Brett Fagan - Bozeman Real Estate - Montana Land & Ranches

The Tax Foundation 2010 State Business Tax Climate Index, measuring how well an individual state's tax system encourages investment by maintaining a broad tax base and low rates, was released September 22, 2009.

The top 10 states for 2010 are:

1. South Dakota
2. Wyoming
3. Alaska
4. Nevada
5. Florida
6. MONTANA
7. New Hampshire
8. Delaware
9. Washington
10. Utah

The State Business Tax Climate Index measures the competitiveness of the 50 states' tax systems and ranks states according to the taxes that matter most to businesses and business investment, which are corporate income taxes, individual income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, and unemployment insurance taxes. States are scored on these taxes, and the scores are weighted based on the relative importance or impact of the tax to a specific business.

Keeping a state competitive in today's global marketplace can be difficult, but the quality of a state's tax system is one factor the state's lawmakers have direct control over.

This is the time of year for easy access to wolves, black bears, grizzly bears, coyotes, elk, and bison in the region of the Gardiner/Mammoth Hotsprings, Montana area of Yellowstone National Park. Mammoth Hotsprings is the only year-round entry point into Yellowstone Park.

"I've been living here since 1998, and I don't remember this much wildlife activity ever," says Rick Hoeninghausen, a director with Xanterra Resorts, the company that maintains the majority of the facilities within Yellowstone Park.

I was dropping my son at school, two blocks west and eight blocks south when Main Street Bozeman exploded. Though folks on the ground felt the blast ten blocks away, my son and I, having been in my truck during the explosion, heard and saw nothing except wailing police cars.

Just exiting the truck on West College, we made our way into his school, as we did every day, noting the throng of police cars racing north through thick Willson Avenue morning traffic, toward what we surmised was some major traffic accident downtown. It was only at the office that I heard what had happened; with no knowledge anyone was missing, my mind went to the loss of our favorite restaurant, Boodles, a quaint, unassuming, upscale restaurant you might find in Boston or Dublin...

The Big Sky Institute, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a lecture series focused on climate change impacts and issues in the Northern Rockies region. All four lectures will feature a Northern Rockies regional expert and a local expert in each topic.

The series will be hosted at the Big Sky Library. With more than 20 years of research in Yellowstone, Dr. Whitlock will share insights and ask questions about how climate change is affecting the plants and animals around us.

• February 12, 2009: Climate Change in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: A fascinating look at the changing ecosystem around us, presented by Professor Cathy Whitlock.
• February 26, 2009: Costs of Climate Change Inaction: A Regional Perspective. This discussion on the effects of climate change on the region's business and economy brings together Ray Rasker, Executive Director of Headwaters Economics, and Laura Ziemer, Director of Montana Water Project for Trout Unlimited. A not-to-be-missed event for business owners, local residents, and visitors.
• March 12, 2009: Yellowstone National Park in a Changing Climate: Ever wonder how Yellowstone deals with huge visitor numbers and changing ecosystems? This discussion will provide answers from the experts: Jim Evanoff runs the Yellowstone sustainability program and Glenn Plumb is Chief of Natural Resources. Come learn about Yellowstone's groundbreaking programs.
• March 26, 2009: Climate Change & Fire in the West: Sitting on the edge of remarkable wilderness, wildfires are a top issue for everyone living in and visiting the Greater Yellowstone region.

Big Sky Montana Recreation Real Estate - Big Sky Real Estate

"One reason why downturns tend to be good times to launch new businesses is because established companies abandon promising growth opportunities too fast. Oracle and Microsoft were both born in difficult economic times." ("All You Need Is Cash." Economist, 22-28 Nov. 2008: 17)

Though you may not be that BIG guy, Mister Softee...yet, nonetheless, it may be time to think BIG when it comes to the business plan for that widget company you have always wanted to start. But "BIG" does NOT mean "starting BIG," it means "thinking BIG" by putting together all the little pieces of a good business plan.

Some, but not all, of the MANY aspects of a good business plan include:

Describe Your Business.
Business Vision Statement.
Elevator Speech (Short Statement).
Who is Your Competition?
How Will You Market Your Business and Products?
How Will You Operate Your Business?
Who Will Manage Your Business?
Who is Your Market?
Number of Persons You Will Employ?
Who Will Provide Your Business Insurance?
Will You Pay Cash or Apply For a Loan and With Whom?
Sample Balance Sheet.
Analysis of What It Takes To Breakeven.
What Equipment and supplies Do You Need?
A Three-Year Summary.
Month-by-Month Business Detail for First Year.
Quarter-by-Quarter Detail For Year Two and Year Three.
How Have You Assertained Your Information and Data?
Ways in Which Your Business May Fail?
Projected Cash-Flow.
Profit and Loss Statement.

If Mister Softee began in soft times, maybe you can too...

Bozeman Commercial Real Estate - Montana Commercial Property