Week in Review 29/1/15

In Europe this week Open A European Company has been looking at UK Car Production here, Russia & Indian Energy Deals here and the growth in Europe here. Immigration into Europe also takes a look at UK Property sales here, UK growth here and the addition of 2,000 more jobs here.

In the USA, startanamericancompany.com looks at the Fed signalling a rate rise here, Obama’s proposed oil drilling here & why you should invest in Florida here. Immigration into America looks at the 5 most promising jobs in the US in 2015 here and the craft breweries of Oregon here.

Elsewhere, Open A Dubai Company talks about Dubai International stealing Heathrow’s crown here & Start An Australian Company looks at Sydney’s $1bn investment here.

UK has lower Deficit & Unemployment but Needs More Wind, EU Car Sales Rise & Uber to Create Jobs, Investors Favour US with House Market On the Rise, Texas Plans Hyperloop, Jackson Hole on the Rise & Amzon Invests in Wind, Oz Benefits From tennis and TECOM Majorly Invest in Dubai

22/01/15

Over in the UK, Immigration into Europe they look at the narrowing trade deficit here & Open A European Company look at car sales in Europe here as well as Uber creating jobs here. Unemployment falls in Britain here but they need more Wind Investment here.

In the USA, startanamericancompany.com looks at why the housing market is on the up here &  Immigration into America looks at why investors favour America here. Company news sees Amazon invest in wind energy here and Tesla planning a Texan Hyperloop here. Jackson Hole is also seeing an unlikely rise here.

Elsewhere, Open A Dubai Company talks about TECOM taking out massive loans for massive investments here and  Start An Australian Company looks at how Tennis is benefiting Victoria here.

UK Adds More Jobs with Higher Car Sales & Booming Creative Industries, USA Adds Jobs & Calls for Closer Ties to India with a Rate Rise Unlikely until April, Oz had dairy Demands from China and Emaar offers IPO in Dubai.

15/01/15

Over in the UK, Immigration into Europe they look at Jaguar creating jobs here and a New Cell Centre doing the same here. Open A European Company look at car sales in the country here and the growth in the Creative Industries here.

In the USA, startanamericancompany.com looks at why a rate rise is unlikely until April here and why the country has called for closer ties with India here. Immigration into America looks at job creation in the US here and the top 10 cities to get one in 2015 here.

Elsewhere, Open A Dubai Company talks about Dubai’s biggest real estate developer listing its hotels as an IPO here and  Start An Australian Company looks at the demand for Australian dairy coming from China here.

UK Sees Retail Boost, Rates Rise & Major Arts Investment, Ukraine May Have Next Silicon Valley, Pizza Entrepreneurs Take on US with the Best Places to Start Up & Economy Growing Faster, Dubai’s Property Matures & Oz builds ties with Indonesia.

Over in the UK, Immigration into Europe looks at a retail boost here and a major arts investment here whilst Open A European Company looks at the recent Inflation Rate rise here. In other European news, could Ukraine have the next Silicon Valley? Find out here.

In the US, startanamericancompany.com looks at the fastest growing economy for 11 years here and  Immigration into America profiles some Pizza entrepreneurs here. We also find out five of the best places to incorporate in the US here and take a closer look at one of those states, Delaware, here.

Elsewhere, Open A Dubai Company talks about Dubai’s maturing property sector here  and  Start An Australian Company sees why more trade with Indonesia could be on the cards here.

Merry Christmas From UCI

The Christmas period is upon us and we’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

During the holiday period our office will be closed on Christmas Eve at mid-day and re-open again on 5th January 2015 when business will return to normal Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm.

We will endeavour to answer your urgent enquiries during this time but will have limited access to emails.

Britons World’s Biggest On-line Shoppers as UK Receives Retail Boost, Sees WagesRise & Unemployment Fall, USA Passes New Budget as Middle Classes Feel the Benefit, The Fed is ‘Patient’ Over Rates and there is a Growth in Grains, Chinese buy Aussie Construction Firm and Dubai Receives Investment Through Armour

18/12/14

In Europe this week Open A European Company has been linked  has been looking at how Britain has received a retail boost here whilst they are also the world’s biggest online shoppers here.  Immigration into Europe also takes a look at Britain’s rising pay packets here & falling unemployment here.

Across the pond startanamericancompany.com sees how the Fed is being patient over rate rises here whilst there’s also been a growth in grains here.  Immigration into America tells us more about the new budget here and how the middle classes could be benefiting here.

Elsewhere, Open A Dubai Company talks about Dubai receiving more investment for its Armoured Cars here  and  Start An Australian Company sees why an Aussie Construction firm has been bought by the Chinese here.

 

France & Germany Spur Eurozone Growth, Britain Sees Manufacturing Rise & Gas Investment, Heathrow Expects More Passengers, Detroit Out of Bankruptcy, Grain in Maine Taking Off, US with More Jobs & Less Seeking Benefits, Dubai Back to Building and Australian Youth Optimistic

11/12/14

In Europe this week Open A European Company has been looking at how France & Germany are pushing the EU forward here and how Heathrow expects to see more passengers here.

Immigration into Europe takes a look at Ineos investing $1bn in British fracking here and the growth in British manufacturing here.

Across the pond startanamericancompany.com sees how Detroit dragged itself out of bankruptcy here and how the grain industry in Maine is taking off here.

Immigration into America sees that America has added more jobs and had a fall in benefits claimants here and here.

Elsewhere, Open A Dubai Company talks about Dubai back to building more again here and  Start An Australian Company sees why Aussie youth are so optimistic about their futures here.

Cyprus Attracts Investors, Japan Expands Stimulus, England Waits on Interest Rates, Ikea Invests in Texas Renewables whilst Australia Needs More, G20 aims at Global Growth & Dubai Builds Airports

3/12/14

In global news this week, the G20 leaders met and talked about achieving 2% growth globally which Immigration into America takes a look at here whilst Immigration into Europe sees why the Bank of England is waiting to raise its interest rates here. Open A European Company asks why Japan is expanding its monetary stimulus here and our friends at C.Savva Associates explain why Cyprus is once again an attractive prospect for investors here.

startanamericancompany.com sees why Ikea is investing in renewable energy in Texas here and Start An Australian Company shows why Australia needs more here.

Finally, Open A Dubai Company finds that a hospitality push has led to further investment in Dubai’s airports here.

 

Happy Thanksgiving! American Economy growing Faster than Expected, Immigration Could Add Bring More Growth,Russia raises Interest Rate & Secures Deal With Ukraine, Europe Inflation Rises, Britain Sees Rugby Boost, Australia & India Partner Up & Dubai in A Hospitality Push

27/11/14

First of all, Happy Thanks Giving! Our friends over at Immigration into America explain the origins of the festival for those looking to learn more here. They also take a look at President Obama’s immigration reform and how that could help the economy here whilst startanamericancompany.com shows that the economy is already growing faster than expected here.

In Europe, Open A European Company sees why Russia has raised its interest rates here and how it has managed to secure a massive gas deal with Ukraine here. Immigration into Europe says Europe has seen an inflation rise here and that the UK could earn £1bn from the Rugby world cup here.

Elsewhere Start An Australian Company looks at Australia and India pushing for a free trade pact here whilst Open A Dubai Company finds that Dubai is having a hospitality push here.

Sweden Cuts Interest Rate, France Cuts Deficit, UK Cuts Workless Households and Picks UP NFL. The Best Places to Retire, Learn & Get a Job in the US, America & India Agree Trade Deal as Do China & OZ and Dubai Ranked No. 1

20/11/14

 In Europe, Sweden has cut its main interest rate to 0% which Immigration into Europe looks at here whilst Open A European Company looks into France’s pledge to cut their deficit here. Meanwhile, in the UK, the number of workless households is at its lowest rate ever which can be found here and the possibility of a new NFL franchise in Britain could generate up to £100 million for the country here.

In the US, Immigration into America looks at the ten best states for future job growth here and the top ten US colleges here. startanamericancompany.com does similar with its look at some of the best places to retire to in the US here and it also looks at an agreement on open trade reached between India and the US here.

Elsewhere, Australia and China have also agreed a free trade deal which  Start An Australian Company looks at here and Open A Dubai Company finds that Dubai has been ranked the best city in the world to live and work here.

Britain Having A Great Time, Colorado Considers Oil Options, Changing Holiday Trends, Us Unemployment Down, Dubai building LEGO LAND and Australia Selling Cows

13/11/14

The UK is certainly finding the ‘Great’ in Great Britain at the moment as the economy is full steam ahead. Open A European Company finds that car manufacturing in the country has hit a six year high here which has also contributed to its narrowing of the trade deficit which can be read about here. Meanwhile Immigration into Europe has had a look at the new oil discovery in the North Sea here as well as the growing number of wine makers in the country here.

The United States also seem to be having a good time along with Britain as both make the top ten list of the best places in the world to do business here and, also like the UK, Colorado is considering its oil producing options here. Unemployment has hit an eight year low as Immigration into America discovers here and startanamericancompany.com finds out how the change in Holiday season shopping habits could aid the economy further here.

Elsewhere, Start An Australian Company sees why Australian cows in China will be a boom to both here whilst Dubai plans a massive IPO to help fund LEGO LAND and further encourage tourism which Open A Dubai Company talks about here.

Global tax Rules About to Change, America Sees Growth and why Pick-ups Might be an Indicator of That, Does Culture Exports Cut Down on Immigration UK Music Aids Tech, MoD Secures Jobs, UK Car Sales Up, Japan Confidence on Rise & Australia Tax Review

5/11/14

Global tax rules are about to change and our sister site startanamericancompany.com take a look at why here whilst Immigration into America asks whether exporting culture cuts down on immigration here. In the US things are looking up with information on their latest growth here and why the sales of Pickup trucks may be a good growth indicator here. In Europe, the UK has seen more jobs secured thanks to MoD deals here whilst car sales hit a 10 year high hear. An intrinsic link between music sales and tech sales has also been found in the UK which Open A European Company takes a look at here . In other parts of the world , Japan’s Manufacturing Confidence is up with an analysis here and  Start An Australian Company looks at Australia’s latest tax review here. In the UAE Dubai needs more homes which can be read about over at Open A Dubai Company right here.

Best US Cities For Business, Japan On the Up, The UK’s Low Inflation & High House Prices, Dubai to Become Economic Hub & Indian Coal Mines in Australia

30/10/14

We’ve been very busy bees this week sourcing the best global economic news stories just for you. First off, taking a look at America has seen Forbes produce lists of the best cities in the States for both future job growth and business and job prospects which both our sites Immigration into America and startanamericancompany.com have been taking a look at. To read about the top ten cities for job growth click here and for the top ten for business and job prospects take a look at this link here. Still in America, we also see why the US has been encouraging the EU to boost demand here. Turning our attention to Asia, we can see how market data coming from the United States has affected Asian markets here whilst over at Open A European Company they’ve been more specifically focussed on Japan who are benfitting from a growth in exports, which can be found here, as well as an increase in wages, here. The UK has also had some positive economic news which Immigration into Europe has had a gander at with news on house prices here and the rate of inflation here. In other parts of the globe, Open A Dubai Company takes a look at why the Malaysian PM thinks Dubai could become an economic hub for the Islamic world here whilst Start An Australian Company tells all about Indian Mines opening up in Queensland, which can be found here. In less economic news and more a focus on culture, our friends over at incplan.net have a fabulous culture blog about immigration into the UK which this week looks at the intricacies of a British Winter here. Another great culture blog for those looking at emigrating to London can also be found here. 

Germany Needs Investment, The UK’s TV Exports are Up, America Sees Cheaper Oil Prices and the Rest of the Economy has Moderate Growth

24/10/14 This week in the world, our Open A European Company site is taking a look at why Germany needs investment here whilst  Immigration into Europe finds that UK TV exports are up here. In America they are getting cheaper oil and Immigration into America takes a look at why here whilst the rest of the country sees moderate growth which can be read here on startanamericancompany.com

Cannabis Boosting Business in the US whilst Beer Trade Stateside Boosts British Production, US Unemployment Falls as London Tech Firms See Record Investment

6/10/14 It would seem vice is big business at the moment as the legalisation of cannabis opens up business opportunities in America which startanamericancompany.com investigates here whilst Immigration into Europe takes a look at how the growing taste for craft beer in America is actually helping boost British hop farmers here. Elsewhere, London is celebrating record investment in its tech industry as Open A European Company explains here whilst Immigration into America tells us the US also has something to cheer about with its lowest unemployment rate in 6 years here.

Japan’s Trade Deficit Narrows, Indian PM looks to USA for Investment whose Growth has Been Revised Up & China & Russia Build Pipeline

30/09/14 This week in world news our friends over at Open A European Company have been looking at how Japan has managed to narrow their trade deficit here  whilst over at  Immigration into Europe they’ve been talking about Russia and China’s new pipeline here. Stateside the economic growth has been revised up so Immigration into America has been having a look as to why here and it’s for this reason why the Indian PM may be trying to attract American investment which startanamericancompany.com has delved into here.

US FED to End Stimulus, Nevada to Get Tesla Investment, India & China Sign Historic Trade Deal & UK Retail Sector Pushed Forward by Vacuum Demand

22/09/14 This week startanamericancompany.com takes a look at why the US FED is ending stimulus this month here whilst Immigration into America talks about Tesla investing in Nevada here. Immigration into Europe picks apart the trade deals between China & India here whilst Open A European Company sees how vacuum cleaners are pushing the UK retail sector forward here

Small Business Confidence on the Rise in UK whilst Car Sales Push the US Retail Sector Forward and One Whiskey Maker is Leading the Way Whilst Russian Stocks Make Gains on the Hope for Peace.

16/09/14 This week our sister site  Immigration into America takes a look at a new whiskey start-up set to make waves in the drinks market here whilst Start an American Company sees how Car Sales are pushing the country’s retail sector forward here. In Europe,  Immigration into Europe tales a look at how the possibility of peace in Ukraine is having a positive affect on Russian stocks here whilst Open A European Company sees how confidence in the small business sector is great news for the British economy here.

America Creates More Jobs & is Most Popular for Chinese Students Whilst Industry is on the Upturn in Germany and Britain Moves Up in the Economic Rankings.

8/09/14 This week our sister sites take a look at why America is the most popular destination for Chinese students and alos how it has manged to create 142,000 more jobs in the past month. Immigration into America looks at the student situation here whilst Start an American Company talks about job creation here. At the same tine in Europe, Open A European Company takes a look at the economic rankings of the most competitive countries which sees the UK move up from last year and Switzerland take top spot here. Immigration into Europe mulls the figures of Germany’s industrial growth here.

American & British Economies Forecasts Upgraded as New Orleans is Booming Again and India Sees a Two Year Growth High

1/09/14 This week our sister sites take a look at both the British and American economies as both receive forecast upgrades due to unexpectedly high output. Immigration into America looks at the American case here whilst Immigration into Europe analyses the British state of affairs here. Meanwhile, New Orleans seems to have firmly recovered from the disaster that hit it nine years ago that Start an American Company is looking into here and Open a European Company take a view on India hitting a Two year economic high here.

Big Things Happening in US Housing Market, Britain Invests in Energy & How Norway Has Got it so Right!

27/08/14 This week our sister sites have been taking a look at the US housing market which seems to be forever on the rise but now at a slower rate despite the economy surging forward. Immigration into America takes a look at that here whilst Start an American Company takes a more concentrated view of the luxury housing market and why Chinese investment has given it a massive boost. That can be found by clicking here. In Europe, Britain is further marking itself out as a future provider of renewable energy with greater investment in wind farm projects. Our site, Open a European Company, shows us what’s happening on that front here whilst Immigration into Europe takes an in depth look at what has made Norway so successful and why they have big plans for the future, all of which you can read here.

Car Manufacture and Sales Shoot Up in the UK as Economy on the Rise

21/08/14 More than 130,000 cars were made in the UK last month with around 170,000 sales also being made in figures that would suggest that the manufacturing sector is in full swing as interest in British markets once again picks up. Because of this increase, the total number of cars for the year-to-date figure comes in at 923,884 which is an increase of 3.4% from the same point last year. Cars manufactured for export also rose 2.9% taking the total number of exports since 2010 to just past the 5 million mark. Another positive figure for the UK economy is that the average car for export has more than doubled in its value over the past decade from £10,200 to £20,600. It is forecast that Britain’s production of cars will surpass its record high in 1972 by 2017. With new models being brought out all the time and an increasing interest in British luxury brands, such as those made by Jaguar Land Rover, seems assured to grow further in the next few years and this is mirrored by strong domestic sales. In July more than 170,000 in the UK which is the highest figure since 2007. So far this year the market is up by around 10% to around 1,460,000 and it is estimated that, by years end, 2.45million new cars will be sold in 2014, an 8.1% increase from the previous year. With attractive finance deals and confidence in the economy people are more inclined to purchase a new car and it’s this that is fuelling the growth. For more information on incorporating in Europe visit http://www.openaeuropeancompany.com/ or more specifically the UK, go to http://www.openaeuropeancompany.com/country-pages/united-kingdom.html Alternatively you can email us at info@uci-ltd.com

Considering Germany

1/08/14 Germany seems to be having mixed fortunes of late with a World Cup win and a soaring economy under their belts their is however, on the horizon, the possibility of a serious lack of important skills in the country and a need for further investment for the nation. This has lead to opportunities for savvy investors and those looking to make the most of their potential within Europe. Our sister sites www.openaeuropeancompany.com and www.immigrationintoeurope.com both have articles explaining the state of things in the European powerhouse. So why not check out why the German economy is doing so well here and why they may also be turning to immigration to solve their future problems here.

Britain Has the Strongest Growth of the G7

21/7/14 Amongst the G7 grouping of countries Britain has posted the highest level of growth with a surge of 3.1% in GDP by the end of the year due to a large amount of investment in the country. Made up of seven of the strongest economies globally the G7 discusses a range of things from global economics to trade, social and political issues and posting such strong growth puts Britain in a very strong position. After several false starts to recovery after the 2008 financial crisis this is positive news for a nation that is continuing to go from strength to strength after it emerged it was the most attractive place in Europe for foreign investors. There is an expected 12.5% jump in business investment which has led to the forecasted 3.1% growth. Compare this to other member states of the G7 Canada, with expected 2% growth, and Germany, 1.8% expected growth, then this feat becomes even more impressive with growth in the UK shooting up 0.8% in just the first three months of the year. This represents the longest positive run since the financial crisis. For more information on incorporating in Britain visit our sister site visithttp://www.openaeuropeancompany.com/country-pages/united-kingdom.html and for immigration go to http://www.immigrationintoeurope.com/ Alternatively, for further information on either service email us at info@uci-ltd.com

Protecting Your Intellectual Property

14/7/14 In the world of start-ups and new business, protecting your intellectual property (IP) can be vital to maintaining your businesses integrity and current, as well as future, customer base. However, in an increasingly globalised marketplace where you’re competing with international businesses and everyone is trying to get an edge on the competition it is becoming harder and harder to defend what is rightfully yours but there are a few things that will go some way to ensuring your ideas remain yours alone. A lot of what it comes down to is essentially forward thinking and planning ahead. It is imperative that start-ups know the challenges that may well come up within their area of business and what is the best way with dealing with them. Tech start-ups are most open to IP theft due to the nature of the industry being all about innovation and designing and offering newer and more advanced technologies and services to consumers. It is also worth noting that different international territories have different laws on the subject of IP and so it is important to research the situation in the country you are setting up in. There are three main types of IP and it is knowing which each part of your business or idea they fall under that makes it easier to protect them for you.

1. Trademarks: This is your companies branding from logos, packaging and slogan this is what makes your company recognisable in the marketplace and differentiates you from any other company.
2. Copyright: This is for intellectual or artistic work such as material or design but can vary from country to country for example, in the France copyright splits into two – proprietary rights and moral rights but this is not the case in many other places so it must be researched thoroughly.
3. Patents: Patent rights give exclusivity to the inventor to make use or sell their invention but vary from country to country as in the United Kingdom a patent can apply to an idea but in France it can only apply to a physical product.

Bigger companies may be able to afford large legal teams to protect their IP but smaller companies may well not be able to afford this luxury. They can however check IP office websites and patent status databases regularly to avoid any potential clashes and seeking legal advice at the company formation stage. By registering your company with these databases you are also protected against others infringing your IP because your company is officially recognised. By making sure you have filed the correct documents and have rubber-stamped the formation of your company the law is more likely to be on your side. For more information about incorporating a company in Europe visit our sister site http://www.openaeuropeancompany.com/ For more information about incorporating a company in America visit our sister site http://startanamericancompany.com/ or email us at info@uci-ltd.com

Google is Funding European Start-Ups

10/7/14 The tech giant Google has recently announced it will be setting up a fund to help develop tech start-ups across Europe. The fund will “invest in the best ideas from the best European entrepreneurs” and be based around London’s ‘Silicon Roundabout.’ Pledging $100m (£58m), Google already have a similar project in the United States and have not ruled out the possibility of expanding the fund into other territories in the future. The company have previous in the investment and encouragement of tech start-ups with their ‘Google Campus’ being an incubator for tech start-ups. “We’ve seen compelling new companies emerge from places like London, Paris, Berlin, the Nordic region and beyond – SoundCloud, Spotify, Supercell and many others,” say Google in their official blog post to launch the fund which can be found at http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/google-ventures-invests-in-europe.html Ambitious technology entrepreneurs can bid for a slice of the $100m fund in order to get their project under way.

Commonwealth Games could be ‘Springboard’ for Tourism

1/7/14 With the Commonwealth Games about to start very soon in Glasgow it could well boost tourism to the city, and Scotland as a whole, as VisitScotland claims that it expects the event to act as a ‘springboard’. VisitScotland has been working with local businesses on several projects with the aim of boosting the economy and improving the standards of services. This came hand in hand with a £2.5m marketing drive to promote the games at home and abroad in order to encourage more visitors to Scotland. VisitScotland want to use this opportunity to showcase Scotland’s ability to host major sporting events. With the games starting on the 23^rd of July, research suggests about a fifth of visitors to Glasgow have never been to the city before hand and the main focus will be to leave those people with a positive image and to encourage them to visit again. Several legacy projects are in place to make the city greener, improve its accessibility and its sustainability. Tourism is a massively important industry to Scotland and is worth about £11bn to the nation. If organisers can capitalise on this added interest and influx of tourists over the period that the games are on it could well lead to further money being generated from tourism.   For more information about incorporating a company in Britain or other European countries visit our sister site http://www.openaeuropeancompany.com or email us at info@openaeuropeancompany.com For more information on immigration to Britain or other European countries visit our sister site http://www.immigrationintoeurope.com/ or email us at info@immigrationintoeurope.com

Could QE save the EU?

20/6/14 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has today urged the Eurozone to adopt quantitive easing measures due to ‘worryingly low’ inflation rates. The International institution put forward the case for the European Central Bank (ECB) to bring in unusual measures amidst fears of possible deflation. The IMF claim that “[QE] would boost confidence, improve corporate and household balance sheets, and stimulate bank lending. Overall, it holds the potential to have a significant impact on demand and inflation,” and if that is the case it could be a positive move for business. The ECB has already taken steps to combat this problem. With European inflation sitting at 0.5% (well below the 2% target) interest rates from the ECB were plunged into negative territory so as to encourage bank lending and try and make sure that banks don’t hoard this money. With these measures already in place and the possibility of further asset buying measures this could be an absolutely massive boost for European business and garner massive rewards for those looking at trading in the EU. With the Eurozone still only just emerging from recession, prices and labour remain relatively cheap but there are positive signs that the EU is turning things around. For more information on company formation in Europe click here.

IT Services We Provide

This is the digital age and online communication, hosting and networks all play a role in establishing and promoting your brand to the worldwide marketplace. By fully understanding your business needs we can provide a tailored service that makes the most of online platforms to help market your business. Expert management of your email, cabling, cloud, hardware and software will enhance your business performance. IT support can also be invaluable in terms of security, with back up and threat monitoring services preventing hackers and viruses entering your system. By giving you the best technologically capability you can focus on building your brand from there. Virtual Offices The combination of having a registered business address, dedicated business telephone number, and a physical space to meet clients when needed gives your company the impression of size and credibility without the associated costs. The services enable you to maintain professional contact with clients, suppliers and regulatory authorities and your business telephone number can also have a virtual receptionist. The services incorporated in a virtual office include:

• Business address
• Telephone answering
• Call forwarding
• Mail forwarding

For more information click here. Web Marketing By marketing your business online you can tap into an endless amount of publicity and promotion that isn’t necessarily available to traditional forms of media but the internet being such a vast entity it can be a bit troubling knowing where to start. By harnessing the power of the web efficiently you can have 24hour availability, cost effective ad campaigns and access to a range of markets. These aspects all contribute to your business development and can be achieved through SEO (search engine optimisation), social media, ecommerce, and online PR. Our web experts can help you in these departments and can point you in the right direction to make the most of your business online by securing organic growth and communication through social media and thus maximising your exposure and development. For more information click here.   Website Development Your website reflects your business and, more often than not, it is the first port of call for customers who are searching for the products and services you provide. As such the whole focus of your website should be converting visitors to sales and with the amount of users online the sales potential is unrivalled. Design is vital when it comes to producing a website as it must look sleek and professional yet be user friendly and draw customers in. We have experts in website development who can build eCommerce sites, corporate websites, landing and sales pages, bespoke websites, CMS (content management system) based websites, and multi lingual websites, all including hosting and outstanding content, copy, and design. For more information click here.

Services We Offer

Company formation can seem like quite a daunting and heavily bureaucratic task but we offer an extensive range of services to help walk you through the process step by step. Business Consultancy This is a service where we assess the efficiency of how your company operates by looking at its strengths and weaknesses. By getting an impartial, third party view you can then make the most of our strategic planning to help strengthen the inefficient areas of your business to help reduce business and operating costs. Things we look at include:

•  management structures
• staffing levels
• accounting systems
• bid writing
• sales management
• business development
• eBusiness

For more information click here. Company Search This is effectively a research service where we collate all the necessary background information about potential suppliers, trade partners or competitors so that you know exactly who you’re dealing with. By having a comprehensive understanding of a company’s history, directors, credit limit, risk scores, assets, and liabilities allows you the peace of mind that you’re dealing with the utmost professionals and that your business is in safe hands. For more information click here. Document Service Organising documentation is a vital and necessary part of any business and needs to be done correctly in order to avoid falling foul of the relevant authorities but it can be a costly and time consuming task. We can deal with this for you and help save the impact on your bottom line by freeing you up to focus on what really matters, getting your business to make money. Services include the legalisation of documents, apostille and notarisation of documents if required in Europe, document retrieval, and company searches. Knowledge of the various administrative processes and language differences is necessary for international business. For more information click here. Employment Services Hiring local staff when setting up a foreign country can be a great resource of tapping into local knowledge and, in some cases, it is mandatory to do so. However, wading through the necessary bureaucracy and negotiation local employment regulations can be a time consuming headache when you just want to get the ball rolling and the money coming in and so this is where we can help. With an extensive network of reliable recruitment consultants with localised knowledge we can deal with this rapidly and efficiently. For more information click here. Intra-Corporate Transfers Intra-Corporate transfers are used to transfer an employee from one branch of the company to another overseas. Doing so, however, still involves the acquisition of work permits and other documentation. By letting us deal with this hassle more time can be spent focussing on briefing employees on their role and how they are to gain a foothold in a foreign market. For more information click here. Trademark Registration Having a registered trademark helps identify your brand in, what can be, a congested marketplace. It also protects your intellectual property and your uniquely defining features. Trademarks can cover anything from name, logo, slogan, p[phrases, packaging and even sounds and smells. An effective way of branding and attracting customers, trademark registration can vary from region to region and we can deal with this for you. For more information click here.

Which type of office do you need?

There are two types of office for businesses to use; services and virtual. The one best suited to your business depends on a number of factors, including, budget, location, requirements, company size, and client meetings. This article will explain the merits of both virtual and serviced offices as well as recommending which type of business is best suited to them. Firstly, virtual offices: these are best suited for small businesses with small budgets, new start-ups, or companies that lack a physical presence in a certain location. They are an extremely cost effective option as you still receive all the office facilities and services, giving you a creditable address in your chosen location without paying through the nose for renting the physical space. The advantages of establishing a virtual office include reduced transportation time and costs, no expenditure of renting a physical office, and the ability to work with employees from various geographical locations through web conferencing. All the services for a virtual office are managed remotely. These include virtual reception facilities, exclusive business telephone number and phone answering service, business fax number and fax forwarding service, mail forwarding service, email message taking and forwarding, and international call diverts. This all acts as a front and provides a professional impression with significantly reduced costs. As well as small businesses, virtual offices can be beneficial for international companies in particular as the remote services are great for communicating all over the world. Your team could be located in North America, Australia, and China while you remain at headquarters in the UK for example. By using a virtual office you will be able to connect frequently through conference calling and email. The second type of office is a serviced office. This is the traditional choice and gives you a physical presence in the location of your choice. It can be secured either on a temporary or permanent basis. A serviced office is fully furnished and includes reception facilities, telephone answering and forwarding, fax messaging and forwarding, mail forwarding, meeting and conference facilities, secretarial assistance, and training rooms. When you lease a serviced office all of your requirements will be provided for so that you have everything you need to run your business successfully. This is the more expensive office option as it involves physical presence of the both the office and staff. Depending on which location you choose for your office, the rent alone could take up most of your budget, and there will be additional costs for staff wages. As a result, serviced offices are best suited to larger companies or multinational corporations who have a bigger budget to work with and more people involved in the day to day business operations. An impressive office in the best part of the city will give credibility to your business’ brand and reputation as well as allowing for future development meeting rooms and training facilities. We provide both serviced and virtual offices and will manage the set up for you. Contact us today for further information.

Top 5 Mistakes in Forming Your Corporation

There is a whole array of pros and cons to take into account when considering whether to remain a sole entity or to form a partnership, but many entrepreneurs tend to favour the idea of greater legal protection that is afforded to a partnership over sole proprietorship. This means that forming a corporation or an LLC would then become the most reasonable of choices but there is a misconception that this sort of move is only for larger companies. Within the US it is state law that defines how a corporation’s legal status is affected by its structure but, for the most part, a corporation tends to exist as an individual person within the legal framework of that state meaning that they may be open to being sued, can sue, or own property just like that of an individual. What this means for sole proprietors is that they are far more open to losing assets in their name, including personal ones like their house or car, if they are to get embroiled in a legal dispute and although it may be the easiest and least expensive option to getting your business started, it may well not be the most cost effective method in the long run. Forming an LLC or corporation is probably cheaper, not to mention easier, than it ever has been but there are still some pitfalls that are wise to avoid when trying to form a successful venture:

1. Getting the right advice: With each state having different rules and regulations along with different tax tables for corporations it is of the utmost importance you get the best advice possible from a CPA otherwise you may end up frittering away money unnecessarily. There are different types of corporate entities (S corporations and C corporations, which in themselves are a separate category from LLCs) and different ways the corporate and LLC income can be treated. It is valuable to know which set up is best for the company being incorporated. Throw into the mix that most states will not let a company change its structure once it has been decided upon then the choice becomes even more important. For the most part the option which offers the best liability protection along with the best tax breaks for the specifics of the company is probably the best bet, but it’s vital to get advice from someone who knows what they’re looking at to get the balance right for the company.
2. Overestimating your liability protection:  Forming a corporation does not, by any means, make you infallible in the eyes of the law despite offering liability protection. It may sound obvious but it is still a criminal activity to raid the company coffers for yourself and further your own personal means. Just because a company has been afforded corporation status it does not mean an individual can hide behind it.
3. Getting the right licensing: Incorporating does not instantly give you the right to start trading, companies still have to make sure they obtain the right trading permits and are operating within local business ordinances so that they don’t run afoul of local authorities.
4. Staying on top of the housework: Once a company has been incorporated they still have to keep on top of all the correct paperwork and filing which periodically rears its head. It’s not all done and dusted once the company is incorporated and if they do fail to submit the right paperwork to the right people at the right times then it could incur fines.
5. Making sure the money’s available: Incorporating without the right funds available may mean that if the company were to be sued then the owner may well be aggressively pursued to stump up the costs from their own assets. Once again it is important to seek the advice of a CPA or an attorney to help a company establish how much funds they will need in reserve to protect themselves from such an occurrence, especially if working with the public.

For the most part, incorporation offers a lot to small businesses in the way of credibility, taxes, financial muscle and liability protection but it is imperative that the correct legal and financial advice is sought beforehand otherwise the results could be disastrous in the way of unexpected expenses.

Registering a Business Name in the U.S Deciding on the best name for your business can take weeks, months, or even years. It’s the centre of your business brand, the way in which people recognise you. When you find it, you need to protect it, and that’s where business name registration comes in. Registering your business name is a legal aspect of owning a business in the USA because it allows the public to see who’s behind your company. It also prohibits anyone else using it or anything similar, so your business branding retains its originality. You can choose whether to protection of your business name can just encompass your home state, or stretch across all 50 fifty states, depending on whether your business is nationwide or local. There are three methods of registering your business name in the USA:

1. You can file a Doing Business As, or DBA. This is the simplest way of registering a business name because you don’t have to incorporate a formal business structure like a corporation. This method is best if you have a sole proprietorship. A DBA can be filed easily with your state.
2. You can register your business name by setting up an official company form, such as an LLC or corporation. When you set up a company the state authority automatically checks your proposed business name to make sure no one else has it and then registers it as yours so that no one else can use it. Your business name is only protected in the incorporate state however, and if you are going to be operating across other states, further protection like a trademark will be required.
3. You can register your business name as a trademark. Although you’ll have to pay extra, there are various benefits to trademarking your business name. It legally ensures no one else in the whole of America can use your name and gives your business brand more credibility, as well as securing you against copyright infringement and intellectual property. These aspects go above and beyond the “common law” rights you get with the other two methods. You can apply for a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Legally protecting your business name is a key part of the company incorporation process, no matter you are setting up. Common law business name registration comes as part of our U.S company formation package, and we also provide a specialist trademark registration service. Click here for more information.

Zombie companies

Zombie companies are businesses that are only able to generate enough profit to cover operating costs and not the debts it has accrued. It can’t stand on its own and so is supported by the government. Because the company is technically still trading, it is half alive, but is also half dead because it can’t grow or make investments. Usually zombie companies only manage to pay off small amounts of the interest on their debts. There is no hope for improvement with zombie companies and they are basically making losses. This makes them detrimental to the economy, causing stagnation. However, closing these companies is dissuaded by bank capital regulations because of the damage caused to their balance sheets. Banks’ forbearance of these companies, giving borrowers more space to move despite being heavily indebted, is a major factor in the number of zombie companies; there are up to 108,000 zombie companies are operating in the UK alone according to a study from the Adam Smith Institute. In addition to the banks’ forbearance, low interest rates are allowing their survival. This is damaging in terms of both overall productivity and competitiveness in the UK economy, affecting fully functioning businesses and the attractiveness of the UK as an investment location. In the banks’ interests, keeping zombie companies ‘alive’ avoids incurring potential further losses, but this comes at a detriment to the wider economy. As long as zombie companies drain financial resources, banks cannot lend to new companies, preventing new bright businesses getting the financial support they need in the first crucial years of start-up. Without cutting back the dead branches, new ones will not be able to grow and this could cause a reverse effect on economic growth. Many economists are advising banks to build up their capital reserves so that they have more of a buffer to absorb the failure of zombie companies. This problem must be addressed to prevent an economic decline, and to vastly improve economic growth in this period of recovery. The private sector is a valid possibility, but this depends on entrepreneurs and investors such as private equity firms to shoulder responsibility.

Burma to receive development aid from the World Bank

The World Bank president Jim Yong Kim has announced that it will be giving Burma $2bn (£1.2bn) in development aid. This is to help improve areas such as energy supply and healthcare. Burma has been struggling to recover its economy and the improvement of power supplies will be invaluable in facilitating the country’s development. Offices of the World Bank in Burma’s main city of Rangoon were closed in 1987 and lending was stopped three years ago after the junta military who ruled the country defaulted on repayments worth hundreds of millions of dollars. 70% of the population in Burma, also known as Myanmar, don’t have reliable electricity. Mr Kim stated that “Expanding access to electricity in a country like Myanmar can help transform a society. Children will be able to study at night, shops will stay open, and health clinics will have lights and energy to power life-saving technology. Electricity helps brings an end to poverty.” There is also a focus on nationwide healthcare, with $200m of the aid being spent on ensuring health coverage throughout the country by the year 2030. The World Bank has resumed financial support after a Japanese bridge loan helped Burma clear all its debt with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Accessibility has been hugely improved since President Thein Sein took control of a civilian government in 2011. He is reforming the country’s political system and economy which has made it a very attractive location for investors; Burma is strategically located between China and India and also has huge natural resources.

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2014

The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is being held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland this year, on 22-25 January. Entitled ‘The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business’, the thematic focus of the 2014 Forum is the way in which communities and lives are affected by political, economic, social and technological forces. Co-chairs of the annual meeting include: Aliko Dangote – President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group in Nigeria Kris Gopalakrishnan – President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Vice Chairman of Infosys in India Jian Jianqing – Chairman of the Board of the Industrial and Commerical Bank of China in the People’s Republic of China Joseph Jimenez – Chief Executive Officer of Novartis in Switzerland Christophe de Margerie – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Total in France Marissa Mayer – Chief Executive Officer of Yahoo in the USA Judith Rodin – President of the Rockefeller Foundation in the USA The meeting aims to discuss how the international community can respond to challenges by discussing insights and initiatives from all over the world. If you want to find out more about the World Economic Forum you can visit the website at http://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2014 or contact AnnualMeeting@weforum.org

Global warming opens up Arctic shipping lanes

U.S Naval climatologists predict that within 12 years the melting of the polar ice cap will open up U.S trade routes. With the world getting warmer, the Arctic Circle will be thawed enough to sail through six weeks every year, providing countries in the region with greater trade opportunities. In order to maintain trading routes, the head of the U.S Navy has warned that the deployment of naval vessels is necessary. However, the additional costs required for this are no longer available after Congress passed a series of defence budget spending cuts. This year alone cuts are estimated to reach $30 billion. On a positive note the melting ice creates more shipping lanes which enables faster delivery of goods between Asia and Europe. The disadvantage lies with the countries who control the existing lanes. Currently, the U.S, Canada, Russia, Denmark and Norway, all of whom border the Arctic Circle, have rights over the 230-mile exclusion zones in the region. U.S interests in particular will be open to invasion, meaning U.S Navy patrols would be needed to defend ice-free parts of the ocean and protect the U.S owned shipping lanes. The U.S Navy’s Task Force Climate Change, along with Admiral Greenert, has prepared a report entitled Arctic Road Map, detailing the logistical problems and additional costs that will arise as a result. It also makes predictions on ice density in the Arctic Circle decreasing slightly each year, so that in approximately 12 years summers in the region could be virtually ice free. This would invite commercial trade and cause problems for the countries currently occupying the lanes. Additional costs are required to strengthen vessels’ hulls if the proposed patrols go ahead, and this, combined with the fact that many resources have been moved to protect U.S interests in the China Sea under the new Asia-Pacific strategy, means the President and Pentagon will have to choose between the two.

International Festival for Business 2014

The 2014 International Festival for Business is being hosted in Liverpool and will run throughout the months of June and July. More than 250,000 business professionals from across the globe will attend the one hundred events taking place at the festival; From entrepreneurs, to start ups and blue chip corporations, the festival engages businesses from all corners of the UK and the world and is a great networking opportunity. The festival will bring up to £100 million of direct investment into the country as well as expediting the number of UK exports by the year 2020. Each week of the festival will be dedicated to a key industry sector. The six main sectors include:

Maritime, Logistics and Energy – focus on the UK ports industry and development of world-class facilities using innovative technology Higher and Further Education and Research – developing partnerships between education and business by coordinating education and industry skills Cities, Enterprise and Urban Business – looking at the interaction of cities and geographical regions when trading and manufacturing Manufacturing, Science and Technology – presenting the cutting edge science and technology developments in the UK Knowledge, Professional and Financial Services – demonstrating the provision of financial and professional services through the UK’s world leading international centre Low Carbon and Renewables – world-class solutions to providing sustainable and renewable sources of energy Knowledge, Creative and Digital – this includes sectors such as advertising, music, fashion, TV, film, design, digital technology, software development and gaming All types of business can benefit from the festival by meeting prospective clients or colleagues, learning more about different aspects of the key industry sectors and how to utilize them to get the most from business operations. For more information about getting involved with the festival or to register for the newsletter, click here http://www.ifb2014.com/Exhibit-i5.html

Presidential election influenced by business sector

Corporate money usually plays a big part in the political race for Presidency, in both the Democratic and Republican Parties. However, while this was still true in the previous election, the average U.S citizen ultimately won over big financial sponsors in electing Barack Obama. Attitudes towards the government in the business sector were negatively affected after the 16 day government shutdown in October. Congress had failed to effectively manage the national budget in relation to the federal debt ceiling, and despite the markets generally handling the shutdown well the business sector was not happy. Jamie Dimon for JPMorgan Chase and Howard Schultz for Starbucks, who were just two high profile corporate CEOs who voiced their displeasure at the situation Congress had put them in. The Republican Party and Tea Party received the brunt of this criticism and as a result several Republican and Tea Party candidates lost out in favour of their opponent: Ken Cucinelli, was the Tea Party favourite to win the Virginia governor’s race not long after the shutdown, but a lack of financial support from the business sector and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce caused his downfall. In contrast, Bradley Byrne beat a Tea Party favourite to an Alabama congressional seat after the business sector gave him a sudden boost of support. The change in attitude of the business sector mirrors that of American voters, swaying much more to the centre/left rather than the previously popular right. The disapproval rating of the Republican Grand Old Party rose to 63% following the government shutdown, in comparison to the Democrats’ 49%. In the current situation extremist politics are making a fully operational government impossible, something that American citizens are coming to realise, and a push for a more balanced political system is needed to reassert America’s stability and achievement. Typically the U.S business sector votes for whichever party looks more promising for its profits. In previous elections this has meant a win for the Republican Party, whose platform usually aimed at lower taxes and decreased bureaucracy. However, even the profit driven business sector understands the benefit of political unity, and so where you put your money for the best results over all, rather than just in terms of financial return has become much more important. Presidential elections are financially fuelled by corporate sponsors. The importance of the business sector in this regard means it has a significant influence over the vote, and combined with U.S citizens will ultimately determine the winner from the people’s and business’ choice.

Key locations in America’s industrial expansion

An industrial regeneration has been progressing in the U.S for the past five years, despite the country’s manufacturing sector having been hit hard by the recession. Since 2010, economic output has reached the highest levels in 20 years and more than 330,000 industrial jobs have been created. One of the major benefits achieved by this industrial expansion with manufacturing sectors is the boost to state economies from the job generation in urban areas. In the top ten ranking of cities with the highest manufacturing employment growth and strength to sustain it, Houston-Sugarland-Baytown, Texas, Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash., Oklahoma City, Okla., and Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn., all feature. Each of these cities specialises in a particular manufacturing elements, creating a broad range nationwide. For example, the acceleration of metal fabrication, machinery, and chemical industries in Houston has caused a 15% increase in industrial employment. This figure is matched by Oklahoma City which has been boosted by a boom in energy production. The resurgence of domestic automakers in conjunction with input from foreign companies has led to an impressive recovery of the U.S auto industry. Geographical locations including the Great Lakes, the Mid-South and Southeast have all benefitted from this. Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, Mich. has seen a 26% rise in industrial employment as a result of increased high-tech production. A number of industries, including auto manufacture, have been developing quickly in the South. Two Southern hubs are the large metropolitan regions of Nashville, Tenn. and Virginia Beach, Va., which demonstrate this with their significant growth. The knock on effect has also spurred growth in other Southern cities, particularly with an increase in foreign investment. In the West Seattle is the home of several global corporations, including Microsoft MSFT +0.21%, Amazon and Starbucks SBUX -0.34%, as well as being the primary manufacturing location of Boeing BA -0.84%. This has caused a 13% growth in manufacturing employment since 2009 in Seattle-Bellevue-Everett. Low hydro-electric energy prices in the region has also helped Kennewick-Pasco-Richland and Wenatchee in Washington State, while the favourable business climate and low energy prices of Salt Lake City, Utah has drawn companies to the area and increased technology manufacturing.

Top Ten Best Business Schools in the USA

If you are serious about making an impact in business and want to follow up your undergrad degree with further qualifications to launch your business career, going to business school may be the answer. Some successful and incredibly wealthy entrepreneurs are famous for not having degrees or even finishing high school, but business school graduates are highly employable and obtaining an MBA could be the way into your future career. 75% of alumni from the class of 2012 across all business schools credited their business degree for landing the job they are in now. They also said it helped them develop quantitative analytical skills, prepare them for leadership roles and career advancement establish a professional network, and increase their earnings potential. Financial reward is one of the biggest advantages of going to business school. A survey from across the USA discovered the median annual starting salary of full-time MBA alumni to be $100,000. Now attending business school itself isn’t cheap, but even accounting this outgoing, a full return on investment (ROI) on fees can on average be achieved just 4 years after graduation. Deciding to go to business school is easy, particularly with those kinds of arguments, but deciding which one to go to is another matter. There are hundreds of schools in the USA all offering specialist courses, beautiful campuses and prestigious names, but which are the best? Our main aim here is financial, so we’ve listed the top ten best business schools in the USA that have the highest alumni salaries. Stanford Graduate School of Business The median graduate salary in 2012 stands at $221,000 A pre-MBA average salary is $80,000   Chicago Booth – The University of Chicago, Booth School of Business The median graduate salary in 2012 stands at $200,000 A pre-MBA average salary is $76,000   Harvard Business School The median graduate salary in 2012 stands at $205,000 A pre-MBA average salary is $80,000   Wharton University of Pennsylvania The median graduate salary in 2012 stands at $205,000 A pre-MBA average salary is $80,000   Kellogg School of Management The median graduate salary in 2012 stands at $176,000 A pre-MBA average salary is $73,000   Tuck School of Business The median graduate salary in 2012 stands at $189,000 A pre-MBA average salary is $72,000   Columbia Business School The median graduate salary in 2012 stands at $192,000 A pre-MBA average salary is $74,000   Duke The Fuqua School of Business The median graduate salary in 2012 stands at $152,000 A pre-MBA average salary is $63,000   Johnson Cornell University The median graduate salary in 2012 stands at $155,000 A pre-MBA average salary is $59,000   Michigan Ross School of Business The median graduate salary in 2012 stands at $153,000 A pre-MBA average salary is $61,000   *Median 2012 salary is based on Class of ’08 graduates

Britain’s fastest-growing companies

The fastest-growing private companies in Britain are ranked by the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 list. This year Oxford research and networking events company Fast Track is compiling the list, with sponsors such as Barclays, RSM Tenon, and Virgin. Previous companies that have featured on the list include Cath Kidston, Carphone Warehouse, and chip designer ARM Holdings over 17 years of publication history. The 2013 Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 will be published in December. Companies that make the list must comply with strict qualifying criteria. This includes the following:

• The Company must be registered in the UK, unquoted and not a subsidiary.
• Company sales must exceed £5m in the most recent year (2012 or 2013) and £250,000 in the base year (2009 or 2010).
• Year-on-year sales growth must be demonstrated in the most recent year – so from 2011 to 2012, or 2012 to 2013), as well as sales forecast growth.
• The operating profit of the company must exceed £500,000 in the most recent year (2012 or 2013).
• There must be 10 or more employees in the most recent year (2012 or 2013).
• Technology companies are excluded from the Fast Track 100 as they fall under the Tech Track 100 league table.

Registration for the 2013 Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 can be completed online at www.fasttrack.co.uk. The closing date is 4^th October. Qualifying companies that make the Fast Track 100 will be invited to attend a conference and awards dinner in May 2014 which will be hosted by successful British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. Companies that do not meet all the criteria but forecast good sales growth may be considered for the Sunday Times Ones to Watch programme if they fail to make the Fast Track 100. Click here to visit our UK page for information on how to incorporate a company.

 

How 50 Big Companies Got Their Names

If you’re setting up a new business, you need a name that’s professional, unique, and related to your products and services. To help get your creative juices flowing have a look at these fifty major companies and how they got their names: http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/50-company-names-you-probably-didnt-know-the-orig

The 5 Year Mark – Start-ups’ most feared anniversary

It is no secret that the first five years of a business start-up are the hardest, and the pass rate for this anniversary is below 50%. Start-up growth has been at a record low for ten years now. The global economic depression has undoubtedly been a huge contributing factor, but like a good old vicious circle entrepreneurs are needed to boost the flailing economies. Entrepreneurs need support and incentive to step out and be successful in the business world. Here are some top tips to help you through the first five years and beyond: Firstly, suss out the market potential for your proposed business as well as the competition. This will give you an idea of whether your business will have the space and demand to take off or whether there’s a reason no one else is doing it. A good business plan can take you a long way, particularly with regard to achieving financial support. It doesn’t need to be long, but should demonstrate that you’ve done your research. A legitimate partnership agreement will be needed if you’re starting out with a partner. This is in the interests of both, or all, of you. It will protect your assets and smooth over any professional disagreements that will undoubtedly crop up. Key details to work out before you go any further are:

• Work out a company name – unique and professional, classic, or catchy
• Choose the relevant corporate structure – consider future growth and taxation
• Create a suitable web presence – in this digital age a website/social media is a must have

Analysing your business model in conjunction with cash flow and breakeven will help you detail a financial forecast. This will ensure you have enough money for all the start-up costs. Also look into the types of funding that may be available to you. Starting your business in an “incubator” is becoming increasingly popular. This gives you access to similar entrepreneurs and experts in your market. Their presence means you won’t have to face the scary corporate world alone, and their advice might save you from costly mistakes. They can also form the basis of your connections network – an invaluable aspect of running any business. Surpassing the five year mark is not impossible. Your business will be all the stronger for fighting through those hard first years and you will reap the rewards for everything you have worked for.

2013 Investment Trends

One of the biggest investment trends of 2013 is predicted to be emerging markets. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have increased ease of access to these markets, making them a great investment for companies looking to expand internationally. There are various opportunities to investing in an emerging market. Their growth potential is much better than in developed markets like the US and UK. Although these well established markets give you greater reliability and high generating stocks, some emerging markets have been shown to outperform mature markets. No doubt some risk is involved in choosing an emerging market over mature markets, but there benefits to be reaped. Some of the best emerging markets are detailed below: Argentina The overall trend of the Argentine market has been going up over the past ten years. 2011 and 2012 have seen a slight downtrend although this has created opportunity for entry into the market ready for the next wave. Access to the market is possible through the Global X Funds Argentina 20 (Nasdaq:ARGT). The index must exceed 2,600 – $9.25 on the ETF for a buy signal to occur. Malaysia The Malaysian market is going from strength to strength. An uptrend has been continuing over the past ten years and the market is holding up when even country indexes like the US have been falling. You can access the Malaysian market through the iShares MCSI Malaysia (ARCA:EWM) ETF. 2013 will be a tipping point for the Malaysian ETF; if previous years’ highs of $15.21 and $15.48 are achieved the uptrend is likely to continue, however, if it falls below the June 2012 low of $13.47, a downtrend looks set for the long-term. Mexico The Mexican ETF has risen 481% over the last 10 years and hit an all-time high at $69.01 last year. Access is easy through the iShares MCSI Mexico (ARCA:EWW) ETF. The uptrend seems to be continuing but watch for a fall below $60 as this could be an early warning sign of a turn downtrend. South Africa Since commencement in February 2003 the South African market has been enjoying a long term uptrend – 230.86% between inception and November 2012. You can access the South African market through the iShares MCSI South Africa (ARCA:EZA) ETF. Trading is currently done in a triangle pattern which indicates the continuing of the uptrend throughout this year. This will be true if the index rises above $69 which put a predicted target at $88, but if it drops below $60 a downtrend towards $42.50 will be likely.