Self Lender, recently rebranded as Self, helps consumers and business owners alike to start building their personal credit from scratch or work on rebuilding their credit after some missteps.  A survey by Nav found almost 40% of its small business customer base were considered “credit ghosts,” consumers so little credit history that getting financing could be difficult. A Self Lender loan can be a way to help develop a more robust credit history. While it’s geared toward improving your personal Read More

As a small business owner, it’s important to find tools that can save you time and make your job easier. That’s why choosing the right accounting software for your company is an important decision — one which deserves some thoughtful comparison before you click the purchase button.  Two of the most popular accounting software options on the market for businesses are FreshBooks and QuickBooks. Technically, either option might be able to get the job done for your company. Yet  depending Read More

If you’re thinking of starting a business, you’re in good company. According to the Small Business Administration, there are over 30 million small businesses in the United States, with the number of proprietors growing by 2.3% in one year.  Whether you’re a freelancer or small business owner, it’s essential that you open a business checking account to manage your income and expenses. If you’re not sure where to start, check out our picks for the best business checking accounts in Read More

Depending on the industry you operate in, your business may see spikes in profitability at certain times throughout the year. If this is the case,  you likely also experience slow months in between, which can lead to cash flow concerns for your operation. Rather than accepting these periods of slowness as is, consider the following four strategies to boost cash flow, and set your business up for success all year round.  1. Offer Promotions One of the most obvious ways Read More

Getting funding for your small business isn’t a matter of “if”; it’s usually a matter of “when.” That’s why, even if you’re not looking to take out a loan now, it’s smart to look ahead to what’s available. Do you know the differences between loan types? Are you aware of all the lenders offering them? Can you tell if an online lender or brick-and-mortar bank is better?  So many questions go into finding a business lending solution. Perhaps the first Read More

What’s the first thing you do to start your day? You might navigate to your inbox a lot sooner than you think. A recent study found that 55% of all surveyed respondents check their email before they even get to work, and 17% check their email as soon as they wake up.1  If you don’t already take advantage of this potentially lucrative marketing channel, you should really start today. Email marketing is an inexpensive way to generate leads, reach new Read More

FreshBooks, originally created in 2003, is a cloud-based accounting program used by millions of small business owners world wide. Many business owners use FreshBooks accounting software to manage invoicing, recurring billing, accounting, and even payroll.  The online service is a solid option if you’re looking for an online accounting solution to help your business run faster and more efficiently. The cloud accounting platform’s wide array of features is one of the reasons why FreshBooks is a favorite of many small Read More

As a business owner, it’s essential that you keep your personal and professional finances separate. Opening a checking account just for your business expenses is an important first step in managing your company, and will save you time and stress at tax time.  If you’re not sure where to start, consider Bank of America business checking accounts. The company offers two robust options that can work for small business owners, offering low fees and useful perks to streamline your business Read More

Chase is one of the largest business banking players in the industry, and – while everyone is aware of their credit and loan products – not everyone knows about their three offerings for business checking accounts.  What can you expect? All of the qualified Chase business checking accounts offer the ability to manage your account from anywhere in the world, but the bank also gives you 5,000 physical branches for that face-to-face contact you might need from time to time. Read More

Building a business requires capital, and unless you have enough cash in savings to bootstrap your business, you’ll need some form of financing to grow your company and achieve your goals. Debt financing and equity financing are the two primary forms of attaining capital. If you’re considering debt financing, it’s important to know what it is, how it works and the different options that are available to you. What is debt financing? In a traditional sense, debt financing involves a Read More