Services for small or large businesses
C. Harstad Associates has been providing business services to clients in the Midwest for over 20 years. We first did the same in China in 2003. (Our CEO spent 2004-06 working in Beijing.) Our clients range in size from individuals to multi-national corporations; no customer is too small or too large.
Our services include:
* Management advice or assistance, including helping business start-ups
* Project management
* Planning, including business plans, disaster contingency plans and
system plans at the strategic, tactical and operational levels
* Business analysis
* US-China business services
* Information technology services via our Zadada division (see
www.zadada.com)
* Other business services (please inquire)
We provide personalized, responsive, dependable service to our clients, whether the task is small—for example, helping an individual start a new business—or large, such as facilitating a US-China joint venture.
We know business!
See our website www.charstad.com for more information or send email to info@charstad.com.
Keywords: Business services China Chinese international business planning start-up
Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
20 years, since February 1990
What is your primary product or service?
Information technology services via C. Harstad Associates plus media-related services via our Zadada division.
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
The owner was previously a newspaper managing editor. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Minnesota. He has also worked as an IT manager or consultant for three decades. In 1998, he completed a master's degree in Management and Administration with emphasis in International Business from Metropolitan State University.
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
We provide very personalized services and have a very high standard of workmanship. We treat our customers as our partners in projects to whatever extent they wish to be involved. Also, we have available some of the top people in relevant areas of expertise, from website design to network architecture.
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
We operate from a virtual network of home offices to keep costs low. All the services we provide can be performed on our collective equipment or by other facilities available to us.
Provide detailed directions to your location
We operate as a virtual network versus a storefront. Directions are rarely necessary, because we meet with IT clients on-site. Regarding Zadada, customers usually email, FedEx or USPS documents or materials to us. If they cannot be sent, we often pick them up from the customer. We sometimes accept deliveries by prior arrangement.
What type of payments do you accept?
We accept cash, company check or payment via PayPal. The latter is easy and convenient. The payer does not need a PayPal account and either a PayPal account (if he or she has one) or a credit card can be used.
Which areas do you service?
We provide services to customers anywhere on Earth provided the customer can pay in US dollars or one of the 17 other currencies PayPal services. We have experience working on-site contracts abroad, primarily in China.
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
Zadada is a division of C. Harstad Associates, Inc., a Minnesota corporation. The CEO of the corporation is Carl L. Harstad. Other staff members are usually part-time employees or full or part-time consultants selected to work specific projects due to their special expertise.
What are your hours of operation?
9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with exceptions by prior arrangement.