1. International Entrepreneurship The benefits and obstacles of foreign markets

2. Entrepreneurship In General  Advantages ◦ Working Autonomy ◦ Challenge and Achievement in a start-up ◦ Complete financial control  Disadvantages ◦ Personal sacrifices ◦ Burden of responsibility ◦ Small margin of error

3.  Ability to transplant established ideas  Vast opportunities to develop new markets  Lax restrictions on business permitting Benefits In Foreign Markets

4.  Scarcity of skilled/trained workforce  Language and cultural barriers  Different set of laws and practices

5.  Founded in 2005  Cancun, Mexico  Primary business: ◦ Property Management  Secondary business: ◦ Vacation Rentals Case Study: Platinum Properties

6.  Since 2000, the number of luxury condominiums in Cancun had grown to nearly one thousand units.  Only one company had been providing management services to the existing units.  No English speaking, American owned business in the field. Step 1: Identifying An Opportunity

8.  Legal Services ◦ Business License  All Inclusive ◦ Immigration/Work Visa (FM3)  Accounting Services ◦ Knowledge of Foreign Owned Company codes ◦ Reciprocal Tax liabilities with United States IRS Step 2: Setting Up Shop

9.  Websites ◦ www.platinumproperties.com.mx www.platinumproperties.com.mx ◦ Travel networks  Flyers  Brochures Step 3: Marketing The Services

10.  Price ◦ Price for service was premium, higher than others  English speaking, American owned  Onsite office/Resident ◦ Only onsite manager, only resident/owner manager Creating A Competitive Advantage

11.  Market ◦ First time owners lacked prior experience  Commodity business ◦ Lower barrier to entry ◦ Competed with lower labor costs  Employee issues  Rule ChangesSetbacks

12.  Rental Superiority ◦ Host of 2007 CIBC World Market Conference  Reputation in business community ◦ Access to many new opportunities ◦ Desire to do business  The Knowledge ◦ PricelessSuccesses

13.  Venture & Expansion Capital ◦ Real estate ◦ Established businesses  Active global investor ◦ Mexico/Latin America ◦ Asia ◦ United States Life After Mexico

14. Contact Information Daniel A. Levin Chicago, Illinois levin_dan@yahoo.com (847) 530-3265