A Risky Venture or a Real Bargain?
- Miss Robinson, come in, please. I am Paul Johnson.
- Hello, Mr. Johnson. I really appreciate you agreeing to see me.
- No worries, I'll be glad to help Jack Robinson's daughter. So what did you want to discuss with me?
- You probably know that my father is quite well-off, I guess, rolling in money would be more accurate. He came into fortune after investing into an Internet company about 20 years ago.
- Everybody knows that.
- You might also know that my father is a philanthropist, he gives money to at least 15 charity funds. Nevertheless, he is quite firm when it comes to business.
- I don't really understand your point.
- The thing is that I'm looking for start-up funds at the moment. Frankly speaking, this is why I came to you. While my father makes a point of donating money to the needy all the time, he won't help me launch my own company.
- Which is?
- It's a service which let's you rent a date.
- Excuse me?
- To rent a date. Let's say you are a working professional who has no time for dating or family. At the same time society expects you to have a couple; single men and women are treated with great suspicion. Moreover, there're parents and grandparents who are forever trying to fix their dears up with someone. My service will let such people rent a date for some social events and family visits. Strictly professional, of course.
- Hm, this seems to be, so to speak, a risky venture.
- Not at all. A second half costs an arm and a leg – I mean they do require your precious time, and money of course – but busy people know it. I've conducted research that proves that such service would be very popular, which means high income.
- Ok, let's assume it is true. What about the "dates"? Are you sure you are going to be a lot of any employees?
- I have already recruited a great deal of applicants. What not to like? This job has its perks and benefits : flexible working hours, travel opportunities, personal development possibility (I'm planning to organize various seminars and workshops for my employees), great work experience and of course competitive salary. I would even offer medical insurance and some kind of pension plan to my employees.
- But insurance costs a fortune, and pension plans won't let you make a profit. You'll be lucky to break even, but most likely you'll be stuck in the red.
- Not quite. I have a specific target group who are to become my regular clients. And their freedom costs quite a lot.
- Miss Robinson, I don't want you to get in debt, or even worse - go bankrupt. Frankly speaking...
- Mr. Johnson, I appreciate your concern but I know that I'll not only get by but will also make living out of this idea. I am willing to discuss partnership if you're interested.
- Hm. I still need to go over the figures. If you leave your calculations, I'll be able to give my answer by Monday.
- Thank you, and trust me, it's a real bargain.
Vocabulary:
well-off – having a lot of money, or enough money to have a good standard of living
rolling in money – to have or earn a lot of money
to come into fortune – to get some money unexpectedly, usually by inheritance
to invest into – to use your money in order to make a profit from it, for example by buying property or buying stock in a company
philanthropist – a rich person who gives a lot of money to help poor people
charity fund – an organization that gives money, goods, or help to people who are poor, sick etc
start-up funds – money for a new small company or business
to donate money – to give money to a person or an organization in order to help them
needy – people who have very little food or money
to launch a company – to start a company
risky venture – a new business activity that involves taking risks
to cost an arm and a leg – to be extremely expensive
high income – a lot of money that you earn from your work or that you receive from investments, the government etc – высокий доход
perk – something that you get legally from your work in addition to your wages, such as goods, meals, or a car – привилегия
benefit – extra money or other advantages that you get as part of your job or from insurance that you have – выгода
flexible working hours – when the employee has the ability to choose the start and finish time of the working day within core hours
travel opportunity – a chance to travel or an occasion when it is easy for you to travel
personal development – the process of gradually becoming bigger, better, stronger, more professional and more advanced
work experience – a period of time that someone, especially a young person, spends working somewhere in order to get experience of a particular type of job
competitive salary – salary that ensures that a worker is getting paid market rates at the job
medical insurance – an arrangement with a company in which you pay them money, especially regularly, and they pay the costs if you become ill
pension plan – the financial plan of a company or other organization for paying pensions to people
to cost a fortune – something costs a lot, or has a high price
to make a profit – to earn money by selling things or doing business, after your costs have been paid
to break even – to neither make a profit nor lose money
to be stuck in the red – to work with more money being spent than there is available
to get in debt – to owe money to someone
to go bankrupt – without enough money to pay what you owe
to get by – to have enough money to buy the things you need, but no more
to make living – to earn the money that you need for life
to go over the figures – to examine the calculations
real bargain – an advantageous purchase, esp. one acquired at less than the usual cost
