A business book like no other on the market has just been published.

The Book of Business Inspiration doesn’t just feature the usual step-by-step business guides, it also has interviews with people who have started or bought their own business or franchise. These everyday entrepreneurs talk about how they did it, the problems overcome and the lessons learnt, and offer advice on how you, too, can have your own business.

The book also features how-to guides, ranging from how to buy a business to how to make money via the web; profiles of various businesses, from newsagents to nightclubs; profiles of legendary entrepreneurs; information on relocating your life to another country; and much more.

The Book of Business Inspiration is available to buy on Lulu.com for £14.95, or £5 for a downloadable copy.

The Book of Business Inspiration is published by Dynamis, the online media brand behind BusinessesForSale.com, FranchiseSales.com, BusinessOpportunities.com and BusinessWings.co.uk

Few places can be as different from their reputation as Glasgow.

To some, the city still conjures up images of some of the worst slums in Europe.

But Glasgow is far more than an urban jungle. Architecturally, it is one of the UK’s most beautiful cities, partly the result of the efforts of one its most famous sons, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

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Industrious, efficient, organised.

These are three qualities that characterise the German stereotype and which are conducive to success in business.

A simplistic caricature admittedly, but after decades of partition these traits were evident when a unified Germany underwent the wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle) and emerged as the world’s third largest economy with a workforce renowned for its skill, innovation and productivity, as well as products synonymous with quality and durability.

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Birmingham has long had an image problem.

But the city – just under 120 miles north-west of London, with a population of 1,001,000 – has long outgrown the stereotypes of ugly concrete architecture and vowel-mangling accents to become one of the country’s most vibrant and multicultural urban centres.

Cushman & Wakefield’s annual ‘city monitor’ report recently concluded that Birmingham was the best city for business in the UK outside London. It was 19th in Europe, only two places lower than Stockholm and just above Geneva.

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Although consistently popular with British holidaymakers, our businesspeople have tended to attribute a low priority to Greece as an export market.

However, with the recent rise in the Greek share of British exports and the growing sophistication of its market for consumer goods, Greece, while not an ideal starter market, offers good potential for companies wishing to expand their exports.

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By Stephen Roach, global economist at Morgan Stanley, for MoneyWeek: I am returning from India with great enthusiasm. 

Many serious problems remain - especially the ravages of poverty.  But in the past couple of years, India has faced many of its macro imperatives head-on - especially low saving, inadequate infrastructure, and lagging foreign direct investment. 

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Eclipsed by its neighbour China in the media, India is often overlooked as an economic power.

Yet like China, it consistently posts high rates of economic growth, which is similarly enabled by an abundance of cheap, skilled labour. India also has a lower dependency ratio – the median age is only 24 – and, unlike its neighbour, it is democratic and boasts the largest English-speaking population in the world.

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During the Industrial Revolution Manchester established itself as a cosmopolitan hub of industry and manufacturing, and it rapidly became the centre of industrial reform in the UK.

However, over the past few decades the region’s economy has diversified and there is a lot more choice for investment than just cotton and railways.

The main industries in the region are financial and professional services, and the life science and creative industries. Financial, professional and legal companies employ 160,000 people in the area, making it the largest centre for these sectors outside London.

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As long as democracy is properly restored, Thailand will remain one the best places in south-east Asia to do business.

Over the past 15 years, successive governments have sought to make Thailand’s business climate more agreeable to foreign investors. Although reforms have not fully overhauled Thailand’s protectionist approach to domestic industry, it is still easier to conduct business in Thailand than most of south-east Asia. The country once known as Siam is structurally, technologically and administratively ahead of many of its neighbours.

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Italy boasts sophistication and discernment not only in its people but also in its business practices.

The Italian market is prosperous and highly competitive and has proven to be a front-runner for UK trade for many years.

It is the seventh largest global market for British exports and, after Germany and France, the UK is the third largest supplier to Italy. 
 
With more than 1000 British companies participating in the Italian market, there is at present twice as much British investment in Italy creating a balance of trade that falls in Italy’s favour.

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A growing number of people want to set up a business in Spain, but there are pitfalls, writes Sarah Bridge of The Times
 
Once upon a time the only Britons heading for Spain were those who were planning to retire there.
Not any more.

Today, a growing number of younger people are moving to the country to set up their own businesses. Indeed, Spain is now one of the most popular places for people to launch their own start-up.

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In business opportunity terms, Greece lags behind its European partners. However, for a lifestyle change it's up there with the best.

Several British and American chains have successfully established branches in the commercial hubs of Athens and Thessaloniki, despite the prevalence of family-run businesses.

Ranking among the world’s 20 most developed nations, Greece is an EU member state with a population of 11 million, over half of whom live in Athens and Thessaloniki.

Greece has enjoyed a stable political environment since the mid 1970s, joined the EMU in 2001, and its growing economy has boosted business confidence over the last decade, leading to considerable foreign investment.

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Although Australia’s first immigrants may have been reluctant European outcasts, destined for a lifetime of hard labour, today this vast country lures 150,000 people annually from the UK alone.

Many of these hopefuls arrive to set up business for themselves in search of the famed sun, scenery and laid-back quality of life.

Search 100s of businesses for sale in Australia

Australia is an affluent country with a stable economy and strong links to the UK, making it a more significant market for the UK than its comparatively small population of 20 million might suggest. With a market worth over £250 billion, Australia is a prime location for business immigrants.

The advantages of a shared language, a common basis for commercial law and similar business culture make Australia hugely accessible to the fledgling exporter, as well as the more experienced.

Business Broker, Eric Lahra, who has 30 years experience in the Australian market advises:

“The professional businessperson looking to migrate to Australia should continue in the same field and not re-invent the wheel.

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With clean air, clean living and a clean bill of corporate health, Canada is fast becoming the place to do business. On the Canada version of BusinessesForSale.com we have 100s of opportunities - from delicatessen's and coffee shops to bicycle shops and women's fitness franchises.

In 2004, the Economic Intelligence Unit ranked Canada first in its global business rankings, finding it the best country in the world in which to conduct business over the next five years.

You can see why; with a blossoming economy, excellent social and humanitarian standards and a low cost of living; Canada is highly attractive to any corporate interest.

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BusinessesForSale.com is a global website that has businesses for sale represented in over 70 countries. One of the most frequently asked questions is what criteria need to be fulfilled to relocate to the United States.

In the US, UK tourists and property owners can stay for only six months a year. However, it is possible to gain full residency status by buying into an existing business.

“Pure investment is not enough; you have to participate in the company to qualify says Howard Thorne of Homes America, an estate agent and immigration specialist.

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