We want to say thank you to all of our clients for working with us, believing in us, and growing with us.

Here is to the future. Cheers.

Looterang

Unmoved by the allure of exfoliation, we had grown tired of receiving daily email offers at 7 A.M. for facial treatments at resort spas. We were embarrassed, too, by the smirks from waiters when we pulled out eight-and-a-half-by-eleven printed coupons when we were on dates with our now ex-girlfriends. We were also totally bored with the Groundhog Day moment every weekday at noon, when we pondered our lunch options before heading to the same old sandwich shop nearby. And we were bewildered by the lifestyle sites that gave us pointless recommendations, which, by the way, had nothing to do with our lifestyles. The proverbial straw that chapped our mixed-metaphoric hides the most? Feeling completely ripped off by the mounting pile of prepaid coupons that went unused.

We decided to do something about all of this. So we made Looterang — an offer site that solves everything.

Looterang gives you direct discounts with every purchase—no embarrassing coupons, no stupid points, no pesky check-ins. It also gives you smart, customized recommendations that are relevant to your lifestyle, so you actually want what merchants are offering. Best of all, Looterang puts the money you save right into your pocket.

Are you looking to start a business today? Bob Voss at AllBusiness.com advises that you study the current social trends.  What target markets are rapidly and steadily growing?  You should also have a competitive edge over other similar businesses.  Previous experience and know-how in that industry are also advantages if you don’t want shaky surprises.

“What is the best business to start right now?”

The meaning behind this question is clear. The person asking the question is looking for the perfect business based on current growth trends and economic issues.

I answer this question two ways. I usually start by explaining that various social or cultural trends can provide opportunities for business startups and even “recession-proof” businesses. For example, businesses that provide services to help aging seniors live more independent lives are a smart bet because the target market is growing rapidly.

Similarly, “green” businesses are being positively received right now. (The problem with “green” businesses is that many don’t have a sustainable business model and can require a lot of start-up capital: just look at Solyndra!) Pet-related businesses also seem recession-resistant. For some reason, people will continue to spend money on their pets even when they are in financial trouble.

But be warned: Trends are important, but they can change rapidly.

The second way I answer the question is to explain that any business can be a good business to start if it has three particular traits:

Chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International, J.W. Marriott, Jr., announced the spin-off of its vacation ownership business, the Marriott Vacations Worldwide, as reported at PRNewswire.com.  He is optimistic about the continuous global growth of Marriott International in the hospitality industry.  Marriott International had been serving guests in more than 70 countries through its signature Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Courtyard by Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Autograph Collection and AC by Marriott.

Since its founding nearly 85 years ago, never has Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) been as fully focused on its core lodging management and franchise business as today, concluding the spin-off of its timeshare business.  To complete the spin-off, equity shares of the new company, Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: VAC), are being distributed tax-free to Marriott International shareholders.

Marriott International also expects to file a Form 8-K report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission later today containing unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of income, as well as an unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet for Marriott International reflecting the impact of the spin-off.

J.W.

Franchise.org reports that the current rate of veteran unemployment is at 12% and will drop with the signing of the Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 by President Obama on November 21 at the White House.  The new law encourages businesses to hire veterans by granting tax credits to these employers.  The IFA thanked the President, First Lady and Congress for giving veterans the chance to be prime movers of the American economy.

Franchise business leaders and IFA President & CEO joined President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden at a White House bill signing ceremony today for the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, as the President recognized the industry’s commitment to hire as team members and recruit as franchise business owners 75,000 veterans and their spouses and 5,000 wounded warriors by 2014.

“We are honored to join President Obama and to thank him and First Lady Michelle Obama for their leadership to help our nation’s veterans access opportunities in the civilian economy that they so clearly deserve,” said IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira. “We need to ensure that America’s sons and daughters, who have served the nation so bravely, now can transition to stable civilian lives in which they can and should become leaders in our nation’s economy.”

Your franchise brand can be its most single valuable asset.  It takes years to build a reputation and a name that is identified with your business.  AllBusiness.com has provided some tips on protecting your franchise brand.

What does all this mean for your franchise brand? A strong business brand is particularly important in a franchised network of businesses because it is the singular symbol and the common identity used to identify independently owned franchises to the public as one organization. The products and services offered by franchisees are all represented by the brand; it’s the one name that appears over everyone’s door.

Given its importance in any franchise network, great effort goes into promoting the brand and, of course, protecting it. Wise franchise managers know that their brand is as fragile as any person’s reputation. It can be irretrievably injured by bad decisions and bad behavior, and it can be sullied and devalued as easily as a jilted high school friend can start a gossip campaign.

Restaurant chains like Popeye, KFC, Firehouse Subs and Rally’s Burger have stepped up incentive programs to lure franchisees to take the risk and open their own businesses, as reported in the Los Angeles Times.  Popeyes offers to waive its $30,000 franchise fee for new owners and lowered royalty fees from 5% of revenue to 2% for the first year.  But franchisees are advised to take caution as success will take time.

Fast-food chain Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has 75 restaurants in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties, and it plans to open 24 more despite the lagging economy.

Chicken-centric Popeyes, however, doesn’t plan on launching the new outlets on its own dime. It’s seeking franchisees — would-be entrepreneurs willing to take on the expense and risk of opening their own businesses.

“We just don’t have the resources to build everywhere ourselves,” said Greg Vojnovic, vice president of development of Popeyes, owned by AFC Enterprises Inc.

Restaurant chain franchising is on a slow but steady increase, and not just at Popeyes.

Yum Brands Inc.

Several groups that include the banking sector and business organizations have written to Congress to ask for more funding for the Small Business Administration, reports Portfolio.com.  But it seems Congress will retain the current figure of $1.4 billion compared to $2.6 billion during the same period a year earlier.  The former are hoping that the lawmakers at least restore the available loans to the amount of the previous year.

More than 20 business groups urged Congress today to increase funding for the Small Business Administration and restore incentives that led to a record level of SBA lending last year.

The SBA approved a record $19.6 billion in government-backed loans through its flagship 7(a) program in fiscal 2011, which ended September 30. That was up from $12.5 billion the year before. Much of this lending occurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, when the Small Business Jobs Act provided additional funds that enabled the agency to increase its guarantee on 7(a) loans to 90 percent and waive fees on these loans. These breaks made the loans less risky to lenders and more affordable to borrowers.

Those breaks are gone—and they’re missed. So far this fiscal year, the SBA has approved $1.4 billion in 7(a) loans, compared with $2.6 billion during the same period a year earlier. This year’s total also is below the pace set two years ago, when these loan breaks were funded by the economic stimulus bill.