International business is all business transactions-private and governmental-that involve two or more countries. Why should one be interested in studying international business? The simplest answer is that international business comprises a large and growing portion of the world’s total business. Today, almost all companies, large or small, are affected by global events and competition because most sell output to and/or secure suppliers from foreign countries and/or compete against products and services that come from abroad.

More companies that engage in some form of international business are involved in exporting and importing than in any other type of business transaction. Many of the international business experts argue that exporting is a logical process with a natural structure, which can be viewed primarily as a method of understanding the target country’s environment, using the appropriate marketing mix, developing a marketing plan based upon the use of the mix, implementing a plan through a strategy and finally, using a control method to ensure the strategy is adhered to. This exporting process is reviewed and evaluated regularly and modifications are made to the use of the mix, to take account of market changes impacting upon competitiveness. This view seems to suggest that much of the international business theory related to enterprises, which are internationally based and have global ambitions, does often change depending on the special requirements of each country.

Another core issue is the company’s growth and the importance of networking and interaction. This view looks at the way in which companies and organisations interact and consequently network with each other to gain commercial advantage in world markets. The network can be using similar subcontractors or components, sharing research and development costs or operating within the same governmental framework. Clearly, when businesses formulate a trading block with no internal barriers they are actually creating their own networks. Collaborations in aerospace, vehicle manufactures and engineering have all sponsored the development of a country’s or a group of countries’ outlook based on their own internal market network. This network and interaction approach to internationalisation shows the substance of being able to influence decisions when knowing how the global network players work or interact.

For example, a crucial market network is that of the Middle East. Middle East countries are rich, diverse markets, with a vibrant and varied cultural heritage. This means that although there has been a harmonisation process during the past few years, differences still exist. Rather than business being simpler as a result, it should be recognised that because of regulations and the need those countries have to restructure as they enter the global market, performing any kind of business can be highly complex. It should be remembered though that the Middle-Eastern countries have a low-income average and like to have their cultural differences recognised. Those firms that will or have recognised these facts have a good chance of developing a successful marketing strategy to meet their needs. Fortunately some firms have realised these important differences and reacted adequately when strategic decisions had to be made regarding their *********** to this kind of markets.

Business case studies are an integral part of any course which focuses on management techniques. These cases are used to stimulate the student’s thinking and are used throughout many industries. The objective behind making discussion and analysis of business situations an essential part of the management studies curriculum is the fact that it teaches and prepares the student to face similar situations in the corporate world.

What Is a Case Study?

Such studies are designed to encourage management students to come up with their own solutions for a problem situation faced by a company. Typically such studies are structured as follows:

The note will have an introduction of the company whose problem situation is being analyzed. The problem facing the company is discussed in detail. Questions are then posed to the students who have to analyze the case and come up with their own solutions.

In many business schools, such discussion and analysis of business case studies is a group activity and the students are expected to present their understanding of the problem and its solution in the form of a presentation.

Types of Case studies

Business case studies are undertaken as a part of management studies in all disciplines. Thus students will have to work on cases across disciplines. Human resource development and organizational behaviour studies will teach students to interpret group behaviour at the work place. Financial analysis will teach students on how to approach key aspects of financial planning such as cost cutting and rationalization of expenses. Marketing case studies are of course a very large part of the marketing management curriculum, and they teach students the ways and techniques of dealing with marketing, distribution, channel management, advertising and promotion, dealer management and other issues.

These studies sometimes also just give a narration of a situation faced by a company and the way it handles the problem. These descriptions help students build a database of likely solutions to similar problems.

Business case studies available nowadays, both through printed material supplied during class at management school as well as studies available on the internet, cover practically every facet of the life of a company, its employees, its shareholders, its creditors and debtors. Studying these situations, therefore, can give tremendous insight to management students. They will be better prepared when they step out into the corporate world, and will have a reference point to relate to in terms of already analyzed business studies when they are faced with similar situations at their workplace.

If you are currently thinking about starting your own check cashing business, there are things that you first need to consider. The path leading from conceptualization to realization can be a scary and uncertain route, and it is difficult for most people to know the proper steps to take. In this article, we will give you the information that you need to know before starting your own check cashing business.

The first and often most difficult hurdle in starting your own check cashing business is the initial investment. On average, the start-up costs for a check cashing business can range anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000, and unless you have a substantial savings, you will need to have solid credit in order to secure financing. In addition to paying for a location and having funds available to actually cash checks, there are many other expenses that you may not think of initially. For example, you need to figure in the cost of computers, furniture, monthly expenses (electricity, heat, etc.), employees, insurance, rent, advertising, licenses, and fees just to name a few. In addition, by the very nature of dealing with money, a check cashing business needs to have certain security measures in place to keep both your assets and employees safe. This may require hiring the services of a check-scanning company (such as TeleCheck), security cameras, alarms, and special glass to protect your workers. As you can see, your start up investment will play a large role in determining future success.

The second thing that you must do before starting your own check cashing business is to acquire all of the proper licenses and permits. It is advisable that you check with your local and state authorities to make certain that you possess all the necessary documentation needed to operate a business. It is also worth mentioning that you will have to comply with the federal and state government’s usury laws, which are in place to prevent financial outlets from charging exorbitant interest rates.

Let’s say that you have cleared these first two obstacles; what step should you take next? You should now turn your attention towards hiring responsible, and more importantly, honest employees. It is crucial in a check cashing business to hire only the most trustworthy of people, so you should take any safeguard necessary to ensure this. This step should include an extensive interview as well as background and credit checks. Do not rush this part of the process just so you can open up your doors to the public. This is one instance where your patience and sound judgment will definitely pay off, and it could end up saving you a lot of money that could otherwise be lost to employee theft.

Starting your own check cashing business is a difficult and involved process. By covering all of your bases and following through on the information provided above, you should find yourself well on the way towards operating a successful and profitable check cashing business.

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If you are a starting your own small business you need to be as organized and efficient as possible. One of the tools that you can use to achieve these goals is business software. Many entrepreneurs who are interested in the process of starting their own business may not be into computers or even have an aversion to technology, unfortunately in today’s business world if you don’t have the right tools which usually includes business software you and your business are dead in the water.

The good news about business software is that it is easier and in some case more affordable than ever. With much more powerful computers and many different software producing companies competing against one another, the consumer ultimately wins. No matter what industry or type of small business you have, there is business software that can help organize your expenses, analyze your sales and correspond with customers, manufacturers and other businesses.

Besides general business tools such as MS Office, there are plenty of business software available for ecommerce web sites and auction site merchants. Whether you are a one person operation or have a dozen employees, using business software can ultimately help you be more profitable.

You can find current information and up to the minute reviews and opinions online at software forums. Whether it is Microsoft products, Adobe Photoshop or any type of specialize business software, you can usually do a search and find some reviews based on using a specific software product. So before you go out and spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on business software, do your homework and see what others have to say about it.

There is a time of the day, every day, that I look forward to more than any other.  Actually, that isn’t quite true but almost…  That time isn’t quite what you think either.  It’s time spent driving to and from work.

Most people listen to the radio or passively listen to the radio.  They daydream about the life they want to have or what they would be doing if they weren’t going to work.  Me?  I listen to a great business audio book.

I love this past-time so much that I’m building this new site to it.  Is that dedication or what?

Tony Robbins calls this ‘net time.’  Or the time you spend doing something mindless that you could be spending doing something more worthwhile.  Personally, I can’t think of a better use of time than spending it with some brilliant business minds like Napolean Hill, Tim Ferriss and Dave Lakhami?

Now, finding a good audio book can be a pain sometimes.  In fact, it took me a long time to download a good copy.  For some reason, the ones I found on blogs and torrent sites were either poorly recorded or only snippets of the book itself.  Or they had ads embedded in them all over the place!

So I started looking for them on Amazon.  Amazon always has a good selection of everything, but their audiobooks were seriously more expensive than two paperback books!

And then I stumbled upon Audible.  Originally, I heard about them through a friend who loves reading as much as I do.  But I never did anything with the recommendation until I heard a podcaster mention it on his weekly show.

Basically, what Audible does is give you a membership where you accrue credits every month.  With those credits, you exchange them for books!  It can be any book in their library, whether it’s a business audio book or some other genre, but if it’s there you get discounted pricing because you’re a member.

Then, you can either burn it to a CD, save it to your cell phone or your iPod and listen to it whenever you like!

It isn’t like renting a book at the library.  Once you download it, it’s yours forever.  The audio file never expires or goes bad.  In fact, there are a few books (Like ‘Think And Grow Rich’) that I probably listen to once a quarter…

One of the things I want to do with this site is share good business audiobooks with you so you don’t have to guess on what’s good and what’s not.  I’ve been a Audible member for over 2 years and have listened to probably 40 or so books through their service – all of them being rock solid copies.  And most of them business oriented.  Occasionally, I’ll get into a science fiction thriller or a self help book…

So anyway, if you’re looking for a good business audio book, check out Audible.  They are definitely highly recommended in my book.

Selling a business can be a challenging undertaking. For most people, they have not been through the business sales process before and are surprised to learn how different it is when compared to a typical real estate transaction.

The entire process of selling a business is usually much more involved and can be much more complicated. For instance, finding an appropriate business buyer, qualifying leads, maintaining business confidentiality, tax issues, asset sale vs share sale, due diligence, VTB financing, transitions, employee issues, liabilities, working capital… and so on.

Besides all of these issues though, probably the most confusing issue for many owners when selling a business is determining an appropriate selling price. For most people, determining a selling price (or business valuation) is a mystery. It is one of the most important decisions a business seller can make though. Setting the selling price too high will discourage potential buyers from inquiring about the listing. If the price is set too high and it stays on the market too long it may lead to red flags (buyers may think there is a problem with the business if it is listed for too long). Conversely, setting a selling price that is too low is not good in that a business owner is not realizing the fullest value for their business.

There are some common useful methodologies that can be used to assist in determining the listing price of a company when selling a business and help arrive at a fair number.

Discretionary Earnings Multiple Method
This method is a common way that small businesses are valued. It is a (relatively) easy method to determine a business’s listing price and is quite intuitive. Essentially, the concept is to determine a business’s ‘discretionary earnings’ that it delivers to the owner and then applying it to a multiple to determine the value of the business. A simple example – if the discretionary earnings of a business is $150,000 and it is determined that the earnings multiple is 2.2x then a valuation of approximately $330,000 would be appropriate ($150k x 2.2).

It is important to properly calculate ‘discretionary earnings’. A qualified business broker or business appraiser can assist you with the calculations but the concept is to calculate the earnings available to an owner as a result of running the business. It usually involves taking pre-tax income and adding back some discretionary items like owner’s salary, personal items and so on.

The next step is to determine the right multiple. Multiples vary by industry, geography and time so it is important to get a supportable multiple that is in line with the market reality. Again, a qualified business broker or business appraiser can assist you. If you are selling a business please work with a professional to help you determine a selling price.

Discounted Cashflow Method
A much more sophisticated method to determine the selling price of a business is the discounted cashlow methodology. Essentially, the concept is to forecast the cashflow that the business will generate into the future and then discount the stream of future cashlfow that has been estimated back to the present by applying a cost of capital. Confused yet??

The principle is that a business is worth the ‘present value’ of the future earnings it will generate; adjusted for time (a dollar earned in the future is worth less than having a dollar now). So, when a business buyer buys a business, he or she are really buying a stream of future cashflow. The earnings that the business will generate in the distant future are worth less than the earnings it will generate in the near future so time-based adjustments need to be calculated.

Please bear in mind that this methodology is generally not used for small businesses. If you are selling a business that is mid-sized or more complicated you may encounter this methodology.

Asset Based Business Valuation – use caution
Please use extreme caution if you want to value your business based on the value of the physical or tangible assets. Often, business sellers believe that the only way to value their business is by adding up the market worth of their physical goods. This is could lead to a costly underestimation of the business’s value. This approach does not factor in the intangible value that is inherent in the business (example – goodwill).

For instance, suppose an owner of a very profitable service based company with very little ‘hard assets’ were selling and he or she decided to value the company based on the market value of these hard assets. The owner would be grossly underestimating the business’s true value by neglecting to take into account the company’s goodwill and any other intangible assets.

If you are selling a business and want to base its value based on the tangible assets, please use caution and consult with a reputable business broker or business appraiser.

Sometimes emotions can work against you
Many times business owners get emotionally attached to their companies. Especially those that have built their businesses from scratch and have personally invested years of hard work. Selling a business is more than just a business transaction. Emotions must be acknowledged – and managed. Oftentimes, these owners may think their business is worth far more than it really it (which is understandable and natural). Emotions can, however, get in the way of prudent business decisions so please take care to not make selling decisions (or pricing decisions) based on an unsupportable value.

Please bear in mind, there are many other detailed issues surrounding a business valuation that must be considered that can impact the methodology used when selling a business (for instance, an asset sale versus a share sale). This article is a general overview of the process and a brief summary of a couple methods used. If you decide upon selling your business please consult with a professional about determining a fair market price for your company.

Few people today would argue that psychology has no place at all in the ‘real world’ of business, but many of us are less aware of how ubiquitous its potential influence really is.

A recruiter, for example, may well list “great communication skills” as a prerequisite in a job ad without considering that psychology underpins communication. A client service manager might encourage her staff to provide “exceptional customer service”, without realising that she’s delving into the realm of psychology and asking her people to do so as well.

Essentially, psychology is the study of human thought and behaviour. Psychology asks: how do people think, and why do they do what they do? And for better or worse, human thought and behaviour underpins every business activity and transaction, either directly or indirectly (e.g. via software or machinery designed by humans to meet human goals). Business simply doesn’t exist without people.

Having established that – at first glance – the field of psychology has at least some relevance to the realm of business, we can now ask a more fundamental question. Can psychological knowledge be used to make a business more successful?

The answer is a resounding “yes”. While psychology is still a relatively young discipline, it can already assist business across a broad range of activities.

1. Relationship building. Strong relationships with clients, partners, suppliers and staff which are based on trust and goodwill pay dividends when people feel they have a connection with you and stick around for the long haul.

2. Knowing what clients want. If you understand how your customers’ minds work, you’re better able to meet their needs and expectations by offering products and services they really want, targeting qualified leads more effectively, and increasing your conversion and retention rates.

3. Facilitating effective communication. Misunderstandings amongst various business stakeholders are often huge time-wasters, and the vast majority of them can be prevented through active listening, self-awareness and conscious collaboration.

4. Choosing the right employees for your business culture. An impressive CV isn’t everything – once the initial “ooh, shiny” attraction of a new job (or employee!) wears off, cultural compatibility becomes critical to ongoing job performance.

5. Increasing employee satisfaction and motivation. Understanding what challenges and stresses your employees provides information critical for optimising their performance and reducing absenteeism and staff turnover.

6. Enhancing the effectiveness of work teams. Simply throwing a bunch of people together in a group doesn’t guarantee productivity. Amongst other factors, teams need good internal communications, appropriate levels of cohesiveness, a collaborative culture and a common goal to strive for before they’ll function well.

7. Better utilise information. Awareness of cognitive biases, false assumptions and limiting beliefs facilitates improved goal definition, decision making, and risk detection, assessment and management.

8. Change management. Whether you’re implementing a new process or system, or expanding or selling your business, the journey will be simplified significantly if you understand, in advance, the psychological readiness of stakeholders and the likely impacts the change will have on them, and take proactive steps to manage these and other change-related difficulties.

In reading these examples, you could be forgiven for thinking that many of the insights psychology currently has to offer the business world are nothing more or less than ‘common sense’.

Often as not, however, the results of controlled psychological research directly contradict common belief. Multi-tasking, for instance, is commonly believed to make people more productive, but studies show the converse is true: speed and accuracy (and therefore productivity) are very much impaired when people try to perform more than one task at a time.

The ability to debunk myths such as these already enables psychologists to add significant value to business, and as they discover more and more about what makes human beings tick, their value proposition will only increase.

The upcoming festive break is a great time to reflect on what’s working in your business and what’s not.

Was 2010 a good business year for you or, as in the case of many others, tough going?

And will you be merely hoping that 2011 will be better – or are you setting and committing to the kind of goals that will make a real difference by using the holiday period to work out exactly how you are going to achieve them?

With the right motivation, your New Year Business Resolutions will provide a formidable platform on which to build success over the coming 12 months.

Based on some of the most popular personal self-improvement commitments, here’s a guide to the kind of pledges which will give your business a powerful 2011 makeover.

1. Find a Better Job

If your business isn’t performing as you’d wish and you are beginning to question whether its worth plodding on, take time out to consider your business model. Could you reinvent your business online or re-energise your company through alliances with affiliate businesses with different market access channels? Could technology make your business more agile? Most of all, think about what could you add or take away from your business offer to make it more relevant, easier for customers to do business with you and more exciting for your market. Ponder if you are the person to lead this change – or is there someone else in your team with the skills and knowledge to rise to the challenge while you concentrate on the areas you enjoy the most?

2. Find Your Soul Mate

It can be lonely at the top – particularly if you are a sole trader. Having a mentor, or simply someone you can trust to bounce ideas off or share your problems with, gives you a sense of perspective. Your soul mate may work in a completely different sector or be your business partner. Wherever you find them, look out for people whose mindset complements your own. If you are an ideas person, look out for someone who loves delving into detail. If you are a people person, look out for someone who loves facts and figures.

3. Learn Something New

Owning and running a business is an education – and no amount of business school lessons or business books can teach it how it is for you. True entrepreneurs are always the curious type. Investigate new tools, get to grips with what’s happening online and make sure you are up to date with customer and marketing trends even if you don’t always adopt them. If you are facing new business problems, maybe it’s time to try something new. If you are facing the same old business problems, it is definitely the time to try something new

4. Quit Smoking

Do you have some bad business habits? Perhaps you waste energy on vanity clients with a track record of infrequent small orders or customers who may place a large order but soak up your time and that of your staff in un-costed product support or additional service requests. Make sure all your products and services are properly paid for. Consider tailoring prices upward for customers you know will incur additional cost to service or revisit your standard contract and ensure your clients or customers always know upfront that additional requests equal additional costs.

5. Shape Up and Lose Weight

Take a long hard look at everyone in your team. Is every team member making the kind of contribution you need in today’s marketplace? Are they showing the right kind of attitude and do they have the right kind of skills and knowledge? Real dead weights need to be jettisoned – but before you do this, check that you’re not simply misusing their skills. Could they make a better contribution in a different role? Do they have knowledge and skills you’re failing to tap into? Perhaps some additional training is in order or greater input from you in ensuring they are motivated to succeed and working to the right priorities.

6. Stick to your Budget

Are your sales targets realistic? In an uncertain economic climate It’s just as easy to be too pessimistic about sales as it is to be too optimistic. Whatever your sales income targets, keep a close and regular eye on performance. Whenever sales stray from forecast, ensure you identify and understand the reasons why. If there’s a major dip, take quick action to address your cost base. What opportunity is there to switch fixed costs to a rental or pay-as-you-use basis. How flexible are your staffing and office costs?

7. Reduce Debts

Cashflow problems are the single biggest cause of small and early-growth business failure. It’s vital that you are always paid in full, on time – and up-front if you have any doubts on customer credit worthiness. One of the best ways to ensure financial health is to credit check all new customers and have a complete handle on who owes you what and when the payment will be made. Only then can you properly manage outgoings and trading terms. When was the last time you reviewed your payment terms? What percentage of your customers are paying on time? Has there been any payment slippage over the past few months? In tough times it’s easy to be tempted to cut major customers some slack when it comes to payment periods but ensure you understand the ramifications in terms of paying your own suppliers. Consider prompt payment discounts or late payment surcharges. Watch for warning signs of problems ahead – if a significant bill to a late-paying customer goes bad, can your business survive?

8. Enjoy More Quality Time with Family & Friends

Unless you are a sole trader, a business is by definition a company of people in regular contact with people at customer businesses. It’s a truism that in business-to-business transactions, people buy from people. Professional relationships are important and while not every contact will result in a sale, staying top-of-mind by being in regular contact and taking an interest in the working life of key individuals both within your business and at customer companies will pay off.

9. Volunteer and Help Others

It’s been a hard year for many businesses – customers as well as suppliers. Giving support and service doesn’t always involve a financial commitment and often, it’s the givers who later get. What knowledge could you share with your customers that might make their lives easier and what extra value could you add to your products or service that involves no cost? Perhaps a simple ‘thank you’ email with every order or an advice newsletter or blog spot that helps customers get the most from what they buy from you. Providing customers with a consistent positive experience of your company by giving them a little more than just your product or service is the foundation of long term customer loyalty and valuable word-of-mouth marketing.

10. Get Organised

Being able to find the information or documentation your need is a pre-requisite of being organised but having it instantly to hand is preferable to having to rifle through filing cabinets or travel back to the office to pick it up. With the aid of a secure online connection, these days you can ensure every aspect of your business is never more than a click away no matter where you are or what time of day. Being organised means you will be more productive, more focused and less stressed – as that’s exactly what you need to be more profitable.

If you are interested in a franchise opportunity that is small business based, then it is important to know that our government is providing more incentives than ever to open a business. Job losses in this slower economy have many turning to self employment, by way of a franchise. There are many small businesses for sale that can be obtained easier than in the past.

The name brand recognition that a franchise provides adds a value to a business plan. The current administration is offering more tools for a small business to access capital and create jobs. This is intended to bring the US back on track for economic recovery. With the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Small Business Administration has assisted with more than 33,000 loans for over $13 billion dollars. Based on certain qualifications, the SBA loan maximums are increased in various areas.

Women and minorities will also benefit from increased small business loans, as they are encouraged to apply. An increased number of small businesses for sale are being purchased by women and minorities and have proven to be highly successful. In the past, these demographics were more likely to be denied for a loan than a white male. Now, women-owned businesses make up more than 28% of all small businesses. Minorities still play a much smaller role, but with the increased population and potential job starts that can be accomplished, the government is encouraging lenders to work harder with them.

In addition, there are incentives that help with the cost of health care, tax relief based upon start-up costs, more federal funding for innovation and high tech job creation, as well as creating a network of business incubators designed to assist that small business owner.

The US government is on the side of the franchise owner. These incentives are geared toward those looking for small businesses for sale that will potentially grow employment opportunities for others. The more jobs that can be put back into the system, the quicker the economy will continue to grow.

The number of franchise opportunities is vast and varied. There will be potential opportunities for anyone that has what it takes to run their own small business. Having more access to capital as well as tax incentives will make the idea of owning your own business easier to obtain. If you think you have the knowledge and skill set to start your own business, consider some of the popular franchise opportunities available today.

Deluxe business forms have been popular for a long time now. In fact, Deluxe has been the supplier businesses have trusted for over eight decades now. Deluxe business forms along with deluxe checks, tax forms, and personalized products are widely in use. Deluxe Business Checks and Solutions is a business unit of Deluxe Small Business Sales Inc. If you are thinking of starting a new venture, Deluxe business forms are the apt choice. Deluxe’s product line includes a wide variety of professional quality checks and forms for small and growing businesses. Deluxe business forms are compatible with today’s accounting software packages.

Deluxe offers its customers a promise to maintain service with a personal touch. Deluxe’s growth is based on a commitment to customer service. Deluxe has a dedicated online resource catering to the needs of the small businesses with faster and more efficient access to deluxe forms. Deluxe forms could be adjudged the dynamic resource of ideas for growing businesses.

Deluxe’s commitment to quality can be gauged from their seal of guarantee on their web site. You can visit your nearest Deluxe outlet in your neighborhood for your business forms. Alternately, you can get Deluxe business forms directly from their online resource. The entire procedure for getting a deluxe business form is quite simple. All you need to do is to go the relevant page, click, and the list of forms will be displayed. You just have to order the one which you want and it will be shipped to you. Thanks to the convenience of the Internet, you can now get your form without moving a muscle. One can get extensive information on deluxe business forms by taking a tour of their online resource. Their online resource is exhaustive, but at the same time, one can easily navigate through the various links provided in the web site.