One of the largest challenges entrepreneurs face is getting funding for their great ideas. Women business owners struggle in spite of efforts by the government to create SBA and micro loan programs to help entrepreneurs’ access capital. The challenge is that even the SBA requires good credit, collateral, and an income source to repay the loan. If you are starting a company … [Read more...]
How to Find Common Ground between Financial Planning and Your Marketing Budget
Sponsored by VISA Business: As the tax season draws to a close, there is no better time to re-evaluate your business budget and financial goals for the year. Financial planning should factor into every aspect of your business, including your marketing budget. Marketing is an expense, and controlling your expenses is always a priority. How can you achieve measurable … [Read more...]
Top Women on Wall Street [Infographic]
Who are the women on top on Wall Street? Unfortunately, there aren't many of them, but you can see who's who in the top positions of Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America in a handy infographic from The New York Times. The infographic shows prominent women on Wall Street as well as a breakdown of gender disparity at each company. … [Read more...]
Retirement Options For The Self Employed
Starting a business is a key component of the American dream. The entrepreneurial spirit is as old as the explorers that first graced our shores. It was the quest for something better, desire for exploration and discovery along with financial gain that led European explorers to raise funds, hire a crew and set sail for the New World. America was built on the innovations of … [Read more...]
The 5 Easiest Ways to Build Business Credit
Guest Post By: Meredith Wood, Community Manager (Learn more about Meredith at the end of this post) Cash flow is the lifeblood of any small business, and as any small business owner knows, it's one of the hardest parts of a business to manage. However, if your company can build business credit, you will find yourself gaining more opportunities to access cash. Whatever you … [Read more...]
Raising Capital Through Angel Investors
Is your business in need of capital? If so this article is for you! If you are like most people the answer is a loud, YES! There are critical times in a business where access to capital is essential for the company to grow, take advantage of opportunities and become the success it is capable of becoming. The last thing a business wants to do is turn away a revenue … [Read more...]
Leadership Skills: You and $$$$$$$
One of the best leadership teachers in any era comes in the form of paper or metal. We love it, hate it, covet it, or disdain it. Our romance with money belongs in every leadership development program on the planet. Ever hear the expression “You can never be too thin or too rich”? First, too thin is called anorexia and you can die from that. Too rich, question is what … [Read more...]
End-of-the-Year Tax Tips for Last Minute Savings
Guest Post by Perry Sheraw (learn more about Perry at the end of this post). Many of the business owners we work with say they’re ready to get 2011 behind them. January 2012 beckons as business objectives glisten with potential revitalization and realignment. The drudgery of doom and gloom financial news has worn us all down and we welcome a little holiday frivolity, frugal as … [Read more...]
Business Pitches Unravelled
With high unemployment rates and economic insecurity reaching more than 1 in 5 Americans, many people are turning their sights to self-employment and small businesses. When starting a small business you need to convince investors that funding you is the start of a beneficial relationship. The following will help you with getting past your nerves and some guidelines for making … [Read more...]
Peer-to-Peer Small Business Loans Beat the Big Banks
Guest post by Dan Azeroual. There’s no question that the big banks & Wall Street are under Congressional and regulatory siege (or is it the other way around?). The reason, of course, is that if Washington is going to bailout the too-big-to-fail banks, then Washington needs to show everyone, from the “Occupy Wall Streeters” to the Tea Partiers, that it’s going to be … [Read more...]