Things have come a long way for aspiring women entrepreneurs in terms of business funding and financial freedom. Even so, there is still a significant gender gap that causes challenges for women hoping to launch their business ventures and fuel growth.  In fact, until 1988, women entrepreneurs were required to have a male co-signer to take out a business loan. Fast forward to today, 49 percent of all businesses in the U.S. are owned by women – yet women business owners account for just 27 percent of business loan applications as of 2020.  Women-owned businesses are also known to receive […]

The covid 19 pandemic changed the business environment, especially for small and medium scale merchants. Survival for most businesses depended solely on turning to e-commerce. However, finding lenders to facilitate this shift became a hurdle for many small businesses as traditional lenders opted to lend to big established companies. This article demonstrates new funding approaches that are changing the capital financing environment to give small business owners opportunities of growing their enterprises. Funding Approaches First is important to recognize the difference between funding and a loan. Generally, business loans require security to access and come with complicated conditions for the […]

You feel it’s the right time to start a business, yet you find it hard to decide where to locate the business. As an entrepreneur, you will need a  place that inspires you and gives you space to grow over time.  When you finally get your idea, identify your capital financing option, and formulate a dedicated business plan, opportunities and places to start the business are limitless. We will look at three easy places to start any business. At home Starting a business at home is much easier today than in the past years. Globalization and technology have tremendously improved […]

Alternative funding can be the safety net for a business in a tight spot, but it can also be the worst bane of your existence–and the beginning of a debt cycle. A Merchant Cash Advance is common among phony alternative lenders looking to rip off needy small business owners.  Unlike traditional loans, these products feature painless applications and instant funding (in as soon as 24 hours). It’s no wonder most entrepreneurs rush to accept these offers even before reading the fine print. What’s a Merchant Cash Advance? A merchant cash advance is a short-term loan that allows businesses to access […]

Alternative funding can be the safety net for a business in a tight spot, but it can also be the worst bane of your existence–and the beginning of a debt cycle. A Merchant Cash Advance is common among phony alternative lenders looking to rip off needy small business owners.  Unlike traditional loans, these products feature painless applications and instant funding (in as soon as 24 hours). It’s no wonder most entrepreneurs rush to accept these offers even before reading the fine print. What’s a Merchant Cash Advance? A merchant cash advance is a short-term loan that allows businesses to access […]

What does every small business owner in the U.S. have in common right now? Recovery. A need for a smooth recovery and future growth. There are currently 31.7 million small businesses in the U.S., and they have all been affected by these unprecedented times brought on by the pandemic.  As the economy bounces back and the country transitions out of the pandemic, the need for access to fast capital for recovery and growth will continue to increase. However, many small businesses are not sure where to turn. The federal relief from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ended on May 31 […]

It’s safe to say the past two years have been a continuous cycle of trying to adapt and overcome, especially for small business owners. New restrictions were rolled out in rapid succession, consumers shifted their purchasing habits and employees’ workplace arrangements changed. People got used to this “new normal” as smoothly as they could to keep moving forward. Unfortunately, many businesses were negatively impacted by the pandemic. The biggest challenge of all was their lack of preparedness. Most companies were simply not in the strong position necessary to handle overnight change and are still struggling with the effects.  Moving forward […]

In the midst of the pandemic, small business funding needs were a hot topic. Lots of information was available for business owners in need of additional capital to weather the storm and uncertainty. As the economy attempts to bounce back and transition out of the pandemic, many of those small business owners are still looking for cash solutions. However, now that the – unsatisfactory for many – Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has ended, many are struggling to find the capital necessary to recover and grow. The biggest obstacle today is feeling like “just a number”. Big banks are flooded with […]

Running a successful business involves an interesting combination of risk, sacrifice and discipline. From time to time, it requires investment to see improvements. At other points, it means giving up something in the pursuit of something bigger. Above all, it demands discipline to achieve your ultimate goals.  Of course, one of the biggest risks for a business – whether a startup or an established company, is debt. Choosing to take on debt to secure much needed capital can be a smart decision, as long as you have a plan and capability to pay it back in a timely manner. However, […]

A bridge loan is a kind of short-term funding built to help a business meet its financial needs until it acquires a long-term loan. These loans are a life-saver, especially when you need instant funding to keep operations running or seize an opportunity. Entrepreneurs who apply for a bridge loan can use it to buy or upgrade assets or finance business operations. Then, as soon as their business acquires long-term funding, it utilizes the funds from the newly acquired long-term loan to settle the bridge.  Companies depend on bridge loans (most with higher interest rates than regular long-term funding) to […]