The lack of adequate small business funding is a source of great anxiety for small business owners.  Following the closures of most businesses, coupled with strict social distancing measures enforced during the COVID-19 outbreak, there does seem to be an “easing up” on regulations, allowing for businesses to slowly resume operations.  However, a recent survey conducted by LendingTree revealed a crippled confidence among business owners. According to the data, 46% of small business owners mentioned that funding was the number one hindrance that is keeping them from reopening. If they were to open, they would be subjected to strict safety […]

Small business funding is largely underutilized due to stringent rules and endless changes.  The U.S. Small Business Administration will be closing their doors of approval for all Paycheck Protection Program loan applications on Tuesday June 30th. What this means is that more than $100 billion in “federal loan guarantees” for nonprofits and small businesses grappling with COVID-19 will remain untouched.  According to the SBA, the Paycheck Protection Program, launched on April 3, has awarded close to $519 billion in loans from private lenders and banks to almost 4.8 million borrowers. Based on these figures, that leaves an excess of $134 […]

A crisis like the one caused by COVD-19 puts businesses of almost any size and type into a difficult financial situation. If you can’t get approved for a state-backed funding option or need another financial source, look for alternative resources. If you’re interested in nontraditional business funds during COVID-19 recovery, you’re at the right place. Alternative Business Funds During COVID-19 Recovery Federally-backed funding options under the CARES Act give you access to additional working capital. However, they aren’t the best option for all businesses, and many merchants have had difficulty obtaining them. Let’s see what nontraditional solutions are available for […]

Small business financing can be found through many different avenues.  One major factor that will ultimately determine your venture’s success is financing. If your fledgling business is in desperate need of capital, take a look at these traditional and not-so traditional financing avenues to offer your enterprise a much-needed financial boost.  Alternative Financing Solutions: Community Development Finance Institutions: They provide capital to both small business and microbusiness owners with reasonable terms. They don’t need much collateral like traditional banks.  Venture Capitalists: This group assumes partial ownership of the company in exchange for capital. Percentages of ownership are up for negotiation […]

It is not easy to run your business as usual when Coronavirus has created serious disruptions in the order of operations. For many business owners, the catch is to continue serving their customers and rake in profits as usual, in a relatively volatile economy. And of course, money is the major bone of contention—many merchants would appreciate the convenience of a lump sum of commercial funding but most lenders are not well-placed to offer it. Nevertheless, the Federal Government leveled the field for US small businesses on March 27 when President Trump approved the CARES Act. The approval of the […]

At some point during the business startup process, business funding crosses every entrepreneur’s mind. Needing extra capital isn’t a matter of if, but when. Some business owners seek support from friends and family at first, but as their business grows, they find themselves in need of larger sums of cash to fund opportunities and expand their operation. Unfortunately, securing funding is easier said than done. There is a long list of business types and industries that struggle to secure funding for one reason or another. In fact, according to recent small business lending statistics, nearly half of all small businesses […]

As a small business, setting goals is always beneficial. Have a detailed strategy that outlines milestones and ways in which you’ll measure performance and progress. From improving marketing reach, cutting expenses or getting your business organized, these tips will help you triumph in all your small business goals. Know What Your Strategy Is Before Setting Your Small Business Goals While planning your small business goals for the year, it is key to keep the big picture in mind. This will help keep you strategically focused and on track with your goals. According to London Business School professor Elsbeth Johnson, important […]

Alternative sources of funding are a smart way to cover short-term costs or meet any other business expenses. But offerings differ widely, and some may meet your needs better than others. MCA or merchant cash advances are a form of funding created to offer instant cash to small and medium businesses quickly. They are easy to get hands on, unlike traditional business loans. Merchant Cash Advances: How They Work In essence, cash advances are not your conventional loans; here, you get funding by selling a portion of your small companies future sales. So you could end up paying in the […]

Do you have plans to take your business idea and launch a startup in the New Year? If you are feeling a little overwhelmed with the task, know you are not alone. As you piece your business plan together and iron out the details, make sure you also consider the risks involved. Here are three of the major risks you will face in starting a business, along with three business relationships you should develop to mitigate those risks. 1. Sales Risk No matter what business type you have or industry you are in, there is always a risk that your […]

As of 2016, there were 28.8 million small businesses in the US, which represented 99.7% of US businesses. Only about 24.1% of small business loans were approved by big banks, and smaller banks approved about 48.9%. Alternative lenders approved 58.2% of loan requests. In less than 20 years, the merchant cash advance (MCA) industry has gone from $0 to $10.7 billion by 2015, and is expected to account for $15.3 billion in 2017. Are you faced with the problem of whether you should take out a business loan or a merchant cash advance? Below you can find some important information […]