It was with great anticipation that I began to read the articles
addressing the topic of selling a business in the October issue
("Go for the Gold" and "Curtain Call?"). But I was disappointed
not to read about the services provided by a group of professionals
that exist in today's business economy that can help business
owners reach that pot of gold when a business is sold. Business
brokers and business intermediaries are able to assist today's
business owner with the task of successfully exiting an established
business.
The International Business Brokers Association is made up of
[more than] 1,400 members in the United States and 32 foreign
countries who are professionals trained in adding value to the sale
of a business. During an emotionally charged period in the life of
a business owner, Certified Business Intermediaries are there to
help guide the process to a successful conclusion while the owner
keeps his eye on the ball.
Business brokers are proponents of the team concept, whereby the
seller's professional advisors all work together to achieve
success. It takes a seasoned business broker to help guide the
team.
Daniel E. Hall
Chairman of the Board
International Business
Brokers Association
Birmingham, Alabama
Rising to the Occasion
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I just needed to let you know that I am very thankful for your
publication. I have read your magazine for a long time. And while I
have worked on the front lines of corporate America, we took the
step two years ago to open our own franchise, a Great Harvest Bread business. Everyone thought
we were crazy, asking, "What can you do as bakers? Can you
support a family as bakers? What about the low-carb fad?" I
will say faith made us strive through all this.
As we are about to open, I have recently heard that whole grains
are at the top of the new FDA food pyramid to be released in
January. Now the only concern we have is how to take care of the
jump in business that we are expecting. I am 28, and my wife of
five years is 23. We have a 20-month-old daughter, and we just
found out that we are two months pregnant. And I have a business
mentor who will play a major role in my future. As far as we've
heard, we are the youngest franchise owners Great Harvest has ever
had. The funniest thing I learned is they made extra sure that we
wanted them and that they wanted us.
This has been a beautiful process. I truly believe that all
those articles I read helped us to realize our dream. I thank you
all from the depths of my heart.
Thomas and Juliette Campbell
Stewards
Great Harvest Bread Company
Pickerington, Ohio
The Blame Game
"Regulation Nation" in the October issue
("Point/Counterpoint") asks two members of
Congress how government can reduce the regulatory burdens on small
businesses. Both Congress members quickly blamed the IRS.
Every confusing IRS form, every complicated IRS calculation,
every impossible-to-understand instruction exists solely because
Rep. [Nydia] Velázquez [(D-NY)] and Rep. [Rick] Renzi [(R-AZ)]
and their buddies in Congress are constantly creating complicated
new tax laws, and then sticking it to the IRS to enforce.
Please ask Rep. Velázquez and Rep. Renzi when was the last
time they opposed a new tax law? When was the last time they voted
against another change to IRS regulations? They have only
themselves to blame for our insane tax code.
Nobody likes the IRS, but Congress members who blame the IRS for
trying to enforce the crummy laws that the representatives
themselves shoved down our throats ought to be tossed out of
office.
Bernard Kamoroff
CPA and Author, 422 Tax
Deductions for Businesses and
Self-Employed Individuals
Willits, California
Correction:
November's "Editor's Note" misidentified Office
Depot CEO Bruce Nelson, who has since left the company, as George
Nelson.