Do Red-Light Cameras Work?

There are few issues as controversial as photographic traffic signal enforcement systems, more commonly known as "red-light cameras". This is a technology which reeks of "Big Brother" surveillance. The impact of the technology on the rate of accidents is ambiguous, and the motivation of city leaders is often questioned since the cameras can be a significant revenue producer for municipalities.

The level of cynicism in general is very high right now because of the corruption found in so many of our institutions. When researching red-light cameras, this is apparent not only with comments in blogs from the public, but also with state officials lack of trust in local authorities, and everyone's seeming distrust of the data from the insurance industry.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), funded by automobile insurance companies, is the strongest advocate for red-light cameras. The studies from IIHS appear to be inconsistent with studies by virtually everyone else. For example, the IIHS claims that "using techniques of meta-analysis, the ... review did not find a statistically significant change in rear-end crashes." This conclusion is clearly inconsistent with most other studies. Some news articles, and some lawmakers, accuse insurers of mixed motivations since their revenues may increase when higher premiums are charged due to crash and citation increases. But accusing the insurance industry of wishing for more traffic accidents is amazingly cynical.

It is surprising that a definitive answer on the effect of red-light cameras is so unavailable. One of the problems is the technology tends to reduce one type of wreck, the "T-Bone", a collision between cars traveling at 90 degrees from one another, but increase rear-end collisions. This is because of panicked drivers over-reacting to the presence of the cameras. This was the finding of the Federal Highway Administration in 2005. They concluded that right-angle crashes decreased by 25 percent and resulting injuries decreased by 16 percent. However, the number of rear-end crashes increased by 15 percent and injuries from those accidents increased by 24 percent. It should be noted that the T-Bone collision is frequently the more severe of the two types of accident.

Studies by the states of Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia have reported that red-light cameras are responsible for an increase in the number of accidents, as well as crashes involving injuries. "Cameras were associated with an increase of between 31 percent and 54 percent for rear-end crashes overall," the 2007 Virginia DOT Report Shows report found. "The association of the cameras with angle crashes differed among jurisdictions, although a preponderance of test results suggested an increase."

Another complication with the measurement of the rate of auto accidents in general, is that our society in the U.S. is aging, and older drivers tend to be more conservative drivers. In Florida, the injury rate from red-light running crashes has dropped by about a third in the last 10 years without red-light cameras.

Many people question the motivation of local leaders who advocate red-light cameras. Dallas officials reviewed the statistics for red-light camera generated citations, and decided that about a quarter of the cameras they had installed had resulted in a dramatic reduction in the rate of citations, so they turned them off. They were no longer sufficiently profitable.

Texas is the most recent state to consider a ban on red-light cameras.

Red-light cameras are effective in reducing total casualty crashes, but the evidence is less conclusive on total collisions. Nationally, more than 7,000 fatal crashes and more than 500,000 injury crashes occur within intersections every year. This should be reduced. Larger and better controlled studies are needed, performed by entities that have sufficient independence and credibility.

Brian Bradshaw's work incorporates more than 25 years working with advanced instrumentation and information technology. He specializes in implementing Security Camera Systems for homes and businesses in the Southwestern United States with offices in Dallas and Phoenix. For additional information, please visit us at B.V.Technology Video Analytics and Surveillance Cameras.

The Union of European Football Associations

The U.E.F.A. is the governing body for the European football league. This group of people is responsible for setting the rules and standards for the European football league at all levels of football playing. The people in this group take their jobs very seriously. The association was formed so that the integrity of football would not be lost in the European countries, as it is believed to have been lost in other countries around the world.

Each year there is a convention held to discuss the rules and regulations that should followed by the league. Each year the convention is held in a different country that participates in the football league. This year, the U.E.F.A. set a list of value that they intend to instill in the league to safeguard the sport.

The first value that they feel needs to be instilled is to keep football first. Football is about the sport of playing the game, not the merchandize that is produced and sold because of the game. They also believe players sponsoring other products should be kept to a minimum.

The second value they implemented is pyramiding the structure of football. The purpose is of this is to keep the players and the coaches involved in the decision making processes of the league. The U.E.F.A. feels that if the coaches and players help in the decisions it will help keep them honest and passionate about the game.

Unity and leadership is considered the third value that they have implemented. With unity and leadership the sport can be protected and the players stay role models for the younger people in the nations. This is a big concern for the leaders of the sport.

The leaders also feel that keeping football as a grassroots sport will help preserve it's presence in Europe for years to come. Although they put that youth protection and education is a separate value to maintain, it actually falls in to this category as well. The U.E.F.A. feels that the protection and education of Europe's youth is vital to maintaining a respectable football league.

Sporting integrity and betting is another value that the association hopes to instill in the league. While betting revenue helps support the football league, leaders are concerned about coaches and players rigging games for the profits of betting. Maintaining integrity and limiting the betting is a sure way to help insure the league's standings for years to come.

The other values that were set by the association are just as important as the ones listed. Financial fairness to the players and regularity of competitions helps to further keep the integrity and success of the sport. Discrimination of any type is not tolerated in the European league. National teams and clubs are also regulated to insure fairness and structure. Respect is a must for all players, coaches, and fans. No violence of any type is tolerated.

Maintaining the European sports model is the ultimate goal for the U.E.F.A. For more information regarding their rules and regulations, as well as season scheduling check out their website.

If you want to find out more about Football Shirt , please visit Football Shirts Website for more information.

Myth of Man Made Climate Change & Other Draconian Legislation

There is a strong link between an increase in number and intensity of solar flares and global warming. This can largely discredit and override any influence humans may have on the changes in temperature on our planet in recent history. Research tends to suggest that major variations in global temperatures are beyond humanities control; and instead tend to be at the mercy of the sun's activity. Moreover, every couple of million years there is a slight tilt to the planets axis, causing major changes to the climate and structure of the earth. Volcanoes erupt, hurricanes happen and tornadoes take place either more or less frequently. These are natural phenomenon, definitely not man made. Man has not been an inhabitant of this planet long enough to be able to take such arrogant credit for all the wrongs of the world. Not to mention the globe changes: animals become extinct, new species become plentiful, the climate varies, the seas rise, the seas fall, tsunamis happen and the land structures morph. So what else is new?

One of the laws of Nature and Physics is that nothing stays the same, and would we really want it to? For every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction. Matter may change from ice to liquid to gas; but it is never totally destroyed. Organic matter eventually decomposes. The atoms and molecules become further apart as it decays, then are absorbed in the earth, used as nutrients for plant life, which are eaten by animals, and the cycle goes on and on in perpetuity.

However, one digresses. The point is, Nature takes care of herself. No matter how far advanced humanity is now, we cannot make more than an infinitesimal bit of difference to the landscape of this vast Earth we currently call Home. Should we be good stewards of the earth? Absolutely we should; but let us not confuse responsibly disposing of our litter, waste, and oil byproducts as well as keeping endangered plants and animal life off the extinction list with what is currently being proposed by our illustrious leaders in Congress and the Executive office, this being the Cap and Trade bill.

This bill is nothing more than a power grab accomplished through exorbitantly high taxation of energy usage by individuals and big companies alike. This bill if passed will destroy our way of life, as we know it. It will stifle future and present innovations and technological advancements. It will discourage any use of energy and encourage global "spreading of the wealth", or in other words moving nations down to the lowest common denominator in technology, inventions and innovation. What our Government will glean from this is a vastly enlarged government comprised of enlarged bureaucracies and increased tax revenues allowing even more entitlements to be created. This in turn furthers the long arm of Power these self-defined elite in the Government already have. For with every entitlement come more taxes and less money for the individual citizens and states to spend. With every entitlement come more regulations, each monitored and enforced by the Government or delegates of. On a global scale, one might even begin to imagine a one-world order managed by super elite heads of Nations. Why one might wonder was it so necessary to have an international summit to discuss 'Global Man Made Warming', when it has been debunked so recently?

This is even after the massive Health Care Insurance Bill, another massive power grab that will cause increased taxation, bureaucracies and lower quality of health care due fewer resources, increased waiting time and restricted opportunity to see ones physician. Let us not even mention the cuts in Medicare.

However, to return to the subject of Cap and Trade, which lists as a poison, of all things - CO2. CO2 is an element necessary for all types of life to flourish. Its existence is vital in keeping the Earth from becoming a rotating globe of cold rock; for without plants to use the sun's rays to photosynthesize carbon dioxide to oxygen, which in turn promotes a green house effect, the earth would be un-inhabitable. Thus, through plant life the bi-product of CO2 is Oxygen, which all animal-life to one extent or another need to survive.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) describes only the first year of taxes that ultimately will build upon itself in perpetuity under the Cap and Tax bill. Under this Cap and Trade system, the government sets a limit or cap on the total amount of carbon, which will be emitted nationally. Companies will be forced to buy or sell permits to emit carbon dioxide. As time goes down, the cap is cranked down to reduce total carbon emissions and companies will be forced to comply and ultimately die.

The gross domestic product (GDP) is manipulated downward. The sinister premeditated point of Cap and Trade is to hike the price of electricity and gas so that each American uses less. Unfortunately, these higher prices will not be limited to the price of electricity or gas. It will show up in every manufactured good, from plastics, food and cars. Plastic is composed of a bi-product of oil. How many things can you think of that are composed of or wrapped in plastic? Consumers will have no choice but to cut back on spending, resulting in fewer products produced which in turn, results in even higher unemployment as no new jobs will be created, and staff cutbacks on existing ones are made. Companies will eventually move their products over seas, but the result will be the same. Low-income Americans, through necessity tend to devote more of their day-to-day income to energy bi-products such as food, gas to get to work and money for electricity. Thus, they really will be hit the hardest as they have more to lose.

This big government, high taxes, a stimulus bill that did anything but stimulate the economy, the incongruous and blatant disregard for the People's wishes when passing the new Health Care bill behind closed doors through thinly veiled bribery, threats, and an unconstitutional usage of Reconciliation to enact a Bill they otherwise did not have the votes for -- these are some of the things Tea Party people are concerned about. Also, our decreased national security under this current administration: Obama's constant bowing to and apologizing for America to our enemies, snubbing our allies, and signing a contract to disarm our nuclear warheads; while our enemies maintain their own nuclear arm heads, all these things will just be a byline if we pass Cap and Trade and sign the treaty into international and national law. Tea Party protesters have the facts, know their history and are justifiably alarmed at the swiftness and direction our country is being hijacked.

Self appointed policy and trend setters have vilified, and in the process implemented political correctness in our speech and even in our behavior, even as far as in the armed forces to the extent that the Fort Hood massacre prosecuted by a self admitted Muslim extremist and the Christmas Day underwear bomber both are swept under the rug as criminal acts, rather than the first terrorist acts they were, committed on the American homeland since 9/11. The Pentagons answer to the Fort Hood massacre was more political correctness and encouraging more Muslims to enter the armed forces, ostensibly as translators, without profiling or background check, as a show of continued goodwill. Intimidation of Americans through vilification, political correctness and slander appear to be the phrase of the day, especially against Tea Party members and conservatives.

During the initial phase of debate in the House Energy Committee, Republicans offered three amendments to the bill, to be used as a safety net in the quest of not destroying our economy further by initiating a yet untried but potentially devastating change that once implemented would be all but impossible to repeal: the first amendment was to suspend the program while in the implementation phase if gas hit $5.00 a gallon; the second was to suspend the program if electricity prices rose 10% over the year 2009; and the third was to suspend the program if unemployment hit 15%. The Democrats defeated all three, tending to indicate they already had inside knowledge that all these would happen if the bill passed and became law of the land. Britain is already experiencing these effects and they have had the Green program in effect only a few years. This climate bill is likely to be the biggest tax bill in American history. This is unfortunately, saying a lot considering the past 15 months. Americans should be wary.

With Congress solidly Progressive and willing to pass any legislation the President wants, the time has come to protect your future and find a good home-based alternative to make money. Check out my website and get instant access to my secret self-employment options.

Jimmy Mack
http://www.worknowfromhome.net

10 Things You Must Know Before Choosing Your Copier Vendor

Before making your final choice when choosing a copier vendor there are 10 things that you must know.

1)    Are they an authorized dealer?

Ask if they are an authorized dealer for the brand copier they are recommending to your business. Besides hearing the answer, you will need some type of proof. A certificate from the manufacturer or being listed on the manufacturer's web site are adequate proof. An authorized dealer has the advantage of having the full support of the manufacturer which includes product training, replacement parts and supplies as well as warranty support (i.e. replacing defective machines).

2)    Guarantees?

The second item you need to know is their guarantees. Most vendors have good intentions to provide good service. You need to find out what the vendor guarantees, in writing, to provide when things don't go smoothly. You are exchanging cash for the ability to produce documents. You need the assurance that you can produce those documents no matter what. Find out how the vendor guarantees to respond to service requests and what happens if there are repetitive problems with your equipment. A key point is not just finding out what the vendor intends to do, you also need to get an answer to the question "or what?". For example, you need to find out what the vendor's service response time is and then find out what the consequence is to the vendor if they don't perform.

3)    Hidden fees?

Next find out what hidden fees exist besides the cost of acquiring the copier and its operating costs (service and supplies). Hidden fees can include filing fees, insurance charges or interim rent paid to a leasing company and delivery charges for supplies. Hidden fees can add significant expense to your total cost of ownership.

4)    Who is the leasing company?

Most companies tend to lease when they acquire new copiers. You will want to find out who "funds" the vendor's leases. You need to understand the relationship between the equipment vendor and the leasing company. The closer the business relationship, the more likely it is that the vendor can help with issues that may arise with the equipment lease. Late fees, insurance charges, billing errors can be annoying and time consuming problems that can be tough to correct on your own. You want to know up-front what leverage the equipment vendor has to be able to help you.

5)    Who is the vendor owner?

The fifth thing you need to know is who owns the vendor. Is the vendor locally owned or is it a division of an international company? Depending on the structure of your business, each type of vendor can have an advantage to your business. For instance, if you are a local business and operate primarily in a single location, a local vendor may be the best choice. Although not a rule, local vendors (or dealerships) many times outshine national distributors in their ability to customize aspects of their support. On the other hand, if you operate in multiple locations, it may be easier for you to work with a vendor that can personally control the quality of service delivery for all your locations.

6)    Supply replenishment?

A sixth item to determine is how the vendor replenishes supplies used by the equipment. Toner is the most frequently replaced component and without it, your equipment will not produce the documents your company needs to operate. You'll want to find out if the vendor has systems in place to keep you stocked at all times with the supplies necessary to operate your equipment. It's recommended to have your own backup plan but you are first asking the vendor about their systems that will prevent disaster on your end.  You also want to ask about a worst case scenario when you do run out of toner. What systems do they have in place to get you back up and running again quickly?

7)    Meter readings?

Although not critical to your equipment operating, a seventh item you want to find out about is how the vendor collects usage information or meter readings. Most vendors charge for service on a usage basis usually stated as a cost per copy. Service can be packaged in different ways but the vendor will always want to track your usage. Find out how meter readings are collected by the vendor. Your best case is where the vendors have an automated system where the equipment communicates directly with them (and doesn't violate any of your network security policies) so as to not disturb your employees.

8)    Billing errors?

The eighth item to evaluate is who can help you with billing errors. Most often there are two entities you are dealing with. The first is the equipment vendor who is placing and supporting your copier equipment. You will receive operating cost service and included supplies) and supply (i.e. staples, paper) invoices from them. The second entity is the leasing company the vendor used to fund the copier lease. They will send lease invoices for the equipment. There are variations where the leasing company will invoice for the equipment as well as operating costs. Whatever your program type, you want to find out how many invoices you will receive and who is invoicing each component. Will you have one local point of contact that is close to the invoicing process or are there multiple contacts located far from your location. The fewer contacts you have to work with and the closer they are to the process, the faster and easier you will be able to resolve billing errors.

9)    The "lemon".

In the 23 years that I was an equipment salesperson as well as a dealer principal, I never saw any equipment labeled as a "lemon" when it was delivered to our dock. Although not a frequent occurrence, some of the equipment unboxed as brand new had demons that showed themselves fairly quickly after installation. The ninth item that you want to find out about is the process the vendor uses to resolve equipment reliability issues. Ask who is involved and how long each step described takes. Your best case is the fewest people involved and a short time line. Keep in mind you need to find out how the vendor handles replacing a machine that is within 90 days of installation as well as equipment that has been in use longer. These 2 categories are usually handled differently.

10) What do you want to change?

Unless you are a start-up business, you probably are currently using a copier and have a current vendor. During your relationship there are issues that have likely surfaced.  The tenth item you need to find out before choosing your copier vendor is can the vendor(s) you are considering  serve you in a way that eliminates or minimizes the issues that you are currently experiencing. Pretending you have a magic wand, describe on paper the perfect equipment vendor. Have your wish list close at hand when discussing how you want to work with a potential (or current) vendor. Have the vendor put in writing your expectations and how they will deliver them. Remember item 2 above and make sure get an answer to the question "or what?" for each area of concern. Promises or guarantees without "teeth" will not deliver the support you are seeking.

Researching these ten questions will help you choose the best vendor for your business. 

If you have any questions, you can e-mail them to help@bottomlineadv.com

David Cantliffe is the President and Founder of BottomLine Advantage LLC located in Superior, Colorado. BottomLine Advantage is a performance-based, client advocacy consulting group that specializes in reducing hard dollar costs for copy, print, and fax expenses, as well as facilities management agreements while simultaneously enhancing vendor service support levels.

David's experience spans over 18 years as a sales representative within the copier industry combined with 5 years experience as a dealership principal. You can download free articles and templates containing additional cost reduction ideas at http://www.bottomlineadv.com inside the resources tab, send an e-mail with questions or contact David at 888.400.3600.

© Copyright ? David Cantliffe. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Do We Want a Welfare State?

Medicaid is a program for people who can't afford health insurance. Social Security is a program to provide retirement for seniors. Medicare is a program to give health insurance to seniors. Public schools is a program providing education for kids K-12. Smaller programs help the poor with housing and other basic needs. Now, congress is trying to make healthcare the next huge entitlement. As we slide deeper into a welfare state, is this a good thing?

A welfare state is when a country assumes primary responsibility for the welfare of its citizens. At a minimum, it is a "safety net" with varying degrees of welfare. Some would say that its the middle ground between communism and capitalism.

The best example of a successful modern welfare state is Denmark. Citizens in Denmark have healthcare provided for them, retirement, education, and much more. Education is paid for all the way through graduate school. Studies reveal that Denmark people are happy with their system. They have low unemployment since 38% of the people work for the government.

The big negative to any welfare state is taxes. Denmark has the highest taxes in the world. They have a 25%VAT (Value Added Tax) tax. This is a 25% tax on everything you buy. Income tax is 40-60% depending on how much money you make. The automobile tax is 180%. Add the VAT and the taxes on a $10,000 car is over $20,000. Gas is $10 per gallon because of taxes. Not surprisingly, most people take public transportation or ride bikes to get around.

Before you think that the US can join in this fun, let me remind you of some differences between the 2 countries. Denmark is a geographically small nation with a total population equaling about half that of Chicago metro. Economically, they produce their own oil and export about 6 times more than they use. They don't spend much on military. In WWII they surrendered to Hitler in the first 2 hours of the invasion. I doubt they will be much help against any threat today.

The real cost of a welfare system is economic freedom. Most of your money will go to the government for redistribution to its citizens. People in the US want the benefits of a welfare state, but without the cost. We must be willing to sign over our checks to the government, trust them to provide good services, and submit to their decisions regarding personal issues. I oppose this and it explains why conservatives are against a national healthcare plan.

I also believe America is unique. Liberals despise that attitude. America has been the most successful capitalistic enterprise in the history of the world. Where would Europe be today without the capitalism of America? It provided the resources necessary for a victorious campaign in WWII and the Marshall Plan, paid for by Americans, to rebuild Europe after the devastation. If Hitler had won, where would Denmark be today?

We don't want any citizen to go hungry or live with inadequate healthcare. I believe the answer is capitalism. To get the full benefits of capitalism the government needs to start with tax reform. Instead of our complex, outdated, and unfair system we could do something like Denmark's VAT. Do away with all taxes and then establish one tax with no loopholes. It would be a consumption tax paid at the point of purchase of any product or service. Proponents of this "FairTax Plan" say that to pay for current government expenses it would take around 25%. As people and businesses prosper they will buy more and the government will have more money.

Honest capitalism should raise that standard of living for every citizen and even foreign business partners. Instead of traveling the world and apologizing for America, Obama needs another summit to study what made America great. Obama campaigned on the promise to grow the welfare state. Is this really what we want?

Check out Bill's blog at http://www.questionsbybill.com.

10 Questions To Ask Your OB-Gyn When You Are Trying To Conceive

When you and your partner make the decision that you are ready to start your family it can be a very exciting time in your life. First of all, you get to use baby-making as an excuse to rekindle some romance that may have slipped away with the daily routines of your lives. Second, the anticipation of a little one running around, while a bit scary, is invigorating. Finally, you're ready to join the mommy club.

You and your partner try month after month with no success. You're not worried yet because it has only been a few months. More than six months pass and you still are not pregnant. You start to become a little flustered. What do you do now? If you are under the age of 35, most doctors will tell you to try another six months before you consider alternative methods. Instead of just "trying" for twelve months, which can seem like forever when you want to conceive, I recommend talking with your doctor about some inexpensive initial fertility testing to rule out common problems, such as ovulation irregularities. However, if you are over age 35, then my advice is to talk with your doctor about fertility treatment options and the possibility of a referral to a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE).

If you are new to the topic of infertility, you are probably not sure what to ask your doctor or where to look for resources or information. Below are ten important questions to ask your Ob/Gyn:

1. Do they take a reproductive history to determine if you have any infertility risks such as endometriosis, fibroids, recurrent miscarriages, etc.?

2. If your doctor hasn't done preliminary fertility blood testing, ask for a full-range of tests to determine if you have any infertility risks. It is important to be aware that some of these tests must be done at certain times in your menstrual cycle. Ask your doctor to explain why she is doing the tests when she is, so that you can be certain that your doctor is performing the test at the appropriate time.

3. Do they perform a semen analysis on your husband/boyfriend/partner? For example, if your spouse has sperm issues there would be no reason for your Ob/Gyn to prescribe Clomid (a common drug to stimulate ovulation). The goal is to minimize the drugs to which your body is exposed, the expense, and the emotional ups and downs you may experience.

4. What advice does your doctor offer for life style changes? For example, dietary changes can help increase your fertility as can regular exercise. However, sometimes even diet and exercise are not enough to resolve your medical issues.

5. What medications do they recommend or procedures do they offer for your condition(s)?

6. How much experience does he/she have with helping patients overcome their fertility issues? This is an extremely important question, as you do not want to stay with an Ob/Gyn who "dabbles" in fertility treatments because it could cost you time as well as money.

7. Who within their office can help you understand your health insurance benefits so that you can maximize your coverage for the fertility testing and treatments?

8. If they suggest Clomid, how many cycles will they recommend before considering additional testing or more advanced medications or treatments?

9. If they offer artificial insemination, known as intra-uterine insemination (IUI), do they monitor the number of follicles you produce via ultrasound before the insemination procedure takes place? Monitoring the number of follicles will alert them/you of the risk of twins or a high-order (three or more babies) multiple pregnancy.

10. Which REs do they recommend if advanced procedures are required?

There are four main organizations dedicated to helping the infertile community gather information as well as provide support either through articles, chat groups, or peer-lead support groups. RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association was founded in 1974 and advocates for the community in many ways, including mandated insurance coverage initiatives (see RESOLVE's website for information on the Family Building Act of 2007). INCIID, the InterNational Council on Infertility Information Dissemination, Inc., was founded in 1995 to provide infertility information and support. INCIID hosts discussion forums on its website. The American Fertility Association was founded in 1999 and offers easy to read informational and educational content on their website. Finally, Fertility LifeLines is a new educational resource for the community and offers discount coupons for certain medications.

Two of the most effective methods for surviving your fertility journey are to gather information and ask questions. For most of you, your Ob/Gyn will be your first step in the information gathering process. I urge you not to waste the opportunity to both gain as much knowledge as possible from your Ob/Gyn and to know when it is time to move on and seek the assistant of a fertility specialist.

Kelly Damron is the mother of twin girls conceived via IVF. She lives in Phoenix, AZ with her husband, Dave, and their daughters. She is an active volunteer with the March of Dimes and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. Her book Tiny Toes: A Couple's Journey Through Infertility, Prematurity, and Depression is available at http://www.TinyToesBook.com or Amazon.com. Read her blog at http://www.twinpeas.com/wordpress/

Franchise Business Opportunities With Instant Cash Flow

Starting up a new business can be a little nerve-wracking under any conditions, but no less so during an economic decline. It's tempting to either stay away from new business endeavors entirely or walk into one with serious trepidation, fearing for its survival right from the beginning. It's a terrible way to start a business, but when you really stop to think about it, the beginning is really one of the most frail times in a franchise's lifespan, mostly because it takes time to build up business and get cash flowing in on a steady basis. Without that, a business really can't survive; so to some degree, fear is warranted at the outset of business.

That kind of fear in a franchise business, however, isn't always necessary, even in recession. If the threat of not having immediate cash flow is more of a weight than you can handle, it's important to know that there are business opportunities that come with various means of producing cash flow instantly. The following businesses, for one reason or another, are able to provide you with a steady income right off the bat.

Glove Lady

This business for sale provides an instant flow of cash mostly because it provides a product in high demand that few other groups are selling. A low-overhead, work from home business, Glove Lady specializes in selling gloves and other safety equipment. Though it's a product that many companies need, it's not one that a lot of companies sell, meaning that a Glove Lady franchisee has a cornered market from day one. And with a state-of-the art management system, customizable marketing system, and personalized website, everything is in place for a highly lucrative local business.

Superior Wash

One of the leading names in the truck-washing industry, Superior Wash has over 25 years of combined experience and can teach any hardworking franchisee how to profit from this simple and well established business model. Everything is provided for each new home based business from the outset: the business plan, cleaning equipment, accounting services, 24/7 support, and best of all, access to a national account list. What the national account list provides is a large number of trucking companies that, with only a call, will prove to be a immediate source of income because they're already familiar with the Superior Wash name. And with services for each client operating on a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly basis, that initial income remains a repetitive source of cash flow as new accounts are added.

PIRTEK USA

This is the best franchise opportunity you can find in the manufacturing industry. Universally recognized as a worldwide powerhouse in the hydraulic business, PIRTEK USA provides clients with only the best hoses and other equipment made by the world's leading makers. What's more, they're the only onsite service provider, not only selling hydraulic equipment, but installing, repairing, and maintaining it, all at the customer's location. Between selling exceptional products and providing exceptional services, it is no wonder that clients new and old recognize PIRTEK USA as a wise choice for servicing their equipment, and thus, there is potential for income immediately.

MOLLY MAID

The biggest name in the home cleaning industry, MOLLY MAID comes to new franchisees with almost instant cash flow, mostly because the name is so widely known. The world's leading maid service, every new MOLLY MAID home business has instant advertising and brand recognition because nearly everyone has seen a MOLLY MAID car. Even if owned by another franchisee, that publicity bodes well for new franchises. Because advertising is relatively easy, franchisees are mostly just responsible for managing a staff of employed housecleaners, managing business growth, and providing invoicing and accounts receivable.

The Pajama-Man School

They call him the Pajama-Man, and for good reason. Because he works only from home, Andy Ross wears nothing but pajamas while he makes gobs of money brokering health insurance, and with his school, he is more than able to teach others to do the same. By his estimates, Andy makes $500 every day, just off two or three insurance applications from new clients, all without any calling on his part: he simply receives calls and makes sales. His competitors have all asked him numerous times how he has managed such startling success, but he refuses to tell them his secrets; he only tells his students. For only $5,000, you too can become his student and learn how to take advantage of the same kind of business opportunity.

Supercuts

Once again, the key to instant income with one of these franchises is an already strong market presence and a service that everyone needs on an ongoing basis. Everyone recognizes the Supercuts name and logo, and the average person needs a haircut every few weeks or so. Combine those two facts, and you have an instant success as a part of $3bil franchising family with 12,000 functional franchises already in operation. Each store has two streams of income, service and retail sales, and there is already a global marketing system in operation, ensuring that the cash flow you see today will only expand tomorrow.

Getting into business for yourself never comes without its stresses, but wondering whether or not there's money to be made from the beginning of your franchise's operational life is not a stress you need to have. As you look for the business opportunity of your dreams, keep an eye peeled for those businesses that provide a steady stream of income from the get-go. Having that little bit more peace of mind goes a long way toward making an even more successful business.

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