The competition is only one aspect of how difficult it can be to turn a small business into a success. The odds are not in the favor of a small businessman, with most small businesses faltering within a few years of opening. The narrow margins of profit and the various financial obligations that a small business has make it difficult for an owner to feel comfortable with their financial situation for years on end. However, small business people should not let this information stop them from realizing their dream.

Successful small businesses have a number of factors working in their favor. The most important aspect of success early in a business’ life is the quality of product that is being produced. As well, the unique nature, the necessity, and the cost of a product can contribute to the success or failure of a small business. Small business owners who are successful often have a strong set of short, medium, and long term goals which push the company toward the top within their industry. Finally a business model that ensures financial stability, while producing a great product or products for years to come is the backbone of any successful business.

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of small business is the recruitment of high quality professionals. These professionals can make or break a business, depending on their reliability, creativity, and commitment to the business. Small business owners should work with a recruiting agency in order to develop a strong set of personnel. Agencies can help owners target specific skill sets in their employees while saving them the expenses of excessive advertising and promotion. Small businesses can grow into big corporations or industry leaders through the use of creative recruiting methods and a commitment to excellence.

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Recruitment or outsourcing specific business functions from conception will immediately show savings in your overhead costs.  New start up business have had to streamline their operation in order to save money on overhead costs which means they initially hired a larger staff, paid for larger office space to house the employees and spent more money on computers and office expenses.

If they would have outsourced from the beginning they could have extended their operating capital reserves more efficiently.  In today’s global economy there is really no reason to perform back office functions within your own facility, whether you are a start up small business or a large multimillion dollar company savings are savings and outsourcing back office processes is the simplest and easiest way to do save significantly on your overhead costs.

For more Offshore Outsourcing Information contact us!  Get a FREE Quote Today!

Omar Pinto
omar@offshoresavingsolutions.com
Offshore Saving Solutions
310-928-3765

Costa Rica

The economy is based on agriculture. This includes the production and export of pineapples, bananas and coffee. The country’s exports from the free trade zones and tourism sectors led to significant developments in the growth rate of the GDP. Costa Rica is also a producer of cocoa, sugar, lumber, wood products and beef. In recent years, ecotourism, pharmaceuticals, financial outsourcing and software development have become major industries with significant contribution to the country’s GDP.

Lately, other industries like electronics, pharmaceuticals, eco-tourism, financial outsourcing and software development are now becoming major industries. There are a number of high tech companies which have sprung up in the area, including chip manufacturer Intel and Pharmacy companies like Procter & Gamble and Glaxo Smith Kline. Costa Rica is also self reliant in energy needs, with exception of oils- and has the potential to be an electricity exporter, as it already exports to Central America.

The unit of currency of Costa Rica is the Colon (CRC). This currency trades at 500 to the US dollar and at around 600 to the Euro. A new system that is expected around 2007, will see the Colon currency float between two bands. The Central bank will be better positioned to handle inflation and discourage the use of the US greenback with the use of this system.

In March 1998, the country joined other Central American nations, and the Dominican Republic to establish a Trade and Investment Council with the United States. It has also clearly showed a willingness to join the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Costa Rica is also a member of the Cairns Group, which is pursuing a policy of global agricultural trade liberalization in World Trade.

Source

Today the telecommunications industry is huge in Cost Rica and continues to boom.  Supplying jobs in the tens of thousands the Costa Rican workforce and wages have increased in these areas.  The education, experience, English level and knowledge of the North American culture make it difficult to find “cheap” labor costs.  You will pay much less than you would in the state for a comparable or higher quality of employee but for offshore outsourcing you will pay more.

The idea in today’s market is to compete, maximize your operating costs and ultimately increase your bottom line.  Outsourcing is a double edged sword and though you can save more in countries like India and the Philippines the quality may not allow you to compete in turn bringing your profitability down.

Costa Rica allows you to save money while at the same time maintaining your level of excellence in order to compete in your industry.  This is why so many companies in the US choose Costa Rica as there satellite head quarters because it’s a win, win across that board.

For more Offshore Outsourcing Information contact us!  Get a FREE Quote Today!

Omar Pinto
omar@offshoresavingsolutions.com
Offshore Saving Solutions
310-928-3765

Saving Both Time And Money

Other examples of bundled outsourcing are super markets and many retail stores that provide financial services, loan, mortgage, saving and insurance services. These services provide credit and risk strategies to customers. They ensure that the company moves ahead at a very fast pace and in a cost effective manner. Companies that choose to build their own platform and processing everything themselves, spend more time and money in the process. Bundled outsourcing helps the company to keep the staff to a minimum leaving the handling of loans and the legal process associated with them to professionals.

Arrangements and Factors Affecting Bundled Outsourcing

You should seriously consider making arrangements regarding bundled outsourcing. This kind of transaction requires the involvement of top executives of both business and information technology. These decisions require support from senior level management, so that the transactions may take place smoothly. Many of the top-level executives try to influence the process just to safeguard their own business interests and that is often the nature of business. Governance remains a major factor that affects the bundled outsourcing. The question here is whether the governance standards should be allowed to influence the decision of bundled outsourcing or should the bundled outsourcing be given the priority by making changes in the governance standards.

People Are Coming Up With Innovative Ideas

If you move ahead cautiously and have the ability to overcome the hurdles, then it is possible to gain major advantages by combining business process outsourcing and IT outsourcing. Some companies still have fears when they think about bundled outsourcing. However, the cutthroat competition in the businesses today has made outsourcing an important tool. Companies are devising innovative methods in this field. Some of the companies have outsourced both IT functions and selected business processes to service providers. They believe that this will help them in concentrating more on the core issues and adding values to the products.

Importance Of Bundled Outsourcing To The Software Industry

Bundled outsourcing is the foundation on which the software industry rests. In an industry as complex as the software industry, many facets of the manufacturing of products must be handled outside of the scope of one particular company. This results in a long line of different outsourcing relationships from conception to marketing and finally into the hands of the consumer.

Source

In today’s global economy IT Outsourcing and BPO are standard operating procedures for most companies.  As a small to midsized business owner theses concepts are now becoming mainstream as well.  There are not too many individual business owners that have not heard of the benefits of outsourcing there non core business functions to outsourcing providers.

Outsourcing solutions today can mean the difference between turning a profit and going out of business.  Small business owners cannot afford to risk going over budget on their operating costs within the first year and outsourcing there back office functions can save them thousands of dollars on overhead costs including more office space, equipment, office supplies, etc.

For more Offshore Outsourcing Information contact us!  Get a FREE Quote Today!

Omar Pinto
omar@offshoresavingsolutions.com
Offshore Saving Solutions
310-928-3765

CIMA Medical Center

It’s been more than 65 years since this small country of 4.6 million people introduced a public health care system. Spending $6,000 less per capita than the United States on health today, Costa Rica boasts a longer life expectancy and an infant mortality rate nearly equal to that of the U.S.

With a reputation for high quality and low prices, the country has even fashioned an industry out of health care, attracting hundreds of visitors each year who take advantage of medical tourism.

“What we don’t understand is how we are able to work with this,” said Rosa Climent, medical director of the Costa Rican Social Security System, pointing to a chart that shows employers pay 9.25 percent and workers pay 5.50 percent of their salaries into the system, which covers “all our health needs. And how the U.S. pays so much more and doesn’t cover its citizens.”

Not only do Costa Ricans have an 86.8 percent coverage rate, but the public health system ser ves residents who live miles from cities.

“How does a small country with a medium investment like ours achieve full cover age for all of its citizens?” asked Climent. “It’s a big accomplishment.”

Like any institution, the Social Security System in Costa Rica (the Caja) has its faults – long wait times and bureaucratic hurdles – but most Costa Ricans agree that their North American neighbor can learn something from the system that serves their country.

By Chrissie Long

Delving into the health care system in Costa Rica you have to wonder where all the money goes in the US for Health Care.  One of the richest most powerful countries in the world yet this is an issue that has been on the political agenda for decades with no real resolve.  It’s no wonder so many American’s are finding yet another reason to move to Costa Rica.

One of the most technologically advanced countries in medical practice, specialists and breakthrough medicine is here in Costa Rica.  Nothing is perfect and for Hospital’s like CIMA Medical Center this a private hospital and most patients will pay directly out of pocket for this care but compared to US price the cost is but a small fraction of what hospital’s would charge you in the states.

For the average Costa Rica citizen using the Caja the wait time is longer but none the less they are being cared for and living longer in Costa Rica based on the current medical structure provided by the Costa Rican government.  As you consider your own options for affordable health care and are considering doing business abroad Costa Rica continues to give you reasons to make the move.

Many of the large multi-national companies based out of the US are setting up shop in Costa Rica and taking advantages of all the many benefits including national health care system for there employees.  

For more Offshore Outsourcing Information contact us!  Get a FREE Quote Today!

Omar Pinto
omar@offshoresavingsolutions.com
Offshore Saving Solutions
310-928-3765

New research commissioned by Savvis shows that infrastructure outsourcing and cloud computing efforts are being taken very seriously by CIOs. IT leaders appear to be more oriented to reduction in infrastructure spending, where other industries such as media and retail, focus on staff reductions.

67 percent of all IT leaders are under pressure to do more with reduced budgets. (I would have expected an even higher percentage.)

52 percent of IT executives noted that the greatest cost savings will emanate from reducing infrastructure costs, reducing staff levels (49 percent) and a virtualization strategy (44 percent)

72 percent of IT executives believe cloud computing will play an important role in the future of IT in helping companies gain efficiencies and reduce cost.

One immediate way IT execs could save money on infrastructure costs would be through the use of open-source alternatives, but the research questions were geared toward outsourcing and not software alternatives. Interestingly, financial services respondents reported that virtualization would provide their biggest cost savings.

Top cost savings in 2009 by industry:

Financial services–virtualization strategy
Media–reducing staff levels
Health care–reducing infrastructure costs & standardizing IT infrastructure solutions
Business & Professional services–standardizing IT infrastructure solutions
Retail–reducing staff levels
Manufacturing–reducing infrastructure costs
Public sector–infrastructure consolidation

When asked “where do you see your cost savings or efficiencies coming from in 2009?” it’s clear that IT leaders are looking holistically across all areas, as opposed to any one specific place for cost reduction:

Core server(s) support, 21 percent
Data centre infrastructure, 16 percent
Storage and back-up support, 15 percent
Desktop support, 14 percent
Network support, 14 percent
Non-application software, 12 percent
(Note: the above is based on a total of 100 percent)

Asked where cost savings or efficiencies will come from in 2009, about half of the respondents will reduce both infrastructure and staff. Only 2 percent reported that they weren’t being asked to reduce costs.

Reducing infrastructure costs, 52 percent
Staff levels, 49 percent
A virtualization strategy, 44 percent
Infrastructure consolidation, 42 percent
Standardising our IT infrastructure solutions, 38 percent
Nowhere, we’re not being asked to cut costs, 2 percent

By Dave Rosenberg

Today it seems that no matter what your business model is outsourcing business processes and functions is the key to saving time and money.  So much money is spent on servers, computers, server rooms, rent, electricity, etc. Not to mention the man power required to manage and maintain these functions.

Global technological advancements have made it possible for companies all over the world to outsource there business processes efficiently and significantly more cost effectively in another country.  One such country would be Costa Rica which one of the most advanced telecommunications infrastructures in the world.

In Costa Rica you can find IT call center support, IT outsourcing, programming, graphic design, etc. that is also Nearshore solution for Offshore Outsourcing.  The same time zone, a similar culture and the same language at a much lower price.

For more Offshore Outsourcing Information contact us!  Get a FREE Quote Today!

Omar Pinto
omar@offshoresavingsolutions.com
Offshore Saving Solutions
310-928-3765

Dra. Marcela Vargas Sáenz - Specialist in Endodontics CIMA Hospital

“We take great pride in what we do. That’s why our Staff, use only the most modern, proven techniques to create magnificent smiles. As Dentistry evolves, every one of us at Dental Cosmetics Costa Rica continuously engage in ongoing education to further increase our knowledge and practical skills for the benefit of our patients.”

~ Dra. Marcela Vargas Sáenz

For years Costa Rica has proven itself to be one of the prime tourist destinations all over the world. The country is considered a paradise for foreigners, with great abundance in wildlife and nature treasures that made Costa Rica an excellent place for adventure. While more and more visitors flock the country because of its stunning landscapes and scenery, many are unaware that Costa Rica is also a great place for medical tourism. In fact, a 1991 survey conducted by the University of Costa Rica found that 14.25% of all the visitors to Costa Rica come to undergo medical care mostly in the form of dental surgery and cosmetic surgery.

Dental procedures in Costa Rica is very popular for US patients as well as to other continental patients that want to acquire affordable cosmetic dentistry. Dentist in Costa Rica are fully trained and certified by a national medical association and are all experienced in the latest and most effective cosmetic surgery and non-surgical techniques essential for the patients medical treatment. Patients planning to undergo affordable cosmetic dentistry or other dental procedures in Costa Rica must investigate and consult the Costa Rica Plastic Surgery Board to ensure the credibility of dentist in Costa Rica that will perform their medical treatments. The association maintains listings of credentialed physicians and can verify whether a particular doctor is presently certified or is completing training in preparation for certification.

A likely scenario for medical tourist is to fly down to Costa Rica and stay in the country at least one week to undergo their surgery, recovery and vacation. Usually, patients stay in the country for 7-10 days, enough time to for recuperation while enjoying leisure and relaxing trips. Many times the first days are spent sightseeing, followed by the planned affordable dentistry in Costa Rica and then some more sightseeing during the convalescent period. Affordable dentistry in Costa Rica can save patients of more than 50% of the original cost if taken in the U.S. Dental implants cost in the U.S. is around $3,000 while in Costa Rica, the same procedure with same outcome runs about $750. Medical tourism providers like GoSculptura, offers packages for affordable dental implants, cheap plastic surgery, gastric surgery and fertility treatments with included hotel accommodation, personalized assistant, complimentary consultation, medicines, nursing care and the surgery itself. These agencies are prominent all over the U.S. and steadily increasing in number. The services they offer are perfect for patients seeking for affordable dental implants as well as other medical procedures which they can’t afford in clinics in the U.S. With rock bottom dental implants cost, Costa Rica is fast becoming a sanctuary for low cost, high quality medical care.

For more information about affordable dental implants in Costa Rica, visit www.mycostaricaplasticsurgery.com

Doing business in Costa Rica is gaining acclaiming across many different business fronts.  Professionals and experts in specialized fields are finding that they can make a very good living here in Costa Rica.  In Costa Rica there is a welcoming philosophy for foreigners that can provide as high or higher quality of service for the country.  Outsourcing these professionals has brought global recognition to CIMA Hospital due it’s multi-cultural staff.

Our business at Offshore Saving Solutions is to provide quality outsourcing solutions for companies in the US looking to source there back office processes and one of our selling points for doing business in Costa Rica is the high quality health care that is available in this country.

For more Offshore Outsourcing Information contact us!  Get a FREE Quote Today!

Omar Pinto
omar@offshoresavingsolutions.com
Offshore Saving Solutions
310-928-3765

August 5th of this year featured the Billabong International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games Costa Rica 2009.  The competition was held in Playa Hermosa, because it has one of the most consistent and desired beach breaks on the Pacific Coast where deep water off the coast and exposure to different swells have built up a variety of sand bars.

This year team USA took the overall gold medal over Team France. It was the first time that the Americans have won an overall gold medal since the 1996 World Surfing Games in Huntington Beach, California.  If you are a fierce surfer then this is not news to you, you’ve already heard of Costa Rica surfing, it shreds.  For those of you who are novice to the sport it may be time to start planning your trip to Costa Rica below is the best times to surf Costa Rica.

The Seasons

Costa Rica does not really know all 4 seasons. During the summer months (mid December to April is known as summer in Costa Rica), temperatures are extremely hot and the chance of rain is very unlikely. However, crowds during these months can get pretty fierce, especially over Christmas, New Year’s and Easter Week. This is Costa Rica’s high season and therefore, hotel and car rental prices will be higher during this time of year than the rest of the year. The best surfing from December to April can be found anywhere along the northern peninsula (Nicoya) or on the Caribbean.

The Rainy Season

The rainy season technically starts in May and lasts until the end of November. However, during the months of May, June, July & August, temperatures are still hot and the heavy rains have yet to fall. Common weather at this time is sunny skies with late afternoon or early morning rain showers. The real rains truly begin in September and last until the end of November. The biggest advantage of traveling during these months are lower prices (this is the low season) and much fewer crowds.

If you are a small to midsized business owner and need more time to surf but don’t think you have the time or the money to surf Costa Rica then think again.  Offshore outsourcing is hotter than ever in Costa Rica so saving time and money by outsourcing your back office functions to outsourcing consultants is the answer to your surfing dilemma.  Let us manage your back office needs from Costa Rica and in no time you will have the time and the resources you need to get surfing again!

By Omar Pinto

For more Offshore Outsourcing Information contact us!  Get a FREE Quote Today!

Omar Pinto
omar@offshoresavingsolutions.com
Offshore Saving Solutions
310-928-3765

$1 million for ecology

The Pax Natura Foundation, with headquarters in the United States, donated $1 million that the Government of Costa Rica will use in the payment of environmental services provided by people and companies who protect 12,000 hectares (29,652 acres) of forests. The payment is a financial aid that the State provides to the owners of forested land who protect it and improve the environment. The Pax Natura Foundation announced that its aid will extend for 10 years and that the overall amount will reach $9 million. An official said that this aid means preventing the deforestation of 3,680 hectares (9,093 acres).

Environment-friendly business

Delegates from eight private British companies that partake in the Office for Climate Change Projects of the United Kingdom visited Costa Rica and met with local counterparts, seeking joint cooperation to develop environment-friendly projects. The initiative is aimed at mitigating the effects of global warming and is based on the proposals of the Kyoto Protocol. On the other hand, a trade mission from Canada that includes 15 private companies and two governmental offices linked to the construction sector visited Costa Rica in order to establish bilateral business in the sector.

Source

Costa Rica is not only at the hub of the democratic relations and peace keeping it’s also at the hub of ecological and environmental conservation.  30% of Costa Rica’s rainforest is conserved and protected against developing.  Strict guidelines for developers have shut down construction projects due to breaking such guidelines.   When you think about Costa Rica you don’t think about traffic, highways or high rise buildings you think about beautiful beaches, incredible rain forests, nature walks and an abundance of exotic wild life.

Costa Rica plans to continue with that frame of mind and to keep tourists coming back by providing all of those wonderful attributes for years to come.  Even the United States and the UK are now donating and participating in the continued contribution to environmental and ecological conservation of Costa Rica.  Doing business in Costa Rica makes more and more sense every year that goes by.  Outsourcing your non-core back office functions to a country that is economically, politically and ecologically stable is something large multinationals are taking advantage off and so should you.  Offshore outsourcing your needs to Costa Rica is not only cost effective but it also contributing to a more ecologically and environmentally conscious movement.

by Omar Pinto

For more Offshore Outsourcing Information contact us!  Get a FREE Quote Today!

Omar Pinto
omar@offshoresavingsolutions.com
Offshore Saving Solutions
310-928-3765

When the coup in Honduras forced President Zelaya to leave the country Costa Rica was the safe haven that took him in and here he was able to exchange views with President Arias and come up with his next step after being forced to leave the Presidency.  There will need to be continued conversations and negotiations between President Zelaya and the de facto regime in order to facilitate a peaceful transition of presidential power during the upcoming November election and signing the San Jose Accords could possibly open the door to this communication.

The idea is to get Honduras back to constitutional and democratic order, for President Zelaya to sign the  San Jose Accord and that no further violence continue in Honduras simply a peaceful way to find common ground.  Costa Rica time and again has been called upon when peaceful outcomes, democracy and the need for mediation exists.

This is yet another reason why doing business in Costa Rica is becoming commonplace among foreigners.  The idea of doing business in Nicaragua, Honduras and even Mexico is a tough sell these days when you think about the un-stable economic and political climate of certain Latin American Countries.  Costa Rica continues to have one of the most stable economic and political structures in all of Latin America.

Offshore Outsourcing for multinational companies as well as headquarters here are changing the counties highest revenue producing sources of income from tourism, coffee and fruit export to IT Outsourcing, Call Centers and technological manufacturing companies for the United States.  Now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity that exists today for doing business and outsourcing in Costa Rica.  

by Omar Pinto

For more Offshore Outsourcing Information contact us!  Get a FREE Quote Today!

Omar Pinto
omar@offshoresavingsolutions.com
Offshore Saving Solutions
310-928-3765

“After a heart attack, they can begin to make new tissue. In a gland, which for example has to make insulin, the cells begin to create insulin. Nervous tissue, they regenerate it … It’s a panacea,” he said.  An increasing number of foreigners are undergoing stem cell treatment in Costa Rica for ailments from bone fractures to multiple sclerosis. Costa Rican doctors say they are providing these medical tourists with groundbreaking treatments.

Dr. Fabio Solano — who directs the stem cell institute at San Jose’s CIMA Hospital, one of the country’s leading private hospitals — says his team has treated as many as 400 patients with procedures that involve stem cells.  Embryonic stem cells are considered a goldmine that could lead to treatment for any number of ailments. Unlike adult stem cells, embryonic ones can evolve into any of more than 200 cell types.

And yet, Solano said, many “miracle” treatments have been accomplished with adult stem cells. “We have demonstrated that adult stem cells are as good as embryonic.”  Success stories have grabbed media attention, with TV networks running stories like “Paralyzed valley woman holds hope in Costa Rica treatment” and “Glenburn boy returns from Costa Rica after having adult stem cell therapy.”

Costa Rican legislators are putting the finishing touches on a law to promote and regulate adult stem cell research and treatment across a spectrum of diseases. This could fuel further debate over techniques that U.S. doctors say have only produced anecdotal success — but it certainly won’t stem the flow of stem cell medical tourism.
According to Solano, Americans already make up close to 90 percent of the stem cell patients at CIMA Hospital.

Source

I have lived in Costa Rica for 10 years now and have continued to watch advancements in medicine with the focus being on finding a solution rather than simply providing remedies for the symptoms.  I have first hand experience with the medical practice here in Costa Rica when I was diagnosed with stage one cirrhosis of the liver and the focus was entirely on reversing the effects and finding a solution in order to stop further scar tissue from forming.

Doing business in Costa Rica weather it be BPO, Offshore Outsourcing, manufacturing, call center management or owning and running any business as a foreigner can bring up many questions about lifestyle, safety, medical care and political structure.  The Costa Rican government continues to make living in Costa Rica more and more attractive year after year so if you are thinking about outsourcing a specific function in your operation offshore Costa Rica is the place to consider.

For more Offshore Outsourcing Information contact us!  Get a FREE Quote Today!

Omar Pinto
omar@offshoresavingsolutions.com
Offshore Saving Solutions
310-928-3765