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8 Truths About Securing Financing for Your Business

April 8, 2021
By Sharita Humphrey –

Every year, thousands of people start up their own businesses. Although they venture into different industries, they have one thing in common. They need money and capital to fund their business. A business simply can’t survive without finances. Even if you have the best idea, service, or product, it is not enough to sustain a company.

Securing funding for your business is not the key to its success. However, financing plays a huge role in your entrepreneurial journey, especially at the beginning.

Let’s dive into eight truths about securing financing for your business:

1. Small business owners should focus on cash flow over profit

A major mistake that many small business owners make is focusing too much on profit. What you should be doing is focusing on your monthly cash flow. Cash flow measures the ability of your company to pay its expenses on an ongoing basis. (more…)

4 Ways to Streamline Expense Tracking and Make Better Business Decisions

March 2, 2021
By Ken Boyd –

Tracking business expenses can be a lengthy process — and it can get out of hand quickly. It’s easy to lose track of your expenses or forget to record a transaction here and there. But inconsistent or incorrect expense tracking leads to inaccurate data that can result in stressful financial audits.

Here’s the good news: Expense tracking doesn’t have to be a thorn in your side. It’s possible to create an expense tracking system that doesn’t eat up your time or cause financial stress. The first step towards building this system is understanding how the accounting process works.

Understanding the accounting cycle

In a nutshell, the accounting cycle begins when you make a financial transaction. Record the transaction using a journal entry and post it to the general ledger. Once all transactions are posted, generate a trial balance. You can then use the trial balance to produce financial statements, including a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. These statements help you determine the financial status of your business.

Let’s take a closer look at each step of the accounting cycle. (more…)

Second Stimulus Eases Lending Terms, Creating a Buyer’s Market

February 16, 2021
By FranNet – 

The recently signed second stimulus package includes several provisions that should make it easier than ever for qualified buyers to access capital through the Small Business Administration (SBA) for starting a new business. We spoke with our friends at Benetrends Financial regarding the details of the new package and the impact it will have on entrepreneurs considering owning a business.

Eric Schechterman, Chief Development Officer at Benetrends Financial, said, “While the lending environment continues to rebound and lenders continue to adapt what they are looking for from borrowers these provisions should have a huge impact in 2021.” Not to be confused with specific Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan details, here is the information buyers need to know about enhanced borrowing opportunities with the SBA: Click To Tweet (more…)

The 5 C’s of Credit

December 8, 2020
By Ty Kiisel –

Small business owners looking for a loan need to understand the way their creditworthiness is evaluated to put their best foot forward — understanding the 5 C’s of Credit can help. As a general rule, there are three questions for which lenders need the answers:

1. Can you repay a loan?
2. Will you repay a loan?
3. What will you do if something unexpected happens?

Lenders might not ask them this way, but today I’d like to share with you the 5 metrics many lenders use to judge your answers.

Generally speaking, lenders are pretty risk averse (although some have a higher risk tolerance than others). I remember an economics class I attended many years ago where the instructor made it a point to make sure we understood the test questions, and the answers, before a big test. Our grade depended on how well we answered the questions, not simply if we got the answers right. He wanted us to be prepared and learn.

It might be a stretch to compare my economics class with applying for a small business loan, but understanding what the banker (or any other lender) is looking for, and judging your loan application against, might make it easier to answer the questions well and get your loan application approved. (more…)

4 Tips for Borrowing from Friends and Family

November 24, 2020
By Ty Kiisel –

It should be no secret in the post-coronavirus world that we should expect to see credit criteria tighten up as many lenders rethink their criteria or even step away from small business lending altogether. That’s what happened in the last economic crisis. Fortunately, that’s not true of all lenders, and there are still options available for creditworthy borrowers as well as options for small business owners with a less-than-perfect credit history. Borrowing from friends and family is one of those options.

Although borrowing from friends and family isn’t the first choice for most small business owners, it is perennially one of the best sources of financing for small businesses, from the smallest sole proprietorship to larger, more established small businesses. Although these loans are sometimes referred to as 3-F loans, referring to the friends, families, and fools who offer loans to small businesses, there are a handful of things you can do to successfully pull it off and still get invited to Thanksgiving Dinner. Here are the 4 things you can do to be successful at borrowing money from friends and family. Click To Tweet (more…)