Access to Capital

More than a year and a half into the pandemic, many small businesses are unsure if they will be able to recover after fighting to stay above water and accruing crippling debt. Small business owners of color, women and immigrants have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic as they’ve faced barriers to accessing federal relief programs and traditional lending. Small business owner Daysi Del Rosario Rivas Peralta is one example.  

This blog originally appeared on the blog of our partner CO-STARTERS.

Although some businesses have seen the relief offered by the CARES Act—particularly the Paycheck Protection Program SBA loans—many small businesses have been left wondering if their application is even being considered. 

This blog originally appeared on the blog of our partner CDC Small Business Finance 

As a small business owner, we know you need relief and you want it fast. We urge you to be diligent when getting an emergency loan. It’s critical to know how to not fall victim to scams and fraud.

“Fraudsters have already begun targeting small business owners during these economically difficult times,” according to the SBA, which warned owners in particular of grant and loan fraud and phishing schemes.

This post originally appeared on the blog of CDC Small Business Finance

CDC Small Business Finance understands the profound impact of the Coronavirus on small businesses everywhere. The challenge may seem overwhelming, but we have concrete steps for small business owners to take as they face it. 

Our Business Advisers have prepared their top tips for businesses impacted by COVID-19. 

We urge you – these tips are important to address immediately and continually over the next 30 to 60+ days.

This post originally appeared on the blog of Small Business Majority.

In celebration of Black History Month, we hosted a Twitter chat during which we asked partners like Accion, CAMEO, Working Solutions, Illinois SBDC and Main Street Launch to share resources and advice with Black small business owners and entrepreneurs. 

This post originally appeared on the blog of CDC Small Business Finance

When Georgia’s restaurant opened in Anaheim’s historic Packing House in 2016, co-owners Gretchen Shoemaker and Marlon Machado conservatively projected first-year sales to be between $250,000 and $500,000. By the fifth month of serving their version of “soul delicious” food to thousands of patrons, they hit $1 million.

This post originally appeared on the blog of CDC Small Business Finance

Knowledge is power. This is especially true when it comes to learning the facts so you’ll know what to do to give your business the financial boost it needs to thrive. 

Did you know there are more than 2.5 million veteran-owned businesses in the U.S? Our nation’s veterans are hard-working, resilient and resourceful, making them specially equipped for entrepreneurship. However, they can often face significant obstacles when it comes to accessing capital and business networks. If this sounds familiar to you, you’ve come to the right place. In honor of National Veterans Small Business Week, we’re sharing some of our favorite stories of successful veteran entrepreneurs and resources that can help you start and grow a veteran-owned business.