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The Canadien Champion. Tuesday. March 6, 2001-13 '~~4i;tY 15~Sk Business owners can gain success strategies in upcoming Investors Grouip workshops By FANNIE SUNSHINE The Champion If you're a business owner Iooking for ways to better your company, the Strategies for Entrepreneurial Success workshops might be the answer. Organîzed by Gary Hogan, associate regional director with Investors Group, and Barry Fnceday. managing paniner oft KPMG LLP's Hamilton office, the work- shops are designed to providc local busi- ness owners with specitic strategies and solutions to idcntify and achieve their objectives. 'he workshops are also supported hy Simpson & Wigle LLP and the Business Devetopment Bank ot Canada. -We started doing something like ihis in 1997, but on a smatter scale,' Mr. Hogan said. -We had tremendous teedback. We tound business owners had an interest and demnand t'or these workshops. We have plans to make thjs a quarterly event.- 'he workshops are mainly designed tor rnîd-sized business owners but ait are wetcorned, he said. "Usually the owner is very invotved and the business is typically incorporated or in partnerships," Mr. Hogan said. "At teast one famity member works in the business and the dividends go Io the shareholders or tamity. Most business owners don't necessarfty bave the saine objectives, but they dIo bave simitar chal- lenges. Most haven't reatty ctarified what their objectives are." Seventy per cent of family businesses don't survive transition to the second gen- eration and 90 per cent lailt b survive the thîrd, Mr. Frieday said. "More tban hall of today's owner-man- aged businesses wilt lose their leader through reûrement in the next 10 years. It's imperatîve that they begin planning lfor thîs change now." The tirst workshop will be held March 20 at Rattlesnake Point Golf Club at 7:30 p.m. and will locus on establishing and "We found business owners had an interest and demand for these workshops. We have plans to make this a quarterly event." integrating your personal and business tinancial objectives and understanding the crucial process of succession planning. 'ýWe chose the tirst topie since we otten hear from owner-managed mid-market companies that there is great ditiicutty in reconciting both personal and business tinancial affairs effectively," Mr. Hogan said. "Personal and famity financial objectives typicatty give way to a focus on the day t0 day operation of the busi- ness." Mr. Hogan said he teels these work- shops are unique. T 'here is nothing like this out there,' he said. "Most business owners have an accounitant and see a tawyer periodicatly. They may. or may not deal with a tinancial planner. It's difficult to gel the rounding of intormation we're giving. Peuple witt be able 10 ask questions and tap intu dif- ferent professionats for advice. 1 want to make it clear that these are not sales oni- ented workshops. It's strictty a workshop tormat." The remaining workshops will be held June 7 and Octoher 10. Tupies will include issues surrounding the purchase and sale of a business, tinancing options for your business, strategic business plan- ning, managing cash flow, preparing effective business plans and financial statements and conducting business in the United States. For more information or 10 register for the workshops, cati Norma Peer at 333- 3335, ext. 224. Photo tiy IAN ROSS From lefi are Peter Lawlor, branch manager, Business Development Corporation; Rosemsry Fischer, corporats Iawyer, Simpson & Wlgle LLB; Gary Hogan, assocIats raglonal director, Invasios Group; Berry Freîdîy, managlng partner, Hamilton-lîagara KPMG. ______________ I. M It's what it idoles that counts! A»aocIion Ask about our'iocked in'pnces. 878m92731 SUPREME AUTO COLLISION 'FamiIy Owned Since 1980m irs orwaWh *8788883 i One Convenient Location! 645 Steeles Ave.. Milton ON