royalties http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for royalties Copyright 2008 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:10:25 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/royalties Oil Companies Take Advantage Of Taxpayers http://www.artwoo.com/article/oil-companies-take-advantage-of-taxpayers http://www.artwoo.com/article/oil-companies-take-advantage-of-taxpayers#comments Fri, 04 Aug 2006 02:27:04 +0000 kerr mcgeeroyaltiesoil pricesoil companiesroyalty reliefrecord profitsfederal leases http://www.artwoo.com/article/oil-companies-take-advantage-of-taxpayers Royalty Relief Act in 1995, it had no idea that ten years later would be more than triple, giving .

Back in 1995, the government wanted to provide incentives to companies to take on the high costs and risks of drilling for new oil wells. Back then, oil was cheap and the oil companies claimed they didn't have the profits to justify the risk of drilling.

In exchange for the oil companies taking the risk on drilling, the government agreed to drop for drilling on federal lands and water in the Gulf Coast. This might have been necessary back when oil was twenty bucks a barrel, but today it's up around seventy and the oil companies certainly can not claim they don't have enough profits to justify taking a risk.

With the high price of oil today, the government is loosing millions of dollars in royalties. In the original legislation, there are trigger points--$35 a barrel for oil--where the companies would start having to pay royalties.

The cost of oil has been well above the trigger point for several years and will likely stay that way for the next several years, but companies are still not paying royalties. This is because oil companies who took out in 1998 and 1999 had the trigger prices waived. Most observers think it's high time for the royalties to be reinstated.

For the years between 1996 and 2000, Congress was not specific in price thresholds, and many oil companies are arguing that since no threshold was set, the government has no right to demand the royalties. Some executives have even threatened lawsuits if the government demands royalties. As of February 2006, Kerr-McGee is the only oil company who had followed through with that threat after the Interior Department asked 41 oil companies to pay over $500 million in royalties for 2004.

andquot;It was not Congress's intent that if oil was at $10 a barrel, there should be royalty relief,andquot; said Republican Representative Richard W. Pombo. andquot;But at $70 a barrel, don't expect royalty relief.andquot;

Unbelievably, the oil companies DO expect it, and for the most part, they've been getting it. Does this seem fair to you when the price for a gallon of gas hovers around three dollars and the entire economy is being negatively impacted? Dave Larsen has worked for twenty-five plus years in the alternative energy business. Originally trained as an auto mechanic, Dave quit that profession because he got tired of shop owners ordering him to rip customers off. Dave now offers tips so people can save money on their fuel bills. Get his recommendations at http://www.energy-efficient-car.com ]]> Oil Companies Benefit, Taxpayers Loose http://www.artwoo.com/article/oil-companies-benefit-taxpayers-loose http://www.artwoo.com/article/oil-companies-benefit-taxpayers-loose#comments Fri, 04 Aug 2006 02:27:06 +0000 alternative energy sourcesbig oil companiesroyaltieskerr mcgeefederal mineralsrepresentative george millerfederal land http://www.artwoo.com/article/oil-companies-benefit-taxpayers-loose big oil companies as you're already fuming from watching your gasoline bill skyrocket.

The federal government is allowing oil companies to get away with not paying when they drill on . So the government is loosing billions of dollars that could be put towards Medicare, Medicaid, education, and research for , just to name a few.

The oil companies are currently being allowed to not pay these royalties when most objective observers feel they should. Certainly any US taxpayer would feel that way if they knew what was going on.

The royalties are a hang over from a bygone day when the government was trying to encourage drilling in the 90's. Oil was was cheap back then and the oil companies claimed they didn't have the profit to risk money looking for new wells.

To give the oil companies a break, the government waived the royalties. Now that the price of oil has shot through the roof, the government has not yet reinstated the royalties.

Currently about 25% of all American produced oil and gas comes from federally owned lands and waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

Both Republicans and Democrats are worried about the situation. andquot;It's one of the greatest train robberies in the history of the world,andquot; said Democrat .

andquot;We need to remember the primary reason that incentives are given. It's not to make more money. It's to make more oil, more gas,andquot; said Johnnie Burton, the director of the Management Service. andquot;Production of fuel for our nation is essential to our economy and essential to our people.andquot;

With oil companies reaping record profits, the government is finally beginning to demand the millions of dollars of royalties that have gone unpaid. The oil industry, however, is not going to give up without a fight. Kerr-McGee announced intentions to challenge the government's demands in court.

If the government looses its case, it will loose an estimated $35 billion due in royalties by the year 2011. Incidentally, this is the same amount Bush wants to cut from domestic programs over the same time period. Dave Larsen has worked for twenty-five plus years in the alternative energy business. Originally trained as an auto mechanic, Dave quit that profession because he got tired of shop owners ordering him to rip customers off. Dave now offers tips so people can save money on their fuel bills. Get his recommendations at http://www.energy-efficient-car.com ]]> Copyright Law And Legal Protection Of Your Work http://www.artwoo.com/article/copyright-law-and-legal-protection-of-your-work http://www.artwoo.com/article/copyright-law-and-legal-protection-of-your-work#comments Sun, 29 Jul 2007 01:14:59 +0000 publish a bookintellectual propertycopyright lawfifty yearsroyaltiesblogminnesota law http://www.artwoo.com/article/copyright-law-and-legal-protection-of-your-work Copyright law is a means of securing legal protection of your ownership of a publication or another type of , such as a website or a . If you and sign a contract with a publisher, you normally agree to relinquish all rights to the work until a certain condition is met. This can be a length of time, in which case you will start to earn after your book has been in print for a certain number of months. It can also be a price, which would be the total royalties that your book must earn before you start getting paid. This price is normally your publishing advance, so when your book has made more than your advance, you start earning royalties.

When you publish a book, a website or a blog you automatically establish ownership of that content, whether you sign a contract or not. International copyright law can be extremely complicated, with many different clauses and conditions. However, the standard copyright for any publication is the life of the author plus . Once this time is over, the copyright of the publication could fall into the hands of any number of entities. Your copyright usually falls into the public domain, but you could have a special clause in your contract stipulating otherwise.

There are two different types of copyright that are generally established for a publication. The first is the copyright in the literary work itself, which has the duration of your life plus fifty years. The second is the copyright in the layout, format and distinct "feel" of the publication. According to copyright law the content remains your intellectual property for fifty years after that specific publication, so if your book sees a new edition a century after its first publication, you will still own this copyright. Get a minnesota business attorney to help you with , including copyright issues: http://www.bolinskelaw.com ]]> Get Your Gear Licensed http://www.artwoo.com/article/get-your-gear-licensed http://www.artwoo.com/article/get-your-gear-licensed#comments Mon, 08 May 2006 12:32:03 +0000 sports fanaticprofessional sports teamssports gearsell sportslogoavailable for saledefinitely http://www.artwoo.com/article/get-your-gear-licensed sports fanatic and want to have the best gear around, you will want to find a distributor that offers officially licensed items. If something has been officially licensed it means that the team is proud to put their name on it, which shows that it is a top notch product.

Almost every piece of that is has been licensed through the team that is represented on it. This is done because the team owns the rights to the , and nobody else is allowed to use it for profit unless they have permission from the organization.

Getting permission does a couple of different things. First off, it allows the user to put the logo on anything that they want; of course it has to be approved by the licensing department for each team. Most organizations have no problem letting the public use their logo as long as it is for a tasteful reason. A professional team or university will never allow anybody to put their name on anything that may put their organization in a bad light. This would only give them bad publicity, which is something that they are not looking for.

One thing that many people are not aware of is that when you get your gear licensed through a team or organization that you will have to pay them royalties on each sale. This is something that everybody has to do, and you might as well budget for it before you even get started. Nobody is going to let you use their name for free, and and universities are no different. The good thing is that the royalties are not so high that they will make a huge dent in your profits. Typically, they will run anywhere from 5-10%. This means that if you sell a shirt for 10$, you will have to pay 1$ to the organization for each one that you sell; the rest is yours in the form of pure profit.

Overall, if you are going to gear make that you go through the necessary steps to get it licensed. This way you will never have to worry about problems arising down the road. It is not a very difficult process to complete, and after you do a couple of teams you will know the steps and breeze through the rest. Linda Polansky writes about NFL Logos http://www.TeamLogoAndGear.com and Sport Gear ]]> The Importance Of Getting Music Licensed http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-getting-music-licensed http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-getting-music-licensed#comments Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:25:05 +0000 fast food restaurantmusic licensingshare musicmarketing campaignpiece of musicnew bandsjail time http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-getting-music-licensed
Let me tell you a story about this musician I know who plays the violin. He found a contest of interest to him where he needed to compose a for a . They wanted the material for an upcoming . He won $500 for his music with that contest, but it was only after the fact that he realized he should have had that music licensed.

The fast food restaurant make a fortune from the marketing campaign using his music. They also sold it to another company so they could use in a movie. My friend created the music but he never was entitled to a cent for the use of his song after that $500 prize due to the licensing requirements.

You need to keep these rights in mind when you are accessing music you don't rightfully own from the internet or other source. Even if you make a CD for your friend from music CD's you do own that is a form of piracy. This is because the music industry and the artists aren't getting their royalties for that music, so in essence you are stealing from them.

The cost of legal fees to take care of charges of infringing on the music licensing rights of someone are too expensive to take lightly. There are also fines and that could be attached to any sentence you receive as a result of such charges. It is legal to download and that is found without a license. Many allow this in the hopes that their songs will get discovered. They have nothing to lose by you accessing their materials because they haven't been offered a recording deal yet. Salihu Ibrahim also provides valuable information on hdtv cables this website http://www.hdtv-guide-reviews.com ]]> Franchises Versus Licensed Business Opportunities http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchises-versus-licensed-business-opportunities http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchises-versus-licensed-business-opportunities#comments Thu, 31 May 2007 05:34:49 +0000 franchise ownerfranchise feefranchise agreementbecome a franchiseefranchisorbusiness opportunitybusiness model http://www.artwoo.com/article/franchises-versus-licensed-business-opportunities business opportunity. Anyone looking for business opportunities must understand what a franchise is and what a licensed business opportunity is. This brief overview will help you understand the differences.

First of all, a franchise is simply a that has been proven to be effective. The who created this business model will then sell you the rights to use the business model as well as the services or goods that particular system sells. Once you pay your you will and have a relationship with the franchisor to assist you with the system. A will be signed and this agreement outlines the assistance the franchisee will receive through the franchisor and the business model. A must pay royalty fees to the franchisor. Also, a franchise owner must follow the business plan exactly as it is. If any changes are to be made they must first be approved by the head office. Of course, with a franchise you will get a lot of support and a readymade plan to follow. Some franchises are better than others at helping their franchisees become successful, but most do everything possible because the name of the franchise is at stake. Marketing fees are also paid by most all franchisees to the franchisor. That's because the franchisor is marketing and advertising the product/service to the benefit of all franchisees and they pay a yearly fee towards that.

A licensed business opportunity is a business opportunity not unlike a franchise, but it is set up a bit different. First of all a licensed business does not require royalties nor does it require that you pass off all decisions with the head company. A licensed business opportunity is generally significantly more affordable than a franchise. That's because the license is all that is purchased, not the entire business model so there are no franchise fees, marketing fees, or royalties to pay. Most licensed business opportunities also do not require marketing fees. Many have graphics that may be used with instructions, but no set marketing fee that must be paid.

As you can see franchises and licensed business opportunities are not the same thing. They both offer the opportunity at a new business, but the way that business is managed and the fees that must be paid in association with the new business are significantly different. Keep in mind that there are benefits and drawbacks associated with both franchises and licensed business opportunities. You must weigh the advantages and disadvantages before making a decision to go ahead with any particular franchise or licensed business opportunity. Find franchises, franchise opportunities and information for entrepreneurs at http://www.franchisegator.com Franchise Gator. ]]> Put Your Best Business Face Forward With http://www.artwoo.com/article/put-your-best-business-face-forward-with http://www.artwoo.com/article/put-your-best-business-face-forward-with#comments Fri, 14 Apr 2006 13:45:18 +0000 royalty free graphicsgraphics imagesgraphics librariescutting edge graphicsbusiness cardsgraphic librariesbusiness face http://www.artwoo.com/article/put-your-best-business-face-forward-with
This is why it is so important to always put your best forward. What is your business face? Anything that customers initially interact with, such as your website, letterhead, advertisements, logos, or make up your business face. If all these things don't work together to make a positive impression, your customers aren't likely to take that next step and eventually buy from you.

Many businesspeople think that making their business materials look and feel professional and enticing costs a lot of money, and it certainly can--but it doesn't have to. The Internet has virtually unlimited resources for inexpensive ways to spice up your logo, web page, stationery, business cards, and more. The cutting-edge graphics, animations, fonts, and clipart are out there just waiting for you to find them, and they're not necessarily expensive or complicated to use.

If you're willing to spend some time looking, there are many on the Web that offer images for download or printing. If you conduct a search for "clipart" or "graphics" you're likely to find several of these libraries, but be careful. Some of them will want royalty fees or charge monthly for membership, whether you use any art that month or not.

What you're looking for is royalty-free graphics; images that nobody wants payment for. You also want to use images only from sites that expressly say you don't have to worry about copyrights. The last thing you want is to be using images that belong exclusively to someone else.

Overall, the graphics you need are out there, and just because they're inexpensive doesn't mean they look cheap. There are select out there today that offer affordable, cutting-edge, impressive graphics for your use without royalties or copyright worries. Find them, and you can put your best face forward and make that all-important positive first impression. Author Robert Gillen is founder of http://www.GraphicsFactory.com The Graphics Factory offers 700,000 state-of-the-art clipart images, fonts, graphics, animations, and even coloring pages for just pennies per week, without royalties or copyright worries. Reach Robert at help@graphicsfactory.com or 1-800-339-2383. ]]> There Is Nothing Passive About Passive Income! http://www.artwoo.com/article/there-is-nothing-passive-about-passive-income http://www.artwoo.com/article/there-is-nothing-passive-about-passive-income#comments Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:25:02 +0000 passive income streamstypes of passive incomereal estate principlesreal estate investmentsregulatory statutesvalue approachpassive activity http://www.artwoo.com/article/there-is-nothing-passive-about-passive-income
There are three types of income=97earned, portfolio and passive income. Most are derived from rental/property, while other types of passive income are derived from royalties from patents or license agreements.

An income stream falling into this category is one where money is received usually on a regular basis, without continuing effort. This does not mean no effort at all; most require great effort to start with.

Income- is defined to include all income generated from rental -- regardless of how active the investor is in managing the property or properties.( A 2nd edition pg.519)

Examples of Passive Income

* Income from rental property * Royalties from writing a book. * Earnings from Network Marketing

I don't know about you but that seems like alot of work for something that is supposed to be passive. So when you see the ads for passive income think about the examples listed above.

Lets look at the examples of passive income listed.

Income from rental property:

Ok this is one we've all heard about. You buy a house or inherit a house or a number of other ways and decide to generate some passive income by renting the house and collecting the residuals which are hopefully more than the payments and other financial obligations you have for the house. Once all your obligations are met with respect to conforming to all you find a renter and start collecting your monthly rent checks, if you are lucky. More times than not the rent checks are late, the plumbing needs to be fixed and the roof is leaking. These are a small example of things that can and will go wrong with a rental property. Passive income? Hardly!

Royalties from writing a book:

Well if you have the patience,knowledge and time to actually write something that someone is willing to pay you for, then by all means go ahead and do it. Perhaps two years to write the book, another year to actually get someone to publish the book and then of course you need someone to buy the book. But once this happens yup, you guessed it passive income. Most of us can't wait that long and don't really know enough about any one subject to dedicate that much time to wait for the passive income. Passive income? Eventually!

Earnings from network marketing:

Now network marketing is not new but it is certainly gaining notoriety among the online business crowd. Online network marketing is a popular venue for those interested in starting a home based business but don't want the costs associated with the old "Brick and Mortar" approach to financial freedom. But before you can get to the point where you are generating passive income there are steps which need to be taken to help insure your success. You must first have a product to sell or someone else's product to sell, ie:(affiliate marketing). You need the right tools and business model to emulate in order to place the odds of succeeding in your favor. You need startup capital for all your advertising needs and web hosting accounts. Unless you are proficient at web authoring you will need the aid of a programmer to get you that fancy website which you hope will make you a small fortune. These, along with other necessities , (which is out of the scope of this article), are necessary for this to qualify as passive income. However, there are systems that can be setup for you which will take alot of the guesswork out of starting from scratch. Passive income? Done right it could be! Kevin Forrester writes on a number of different online business topics. If you want to cut your learning curve and minimize your expense Kevin recommends you visit: http://www.Moolahman.com ]]> How To Use Royalty Free Music To Keep Your Website And Videos Legal http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-use-royalty-free-music-to-keep-your-website-and-videos-legal http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-use-royalty-free-music-to-keep-your-website-and-videos-legal#comments Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:35:00 +0000 cease and desist letterroyalty free musicopen source softwarecorporate lawyersbuyout musicbest guesscopyright issue http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-use-royalty-free-music-to-keep-your-website-and-videos-legal Royalty free music is one of the safest kinds of music you can use on your website. It's designed to be used on websites, in videos and other productions with almost no restrictions. The only other safe option to use would be a track that you've written and performed yourself.

Almost all modern music is copyright. And this copyright is enforced ferociously by the record companies . Which means that if you want to use it on your website, you will have to come to an arrangement with the owner of that copyright in order to use it =96 not the easiest thing to do as you have to track them down and then find out who handles this kind of . Either that or be prepared for a "cease and desist" letter from their lawyer along with a demand for unpaid royalties. The "unpaid royalties" figure will be their of what you are likely to owe and you can be certain that it won't be an underestimate =96 it will be up to you to prove any lower amount, Not the nicest thing to have happen to you.

It's a common misconception that if something is available on the internet, it's OK to use it on your website. People think this about pictures as well as music. But that's not true - everything published is automatically copyright unless the author specifically says otherwise - this happens nowadays mainly with and even then there's usually some kind of agreement (often called copyleft). Only search engines like Google can get away with crawling your website and taking all your copyright material. And that's only because you want the traffic they can send back to your website in return!

Far and away the safest kind of sounds to use on your website or on your YouTube videos are called "royalty free" or sometimes "stock" or "buyout" music.

The author takes a one-off fee in return for you being able to use their work pretty much anywhere and any way you see fit. Although there's usually a restriction to stop you selling it unaltered - you normally have to modify it in some way. So it's fine to use the track behind your YouTube videos but you wouldn't be allowed to sell a CD with simply the royalty free music on it. Which is fair enough, otherwise the author would never get any money.

Once you've bought a track or CD in this manner, you can add it to your website and still be able to sleep at night. You can also use it to add variety to your YouTube videos, or in an amateur dramatic production, your own movie, CDs and DVDs you produce, and anything else you can think of.

There are all sorts of different tracks available from new age through to R'n'B, Hip Hop, jazz, country and any other musical genre you care to name. So you're bound to be able to get hold of something that fits the mood you want to recreate. Learn more about using royalty free music at http://www.squidoo.com/royalty-free-music Find out what's available and where you cam purchase royalty free music for immediate download at http://www.squidoo.com/royalty-free-music ]]> Is It Legal To Rip A CD? http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-it-legal-to-rip-a-cd http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-it-legal-to-rip-a-cd#comments Wed, 27 Sep 2006 02:27:03 +0000 mp3 formatmp3 fileripacquaintancesrecording artistsmusic loversfavorite music http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-it-legal-to-rip-a-cd ripping thousands of CDs, it seems a little late to be wondering whether this activity is legal. When you rip a cd, you take an audio track from a cd and convert it into an audio format that can be stored on your computer. After defining this action, it would seem that lots of are missing out on lots of opportunities to collect royalties. If this is the case, how can cd ripping be legal?

Understanding what is allowed

When it comes to the law and how it pertains to the act of ripping a cd, it's much easier to list the types of activities that are not considered illegal. There are 2 main scenarios under which it is legal to rip a cd.

Once a person has purchased a cd, that person is allowed to rip that cd into . It is also legal for that mp3 to then be stored on that person's personal computer. That person is legally entitled to play any ripped created off a purchased cd as long it is being played for personal use. The logic in this scenario is that the artist already received royalties when the person purchased the cd before ripping it.

The second scenario under which it is legal to rip a cd occurs when the artist creates an mp3 file and then allows others to freely and legally access that file. Those taking advantage of the artist's offer are also entitled to forward the mp3 to their if they so desire. With a little searching, it isn't hard to find web sites that are devoted to collecting such artist-released mp3 files.

The reality of cd rips

The truth of the matter is that most people are honest and the majority of are only going to rip a cd that they already own. They won't try to make money off these endeavors; they'd rather just have their in mp3 format so that it's much easier to carry around.

The small percentages of individuals who rip cds illegally are going to do so whether or not laws are in place. However, their actions likely aren't going to force the recording industry into bankruptcy. This didn't happen a decade ago when newly released movies were being illegally copied and distributed on the black market and it isn't likely going to happen with the music industry, either.

Nonetheless, the recording industry is more focused on the principles involved, and rightly so. Industry representatives already have countless dollars and hours tied up in litigation without any clear indication of victory. Taking a different approach, the industry has begun looking for ways to create mp3 files that have built-in copyright protection. The WMA (Windows Media) format is one such attempt and its use is growing within the industry.

The best advice

If you want to rip a cd, just be part of the group that does so "legally" and enjoy your music! http://www.Arizonarips.com ]]> Self Publishing: Is This The Way To Publish Your Book? http://www.artwoo.com/article/self-publishing-is-this-the-way-to-publish-your-book http://www.artwoo.com/article/self-publishing-is-this-the-way-to-publish-your-book#comments Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:27:03 +0000 self publishingpublish your bookmarketing departmentkentucky kissestraditional publishingself publishroyalties http://www.artwoo.com/article/self-publishing-is-this-the-way-to-publish-your-book ing might be the best way to . There are several advantages to self publishing that you might not have considered.

First, and most important, self publishing places you firmly in control of your book. When someone else is paying you to publish your book then they make many decisions regarding the editing of the manuscript, the cover, the title and the marketing that can impact not only how well your book will sell but also how it will be received by the reading public. For example, my second book ended up with the title andquot;andquot; simply because my publisher's reported that books with the word andquot;kissesandquot; in the title sold well. I felt the title was rather frivolous for the content but my wishes were ignored.

Self publishing is also faster than . With my novel, Kentucky Kisses, it took me over a year to find a publisher interested in buying and several months before we went to contract. Then after the contract was signed it was another 18 months before my book was released to the public. That is a long time to wait.

Self publishing also allows you to retain all the profits from your endeavor. While you may have to put some money up front (depending on the method you use to self publish your book) you will not have to wait for months or years to see income as a result. Most publishers only pay once or twice a year and then those royalties are only a small percentage of the book price. When you self publish your book then once you have covered any publications costs everything you earn is pure profit.

Finally, it cannot be overlooked that self publishing offers you an opportunity to break into print that might not be otherwise available. The simple fact is that traditional publishing is highly competitive and many worthwhile manuscripts (and authors) cannot find a publishing home although there may well be an eager and receptive audience for that book.

It should be noted that self publishing may not be for everyone. If you are still struggling with your writing and voice, or your manuscript still needs polishing, then you should continue to work on your book and perhaps bring in the assistance of a critique group or professional editor. Self publishing a book that is not yet ready for publication could be a costly mistake. If your manuscript has been polished and well received by several critical readers then you should at least consider self publishing your book.

Not only does self publishing offer you the advantages of complete control, faster publication, and higher profits, it is easier and less expensive than it has ever been before thanks to modern technology. Self publishing could be your big break as a writer. Deanna Mascle shares tips about writing and publishing with her newsletter Word Craft at http://wordcraftonline.com. You can find out more about Self Publishing A Book at http://wordcraftonline.com/selfpublishing.php ]]> Is it Time to Own a Franchise? http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-it-time-to-own-a-franchise http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-it-time-to-own-a-franchise#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:15:25 +0000 personal data sheetfranchise storefranchise opportunitiesfranchiserfranchisersfranchising opportunitiesfranch http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-it-time-to-own-a-franchise franchising may be just the thing you are looking for especially if you are either going into a new business venture or a brand new industry. As a you will immediately become a partner in the business which gives you that credibility and experience that you will need. It will also provide you with support and procedure training that would not be available to you if you were to start a business in your own. The best for you to go to are the ones that are willing to provide you with inventory and equipment. You have the opportunity to take advantage of the franchiser's buying power because of their name even if they do not directly sell you supplies, equipment or inventory.

Royalties represent a significant part of the franchiser's revenue stream and therefore the franchiser makes more money when you make more money. Consequently you are at an advantage, because you have the opportunity to purchase items from them or from a competitive vendor, they will always provide you with the best value. This is one of the benefits that you receive by becoming a partner in their business.

An example of the many available to you is Midas. This article advices you on how to get started with opening up your own Midas .

Firstly you will need to visit the website for Midas and there you will find a that you will need to fill out. You will be able to submit this form by email but it can also be mailed or faxed. It may be helpful to you to ask for an information pack on available to you.

You are probably wondering if you will suit running a franchise store. If you can say that you have a net worth of $250,000 and a cash liquidity of $75,000 then you will be eligible and you also need to have some general experience in the business world. You will need a total investment of something between $243,000 and $329,000 to enable you to start your own franchise (excluding the franchise fee of $20,000). Another requirement of Midas is that you pay 10% royalties on top of the annual franchise fee of $10,000. As you can see there is a lot of money that you need to invest in this career opportunity and you may struggle to get hold of this amount of money. If this is the case the contact the Small Business Association where you can apply for a business loan. The work that you get through Midas will allow you to fully repay this loan with no problems.

Once you start your franchise you are going to need assistance to run your new Midas store so it is advised that you hire some people that you think will be good workers. These people will need to be experienced in automotive repair. But before the store can be opened you will be required to go to the Midas headquarters and take part in a three week training program. Once this training is completed you will need to do some additional training at your own location.

Becoming a partner in Midas franchise store means you will receive ongoing support from the company. This is done by means of newsletters, company meetings, a toll-free help phone line, a grand opening celebration an field operators. The security and safety procedures and standards of the company will also be made accessible to you.James Copper is a writer for http://www.newcareerskills.co.uk]]> Understanding Software Copyright Laws http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-software-copyright-laws http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-software-copyright-laws#comments Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:15:00 +0000 copyright lawssoftware copyrightsoftware developersroyaltiesbreachsoftware etcsoftware businesses http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-software-copyright-laws copyright laws are among the most difficult to enforce among the masses. Many companies and corporations are well known for overlooking these laws, which were designed to protect the creation of software from not earning their worth. Perhaps one of the biggest hitches why many go out of business is they have difficulty enforcing laws and getting money that is owed to them from end users.

, particularly in the corporate world, design software that makes other companies run more efficiently. The software allows these companies to save millions of dollars each year. Software copyright laws protect the interests of the software developers who create these massive programs. These expensive programs are designed specifically for that one company. The copyright and license agreement often consists of a certain number of users with the company purchasing more licenses or copies of the software during expansions or paying some sort of for the use of the software.

The purchasing companies agree to this and then often fail to honor that agreement. The agreement is what allows this company to use that software. When companies aren't living up to their end of this agreement, they are not only guilty of ing that agreement, but also of breaking software copyright laws. The trouble always lies in proving they are not honoring the contract and the extent and duration of the breach.

Some ways companies will argue, in defense of not paying the royalties, additional fees, purchasing additional software, etc. is they had upgraded computers and reused the old software (they did actually purchase the rights to use the original software and by doing so feel that they have broken no software copyright laws). The problem lies in the fact that adding ten new computers and placing the software on those should mean you remove it from or get rid of 10 old computers. This is rarely how it works. The truth is they've stolen ten copies of software which can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Multiply this by 10, 20, or 100 companies doing the same thing and the offending companies are costing software developers millions of dollars in profits. This is when software copyright laws are not as far reaching in their scope as they really need to be.

Software copyright laws exist to protect the software companies from this type of abuse and misuse; however, the hands of the companies are almost unilaterally tied when it comes to proving that software copyright laws have been broken in court.

There are always exceptions to every rule. In this case big business software developers that abuse the software copyright laws make the exceptions rather than consumers who do not pay for the products they are consuming. The big boys are able to do this by offering licenses for their software and claiming that these laws do not apply to their situation because they are not actually selling the software, but only "renting" out permission for people or companies to use that software. The true irony is that these practices began as a response to the corporate irresponsibility mentioned above. It's amazing the very software copyright laws that were created to protect these companies can't protect their consumers from the greed of the developing companies. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> Work at Home in a Recession and Still Create Wealth? http://www.artwoo.com/article/work-at-home-in-a-recession-and-still-create-wealth http://www.artwoo.com/article/work-at-home-in-a-recession-and-still-create-wealth#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:29:28 +0000 self employment opportunitylinear incomework at home opportunitiestelecommuting programswork clothesworking relationshipsfinancial liability http://www.artwoo.com/article/work-at-home-in-a-recession-and-still-create-wealth
Now, not everyone who works from home is going to come out of it wealthy, but there are those who will improve their financial situation.

Right now is actually the perfect time to work at home as it is the current trend. More companies are setting up for their employees as an effective method to cut overhead expenses. Not only that but, unstable economic conditions encourage people to set up full or part-time home based businesses.

Although there are financial benefits to working at home such the costs saved on buying expensive , saving on gas (which is through the roof), and tax benefits, working from home in itself won't get you closer to wealth. You have to be smart about the way you do it.

Many people when they look for a self-employment opportunity approach it with the same attitude and standards as working outside the home. That is--they search for linear . The problem with is there is a limit on what you can earn.

A classic example of a work at home linear income job is, you sell something to one person, get paid and then look for another person to sell to. By doing this you are putting yourself in the same economic trap that you were originally trying to free yourself from.

Very few people can obtain wealth with a linear income especially if you work at home. Even if you do make a lot of money you have to work longer hours, take on extra responsibility and be prepared for .

Instead of looking for opportunities where you are paid once for a task you do look for that allow you to build residual or passive income. In other words find opportunities that pay for a task you did.

Smart people, wealthy people, people who are rarely affected by a weak economy look for opportunities that will generate a recurring, long term income, while they sleep, while they are on vacation even when they retire.

These types of work at home jobs do not build themselves overnight. They take some initial effort to set up but require little maintenance after.

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to earn passive income and work at home. When looking for affiliate programs look for those that pay life time commissions. Royalties are also a great way to earn recurring income. If writing is a skill of yours there are many websites that pay royalties for your articles.

The financial situation for many is looking bleak. But you can turn it around if you work at home. Because you are making more money and are saving money, your financial situation will greatly improve. Just remember when you are looking for home based opportunities look for those where you work once and get paid over and over again.Jeff Casmer is an internet marketing consultant and work at home business owner. His "Top Ranked" Work at Home Directory gives you all the information you need to Earn Money in the 21st century.]]> How To Avoid Copyright Infringement http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-avoid-copyright-infringement http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-avoid-copyright-infringement#comments Fri, 06 Jul 2007 10:30:01 +0000 copyright infringementpublic domainelectronic frontier foundationpower point presentationcreative commonscopyright codeobtaining copyright http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-avoid-copyright-infringement Copyright infringement is not an easy thing to explain. While it may seem as simple as not using someone else's work, it's not that easy. Thanks to the , and many other organizations, we have the ability to use others' works -- as long as we use it under Fair Use laws. So what does Fair Use have to do with copyright infringement, and how can you utilize it?

Fair Use laws allow us to use a copyrighted work without having to pay someone royalties. This includes using a copyrighted work for educational or instructional uses, criticism of the work, commentaries on the work, news reporting about the work, teaching on the work (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship uses, and research. This is talked about fully in Section 107 of the (commonly called Fair Use) and is available for you to read at your local library.

Copyright Infringement in day-to-day life

Sometimes, if you're writing a paper for work or school, or if you are creating a , you need to use someone's work that is already in copyright. So how do you use it without committing copyright infringement? All you have to do is ask -- the worst they can say is no, right? But, if they do say no, there are several items in the which may help you to finish your project without having to commit copyright infringement.

What is the public domain, and how does it relate to copyright infringement?

Material that is not copyrighted is considered in the public domain. You cannot commit copyright infringement on works in the public domain. These works include things that the copyright has expired on, or is not copyrightable -- such as government publications, jokes, titles, and ideas. Some creators (writers, musicians, artists, and more) deliberately put their work in the public domain, without ever , by providing an affiliation with . Creative Commons allows people who create materials to forfeit some, or all, of their copyright rights and place their work either partially or fully in the public domain.

So, how do I ensure I'm not committing copyright infringement?

First of all, if you're going to use someone else's material, you may want to check the public domain to see if something is suitable for use, instead of trying to use someone else's copyright. However, if you can't find something suitable (and you can't create something yourself), the next best thing (and your only legal course of action) is to find a piece that is in copyright, and contacting the copyright holder.

When you contact the copyright holder, make sure you tell them what you want to use their piece for -- whether it's for your blog, podcast, or report -- and ask if you can use it. You may have to pay royalties, or an attribution in your piece, or a combination of both. The creator may also place many limitations on when and how you can use their material. Follow all these instructions they give you, and you'll be free and clear to use their work as you want.

Once you have permission to use a copyrighted work, you need to make sure you stay within the agreed-upon boundaries. If you veer outside their agreed terms, you may open yourself up for a copyright infringement lawsuit, which can be nasty, costly, and time consuming. If you're in doubt, before contacting the copyright holder, contact a copyright lawyer to ensure you're following the law -- and protect yourself!

QUESTION: If you hear a great new band, and then download a song from MySpace, is that legal or not?

ANSWER: The events of copyright infringement are not only limited by Kazaa, Morpheus, or some other file sharing peer to peer (P2P) service. If you download a song -- no matter if you're on a website or a MySpace page -- and it isn't coming from the artist themselves, you may want to think about downloading it. Chances are, if it's not coming from them, you can't have it -- unless it is under a Creative Commons License. Creative Commons gives the exact ways in which you can use the license -- and many times those are completely free and legal to download, so make sure you check if it's under a CC License.



QUESTION: If I'm writing a paper, or article, and I want to quote another website, can I?

ANSWER: First of all, did you know the minute you write or create something, you hold the copyright to it? ESPECIALLY if you're writing it online -- it's very easy to track things on the Internet. So, if you're writing a blog, all the things you've written (no matter good or bad) are recorded, thanks to Archive.org, which lets you review last versions of your web pages.

Sometimes, we can use someone else's work in our own, and think we're small and anonymous. That no one will notice by the time you get it down -- you're just "borrowing" it. Before you begin quoting anyone's website -- from CNN to your local neighborhood hardware store -- you need to ask the person who holds the copyright if you can. Usually, they'll let you if you attribute to them. Depending who you talk to, you'll either have to pay royalties or license rights to republish. If you don't ask before you quote, you're beginning the events of copyright infringement and you are opening yourself up for a lawsuit. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> Gemstones 101 - The Ruby http://www.artwoo.com/article/gemstones-101-the-ruby http://www.artwoo.com/article/gemstones-101-the-ruby#comments Sun, 02 Sep 2007 03:20:02 +0000 ruby rubiesremove blemishesdifferent shades of redasterismmyths and legendsblood redroyalties http://www.artwoo.com/article/gemstones-101-the-ruby
The color of the Ruby comes in =96 from light pink to . This color is due to chromium. The word "Ruby" come from "rubber", the Latin word for red.

Although Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July, it is a common gift for lovers in February in time for the Valentines. Its deep red color shows passion and power. In the past, wear a Ruby to make use of its believed to be magical powers to fight against evil. According to , the stone grows darker to warn the wearer of imminent perils. Even today's modern royalties still use Rubies to adorn the insignia of their households.

Ruby is faceted into different styles of cuts and marketed as high class jewelries. The most preferred cuts are the brilliant and step cuts. Some rubies that have are polished and shaped (the result is called cabochon) instead of faceted to display the best effect of the stone. Asterism is an inclusion that can greatly increase the value of the Ruby. Rubies with transparent asterism are highly prized. Some rubies, although extremely rarely, can show color changes, an effect called chatoyancy.

The prices of Rubies are highly depended on the color. The Pigeon Blood Red, which is the brightest red Ruby, is exceedingly expensive. Clarity follows color in determining the Ruby's price. Clear Rubies have higher prices. It is easy to spot any clear Ruby that has been treated to fool buyers. This can be noted with the absence of needle like rutile inclusion.

There are many acceptable practices to treat Rubies to enhance the quality. The most common accepted treatment practice is using heat. Heat treatment can improve color, and on the stone. Most lower cost rubies are heat treated.

A notorious way of treating Rubies to enhance them is the Lead Glass Filling method. This is done by filling the fractures inside the ruby with lead glass to greatly improve the look and shine.

There are also synthetic Rubies that have been in the market since the 19th century. The introduction of the flame fusion process has made synthetic Ruby production possible. To the unaided eye, synthetic rubies may have no apparent imperfections. These imperfections can only be noticed hen magnified. Synthetic rubies are the answer to the people who want to avail of the stone's elegance without spending huge amount of money. But synthetic rubies cannot be considered an investment compared to the natural ones.

Some Ruby varieties include Burmese Ruby, Star Ruby, Cat's Eye Ruby, Stynthetic Verneuil Ruby. An unnamed 38.12 carat ruby holds the record for having been sold for $5,860,000 at an auction in 2006.

Science laboratories have used rubies for the first laser which used artificial ruby crystals. The phosphorescence property of ruby makes it perfect for lasers. Please visit http://www.gemstoneeducation.com ]]> Should I Self-publish Or Pitch My Book To A Publisher? http://www.artwoo.com/article/should-i-self-publish-or-pitch-my-book-to-a-publisher http://www.artwoo.com/article/should-i-self-publish-or-pitch-my-book-to-a-publisher#comments Sun, 02 Dec 2007 15:15:06 +0000 book proposalself publish your bookpublishersmanuscriptpublish your bookblood sweat and tearstarget http://www.artwoo.com/article/should-i-self-publish-or-pitch-my-book-to-a-publisher manuscript off to a publisher, thinking that writing it was the hardest part.

In reality, getting your blood, sweat and tears published may be the hardest part of the whole process. You'll need to decide if your book requires a publisher, or if you'd rather self-. Both venues have pros and cons, some of which I discuss below.

To work with a book publisher, you'll need to send out query letters and/or a . This is a letter or a few pages briefly describing your text, why your book is unique, characteristics of your market, and how you can help market your book. Most don't accept unsolicited manuscripts, so you'll need to convince them to read yours, or find a literary agent to represent you. If a book publisher requests that you forward your entire manuscript, you have one foot in the door. Be prepared to send more than one query and don't expect a response next week. An excellent software program to help format your manuscript and create a book proposal is called Wizards For Word at http://www.wizardsforword.com

Publishers look for three things: platform, hook, and execution. This means a writer should have a built-in audience (ideally, a national platform such as a radio or TV show or a column in a major publication), an interesting hook, and strong writing skills.

The problem if you're an unagented author is that most publishers won't take your call or read your proposal. Then even if they do, you'll have a tough time creating a bidding war or running an auction to get the best offer, and you also won't have leverage negotiating the important deal points, such as ancillary rights and royalties.

There are writer's guides that serve as excellent resources to find publishers and literary agents who specialize in your particular genre. These guides list the percentage of new authors published as well as the percentage of sales they pay. You may find pay rates ranging from 5-10% of sales. Some pay on wholesale sales and others on the retail amount. Do the math. Perhaps your book will retail for $14.95 and the publisher will pay 6% on retail. This means you will earn 90 cents per book sold. Of course don't forget that the publisher is doing all the printing, distributing, and marketing of your text.

Another route you may want to consider is self-publishing. Self-publishing requires you to print, distribute and market your book using your money, but you will also retain all profits. There are book printing companies as well as companies that specialize in assisting self-publishers through every step along the way.

Many authors debate which method is better, using a publishing company or self publishing your own book. You know your situation and you know what will work best for you. You'll want to consider how much time or money you have to invest in the project. That should give you an idea which route to take. Using a publisher takes less time on your part, but you'll forfeit some of the royalties by using this method. If you self publish, you'll have to pay "up front costs" and do the initial legwork to begin generating sales for your book. Either way, publishing is your call. With persistence and hard work you can get your book in the marketplace. Learn how to become a published book author! Download Brian's free e-book, Book Writing for Fun and Profit, at http://www.BookCatcher.com. Visit Brian's blog, at http://bookpublishingnews.blogspot.com ]]> How To Self-Publish Your Poker Or Gaming Book http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-self-publish-your-poker-or-gaming-book http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-self-publish-your-poker-or-gaming-book#comments Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:30:01 +0000 major bookstoresofflpoker bookspoker handspoker playersplaying pokere books http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-self-publish-your-poker-or-gaming-book
This is why fly off the shelves. Many people have life experiences . Many people want to read about these poker-playing scenarios, including the players involved. There will come a time when the reading public will demand more from its poker writers than in past years. After all, there is only so many ways you can cover the same game repeatedly when you are analyzing your own and games. This is where you come in.

As a writer, you can keep things in perspective. There will come a time when the who write will run out of things to say if they are only covering their own play and games. Writers who are writers first and players second will have the opportunity to shine.

If you have a lot of talent writing about poker and gaming, you can launch your own online e-book store. If you choose to build a website and place your e-books on the website for sale, you will be branching into a new area of business you may not want to explore yet. While it can be profitable to run your own online e-book store, you may prefer to write e-books for clients.

Clients often hire ghostwriters to pen e-books to sell at their websites. Poker players and poker hobbyists who want to read about everything about poker will purchase thes online for a fee. The ClickBank.com marketplace, which sells gambling and gaming e-books penned by ghostwriters, is a good example of this.

SELF-PUBLISHING FOR SUCCESS

Many writers who are not brand names in the poker industry choose to self-publish their books and can still easily get their books sold at , online and ine, like Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. Many writers choose to self-publish their books in digital format only because the process is quicker and less of a hassle.

Self-publishing has many advantages:

1. You don't need a literary agent. 2. There is no submission or rejection process. 3. You own the rights to your material. 4. Whatever money you make, you keep. 5. Royalties are much higher if you choose a print-on-demand publisher. 6. The publishing and distribution process is a lot faster. For instance, if you use LuLu.com, you can make your book available in less than a day.

The disadvantage: you are responsible for marketing your book and generating sales. This may be a disadvantage or an advantage for you. For me, I enjoy self-publishing because it gives me control and creative freedom over every aspect of my book, including generating sales. I find self-publishing exciting.

If you are going to self-publish, decide if you will publish your book in digital format or in paperback (plus digital format). I recommend you first publish your book in digital format to test your book in the marketplace. Most writers use LuLu.com, a digital publisher, because of the low cost, quick turnaround, and your book will appear in its marketplace. When you feel it is time to publish your book in paperback, then go with a print-on-demand publisher. Many writers use BookSurge.com (owned by Amazon) so their books appear in Amazon as well as other major book stores.

Other self-publishing outlets include:

1) Clickbank.com. Many self-publishers use Clickbank.com as a sales outlet to generate a steady stream of sales for their book. Clickbank has one of the largest audiences of affiliates who are ready to sell your book for a commission. You will need to create your own website and sales page (also known as a "landing page") for your book and then sign up with Clickbank to use their ordering system.

2) LightningSource.com can make your book in digital format and paperback format. Once you submit your book for publication, anyone can order your title, as a print-on-demand or as an ebook. Many popular online book stores (especially ebook stores) order from LightningSource.

3) AuthorHouse.com

4) BookSurge.com

If you decide not to self-publish yourself, try a reputable e-book publisher to handle everything for you, including marketing. Many e-book publishers will consider poker-related material. If the e-book publisher decides to publish your ebook, they may also offer to place the book in trade paperback. The publisher will offer more royalties and sometimes a higher advance.

BOOK WRITING SUCCESS

If you choose to write your own books and e-books, then follow these tips:

TIP # 1: Know your market and know where you can gain the most readership.

TIP # 2: Remember, non-fiction sells in poker. Don't try to re-invent the wheel because it won't work.

TIP # 3: Have your manuscript ready before you approach a publisher for electronic submissions or for trade submissions.

TIP # 4: As you are writing your manuscript, begin searching for markets where you will want to submit your work.

TIP # 5: Buy a Writer's Market book so you can read over the markets and decide the best market for your manuscript.

TIP # 6: Avoid work-for-hire contracts from publishers. Sure, what publisher wouldn't prefer to pay an up-front fee to a writer in lieu of royalties? Go for the royalties and take a chance on your own talents.

TIP # 7: Know your poker.

If you want to attract your poker-reading audience, writing books about strategies and systems can sell if it is based on a mathematical advantage or a tried and tested theory. If you aren't able to do this, no one is going to read about going on your "gut" feelings or how poker players win more when the stars line up in their favor. Fact-based theories and strategies will sell, and nothing else will in this corner of the market.

An excellent way to generate book ideas is to attend poker events and tournaments and get close to the action. Go to these events armed and ready to learn all you can. At the end of the day you will have dozens of book ideas buzzing in your head. Spend some time in casino poker rooms to find other topics. Talk and network with poker players and try to find out if they desire to write a book with the assistance of a ghostwriter or with you as a co-author. As a ghostwriter or co-author, an excellent way to gain business is to hand out your business cards at writing conventions, casinos, poker events and poker tournaments. Brian Konradt is the author of the book, "Freelance Poker Writing: How to Make Money Writing for the Gaming Industry," available at http://www.FreelancePokerWriting.com. Learn more about different writing careers at http://www.WritingCareer.com. ]]> All About Freelance Ghostwriting Jobs http://www.artwoo.com/article/all-about-freelance-ghostwriting-jobs http://www.artwoo.com/article/all-about-freelance-ghostwriting-jobs#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:43:27 +0000 ghostwriting jobsself help booksghostwriting servicesnon fiction booksinstructional businessresume buildershefty discount http://www.artwoo.com/article/all-about-freelance-ghostwriting-jobs
Why would a freelance ghostwriter agree to forfeit credit for his or her work? Simple: money. Clients usually pay ghostwriters far more than a "normal" writer's fee of $20-$50 an hour. Small books (150 pages or less) usually cost a client at least $25,000. Fees go up from there depending on the length and type of book, as well as the amount of research required by the ghostwriter.

The fees are high because you can't slap your byline on the work and you forfeit all rights to royalties that your book generates. The exceptions are if the client agrees to put your name in print on the cover, name you as a co-author, or offer you part of the royalties. In those cases, you would often give a depending on the return you expected.

What types of books can I ghostwrite?

Many industries seek the skills of freelance ghostwriters. Fiction and children's writing are common -- people often have (or think they have) an amazing storyline, but lack the writing ability to sell it.

Freelance ghostwriters often pen non-fiction books, such as autobiographies and instructional, business, and self-help books. Sometimes these ghostwriters are experts in the subject matter, sometimes they are not. You may have to do a lot of research, or none at all.

You can also ghostwrite for smaller projects, like articles and web content. These don't usually pay more than normal writing but they're good .

Where can I find freelance ghostwriting gigs?

Set up a website to promote your freelance . Because ghostwriting is expensive, it's important to buyers that you are truly a ghostwriting professional. Presenting yourself with a polished website is a great way to emphasize your credibility.

It is more than possible to find on freelancing websites, but buyers there are usually less knowledgeable and therefore less willing to pay good money. It is common to see ads for a 250-page book that needs writing with a budget of $500 or less. It doesn't hurt to keep your eye out for a gem though -- it does happen occasionally.

What skills do I need to be a freelance ghostwriter?

If you have experience, you're off to a great start. If you lack experience, thumb through your own files to see if you can use some of that as writing examples, or write some from scratch. You don't have to ghostwrite it to prove your writing skills. If you have a particular client in mind, do your best to match your writing style and samples to the type of writing you think your client is looking for.

Remember that any samples you send can't be ghostwritten work. Unless otherwise specified in the agreement, you can't ever disclose that you're the author behind ghostwritten work. In these cases, feel free to describe the book you ghostwrote and how well it's doing.

How should I respond to a ghostwriting ad?

If you find a promising ad (or if someone contacts you), respond professionally using perfect grammar and polite language. For practice, try responding to this sample ad:

I'm looking for someone to write a book about choosing the right family pet. I have an outline and some research but a little more will be required. The book should only be about 100 pages. I will own all rights afterwards. Serious writers only.

What should you say to this person? Well, it's good to start off expressing an interest in their subject matter. Ghostwriting projects are usually dear to buyers' hearts, so if you start by saying you're passionate about pets, you'll catch his eye right away.

Next, you'll want to assure him that you can handle the task. If you don't have enough experience to convince him, suggest having him send one chapter outline and writing a sample for him for free. Yes, it's a bit of unpaid work for you, but it will mean thousands of dollars if you get the job.

Finally, quote a fee. The book is short and research appears to be minimal. If you're experienced, quote $25,000. If you're not, quote around $15,000. It's far less than an experienced ghostwriter would make, but you have to start somewhere. Good luck!Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance ghostwriting jobs at Online Writing Jobs ( http://www.online-writing-jobs.com ), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.]]> The Benefits To Buying A Franchise http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-benefits-to-buying-a-franchise http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-benefits-to-buying-a-franchise#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:15:02 +0000 buying a franchisefranchise opportunitiesfranchise directoriesfranchise directoryfranchise directorowning your own businessstarting your own business http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-benefits-to-buying-a-franchise
There are many benefits to . The number one benefit of becoming a franchisee is that you will not be starting from scratch on your own. When you buy a franchise you have two distinct things on your side. First and foremost you can take advantage of the name recognition of the franchise. This alone will help you to drive traffic to your business from day one. And of course, as a franchisee you will receive support from the franchisor. Again, this helps during the start up process because you are not forced to do everything on your own.

Another benefit of buying a franchise is that you will be able to control your start up costs. You will get all the details you need from the franchisor, and from there it will be up to you to come up with the exact amount of money that you need. In many cases this beats because your costs will fluctuate more than you care for them to.

There are quite a few benefits that go into buying a franchise. If you are interested in , you may want to consider what becoming a franchisee has to offer. The benefits are great, and the potential for success is huge!

There are many ways to research the different franchises that are available in the market place. Perhaps the easiest method is to use the internet to identify the different opportunities that are out there. If you use any search emgine and type in 'franchises' or '' or 'ies you soon start to build a list of possible franchises that you are interested in. Mark Harris is a Franchise Director and runs a http://www.franchiseseeker.co.uk which contains a number of Business Franchises and Franchise Opportunities for people looking to buy a franchise. ]]>