Thank you so much for this business guide! I think one of the most important sections is “employee benefits”. I have been seeing far too many businesses and companies trying to cut corners in this department lately and all it leads to is anger on behalf of your employees which in turn leads to less loyalty and commitment.

‘Entrepreneurial spirit’ is always a fantastic boost to business, particularly in an area where there are some truly resilient entrepreneurs - it just lifts the business community.

Although I don’t live in Virginia (or the USA for that matter) well prepared business guides like this are fantastic. As an MBA managing a SME in Australia it is essential to know what is happening in other parts of the world.

Keep up the great work!!

“New additions to this year’s guide include articles on how to decide if you are ready to run your own business and other ways of easing into that transition, such as working part time, working from home, or using a business incubator.“

This sounds fantastic. As someone who’s been involved in small business in particular - both as an employee and owner - I’m particularly interested in seeing more organisations provide information for prospective business owners to help them understand what they might be getting themselves into before they take the plunge. I was lucky to have worked in a small business with many financial challenges early in my career and so I knew what lay ahead before I went out on my own. Not everyone has these opportunities, yet many want to work for themselves.

This 2010 Guide to doing Business in Virginia is sure to be of immense help to prospective entrepreneurs who are planning to start a business in Virginia! With Virginia Department of Business Assistance and the Virginia Small Business Development Centers joining their hands yet again in the distribution of the Guide, the publishers assures us that they will all the information required to help a new entrant in the business he proposes to start! I am sure that it will be a companion for all business-houses as a ready reckoner!! Since it has called for opinions and suggestions, you can write in what you would like to be added in the next year’s edition!

This is a great continuation of what I was telling my fellow Maryland Business friends- I recently read an article that Virginia is ranked #2 for the best place do have a small business. Maryland ranked #40. There is a huge incentive to move your businesses a state away! Thank you for the great business guide - I’m purchasing it soon. I should give it to fellow Marylanders! Ha!