providing a service or product that brings satisfaction to others? As a small business franchise owner, you will need to build loyalty and trust among your customers. The best and probably only way to accomplish this is by developing relationships with these important people. The good news is that if you answered “yes” to these two questions, you already possess two of the most valuable assets a franchisee needs for success.
Now, how do you feel about risk-taking? If the idea of having the safety net of minimum risk when starting your business appeals to you, then a solid, well-researched franchise is probably your best way to go.
After taking a serious and honest look at each of these personal characteristics, you should have a really good idea about whether investing in a small business franchise opportunity would really be your best choice. If so, do not be afraid to take the next step and begin carefully examining your wide variety of choices within the rapidly expanding world of franchising.
With so many highly successful niche markets to choose from, you are sure to find just the right fit.
Remember, a small business franchise requires much less capital than a traditional start-up business and certainly much less than a mega-franchise like McDonald’s, while providing a recognizable brand name and a business system that works.
- 2009
- Jan
- 9
Office Furniture Guide
Does the appearance of your office design really influence the quantity of your business partners and your good mood in the whole?
Of course, it may be asserted that the interior of your office leaves an impression on your partners and, of course, if it is crowded with different pieces of office furniture, it is not for your credit. So, the modern office furniture adds elegance and confident to your working place. By the way, nowadays the manufacturers start to produce the office furniture, which “care” about the state of health of employees.
Well, perhaps, you suppose that it is unnecessary to provide your staff with the high quality office furniture, because your office is a place where people work, but not relax. But you should admit that if a person doesn’t pay attention to different uncomfortable factors, his labor productivity is higher. As usual, we spend the most part of our days in office, and sometimes we usually feel exhausted at the end of a working day. Of course, it may be connected with some individual health problems, but as usual “wrong” modular office furniture may cause back pains and head aches. All these are not very good for the productivity. So, we offer you advice to purchase ergonomic office furniture, which are created specially for preventing different health problems.
Nowadays the home office furniture market is very competitive and you may choose really high quality product for appropriate price. First of all, investigate the market and visit several companies, in order to see the product you are going to buy. If you want to save your money, we offer you to buy in bulk all the necessary pieces of office furniture at one company. By the way, ask if this company has all the necessary certificates and provides you with such services as logistic management, storage, delivery and installation.
The other very important service which are provided by such companies is space planning. It is very necessary for every person to has his own territory just within several meters. Of course, as usual, in office it is impossible, so space planning helps you to create appropriate conditions for everybody. So, your office will seem spacious enough and there will be a lot of shelves, where everybody may keep all the necessary things without cluttering up a room.
The designer office furniture are represented in different forms and colors. Choose the right color scheme where light blue or beige predominate. Or on the contrary, buy the bright contemporary office furniture. Perhaps, green or red title chair adds more energy to your lifestyle. If you admire everything light and unusual, the office furniture desk, which is made of glass is just the best choice for. This item of furniture just floods the room with sun light and inspires you for new fulfillments. Create a world of comfort in your office, because it is only up to you to design the atmosphere of energy and prosperity.
Great office furniture is not only comfortable, it is also very practical and helps you stay organised: a place for everything and everything in its place.
So much so that your office could become as comfortable as your bedroom, the only thing missing would be your actual beds.
- 2008
- Dec
- 28
Fire Door
A fire door is a type of door, or barrier used as a passive fire protection item within buildings to prevent the spread of fire or smoke which may consist of dangerous chemicals. It is usually the only means of allowing people to pass through a fire-resistance rated wall assembly.
Fire doors are made of a combination of materials, such as:
* timber
* steel
* gypsum (as an endothermic fill)
* vermiculite-boards
Apart from the door leaf (the swinging panel of the door) there is the door frame which also has to meet fire rated regulations, intumescent strips, smoke seals, door hardware and the structure that holds the fire door assembly in place. Together, these components form an assembly, typically called a “doorset” which holds an hourly rating.
All of the components of the fire door assembly must bear a listing agencies label to ensure the components have been tested to meet the fire rating requirements.
Door Hardware
Door hardware includes, but is not limited to:
manual or automatic closing devices
* locks
* latches
* hinges
* door sweeps
* thresholds
Edges of a fire door usually need to have fire rated seals which can be composed of:
* An intumescent strip, which expands when exposed to heat
* Neoprene weatherstripping
* Smoke gasketing to prevent the passage of smoke
Intumescent seals are crucial in the fire performance of a fire resisting door set and as such the correct seal should always be used as these products differ in chemical composition, expansion rate, expansion volume and charring characteristics.
Some fire doors are equipped with internal windows which also have a rating, or have been incorporated at the time of the door test and be subject to the overall door’s product certification. Fire-resistive windows must remain intact under fire conditions and hose stream impact resistance, and can include:
* wire mesh glass
* liquid sodium silicate fills between two window panes
* ceramic glasses
* borosilicate glass
Wired glass typically withstands the fire, whereas the sodium silicate liquid also acts to insulate heat transfer, due to the endothermic action of this chemical.
Combustibility
Fire doors are not necessarily all noncombustible. A fire door is but one of many passive fire protection components used to compartmentalise fire and thus keep it in the compartment of origin, so either it runs out of fuel or it is extinguished, or, at the very least, enough time has been bought to enable evacuation of the building.
Fire door failure
Fire doors are sometimes rendered unable to provide its listed fire resistance by ignorance of the intended use and associated restrictions and requirements, or by inappropriate use. For example, fire doors are sometimes blocked open, or carpets are run through them, which would allow the fire to travel past the fire barrier in which the door is placed. The door’s certification markings are displayed both on the door leaves and the fire door frames, and should not be removed or painted over. Such neglect is the responsibility of the building owner, who should educate occupants on the safe use of all safety related items, to ensure fire safety and compliance with the fire code.
Sometimes fire doors have apparently very large gaps at the foot of them, an inch or two even, allowing air movement, especially in dormitory facilities. This can lead the occupants of a building to question their status as ‘real’ fire doors. Testing of fire doors include a maximum door undercut of 3/4 inch. Corridors have a fire rating of one hour or less, and the fire doors in them are required by code to have a fire rating of 1/2 or 1/3 hr, the intent of which is mainly to restrict smoke travel.
Normal operation
Most fire doors should be kept closed at all times, however some are designed to stay open under normal circumstances, only to shut automatically or manually in the event of a fire. Whichever method is used, the door’s movement should never be impaired by a doorstop or other obstacle. Proper intumescent and smoke-seal bounding of fire doors should be routinely checked and ensured, as should the action of the door closer and latch.
Some fire doors are held open with an electromagnetic coil, which may be wired to a fire alarm system via relays. If the power fails or the fire alarm is activated, the power to the coil is cut and the door closes on its own.
Rated fire doors are tested to withstand a fire for a specified period. There are 20, 30, 45, 60 and 90-minute-rated fire doors that are certified by an approved laboratory (e.g. Underwriters Laboratories). The certification only applies if all parts of the installation are correctly specified and installed. For example, fitting the wrong kind of glazing may severely reduce the door’s fire resistance period.
Construction and Installation issues
As well as ensuring the door is hung properly and squarely, it is also very important that where a fire door is installed, any gaps left in the opening between the wall and the door frame must be properly filled with fire resisting material.
Architect’s responsibility
In building design drawings with poor identification of which walls do in fact have a fire-resistance rating, it is often necessary to check the door schedule in the specifications to be able to trace what walls are rated and how long they are rated for. This is an indicative sign about the architect and the degree of care taken particularly with items relating to passive fire protection. To avoid confusion about any fire protection measures including fire doors, it is best for the architect to provide a separate set of drawings that clearly outlines which walls and floor have a fire-resistance rating and exactly what that rating is. It is also important to point out especially which walls are firewalls and which walls and/or floors are designated as occupancy separations, as the nature of passive fire protection devices that must be used in those special cases can be substantially different from such devices that are used in ordinary fire separations.
- 2008
- Dec
- 27
buy.com
Buy.com is an online retailer based in Aliso Viejo, California. It began by selling computers and electronics in 1997 and has since expanded into many other categories. Initially the company sold items below cost and intended to make up the losses from the sale of advertising and ancillary services like warranties and equipment leases. Buy.com sold $111 million worth of goods and services in 1998, its first full year, beating Compaq’s record for most first-year sales of any company.
Founder Scott Blum sold his stake to SoftBank in 1999 for $195 million just before the company first filed to go public. Stock values plummeted in the year following Buy.com’s initial public offering and in 2001 Blum reacquired Buy.com and took it private for 17 cents per share.
What got my attention was some of the witty youtube videos floating around promoting buy.com.. They are hilarious.. You are sure to buy something if you see the ads..
- 2008
- Nov
- 24
Sell your Used Cisco Gear: Helpful Tips
by Razvan Marian Jr @ articlesbase.com
Cisco Systems has become a name synonymous with high-quality networking hardware. It’s no wonder that many companies build their network around this brand. In addition to their robust feature-set and useful product life, Cisco products also have great investment protection and can be resold to help recoup a portion of their cost.
There are many reasons companies get rid of hardware. Sometimes companies replace dead equipment that is no longer functioning properly. In this instance, equipment can be salvaged or recycled, which amounts to getting small amounts of money for the value of the raw materials. However, more often companies are either upgrading or downsizing, in which case the equipment they are selling on the secondary market is still functioning perfectly but is no longer an integral part of a network.
There are a number of ways to go about selling your equipment on the secondary market.
EBAY
eBay is the world’s garage sale. Not only that, eBay is a great place to buy and sell used networking hardware. If you perform a search for terms like “cisco router” you will find a slew of models, both new and used to choose from. Often listed at low starting bids or “buy it now” prices, products can be acquired for a fraction of the cost of new. While these prices can sometimes be lower than what would be paid when sourcing from a reputable vendor, there are some risks that go hand in hand with buying and selling any network hardware on eBay.
For one, many eBay users post items that they may or may not currently have in stock. If an order comes in, they search the inventory of other brokers to find it at a lower cost than it was sold. This means that if they can’t source it immediately, you may be forced to wait for more time than you expected, while they source one. If you are selling used equipment, you will have to deal with buyers who may be suspicious about your listing. You should use clear language in your description, assuring the prospective buyer that the item you listed is physically in stock.
Secondly, there may be significant costs associated with freight and shipping. A fully loaded Catalyst 6500 model weighs a lot. You may end up paying a large amount of money to ship it to the buyer. This can sometimes be an unexpected cost the buyer may not be comfortable with. If you are shipping a piece of networking gear, make sure to always require insurance. This prevents any liability for items that are damaged in shipping. Since the shipper is the one who has to file a claim, this can be a real headache. Conversely, you can avoid the whole issue of shipping by stipulating that your auction will be “local pick-up only.” This means that you will not be required to complete the sale of your item if the winning bidder is not able to pick-up.
Lastly, you may be competing against vendors/members who offer a product guarantee. Most reputable vendors offer some sort of warranty for end-users, ranging from 90-days to 1-year. By not including a guarantee on your item, you may lose potential bidders who feel more comfortable having some kind of warranty on a large investment.
You can sometimes offload equipment quickly and easily on eBay; however, because of this fact, a number of established vendors utilize this service as well. In this instance, you are competing against a technology specialist who has the experience, inventory, and leverage to appeal to a large segment of buyers. In the end, your greatest weapon is price.
SECONDARY MARKET
The secondary market is a great, safe way to purchase used Cisco hardware. There are many vendors spread out across the country offering discounted gear and product guarantees. Because most companies actually house inventory, buyers stand a good chance of getting a required order filled quickly and packaged professionally. However, distance is still a factor when placing an order, as shipping charges can add substantial cost to an out of state transaction.
Finding the right company for you can be accomplished by performing specific searches in any of the major search engines. Instead of simply searching for “buy used cisco” or some other relatively general term, you can modify your search by adding a qualifying geo-specific keyword such as “San Francisco” or “sf.” The search phrase “San Francisco used cisco” will return a number of companies that are located in your geographic region, and thus will minimize shipping costs and transit time. Also, by using Yahoo’s local search filter, you can perform a general search like “buy used cisco” and then filter results to show only those companies that are physically located close by. All you need is to be logged into a Yahoo account to take advantage of this feature.
Specialized technology vendors may also offer full-service liquidation services to manage all aspects of the buying process, which minimizes the effort required on the part of the seller. Liquidation services make the most sense for companies with large amounts of hardware that they need to unload. Instead of finding buyers for individual pieces and sourcing a salvage company to recycle the unusable equipment, you can work with one point of contact who will manage all the logistics, transportation, and valuation of an entire lot of gear. This allows you to focus your energy on your core, revenue-producing activities.
The timeline from your initial communication and RFQ to an offer and full payment can depend on both the company and the size and type of the lot. Some companies offer a quote and deposit payment in as little as 48-hours of a RFQ, with the remaining balance paid upon receipt and inspection of all equipment. Your final offer will take into account the model/make, condition, and the current market demand for the used hardware. The entire process can take anywhere from 5 working days to 2 weeks. Make sure to find a company that you feel comfortable working with, as there a quite a few small brokers that do not have the capital or bandwidth to efficiently handle your business.
With adequate research and due diligence, you can find the appropriate marketplace to sell your used cisco hardware and receive fair value for your surplus equipment.