Digg it UP - Business

How to Save Money by Making Your Own Sign
In the sign industry we commonly refer to the material that the sign is made out of as the substrate. Examples include, wood, vinyl banners, aluminum, coroplast, etc. But what many customers do not realize is that they can purchase vinyl lettering or vinyl decals and apply them directly to typical substrates themselves. Translation – saving money by buying blank substrates inexpensively at local hardware stores such as Home Depot and Lowes and avoiding the prices sign companies need to charge to apply the material. Although you do pay tax by buying locally on the substrate, you can save tax on the vinyl by ordering over the internet.What are vinyl letters and/or vinyl decals? They are letters (or images) that come prespaced according to customer specifications as words, phrases, or sentences on pre masking tape. The lettering is self adhesive and by removing the paper backing, they can be applied directly to almost any substrate, car, boat, truck, windows, snowmobiles,

licenses, insurance, permits, registrations and certificates relating to the operation of the Franchised Business, or failure to operate said business in full compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances and regulations, including, without limitation, all government regulations relating to occupational hazards and health and environmental regulations, worker’s compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, withholding and payment of national and state local income taxes, social security taxes and sales taxes or fail to maintain liability insurance; or

(o) upon thirty (30) calendar days’ written notice to Franchisee of any failure of Franchisee to perform any obligation under this Agreement that is not cured within such thirty day period; or

(p) upon thirty (30) calendar days after notification to Franchisee of failure to have sufficient supplies to meet customer demand; or

(q) upon thirty (30) calendar days after notification to Franchisee of failure to hire and maintain sufficient staff in order to handle customer volume at all times; or

(r) upon thirty (30) calendar days after notification to Franchisee of failure to pay your employees and staff the required wage described in Section 3.5, or

(s) prior to the opening of the Franchised Business, if Franchisee or any of its designated em

I've Picked a Trade Show to Participate In - Now What Do I Do?
Your first step is to plan your booth well. Think about your goals for the show, and plan accordingly. If your goal is to book parties or recruit and you anticipate needing a moment or two to talk to people one on one, then make sure those prospective hostesses or representatives can enter your booth and get information from you. If you are selling product and need to control inventory, then block off part of your booth for your use only.This is a tricky issue. Some people swear by making their booths accessible and inviting people in, so they put their tables at the back or along the side edges. However, the general public can sometimes be stand-offish. They may avoid your booth because they do not want to get sucked in. (Afraid of a sales pitch and all that.) Others will put their tables across the front of their booth in order to put all their products or literature right where people can reach them. But this puts your set up between you and your potential clients

Why would any franchisor want to terminate a franchisee who pays royalties into the system, assists the franchisor in extending his brand name and helps the franchise system gain market share, growth and profitability? Indeed all good points to the question; why? Well often a franchise outlet is under performing, undermining the system or not accomplishing those objectives.

It is for this reason as a franchisor and often feeling more like a grandfather or coach, I had to come to terms with when it was time to sever the franchise relationship. I therefore put this clause into my franchise agreements;

6. TERMINATION AND DEFAULTS

6.1 Termination by Franchisor

Franchisor may terminate the Franchise Agreement at the time indicated, if any of the following events occurs, each of which shall be deemed a default:

(a) immediately, if the Franchisee or the Franchised Business is declared bankrupt or judicially determined to be insolvent, or all or a substantial part of the assets of the Franchisee or the Franchised Business are assigned to or for the benefit of any creditor, or the Franchisee admits its inability to pay its debts as they come due, or the Franchised Business is seized, taken over, or foreclosed by a governmental official in the exercise of his duties, or seized, taken over, or foreclosed by a creditor, lienholder or lessor, provided that a final judgement against the Franchisee remains unsatisfied for thirty (30) calendar days (unless an appeal bond has been filed), or if a levy of execution has been made upon the license granted by this Agreement or upon any property used in the Franchised Business and is not discharged within five (5) business days; or

(b) immediately, if the Franchisee abandons the Franchised Business by failing to operate the Franchised Business for five (5) consecutive calendar days during which the Franchisee is required to operate a business under the terms of this Agreement or any shorter period after which it is not unreasonable under the facts and circumstances for Franchisor to conclude that the Franchisee does not intend to continue to operate the Franchised Business, unless such failure to operate is due to fire, flood, earthquake or other similar causes beyond the Franchisee’s control; or

(c) immediately, if the Franchisor discovers that the Franchisee has made any material misrepresentations to the Franchisor relating to the acquisition of the Franchised Business; or

(d) immediately, if the Franchisee is a competitor of the Franchisor or a competitor of an affiliate of the Franchisor or a competitor of any sister or co-brand company of the Franchisor or a competitor of a vendor of the Franchisor. In such case the Franchisee will be terminated, the Franchisee will forfeit their mobile truck/unit(s) and their associated equipment which will be transferred to other Franchisees to assist with community fundraiser events and the Franchisee will be required to pay a misrepresentation penalty of five (5) times the franchise fee to the Franchisor that will be distributed to charitable organizations so designated by a Franchisee committee convened for just this purpose. The Franchisee will be liable to the Franchisor for reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs incurred by the Franchisor in any litigation related to this matter; or

(e) immediately, if the Franchisee is convicted of, or pleads nolo contendere to, a felony, commits any criminal misconduct relevant to the operation of the franchise, a fraud, any act or crime involving moral turpitude, or any other crime or offense that Franchisor believes is likely to have an adverse effect on the System, the proprietary marks or the goodwill; or

(f) immediately, if the Franchisee, after curing any default after notice and opportunity to cure, engages in the same noncompliance, whether or not corrected after notice; or

(g) immediately, in the event the Franchisee attempts to transfer any interest in the Franchisee of the Franchised Business in violation of Section 5; or

(h) immediately, in the event that the Franchisee violates the provisions of Section 3.19 or 3.20 hereof;

(i) immediately, in the event that the Franchisee does not notify Franchisor of Franchisee change or discontiuance of use of address or change of telephone number or change of e-mail account address within fifteen (15) calendar days of such change; or

(j) immediately, in the event that the Franchisee fails to perform the required car wash fundraisers or community service projects; or

(k) immediately, in the event that the Franchisee operates the Franchise in a manner that creates an imminent danger or threat to public health or safety; or

(l) upon ten (10) calendar days’ written notice to Franchisee of its failure to pay any fees or other amounts due to Franchisor, any affiliate of Franchisor or any other Franchisee that is not cured within such ten day period; or

(m) upon thirty (30) calendar days after notification to Franchisee of noncompliance with any national, federal, state or local law or regulation applicable to the operation of the Franchised Business unless cured within such period; or

(n) upon thirty (30) calendar days after notification to Franchisee of failure to secure and maintain in force all required licenses, insurance, permits, registrations and certificates relating to the operation of the Franchised Business, or failure to operate said business in full compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances and regulations, including, without limitation, all government regulations relating to occupational hazards and health and environmental regulations, worker’s compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, withholding and payment of national and state local income taxes, social security taxes and sales taxes or fail to maintain liability insurance; or

(o) upon thirty (30) calendar days’ written notice to Franchisee of any failure of Franchisee to perform any obligation under this Agreement that is not cured within such thirty day period; or

(p) upon thirty (30) calendar days after notification to Franchisee of failure to have sufficient supplies to meet customer demand; or

(q) upon thirty (30) calendar days after notification to Franchisee of failure to hire and maintain sufficient staff in order to handle customer volume at all times; or

(r) upon thirty (30) calendar days after notification to Franchisee of failure to pay your employees and staff the required wage described in Section 3.5, or

(s) prior to the opening of the Franchised Business, if Franchisee or any of its designated emp

Three Steps to Your Own Import Export Business
In this article I'd like to talk about the first three steps I believe are vital in starting up your own import-export business.The first and most important step is to determine your interests.It goes without saying that the most successful businesses are those where it ceases to be considered work for the owner. We've all heard stories of people who started out very small and grew their business into million dollar enterprises. It wasn't just luck or coincidence. They were involved with something they truly enjoyed doing and worked hard at it.Choose something you are passionate about and you would pay to do. What things do you already pay for? What things are you already passionate about?Now, not every interest can be turned into a business that pays the bills, but it may lead you to another area that can. The key here is to remain open and just think of any interest you have - not matter how outlandish.I really can't stress the importance of this

ed by a creditor, lienholder or lessor, provided that a final judgement against the Franchisee remains unsatisfied for thirty (30) calendar days (unless an appeal bond has been filed), or if a levy of execution has been made upon the license granted by this Agreement or upon any property used in the Franchised Business and is not discharged within five (5) business days; or