The word regatta evokes memories of particularly English summers with chequered picnic blankets, nearby cows and lots of bunting flapping about in the air. This is probably because I grew up in small riverside market town on the Suffolk coastline, and that was exactly what it was like.

The regatta was an event that would draw the whole town together in a flurry of excitement and an all out aim to have as much fun as possible. Come rain or shine, the regatta went ahead, to seal that little bit of British culture into my childhood memory.

I do sometimes wonder how idyllic this memory is, because if I try hard enough, I swear I remember Pimms flowing as freely as the estuary tide. However this is evidently a memory placed in my brain by a recent marketing campaign that has picked up on the same English idyll ingrained in my hippocampus.

These annual events on the rivers of Britain are a tradition, and do still go on, but what is the history behind them, can we rightly lay claim to them as part of our heritage and are they still as tantalisingly twee as a Beatrix Potter masterpiece?

The term originates in Venice, and was a term used for a gondola race along the Venetian water ways, breaking down as a Latin conjunction of contend to seize. Its modern day definition is thought to have originated in the early 1700s when the first race of that name was conducted on the River Thames in England. One could therefore presume that this was when the regatta first began to incorporate itself into English culture.

This is quite likely to be the first ever Henley Regatta, held on the Thames by the town of Henley on Thames. The event is now referred to as the Henley Royal Regatta and is a prestigious annual event in the social calendar.

The race covers just over one mile from Temple Island to Henley Bridge, and as with all boat races of this type, open only to amateurs. The definition of amateur has been the cause of many disputes in the history of rowing and racing, and there have been some incredibly convoluted definitions of the term.

I can vouch that despite the presence of a yacht club in my home town, every participant was considered a valid contender, and the races were set up in accordance of ability. From children making rafts from refuse to old sea dogs battling it out on the tumultuous tide.

The ladies from the WI had a cake stall, there was a white elephant raffle run by the local church and rides on the river for anyone not brave enough to forge their own seafaring craft for the day. The atmosphere was full of fun and a great family day out; not very Venetian, but incredibly English, as inspired by Henley Royal without a doubt.

At this particular regatta, the emphasis is on the atmosphere, and loses none of that small town English charm. Boat rides as well as races combine with good food, champagne and no doubt swathes of chequered tablecloths beneath the traditional afternoon tea. Watching the races unfold before you on the charming and picturesque Temple Island is just like being in your very own incredibly English riverside town, where it is Pimms O’Clock all day long.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the hospitality and corporate entertainment industry.
Find out more about Henley Royal Regatta Hospitality and how to have a taste of England on the banks of the River Thames at Keith Prowse.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the venue hire industry.
Find out more about colour venue proposals and how they can promote the best venues for your clients at Click 4 Venues.

Walgreen Co. www.walgreen.com is a nationwide store chain and has over 3,000 stores and pharmacies and is a retail store phenomenon and has over 27 years of record crumbling sales. Wow what’s the secret Walgreen? Why are you so successful?

Well, customers like their high class customer service, their huge selection, and quality products. Some investment and other companies with a financial interest in Walgreen look at the past success of the company and evaluate its financial management. The companies that are interested will be seen in the Financial Highlights from the company’s annual report. Net sales, total assets, net earnings, and stock holder’s equity are all terms that are used to measure the financial stake of the company.

It’s nice that you see the large increase in Walgreens over the years, but what exactly does that mean? What financial knowledge is required of those who manage Walgreens and what methods do they use to measure Walgreens to other large companies? Walgreen’s managers most be very skilled in accounting to help maintain the financial stake of the company.

However, Walgreen’ managers are not the only ones that need to be skilled in accounting. The people who have some type of financial stake in the business such as owners, investors, attorneys, employees, and creditors must also be skilled in accounting so they can analyze the financial achievement of the company. Anyone who is interested in any one of theses roles will require some knowledge in accounting knowledge and processes. That’s what the purpose of accounting is.

Contemporary accountants focus on the needs of decisions in accounting information, whether these decisions are internal or external to the business. Accounting can be defined as a systematic information system that measures, process, and produce financial information about an economic matter such as a business or a government organization. Accounting serves as a connection between business activities because it records information.

First, accounting analyzes business activity by recording data for them that they can use in the future. Second, the data is not used until it is needed and retrieved when the time is appropriate. Last, the information is analyzed and communicated through reports to the decision makers. One might assume that the data about business activities are the input and the information for decision makers are the output. A business is an economic entity that sells goods or services to customers at prices that will provide a return to the owners. Here is a list of well branded business that sell goods:

General Mills Inc. www.generalmills.com sells food products.
Sony Corp. www.sony.com sells a variety of consumer electronics.
Hilton Hotels Corp. www.hilton.com sells resorts and hotels services.
EBay Inc. www.ebay.com offers an online bidding service.

Despite their differences in the products they sell they actually have a lot in common. Each business must have enough money for the cost of doing business but still have adequate money left over. If the cost of business costs more than operating the business, than that’s when a business will start to crumble. The need to earn money to hold an investment capital is known as profitability. However, a business must meet the goal of liquidity. Liquidity refers to having the money available to pay off debts when they are due.

For example, a real estate company must meet the goal of profitability by leasing as many houses as they can, but they also must meet the criteria of liquidity when customers don’t come up with the capital to pay sometimes. Both of these goals must be aced by a company to be successful in their ventures. All businesses try to pursue their goals by engaging in these similar activities. First, businesses much start some financial activities in order to get enough funds or capital so they can continue their operating. Financial activities include receiving capital from creditors such as banks and other suppliers. On the other hand they also include paying creditors back.

Second, each business must participate in what is known as investing activities. This refers to the productive spending of capital so that it will help a business attain their goals in an orderly manner. Some examples of investing activities include purchasing land, equipment that the business may need, and buying buildings. These resources are then sold or discarded of when they are no longer needed. Third, another essential of every business is participating in operating activities. Besides selling goods and services to customers, operating activities include hiring managers, workers, and purchasing goods and services, and paying back taxes to the government.

An extremely crucial function of accounting is to provide performance measures. This refers to the measures of a business that indicates whether managers are achieving or losing their business goals, which helps to determine if a particular business is under good management. It is crucial for the performance to measure up with the goals of a business.

For a quick example, earned income is a measurement of profitability, and cash flow is the measurement of liquidity, pretty simple right? Since most managers are evaluated by whether certain aimed goals are accomplished, they must have a very sound understanding of accounting. Since managers will try to achieve these goals they must be motivated so that they can perform in the best interest of a business. The typical accounting role of helping decision makers by processing, and communicating information effectively is furthermore divided into the subcategories of financial accounting and management accounting. Financial accounting is used for generating reports and communicating between outside decisions makers to analyze how well the business is performing. The reports to the outside users are known as the financial statements. Companies who stocks are up for grabs on the New York Stock Exchange send their financial statements to its owners or shareholders, and several of other creditors. The financial statements reflect the goals of profitability and liability, and are used heavily by every person involved with the business. If you have ANY type of business, it is crucial for you to be literate in financial statements. They are the back and bone of accounting.

Now, let’s not get some terminology mixed up with each other. It’s critical to distinguish the system of accounting from the ways that information is processed such as bookkeeping, and some type of information management system. It’s only a small part of accounting, but it is a very important method. The major goals of accounting are to analyze and interpret information. The computer is also an important tool in accounting and is used to retrieve and organize information in great time and accuracy.

However, people may assume that the computer does all the work for the accountant, but that couldn’t be more farther from the truth. The truth is, the computer is instructed what to do by the accountant and the main use of computers is to process complicated information. Since computers are so beneficial and widespread many business use computers as a management information system. This is a system of connected subsystems that provide the necessary information to run a business. The accounting information system is without a doubt the most important subsystem used because it is the key role in analyzing and managing the flow of financial data of a business.

Jeff Casmer is an internet marketing consultant with career sales over $25,000,000. His “Top Ranked” Earn Money at Home Directory gives you all the information you need to start and prosper with your own Internet Home Based Business.

As far as corporate days out go, not much could be more spectacular than immersing oneself, friends, family and colleagues in the glory of the fantastical world of the circus. The circus is a place of fun and fantasy and has been a family favoured event for centuries. It originally featured animals and acrobats under the canvas enclosure of the big top.

Nowadays, the acts have become a little more sophisticated to present themselves as a highly talented entertainment that borders art and theatre, such as Cirque du Soleil. This famous troupe of entertainers have been working the circuit hard since 1984, and unlike the George Orwell classic based in that same year, Cirque du Soleil bring magic that fills the imagination and entertains young and old alike.

The troupe has their beginnings in Montreal Canada, being founded by just two street performers that wanted to bring a different type of entertainment to the masses. The circus entertainment of the time revolved around the traditional big top theme of individual acts comprised of jugglers, acrobats, contortionists and clowns. Cirque incorporated took the talents of these disciplines and mixed it with a more performance based formula, and conjured a circus based theatre.

The uniqueness of Cirque du Soleil is in the amalgamation of circus disciplines around the world being presented in a specially written live theatrical performance with no stage curtains and no stage hands. The performers present an enchanting show with all aspects in full view of the eternally captivated audience. This is in sharp contrast to traditional circus entertainment, which emphasis being placed on the magic and mystery of the ringmaster and his entourage.

This formula has seen the troupe’s popularity expand to a massive 3,800 members that continually tour venues around the world. Each show is produced to perfection and enjoys a longevity that compares with hugely successful West End shows with some tours stretching beyond the 1000 performance mark.

Packages for these shows are usually available through a hospitality agent and accommodate for as few as four people and as many as 500 depending on the venue. The tickets do not come cheap, but as far as a night out to remember goes, it will be a treat of a lifetime and worth every penny. It is not just companies that can book places for events such as these; it is possible to book corporate family days out too. Packages include champagne reception (but not for the children!), finger buffet, pre show dinner, interval treats of teas, coffees and cakes and show souvenirs.

Hospitality events are always incredibly popular, and require booking well in advance of the required date. Many companies use such events to function as a team building exercise by bringing employees closer together through a shared social experience. Another reason for booking such a spectacular corporate event is as a bonus or reward to staff if they have done particularly well on behalf of the company. Even if just a small amount of people from a company attend one of the Cirque du Soleil hospitality events, it can be a chance to meet potential clients, or liaise with other industry professionals.

It’s good to know that the tradition of the circus is being carried to new heights and that not all entertainment has gone digital. Even in a media savvy world of corporate conferences, the magic of the circus can be found!

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the entertainment and hospitality industry.
Find out more about Cirque du Soleil Hospitality and how the circus has come alive with the theatre for a great day out.

Happy and satisfied employees propel a company to great heights and many times, employers achieve this through motivation, entertainment and innovations that were formulated during corporate events.

Corporate members also discuss ways of improving a company’s profit margin during corporate events. In general, corporate members discuss important issues concerning a company during corporate events therefore, it is important to plan well for such events to achieve positive results.

And, since poor corporate event planning often leads to failure, many companies simply prefer to hire trained personnel to plan and facilitate the events.

There are many companies offering these services at affordable costs. They have professional staff that enhances proper planning and smooth running of events. There are different categories of events too which each require different planning techniques. Some corporate members prefer holding events indoors while others prefer outdoor settings.

Companies offering corporate event planning services have top quality equipments. Some events entail use of presentation tools such as LCDs and projectors. In such an event, a corporate event planner should ensure power cables and sockets are in good shape to avoid disappointments and wasted time during the event.

Other factors that a planner should prepare in advance include sitting arrangements and the number of expected guests. An ideal sitting arrangement allows easy and fast flow of members as they move in and out of the venue.

Corporate event planning involves making use of exciting ideas. These interesting ideas include entertainment methods. One way of preventing boredom experienced during long speeches is inclusion of entertainment bits in between event sessions such as live music performances.

Event planning for corporate activities also involves learning about the audience in order to address their needs. Apart from music, some corporate event planners have realized that comedians thrill corporate members thus avoiding boredom.

Dancers are another popular form of entertainment. In most cases, corporations hold events for entire days or weeks. As a result, an event planner should distribute the entertainment sessions wisely.

Another factor to consider is venue decoration. A planner can decorate a venue with flowers or fabrics. This produces ideal venues for corporate events such as end of year celebrations, or new product launching ceremony. A lot of companies that offer planning services have websites that allow customers to book their needs online and this can save time, energy and money.

Corporate event planning represents the face of your company. The better the end result of the event, the more apt fellow businesses and potential clients will be to trust in the product or service provided by your company.

Whether you need event planning in Washington D.C. or another large city like Baltimore, GEP (http://gepwashington.com/) can meets all of your corporate event needs. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.

A country’s economy is a cycle. Sometimes it’s at the top and sometimes it’s below. Being at the lower part of the cycle is what you may have heard and read over and over again in televisions and newspapers as economic recession.

An economic recession is characterized by weakening business environment where there is low demand and in turn lower production. Most of the time, this results to a high inflation rate, which in lay man’s term is the lowering of the value of one’s money. This happens because of the rising costs of food and other retail items in the country. The same number of items that you can buy with for instance a hundred dollars will not be the same as number of items that you used that with years ago.

An economic recession, when it charges forth without any intervention can wreak havoc in a country’s overall economic health. It can lead to the loss of jobs, closure of businesses and rising costs of living. This is what the United States is currently feeling right now. 2008 has not been a good year for the country with large losses in its real estate industry as well as in other business sectors. Many lost their jobs and had their homes foreclosed because of non-payment of monthly fees. The country is also feeling the burden of skyrocketing oil prices as well as food and living costs.

With the United States as one of the main driving forces of global economy, their slowdown is felt all over the world. Countries which they have business interests have also suffered economic slow downs. The dollar which is being used in transactions all over the world is also weakening, affecting people who have either invested in the American currency or those who use it for their business. Often, in this scenario, those who are in the export business are affected by this as they are given dollars as payment for the products that they manufacture.

But don’t get worried. Although the economic recession may seem hard to deal with, it is not impossible to do. In fact when you really think about it, the whole family can actually do their part in saving during these economic recession times. Here are some ways:

1. Involve the whole family
You are not only one who should be saving during these hard times. Doing this should actually be something that the whole family should be doing. This way, you can be sure that everyone is pulling their weight. Saving as a family will also help keep the family closer in this hard times.

2. Explain the situation
You may not realize it but young children are actually smarter than they let on. When they are given a clear explanation, they will understand the situation and will even act on their own volition. You don’t have to constantly remind them or order them about. Explaining the situation will also allow your kids to feel that they are needed and that they can do something significant for the family. As young as they are, they also like to feel that they are needed.

3. Be a role model
Asking your children and other family members to save up when you are not is a bad way to encourage them. Make sure that you serve as a good role model to them by doing your part and making sure that they see you doing your part in this economic recession.

For more information please visit Benefits Of Economic Recession

An economic recession is normal because it is part of the business cycle. This usually happens after the economy recovers, expands and then slows down again which usually last for 2 to 4 consecutive quarters.

Unlike the four seasons we experience every year namely spring, summer winter and fall, this does not happen annually. The last time we had to deal with this was 8 years ago and during the early 1980’s.

The indicators which the economic experts look at to tell if something is wrong include consumer spending, the unemployment rate, industrial production, real income and wholesale trade. To help stimulate the economy, the Federal Reserve lowers the interest rate.

Unfortunately, this does improve the situation overnight and since it takes months before we are able to see any improvement, we have to do our share to cope with the current situation.

People will have to tighten their belts, which means buying items only when it is necessary. A good example is food since we need this on a daily basis. If there are other companies that offer similar services at a lower rate, it will be a good idea to switch as well.

Another thing most people will need to do is trade in their large vehicles for those that are more fuel efficient. This is not surprising because many have already done so even before the economic slowdown because of the increase in price per barrel of oil.

Businesses on their part have no other recourse but to slash jobs in other to stay in afloat. The bad news is that you just increased the number of people who are unemployed.

So should companies slash jobs? Not really because if the company focuses more on customer service, lowering their price points and making reductions elsewhere, customers will still patronize their business. When the current situation improves, the price of these goods and commodities can go back to where they were before.

Is an economic recession all bad? The good news is no because it opens a lot of opportunities for people who have money. For instance, investors will be able to borrow money at a low interest rate from the bank and people will be able to bonds, properties as well as stocks at very affordable prices.

But this is something that not everybody will be able to do. Instead of saving money, some can make money on the side by offering their skills to others.

An economic recession comes and goes. It does not happen only in the US but in Europe and Asia as well. Many experts believe that the current economic recession happening now will have an impact elsewhere and they are right because the European Union has finally admitted that they are currently experiencing a slowdown.

Since you are not sure if an economic recession will affect you or not, it is best to be prepared by paying close attention to your personal finances. You should learn to save up by putting your money in the back, investing in things that will have good returns in the future and not buying items which you know you can’t afford. If you need help, hire a financial planner to help you out so you are sure that if the inevitable does occur, you are safe.

For more information please visit Benefits Of Economic Recession

There is a lot of talk about economic recession nowadays. People are complaining how economic recession is making their lives worse. The economic recession often refers to the two quarters of negative economic growth. A severe recession which lasts for more than two years, becomes a depression.

A recession is characterised by rising unemployment, increase in government borrowing, decrease of share and stock prices, and falling investment. All of these characteristics have effects on people.

People have a general understanding of the recessions’ negative effects. But how does an ordinary consumer get affected by a recession, employment in particular is not really clear.

John Schmitt and Dean Baker released a new report on the possible impact of the recession on What We’re In For, Projected Economic Impact of the Next Recession this year. In their report, the 2008 recession in United States is perceived to raise the national employment rate between 2.1 and 3.8 percentage points. This would be an equivalent of between 3.2 million and 5.8 million unemployed Americans. CalculatedRisk stated, based on this report and United States’ recession history, that economic downturn can be measured in how high the unemployed number of people rises.

Based from the United States recession history, there had been a handful of times when the unemployment rate has risen during an expansion. Unemployment had risen by 0.5 percent or and there were instances that it is less. But this scenarios happen when the country is not under any economic downfall. When the unemployment percentage reaches 0.6 percent, the economy is described to be under a recession. This year, the U.S. unemployment rate is nearly 1.1 percent.

Economists, until now have not yet formally labelled the economic downturn of the United States as an economic recession. Amidst falling home equity, the rising cost of food, health care and housing along with disturbing number of unemployment, economists is still claiming that there is still growth in the economy, even though it is small. People found it unnecessary for a formal announcement to actually feel the recession coming in.

According to Miami Herald, people unemployed are starting get desperate. The number or people out of work for six months or more increased from 160,000 from July to August. There are 10.7 percent of people who would like to have a full time job but
are unable to do so. Due to unavailability of working positions.

It does not matter if you have a college degree under your belt. College graduates this year are also experiencing the highest unemployment rate since 2004 with 2.7 percent. Meanwhile, 9.6 percent of high school graduates are unemployed and this figure is also highest rate since 1996.

Most of the job losses are in the manufacturing sector, which lost 61,000 jobs this year. In the manufacturing industry, Miami Herald cited 20 percent of job loss even though the export numbers are increasing.

Even though the pay or salary is increasing, a 3.6 percent increase compared to 2007 salary, it is insufficient compared to the fast rate of increase in the prices of primary commodities. The consumers’ buying power is still low. Food and beverage costs are 5.8 percent higher than 2007.

For those who were left employed and thanking their lucky stars, there is still a hitch. Companies are already cutting the health coverage for their employees. Currently, $694 and $3,281, respectively, according to the most recent data by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Economic recession is an event which is very difficult for everybody. Hopefully, the real economic status will be recognized immediately to be properly addressed and solve.

For more information please visit Benefits Of Economic Recession

Corporate members hold corporate events for many different reasons and purposes. For example, members hold these events during decision-making, new brand or product launch, profit realization ceremony or during a corporate member farewell party. Before holding such events, it is usually wise to involve a trained event planer to enhance a smooth and successful event.

On area that an event planner can really help organize is the entertainment. These activities, whether in the form of shows, tours, or speakers, are very effective at helping people enjoy themselves and making them want to come back for other events. This depends on the type of event. In addition to finding what activities your group will enjoy, an event planner will also coordinate the timing.

Whether your event is designed for celebrations, recognition, training or net working, corporate event planners can help you organize all the little details that take so much time and coordination. They aid in making budgets depending on number of people expected for the occasion. If you want it, music and dance can grace your events or themed banquets arranged. If you can dream it up, good event planning can usually make it possible.

Another common feature in company events is venue decorations using fabrics and flowers. Majority of companies prefer using artificial flowers because they are cheaper and more durable. Some event planners use wall wrappers instead of flowers. Depending a company’s wish, decorative materials are plentiful and available at affordable prices. Some companies hold corporate events during holidays or festive seasons. Such events occur in attractive venues such as gardens, hotels or halls. Planners decorate the events using jewelry. As a result, the occasion glows with pomp and color.

In many occasions, awards are given to certain employees or corporate members depending on one’s performance. In such an event, an event planner should follow specific guidelines to ensure that the event is a success. For example, when issuing awards, winners should keep their remarks short and direct to the point to save time. To ensure success of the event, planners should advocate for a rehearsal to correct mistakes prior to the occasion. Successful business events have two presenters to allow smooth flow of events. This keeps confusion at bay. Ushers are also necessary in a corporate event because they enhance the flow of people within the event.

Corporate events are a direct reflection on the business aptitude of a company. The key is to represent the company respectfully while keeping all the guests happy and thinking in a positive manner about the company. Whether the event is serious in nature or more of a celebration, the business remains the name attached to the event.

For professionals who specialize in event planning in Baltimore, visit GEP Baltimore (http://gepbaltimore.com/). GEP also has offices in other large cities with the entertainment and environment that companies want for their corporate events. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.

Business education and learning is now an important part of the modern corporate world. This is why many educational facilities all over the planet have now incorporated a Centre for Executive Education or CEE into their operations. The value of CEE services is that they can provide business professionals and particularly executives with the knowledge they need to succeed at all corporate levels.

In many cases the learning undertaken will not result in a diploma although more extended courses can give inductees a MBA once the programme has been completed. The CEE is regularly attended by topflight executives who are attempting to understand new markets or new mediums of commerce. For instance an executive that has cut their teeth in the telephone sales would benefit greatly from the undertaking of a CEE programme concerned with internet marketing and sales. It is not just top level execs however, even lower members of the management structure can benefit from attending a CEE.

This is especially the case for young executives or those just beginning their career journey. At this stage it is important to gain as much information as possible as it will always be useful in later life when approaching problems in business. This is not the only reason to send the lower level executive to a CEE however, the savvy senior manger will realise that by giving these younger professionals the facility to learn and develop within the company structure the chances of the more talented professionals staying within the company are increased. Understandably, if an executive is given the resources to learn then their loyalty to a company for providing these resources is greatly enhanced.

This is not the only benefit that can be gained from sending professionals to a CEE however. The majority of the time these programmes are used to enhance the skills of an existing workforce. An example would be a manager that excels in the field of people management; while these attributes should be recognised there is always room for improvement and by utilising educational programmes it could be possible for this manager to increase their skills set in other fields such as sales or marketing. This will create a company that can depend upon a group of management professionals whose experience span nearly all sectors of business. The value of having a knowledgeable and widely learned workforce is impossible to quantify when taking into account the profitability and forward momentum of a company.

CEE programmes typically are conducted over an extended period of time and groups usually meet on week nights and weekends with lessons lasting anything from around an hour to all day. This is not always the case however; it is possible to undertake a CEE programme over a short space of time on an intensive basis.

This will normally require inductees to attend the centre daily for anything from a week to a month. The result of undertaking such a course; be it a short term variety or a longer programme is that inductees will be given valuable information on a range of subjects such as world finance, global markets, people management or advanced sales tactics. In addition it is also possible for inductees to develop skills in strategic planning; perfect for companies on the brink of entering the corporate world.

The CEE is becoming an increasingly important element in many businesses training strategies. The courses on offer mean that professionals are given an edge over competitors; all important in the highly competitive world of business. The importance of these centres is rapidly being realised with educational facilities all over the world in countries like the UK, Ireland the United States, China and India all vying to be the elite business research facilities on the planet. One thing is certain; the benefit of having a well educated and knowledgeable workforce is a prerequisite of success in the corporate sphere.

Business expert Thomas Pretty studies how sending executives to a CEE or Centre for Executive Education can be extremely beneficial for companies who want to expand and develop.

A holding company owns part, all, or a majority of another company’s outstanding stock. They normally do not produce goods or services themselves and their primary function is to own the shares of other companies.

This type of company reduces the tax and business risks for the owners and makes computation of actual income that much more flexible for tax purposes. An offshore company makes even easier to save tax and allows for the possibility of it owning several operating companies in different parts of the world. Rules governing tax free dividend vary by country and type of company, and also depends on double taxation treaties.

Sometimes the name of the company itself includes “holdings”, signifying that it is a pure holding company and does not do any operations.

In the United States, Berkshire Hathaway is one of the largest publicly traded parent companies; it owns numerous insurance companies, manufacturing businesses, retailers, and other companies. Two other large notable parent companies are UAL Corporation and AMR Corporation, whose primary purposes are to wholly own United Airlines and American Airlines, respectively.

Advantages of Parent companies

The greatest advantage is the flexibility to buy or sell businesses without disrupting it’s operations. The holding company structure ensures that the legal business name, any licenses or grants obtained by it in the past, any brands owned by it, any tax credits or other liabilities incurred by the business remain with the subsidiary company and does not involve the parent holding company.

For example, in U.S. broadcasting, many major media conglomerates have purchased smaller broadcasters outright, but have not changed the broadcasting licenses to reflect this, resulting in stations that are still licensed to the earlier licensees.

Personal holding company

In the United States, a personal holding company is defined in section 542 of the Internal Revenue Code. A corporation is a personal holding company if both of the following requirements are met:

* Personal Holding Company Income Test.

At least 60% of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income for the tax year is from dividends, interest, rent, and royalties.

* Stock Ownership Requirement.

At any time during the last half of the tax year, more than 50% in value of the corporation’s outstanding stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals.

Parent or holding company

A parent company is a holding company that owns enough voting stock in another firm (subsidiary) to control management and operations by influencing or electing its board of directors. A parent company could simply be a company that wholly owns another company.

A good example is Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A), which owns GEICO, See’s Candies, Executive Jet, Dairy Queen, The Pampered Chef, and Benjamin Moore paints, among many other businesses.

While many companies routinely gobble up other companies, they frequently aim to blend these acquisitions into their operations. Parent companies keep the businesses they buy more separate.

Another major advantage is when legislation forces companies to remain separate because of anti monopoly laws. e.g the financial. insurance or broadcasting sectors in most countries. Here it is sometimes better to keep the different business arms at a distance via a holding company and to make the desired acquisitions when the legislative opportunities arrive.

Financing

With a holding company structure, the management and the shareholders also have greater flexibility in raising funds both in terms of equity or debt. The holding company can be listed or the operating company can be listed in the local stock markets or in global ones. Similarly debt can be raised where it is needed so that the lenders are more comfortable with risk assessment.

A registration offshore company which acts as a parent company is becoming more popular because of the added flexibility in tax computation.

Ramapati Singhania specializes in creating and managing web businesses. His latest website http://www.incorporation-offshore-saves-wealth.com focuses on helping you to incorporate offshore companies in Seychelles, Mauritius and BVI. You can also visit his blog, http://www.ramapatisinghania.com

If you examine the terminology behind the cliched simile, ‘like finding a needle in a haystack’, it could well be used in describing the process of selecting a venue for any event in London. London is one of the financial centres of the world, the financial capital of Europe and entertains thousands of trade conventions and major events every year. It is one of the most popular destinations for conference and exhibitions in Europe which makes selecting a venue hard.

There are certain resources that you can employ in this mammoth task and this article looks at ways you can narrow down your search by good planning and free resources you can use to find the right venue for you in the capital. If you are lucky enough to have an event management department in your organisation, or outsource to a third party then they will generally handle the London venue finder role and just provide you with the short list.

For those of us who do not have this resource it can be tricky so one of the best avenues for short listing your London venue search is by utilizing one of the manifold free online venue sourcing agents. These can be found through any search engine and it is a competitive industry in which there are many different processes. The best ones are those that provide free regional venue information in specific destinations.

These companies make their money by charging either a membership fee to the venue itself or by charging a percentage of the total revenue of the booking. The former is the most common among online venue search companies however reputable ones will also have basic listings for venues that have not paid membership fees. The quality and accuracy of the venue information depends on the site as the process requires the constant renewing of information from thousands of venues.

The quality of the information under the unsponsored listings is a great way to establish the quality of the sites. So for your London venue search you simply type in your specifications, search and the site will generate the preview of the venues in London that matched the criteria. At the head will be the sponsored links however below will be the unsponsored venues which will be recognisable because they do not have a photo on them.

This is a great way to shortlist, check capacities and delegate rates however it is advisable to visit a venue to get a feel for the personnel, location and facilities. This service is free so is a fast and efficient way to kick start your London venue search.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert on London venue finders and contributes to trade publications on the subject.

Generally top offshore choices are made on the basis of confidentiality, cost, ease of communication, complexity of the incorporation e.g. trusts, protected cell companies, resident companies or simple IBCs, and speed of response.

There are different types of jurisdictions:

1. Well established, full service, expensive, can handle complex incorporations, require extensive Know Your Client due diligence, and are manned by very experienced professionals. e.g. Switzerland, Guernsey.

2. Full service, focused on international business companies, with experienced professionals, require extensive Know Your Client due diligence, but without the glamour of a Switzerland, but not so expensive. e.g. British Virgin Islands [BVI].

3. Established only in the last 15 years with extensive tax treaties with selected countries, less extensive KYC due diligence, can handle complex incorporations but have less experience than their European counterparts, are less formal and less expensive. e.g. Mauritius.

4. Established in the last 10 years, simple KYC documentation, focused on International Business Companies [IBC], have better confidentiality norms because are not so big and do not have disclosure treaties with the US or EU. e.g. Seychelles

A lot though depends on what you are going to use the company for! Below is a summary of the different types of jurisdictions:

1. Switzerland: Old, well established, good for complex transactions, experienced service providers, good for the wealthy, very expensive.

2. Guernsey: Well established, focus on financial services companies, Know Your Client [KYC] documentation is complex. Expensive but easily accessible for the old world clients.

3. Mauritius & British Virgin Islands [BVI]: Medium costs, full service, Mauritius has double tax treaty advantages, and simpler KYC documents.

4. Seychelles: Focused on simple International Business Companies, inexpensive, simple to form a company, quick.

But which kind of company do you need? Do you want to invest in India or China or a specific country? Or is it for trading overseas? Or another reason?

You will need to examine why do you want an offshroe incorporation? What is your type of activity. Do you want a full service jurisdiction or one that is cheap. And what about communication ease? How comfortable are you with the documentation?

Making a choice for your top offshore jurisdiction is dependent on various factors as also anonymity. Mauritius and Seychelles have followed in Switzerland’s footsteps and made it a criminal offense to disclose client information to anyone.

However, since 9/11, both the US and EU have put severe pressure on most of the popular jurisdictions to disclose information. British Virgin Islands [BVI] has signed a comprehensive treaty and Mauritius a water down version. In any case both Seychelles and Mauritius are far enough away and not very important to either the EU or the US at this time.

I recommend Seychelles as the top offshore jurisdiction for most of the simple cases and Mauritius for the more complicated requirements. However if you are more comfortable with the ‘Old World’ tax havens, then the top offshore jurisdictions are Switzerland for the complicated cases and BVI for the simple ones.

Ramapati Singhania specializes in creating and managing web businesses. His latest website http://www.incorporation-offshore-saves-wealth.com focuses on helping you to incorporate offshore companies in Seychelles, Mauritius and BVI. You can also visit his blog, http://www.ramapatisinghania.com

Corporate taxes can be a maze of numbers, deductions, and other items that need to be taken care of just right in order to property file taxes for the corporation. When a corporation needs toe assistance of a tax professional, but either cannot or does not want to hire one, they can always look into professional tax software for corporations.

Tax preparation software is the easiest way to file your taxes, whether you are working with individual taxes or corporate taxes. Tax preparation software will allow you to take the tax forms step by step. And for those steps that you do not understand, you will be able to get an easy to use guide that will tell you what numbers to enter. This is much better than trying to figure out the tax forms with the instruction sheets that are given by the government. While they tell you what you need to do, the language is often hard to understand. Tax software can put it in more approachable language so that your head is not swimming with so many questions.

Professional tax software is available in a variety of different brands. You can choose the type of software that will just give you the basic forms to fill out and access to file these taxes online without having to print anything off but your own personal copy. This will save paper and make the process of filing taxes much faster. You can also check out a more comprehensive software product that will not only give you the forms that you need to fill out, but other perks that will make filing taxes and keeping track of taxes throughout the year much simpler.

For those who have to deal with corporate taxes, the best software on the market is usually the best for the business. This is because the program can be used throughout the year to keep track of taxes, receipts, sales, and other important information that you will need when tax time comes around. This type of software is easy to use, and can do pretty much all of the work for you. All you need to know is the information to input in to the program and you will be all set for you filing corporate taxes next year.

There are many people that think hiring a tax professional is a better choice, but usually it comes down to the budget. If you don’t have the money to spend in order to hire a tax professional, professional tax software is the next best thing. And it is much easier to train an employee or yourself to fill out the taxes each year rather than to hire a professional or keep them on retainer for your tax needs. Take your corporation into your own hands by letting yourself fill out the taxes for the corporation quick and easy. So think about tax software for next year’s deadline.

Jordan McPelt is writer who specializes in green office solutions. Go to www.taxworks.com for more info.

If you own your own business and are getting to a stage when people are showering you with all sorts of advice from company incorporation to limited liability and you stare blankly, then this article is for you. There are benefits of company incorporation however it is essential to understand what all the jargon means before committing to the change, although this article offers impartial information it is advised to seek further professional advice on the implications of company incorporation.

If we take the definition of a company to mean an association of people formed together for some common purpose then this can cover not only for-profit organisations but also charitable or club organisations. The motivation for company incorporation for any organisation lies in the status change of the company, as the company itself becomes an individual meaning that there is no personal liability for any director of the company.

This also means that the company can borrow money, buy property, sue and be sued and enter into contracts under the company name. So if you own a company which does not have incorporated or limited status then any contract you enter, you are personally liable for that contract. As opposed to signing on behalf of a company you are signing as an individual so can then be held liable for any deviation of that agreement.

Company incorporation means that the name of your company is protected as no two companies can trade under the same name. There is also a clause which means that the company can live on until it is struck off by Companies House, the company can change directors and be resold without changing the company status. A company’s structure depends on what type of company incorporation the company undertakes.

There are three main types of company structure and they are public and private companies limited by shares, then companies with limited guarantee. The latter is generally used when dealing with a clubs, schools or societies as it is no longer legal to form company shares within a limited guarantee organisation, the members of the association agree the limited guarantee between them which should be a nominal fee of 1 to 10 GBP.

Public companies must have a minimum asset worth of 50,000GBP and anyone can buy shares in the company and the control of that company is split between the shareholders. The implications of this are that the fate of the company rests in a public consortium and control of a company can be lost, with companies being liquidated to unlock the profit in the assets.

Limited companies are still based on shares however they are not up for public sale and the initial investment in that company depicts the control of that company. If two directors invest 500GBP in the formation of a company then the control of this company is split equally between the two investors. Company incorporation is effective in limited companies as it allows private control of the company’s decisions however only a minimal risk of liability is incurred.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert on company incorporation and contributes to trade publications on the subject.

Team building is an important part of a way a company works. It boosts enthusiasm and inter-office relations as well as forming a bond between the owners, directors, managers and general workers. It is a chance for a level playing field to be established and for everyone to get to know each other in a way that just isn’t possible in the office.

Many team building exercises revolve around an activity that promotes communication and cooperation. Themed days such as those based on TV programmes like It’s A Knockout require teams to be formed and encourages a different kind of competition between colleagues. This has the benefit of encouraging people to work together and that kind of team work can be bought back to the office and applied to a working scenario.

Other exercises are of a less rigorous nature, but still based on a TV theme. Game shows such as Family Fortunes and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire form a template for this type of team building activity, and is able to cater for large bookings from one company, or even have several companies at a time taking part. This not only enhances office relations, but serves as a platform for meeting potential business associates or clients in an unbiased atmosphere.

Not all activities need to have a competitive element. Sometimes just a themed event where everyone dresses up is enough to encourage barriers to drop, and bonds to be formed. One popular yet understated way of encouraging positive relations between workers is a corporate day out, such as a day at Newmarket Races or The Oval Cricket Ground. Sporting events are not to everyone’s tastes, but the fine dining, champagne and thrill of dressing up makes up for most that do not like the sporting activity.

The key is in doing something a little unusual. Employees need to be sprung with something that they think is exciting, and a rare opportunity. The novelty factor of most team building events are based on the fact that they are activities that an individual person would not normally do. Despite the reputation of the British weather, summer is an ideal time to hold a team building event, as there are a range of outdoor activities that can be combined to suit all tastes, talents and mobility. Having a feast al fresco is a heart warming and bonding experience. Surround this with outdoor activities and the opportunity for employees to bring family along, and rather than a fear filled corporate picnic to look forward too, it is more like a workers fete.

There are the options of hiring a company to organise it all for you, or find a venue and make all the arrangements yourself. Depending on what you hope to achieve, it is often better to hire an experienced organisation to make the arrangements and to keep an eye on the day’s events so that everyone can relax. The most popular vents are treasure hunts and archery. There is also quite a big demand for dirt days out – for example tank and off road rally driving. Paintball is another favourite for a big group of people. The deciding factor really is the abilities and desires of all involved. The best way to kick start a proper team building exercise is to be part of the team and encourage everyone to participate from the beginning.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the corporate events industry.
Find out more about team building and other corporate events that can be organised for your employees at Accolade.

Corporate logo shirts are a good way to emphasize your company brand at a trade show, but why not use them as a giveaway product to generate more leads and increase your ROI? Simply handing them out to everyone who walks by isn’t going to gain you the leads your company needs to grow and expand. Giving away custom polo shirts, for example, is more effective when you can use them to connect with your leads and start build profitable relationships. There are three great ways to give away items and strengthen their brand.

Pre-Trade Show Giveaways

Including corporate logo shirts into your pre-trade show marketing plan is a great way to build the number of attendees to your booth and increase the number of leads you gain from the event. Before the trade show, send out cards or offer cards for a ‘free gift’ through your website.

On these cards, include the information for the trade show, your company contact information, and an area for the customer to fill out. This should require the leads to fill in their contact information and provide the opportunity to ask a particular question or request more information. Then, the customer simply has to appear at your booth during the event to claim their custom polo shirt embroidered with your company’s brand.

Games And Attractions At The Event

Corporate logo shirts are a great way to incorporate your company brand into your booth. Use them as a prize on a game board. If you will be giving product demonstrations or have an interactive presentation, ask for volunteers and give custom polo shirts away as a prize. Another great way to incorporate these ideas into your trade show is to have a drawing and make the logoed clothing part of a prize pack.

These methods attract more people to your booth, attract more attention to your brand, and create the energy needed to increase sales and hot leads. The booth’s staff should also be wearing the company brand to spread the word about your company even further.

Post Show Thank You

During your post-trade show follow up, corporate apparel is a great way to thank customers and leads for showing interest in your company. They act as an additional way to grow the interest in your products and services while showing appreciation and respect for the customer without being too strong handed or pushy. Custom polo shirts can go to customers who made a purchase at the trade show and to leads that sounded interested, but have not purchased from the company.

When sending the custom polo shirts or other corporate apparel, phone or include a personalized card thanking the customer for their business or interest in your company. Also, provide them with any additional information they requested or ask if they had any questions or comments.

Corporate logo shirts can be a powerful tool in trade show marketing when they are used to the fullest advantage. You can include them before, during, after, or in any combination that fits into your marketing plan. Custom polo shirts and other corporate apparel build the energy, interest, and relations your company needs in order to have a profitable trade show event.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on custom polo shirts, visit http://www.corporateshirtsdirect.com.

The HVAC industry grew up on personal relationships between wholesalers and contractors. Now, converting these familiar relationships into real business partnerships is a goal of many wholesalers, Why? Because wholesalers want secure revenue stream that result from contractors’ business loyalty. Wholesalers know contractors are increasingly willing to work with those who make business easier and walk from those who don’t.

Today, times are hard for HVAC contractors. New companies are entering the market and taking business from existing players. The labor pool for qualified staff has tightened. As parts and equipment become increasingly sophisticated, purchasing and training have become more complicated. Not least of all, contractor margins are dropping. Contractors know that the wholesalers who help them will be able to give these contractors a competitive advantage.

So how can wholesalers create a business partnership? Ironically, it’s through SERVICE, from telephone etiquette to honoring a delivery commitment. Excellent service translates into trust. Trust leads to an ongoing business partnership and revenues. Service – it’s the new name of the game.

Here are 5 ways wholesaler organizations can use service to become better business partners with contractors. Some are common-sense ideas, while others point to the wave of the future.

# 5 Avoid hidden costs, such as freight and shipping- especially for small contractors. If respect and trust are keys to keeping long-term customers, make it a point to tell contractors upfront about costs they will incur but are not necessarily the cost of the product. One contractor made a special order without knowing there was a $75 dollar special order charge. The wholesaler failed to quote this charge when he estimated total expenses. Therefore he did not include it in the price to the customer. In the end, this contractor had to pay the $75 and absorb it from his own profit margin.

# 4 Provide training. Contractors say a wholesaler who provides training world be difficult not to do business with. Most say with the increasing sophistication of HVAC products, training on the electronic parts is an essential ingredient of staying in business.

Hutchinson Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling in fact said today’s workforce expect to be trained especially given the equipment sophistication and growth in electronic parts. Hutchinson invites manufacturers to its site for workforce training. But they’d send staff to wholesaler-sponsored training in an instant. Providing training demonstrates a wholesaler’s willingness to be a business partner and shows expertise in the industry.

# 3 Don’t commit to what you can’t deliver. If a wholesaler doesn’t carry a part, doesn’t have one in stock, or can’t get one overnight, the wholesaler should not commit to delivering the order. Industrial Valley Service says one of its most loyal wholesalers will occasionally suggest another wholesaler who stocks an item when it isn’t able to deliver. For Industrial Valley Service, that means getting the part on time, without the hassle of trying to find another distributor themselves. Instead of losing Industrial Valley Service as a customer, the loyal wholesaler has earned Industrial Valley Service’s respect. Being confident in the materials he does carry and in the service he offers, the loyal wholesaler is happy to help his contractors find other sources on the occasions he cannot help them.

# 2 Deliver accurately and on time. Without exception, this is the single biggest reason a contractor will stay with a wholesaler. Contractors count on receiving a delivery as ordered. They coordinate the people, machinery, temporaries, etc. to do a job at a designated time. Since labor is the biggest variable in a job, if the parts aren’t there, the contractor’s money is wasted.

And partial shipments aren’t enough. Contractors expect to receive the full shipment on time. Wholesalers who know there will not be a full shipment should call the contractor, even late the night before, to advise them of the problem. Most contractors would rather receive this late-night phone notice than find out the next morning.

# 1 Know your contractor. To implement a truly effective service approach, the wholesaler needs to know his contractors. This means keeping notes on the contractor’s size, business focus, geography, and payment history, among other things. It might also mean keeping notes about hobbies. It’s not relevant whether you keep these notes on the computer, on note cards, or in a look-leaf binder. Just having knowledge of the contractor is critical to building that trust and business partnership that will keep the contractor returning. A tip: Use the notes carefully without ever letting the contractor, or any other customer, know your method of remembering details about your contractors’ business.

What about price? So does all this talk about service mean that contractors don’t care about pricing anymore? On the contrary, they do. Underlying this discussion about service is the assumption that one wholesaler’s price is as competitive as another’s. Contractors will drive half a mile down the street to get the best price if they have to. Service is now the differentiator, all other things being equal, and is the key to building and maintaining business by business-savvy wholesaler.

Visit Terry’s site for information on outbound telemarketing and telemarketing programs.

Unlike virtually any other marketing tool, cold calling lets companies change courses at almost any time.

In today’s ever-changing business environment, this flexibility is critical.

Companies new to cold calling must watch early results closely.

Testing, assessing, and refining the program from the onset are critical first steps. These actions can result in a long term program that produces a predictable stream of sales opportunities.

Veteran cold callers also must work. Constant attention is needed to keep the program sharp. Here’s a recommendation: continue with the program that works, but apply a portion of your tele-prospecting investment towards testing new approaches that may surpass your existing model. When you find one that is more effective, replace your existing program, but continue to test new approaches.

It’s easy to test and change cold calling campaigns. Unlike print ads, radio spots, billboards, or most other marketing vehicles, cold calling programs make testing and applying those results to the program easy.

Here are some of the items that every program should assess:

1) The offer. Do you want to set a sales appointment? Do you want to invite people to a webinar? Do you simply want to collect email addresses for a campaign? Are you offering a free assessment, or a free trial? Do you need an incentive to enhance your “call to action?”

2) The list. Are the decision makers and the companies on your list the best prospects?

3) Talking points. Do your callers have the conversation points to highlight the key aspects of your program? Is there something compelling that needs to be added? Are the talking points too complicated or long?

4) Your calling team. How well do they represent you? How effective are they in talking to decision makers? Can they ask for the appointment?

5) Your ability to close the leads. This is the part that comes after a cold calling lead is identified. Can you cost effectively convert that lead into a sale? Do you have the people and processes in place? Are you getting qualified leads?

Case Studies

Here are short examples of savvy VSA clients who tested, assessed and refined their programs.

1) A software company implemented a program which successfully produced leads. However, the company was unprepared to convert the leads to sales. Now, this company plans a product-specific website, marketing materials and the right expertise to make sales calls. A second cold calling initiative is scheduled.

2) An online marketing company completed a program that produced poor results. The company has changed its offer to simplify steps prospective companies must take to enroll. A second campaign has been launched.

3) A commercial roofing company implemented a program and generated desired results. Later, the company realized the prospective clients were not a good fit. The company has implemented a second campaign targeting a different prospect list.

If you are planning a cold calling program, please call us to talk about the factors that can make or break your campaign. We’d like to know what marketing tools have worked for you in the past and show you how we can add to that success. We are happy to help.

Visit Terry’s site for information on outbound telemarketing and telemarketing programs.