News

Visa Business Plan’s Founder and CEO Attends and Speaks at the 2022 MEET US Roadshow in Italy

Visa Business Plans founder and CEO Marco Scanu attended and spoke at the 2022 MEET US Roadshow, an annual event organized by the Italy America Chamber of Commerce Southeast in different Italian cities.

The MEET US Roadshow aims to educate Italian entrepreneurs on approaching the U.S. market with invited speakers covering the most current topics related to export and investments.

This year’s event was held May 9-13 in Turin, Brescia, Vicenza, and Rome.

Over four days and four cities, the event informs and educates those Italian SMEs that wish to explore new opportunities in the U.S. market, using the experience of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Miami in tandem with seasoned professionals in the U.S. market.

During the 2022 MEET US Roadshow, industry experts selected by the Chamber of Commerce addressed aspects related to strategic, commercial customs, and legal and tax issues associated with the expansion of business activity in the U.S. market.

Participants also enjoy networking opportunities with featured companies and speakers.

As one of the event’s invited speakers, Mr. Scanu spoke to entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors looking to establish a presence in the U.S. market and seeking to conduct business in America.

He explained how he comes from a family of entrepreneurs who had their own cork factory in the Piedmont region in 1930. He now has over 35 years of experience as an entrepreneur in Europe, South America, and North America while specializing in the hospitality and consulting sectors.

Mr. Scanu also explained how Visa Business Plans is a boutique consulting firm that has worked with a myriad of entrepreneurs, including many Italians, on topics ranging from business plans for immigration to how to enter the U.S. market successfully.

Additionally, Mr. Scanu discussed the five most common errors Italian entrepreneurs make when entering the U.S. market. He highlighted how the U.S. is not one market but many markets. Therefore, a different strategy is required depending on which audience and location will be targeted.

As an Italian himself, Mr. Scanu insisted that America and Italy are not the same markets, differing in many aspects from consumer behavior to preferences. He highlighted how the mentality of “Faccio lo” (I do it myself, to save money) is extremely dangerous and can cause investors to actually spend more money than if they had relied on professionals from the beginning. He also discussed other common misconceptions when entering the U.S. market.

Participating in events like the Meet US Roadshow allows Visa Business Plans to further position itself as a pioneer and leader in the business consulting sector and stay up-to-date on industry trends and business opportunities. Closely monitoring these trends allows Visa Business Plans to constantly adapt its projects to business realities while remaining rock-solid to confront any challenge.

Marco Scanu is the founder of Visa Business Plans, a Miami-based boutique consulting firm. Visa Business Plans has crafted over 7,000 business plans for visa seekers looking to enter the United States. Visa Business Plans also provides consulting services to businesses and entrepreneurs.

Visa Business Plans Participates in the EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo United States

Visa Business Plans was recently part of the EB-5 Global Immigration Expo United States, held April 7-8 at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon in Miami, Florida.

Visa Business Plans founder and CEO Marco Scanu was an invited panelist at the expo, which offered high-quality education about all things related to EB-5 visas. Led by immigration experts and industry leaders, the EB-5 Global Immigration Expo United States featured interactive panels moderated by experienced finance, tax, and specialized professionals. The EB-5 Global Immigration Expo United States also offered in-depth workshops designed specifically for high net worth individuals, tax and immigration attorneys, migration agents, and project developers interested in the multiple opportunities associated with EB-5 visas.

As an invited panelist, Mr. Scanu shared with the audience attending the EB-5 Global Immigration Expo United States his experience of 13+ years crafting successful immigration business plans for EB-5 direct investments. Under the EB-5 program, entrepreneurs (and their spouses and unmarried children under 21) are eligible to apply for a conditional green card (permanent residence) if they make the necessary investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States, and plan to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers.

Mr. Scanu’s insights on business plans for EB-5 direct investment and the opportunities that exist in the sector were followed with interest by the other panelists and attendees alike. In particular, Mr. Scanu shared how investors have shifted their focus toward EB-5 direct opportunities, and how he strongly believes that the EB-5 direct space will continue to grow in the future against the EB-5 regional center alternative. In addition to serving as a panelist, Mr. Scanu enjoyed networking with seasoned immigration professionals from around the world in the unique, cross-cultural setting of the expo.

The programming at the expo included building direct EB-5 dreams, European opportunities, EB-5 in the post-pandemic world, investors, the American Dream route, EB-5 legislative status updates, investing in Caribbean citizenship, Migration Agent panel, global mobility, emerging markets, country spotlights, and more.

EB5 Investors, the leading online portal, conference series, and magazine devoted to helping investors, developers, and EB-5 professionals, presented the expo. EB5 Investors is an online community helping those seeking a green card through the EB-5 visa program.

Participating in events like the EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo allows Visa Business Plans to further position itself as a pioneer and leader in the immigration business plan sector and stay up-to-date on immigration trends and business opportunities. Closely monitoring these trends allows Visa Business Plans to constantly adapt its projects to make sure they cover the latest immigration requirements while remaining rock-solid to confront any challenge.

Marco Scanu is the founder of Visa Business Plans, a Miami-based boutique consulting firm. Visa Business Plans has crafted over 7,000 business plans for visa seekers looking to enter the United States. Visa Business Plans also provides consulting services to businesses and entrepreneurs.

Visa Business Plans Sponsors the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Santa Fe Conference

Visa Business Plans recently partnered with the Latin America and Caribbean Chapter (LACC) of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) to present the “Righting the Ship – The Path Forward” conference held December 2-3 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Marco Scanu, founder and CEO of Visa Business Plans, attended the event, which marked Visa Business Plan’s first face-to-face conference in nearly two years, and was delighted to be able to meet with friends in the business immigration world again.

Conference participants enjoyed presentations covering a variety of areas including what consular officers are really looking for, extraordinary ability and national interest visas, and post-COVID lessons, among other relevant topics.

Attendees benefited from various interactive presentations and panel discussions among some of the leading immigration lawyers and experts in the United States. They also made new connections with other professionals sharing the common goal of helping immigrants successfully navigate legal issues in the country.

The LACC addresses the needs of immigration attorneys whose work focuses on legal issues in the Latin America and Caribbean jurisdiction. Its mission is to educate, network, and create a cohesive membership throughout the jurisdiction.

Visa Business Plans, under Marco Scanu’s leadership, has been supporting AILA chapters worldwide since the company’s inception in 2010. Participating in these conferences allows Visa Business Plans to stay up-to-date on immigration trends. Closely monitoring these trends allows Visa Business Plans to constantly adapt its projects to make sure they cover the latest immigration requirements while remaining rock-solid to confront any challenge.

Marco Scanu is the founder of Visa Business Plans, a Miami-based boutique consulting firm. Visa Business Plans has composed over 6,000 business plans for visa seekers looking to enter the United States. Visa Business Plans also provides consulting services to businesses and entrepreneurs.

Visa Business Plans and the South Florida chapter of Prospera partnered to deliver a virtual seminar titled “Reopening Your Business, Restaurants Edition”

On Tuesday, May 26, Visa Business Plans and the South Florida chapter of Prospera partnered to deliver a virtual seminar titled “Reopening Your Business, Restaurants Edition.” The event focused on how to successfully manage a restaurant during and after the new reality of Covid-19.

Guest panelist, Marco Scanu, founder and CEO of Visa Business Plans and restaurant consultant with 25+ years’ experience in the restaurant industry, discussed the kinds of changes and best practices restaurants can implement to ensure customers feel safe, valued, and satisfied following the pandemic.

Mr. Scanu highlighted several main points that restaurant operators should consider when looking to reopen.

This may seem counterintuitive, but restaurants are now competing with supermarkets for business. Why? Soaring grocery prices (the priceofgroceries increased by 2.6% between March and April 2020), incredibly inconvenient supermarket visits, and people tired of cooking and eating at home are making ordering food from restaurants a competitive value proposition.

Rather than lowering prices, restaurants should focus on providing combos and special offers to potential customers. Additionally, Mr. Scanu noted that consumer preferences and behaviors have changed since the pandemic, with restaurant-goers focusing on safety and cleanliness. According to Mr. Scanu, this is something that food operations must address through their actions and marketing communications efforts.

Mr. Scanu also discussed the importance of maintaining profitable, appealing, and balanced menu mixes that will keep customers returning.

Prospera is a nonprofit, economic development organization specializing in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs looking to establish or expand their businesses in the United States. Marco Scanu is the founder of Visa Business Plans, a Miami-based boutique consulting firm. Visa Business Plans has composed over 8,000 business plans for visa seekers looking to enter the United States. Visa Business Plans also provides consulting services to restaurants and foodservice operations.