ST. MAARTEN Twice the vacation, twice the fun

St. Maarten is an island with a split personality, thanks to an international border between its two sides: Dutch St. Maarten to the south, French St. Martin to the north. Its capital, Philipsburg - a popular stop for cruise ships - began as a Dutch trading center, and forts around the city are reminders of its strategic importance in St. Maarten’s history. Fort Amsterdam, built in 1631, was the first Dutch military outpost in the Caribbean; the Spanish captured the fort soon after it was completed and kept it until 1648, when they abandoned it. Fort Willem, today topped by a television transmission tower, is great for a hike.

Today tourism is king; bustling Front Street in Philipsburg beckons bargain hunters with 500 duty-free shops. There are 36 sugary sand beaches to visit; one favorite strip is Cupecoy Bay Beach near the Dutch-French border, and windsurfers head to busy Maho Bay Beach, located near the airport. One of St. Maarten’s more private strands is Simpson Bay Beach. Simpson Bay Lagoon is enclosed, making the water a natural for water skiing. Dawn Beach, Oyster Pond and Guana Bay are favorites for snorkeling and windsurfing.

Divers can explore an 1801 British frigate, the coral-covered HMS Proselyte, which sits a mile off the coast. Visitors can lounge on the beach or spend time mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, playing tennis, or participating in watersports. Adventurers may want to try kiteboarding and operators on the island can also arrange for parasailing, windsurfing and Wave Runner excursions with instruction. Sailing is very popular; experience the thrill of the daily 12-Metre Challenge, a three-hour staged version of the America’s Cup race. Sailors of every skill level can serve as a member of the crew aboard the boats. 

Visit the St. Maarten Park, a part of the St. Maarten Zoological and Botanical Garden, filled with Caribbean and South American animals, plants and birds. Spot sleek ocelots and bush dogs, parrots, toucans and owls, boa constrictors and marine toads, even land crabs and giant land snails. After dark, dinner is an international affair, with more than 300 restaurants offering French, Dutch, Caribbean, Italian, Chinese, Indonesian, creole and West Indian menus. Later in the evening, consider visiting one of 12 casinos. Gaming on St. Maarten is “European mode,” quiet and sophisticated. 
See:Affordable Hotel Rates World wide

Resort Areas in Jamaica

Resort Areas: "Jamaica’s bustling second city, Montego Bay (MoBay for short) is considered the tourist capital of the island. Graced with a modern international airport (Sangster International) and cruise ship pier which can accommodate megaliners, Montego Bay is a thriving city abuzz with activities for every budget and preference.

The “complete resort”, Montego Bay has all the very best that Jamaica has to offer including five (5) championship golf courses, boutique and luxury hotels, themed restaurants and gaming lounges as well as picture-perfect white sand beaches. Montego Bay is home to the Hip Strip – a full mile of restaurants, entertainment, shopping, fun and excitement.

The resort area encompasses the town of Falmouth with its fine examples of Georgian architecture and the Jamaican Vernacular. The sleepy seaside town of Falmouth dates back to the early 1700’s and was served by piped potable water before many major North American cities, including New York.

The Montego Bay resort area’s sights include:

Rose Hall and Greenwood Great Houses
Croydon and Hilton Plantations
The “Hip Strip”
White sand beaches
The Luminous Lagoon
Five (5) Championship Golf Courses"

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Resort Areas

http://www.hotelsdiscountedrates.com/index.html
http://www.hotelsdiscountedrates.com/index.html

Resort Areas: "Columbus on beholding the island for the first time described Jamaica as “the fairest land…”. He has had company ever since. Jamaica, to many visitors epitomises paradise, a step above the ordinary. Our island seems to have always attracted her share of visitors, and despite the small size has made wonderful memories for millions of visitors each year.  Jamaica with only 10,991 square kilometres (4,244 square miles) is more than beaches and hotels; it is a phenomenon, an experience – best savoured by immersion or in small bits.  We have broken down these bits as resort areas. These resort areas include Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, the South Coast, Negril, and Port Antonio."

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HotelsDiscountedRates , Search and Compare 100's of hotels instantly ! - Home

HotelsDiscountedRates , Search and Compare 100's of hotels instantly ! - Home:

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Attractions & Tours in Jamaica

                                                     Attractions & Tours in Jamaica

Jamaica's hospitality is world-renowned, with an intoxicating mix of natural beauty and welcoming accommodations. Jamaica's tourism product is as diverse as it is warm and beautiful, and our visitors keep coming back for more year after year.

In recent years, Jamaica has been ranked within the top five of the world's most favoured tourist destinations. Jamaica was rated highest among her competitors in both the number of travel agents who ranked Jamaica first and also those who classified Jamaica among the top three in the Traveline Survey report on the Quality of Tourist Office Service, which was published in June 1998.

The significant contribution that the tourism sector has made to the economy is reflected in the strong government support through the establishment of a number of technical support teams. In addition to a Ministry of Tourism there exists two other offices given the mandate of developing a growth path for tourism in Jamaica.

First, the Tourism Office within the Office of the Prime Minister is an overseer to all the organisations within the industry established to develop the tourism product, such as the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Tourism Product Development Company (TDPCo). Secondly, JAMPRO, Jamaica's export and investment promotion agency, also has a Leisure Industry Department responsible for the promotion, development and facilitation of investments within the sector.

Jamaica has a number of hotels, large and small. These vary from high rises to hotels in elegant old worlde style, and small modern hotels. The hotels offer a range of plans with dining and recreation options from All-inclusives to European Plans. Many cater to specific niche needs of groups and meetings, families, couples or sport/adventure.

There are also villas, apartments and guesthouses. These intimate small-scale properties provide visitors with greater opportunities to “create their own vacation”. The offerings include a combination of self catering and/or bed and breakfast facilities and provide viable options for the discerning traveller.

All accommodation offer modern conveniences, excellent services and good value for money. Currently the island’s room stock exceeds 26,000,See link (http://search.hotelsdiscountedrates.com/Country/Jamaica.htm) for various Properties on the Island with Competitive Rates.

Jamaica to increase cocoa production | RJR News

Jamaica to increase cocoa production | RJR News: "Jamaica is moving to capitalize on the country’s reputation of  being one of  eight exclusive producers of  cocoa in the world.

This will be done by increasing production.

Through the Re-engineering the Cocoa Rural Economy Through Agro-processing, Eco-Tourism and Entrepreneurship (RECREATE) project, farmers in Portland, St. Mary, St. Catherine, St. Thomas, St. James and Clarendon will receive assistance."

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Best Small Business Guide

The famous English writer, John Milton once said, “Reading maketh a man”. How true! The old Good Book says that ‘for lack of knowledge my people perish’. Yes, knowledge is power. Though knowledge comes to us in many forms, it best comes in the pages of a book. However, we won’t know until we read what is written in the pages. Therefore reading is the key to knowledge. It is said that the one who reads is a leader!

People who read business books earn more money — a lot more — even in tough economic times. According to a number of studies, business people who read at least seven business books a year earn 2.3 times more than those who read only one per year.

One reason is they have a constant flow of new ideas and strategies they can use to help their careers, their teams and their companies. Given the uncertainty of layoffs and other challenges as the economy slowly recovers, you should do everything you can to help your team and your company. 

Reading any of the following Books will assist you in the current environment irrespective of your location.

http://www.bestsmallbusinessplans.com/e-store/

      

Caribbean Country Profile:Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The Cayman Islands were first logged as sighted by Christopher Columbus on 10 May 1503 during his fourth and final voyage to the New World. He named the islands Las Tortugas after the large number of sea turtles observed there. The first recorded English visitor to the islands was Sir Francis Drake in 1586. He subsequently named the islands "Cayman" after caiman, a Neo-Taino word for "alligator".
The Cayman Islands remained largely uninhabited until the 17th century. While there is no archaeological evidence for an indigenous people on the islands, a variety of settlers from various backgrounds made their home on the islands, including pirates, refugees from the Spanish Inquisition, shipwrecked sailors, and deserters from Oliver Cromwell's army in Jamaica."

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The UHY Dawgen Daily:The Startup Fog

The UHY Dawgen Daily:The Startup Fog
Startups aren't always as difficult as most people imagine them to be. While popular media spends so much time focused on the idea of people sleeping under their desks and pouring their souls into building a successful (or unsuccessful) company, they largely miss out on the real reason building a company is different from most other jobs. Sure, everyone involved has a lot on their plate. But, for the most part, the people I've worked with at early-stage companies thrive on that; no one that I work with is looking to shift gears into something "easier." And, as much as you hear successful startup folks reminisce about how tough the "early days" were, when you're in the throes of building something that has a chance at making the world a better place, you never hear anyone complain about the workload. 

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The UHY Dawgen Daily

The UHY Dawgen Daily:

You know what they say: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That’s the idea behind Jetsam, a fashion startup that uses discarded or unwanted fabrics, castoff clothing and vintage textiles to make wallets. The eco-friendly production model carries all the way down to the recycled gift box packaging.

The creative mind behind Jetsam is Laura Skelton, a Columbia University graduate who comes from a background in sustainable architecture.

 Starting as a teenager, Skelton roamed thrift stores and costume departments to see what vintage items could be revived, modernized and made into something new. That eventually led to the idea for Jetsam, her line of sharply designed wallets, which retail for about $40 each. After success selling the wallets on Etsy in 2007 and an incredible fundraising campaign on Kickstarter, the visibility and exposure of Jetsam products has skyrocketed. Jetsam wallets are now in almost 100 stores across seven countries and have even found a spot at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

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The UHY Dawgen Daily:Onetime Homeless Man Starts A Soap Business

The UHY Dawgen Daily:

When Dennis Anderson was living out of his car and unable to shower daily, it was hard to imagine he'd go on to start a upscale handmade soap business one day.

Anderson's stint of homelessness came after a slow downward spiral. After completing his Massachusetts community college program in 2003, he had no direction and couldn't find a well-paying job.

He moved from his ex-fiancee's apartment to his old bedroom in his father's basement but after having family problems and totaling his old car, he fell into a deep depression. "I was at rock bottom," Anderson said. "I was really having a hard time with everything, and didn't know how to cope with it. I was about to give up on everything and was thinking about driving off a bridge or something."

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The UHY Dawgen Daily

The UHY Dawgen Daily:

 Apple (AAPL), like every other company in America, from Amazon (AMZN) to Google (GOOG), uses every loophole it can find -- and at least one it apparently invented -- to avoid paying a penny more than it has to in corporate taxes.

According to a front-page story in Sunday's New York Times, this includes:

• Managing its investments through an office in Reno, Nevada, to get around California's 8.84% corporate tax rate.
• Funneling iTunes sales in Europe, Africa and the Middle East through an office in Luxembourg to take advantage of the grand duchy's lower tax rates.

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Procedures: "RETURNING RESIDENTS FROM THE CAYMAN ISLANDS INCLUDING THOSE INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY THE ROLL-OVER POLICY OF THE CAYMAN GOVERNMENT

Procedures: "RETURNING RESIDENTS FROM THE CAYMAN ISLANDS INCLUDING THOSE INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY THE ROLL-OVER POLICY OF THE CAYMAN GOVERNMENT ARE HEREBY ADVISED THAT THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO IMPORT THEIR MOTOR VEHICLES INTO JAMAICA PROVIDED THAT THESE MODELS COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE IMPORTS POLICY, WHICH INCLUDES AGE LIMITS.  THE CURRENT AGE LIMITS ARE:

MOTOR CARS - THREE (3) YEARS
LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES - FOUR (4) YEARS
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES EXCEEDING THREE (3) TONNES – TEN (10) YEARS"

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The current tax regime for athletes in UK

The current tax regime for athletes is acting as a disincentive to them looking for, or accepting, low to medium level sponsorship in the £0 -£10,000 range, because at present, when an athlete earns any money
from their sport over and above their lottery award, they are likely to be deemed to be a professional sportsperson in which event all their sporting income becomes taxable, including their Lottery Award. This
means that athletes need to earn significantly in excess of £10,000 in this way before it becomes worthwhile.

We feel that changing the way in which athletes are taxed would have a minimal cost impact on HM Treasury, but could have a significant number of benefits for athletes and sport. Exempting all lottery funded Athlete Personal Awards from income tax so that athletes would only need to worry about the tax treatment of any other income (including sponsorship) would significantly simplify the tax system for athletes and
reduce the amount of time HMRC has to spend on assessing individual athlete cases to recover relatively small amounts of income tax.
Increasing the number of sponsorship links athletes could create with the commercial sector could not only bring more money into sport but also enable athletes to forge longer term partnerships improving their skills
base and future employment prospects. Given that only a very small percentage of elite athletes make significant amounts of money from their sport, it is important that athletes plan ahead for life after sport.

Purpose of paper
To present the case for tax exemption for APAs, by showing the benefits this would bring to elite sport and athletes chances of success in 2012, and demonstrating the minimal effect this would have on the Treasury.

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Tax break for Commonwealth Games athletes - Telegraph

Tax break for Commonwealth Games athletes - Telegraph: "The Treasury is offering top foreign athletes a tax break to compete in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to help ensure the event boasts a high calibre field that could include Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt."

Under UK tax rules, any non-resident athlete performing in Britain is subject to income tax on both their appearance fee and any associated worldwide endorsement payments. However, Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, said the Government has decided to waive the rule to attract the best talent to the Games.

It is not the first time the tax break has been granted. Competitors at this year’s Olympics have been exempted, as were the footballers at last year’s Champion’s League final at Wembley.

The levy has proved a deterrent to athletes in the past. In 2010, Mr Bolt, the Olympic 100 metres and 200 metres champion and world record holder, missed a Diamond League meeting in London because of the rules. Tennis players and golfers are also believed to have stayed away from smaller UK tournaments due to the tax. They are still taxed on the income in their home country.

Announcing the waiver, Mr Alexander said: “Everyone wants to see the best athletes compete at Glasgow 2014 and this exemption will make that more likely... This special exemption will prolong the Olympic legacy and help spread the long-term benefits into Scotland.”

The London 2012 Olympics exemption was a condition of the bid and the Treasury stressed that the Commonwealth Games was “a special exemption”.

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Accounting career options

Accounting career options: "The main purpose of accounting is to record business transactions and provide financial reports based on which success of a business can be estimated. In this way accounting directly relates to a business and its every day operations.
In practice activities in the accounting area are broader than just a recording of business transactions and preparing financial statements.

Accountants also can be responsible for preparation of information for management on different aspects of business operations, efficiency, be involved in business planning and forecasting, analysis of potential business development trends and accept many other responsibilities.
A lot of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) working in large companies have accounting background, as such background is a basis for preparation and understanding of the financial statements and reports, enabling to judge on the financial position of the company they are working for and make appropriate financial decisions."

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Seven Things that Determine the Value of a Business

Seven Things that Determine the Value of a Business: "The value of the business consists of not just the Price (i.e., the amount to be paid for the business) but also the associated Terms and the Deal Structure. Different values for a business can exist because of different operating assumptions, deal structures, payment terms, etc., not due to use of different valuation methods.

A few of the value drivers are:
1) Future Performance                                                    5) Deal Structure
2) Financial Leverage                                                      6) Asset Type
3) Financial Return Expectation                                       7) Exit Strategy
4) Cash Flow, Not Profits
These value drivers impact business value in many different ways as explained below."

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Eleven Potential Deal Killers To Spot Early

Eleven Potential Deal Killers To Spot Early: "Acquiring a business can take a substantial amount of time. Therefore you should conduct a pre-due diligence investigation to identify any potential deal killers before very much time and expenses are committed. You should have a reasonable level of comfort that potential acquisition candidates fit your criteria and have a reasonable chance of being acquired successfully.   These issues also affect the price that you may be willing to pay for a business.  Items to review:
1.      The Company.  Background information on the company, owners, and management.
Why is the owner selling the business? Is the business solely dependent on the current owner and does it have good management? Does the business have an organization chart and description of the function of each position?  Get a summary of the experience, education, and accomplishments of each key manager.
2.      The Asking Price.  Specifies what is for sale (assets, stock, or real estate), the price, and terms."

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Limestone formation in Jamaica

Limestone formation in Jamaica: "Limestone is formed over millions of years from the accumulated skeletons of sea-dwelling creatures such as mollusc and corals.

As the island of Jamaica slowly subsided beneath the sea during the early Cenozoic, about 45 million years ago, the initial deposits of limestone were contaminated by debris still being washed off the remaining land area and were given the name Yellow Limestone during the nineteenth century. This impure limestone lies directly on the eroded remnants of the volcanoes of the Cretaceous period."

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Two Crucial Risk Factors Reduce Your Business Value

Two Crucial Risk Factors Reduce Your Business Value: "Business Buyers want to buy a system for making money that they perceive as having a high likelihood of making more money for them under their ownership.
The business buyer's perception of risk and therefore their confidence in the likelihood of your business making money for them under their ownership is affected by Lack of Transferability and Excessive Concentration.

Lack of Transferability Risk
Will your business work for the Buyer after you are gone?
·        Marketing.  Marketing for new prospective customers or selling opportunities may occur because of your country club or service club membership or other relationships. This is great for you but lacks transferability to a buyer. Business values are increased when there are marketing programs that can be turned on or off by you or a new owner."

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When is the Best Time to Sell Your Company?

When is the Best Time to Sell Your Company?: "WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SELL YOUR COMPANY?
I have heard off-the-cuff opinions such as:
·         Only when you get the highest Price.
·         I will not sell unless I get all cash.
·         Do not sell unless you know what you want to do next.
·         Everything is for sale… for the right price.
·         If it is a good business that makes money, then don't sell.

The above answers just address the price and terms…but there is much more in a business owner's decision to sell.
 "

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Apple avoiding billions in global taxes, report claims - Yahoo! Finance UK

Apple avoiding billions in global taxes, report claims - Yahoo! Finance UK: "Former executive Robert Hatta, who oversaw Apple's iTunes retail marketing and sales for European markets until 2007, said routing transactions through Luxembourg allowed them to be taxed at low rates.
"We set up in Luxembourg because of the favorable taxes," Hatta told the Times.
"Downloads are different from tractors or steel because there's nothing you can touch, so it doesn't matter if your computer is in France or England. If you're buying from Luxembourg, it's a relationship with Luxembourg."
In a statement to the Times, Apple said it "has conducted all of its business with the highest of ethical standards, complying with applicable laws and accounting rules.""

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Reverse Mortgage can be used as a tool for happy retirement

Reverse Mortgage can be used as a tool for happy retirement

Reverse Mortgage is a mortgage in which a homeowner can borrow money against the value of his or her home. No repayment of the mortgage (principal or interest) is required until the borrower dies or the home is sold. After accounting for the initial mortgage amount, the rate at which interest accrues, the length of the loan and rate of home price appreciation, the transaction is structured so that the loan amount will not exceed the value of the home over the life of the loan.

Reverse Mortgage can help to empower and enrich Seniors and have grown in popularity over the years. It has several advantages including:

• 1.help homeowners to tap into the equity that they have accumulated in their home
• 2.you can access that money - tax-free!
• 3.Reverse mortgages do not require a monthly payment to be made from the borrower to the lender,
• 4.provide the homeowner with needed cash to do with as they see fit.

There are several ways to receive the cash from your reverse mortgage:

1. 1.As a monthly payment
2. 2.In one lump sum amount
3. 3.As a line of credit
4. 4.Any combination of the above options.

Since reverse mortgages allow you to make no monthly payments, the mortgage amount you owe grows larger over time. As your mortgage increases, the amount of equity you have left after selling or paying off the loan generally grows smaller. The amount owed at the conclusion of a reverse mortgage (when you no longer occupy the home) is either the amount of the home's value or the amount of the current mortgage - whichever amount is less. Also, your home will continue to appreciate just the same as if you had a regular mortgage, increasing your equity as time progresses.

In addition Younger persons can be named as beneficiary(ies), or as guarantor(s) for repayment of loan and the end of the period. This is a great advantage as beneficiary(ies), or as guarantor(s) are normally in a better position to obtain a loan then and can actually plan for this.

Jamaica National BuildingSociety in Jamaica list Reverse Mortgage as one of its Mortgage Products

see:http://www.jnbs.com/home/loans/reverse-mortgage

Offshore Corporate and Private Wealth Management Strategies - Search Results - JamaicaObserver.com

Offshore Corporate and Private Wealth Management Strategies - Search Results - JamaicaObserver.com: "The perfect offshore corporate and trust structuring strategy, should one exist, would constitute the 'holy grail' of commerce and wealth management.
It would free its employer from the chains of taxation (both domestically and internationally), render assets immune from adverse adjudication and cloak finances with an impenetrable veil of privacy insurmountable by even the most determined and capable of inquirers.
Firms of expensive lawyers and accountants earn fortunes each year from companies and individuals with deep pockets looking for strategies to maximise and preserve their wealth. As a consequence, to this end individuals and companies (particularly those with international interests) are deploying increasingly sophisticated arrangements of offshore agreements, trusts, corporations, foundations, powers of attorney, bank accounts and other mechanisms."

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7 Ways to Help Ensure Your Business Succeeds | Entrepreneur.com

7 Ways to Help Ensure Your Business Succeeds | Entrepreneur.com: "The darkest days of the Great Recession are over, so we are told, but I'm finding that sales have increased only slightly for some small-business owners, while revenue remains deeply depressed for many. While some customers are loosening up their wallets a little, it is clear purchasing habits have changed.

Deep economic changes have occurred, and business will never be the same.

Entrepreneurs -- whether they're an unemployed person striking out on their own or a seasoned veteran trying to get the mojo back again -- must do things differently in order to survive. Everyone must change, especially small-business owners."

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JNBS links surge in loan demand to mortgage rivalry - Business - Jamaica Gleaner - Friday | April 27, 2012

JNBS links surge in loan demand to mortgage rivalry - Business - Jamaica Gleaner - Friday | April 27, 2012: "he mortgage sector is seeing record loan demand in recent times, arising from the latest cuts in interest rates, says a top lender.

Jamaica National Building Society's (JNBS) general manager Earl Jarrett said his company recorded loan origination of J$800 million in one four-week period, following the lowering of rates to 9.4 per cent in early March.

JNBS is the largest private lender with a J$41-billion portfolio as at December 31, 2011, but it was not the leader in the mortgage wars.

The rivalry was truly ignited in early March when the largest bank in Jamaica, National Commercial Bank, entered the residential market as a low-price leader with a mortgage rate of 9.5 per cent."

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Improve Your Return On Assets | Apriso

Improve Your Return On Assets | Apriso: "Return on Assets is a key metric shareholders' use to assess a company's use of capital, and is perhaps the most effective metric to measure how well operations are performing. Without the ability to control ROA on a granular level while performing continuous process improvement, down to the plant-floor, consistent delivery of profit is virtually impossible.

Strategy vs. Execution
The challenge is clear: minimize the cost of assets (plant equipment and inventory) while exceeding customer satisfaction though best in class customer fulfillment rates. Today's manufacturing and product supply operations are complex and multifaceted. Striving to balance demand variability and operational volatility can quickly create excess inventory buffers, plant asset imbalances – leading to unsatisfied customers. These challenges can place your business at risk if left unattended. Even a perfect strategy is useless if you can't synchronize operations from the plant floor level throughout your supply chain operations and distribution channels with your business plan ― in real-time. What is required is to coordinate capacity, materials with customer demand within not only your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, but also across your global manufacturing operations."

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understanding swot | Business Strategies for Management

understanding swot | Business Strategies for Management: "SWOT Analysis stands for examination of Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats of a company. This is an extremely powerful tool to understand the current standing of a company and to predict the company’s future perspectives.  As an example, I have chose the company GAP Inc. to be my company of research."

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SWOT analysis | Business Strategies for Management

SWOT analysis | Business Strategies for Management: "If you take a look at the word TOWS its simply SWOT spelled backwards. Remember from the earlier blog post that these letters are just an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses,  Opportunities, and Threats. For the TOWS matrix, simply create a chart where your internal pieces (Strengths and Weaknesses) intersect with the external aspects (Opportunities and Threats). The graph below shows an example of how your table should look."

dawgen.com

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Strategic Mind Mapping for your Business | Business Strategies for Management

Strategic Mind Mapping for your Business | Business Strategies for Management: "Whether your business is small, medium or large, you will get massive benefits from using Mind Mapping.

Some uses are generic, like problem solving or creating a to-do list. Other uses provide support for integral business functions such as strategic planning, new business development and sales."

DAWGEN.COM

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Return on equity | Business Strategies for Management

Return on equity | Business Strategies for Management: "This ratio is of special important because it is the only ratio that can be used to compare firms directly in different industries.  It reveals the rate of return on the funds that have been invested by owners.  The return remains the best single measure of a firm’s performance.  A return on equity above 20% is generally considered quite superior; and to maintain a return on equity at a level above that point for a period of years is a real mark of corporate excellence."

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Return On Assets (ROA) Definition

Return On Assets (ROA) Definition: "Investopedia explains 'Return On Assets - ROA'
ROA tells you what earnings were generated from invested capital (assets). ROA for public companies can vary substantially and will be highly dependent on the industry. This is why when using ROA as a comparative measure, it is best to compare it against a company's previous ROA numbers or the ROA of a similar company.

The assets of the company are comprised of both debt and equity. Both of these types of financing are used to fund the operations of the company. The ROA figure gives investors an idea of how effectively the company is converting the money it has to invest into net income. The higher the ROA number, the better, because the company is earning more money on less investment."

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Manufacturing needs a saviour - Business - Jamaica Gleaner - Friday | April 27, 2012

Manufacturing needs a saviour - Business - Jamaica Gleaner - Friday | April 27, 2012: "Data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica, spanning 1982 to 2010, shows that real growth of gross domestic product (GDP) averaged less than two per cent per year.

The Jamaican economy became more service-oriented with robust expansion in financial services and transportation. Contribution of the manufacturing sector fell precipitously from over 17 per cent to just eight per cent of total GDP.

High rates of interest, onerous taxation, high electricity cost, low capacity utilisation, low value-added, high labour costs, excessive waste, uncompetitive technology and weak export activities are often cited among reasons for the decline."

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More Money: Hair Is Big Business - Business - JamaicaObserver.com

More Money: Hair Is Big Business - Business - JamaicaObserver.com: "1 lesson on how to make money with hair - priceless!
Based on my observation of the variety of hairstyles displayed by many of our stylish women, I had always believed that Jamaica's hair industry was almost immune to the effects of the general recession. However, it wasn't until I decided to learn more about the world of hair design that I discovered exactly how lucrative this opportunity could be.
There are many fields of work that cater to people's hair needs: hairstylists who work at making women look beautiful; barbers who keep men well groomed; manufacturers who create haircare products; teachers who train persons to professionally take care of hair; and even trichologists who treat scalp disorders and restore lost hair"

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Tools for Financial Analysis

Tools for Financial Analysis: "What do you do when a client asks you to look beyond the standard financial statements and help develop financial goals, forecasts and what-if scenarios? If you’re like many accountants, you’d hunker down with a spreadsheet and begin cobbling together an array of custom worksheets. Then you’d probably spend several more hours explaining to the company’s managers, most of whom have little or no financial background, what all those numbers mean.

You can perform the task faster and create a more sophisticated presentation with financial analysis software. These products condense complex data analyses into easy-to-understand graphic presentations. And there’s a bonus: Such software can vault your practice to a more advanced business consulting level and help you attract new clients."

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A wealth of opportunity

A wealth of opportunity: "Much has been written in recent years about wealth management services that call for practitioners, including CPAs, to have personal financial planning certification and to come under investment-adviser or other regulations. Much less attention has been paid to PFP services that don’t require specialization or additional licensing.
 "

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Nine Countries Where Everyone Has A Job - 24/7 Wall St.

Nine Countries Where Everyone Has A Job - 24/7 Wall St.: "Earlier this month, polling agency Gallup released its 2011 global unemployment statistics for 148 countries. Of the nations Gallup surveyed, nine had unemployment rates below 5%. The majority are in Asia, with the remainder in central or eastern Europe. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed these nine countries to determine the underlying causes of their extremely low jobless rates."

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