Small Business Affairs

It is not everyday that a successful entrepreneur puts time into helping others, to teach them how to realise their goals as they have done. Success is often jealously guarded, but this is not the case with renowned property investor Armando Montelongo. Armando is only too willing to reach out to help others realise their dreams. In fact, the education branch of his company is one of the fastest growing entrepreneurial companies in America.

The difference in Armando’s approach in helping others learn how successful property investing is reached is found in his own past experiences. Armando Montelongo never had it easy. In fact he was flat broke and living rough when he first embarked on his amazing rise to the top of real estate investing. But he did find the secret to success, and he did it in just five years.

Armando completed 40 real estate renovation flips a month on his way up and has experienced success where many others have failed. He is now willing to relate to others how he rose to prominence in such a short time and that is what is motivating his present mega millionaire grand tour of America.

In his attempt to teach others how to successfully invest in real estate, Armando has created a revolution in the adult education industry. This is mainly because of the structure of his educational training practices with their unique style of having his students at the top of his structure and himself at the bottom. This structure is often regarded as an inverted pyramid.

It is a system that works as it sees many people without any previous real estate or business experience reach their goals, just as Armando Montelongo has.

Image via Wikipedia

Starting a business in any foreign country will be challenging, due to different laws and customs. As with any business, the key is to have a solid business plan that is suitable to your area of specialty. Here are some pros and cons of starting a business in Kazakhstan.

• Pro – Lower Income and Corporate Tax

According to a 2011 report produced by the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal, Kazakhstan’s flat income tax rate is 10 percent and corporate tax rate is 20 percent. These tax rates are lower than the average income and corporate tax in nearby European Union states. In a 2010 article from Bloomberg Businessweek, the average income tax in the EU was 37.5 percent and the average corporate tax was 23.2 percent.

• Con – Long and Costly Process

Entrepreneurs who wish to open a business in Kazakhstan will find the process more time-consuming and costly compared to the U.S. In the U.S., a person can start a business in one day. In Kazakhstan, however, it takes a minimum of 20 days to finalize a new business and many fees are involved. A complicated bureaucratic system in Kazakhstan democracy is the main reason for this long process.

• Pro – Access to Asian and European Markets

Kazakhstan can be considered the link between Asia and Europe, since its borders reside on both continents. This provides the opportunity for business owners to have more reach into economically expanding countries, like China and Russia.

• Con – Corruption

The 2010 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index ranked Kazakhstan the 105th most corrupt country out of 178 countries. This is obviously not a good sign for business owners, so carefully weighing the positives and negatives of doing business in Kazakhstan should be addressed.

In the age of smartphones, Facebook and LinkedIn, do people really still use business cards? The answer is a resounding, ‘Yes’. Business cards are ranked as the number one networking tool.

Business meetings are the most common place to exchange business cards. And if you are doing business internationally, business cards are essential. But work situations aren’t the only place to use them. Having your business cards and sharing them at the right time opens up worlds of opportunities. They allow you to connect with people in social settings; parties, sporting events, etc. They are perfect to use anywhere you might meet someone you want to continue a relationship with, business or otherwise.

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Business cards add legitimacy. You can make your one-person freelance firm look like a major corporation with the right business card. That said, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Make the right choice and get your business card printing done from one of the best. Make the investment in quality business cards.

As we move forward into the digital age, business cards are evolving as well. You might be hard pressed to find business cards that still include street addresses and fax numbers. Most people are loading business cards with cell and voicemail numbers along with instant messaging, LinkedIn and Facebook addresses. Some of the more savvy have started to include bar codes and QR codes that can provide scores of extra information.

And don’t forget, no one ever won a free lunch by dropping their smart phone in a fishbowl.