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In the Philippines, business matters are always best dealt with on a face-to-face basis in a warm and pleasant atmosphere. While many Western business people think that time is gold and want to get to the point immediately, the Filipino likes to be indirect, talk about mutual friends and family, exchange pleasantries, and share a joke or two. Only after establishing a cordial atmosphere will people negotiate. To a Filipino, cultivating a friend, establishing a valuable contact and developing personal...

Money is precious. As they say, it doesn’t grow on trees. But you can make it grow, even in this time of economic hardship. How? Simple. By investing wisely.There are indeed many ways to invest in today’s markets, but none is growing faster in popularity than mutual funds. Although this investment instrument has only been recently introduced in the country, mutual funds are prevalent in European, North American and even some Asian countries. But what is a mutual fund anyway?A mutual fund is a professionally-managed...

With the world going through another financial crisis, the cartoon of a chicken screaming “The sky is falling!” is in vogue again. But businessmen don’t have to act like a panicked fowl in times like this. Four entrepreneurs interviewed for this report— Brian Quebengco of the industrial design firm Inovent Inc., Dondon Atayde of the events company Wishcraft, Richard Cruz of the real-estate consulting company INSPIRE, and Jonathan Dee of Alliance Tuna International Inc.—all agree that instead of...

You may need a policy to cover your building and other structures, your furniture, inventory, equipment and supplies. You may also need a policy to insure your money and securities, records of your accounts receivable, machinery and improvements in your premises. The events causing damage to property are called “perils,” and these include lightning strikes, burglaries and vehicular accidents. There are two types of policies covering perils: a “named-perils policy” covering losses only from perils...

So you've finally decided to push through with your business idea and as luck would have it, also find funding for it. Now comes the part that every entrepreneur doesn't look forward to: securing all the necessary permits to start your business. Below is a list of the government agencies you need to go to and the permits your need to apply for:  Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - This is where you register if your enterprise is a single proprietorship. The agency will issue a certificate...

It’s a tough market out there, but with the right perspective, selling retail can be a breeze for you. Entrepreneur.com.ph listed down three ways on how you can clinch a sale. • Beat a cold greeting. Many retail salespeople struggle with the “I’m just browsing” rebuff. The question, “Have you shopped with us before?” is an opportunity to reveal the customers knowledge of your product line. One thing you have to know is why a shopper came into the store. If a customer says ‘I’m just...

Who say’s you can’t put up a high-quality food cart business under P30,000 or less?  Are  you curious enough to know how much investment needed to put up high-end food carts that sell popular food concept nowadays? Well, two of the most popular cart today that sells only siomai and gulaman will initially cost you P280,000 for the cart and its basic equipment alone. Another popular cart that sells only waffle will cost you P300,000.Yes, let’s admit, their product is affordable and tastes...

Apart from the usual food presentations of multinational food company copycats, Mang Inasal endeavors to adhere to elements that bear a distinctively Pinoy stamp-grilling with charcoal, rice wrapped in banana leaves, a marinade concocted out of local spices and herbs, bamboo sticks for skewers, and the ambience that encourages kinamot (the Ilonggo term in eating with the hands) whenever chicken inasal is served. All these evoke a rush of nostalgia for tradition, culture, and most of all, Home. Mang...

Do you like dancing? It’s never too late to start making extra cash from your hobbies. And if shifting careers is too daunting for you, do it on the sidelines. You can conduct dance lessons after work, on the weekends and on holidays. All you have to do is just get the word out there and start!Capital: You need about P20,000 to become a dance instructor. Most of it will go to enrolment fees for dance lessons. Getting at least six months of dance training, particularly in ballroom dancing, is...

For those without a credit card but wanting to shop online, fret no more.  There is the new BPI My ePrepaid card—a no-hassle, no-approval-required, reloadable prepaid card that allows you to conveniently buy whatever you want from MasterCard-affiliated online shopping sites without having to worry about submitting documents or maintaining a balance. “Now, everyone can buy airline tickets, concert passes, gadgets, fashion must-haves, and coupon deals easily and in an instant with the BPI...