Saturday, April 04, 2009
Tempe named a top city to start a new business
The Arizona Republic Mar. 31, 2009 01:03 PM
by William Hermann
Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman says it was no surprise to him that "BusinessWeek" magazine this week selected Tempe, Arizona as one of the best cities in the nation for starting up a new business.
"We've worked very hard for years to make Tempe friendly to companies that are going to start a business, so it makes sense we were honored," Hallman said. "We have a net import of 60,000 workers every day, more than 40,000 students come to our Arizona State University campus, our city codes are not an unnecessary burden to businesses and our transportation system is excellent."
BusinessWeek searched cities across the nation with populations ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 to compile its list of the best place to start a business in each state. The magazine profiled entrepreneurs "quick to tout the ease of doing business in small or midsize cities."
According to a magazine release on the award, "BusinessWeek asked entrepreneurs in each city what people should know about starting a business there. Many said factors such as affordability, availability of talent, existence of a thriving business community and quality of life helped them choose where to open shop."
Tempe Chamber of Commerce President Mary Ann Miller said she welcomes the award as the sort of thing that validates what she has been saying all along.
"People out there considering starting a business-whether because of an opportunity, or because of these times, by necessity-can see that there is a place--Tempe-that makes it easier for you to get your business started," Miller said. "A little bit of good news, encouraging news, like that, may be all you need to choose this city."
The award is the latest in a series for Tempe, including the inaugural Smart Growth award by the Urban Land Institute, the 10 Greatest Streets award for Mill Avenue by the American Planning Association and the Arizona Economic Engine award by Arizona Business Magazine.
by William Hermann
Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman says it was no surprise to him that "BusinessWeek" magazine this week selected Tempe, Arizona as one of the best cities in the nation for starting up a new business.
"We've worked very hard for years to make Tempe friendly to companies that are going to start a business, so it makes sense we were honored," Hallman said. "We have a net import of 60,000 workers every day, more than 40,000 students come to our Arizona State University campus, our city codes are not an unnecessary burden to businesses and our transportation system is excellent."
BusinessWeek searched cities across the nation with populations ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 to compile its list of the best place to start a business in each state. The magazine profiled entrepreneurs "quick to tout the ease of doing business in small or midsize cities."
According to a magazine release on the award, "BusinessWeek asked entrepreneurs in each city what people should know about starting a business there. Many said factors such as affordability, availability of talent, existence of a thriving business community and quality of life helped them choose where to open shop."
Tempe Chamber of Commerce President Mary Ann Miller said she welcomes the award as the sort of thing that validates what she has been saying all along.
"People out there considering starting a business-whether because of an opportunity, or because of these times, by necessity-can see that there is a place--Tempe-that makes it easier for you to get your business started," Miller said. "A little bit of good news, encouraging news, like that, may be all you need to choose this city."
The award is the latest in a series for Tempe, including the inaugural Smart Growth award by the Urban Land Institute, the 10 Greatest Streets award for Mill Avenue by the American Planning Association and the Arizona Economic Engine award by Arizona Business Magazine.
Labels: Tempe; business; entrepreneur; small business; business owner
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
USA Today "Franchising Today" - Veterans Receive Special Incentives to Join Up as Franchisees
Ex-miltary personnel make up about ten percent of the franchisees of HouseMaster Home Inspections. President Kathleen Kuhn believes veterans are a particularly good fit for her company because of the similarities involved in training for and consistently executing the home inspection process and training for and executing a military operation. Her company actively recruits veterans, advertising in publications that target the military and participating in Recruit Military Career Fairs, held in various markets throughout the country.
In addition to offering a fifteen percent discount on the franchise fee to veterans, HouseMaster arranges for existing ex-military franchise owners to act as mentors to new ones.
"They make good mentors for them because they see eye-to-eye," Kuhn said. "For example, another veteran might have related to Wendy Rogers' concern when she was in a marketing training session to become a HouseMaster franchisee. The former Air Force jet pilot confessed that she found the thought of marketing and making sales calls really intimidating. Having a $2 million jet around you that you are controlling, THAT is intimidating!"
Twelve years later Rogers and Kuhn still laugh about that conversation as Rogers and her husband Hal Kunnen enjoy running their Phoenix AZ franchise, one of HouseMaster's most successful operations.
Labels: Air Force, home inspection, Kathleen Kuhn
Phoenix takes biggest hit in home price index
Housing prices in 20 major cities fell at record monthly and annual levels in January, and Phoenix has the dubious distinction of leading the declines, according to the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index.
The private report released Tuesday shows prices down 2.8 percent from December nationally and 19 percent from a year earlier. While those are record losses, they pale in comparison to the 35 percent annual drop in home values in the Phoenix metro area. Las Vegas was close behind with a drop of 32.5 percent. San Francisco and Miami were next.
The S&P Case-Shiller index compares price changes recorded when homes are resold.
The 20-city index has fallen for 30 straight months. Month-over-month home prices fell in all 20 markets during January and are now at late 2003 levels.
All told, prices have plunged 29 percent nationally since they peaked during the second quarter of 2006, according to Case-Shiller. Average Phoenix home prices are off 48.5 percent from the peak, a bigger drop than in any metro area. Other major losses were absorbed by: Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco and San Diego. Each has seen home prices decline more than 40 percent from their peaks.
All 20 index cities were in negative territory, with Dallas being the least affected at a loss of 4.9 percent.
The private report released Tuesday shows prices down 2.8 percent from December nationally and 19 percent from a year earlier. While those are record losses, they pale in comparison to the 35 percent annual drop in home values in the Phoenix metro area. Las Vegas was close behind with a drop of 32.5 percent. San Francisco and Miami were next.
The S&P Case-Shiller index compares price changes recorded when homes are resold.
The 20-city index has fallen for 30 straight months. Month-over-month home prices fell in all 20 markets during January and are now at late 2003 levels.
All told, prices have plunged 29 percent nationally since they peaked during the second quarter of 2006, according to Case-Shiller. Average Phoenix home prices are off 48.5 percent from the peak, a bigger drop than in any metro area. Other major losses were absorbed by: Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco and San Diego. Each has seen home prices decline more than 40 percent from their peaks.
All 20 index cities were in negative territory, with Dallas being the least affected at a loss of 4.9 percent.
Labels: "home inspection", "time to buy", housing prices, Phoenix home inspection, price index
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