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F E E L A T H O M E www.azindiatimes.com PAGE - 21 Jan 2019 1-844-AZINDIA Did you consider doing business in USA? By Sat Parashar, PhD parashar.sat@gmail.com USA has been known as the land of opportunity. The resounding proof lies in the number of persons seeking immigration to USA, compared to all other countries of the world. USA is, doubtless, the military and economic super powerhouse of the world. The World Bank’s Doing Business Report (2019), in terms of ‘Ease of Doing Business’ ranked USA at #8, among 190 countries of the world. Inciden- tally, all other countries ranked above USA, in terms of ease of doing business, are real tiny in terms of population. So, a question: Did you consider doing busi- ness in USA ? Why Business? According to ancient Indian wisdom, business has been considered a much bet- ter occupation compared to service. Of course, agriculture was considered the #1 occupation. The ancient saying goes like this: ‘ Uttam Kheti ’ (Top First, Agricul- ture), ‘ Madhayam Vyapar ’ (Medium Second, Business), ‘ Nimna Chakri ’ (Third Last (of the three), Service). Agriculture including extraction and mining is the best because it has the highest multiplier or margin. A single seed may produce and return numerous seeds. Oil and natural gas are the best examples. The own- ers of oil and natural gas fields are among the wealthiest people of the world. Next comes business people. The greatest benefit of owning a business is that you get a ‘pre-tax expense’ entity. Many of your discretionary expenses may pass through as business expense and thereby you end up keeping more money in your pocket. There is nothing illegal about it. Tax evasion is illegal, not tax-avoidance. Minimizing your tax liability by availing permissible exemptions and deductions under the tax law of the land is perfectly fine. People set up businesses to earn and accumulate wealth, in addi- tion to providing products and services. Service, howsoever coveted, being personal, goes and ends up with you. It can’t be left behind and passed on to your next generation like business and agriculture. Can you do business while keeping your job? By all means, it is possible to do business while keeping your job. And that is perhaps the best course to follow to begin with. The data from the Small Business Administration (SBA), an agency of the Government of United States of America, provides a very educative insight (Figure-1). According to SBA’s latest report, as of 2015, there were 30.2 million small businesses (A small business, generally speaking, in the USA, is defined as an independent business employing fewer than 500 employees). The most interesting fact is that eighty percent, or 24.3 million, had no employees (termed “nonemployers”). Only twenty percent, or 5.9 million, had paid employees. So your small business could be owned and oper- ated by you as single person or jointly with family and friends, no paid employees and possibly home based, if your customers don’t visit you in person. Could that be then your 2019 financial resolution! Happy New Year! Happy Holidays By Asha Jain ajain@stratoswp.com The holiday season provides us all with a much needed gift—time to spend with family and friends creating new memories to be embraced for years to come. I wish you and your loved ones health and happiness at this special time of year, and I thank you for your friendship and trust all year round. As focus shifts to 2019, I am optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead. Regardless of how the financial markets and economic conditions take shape, I am confident that we will determine a thoughtful strategy to help you pursue the future you envision. Best wishes to you and yours, and please contact me if there is anything I can do to help ensure your financial and investment needs are being met. Happy Holidays! Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd., a Registered Invest- ment Advisor and a separate entity from LPL Financial. 2015 2016 2017