Four profitable ways to go it alone

IF YOU want to go into business, you can start a company, buy one, buy into one or take out a franchise. Your choice will be gov­erned by your money and your skills.

It is difficult to start a full-time business from scratch even if you have already used your skills in your spare time. You may not make as much money as you expected. It can take two or three years to estab­lish a business and in your financial calculations you have to add the cost of your own living expenses until the business is established. Working from home would lower your expenses but could present all sorts of problems. It may disrupt home life, the house may be unsuitable, you may not be allowed to use your home for business purposes and you are never able to 'leave the office' and 'go home'.

If you choose to buy an existing small business, most are bought and sold through a business transfer agent, who would be able to offer you a number of choices and help you to borrow money to cover most of the pur­chase price.

You could buy into a business as a partner, but even if you have known the owners as friends, you will not have known them as business partners, and ought to regard them as strangers and get professional advice.

You ought to understand your future position in the business and make sure that it is in writing. Oral agreements often arise be­tween people who think that friendship will overcome any difficulties. In practice, friendship makes problems even worse.

Buying into a business by purchasing shares is a much more difficult area and should never be attempted without good professional advice.

The arrangements are obviously good for the owner of the franchise as he can set up a network of businesses from which in­come is drawn using other people's capital. If you obtain a franchise you are working for the owner as well as yourself.

Nevertheless, the better franchises seem to offer a means of going into self-employment with a consider­able chance of success.

One important aspect of a good franchise is that you and your staff would receive complete training in running the business. This would be followed by continuous su­pervision to maintain stan­dards and solve problems. At the same time the owners would be watching to see that you were honouring the contract and paying royal­ties.

Задание 2. Подберите синонимы для каждой из этих фраз.

1 sack someone =.... dismiss..................someone

2 out of work =....................................

3 leave a company =....................................

4 be given a better position in a company = be....................................

5 future possibilities in a job =....................................

6 stop working (often at 60 or 65) =....................................

7 workers in a company =....................................

8 take control of something (e.g. a company) =....................................

Задание 3. Найдите логический ответ справа к каждому вопросу слева.

1 Why did they sack her? a Because she was 60.

2 Why did they promote her? b Because she was late for work every day.

3 Why did she apply for the job? с Because she needed more training.

4 Why did she retire? d Because she was out of work.

5 Why did she resign? e Because she was the best person in the department.

6 Why did she go on the course? f Because she didn't like her boss.

Задание 4. Закончите предложение, используя подходящее слово.

1 He's not happy in his own country. He wants to work...........................

2 I don't want a full-time job. I'd prefer to work....................................

3 She'd like to go on another training....................................

4 I'm bored in my job. I need a fresh....................................

5 At the end of this year we should get a good pay....................................

6 She's got more than a hundred workers under....................................

7 I didn't know he was the new manager. When did he take...................?

8 I know it's not a great job. How much does she....................................?

Задание 5. Вставьте подходящее существительное, данное в рамочке в каждое из этих предложений.

e-mail work letter minutes visitors appointment computer meeting reports drawer

1 I've got loads of......... work...............to do today.

2 I made an....................................to see their managing director next week.

3 The pens are in the top....................................of my desk.

4 Could we arrange the....................................for next Thursday?

5 The....................................was down this morning, so I couldn't do anything.

6 I sent her an....................................yesterday but she hasn't replied.

7 Have you filed those....................................yet?

8 Could you type a....................................for me to send to the bank?

9 I'm busy tomorrow. I have to show some....................................round the factory.

10 Who took the....................................of yesterday's meeting?

Задание 6. Замените подчеркнутое слово другим словом или фразой, которые имеют то же значение.

After last year when sales (1) dropped by 5%, I am pleased to say there has been a (2) slow rise in sales in the first quarter of this year, and we are optimistic that the company will continue to (3) do well in the next quarter. In the longer term, our (4) objective for the company is to (5) grow by at least 10% over the next two years, and of course, to make sure that our profit (6) increases by a similar amount.

Вариант 2

Задание 1. Прочитайте текст и переведите на русский язык1-2 абзац.

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