Havanna Travel

When raising capital for a business venture, a company can either raise debt capital, equity capital or a combination of the two. Debt capital is money loaned to the company at an agreed interest rate for a fixed time period. Conversely, equity capital is money invested by owners (shareholders) for use in business operations that need not be repaid. Combinations include convertible securities which may be debt that can be converted into equity at some point in the future.

The simplest form of equity capital is common stock. Common stock has many distinguishing factors as follows:

- Common stock is not convertible into another type of security

- Each share enjoys one vote

- Dividends are payable without limit but only when declared by the board of directors

- In liquidation, common stock holders are the last priority to which to distribute assets

In venture capital transactions, there may be two types of common stock which are issued. The first is Class A common stock, which is like preferred stock without the special voting rights which some statutes require in shares labeled “preferred.” A second type of common stock is junior common stock. While this type of stock is not used very frequently, it allows companies to get cheap stock into the hands of key employees at minimal tax cost.

Determining what type of capital to raise and how to structure the financing transaction is of critical importance to growing ventures. As such, it is crucial to understand the key terms and consult the appropriate legal and business advisors when embarking on the capital-raising process.

Since its inception, GT Business Plans has developed over 200 business plans. Growthink clients have collectively raised over $750 million in financing, launched numerous new product and service lines and gained competitive advantage and market share. Growthink has become the firm of choice for venture capital firms, angel investors, corporations and entrepreneurs in the know. For more information please visit http://www.growthink.com or download our free Business Plan Guide.

Many people believe owning a franchise will make them rich, financially secure, and provide the life of their dreams. True, franchises have an extremely high success rate, and a very high satisfaction rate among their owners. But is that success guaranteed when you purchase a franchise? NO!

There are no guarantees in life, or in franchises. There are those occasions when franchises are not profitable, lose money, and close. Although most franchises provide a proven business system, not all OWNERS are proven.

Many enter into the franchise system, thinking all they have to do is come up with the money to get the business open, and it will run itself and they will make money. I don’t how many times I have had a prospective franchisee say to me, “I want a franchise that makes a lot of money”. Well, I have news for you, it’s hard work.

You have to WORK the system provided by the franchise. Many franchisees have impressive backgrounds and education, many from established positions with top companies. However, some have a difficult time doing “whatever it takes”, to run the business. Whether it be marketing or sales, to taking out the trash and cleaning the restrooms, nothing should be beneath you to keep your business operating and profitable.

If you want be a franchisee, accept the fact that you will have a “franchisor” guiding and directing you. They have at much at stake as you, and their reputation is on the line. Remember your success is their success, so they will provide feedback, support, and direction with your business. However, some new franchisees, coming from corporate positions, may feel they don’t need any direction and know best on how to run the business. This can be disastrous. The better franchises have spent years developing their systems, FOLLOW THEM!.

Learn every job and every position of your business. Be able to step in and help when needed. Be ready when employees quit, don’t show, or simply think you can’t manage without them. I can tell you from personal experience, all these things happen. The last thing you want is one of your employees having an upper hand with YOUR BUSINESS, because you can’t do their job.

Be able to accept the fact that you don’t “know it all”, regardless of your past experiences and expertise. Listen to your franchisor and other franchisees. It is your business, but they have been doing it longer. Utilize their knowledge and expertise. The wrong attitude coupled with a few bad decisions may jeopardize your investment and your dream.

Remember, the one major variable in a franchises success is you. A franchise can be a very rewarding and profitable business when operated the right way, by the RIGHT PERSON!

(Copyright 2005-ehbvi-www.businessventureinc.com)

Ernie Horning is a Franchise Consultant and owns multiple businesses. He is also a former franchise owner, and writes articles for http://www.businessventureinc.com

Everything requires you to swing in golf, whether your standing on the tee or getting off the beach, your swing is the one part of the game that can’t be avoided and should be perfected over time to be natural, consitent and smooth for you.

The most common mistake that alot of golfers make is to follow someone elses swing. Although this can help…you should never try and have the same swing as someone else. If you do your swing will always be contained within that of the person you are copying. (It is a very limited source to perfecting your own natural swing).

Your perfect swing will evolve from what feels natural for you…I have a friend who would shock you in how he swings his clubs. To stand by his side whilst he’s teeing off you would dive for cover thinking that the ball is coming your way. He stands and swings like no model has ever taught anyone, yet he consitently hits the ball where he wants it to go every single time. This is because he’s developed his own natural swing that feels right for him and hasn’t fallen into someone elses model. I’ve heard people say that if they had Tigers swing their game would improve! I can tell you if my friend was to try and swing like Tiger, his 8 handicap would soon be 30 or more as his swing would no longer be his own and his game would fall around trying to be someone else rather than himself.

The truth behind the perfect swing is for it to feel 100% natural for you and this is simple to fix! Simply don’t to follow the model of someone else. Golf is an individual sport and it should be played and developed as a natural individual…why do you think all the Pro Golfers have a different swing and style? Its because they have all developed their own natural way to play which feels right for them…If they were all to try and swing like someone else then the Pro’s of golf would soon be like the rest of us!

So how do you get your natural swing back?

It takes time for a natural swing to evolve and this can’t be shortcut. The truth is having a very smooth natural swing (that is your own) consitently hitting the ball where you want it to go is much better than a powerful swing (that is someone elses model) that hits far and off course 90% of the time.

Its rewarding to see the ball dissapear into the sky but no where near as rewarding as consitently watching the ball land exactly where you want it to go.

You have most likely had this occur… you swing slow and smooth and can hit the ball 150 yards…then you add more power and smash the ball as hard as you can and still hit 150 yards off course? The first common remark is I need new clubs which add more distance without me needing to smash the ball! The truth is you need to be able to add more power to your natural swing and hit the ball as clean as you do when you swing slow and smooth.

Here’s a simple method I use to keep my swing natural, consitent and smooth. What I like to do is to simply place three tees in the ground along the direction that I want the ball to go, about a 5 inch gap between them, with the center tee being that which the ball will end up being placed. (Make sure you can see the tees but dig them in so you cant hit them out). Now this is your swing plane and a good swing comes from one that consitently follows a clean line throughout. If you have a swing that flows on a good line and hits the ball clean, then the club is designed to make the ball move as far as the power you put through it.

Take your stance, as it feels natural for you…I like to put a bit more weight on my heels, you might not! Now simply start swinging your club in a way that feels right. If it feels awkward then stop! Take the club in your hand and pretend this is the first time you’re swinging a golf club again. It will feel right straight away. Go slow and watch as you pass over the tees to see how your club stays on line. If your club is drifting off your line then dont adjust your swing, adjust your feet a little. Keep it going until you start to have a natural flow with the club and direction of it.

Once you start to feel that your club is moving in a straight line and it feels natural, put a ball down. Now don’t make the common mistake of then forgetting eveything you’ve just done, you should not even see the ball there! (it’s common as soon as we see a ball that we want to hit it far) Just swing as you were swinging before…slow and straight through (Forget about power at this point!). The contact with the ball and line of your swing is key to adding more distance.

Now a good natural swing comes from consitently practicing this and slowly increasing power, now try and add some more power watching the tees again to see if this effects the line of your club. More often than not the faster you swing the more off course your club will go. If it starts to drift then adjust your feet a little more…not your swing! Now place a ball down again and hit it further. This might seem a little backwards for alot of golfers as most will have been taught and will teach that your alignment is the key to a good swing. I say that your natural swing is key to the alignment you need to have. If your swing feels natural and isn’t forced and is consitently moving on a straight line, then your alignment is only the minor adjustment of keeping your club on that line with the more power you add.

Keep doing this as often as you can, I do this alot before a game to make sure my swing is running straight and feels right. The more often you practice this simple technique the quicker and more powerful your natural swing will evolve and your handicap will lower.

Get Good At Golf is the internets largest and fastest growing golf tips website, set up for golfers like you and me who are eager to improve their game and lower their handicap.

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