Blogs

Ariell Johnson talks about launching her comic book shop and coffee house and pursuing different financing options to get the business off the ground.

Andrew Li and Chris Caquelin tell the origin story of their American-made clothing store and how they secured affordable small business loans through mission-driven organizations.

Heather Chung discusses searching for financing options to open her Korean restaurant and to then expand the business to multiple locations.

Maria Cruz shares how a flooded basement in her flower shop led her to take out costly loans and where she found an affordable alternative.

Starting a small business is hard work. The list of things you have to do in order to turn your dream into reality may seem overwhelming at first. When faced with such a formidable to-do list, it is easy to think of a formal business plan as something to table for later. After all, organizing a list of responsibilities and checking off items one by one as you accomplish them is itself a form of planning. Why waste time creating and perfecting a business plan at this early stage of the game?

From startup and everyday operating costs to growth and expansion costs, cash is the lifeblood of a business. Large corporate organizations and small business alike are required to make decisions about where and when to spend (or not to spend) money. To do this, it’s imperative that you monitor what is commonly referred to as “cash flow.”

For many businesses, credit cards are an essential part of your business activities. They can help you build your credit and obtain the assets you need to properly run your business. Unfortunately, bad or non-existent credit may make it difficult to be approved for a credit card. If you are looking to establish or rebuild your credit, a secured credit card can represent a viable option.