Business Advice

19 financial terms every small business owner needs to know from the class you DIDN’T take in college:

Back in college, before you knew you would be a small business owner, the goal was just to graduate so you could get a leg up on the people competing for the same job you wanted. Little did you know that the jobs you had before becoming your own boss were just steps on your ladder to success. […]

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Getting financing with so-so credit

It’s a conundrum faced by most aspiring small business owners and many established ones in growth mode: How to secure the financing you need, at terms you can live with, if your credit is only so-so? Or less than so-so? Options abound, even after excluding the most humiliating ones like asking your longlost rich uncle. The best […]

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Red Flags

For some business owners, alternative, or non-bank, financing has appeal because it’s faster and easier to obtain than a loan from a big bank. But borrower beware. Especially entrepreneurs looking to establish, buy or grow a business. If you’re attracted to the benefits of alternative financing (and the benefits are numerous and compelling), do your due […]

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To the swift – Are you ready to take advantage of opportunities?

Conventional wisdom would have you believe today’s volatile economic conditions are suboptimal for major expansion. The volatility will likely continue for months or even years to come; better to wait until things calm down before committing to serious financial obligations, right? Not necessarily. Interest rates are hovering at historic lows while economic growth has been, […]

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Little expenses and small leaks

“Beware of little expenses, a small leak will sink a great ship.” — Benjamin Franklin Just as Franklin wisely cautioned long ago, a small business owner needs to keep a close watch on expenses. To help you oversee where your money goes, you can use a basic spreadsheet to help you track these items, use accountant […]

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These Two Industries Are Most Poised For Growth in 2018

The January 2018 Small Business Optimism Index , put out by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, set a record with the number of business owners saying “Now Is a Good Time to Expand.” The 32% reading is the highest level since the survey began publication in 1973. Fueled by recent tax reform and growing optimism over […]

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To Be Or Not To Be…Your Own Boss

You’re ready. At least, you think you are. You know what you want to do. At least, you think you do. You’re passionate, independent, motivated, organized. It feels right, but what if all goes wrong? Those two wonderful children of yours aren’t going to put themselves through college. Should you or shouldn’t you quit your day job and start […]

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Factors to Consider Before You Hire a Factoring Service

Let’s say you have a client that owes your business $100K. The client’s business has a solid credit history, but it also has a policy of not paying its suppliers for 60 days. You have two choices: you can wait the full two months to receive payment, with all of the anxiety the waiting game entails, or […]

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How Does Merchant Processing Work?

Most of us know that merchant processing has something to do with running and accepting credit card payments, but what does the process really entail? THE BASICS The first thing to understand is that for every credit card transaction, there are essentially four separate entities involved. The first two groups are obvious: you have the […]

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How to Choose a Merchant Processing Partner

You’ve heard the horror stories—the car dealership down the road that got stuck with the faulty terminal and a six year, no-outs contract, or the furniture dealer that’s consistently paid more per month in fees than they were originally told they’d have to—but you know that not accepting credit cards just isn’t a viable option […]

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