There are two basic types of loans: unsecured loans and secured loans. An unsecured loan is made without any collateral to back up the loan. Your signature, as the business owner or authorized representative of the company, is all you need to obtain an unsecured loan once you’ve been approved. A secured loan is backed Read More »

It’s no real surprise that money flowing into a business receives a lot of attention, which is why so much emphasis is placed on tracking sales and revenues. It may surprise some business owners, however, that it is through the money flowing out of the business when they can make the most significant and controllable Read More »

A loan is pretty easy to understand, though the paperwork and legal boilerplate may be more than a bit confusing – even to a company owner. The lender gives the loan recipient money to be repaid over a period of months or years. In exchange for the loan, the loan recipient pays interest on monies Read More »

Most businesses require capital, especially during their start-up and growth phase. While some small businesses – especially service businesses such as consulting firms – are funded by using the entrepreneur’s savings or other assets, most companies will at some point apply for financing to help manage cash flow, purchase needed equipment and supplies, or expand Read More »

It wasn’t so long ago that the biggest issue facing smaller businesses was whether or not to accept credit card payments. For many small businesses, barriers such as cost, technology and financial instability made it difficult to make the leap to credit transactions using merchant services. Today, the issue isn’t whether they should accept credit Read More »

One of the most challenging aspects of running a business, whether you own a start-up or a mature business in expansion mode, is raising capital. Many businesses fail due to insufficient capital to cover operating expenses and invest in growth. Without operating and expansion capital, business owners have limited options at a time when more Read More »

No one type or size of business is immune from cash flow problems. While they are most likely to strike a younger business when management is more prone to underestimating sales cycles or collection timeframes, all businesses become susceptible when the economy unexpectedly down-shifts, exposing them to sudden shifts in demand. Sometimes, a profitable business Read More »

Small business owners face a number of challenges in growing and operating their companies, but advances in technology have simplified one facet of business – payments. Digital and mobile technology provide business owners quick access to capital, freeing up time, expanding growth options and cutting “paperwork” down to a few clicks of the mouse. Historically, Read More »