Highest-Paid Actresses 2011

According to Forbes.com, "Hollywood is still a boy’s town where the men earn a lot more than the women. But don’t cry for the top female stars: The 10 highest-paid actresses in Tinseltown earned a total $218 million between May 2010 and May 2011, by our estimation."

Jolie has made a name for herself as an actress who can easily handle action, drama and even directing. She wrote and directed the upcoming film In the Land of Blood and Honey, a romance set against the backdrop of the Bosnian War. That film follows up her two big-budget 2010 action movies, Salt and The Tourist. The latter, which co-starred Johnny Depp, initially looked like it was going to be a flop after a paltry opening weekend box-office haul of $16 million. But thanks mostly to the overseas market, the film went on to earn $280 million, cementing Jolie’s appeal abroad...

Here's the Complete list of Top 10 of Hollywood's Highest Paid Actresses 2011.

1 - Angelina Jolie, $30 million

Jolie is the only woman making bank for playing action heroes these days. Salt, which was originally written for Tom Cruise, brought in $300 million on a budget of $110 million. Her other movie from 2010, The Tourist, earned 75% of its $280 million box office overseas.

2 - Sarah Jessica Parker, $30 million

Parker hasn't strayed far from her association with fashion-lover Carrie Bradshaw from the hit TV show Sex and the City. In 2010 she starred in the second Sex movie, which earned $290 million. She's designing clothes with Halston and she has a line of best-selling fragrances, including NYC, which brought in $18 million in 2010.

3 - Jennifer Aniston, $28 million

While the tabloids fret about Aniston's love life, the actress is slowly proving herself to be one of Hollywood's surest things on the business side. Her 2010 movie The Bounty Hunter opened weak and was immediately written off by the pundits. But the film kept attracting audiences, eventually earning $136 million on an estimated budget of $40 million. She later helped Adam Sandler's Just Go With It earn a healthy $212 million.

4 - Reese Witherspoon, $28 million

Her marriage to agent Jim Toth kept her in the public eye this year but the actress' latest romantic comedy, How Do You Know, was a colossal flop, earning only $47 million on an estimated budget of $120 million. Don't expect it to dent Witherspoon's career. She is still the go-to actress for movies like her upcoming This Means War, about a love triangle involving two CIA agents.

5 - Julia Roberts, $20 million

Roberts' career has slowed considerably since her Notting Hill days but she's still a box office draw. Eat Pray Love earned an impressive $205 million. Roberts also earns from her work as one of the faces of Lancome. She's attached to play the Evil Queen in one of two Snow White projects currently in development.

6 - Kristen Stewart, $20 million

Stewart's non-Twilight career hasn't been as successful as her co-star Robert Pattinson's so far. Her 2010 film The Runaways grossed only $4.6 million at the global box office. But the two-part Breaking Dawn should bring her enough money to play around with different roles while looking for her next big hit. Stewart is attached to one of two Snow White projects currently in development.

7 - Katherine Heigl, $19 million

One of the few women who can still command $12 million per picture, Heigl is the new queen of romantic comedies. She risks having that crown taken away from her though due to a couple of recent duds including Killers, which earned only $100 million, and Life as We Know It, which performed slightly better, bringing in $106 million on an estimated budget of $40 million.

8 - Cameron Diaz, $18 million

Seventeen years after she debuted opposite Jim Carrey in The Mask, Diaz is still one of the most popular actresses in movies. She starred opposite Tom Cruise in last year's Knight & Day. The film didn't perform as well as many would have liked but it still brought in a solid $260 million thanks to brisk overseas ticket sales. Her relationship with baseball star Alex Rodriguez helps keeps the busy actress in the news.

9 - Sandra Bullock, $15 million

The actress hasn't had a movie out in the last 12 months. After a year of triumph (winning an Oscar) and heartbreak (a painfully public divorce) Bullock is getting back to work with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Based on the Jonathan Safran Foer novel about New York after 9/11, the film costars Tom Hanks.

10 - Meryl Streep, $10 million

Streep had a huge year in 2009 with Julie & Julia and It's Complicated but the award-winning actress has been quiet since then. She'll return later this year as Margaret Thatcher in the biopic The Iron Lady directed by her Mamma Mia helmer Phyllida Law.

For more info about the top 10 of Hollywood's Highest Paid Actresses 2011, please visit Forbes.com. Thank you.

• Reference/Source: Forbes.com [July 5, 2011]

Here is the Forbes List 2011 Billionaires – Top 10:

1. Carlos Slim (Mexico) – $74 billion, telecommunications

Carlos Slim Helú (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkaɾlos esˈlim eˈlu]; born January 28, 1940) is a Mexican business magnate and philanthropist who has at various times been noted as the richest person in the world. He is the chairman and CEO of telecommunications companies Telmex and América Móvil and has extensive holdings in other Mexican companies through his conglomerate, Grupo Carso SAB, as well as business interests elsewhere in the world.
América Móvil, which at 2010 was Latin America’s largest mobile-phone carrier, accounted for around US$49 billion of his wealth by the end of 2010. His corporate holdings at February 2011 have been estimated at US$74 billion and from these estimates he is the wealthiest person in the world.

2. Bill Gates (USA) – $56 billion, Microsoft

William Henry "Bill" Gates III, (born October 28, 1955) is an American business magnate, philanthropist, author and is chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen. He is consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest people and was the wealthiest overall from 1995 to 2009, excluding 2008, when he was ranked third. During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions of CEO and chief software architect, and remains the largest individual shareholder with more than 8 percent of the common stock. He has also authored or co-authored several books.
Gates is one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution. Although he is admired by many, a number of industry insiders criticize his business tactics, which they consider anti-competitive, an opinion which has in some cases been upheld by the courts. In the later stages of his career, Gates has pursued a number of philanthropic endeavors, donating large amounts of money to various charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, established in 2000.
Bill Gates stepped down as chief executive officer of Microsoft in January 2000. He remained as chairman and created the position of chief software architect. In June 2006, Gates announced that he would be transitioning from full-time work at Microsoft to part-time work and full-time work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He gradually transferred his duties to Ray Ozzie, chief software architect and Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer. Gates' last full-time day at Microsoft was June 27, 2008. He remains at Microsoft as non-executive chairman.

3. Warren Buffett (USA) – $50 billion, Berkshire Hathaway

Warren Edward Buffett (pronounced /ˈbʌfɨt/; born August 30, 1930) is an American investor, industrialist and philanthropist. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful investors in the world. Often called the "legendary investor, Warren Buffett", he is the primary shareholder, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He is consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest people. He was ranked as the world's wealthiest person in 2008 and is the third wealthiest person in the world as of 2011.
Buffett is called the "Oracle of Omaha" or the "Sage of Omaha" and is noted for his adherence to the value investing philosophy and for his personal frugality despite his immense wealth. Buffett is also a notable philanthropist, having pledged to give away 99 percent of his fortune to philanthropic causes, primarily via the Gates Foundation. He also serves as a member of the board of trustees at Grinnell College.

4. Bernard Arnault (France) – $41 billion, LVMH

Bernard Arnault (born 5 March 1949) is a French businessman. He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of LVMH, a large luxury goods conglomerate consisting of over fifty luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Fendi. According to Forbes Magazine, Arnault is the world's 4th and Europe's richest person, with a 2011 net worth of US$41 billion.

5. Larry Ellison (USA) – $39.5 billion, Oracle Corp

Lawrence Joseph "Larry" Ellison (born August 17, 1944) is an American business magnate, co-founder and chief executive officer of Oracle Corporation, a major enterprise software company. As of 2011 he is the fifth richest person in the world, with a personal wealth of $39.5 billion.

6. Lakshmi Mittal (India) – $31.1 billion, steel

Lakshmi Narayan Mittal (Hindi: लक्ष्मी मित्तल; born 15 June 1950) is an Indian steel magnate. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company.
Mittal is the second richest man in Europe and is presently the sixth richest in the world with a personal wealth of US$31.1 billion or £23.8 billion.He is the 44th most powerful person of the 68 most powerful people in the world. One out of 5 cars in the world is made up of the steel materials of his steel empire. His daughter Vanisha Mittal's marriage was the most expensive in the recorded history of the world.
He is a independent director of Goldman Sachs, member of the Board of Directors of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, World Steel Association, Foreign Investment Council in Kazakhstan, the International Investment Council in South Africa, the Investors' Council to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the World Economic Forum’s International Business Council, the World Steel Association's Executive Committee, the Presidential International Advisory Board of Mozambique and the International Iron and Steel Institute’s Executive Committee.
He also presently serves as a board council member of the Prime Minister of India's Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians. and members in the Advisory Board of the Kellogg School of Management, Executive Board at Indian School of Business and St. Xavier's College, Calcutta Alumni Association, London Chapter.
In 2006, Financial Times named him "Person of the Year". In 2007, Time magazine included him in their "100 most influential persons in the world".

7. Armancio Ortega (Spain) – $31 billion, retail
Amancio Ortega Gaona (born March 28, 1936) is a Spanish fashion entrepreneur. He is the founder, along with his then-wife Rosalía Mera, and chairman of the Inditex Group. He is ranked by Forbes as Spain's richest man; Europe's second richest man; and the seventh richest man in the world in 2011. He currently lives with his second wife in a discreet apartment building in the centre of A Coruña.
Ortega arrived at A Coruña, Spain, at the age of 14, due to the job of his father, a railway worker. Starting as a gofer in various shirt stores in A Coruña, Galicia, in 1972 he founded Confecciones Goa (his initials in reverse), which made bathrobes. In 1975 he opened the first store in what would grow into the enormously popular chain of fashion stores called Zara. He owns 59.29% of the Inditex group (Industrias de Diseño Textil Sociedad Anónima) which includes the brands Zara, Massimo Dutti, Oysho, Zara Home, Kiddy's Class, Tempe, Stradivarius, Pull and Bear/Often and Bershka and has more than 14,000 employees.
Ortega keeps a very low profile and there are practically no photographs of him (except from one photo published at the Inditex website). He refuses to wear a tie, and likes to dress in blue jeans and T-shirts. He is said to take a very active part in the production and design process in the company.
When he made a public appearance in 2000 - as part of the warm-up prior to floating his company on the stock market in 2001 - it made headlines in the Spanish financial press. However, he has never given an interview, and his secrecy has led to the publication of books such as Amancio Ortega: DE CERO A ZARA (From Zero to Zara).
Ortega, announced his imminent retirement from the fast-fashion giant Inditex, parent company of the Zara chain, stating that he will ask Inditex vice-president and CEO Pablo Isla to take his place at the helm of the textile empire.

8. Eike Batista (Brazil) – $30 billion, mining, oil

Eike Fuhrken Batista, more commonly Eike Batista or simply Eike (Governador Valadares, November 3, 1957), is a Brazilian business baron. He has founded companies in different business sectors, mainly in mining. He is the son of Eliezer Batista da Silva, a longtime head of mining company Vale. As of March 2011, he is the eighth richest person in the world.

9. Mukesh Ambani (India) – $27 billion, petrochemicals, oil and gas

Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani (born on 19 April 1957) is an Indian business magnate is the current chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, the largest private sector enterprise in India, a Fortune 500 company, and one of the largest private sector conglomerates in the world. His personal stake in Reliance Industries is 48%.
He is a member of the board of director of Bank of America Corporation and a present member of the international advisory board of Council on Foreign Relations.
In 2010, he was named among the most powerful people in the world by Forbes in its list of "68 people who matter most" As of 2011, he is the second richest man in Asia[11] and the ninth richest man in the world with a personal wealth of US$27 billion. In 2007, a strong rally in the Indian stock market and the appreciation of the Indian rupee boosted the market capitalisation of Reliance group companies, briefly making him the world’s richest man. According to Forbes Magazine forecasts, he is expected to regain the title of the richest man in the world in 2014

10. Christy Walton (USA) – $26.5 billion, Wal-Mart
Christy Ruth Walton (born 1955) is the widow of John T. Walton, who was a son of Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart. After John's death in June 2005, she inherited his fortune of $15.7 billion.
As of 2011, she is the 4th richest person in the United States according to Forbes Magazine and the 10th richest person in the world. As of March 2011, she had an estimated net worth of US$ 26.5 billion, the bulk of which comes from her shares in Wal-Mart, but also from First Solar, in which her late husband invested. She is currently the richest woman in the world.

She currently resides in Jackson, Wyoming and has one son, Lukas.

• Reference/Source: forbes.com
• Reference/Source: wikipedia.org

Find a fast online degree program today!

The latest list of the Top 10 Degrees With The Highest Starting Salaries has just been released and the results are quite similar to last years. The 2011 results again confirm the trending change from the usual Business, Accounting and Finance related degrees making way for degrees that will land you a job in the booming resource sector. The good news is though that overall, starting salaries are on average higher than they were last year. So what degrees made the top ten list for 2011?

1 – Petroleum Engineering Degree with an average starting salary of $93,000 and a median mid-career salary of $157,000.

2 – Chemical Engineering Degree with an average starting salary of $64,800 and a median mid-career salary of $108,000.

3 – Nuclear Engineering Degree with an average starting salary of $63,900 and a median mid-career salary of $104,000.

4 – Computer Engineering Degree with an average starting salary of $61,200 and a median mid-career salary of $99,500.

5 – Electrical Engineering Degree with an average starting salary of $60,800 and a median mid-career salary of $104,000.

6 – Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering Degree – average starting salary of $59,400 and a median mid-career salary of $108,000.

7 – Materials Science and Engineering Degree with an average starting salary of $59,400 and a median mid-career salary of $93,600.

8 – Mechanical Engineering Degree with an average starting salary of $58,300 and a median mid-career salary of $97,400.

9 – Industrial Engineering Degree with an average starting salary of $58,200 and a median mid-career salary of $97,600.

10 – Software Engineering Degree with an average starting salary of $56,700 and a median mid-career salary of $91,300.

As you can see, Engineering based degrees particularly Commodities Related Engineering are again making up the best part of the Top 10 list for 2011 as they did in 2010. It is not surprising to see Petroleum, Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Graduates acheiving the three highest starting salaries as the growth in emerging markets and the demand for energy and materials continue to keep graduates in these fields in very strong demand which is expected to continue into the foreseeable future.

So there you have it, the ten highest paying bachelors degrees. All of these degrees are available through online degree programs throughout both the United States and at accredited online schools across the globe. With an accelerated online degree program you could earn one of these high paying degrees in as little as two years. So what are you waiting for. The sooner you start, the sooner you will have your degree and earning the big dollars. So what are you waiting for? Find a fast online degree program today!

• Reference/Source: betteronlinedegrees.com

Here are the top 10 oil producer countries and with Total oil production( millions of barrels per day ) on 2006

1. Saudi Arabia (10.72 millions of barrels per day)

Saudi Arabia has the world's largest oil reserves and is the world's largest oil exporter. Oil accounts for more than 90% of exports and nearly 75% of government revenues, facilitating the creation of a welfare state.

2. Russia (9.67 millions of barrels per day)

The country has the world's largest natural gas reserves, the 8th largest oil reserves, and the second largest coal reserves. Russia is the world's leading natural gas exporter and leading natural gas producer, while also the second largest oil exporter and largest oil producer, though Russia interchanges the latter status with Saudi Arabia from time to time. On January 1, 2011, Russia said it had begun scheduled oil shipments to China, with the plan to increase the rate up to 300,000 barrels per day in 2011.

3. United States (8.37 millions of barrels per day)

The United States is the third largest producer of oil in the world, as well as its largest importer.

4. Iran (4.12 millions of barrels per day)

Oil reserves in Iran, according to its government, rank third largest in the world at approximately 150 billion barrels (24×109 m3) as of 2007, although it ranks second if Canadian reserves of unconventional oil are excluded.[1] This is roughly 10% of the world's total proven petroleum reserves. Iran is the world's fourth largest oil producer and is OPEC's second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia. As of 2009 it was producing an estimated 4.172 million barrels per day (663.3×103 m3/d) of crude oil. At 2006 rates of production, Iran's oil reserves would last 98 years if no new oil was found.
Iranian production peaked at 6 million barrels per day (950×103 m3/d) in 1974, but it has been unable to produce at that rate since the 1979 Iranian Revolution due to a combination of political unrest, war with Iraq, limited investment, US sanctions, and a high rate of natural decline.Iran's mature oil fields are in need of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques such as gas injection to maintain production,which is declining at an annual rate of approximately 8% onshore and 10% offshore. With current technology it is only possible to extract 20% to 25% of the oil in place from Iran’s fractured carbonate reservoirs, 10% less than the world average. It is estimated that 400,000-700,000 bbl/d of crude production is lost annually due to declines in the mature oil fields.
Iran consumed 1.6 million barrels per day (250×103 m3/d) of its own oil as of 2006. Domestic consumption is increasing due to a growing population and large government subsidies on gasoline, which reduces the amount of oil available for export and contributes to a large government budget deficit. Due to a lack of refinery capacity, Iran is the second biggest gasoline importer in the world after the United States. High oil prices in recent years have enabled Iran to amass nearly $60 billion in foreign exchange reserves, but have not helped solve economic problems such as high unemployment and inflation.
According to NIOC, Iran recoverable liquid hydrocarbon reserves at the end of 2006 was 138,4 billion barrels.

5. Mexico(3.71 millions of barrels per day)

The petroleum industry in Mexico makes it the fifth largest producer of oil in the world and the tenth largest in terms of net export as of 2007. It is the second largest oil producer in the Western Hemisphere behind only the United States and just ahead of Canada. However, Mexico is not a member of OPEC or any petroleum production related organizations.
The oil sector is crucial to the Mexican economy; while its importance has been reduced in recent years, oil revenues generate over 10% of Mexico's export earnings.

6. China (3.84 millions of barrels per day)

China has been endeavoring to sign international agreements and secure such supplies; its energy security involves the internal and foreign energy policy of China. Currently, China's energy portfolio consists mainly of domestic coal, oil and gas from domestic and foreign sources, and small quantities of uranium. China has also created a strategic petroleum reserve, to secure emergency supplies of oil for temporary price and supply disruptions. Chinese policy focuses on diversification to reduce oil imports, which rely almost exclusively on producers in the Middle East.

7. Canada(3.23 millions of barrels per day)

As of 2005, Canada's total oil reserves including both conventional and unconventional oil, approximately 180 billion barrels (29 km³), puts Canada in second place (Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves), and ranks ninth in the production of crude oil the world over, approximately 2.7 million barrels (430,000 m³) of crude oil a day, and 6.4 trillion cubic feet (180 km³) of natural gas per year. Canada also has the largest oil sands reserves (its offshore reserves have just begun to be tapped). Its proximity to the United States of America makes Canada a significant entry point to one of the world's largest fuel-driven industrialized markets.

8. United Arab Emirates (2.94 millions of barrels per day)

9. Venezuela (2.81 millions of barrels per day)

Venezuela has some of the largest oil and natural gas reserves in the world, and consistently ranks among the top ten crude oil producers in the world. The country's main petroleum deposits are located around and beneath Lake Maracaibo, the Gulf of Venezuela (both in Zulia), and in the Orinoco River basin (eastern Venezuela), where the country's largest reserve is located. Besides the largest conventional oil reserves and the second-largest natural gas reserves in the Western Hemisphere, Venezuela has non-conventional oil deposits (extra-heavy crude oil, bitumen and tar sands) approximately equal to the world's reserves of conventional oil.

10. Norway (2.79 millions of barrels per day)

• Reference/Source: infoplease.co

HSBC remained the biggest bank brand for the third year in a row with its brand value rising 12% to $28,472 million. This must have been a relief to the bank that saw its brand value erode by 28% in 2009 league table.

HSBC
RANK

2010: 1

2009: 1

BRAND VALUE

2010: 28,472.15

2009: 25,364.17

Note: Brand Value in $ millions

Bank of America
RANK

2010: 2

2009: 2

BRAND VALUE

2010: 26,046.9

2009: 21,017.43

Santander
RANK

2010: 3

2009: 4

BRAND VALUE

2010: 25,576.48

2009: 10,839.70

WELLS FARGO
RANK

2010: 4

2009: 3

BRAND VALUE

2010: 21,915.50

2009: 14,507.94

Citibank
RANK

2010: 5

2009: 7

BRAND VALUE

2010: 14,362.34

2009: 9,809.593

BNP Paribas
RANK

2010: 6

2009: 8

BRAND VALUE

2010: 14,059.82

2009: 9,360.48

Goldman Sachs
RANK

2010: 7

2009: 17

BRAND VALUE

2010: 13,886.94

2009: 6,752.69

Chase
RANK

2010: 8

2009: 10

BRAND VALUE

2010: 13,399.82

2009: 8,746.50

Bradesco
RANK

2010: 9

2009: 12

BRAND VALUE

2010: 13,298.90

2009: 7,698.39

Barclays
RANK

2010: 10

2009: 14

BRAND VALUE

2010: 13,133.71

2009: 7,582.57

• Reference/Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com by Bhanu Pande, ET Bureau (1 Feb, 2010, 03.18AM IST,)

Michael Friedenberg, president and CEO of IDG Enterprise, offers up what he thinks will be the top ten trends in the IT community in 2011.
CIO — It’s the time of year for bold and brazen predictions, so I’m jumping on the bandwagon with my forecast of the Top 10 trends, priorities and events of 2011:

10. Social media will keep dominating the business conversation, following the same evolution e-commerce did as it became e-business. Soon we’ll just call it “social business.”

9. The CIO-CMO relationship will change for the better, growing closer and more collaborative. Instead of confrontational relationships, CIOs and CMOs will find common ground around customer engagement.

8. Cloud will move from an overhyped theory to an adopted practice in mainstream business. Private, public or hybrid clouds, when applied to the right business need, will be game-changing in some industries.

7. Mobile moves aggressively into the data and applications arena as enterprises leverage these devices to empower the workforce, speed decision making and grow top-line revenue.

6. Real-time analytics will define and drive the real-time organization. As analytics is layered onto the megatrends of cloud, mobile and social, its capacity to create real-time businesses becomes closer than it appears.

5. Security breaches will hit an all-time high as data keeps getting pushed beyond the enterprise walls.

4. A battle will break out between IT and the lines of business over who really owns the user interface. Who will own that “last mile” to the customer?

3. CIOs will continue evolving beyond an operational focus, spending more time transforming business processes and setting strategy.

2. Vendor consolidations will cause major support issues at your organizations and IT vendors will need to reinforce and extend their commitments to you.

1. CIO turnover will increase if businesses can’t scale. More of your energies will be spent reducing cycle times and helping your organizations increase revenue instead of cutting costs.
So, what did I miss? What are you seeing that I’m not? I welcome your thoughts, as always, and thank you for being a loyal reader of CIO.
Onward to 2011!

• Reference/Source: cio.com By Michael Friedenberg (Orig. Fri, November 19, 2010)

Entrepreneur's Franchise 500® is the world's first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking based on objective, quantifiable measures of success. There's no better place to start a franchise search.

What does it take to get to the top of Entrepreneur Magazine's annual Franchise 500 ranking? The 10 franchise systems that follow have captured their place in the spotlight for their outstanding quality, flexibility and strategic improvements. And it helps to have won the hearts of both franchisees and the public. Click through for an overview of the highlights.

Ranked #4 in 2010
1 - Hampton Hotels
Mid-priced hotels
$1,786,929 - $7,596,688

Hampton sits at No. 1 not because it bundles for free services that more upscale hotels charge through the nose for, or because it has a customer satisfaction guarantee (your money back if you're displeased for any reason, no questions asked) that's borderline insane, or because it just put waffle irons in all of its hotels. None of these hurt, but Hampton is tops because it listens to consumers and takes their ideas to heart.

Did you know: This year Hampton is launching in the U.K., Mexico, India, Romania and Trinidad.

Number of franchises: 1,753
Franchising since: 1984

Ranked #10 in 2010
2 - ampm
Convenience store & gas station
$1,057,200 - $1,885,000

Ampm has been pushing hot dogs and Snickers bars to U.S. travelers for more than 30 years, but the brand may not ring a bell. That's because for most of that time, ampm was only found in five western states, as the convenience brand of the Arco gas company. But in 2006, BP, which absorbed Arco in 2000, decided that the popular convenience store chain was ready to go national. Since then, BP has steadily sold off its BP Connect and other gas-station convenience stores, converting them to ampm franchises.

Did you know: In 2010, ampm launched a "secret menu" of snack bar recipes available only via Facebook.

Number of franchises: 3,177
Franchising since: 1979

Ranked #2 in 2010
3 - McDonald's
Hamburgers, chicken, salads
$30,800 - $604,500

You probably haven't noticed many Golden Arches going up around the country--the fast-food empire has more or less hit its North American saturation point, adding about 100 locations to its existing stock of 13,894 in 2010. But McDonald's has managed to stay dynamic (though it is putting up new stores in India and China, which is expected to open 600 new Mickey Ds by 2013). The focus at home is on improving quality and customer experience.

Did you know: This year GPS enthusiasts calculated the furthest you could get from a McDonald's in the Lower 48: 115 miles away in a deserted area of northwest Nevada.

Number of franchises: 26,209
Franchising since: 1955

Ranked #3 in 2010
4 - 7Eleven Inc.
Convenience store
$112,550 - $243,200

It's not that 7-Eleven isn't picky about its locations -- it pays plenty of attention to demographics, site selection and other basic metrics of franchising. It's more that it's adaptable, and during the past couple of years it has become like the yoga-master of franchising. Want to convert a mom-and-pop convenience store to a 7-Eleven? Need to squeeze a small convenience store onto a college campus or airport? Own a gas station but don't have the cash or experience to run the convenience store? 7-Eleven can help. It's no wonder it has 39,300 locations worldwide and more than 8,300 in North America, including 285 that opened last year.

Did you know: A new 7-11 opens every 6.5 hours

Number of franchises: 37,039
Franchising since: 1964

Ranked #5 in 2010
5 - Supercuts
Hair salon
$192,291 - $6,479,764

Before the Great Recession hit, Supercuts' growth pattern mirrored pretty much everyone else's -- wherever a shopping plaza was going up in a new market, it was there. But as construction projects dried up around the country, Supercuts began to rethink that strategy. The company will add 100 units nationally this year, and expectations are for double that in 2012.

Did you know: A Supercuts franchisee in Houston set a new Guinness world record in 2009 by giving 349 haircuts in 24 hours.

Number of franchises: 1,035
Franchising since: 1979

Ranked #21 in 2010
6 - Days Inn
Hotels
$8,200 - $38,100

The old chestnut in the hospitality industry is that hotels are the first to feel a recession and the last to recover. This is demonstrably true. So Days Inn, one of Wyndham Hotel Group's 13 brands and the largest economy hotel chain in the world (based on number of rooms), did what any company in fear for its profit margin would do when tough times struck. It tried to save every penny it could.

Did you know: In recent years, Days Inn has opened hotels in China, the U.K., Costa Rica and Russia.

Number of franchises: 1,857
Franchising since: 1972

Ranked #30 in 2010
7 - Vanguard Cleaning Systems
Commercial cleaning
$127,300 - $174,700

Vanguard Cleaning Systems is in the Top 10 -- and its competitors are not -- because its quality and customer service are rare in the cleaning biz. Instead of rushing to put franchisees on the streets, Vanguard has taken care to select the right master franchisees and emphasize training. "Businesses look to companies like ours because of our training, customer support and quality," says Mark Heisten, vice president for business development.

Did you know: Vanguard has benefited from the recession as companies have scrapped their janitorial department to cut costs.

Number of franchises: 1,847
Franchising since: 1984

Ranked #9 in 2010
8 - Servpro
Insurance/disaster restoration & cleaning
$84,300 - $258,300

One good thing came out of the catastrophic floods that hit downtown Nashville, Tenn., last May: It gave Servpro a chance to show its home state what it's all about. The cleanup and restoration company, which specializes in smoke, fire, water and mold damage, mobilized its disaster recovery team and brought almost 700 crews from its 1,600 locations to Music City to help clean up the mess. It showed just how strong a national franchise can be in an industry dominated by small independent1 operations.

Did you know: After 40 years in business, Servpro opened its first international location in 2010.

Number of franchises: 1,526
Franchising since: 1969

Ranked #1 in 2010
9 - Subway
Submarine sandwiches & salads
$1,125,609 - $2,396,419

Last April, Subway threw its hat into a crowded ring by introducing a full line of breakfast sandwiches nationally. It was a risk for the hero-slinging behemoth, but according to the company, which does not release sales figures, the initiative exceeded expectations and boosted per unit averages. That has helped keep the 34,000-unit restaurant expanding. It added 2,000 stores in 2010, including 800 new locations outside the United States, and it expects to open 2,100 sites this year.

Did you know: Subway claims there are more than 2 million sandwich varieties available in their stores

Number of franchises: 33,188
Franchising since: 1974

Ranked #17 in 2010
10 - Denny's Inc.
Full-service family restaurant

Denny's is an American institution -- which is good and bad. It's got unbelievable brand recognition, but it's also saddled with decades of baggage, including a highly publicized discrimination lawsuit in the 1990s, a reputation as a hangout for late-night hoodlums and a bastion of bad food. But in 2009, Denny's began a hard and fast climb into the 21st century with one Super Bowl commercial, offering a free breakfast for anyone willing to wait. Two million people went in.

Did you know: Denny's started out in 1953 as Danny's Donuts, becoming Denny's in 1959

Number of franchises: 1,374
Franchising since: 1963

• Reference/Source: entrepreneur.com

Source: entrepreneur.com | More publicity. Less competition. Talent waiting to be scooped up. Here's why starting in a recessed economy may give your business a better shot.

Do you have one good reason to start your business right now?

How about 10?

Regardless of what people around you (including the media) may say, right now is the best time to get into business. Just go back and look at the economic slowdowns throughout history. Most recessions in the post-World War II era last an average of 10 months, followed by growth cycles that last an average of 50 months.

What this means for the startup is there's no better time than right now to get going and start pursuing your business dreams--in anticipation of the next period of growth.

So with a nod to David Letterman, here are my top 10 reasons you should start your business now--despite the current downturn:


1. Everything is cheaper.
Let's face it: There is great value right now in this and in world markets. This is the right time for fantastic deals in virtually every category, from land and equipment to commercial office space, personnel and labor. As asset prices have been knocked down, there is no better time to get into the real estate or financial markets, or even heavy equipment and construction. Some people have waited years to find value in these markets--and now that time has come.


2. You can hire more and better-qualified people.
In an era when even Microsoft is laying off, you can find great resources at affordable rates. Thinking about getting your high-tech startup off the ground? There are plenty of engineers waiting to be hired. Thinking about forming a professional services firm? There are many accountants and attorneys looking for their next opportunity.


3. People are looking to change suppliers.
From a cost perspective, everything is on the table for most companies. Even if your prices are higher, if you can come in with greater value, you have a good chance at winning new business. You also have the advantage of being the new kid on the block when it comes to pitching your products and services. Many companies are desperate to find new partnerships with new companies that have a different, better or more innovative way of delivering those products and services.


4. Ownership equals tax incentives.
Business ownership offers a variety of tax benefits that aren't available to employees. While taxes should never be the sole reason to go into business for yourself, it should be one reason to add to you "benefits of business ownership" list.


5. Family and friends don't want to (or can't) invest more money into the stock or real estate markets.
That means they may be willing to finance a portion of your new venture, or the expansion of an enterprise that has proven itself over time. The main benefit is that they know you and have a relationship with you--and if you have a solid business plan that delivers real numbers, your chances of raising the capital you need increase exponentially.


6. Suppliers are giving better credit.
Because the credit markets have virtually shut down, the B2B credit flows are keeping money circulating out of sheer necessity. That means a bullish outlook for companies looking for good terms on stock and/or inventories. The main advantage is that all parties have more incentive than ever for finding true win-win situations that allow for cash and stock flow. When everyone is looking to survive, great deals can be had.

7. You can get good PR by showing you are going against the trend.
The media loves aberrations, and if you are optimistic by expanding or getting into business now, you would be in that category. That means you can generate some great PR by demonstrating your "alternative" view of the market.


8. You can buy everything you need at auction.
In addition to everything being less expensive, you can find great deals at auctions, especially in terms of any large equipment and office furnishings. Auctions are also a great place to find hardly used or "gently" used restaurant and bar supplies at great prices. These days, you may even be able to get deals on fleets of vehicles and trucks for a delivery service or hauling or construction company.


9. You can find great "low money" or "no money" down deals.
This is simply being aware of good opportunities others have buggered up, and finding deals where you could get an entire business simply by taking over a lease (along with all the equipment). Many business owners want out at any cost, meaning you can negotiate great win-win deals that allow the current owners an escape while giving you an opportunity to turn around what could be, if run right, a very viable business.

And finally . . .


10. You've lost your job, and you have to do something.
Sometimes, the best business decision is the one you are forced into, and the incentive (as well as need) for income is often enough to push those previously "on the fence" to strike out on their own. There's nothing wrong with being in this position; it simply means there is greater urgency to do something that will start to generate income as quickly as possible.

There you have it: my top 10 reasons to start your business in a recession. After all, the odds are on your side that the expansion will be many times more robust than the present slowdown.

There's no better time to start than the present, especially if people around you are more comfortable with their own list of reasons why they shouldn't start pursuing their own business dreams right now. It only means you'll be facing a lot less competition.