Fundera

DECEMBER 8, 2016

For some small businesses, the holidays are the most bustling time of the year. With holiday shoppers coming through your doors, keeping all your orders straight, staying fully staffed, and managing your inventory can be tough. But for other business owners, the holidays are the slowest time of the year. With your customers home celebrating, it can be tough to keep your cash flow stable and your business operating smoothly.

Small Businesses 110

Small Businesses 110

Abrigo

DECEMBER 15, 2016

In the 2015 Growth Strategy Survey by Bank Director , the most commonly cited areas for growth were Commercial Real Estate Lending, C&I loans, SBA loans, and Construction loans. This trend of focusing on commercial lending for portfolio growth seems to be gaining, as reflected in a 2016 poll by Sageworks where 42 percent of respondents said they would be focused on CRE lending for portfolio growth in 2017, while 39 percent said C&I would be the core of their growth strategy.

Small Businesses 83

Small Businesses Credit Unions 83

GoCardless

DECEMBER 12, 2016

Technology is changing the relationship between customers and the utilities sector

52

52

Fundera

DECEMBER 14, 2016

If you’re like most adults today, then running a business was the last thing on your mind as a child. With school, sports, and activities filling the day, the closest most kids ever get to entrepreneurship is setting up a lemonade stand on a hot summer afternoon. But for some kids, the spirit of entrepreneurship catches on at an early age. And today, there are more kid entrepreneurs changing the small business landscape than ever—we’re talking way beyond the lemonade stand.

Nonprofit Organizations 108

Nonprofit Organizations Small Businesses 108

Fundera

DECEMBER 6, 2016

Have you ever made a mistake as a small business owner? Who hasn’t? If it’s any consolation, you’re definitely not alone. The 11 mistakes below are so common that every entrepreneur I know (including me!) has made at least one of them. 1. Failing to plan. “When you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail,” as the saying goes. Without a business plan to guide your startup and growth, you’ll struggle to make decisions, get loans, or bring investors on board.

Small Businesses 106

Small Businesses Default 106

Fundera

DECEMBER 1, 2016

If you’re in the business of selling, you’re very likely in the business of upselling. Upselling is the sales technique of enticing customers to buy a more expensive version of what they wanted to purchase. And in turn you get to increase profit margins. On its face, this sounds like a way to make customers pay more for things they don’t need while the business reaps the benefits.

103

103

Fundera

DECEMBER 13, 2016

Of all the issues that face small business owners, the possibility of theft and robbery might be the most troubling. You worry about keeping your business safe—it’s not just about having peace of mind when you’re off the clock. It’s also a matter of your business’s long-term survival. Problem is, it’s impossible to predict when the safety and security of your customers, inventory, and cash on hand will come under threat—whether from the hands of a professional crimi

Small Businesses 101

Small Businesses 101

Fundera

DECEMBER 12, 2016

Have you ever pulled up your Yelp app to find the best spots around you? Maybe you’re looking for a great tapas restaurant, the best dentist in your town, or the coolest vintage clothing store in the city. Yelp is a way that millions of users connect to amazing small businesses in their area. And odds are, you yourself have used it personally to find businesses near you.

Dashboards 100

Dashboards Small Businesses 100

Fundera

DECEMBER 7, 2016

As a small business owner, you’re in control of everything. From managing the day-to-day of operating a business to mapping out your next strategic move, you’ve got a handle on all things related to your business. But there are always a few things that are totally out of your hands—like the weather. Bad weather is bound to strike in your area. If you’re not prepared for it, your business—and you and your employees—can be in danger.

Small Businesses 100

Small Businesses Insurance Companies 100

Fundera

DECEMBER 2, 2016

With 28 million small businesses in the United States and approximately 543,000 new ventures starting each month, there’s a big need for funding, to get these businesses off the ground. And, with such high demand, plenty of lenders are willing to help out. If you are one of these small business owners looking for funding and you need capital fast, you’re going to want to focus on: Lenders that can move quickly.

Credit and Collections 99

Credit and Collections Small Businesses 99

Fundera

DECEMBER 13, 2016

The end of the year may not be the most wonderful time of the year for small business owners, especially those in the retail industry who are dealing with the craziness of the holidays. Because of the busyness of the season, you may not be thinking about next year. Here’s the thing—as a business owner , it’s your responsibility to run your business.

Credit and Collections 98

Credit and Collections Law Firms Small Businesses 98

Fundera

DECEMBER 8, 2016

Give advice to somebody and you’re a good friend. Give advice to a working professional about their finances or business matters, and you’re a consultant. If you know the ins and outs of expert business advice and you have specialized knowledge to share, you could be ready to strike out and figure out how to start a consulting business. Starting any kind of business is a challenge, but starting one where your goal is to help others run their own more efficiently is doubly challenging.

Small Businesses 96

Small Businesses 96

Fundera

DECEMBER 15, 2016

For many small business owners, QuickBooks is a popular choice for accounting software, but it’s just one choice they need to make. Which version should you get? Although many QuickBooks users find themselves gravitating to the online version of the product, some still prefer (or can only use) the desktop version of QuickBooks. QuickBooks Pro and QuickBooks Premier are both excellent products.

Small Businesses 94

Small Businesses Credit and Collections Transactions 94

Abrigo

DECEMBER 5, 2016

Demand for effective cyber risk management is so strong that the AICPA is developing common criteria for CPAs to use as they help clients evaluate their programs and efforts. Meanwhile, accountants themselves understand the importance of good cyber security practices in their own offices, given recent reports of attacks by identity thieves targeting client names and IDs.

Accounting Firms 79

Accounting Firms 79

Fundera

DECEMBER 7, 2016

When most Americans think of “ taxes ,” the month that comes to mind is April, the month when income tax returns are due each year. If you’re a product seller, however, your first “tax day” of the year falls in a different month altogether—January. In January, small businesses that collect sales tax will most likely have a sales tax return due, whether you file annually, quarterly, or monthly.

Small Businesses 87

Small Businesses 87

Abrigo

DECEMBER 28, 2016

Aside from the accounting firm’s staff, technology likely represents the area where a firm has made its biggest investments over the years, so it makes sense that technology considerations should be included in discussions about possible mergers or acquisitions. However, according to industry consultant Jim Boomer of Boomer Consulting, people from a firm’s IT department are too often involved “too little and too late” in deals, if at all.

Accounting Firms 74

Accounting Firms Cybersecurity 74

Fundera

DECEMBER 5, 2016

Family Entrepreneurs: Balancing Business With Art from Blue Chalk on Vimeo. Design comes first for the Hanafusa family. For over 50 years, the Miya Shoji studio has crafted exquisite, high-end furniture, prioritizing beauty every step of the way. “With nature, it’s easy,” owner Hisao Hanafusa explains. “We don’t have to design anything. Just find a nice, old wood.

84

84

Fundera

DECEMBER 9, 2016

If your small business always has you traveling to meet clients, lock in new deals, or connect with your suppliers, you’d benefit from putting those travel expenses on a travel rewards business credit card —that’s a no-brainer. But figuring out which travel rewards business credit card is right for you isn’t always so simple. With some credit cards tailored to specific airlines, and some connected to specific hotels and resorts, you should think through exactly what you need from a travel

Transactions 82

Transactions Small Businesses 82

Fundera

DECEMBER 21, 2016

As any business owner knows well, no two small businesses are alike. Small businesses across the U.S. operate in very different industries, serve very different customers, and have very different ways of operating their business smoothly. That’s why there is no one time to start your search for a small business loan. The best time to hunt for business financing totally depends on the type of business you run and the kind of customers and clients you serve.

Small Businesses 81

Small Businesses 81

Fundera

DECEMBER 28, 2016

For consumers and small business owners alike, credit bureaus, credit reports, and credit scores can feel like one big, confusing puzzle. What exactly goes into that all-important, 3-digit number known as your credit score? Well, the short answer is this: A lot goes into it. Some factors matter more than others, but every aspect of your credit score is worth knowing.

Credit Scoring 80

Credit Scoring Credit and Collections Small Businesses Default 80

Fundera

DECEMBER 5, 2016

It’s tempting to put off hardware purchases when you’re a small business owner. Cost is a factor, for one thing. And there’s the commitment factor. Small businesses can ill-afford to have precious capital tied up in hardware with a clock rapidly ticking toward obsolescence. When to buy hardware can be a crippling decision. Is the next big thing only a week away?

Small Businesses 79

Small Businesses Transactions 79

Fundera

DECEMBER 2, 2016

The holidays are a crucial time for ecommerce sellers. During this time of year , positive customer experiences offer opportunities to build your brand, increase revenue, boost customer loyalty, and acquire new and repeat customers. Everything you’ve done to build your business becomes critical during the holidays, when customers not only buy products for themselves, but for friends and family.

79

79

Abrigo

DECEMBER 30, 2016

For accountants, valuation professionals and other business advisory professionals, financial presentations are a fact of life. Even if you are among the many people who fear public speaking more than they fear death, chances are that you will be required to present financials to clients or managers at some point in the coming year. Unfortunately, fear of presentations or taking the attitude that presentations are routine can result in a presentation that shortchanges the audience.

Accounting Firms 68

Accounting Firms 68

Abrigo

DECEMBER 8, 2016

As community banks and credit unions look toward 2017, many will be focusing on small business lending for loan portfolio growth, according to a recent Sageworks poll. However, small business lending comes with some unique challenges that banks and credit unions will need to address in order to grow their business lending portfolios. 1. Document collection: A crucial part of any loan origination process is collecting the necessary documents from the borrower.

Credit Unions 68

Credit Unions Credit and Collections Small Businesses 68

Abrigo

DECEMBER 7, 2016

As a business advisor, you know that when clients don’t greatly value a service or understand its worth, they’re more price-sensitive and willing to shop around. By the same token, once a client sees how your strategic or business advice will help them make money, they are more willing to part with their hard-earned dollars for a new engagement. What better way to exhibit ROI to business clients than to show them exactly how to generate more cash?

Accounting Firms 68

Accounting Firms 68

Abrigo

DECEMBER 6, 2016

With the recent release of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) guidance on the CECL model , banking professionals and consultants have been theorizing about the impact the standard will have on current bank processes. While it is important for these banking professionals to be prepared, consultants are stressing the importance of tackling today’s allowance challenges too.

CECL 68

CECL 68

Fundera

DECEMBER 20, 2016

If you’re a frequent traveler for your small business, then you know just how expensive your flights, hotels, and rental car can be. That’s why every small business owner who’s always up in the air should absolutely be using a travel business credit card to save money on travel expenses. But to narrow down your business credit card search even further, take a look at which airline you’re always on for business.

Credit and Collections 76

Credit and Collections Transactions Small Businesses 76

Fundera

DECEMBER 9, 2016

Small business owners know they no longer have to rely solely on big banks if they need a loan, line of credit, or other form of working capital. A number of alternative lenders have popped up with friendly rates and shortened approval times that make applying for a loan so much easier. It’s not unlike how Uber has revolutionized transportation, or Amazon transformed retail shopping.

Small Businesses 75

Small Businesses Medical Billing 75

Fundera

DECEMBER 14, 2016

Everything is faster—that’s perhaps the biggest upside all the technological advancements in recent years. This extends even to the time spent waiting on small-business loan applications: What used to take weeks or months is now measured in days, or even hours. InterNex Capital , an online alternative lender based out of New York, says their underwriting period can take as little as 24 hours. .

Credit Scoring 75

Credit Scoring Small Businesses 75

Fundera

DECEMBER 29, 2016

When compared to equity financing—where you’re partnered with investors for the long haul— small business lending is really a “one and done” kind of deal. You take out a small business loan , repay your lender with interest over a set period of time, and you’re good to go—on to bigger and brighter things after successfully growing your business with a business loan.

Small Businesses 74

Small Businesses Credit Scoring 74