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Getting Into The Business Of Kettle Corn

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Kettle corn is not caramel corn; it’s not like Cracker Jacks, and it isn’t like cheese popcorn or other “flavored” assortments. Kettle Corn is Definitely different; there is nothing unusual added to it like MSG; it’s how you integrate all the ingredients which gives it that yummy taste. Although the standard ingredients of kettle corn are similar: oil, popcorn, salt and sugar, the ratio of sugar to salt and the oil itself make the difference between something that’s so-so and something that will compel your buyers to keep coming back time and time again.

You’ll need to arrange an inspection from the health department; which is normallyaffordable, but you will discover that the requirements are unique for each area. Some towns or counties might need you to have special items, which will increase the total of money you require to lay out up front. Some of the extra equipment can be a sink or sinks (to wash everything from your hands to utensils) and a pressurized water tank with a heat source.

In some counties around the country, a state license may be necessary (often at times called a “Transient Vendor License) before you can set up shop– and, before you can get this paper work (which may be something apparently unrelated to your venture) you may be obligated to get some liability insurance. The purpose of this insurance is to cover yourself should a client or employee hurt themselves on your “property”. Even if your state doesn’t require this insurance, the event may require everyone to have it, although some places that have their act together (some of the larger weekly fairs or farmers markets, to name a few) will have their own coverage.

Once you’ve nailed down all the essential paperwork for licenses and permits, you’ll want to locate events in which you’ll be able to sell your product. Bigger doesn’t always mean better; huge locations will want more payment for the spot since larger crowds of people tend to increase the set-up price. However, tinier venues such as local weekly farmers markets and larger arts and crafts fairs can end up being rather lucarative. These events require less per square foot and seldom have more than one seller for each niche product, since their essential concern is selling fresh local produce. Having something unusual such as kettle corn, however, can be a big draw for customers. The sound and smell of fresh kettle corn has forced many individuals to investigate at these events; it’s very unusual once these mass taste your kettle corn, they’ll be hooked like addicts.

A kettle corn business, unlike some other business, your initial costs are comparatively small, particularly when you understand the potentiality for earnings.

After you’ve set yourself up with your kettle, bin, tanks of propane and a tent or kiosk, you’ll be surprised at your profit-expense margin. This is not saying that running a kettle corn business is easy money– you have to work at it. The physical act of setting up all the equipment and the sustained stirring and bagging– often under extremes of weather– will definitely tire you out by the time you’re finished. After popping like crazy for most of the day, when you include in the time spent setting up, cleaning up and traveling, it can add up to a long exhausting day.

On the plus side, you’re the one in charge– breathing down you neck and giving you orders. The “downside” is you’re doing everything– preparing, transporting, keeping the books, (though you should have an accountant when tax time comes) and you have to do some PR, as well. This is a whole other area of owning a kettle corn business, which has its own particular prerequisites, including visits from the local health inspector and, of course, figuring out your prices and the retailer’s cut. For retail, labeling is required–you need to list ingredients, contact information in some cases you may also need an expiration date.

As with any business start-up, you’ll discover many paths to take, but your efforts will be repaid once you realize the profits and popularity of your kettle corn– and you did it all yourself!

Benefits Of A Business Economics Major

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The Business Economics major is a great complement to another major or minor in business, political science, history, accounting or marketing. Economics not only studies economics research and economics financial systems, but also social issues like poverty, pollution, inflation, unemployment, recession and economic growth.

Top market economists are analytical problem solvers who are useful in almost every major industry. They study how the optimal amount of production can be achieved to meet society’s needs. They study market forces that shape financial decision making. They look at how politics affect the commerce marketplace. They look at data to forecast, analyze trends and apply their understanding to a whole range of public issues.

To get an undergrad degree in Business Economics, students attending an accredited economics university will need to take courses like macro economics, microeconomics, financial accounting and reporting, calculus, economics statistics, econometrics, money/banking/credit, business writing, the stock market, labor economics, monetary economics, international trade theory, law and economics, industrial organization, economics and business strategy, organizational psychology, formal organizations and politics and the economy. Students should have a good understanding of math, politics and business. People often choose this major because they want a good job, they want to make a lot of money, they want to be a manager or CPA, they want to have a secure job or they want to get into a good graduate school.

The common starting salary for economists is $38,000 for a bachelor’s degree, $48,000 for a master’s and $70,000 for a PhD, according to a 2002 National Association of Business Economics survey. Those with an economics major enjoy the highest median income compared to other majors, experts say. Economics research also suggests that economics majors earn 20% more than business administration majors, 19% more than accounting majors, 18% more than marketing majors and 15% more than finance majors. When a potential employer sees this major on a resume, he or she immediately understands that you have a solid foundation of math, politics, business and economic theory. Your degree also shows that you have the capacity to process complex subjects and it highlights your problem solving skills, which is valuable in any field.

Individuals with a degree in Business Economics have been recruited by employers like the California State Controller’s Office, Cerner Healthcare Information Technology, Coca-Cola, Consolidated Graphics, Deloitte Services LP, Edward Jones, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Ernst & Young LLP, General Mills, Inc., Insight, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Liberty Mutual Insurance Group (MA), Medix Staffing Solutions, PetSmart, Raytheon, Sherwin-Williams, Travelers Insurance and Wells Fargo Financial. The economics field is expected to grow 7% by 2016, adding another 16,000 workers. People with bachelor’s degrees can get almost any entry-level job in business. Master’s degree holders generally compete for sales and management trainee positions. Those who hold PhD degrees often go on to teach or become top market analysts in their fields.

Current Account Focus The Santander 123

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Launched in March 2013, the Santander current account has been lauded by experts as the UK’s most generous current account in terms of customer rewards, according to The Daily Mail. If you are considering making the change to the Santander account, here’s what to expect in terms of risks and rewards.

The Santander account offers you cashback on purchases at a tiered system of 1-2-3. For example, the 1 stands for 1 percent cashback you receive when you use the Santander card to pay water and council tax bills. The 2 stands for 2 percent cash back on electricity and gas bills while the 3 percent stands for cashback on bills paid to mobile, home phone, broadband and on-demand television packages. You can set the account up as either a single or joint account based on your and your partner’s unique needs.

The 1-2-3 comes into play in another way. You also earn interest based on the amount of money you keep in the account on a monthly basis. For example, if you keep 1,000 or more in the Santander account, you earn 1 percent interest on this amount. If you carry a balance of 2,000 or more, you will earn 2 percent interest each month. When your funds exceed 20,000, you will earn 3 percent interest for your account balance, which is the maximum interest rate you can earn with the Santander account.

If you are curious if you could benefit from the Santander account, visit the company’s website at Santander.co.uk and go to the 123 Santander page. In the “What You Get” area, there is a cashback calculator. This allows you to put in your typical utility bill information to determine how much money you could get back. You also can view a list of utility providers to ensure your provider is a member of the cashback awards program.

The Fine Print

You must meet a few basic requirements to qualify for the Santander 123 card. For example, you must be older than age 18 and a permanent UK resident. In addition, you must keep a balance of at least 500 in your account and use at least two direct debits per month.

Remember that you will only earn the cashback rewards for the Santander 123 card if you have at least 1,000 in your account. If your balance drops below this amount, you will not get the cashback. To maximize the amount of interest you earn each month, follow this strategy: Keep as much money as you possibly can in your account for as many days as possible. To get the cashback rewards on your utility bills, they must be from direct debits. If you do choose to utilize direct debits, you may wish to set them all for the end of the month to maximize your interest.

You must pay a small fee to receive these benefits. The Santander card costs 2 each month to earn the cashback perks. Unlike some other cashback cards that pay once per year, the Santander card will pay cashback rewards on a monthly basis.

If the Santander 123 account does not appeal to you, but you wish to stay with the Santander company, you can choose its Everyday account, which does not offer cashback or charge a fee for holding the current account.

Making the Switch

Santander is a member of the Current Account Switch Service (CASS) that will switch your bank accounts within seven business days upon your request. The CASS system ensures you can switch your account in a hassle-free manner. If any details of the account do slip through the cracks, such as direct debits from the old account, the responsible bank must cover the costs associated with the error.

Hints On Writing Your Company Vehicle Duty Of Care Policy

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Writing your Vehicle Duty of Care Policy can be a pain! We have written this guide to help you and highlight the important points your policy should include.

We recommend you think of your vehicles as “mobile offices” and download or print an 8 page leaflet by the HSE called “5 steps to risk assessment” from our PDF downloads it will help you to understand the basics of what your policy is all about.

MISSION STATEMENT

Your introduction or mission statement should outline your company/organisations “culture” when dealing with its vehicle fleet with regard to such things as defensive driving, risk assessment, driver’s hours and regular health checks for both driver and vehicle. You should inform people that your policy is a complimentary addition to the main company policy and should be read in conjunction with their contract of employment and a current copy of the Highway Code.

BUSINESS DRIVER

A business driver is anybody who drives any vehicle on Company Business.

In this section you should explain that any driver out on the public roads on the company or organisations business is a company driver and that includes the person that uses an “owned” vehicle on Fridays to collect the fish and chips at lunchtime for the workforce.

Your policy must explain the driver’s responsibilities to the vehicle and respect for it, the limitations and responsibility of use by the driver and others while using a vehicle on business and the management structure authorising a business driver.

Some people use this area to explain driving licences and reporting procedures for them but we prefer this to be included in the LEGAL section.

NB – Reporting structure – Approved Driver List

BUSINESS VEHICLE

The company is responsible for any vehicle, company owned, privately owned or hired with or without driver. When it is used on company business explain your procedure checks for:

Right vehicle for the job
Road worthiness.
Legality
Safe use within the law.

This must be explained clearly in terms of how the company will and will not allow a vehicle on company business to be used e.g. with (trailer) and where (abroad), as they all impinge on the above four.

NB – Reporting structure – Approved Vehicle List – Servicing List

SAFE USE OF A VEHICLE

This is one of the most important sections of any Vehicle Duty of Care policy and you understanding its full implications and how you write it.

It is also where the reporting structure is at is most important and also where it breaks down in a lot of companies.

An example to illustrate what we mean:-

A company driver driving their own car is involved in an accident killing their passenger. The police decide the driver was well above the speed limit both for the road and weather conditions. On further investigation it was found that the driver had been driving to a 4pm sales meeting on the instructions of management and was late. It was also discovered that one of the front tyres was less than 1.6mm. Further investigation by police of company records showed the driver was on a sales bonus scheme related to the number of new customer visits per week.

The Police can lay charges against the driver from driving without due care and attention to dangerous driving and even manslaughter. He will be charged for the illegal tyre, gain 3 points on his licence and receive a fine of up to 2,500.

The Police could also lay charges against the company and its officials for corporate manslaughter if they think they were negligent in their duty of care by the structure of reporting from driver to company and was not actively followed (tyre) and that the sales bonus scheme brought unreasonable pressure on the driver to perform. At the minimum the legal officer of the company, usually the company secretary, will have their licence endorsed with 3 points and a fine (tyre).

NB – No matter how good your Vehicle Duty of Care Policy is with regard to the legality, safe use and clearly stipulates NO work schedule incentives for drivers, if your support structure is not active, problems will occur. Sorry but we will say this again. No matter how eloquent your Duty of Care Policy is written, with all the “do this, don’t do that,” unless – Your Reporting Structure is Robust and Active – You will fail in your Duty of Care!

VEHICLE SECURITY

Sometimes vehicle security is mixed with Insurance or safe use of a motor vehicle. We feel that security is not only that of the vehicle itself but also where it is parked on company premises, customers’ premises and overnight and therefore needs a section of its own.

LEGAL

In this group you base everything your drivers and vehicles need to stay legal on the roads and what happens when they don’t!

You need to clearly outline your company/organizations stance on all things that will stop a person driving legally from drinking, driving offences to non payment of fines and who is responsible for payments both fines & court offences needs to be made clear.

You need to make drivers aware here that they also have a duty of care to keep you informed through the proper procedures which you write of any changes to themselves or the vehicle they drive that could result in legal action. Your main approved lists stem from this section because failure to maintain any one of them can result in Legal Action against the driver and or your company/organisation.

NB – Reporting structure – Driving Licence List – Tax & MOT List – “O” Licence List – Insurance List

INSURANCE

All vehicles used on company business need business cover and it should be made clear to the drivers the position of both the company and insurance company.

ACCIDENTS

The driver is at their most vulnerable immediately following an accident and therefore it is here that you want to be sure that you have done all that you can to support the driver while protecting the company to make sure that the correct procedures will be followed.

NB – Accident forms – for the last time, honest! A strong reporting structure has to be in place for any Vehicle Duty of Care Policy to succeed in your Company/Organisation.

Car Insurance Brokers Find You Competitively Priced Auto Insurance

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Car insurance is necessary by law in Canada to protect yourself and others while driving. Accidents, damage and theft are a few of the reasons auto insurance is not only the law, but vital to protect you and your loved ones financially. Car insurance brokers can find you the best auto insurance at prices you can afford as well as offer you the highest level of customer service. At Breckles Insurance, our auto insurance brokers are professional, knowledgeable and reliable. A car insurance broker will take into account your budget and needs and works for you to identify all risks related to your car.

No one wants to think they will be involved in a car crash, or have their vehicle stolen or damaged. However, accidents and other incidents like theft and damage are more common today than ever, and you must protect yourself financially as well as give yourself peace of mind with the services of one of Breckles Insurance expert auto insurance brokers. Car insurance brokers can reduce your loss and risk as well as help you through difficult times with dedicated auto insurance broker services to our clients.

At Breckles Insurance, we offer various types of services to you with competitive prices and friendly, reliable service. We have over 30 insurance partner companies to serve you and are confident that one of our many expert auto insurance brokers will be suitable for you. Breckles Insurance will match you with an auto insurance broker that works to meet your needs.