Fundera
JUNE 2, 2018
Remember when you opened your Etsy store and sold your first few items? For any entrepreneur, that’s a special kind of rush. But as Etsy continues to make changes with increasing fees and lowering standards, you might be looking into Etsy alternatives. You have company if you don’t want your handmade goods next to mass-produced products in the marketplace.
Fundera
JUNE 8, 2018
So far, 2018 has been a year of activism for women. The #MeToo movement included women in nearly every industry exposing workplace sexism and harassment. It’s grown into the action-oriented #TimesUp movement. Equal pay has taken a front seat, too, with major court rulings aiding efforts to close the gender pay gap. And the second anniversary of the Women’s March in January attracted hundreds of thousands of people all over the country.
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Fundera
AUGUST 1, 2018
Airbnb is one of the biggest startup successes of the last decade. Since 2008, the company has revolutionized how people travel and live. Last year alone, people across the globe booked more than 100 million stays through Airbnb. And nearly a quarter of leisure and business travelers now use Airbnb instead of traditional hotels. Although the company has experienced some downturns, the future looks rosy: Airbnb is valued at $38 billion , and is one of the few unicorns that’s actually profitable.
Fundera
MARCH 16, 2018
One size doesn’t fit all for most things small business, and that’s the case with lead generation strategies, too. Even knowing that, though, many small business owners still struggle to determine which lead generation strategies work for their company, industry, or for business size. But why? Well, paralysis of choice, for one. In this era of digital marketing, there are just so many lead generation tactics.
Fundera
MAY 8, 2018
At some point, all small business owners will find themselves in need of inspiration. And there’s nothing better than good, old-fashioned small business magazines (or, okay, maybe an online magazine) to give you the revitalizing boost, or simply a store of extra knowledge, that you need to run your business to the best of your ability. . In addition to your favorite blogs, podcasts, books, and online forums, subscribing to regularly-updated small business magazines is a great way to st
Fundera
OCTOBER 5, 2018
No matter what your business is, it’s likely that you’ve considered implementing a social media strategy. Whether your company is B2B or B2C, it’s essential to consider connecting with your customers in the digital space — especially when you consider that there are 2.77 billion social media users around the world. Once you know you need a strategy, where do you start?
Credit Management Source brings together the best content for credit management professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Fundera
JUNE 26, 2018
The path to starting your own business isn’t always smooth—just ask these entrepreneurs. Sometimes, it helps to hear some business success stories, especially when you’re mired in the details of creating a business plan, getting a business loan , or finding a space. Even the most successful businesses—small, medium, and large alike—went through their share of challenges.
Fundera
DECEMBER 24, 2018
The 11 Best Small Business Grants for Women Entrepreneurs. Grants.gov. National Association for the Self-Employed Growth Grants. Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant Program. Amber Grant. IdeaCafe Grant. #GIRLBOSS Foundation Grant. Cartier Women’s Initiative Award. GrantsforWomen.org. FedEx Small Business Grant. The Halstead Grant. Open Meadows Foundation.
Fundera
DECEMBER 14, 2018
Apps aren’t just for play anymore: There are a plethora of small business apps that any good entrepreneur should have on all of their devices. Because, as you surely know, you’re just too dang busy to handle all the banking, budgeting, accounting , planning, employee management, customer management, inventory tracking, quality assurance, marketing plans, complaints, requests, equipment, financing , and ten thousand other things—all by yourself.
Fundera
OCTOBER 9, 2018
Starting a business is always a gamble. Even if you have lots of money to work with and a product or service that will benefit consumers, it’s hard to say whether your business will take off. It’s even harder to predict how things will look a year from now, let alone 10 years into the future. A lot can happen in a decade, and most businesses don’t even make it that far.
Fundera
AUGUST 21, 2018
Nobody starts a business because it’s easy. On the contrary, every new business comes with its own set of unique challenges, and small businesses are no exception. For newly minted entrepreneurs, it’s those quintessential “small business problems” that can break their operations—or make them, if navigated properly. In fact, according to the US Small Business Administration, only half of small businesses will survive past their five-year mark ; and that small business success rate falls to just o
Fundera
JANUARY 20, 2018
So, what do bookkeepers do, exactly? There’s no cut-and-dry answer to this question—bookkeepers can wear many different hats depending on what your business needs. That said, there are a few things that almost every bookkeeper can take care of for your business. Though the role of a bookkeeper is a multifaceted, there are some core tenants to what bookkeepers do.
Fundera
DECEMBER 10, 2018
You’ve probably heard it said that “small business is the backbone of America.” But what does that saying mean in practice? How many small businesses are there in this country, and how many people do they employ? Even if you’re a small business owner yourself, it can be hard to understand just how important small businesses are and how much they contribute to the economy—especially since the press focuses much more on the country’s biggest companies.
Fundera
SEPTEMBER 15, 2018
If you’re thinking about starting a business, you’re definitely not alone. About 540,000 people start businesses in the U.S. every month , according to the Kauffman Index of Startup Activity. But not all of those businesses will last. Almost 80% of new businesses survive the first year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. About half survive five years or longer, and about one-third make it to their 10-year anniversary.
Fundera
FEBRUARY 6, 2018
Running a business involves a constant learning curve. And that applies whether you’re a rookie entrepreneur just starting out with a great idea for a new business or a more established small business owner with a quickly growing business that needs to expand. You should always be learning as a business owner, no matter where you are in your career—there’s always a new tool to master, new problems to solve, and new vocabulary to understand.
Fundera
DECEMBER 5, 2018
7 Business Valuation Methods All Entrepreneurs Should Know. Market Value. Asset-Based Valuation. ROI-Based Valuation. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF). Capitalization of Earnings. Multiples of Earnings. Book Value. What is your business worth? You might need to determine this value for a number of reasons, not the least of which is when you’re seeking investors or other types of small business financing.
Fundera
JUNE 12, 2018
Run a quick Google search for “How to Start a Business,” and nearly every tutorial or checklist you come across will offer the same list of to-do items: Choose a business name. Check. Register your business with state/local authorities. Check. Write a business plan. Check. Open a business checking account. If most of your past experience has been with personal checking accounts, it’s easy to assume that the last step should be really straightforward.
Fundera
APRIL 12, 2018
Maybe you’ve just started your business, and you’re wondering if you need to hire an accountant. Or perhaps you’re still in the planning stages of a new business, and you’re deciding whether or not to hire an accountant before going all in. If you ask an accountant whether or not you should work with someone to help you with your books professionally, you know the answer will be yes.
Fundera
MARCH 27, 2018
Yes, it’s a huge decision—but when you pull the trigger on buying an existing business, you get the opportunity to become an entrepreneur without starting completely from scratch. And lots of people consider purchasing an existing business each year, so you certainly shouldn’t feel like you’re thinking about something totally out of left field! Every year, more than 500,000 businesses change hands , and that number is expected to skyrocket in the next several years as millions of baby boomers be
Fundera
NOVEMBER 26, 2018
The average hourly rate for a business lawyer can range anywhere from $100 per hour in a small town to more than $1,000 per hour for a senior partner at a big city law firm. Given these rates, it’s no wonder many small business owners want to know if it’s possible to get free legal advice for their business. While free and cheap legal services aren’t easy to come by, they are available if you know where to look.
Fundera
JULY 4, 2018
Here’s a staggering stat: 48% of overall growth of US business ownership in 2000 to 2013 was attributed to immigrant business owners. Pair that with the statistic that the percentage of self-employed immigrants in the US more than doubled between 1994 and 2015, and it seems to follow that there’s limitless potential for the impact that immigrants can make on the small business landscape.
Fundera
SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
Few things are as intimidating for entrepreneurs as maintaining their brand’s presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Social media management for small business owners can feel like a daunting process: you have to keep on top of trends, produce content, and promote your business without coming off as sales-y or promotional. Or, if you delegate your small business’ social media management to an employee, you have to make sure they’re keeping the channels active (and that their follower inte
Fundera
JULY 15, 2018
We’re going to tell you something that you likely already know, and if you do, it’s worth saying again: Nearly all of America’s financial infrastructure is based on credit. Credit allows people to purchase or finance items that they can’t pay for in cash upfront. Credit is what allows you get a home loan, car loan, or business loan. So, in a credit-based economy, if your credit score isn’t strong, you’ll find it hard to qualify for financial products or will have to pay more.
Fundera
SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
Benefits of Getting an EIN. File Business Taxes and Avoid Tax Penalties. Prevent Identity Theft. Add Credibility as a Freelancer and Independent Contractor. Speed Up Business Loan Applications. Open a Business Bank Account. Build Trust With Vendors. Establish Business Credit. Easily Hire Employees. Get More Options as an Overseas Entrepreneur. An employer identification number (EIN), or business tax ID, is a unique nine-digit number that you use when filing taxes for your business.
Fundera
SEPTEMBER 17, 2018
Branding is a universal constant in business. The smallest mom-and-pop shop down the street needs a positive brand to thrive, and so do the biggest corporations. No matter what industry you’re in or the size of your company, a positive brand is important for your business’s future. It would be pretty easy if creating a brand was simply about slapping a logo on your product.
Fundera
AUGUST 29, 2018
32 Ways to Advertise Your Business for Free. Reward social media sharing. Cultivate brand ambassadors. Encourage positive word of mouth. Try interactive content. Give your customers a behind-the-scenes look. Offer free giveaways. Try Facebook live video. Get visual on Instagram. Try engaging on Snapchat. Cultivate your Pinterest board. Join in on Twitter chats.
Fundera
APRIL 8, 2018
Deciding to start a small business is one of the most rewarding decisions of your life. But not only does it take hard work to make it successful—you’ll need money to get the company off the ground in the first place. And when you’re in debt, that can seem impossible. Although the size of your initial investment will vary based on the type of company you hope to start, the Small Business Administration estimates even home-based micro-businesses could cost several thousands of dollars to launch.
Fundera
SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
Kicking a startup into accelerated growth mode takes capital. And a lot of it. Although startups do have options for business funding , it’s admittedly difficult to get a hold of the money you need to go big without a substantial financial track record. Some startups also don’t want to take on too much debt early on, and would rather give up equity to angel investors for small business.
Fundera
JUNE 22, 2018
Raising a new round of funding, applying for a loan , transferring ownership… every financing event in a small business’s lifetime requires some way of estimating the company’s value. Wherever you are in your business’s lifecycle, you’ll want to know how to value a small business sooner rather than later. Feeling confident in your appraisal will help you accurately determine how to pitch investors and raise funding, or price your business to find the right buyer.
Fundera
MAY 3, 2018
The healthcare sector is an amazing place for aspiring entrepreneurs to open up shop. Exploring healthcare business ideas is smart for lots of reasons. There’s an opportunity to do a world of good by serving an aging American population and helping those struggling with the national drug crisis. There are lots of new medical and technological advances, and widespread interest in health and wellness, too.
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