Why do many people opt for starting a home based business? It seems that starting a home based business is a risky venture. Those starting a home based business will initially have unsteady income, long working hours, and no benefits. But there are situations that influence a person to opt for starting a home based business. Let’s take a look at a few.

Starting a home based business is oftentimes the response to a job loss. Not everyone gets an attractive severance package when they are laid off. Unemployment insurance will not support a family. The newly laid off employee has to find a job quickly. Depending on what it is you do, starting a home based business sometimes does not take much as far as an initial investment. For example, all you need to do technical writing is a computer, internet access, and customers. If you do tutoring, all you need to do is find the students with a learning need. You can conduct your home based business while looking for other traditional work too.

Starting a home based business is a good option when you don’t want to retire. Many people delay retirement because they don’t want to deal with the boredom that can potentially increase in their senior years. The senior citizen sees this as rewarding work even though starting a home based business is usually labor intensive. A home based business will also provide the opportunity for a senior citizen to supplement a pension that usually does not cover all living expenses. Even if the pension is from a government source such as Social Security in the U.S., its cost of living adjustments still do no keep up with the inflation rate.

Some people see starting a home based business as an answer to a stalled career. These are people who have been having annual reviews that seem to provide little in the way of pay increases. Their bosses tell them that their companies are doing poorly. There is no need to get upset over it. Just plan on starting a home based business and take advantage of new opportunities. As you keep building on your home based business, you’ll eventually be able to leave the job that is stalling your career and do what you want full time.

The need for independence and flexibility is a reason for starting a home based business. Some people have personal responsibilities that make it very difficult to work at a traditional place of employment. These responsibilities can include taking care of pre-school children or elderly parents living in your home. Some need to move to a location to be closer to family however there are no traditional employment opportunities in their career field there. For these people in a new location, starting a home based business is possible especially if they have skills where the internet is utilized to deliver work.

Starting a home based business is the only option you see towards fulfilling your dream. Whatever your business idea, product, or service is, you cannot ever see a traditional employer helping you achieve your vision it. Since you are the type of person who does not easily take no for an answer, you have to go out and pursue your dream by starting a home based business. Be careful not to let your passion blind you from making a good business plan because it will be crucial to mapping your path.

He said that the effects of the rate cuts were likely to be felt around the middle of next year rather than immediately with indications being that personal loans may be first. He stated: "We know that it takes time for interest rate reductions to affect the economy. In the short term I’m afraid we will continue to see negative indicators for people with home loans from the real economy. It’s more towards the middle of next year that we will begin to see the impact of some of the steps we have taken in recent months."

He also said that the Bank of England had to focus on getting inflation levels to the 2% set target and keeping them there, and he did not provide any answer as to whether the rate cut is likely to be cut further as a result of falling inflation, which is something that the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has indicated.

Sentance said: "We’ll have another meeting next month where we will be considering the level of interest rates — whether we need to go further in terms of interest rate cuts." He added: "We are facing a recession driven by a financial crisis, the like of which we have not seen since before the Second World War."  

At the personal level credit debt consolidation can help and  the financial problems in your business can be resolved with the help of business debt consolidation. Business debt consolidation can do whole world of good to your business by helping you to avoid the bane of bankruptcy and litigations pertaining to the flow of cash (the flow of cash can disrupted due to bad leases, pending litigation or breach of contract).
Business debt consolidation service providers are the financial experts who develop a strategy that will be acceptable to both you as well as your creditors. They assess the financial situation of the company and find out its ability to repay the stacked loans in easy monthly installments. This is achieved by taking out a business consolidation loan wherein a new loan is taken out to pay all the other loans of the company. This helps the company to pay off all the loans from one single fund and makes the management of the debts much easier for the company.
The business debt consolidation helps the company to jot down all the financial details of the company. The creditors verify this and then develop a future workable strategy for the company.
Some of the biggest benefits of a business debt consolidation are as follows: protection of assets, quality time for the development of the business, the dealing with the creditors becomes really easy, the debts get converted into monthly payments that are easily affordable and avoiding the much dreaded bankruptcy

As a collector, if you log on to the Natedsanders.com website then you can bid for their collections, displayed under the various categories, from any part of the world. The collectibles are displayed under the different categories so that it eases out the pressure of your search and you can easily zero in upon the item of your choice.

Under the autographs sections there are the subcategories of movie celebrity autographs, literary books author’s autographs and presidential and political autographs. Under these categories you can find inexpensive autographs of famous celebrities from various fields (some dating back to a century or two). If you have an eye for them then you are surely going to vie for them.

The section for the Civil War Photos contains photographs from the era of the civil war. It also has some portraits that were painted during that period. Collectors of photographs know that they are in for a real war of bids when they enter this zone. So buck up if you are among one such photograph collectors.

The next popular section Autographed 8×10 contains photographs of celebrities and historical figures signed by them. Here you can bid for the photographs which bear testimony to the might of the people who mattered a lot to the world. This is a collector’s paradise because here they can find the old times captured and signed by the people who made history.

This site is a one stop thirst quencher for the collectors and they can catch hold of history only with a click of the mouse.

While economic downturns are admittedly difficult, and are formidable obstacles to small businesses that are trying to survive and grow, an economic downturn can open up opportunities. A well-managed company can realize the opportunity to gain market share by taking customers away from their competitors. Resourceful entrepreneurs capture the available opportunities, from an economic downturn, by developing alternate methods of doing business that were never implemented during a prior growth period.

The challenge of successfully navigating your business through an economic downturn lies in the realignment of your business with current economic realities. Specifically, you, as the business owner, need to renew a focus on your core clients/customers, reduce your operating expenses, conserve cash, and manage more proactively, rather than reactively, is paramount.

Here are best practices that will help you to successfully navigate your business through an economic downturn:

Goals:

The primary goal of any business owner is to survive the current economic downturn and to develop a leaner, more cost-effective and more efficient operation. The secondary goal is to grow the business even during this current economic downturn.

Objectives:

• Conserve cash.

• Protect assets.

• Reduce costs.

• Improve efficiencies.

• Grow customer base.

Required Action:

• Do not panic… History shows that economic downturns do not last forever. Remain calm and act in a rational manner as you refocus your attention on resizing your company to the current economic conditions.

• Focus on what YOU can control… Don’t let the media’s rhetoric concerning recessions and economic slowdown deter you from achieving business success. It´s a trap! Why? Because the condition of the economy is beyond your control. Surviving economic downturns requires a focus on what you can control, i.e. your relevant business activities.

• Communicate, communicate, and communicate! Beware of the pitfall of trying to do too much on your own. It is a difficult task indeed to survive and to grow your business solely with your own efforts. Solicit ideas and seek the help of other people (your employees, suppliers, lenders, customers, and advisors). Communicate honestly and consistently. Effective two-way communication is the key.

• Negotiate, negotiate, and negotiate! The value of a strong negotiation skill set cannot be overstated. Negotiating better deals and contracts is an absolute must for realigning and resizing your company to the current economic conditions. The key to success is not only knowing how to develop a win-win approach in negotiations with all parties, but also keeping in mind the fact that you want a favorable outcome for yourself too.

Recommended Best Practice Activities:

The Nuts and Bolts… The following list of recommended best practice activities is critical for your business’ survival and for its growth during an economic downturn. The actual financial health of your particular business, at the outset of the economic downturn, will dictate the priority and urgency of the implementation of the following best practice activities.

1. Diligently monitor your cash flow: Forecast your cash flow monthly to ensure that expenses and planned expenditures are in line with accounts receivable. Include cash flow statements into your monthly financial reporting. Project cash requirements three-to- six months in advance. The key is to know how to monitor, protect, control, and put cash to work.

2. Carefully convert your inventories: Convert excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory items into cash. Consider returning excess and slow-moving items back to the suppliers. Close-out or inventory reduction sales work well to resize your inventory. Also, consider narrowing your product offerings. Well-timed order placement helps to reduce excess inventory levels and occasional material shortages. The key is to reduce the amount of your inventory without losing sales.

3. Timely collection of your accounts receivable: This asset should be converted to cash as quickly as possible. Offer prompt payment discounts to encourage timely payments. Make changes in the terms of sale for slow paying customers (i.e. changing net 30 day terms to COD). Invoicing is an important part of your cash flow management. The first rule of invoicing is to do it as soon as possible after products are shipped and/or after services are delivered. Place an emphasis on reducing billing errors. Most customers delay payments because an invoice had errors, and therefore, will not pay until they receive a corrected copy. Email or fax your invoices to save on mailing time. Post the payments that you have received and make deposits more frequently. The key is to develop an efficient collection system that generates timely payments and one that gives you advance warning of problems.

4. Re-focus your attention on your existing clients/customers: Make customer satisfaction your priority. A regular review of your customers’ buying history and frequency of purchases can reveal some interesting facts about your customers’ buying habits. Consider signing long-term contracts with your core clients/customers which will add to your security. Offer a discount for upfront cash payments. The key is to do what it takes to keep your current customers loyal.

5. Re-negotiate with your suppliers, lenders, and landlord:

i) Suppliers: Always keep your negotiations on the level of need, saying that your company has reviewed its cost structure and has determined that it needs to lower supplier costs. . Tell the supplier that you value the relationship you have developed, but that you need to receive a cost reduction immediately. Ask your supplier for a lower material price, a longer payment cycle, and the elimination of finance charges. Also, see if you can buy material from them on a consignment basis. In return for their price concessions, be willing to agree to a long-term contract. Explore the idea of bartering as a form of payment.

ii) Lenders: Everything in business finance is negotiable and your relationship with a bank is no exception. The first step to successful renegotiations is to convince your lenders that you can ultimately pay off the renegotiated loan. You must point out to your lenders why it would be in their best interest to agree to a new arrangement. Showing them your business plan and your action plan that includes your cost-savings initiatives, along with “the how” and “the when” of the implementation of your plan is the best way to achieve this goal. Explain to them that you will need their cooperation to insure that you can survive, as well as, grow your business during the economic downturn. Negotiated items include: the rate of interest, the required security to cover the loan, and the beginning date for repayment. A beginning date for repayment could be immediate, within several months or as long as a year. The key is to realize that your lender will work with you, but that frequent and continual communications with them is critical.

iii) Landlord: Meet with your landlord. Explain your need to have them extend the term of your lease at a reduced cost. Make sure you have a clause in the lease agreement that entitles you to have the right to sublet any or all of the leased space.

6. Re-evaluate your staffing requirements: This is a very critical area. Salaries/wages are a major expense of doing business. Therefore, any reduction in the hours worked through work schedule changes, short-term layoffs or permanent layoffs has an immediate cost saving benefit. Most companies ramped up hiring new employees in the good times, only to find that they are currently overstaffed due to slow sales during the economic downturn. In terms of down-sizing your staff, be very careful not to reduce your staff to a level that forces you to skimp on customer service and quality. Consider the use of part-timers or the current trend of outsourcing certain functions to independent contractors.

7. Shop for better insurances rates: Get quotations from other insurance agents for comparable coverage to determine whether or not your present insurance carrier is competitive. Also, consider revising your coverage to reduce premium costs. The key is to have the right balance-to be adequately insured, but not under or over insured.

8. Re-evaluate your advertising: Contrary to the other cost-cutting initiatives, evaluate the possibility of increasing your advertising expenditures. This tactic realizes the advantage of the reduced “noise” and congestion (fewer advertisers) in the marketplace. The downturn period a great opportunity to increase brand awareness and create additional demand for your product/service offerings.

9. Seek the help of outside advisors: The use of an advisory board comprised of your CPA, attorney, and business consultant offers you objectivity and provides you with professional advice and guidance. Their collective experience in working with similar situations in past economic downturns is invaluable.

10. Review your other expenses: Target an across-the-board cost-cutting initiative of 10-15%. Attempt to eliminate unnecessary expenses. Tightening your belt in order to weather the downturn makes practical, financial sense.

Proactively managing your business through an economic downturn is an enormous challenge and is critical for your survival. However, through well-planned initiatives, an economic downturn can create tremendous opportunity for your company to gain greater market share. In order to take advantage of this growth opportunity, you must act quickly to implement the above best business practices to continue realigning and resizing your company to the current economic conditions.

Copyright © 2008 Terry H. Hill

The live webcast of Spectrum’s presentation will be available at http://www.spectrumpharm.com. Replays will be available for 30 days.

About Spectrum Pharmaceuticals

We are a biopharmaceutical company that acquires, develops and commercializes a diversified portfolio of drug products, with a focus mainly on oncology and urology. Our strategy is comprised of acquiring and developing a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and commercial products; establishing a commercial organization for our approved drugs; continuing to build a team with people who have demonstrated skills, passion, commitment and have a track record of success in developing drugs and commercialization in our areas of focus; and, leveraging the expertise of partners around the world to assist us in the execution of our strategy. For more information, please visit our website at www.spectrumpharm.com.

Forward-looking statement - This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements include but are not limited to statements that relate to our business and its future, Spectrum’s ability to identify, acquire, develop and commercialize a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and commercial products, establishing a commercial organization for our approved drugs, continuing to build our team, leveraging the expertise of partners around the world to assist us in the execution of our strategy, and any statements that relate to the intent, belief, plans or expectations of Spectrum or its management, or that are not a statement of historical fact. Risks that could cause actual results to differ include the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates, may not prove safe or effective, the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates may not receive approval from the FDA, and other regulatory agencies in a timely manner or at all, the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates, if approved, may not be more effective, safer or more cost efficient than competing drugs, the possibility that our efforts to acquire or in-license and develop additional drug candidates may fail, our lack of revenues, our limited marketing experience, our dependence on third parties for clinical trials, manufacturing, distribution and quality control and other risks that are described in further detail in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not plan to update any such forward-looking statements and expressly disclaim any duty to update the information contained in this press release except as required by law.

SPECTRUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. [TM], TURNING INSIGHTS INTO HOPE[TM] and the Spectrum Pharmaceutical logos are trademarks owned by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(c) 2008 Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

COPYRIGHT 2008 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

MILPITAS, Calif. & CHIBA, Japan — Sigma Designs (NASDAQ:SIGM), a leader in digital media processing and wireless system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for consumer electronics today announces the availability of the Wireless Home Theater Audio Development Kit based on the company’s Windeo[R] Ultra wideband (UWB) chipset. Sigma will be demonstrating the Wireless Home Theater Audio Development Kit along with its new CoAir[TM] solution, the industry’s first UWB chipset with combined wireless, coax and Ethernet capabilities, and Wireless HDAV[TM] reference designs at CEATEC, September 30 - October 4, in Chiba, Japan. Demonstrations are available by appointment in the Hotel Manhattan, Suite #705.

Developed for Home-Theater-in-a-Box solutions with surround systems, the development kit comes in three combinations: 2.1, 5.1 or 7.1 that range over 40 meters LOS (Line-Of-Sight) and 20 meters NLOS (Non-Line-Of-Sight). This solution gives consumer electronics manufacturers the ability to design a reliable wireless Home-Theater-in-a-Box that does not interfere with microwave oven signals, WiFi, Bluetooth, mobile phones or other home appliances. It also once and for all eliminates speaker cabling problems, like too many wires, that consumers are ready to be rid of.

“Wireless Audio is the most under-served market when it comes to offering reliable wireless solutions. Sigma’s effort here is to offer OEMs and ODMs a platform that will serve the increasing consumer demand for wireless audio solutions,” said Hung Nguyen, general manager and VP, Sigma Designs Wireless Products Division. “Our development kit offers a reliable wireless surround sound solution at a lower cost for consumer electronics manufacturers that are looking to make home theater installation easy to achieve and affordable to their customers.”

Based on the WiMedia[TM] standard, the kit uses Sigma’s all-CMOS Windeo chipset with Intelligent Array Radio technology (a sophisticated three-antennae technology that ensures no interference) to transmit the audio over the air reliably, even with several people in the room over a large distance, to accommodate almost all home theater environments.

More about Sigma’s Windeo[R] Chipset

Sigma’s Windeo is the world’s first UWB chipset in all CMOS process with three radios. It is comprised of an RF chip (B7CW101) and a Baseband IC (B7CW201) and is based on the WiMedia[TM] Alliance standards for MAC and PHY specifications. The Windeo chipset is currently available in production quantities. The Windeo MAC supports a 32-bit RISC processor and several host interfaces including PCI, DVB-SPI and the Peripheral (Local) Bus interfaces.

More about Sigma’s CoAir[TM]

CoAir is the industry’s first Ultrawideband and WiMedia[TM] standard-based chipset with combined wireless, coax and Ethernet capabilities. Developed for worldwide service providers, telcos and consumer electronics manufacturers, Sigma’s CoAir chipset is the only technology available in the world today that can simultaneously deliver multiple independent streams of video and data over coax cable, Ethernet cable and wirelessly without compromising quality of service and throughput. It is a high performance “wireless” and “no new wires” solution that can stream abundant content wirelessly and over existing coax and Ethernet wires for additional whole home coverage, up to 330 ft.

CoAir is an all-CMOS solution that is comprised of an RF radio chip (Sigma’s B7CW101) and a baseband chip (Sigma’s B7CC401). The RF radio chip supports three antennas for a robust and reliable wireless link. The baseband integrates the OFDM PHY baseband, MAC - both based on the WiMedia Alliance standard - and a high performance 32-bit RISC processor. The chipset supports input/output ports for antennas, coaxial cable and Ethernet cable (CAT5). The chipset is also powered by the Transparent, Ubiquitous and Synchronous Cables & Air Network[TM] (TUSCAN), a patent-pending technology developed by Sigma Designs.

More about Sigma’s Wireless HDAV[TM]

Sigma’s Wireless HDAV streaming is a technology for transporting HD multimedia using standard-based encoding technologies over Ultrawideband to replace high definition audio/video cables. Sigma’s Wireless HDAV reference designs enable developers of home networking systems to eliminate cables between a television and set-top box or High-Definition DVD player using wireless HDAV, the first technology solution to support both the H.264 format and UWB based on the WiMedia standard. Wireless HDAV streams high-definition content from device to device at distances up to 10 meters.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the future potential of the CoAir[TM] and Windeo[R] chipset. Actual results may vary materially due to a number of factors including, but not limited to, general economic conditions, including continuance of the current economic conditions specific to the semiconductor industry, the rate of growth of the IPTV, high definition DVD and HDTV markets in general, the ramp in demand from our set-top box and telecommunication customers, our ability to deploy and achieve market acceptance for Sigma products in these markets, the ability of our SoCs to compete with other technologies or products in these emerging markets as well as other risks that are detailed from time to time in our SEC reports, including our quarterly report on Form 10-Q as filed September 11, 2008. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Sigma undertakes no obligation to publicly release or otherwise disclose the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements that may be made as a result of events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.