Category: Business Credit

When Can Your New Small Business Get a Business Loan

When Can Your New Small Business Get a Business Loan

Getting a small business loan for your new venture can feel like a catch-22: it takes money to make money. Lenders want to see a track record, but how are you supposed to get that?  Here we’ll explain when (and how) your small business can get a business loan. How Do Business Loans Work for a New Business Startup loans can be among the most difficult to get. Business loan requirements often consider three or four main factors: How long… Read More
D-U-N-S Number Lookup

D-U-N-S Number Lookup

If you run a small business, you’ve no doubt heard the expression: “Know your numbers”. While that advice often refers to numbers like sales or profit margins, there are other numbers you’ll need to know.  One is your company’s D-U-N-S® Number. Here’s what that number means, why it’s important, and how you can leverage it to help grow your business. What Is a D-U-N-S Number? A D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine-digit identifier for businesses, created by Dun & Bradstreet… Read More
Tees, Dreams, and Business Credit: How Blake Milam is Building a Resilient Business

Tees, Dreams, and Business Credit: How Blake Milam is Building a Resilient Business

When he started a t-shirt business in his dorm room, Blake Milam had no idea he was really building a multi-faceted business that would help other entrepreneurs — he just wanted an outlet for his creative talents that would also bring in money.  Milam originally founded his t-shirt printing company, Guapaholics, from his college dorm room in Clarksville, TN. Like most entrepreneurs, he had to be scrappy. “I would screen print in the living room and dry shirts in the… Read More
California Secretary of State Business Search

California Secretary of State Business Search

Many businesses call California home: including more than 1.7 million private-sector businesses and more than 3 million sole proprietorships, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.  If you plan to start a business in California, or if you want to do business with companies operating in the state of California, you can use the California Secretary of State's business search tools to access official information about your own business and other businesses registered in the state. Nav Technologies, Inc.… Read More
10 Small Business Loan Requirements (You Should Be Prepared For)

10 Small Business Loan Requirements (You Should Be Prepared For)

If you’re not sure how to get approved for financing options like small business loans, lines of credit, or even business credit cards, you’re far from alone.  In the Federal Reserve’s 2023 Small Business Credit Survey of non-employer firms, only 29% of business owners said they applied for financing in their first two years in business. Seventy-six percent reported using personal funds in response to financial challenges.  Once you understand what lenders are looking for, you’re in a better position… Read More
How Banks Assess Credit Risk in 2024

How Banks Assess Credit Risk in 2024

When your business needs financing, you'll find that some of the best options require the most documentation. Why? It all comes down to credit risk. Banks and other financial institutions need to gauge the risk associated with lending to your small business.  Understand how lenders approach credit risk, and your business can improve its qualifications. What is Credit Risk? The term “credit risk” evaluates the risk of default; in other words, it tries to predict the possibility of losing money… Read More