Game Changer? Game Changer!

I have honored to be bestowed as a Game Changer by theintroducermagazine.com and look forward to working with fellow game changers and both new and existing partners globally.

Deal or No Deal? The suspense is killing me – and my clients

I quite used to enjoy occasionally watching Deal or No Deal on television.  Being a risk taker myself, it appealed to the gambler in me.  A gambler who spent far too much time of his misprint youth playing fruit machines.  Way back then, the stake was 5p and the jackpot was £2.  Now the former can be up to £100 a spin.

The Gambling Act 2005 acted as the catalyst and ushered in a new era which not only allowed online gambling, but also the promoting thereof.  Nightclubs became Casinos.  Some high streets now have two William Hill’s so that they can operate eight fixed odd’s betting terminals (FOBT’s) in that area, and not just four.  These after often referred to as the crack cocaine of gambling, which is why I am delighted that my propensity to play such machines has receded.

Against this explosion of both on and offline gambling, a plethora of TV franchises were devised to appeal to the gambler within most of us, with 'Who wants to be a Millionaire?' and 'Deal or no Deal' being just two examples.

During this period, I was helping US eCommerce companies reach out to and better serve their European customers by encouraging them to hold inventory in a Glasgow warehouse.  It was an easy sell – given the global architecture of the World Wide Web, they already had European customers.  The ease of doing business, same language, and one-time zone nearer to Uncle Sam than our European neighbours, and of course open access to some 500 million European consumers. Business was booming.

Then came 23 June 2016. 

Understandably, my clients wanted to know what implications Brexit would have for them.  At first, I focussed on the only tangible positive – the fact that they were now getting significantly more pounds for their buck, thanks to the relegation of sterling to one of the world’s worst-performing currencies.

However, knowing that tariffs for sending a sound blanket from Scotland to Italy might soon become a reality, I found it increasingly difficult to sell a destination I no longer believed in.   After all, if I were a US Businessman or woman selling tangibles looking to expand into Europe, would l want to locate my business in a country that has elected to remove itself from the world’s largest trading bloc? No. In short, the UK is no longer such an attractive destination for overseas companies who have historically seen it as a gateway to Europe.  On the contrary, it is arguably 28^th on the list.  A sizeable client had Glasgow and Amsterdam on his short-list for a new warehouse.  The Netherlands won.

Being half German, I decided to turn my attention to helping UK (&US) SME’s remain not only inside the single market but to base themselves inside Europe’s beating heart.  Doing so will give them a distinct advantage over their competitors, who are simply retreating behind the drawbridge and waiting to see what happens next. 

And the stakes could hardly be higher.  The top prize of £250,000 offered in TV’s ‘Deal or No Deal’ fades into insignificance when compared to the economic well-being of an entire country.  Given the slow progress of talks, it is looking increasingly likely that we could be heading for a hard, or ‘cliff edge’, Brexit.  A countdown clock on my website informs me that at the time of writing we have 539 days left.

The best-case scenario would be no change in the status quo – frictionless trade with the remaining 27 members of our largest export market.

 The worst-case scenario does not bear worth thinking about: additional costs, bureaucracy, and disruption to the supply chain.  The Dover port boss has already warned that the south east of England could come grinding to a halt if no deal can be agreed.

So, let’s hope for all our sakes that common sense will prevail and that a deal that suits us all can be reached.  The UK is, after all, Germany’s largest export market for all those wonderful motor cars.

But given that common sense has been sorely lacking in British Politics as of late, I’m not holding my breath and am prepared more any eventuality – Deal or No Deal.  

How Wales’ Businesses can Beat Brexit (and of course English & Scottish ones too)

(Published in https://businessnewswales.com/wales-businesses-can-beat-brexit/)

The uncertainty surrounding Britain’s exit from the EU has created a major headache for businesses in Wales.

The countdown to Brexit is underway, but we still don’t know the terms of any trade deal with the 27 members of the EU. It’s difficult for businesses to plan for the future when they don’t know if they’ll be hit by tariffs.

So, an increasing number of UK companies are looking to create European subsidiaries to ensure they have a foothold in the EU whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations.

For many, the obvious choice for a European base is Germany – the powerhouse economy of the EU.

British/German dual national Marc Jarrett, Managing Director of Emjay Consultancy Ltd, has historically focused on helping US firms expand into the UK.

Now, his company is focusing on helping both US and UK businesses establish themselves in Europe’s largest market, Germany.

“Of course, establishing a subsidiary overseas is nothing new,” he said.

“However, with the countdown clock ticking and the terms of any deal with the EU27 still unknown, an increasing number of UK companies are proactively pursuing this option as a form of hedge or insurance policy.

“This way, they can continue to trade freely within the EU without worrying about the ‘unknown unknowns’ that Brexit has created.

“Brexit came as a shock to most Germans. Many are Anglophiles at heart and would welcome the opportunity to continue working with British companies that elected not to leave the European Union after all.

“Germany has a business-friendly tax and legal system and its central location within Europe makes it the natural choice for British companies looking to establish a subsidiary or branch office on the continental mainland.”

MARC JARRETT’S GUIDE TO FORMING A GERMAN SUBSIDIARY

The most common legal company form is to establish a GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) which is German for “company with limited liability”.  The owners (Gesellschafter, also known as members) are not personally liable for the company’s debts. This is similar to a limited company in the UK.

A GmbH is formed in three stages:

1. The founding association, which is regarded as a private partnership with full liability of the founding partners/members.
2. The founded company (often styled as “GmbH I.G.”, with “I.G.” standing for in Gründung – literally “in the founding stages”, with the meaning of “registration pending”).
3. The fully registered GmbH. Only the registration of the company in the Commercial Register (Handelsregister) provides the GmbH with its full legal status.

What do you Need?

Under German law, the GmbH must have a minimum founding capital, €12,500 of which must be raised before registering in the commercial register.

The company is run only by the managing directors (Geschäftsführer) who have an unrestricted proxy for the company and must be either a national of a European Union country or have a German work permit.

Shareholders, on the other hand, can be any UK entity, be it a person or a UK Limited company.

Other factors to bear in mind when establishing a presence in Germany include securing a business address, launching a German language website (local law dictates this must include an ‘impressum’ which outlines company details), appointing a good tax consultant, and hiring at least one German-speaking representative who can help during the formation period and possibly beyond.

Unlike in the UK, joining the local chambers of commerce is mandatory. However, doing so will allow members to grow their business contacts.

Social network XING is their LinkedIn, which is another useful way to engage with prospective customers or partners.

Emjay Consultancy Ltd helps with all the necessary aspects of establishing a presence in Germany including company formation, opening bank accounts, real and virtual offices, sourcing of staff, translation of website and marketing collateral into German.  It has access to a network of professionals on the ground in Germany that can help with all aspects.

“We look forward to helping UK companies so that they can continue to do business in the epicentre of the world’s largest trading bloc and give them the edge over their competitors.  We will be at their side to help them every step of the way,” Marc Jarrett said.

PR - Gottesman Company Expands to Great Britain

Eugene Gottesman, President of Gottesman Company - "America's International Network of M&A Business Brokers" - announces that Gottesman has expanded from the USA to the United Kingdom.

HORSHAM, England - Aug. 26, 2017 - PRLog -- With its 1,000 Registered Buyers who own 5,000 companies between them and a loyal staff and 100 M&A professionals, Gottesman Company say they are in a position to do a good job. In fact, they say they have already begun to make progress.

After 32 years operating in America, with frequent inquiries from other countries worldwide, Gottesman Company has decided to integrate itself into the global M&A world. Not only so they have 100 M&A professionals on their team, but they also have close relationships with 1,000 other M&A firms worldwide with whom have they built mutual trust.

"We are now expanding our brokerage team in the UK, on a selective basis, all of whom operate as independent contractors. We are fortunate to have a good research department as well as a good reputation," observes Gottesman, 88, one of only 20 Lifetime Certified Business Intermediaries.

"We work with both Sellers and Buyers of mid-sized businesses with whom we are in direct contact, as well as Sellers from outside firms whom we call Cooperating Intermediaries. Our Seller clients are privately held companies in manufacturing, distribution and large service firms in all types of categories. They include aerospace & defense, health care, logistics, energy, business services and 100 other classifications. Our Buyers are both private and public companies. We are in effect "generalists" because our Brokers come with experience from many fields of endeavor".

Gottesman prefers to operate on a "success fee" basis only. The Company do not require any client to advance retainers or front money.

"We like the British. They keep their word", says Gottesman. "We welcome inquiries from companies, private equity groups, and other brokerage firms, as well as career-minded M&A professionals who can handle "big ticket" transactions".

For more information, go to http://www.gottesman-company.com.  To arrange a meeting, call Gottesman Company's UK VP and Regional Manager, Marc Jarrett on +44 (0) 7906786505, or if in the USA, call Eugene Gottesman, President at  203-984-4610 or email mjarrett@gottesman-company.com

Contact
Marc Jarrett
Gottesman Company
+447906786505

mjarrett@gottesman-company.com

                                                                                       

The Company now has a UK office

Eugene Gottesman

The antithesis of a ‘get rich quick’ scheme – life as Business Broker

In an increasingly interconnected world, there are a plethora of work-at-home opportunities.  Some of these are bona-fide.  However, most of them are not.  Advertisements claiming that respondents can make big bucks from the comfort of their own home are often misleading at best, and downright fraudulent in some cases.

This having been said, there are a large number of legitimate opportunities to work remotely on a commission only basis.  And it’s easy to see why: there is no cost or commitment on behalf of the ‘employer’, with a reward system that is directly correlated to results.  But more often than not, the remote worker needs to sell the underlying product or service in great quantities in order to derive a decent living out of it.

Independent Contractors who are not only willing but enthusiastic about working on a commission only basis should therefore consider working in an industry where the commissions are often a great deal more than most people earn in a year: by becoming a Business Broker.

M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) is the term used to describe the buying and selling of companies.  Professionals in the M&A ecosystem (Lawyers, Accountants, Bankers and Professional Consultants) execute these complex transactions.

The role of a Business Broker is to find a counterparty: to find a seller for buyers, and to find buyers for sellers.  No formal qualifications are needed in order to become a Business Broker.  Many are semi-retired professionals who enjoy the flexibility of working remotely at their own pace in an industry where the financial reward can be significant.

No two days are the same, and it is up to the Broker as to how they structure their working week.  This might include networking at Business Events to meet potential sellers (or buyers), making telephone calls, research, and compiling listings. 

But patience is needed: Even if a successful introduction is facilitated by the Broker, it can sometimes take a year or more for any deal to cross the finishing line.  This is why most Business Brokers are already financially independent and do not need a monthly income, or they are working professionals who execute their M&A activities on a part time basis.

To conduct such work independently world be a herculean undertaking.  It therefore makes much more sense for such individuals to work within an umbrella organisation that gives them the scale and support that is needed in order to succeed in this business.

Gottesman Company (www.gottesman-company.com) is one of the world’s largest networks of independent M&A Business Brokers.  It was established in 1985 by Eugene Gottesman, Lifetime CBI, and Chairman. 

Gottesman is different from conventional Business Brokers. We do not “represent” either the buyer or the seller as a fiduciary agent. Instead, we operate as independent M&A Business Brokers, part of the largest such firm in the United States, with close to 100 professionals.  We arrange the initial introduction and we only earn a fee when there is a successful transaction.

Given the increasing prevalence and increasing number of lower mid-market cross-border mergers and acquisitions, we are now hiring Independent Contractors to represent us in all countries throughout the world. 

If you have at least 10 to 40 years of general business and/or outside sales experience, know how to read a basic financial statement, and are computer literate you are welcome to apply to become our representative in your region.  A week’s training, ongoing support, and sales leads are provided to successful applicants.

This is diametrically the opposite of a ‘Quick Buck’ – it’s a slow burn.  However, life as a Business Broker for those who have patience can be very rewarding indeed, not only financially, but in the flexibility of working flexibly from home at a pace of your choosing

For more information, download and read the Application Briefing on http://gottesman-company.com/careers/