Fundera
MAY 10, 2017
With 28 million small businesses making up 99.7% of all U.S. firms , small business is big for the United States’s economy. But what exactly do these small businesses look like? The government—specifically the Small Business Administration —can help you answer that question. Here’s exactly how the SBA defines small business and why they set these definitions in the first place.
Abrigo
MAY 17, 2017
The importance of a sound risk rating process continues and possibly grows in the coming years as financial institutions grapple with the increased emphasis on estimating credit losses. With Basel III focusing more attention on credit risk management, and the more granular review of loans required by the FASB’s current expected credit loss (CECL) model, financial institutions can likely expect to see an increased emphasis by examiners on the importance and effectiveness of risk rating systems.
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GoCardless
MAY 3, 2017
European businesses and consumers have unique preferences when it comes to paying for goods and services online. Optimizing the payment process allows US companies to beat their competition and capture these customers, who are ready and willing to spend.
Fundera
MAY 11, 2017
Customer appreciation doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With a little creativity and thoughtfulness, you can show your customers just how much you appreciate their business. Recognition, a kind note, or thoughtful gifts can deepen business relationships tremendously. Customer Appreciation Ideas: Get Creative. German professor Armin Faulk proved the power of giving : In one of his experiments, donor solicitation letters that contained gifts garnered 17%-75% more in donations tha
Fundera
MAY 1, 2017
What’s a successful entrepreneur’s secret recipe for starting their own business? For many, it’s the combination of a great idea, a motivated team, the time to invest into the startup (and some money here and there), and a healthy dose of hard work. That last ingredient—work ethic—is often what makes or breaks a business owner and their company. So to keep you motivated as you start and grow your business, we asked entrepreneurs in the same boat as you: “What work ethic quotes keep you and your
Fundera
MAY 12, 2017
If you’ve ever lived in a small town, you know it’s a whole different way of life than the big city or the suburbs. You can’t step out your front door and hail a taxi, or run to Target whenever you need a gallon of milk. Many businesses and services that urban and suburban dwellers take for granted are scarce in small towns. That spells opportunity for savvy startup entrepreneurs.
Credit Management Source brings together the best content for credit management professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Fundera
MAY 26, 2017
The first question my clients usually ask me is, “How much money do I have?” So I show them their balance sheet. Their second question is, “How much money did I make?” And that can be explained with the P&L. The problem with these questions and reports is that they are history reports. If the outcome is great, then my clients are happy.
Fundera
MAY 16, 2017
Are you on your business’ payroll , or do you take payment from your business in the form of owner draws? Do you and your business partner take guaranteed payments? What about regular profit distributions? Are you taking enough money from your business? Are you taking too much? How can you tell? And where are your payments showing up in your business’ financials?
Fundera
MAY 3, 2017
Whether it’s an oceanfront restaurant on the Jersey Shore or an Italian ice stand in Ohio, the same rule applies when it comes to hiring help for the summer: Staff more people than you think you need. That’s at the root of the best and worst experiences with summer help for Darrell Wordelmann, who is the general manager of Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant in Long Branch, New Jersey, and Alison Hunter, who is the manager of Rita’s Italian Ice in Gahanna, Ohio.
Fundera
MAY 4, 2017
You know the saying too well: “It takes money to make money.”. Sometimes you just need extra capital to grow your business. If you’re not willing to give up equity in your company or don’t qualify for small business grants , then taking on a business loan could be the way to go. However, business loans certainly aren’t free money to use as you please for your business.
Fundera
MAY 6, 2017
Startups know how much having a distinct company culture can set them apart and communicate who they are to the world, but what they might not know is how to create that culture. Should you focus on the perks of the job or concentrate on conveying the mission of the company? If you’re not sure where to start, these steps will guide you in the right direction to ensure success for your business, team, and yourself. 1.
Fundera
MAY 16, 2017
Starting your own business is exciting. It takes courage, determination, and planning to be successful. And a bit of understanding about business accounting. One of the most important things to do in the early stages of your business is to establish your accounting systems and procedures. Here are some tips to help you get off on the right foot with your business finances.
Fundera
MAY 17, 2017
Pedro Espinoza was 10 years old when he started his first business, so it’s no surprise that he won’t be looking for a job when he graduates with the rest of the Class of 2017. Espinoza, who attends the Haas School of Business at the University of California-Berkeley, is the founder and CEO of SmileyGo , a data analytics funding platform that aims to redefine the way nonprofits and corporations are connected to each other.
Fundera
MAY 9, 2017
You might not know that your small business should have a lawyer until the need really arises. And when that time comes, how (and where) can you find the right small business lawyer to work with? Well, we asked 11 small business legal experts how they think small business owners should go about finding a lawyer who’s a good fit for their business’s needs.
Fundera
MAY 18, 2017
There’s a lot to like about Texas. The abundance of tacos, for one. But perhaps more important is the state’s staunch support of its business community. With the exception of Delaware, there may be no better place to start a small business than Texas, which has the advantage of the nation’s second-largest population and a number of fast-growing metropolitan areas.
Fundera
MAY 26, 2017
Elon Musk seems to be everywhere these days. From pushing for space travel to developing a self-driving vehicle, the CEO and co-founder of Tesla is a busy guy. But while Musk might not be a typical entrepreneur, he’s definitely shown he’s capable of adapting to different environments and industries—something important to the success of any growing business owner.
Fundera
MAY 10, 2017
The beginnings of a small business partnership can resemble a teenage summer romance. This person just “gets” you. You’ve got a great idea, you agree on everything … you’re going to take over the world together! Whether your newfound business interest is with a long-time friend or someone you’ve only recently met, there’s no denying the adrenaline rush of those early days.
Fundera
MAY 24, 2017
The best employee for your small business might be someone that you can’t just find on any old job board these days. When you need to recruit for a certain skill, personality trait, or just a general good fit for your company culture, sometimes you have to get creative. So we asked small business owners just like yourself, “What are your out-of-the-box ways to find employees?”.
Fundera
MAY 17, 2017
If you’re a loyal Barclays banker, you might be wondering what Barclays business credit cards are out there. Unfortunately, the Barclays Business Credit Card is only available in the United Kingdom (for our readers overseas, here’s the link ), but business owners can still get a great value out of the Barclaycard consumer credit card. We break down the pros and cons of Barclays’ personal card offer and help you find the best options out there for business travel.
Abrigo
MAY 31, 2017
In a recent article from Credit Union Insights , Frank Koechlein discusses the need for credit unions to grow into their analytical solutions. “When you were in college you didn’t start with advanced trigonometry, you started with the basics of math and each year you built on what you learned the year before. Why should developing an effective analytics strategy be any different?
Abrigo
MAY 30, 2017
One of the biggest obstacles for many community banks and credit unions with aggressive growth goals is staffing. As the institution grows there is more for everyone to do, and additional staff is often necessary to keep up. However, growing the staff can be a real challenges for many banks and credit unions. For one thing, there is a limited number of qualified loan officers and credit analysts on the market, especially seasoned bankers that have the skills needed in a rapidly growing instituti
Abrigo
MAY 23, 2017
Everywhere these days, news headlines scream that automation stands to eliminate many of the traditional jobs in the U.S.: “ Robots are coming for white-collar workers’ jobs ” and “ More Robots, Fewer Jobs.” Indeed, a 2013 research study estimates that nearly half of total U.S. employment is at high risk of becoming automated over the next 10 to 20 years, and the study ranked accountants and auditors in the top one-sixth of the most automatable occupations.
Abrigo
MAY 20, 2017
Earlier this month, John Holt, CEO of Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union appeared on Better Connecticut to discuss how Nutmeg FCU was fulfilling its commitment to helping small businesses in their community by implementing a new digital loan application process. John commented that most banks and credit unions do not lend to small businesses, as they tend to be more focused on larger deals.
Abrigo
MAY 19, 2017
With the National Credit Union Administration issuing its final member business lending (MBL) ruling as of January 2017, credit unions are seeing increased flexibility in their lending limits. While this newly found flexibility provides opportunities for competitive growth, the NCUA states “[MBL] has unique characteristics and more complex variables than other lending and carries a number of risks.
Abrigo
MAY 16, 2017
Developing predictable revenue streams can help your firm grow in ways you may not have initially thought possible. Many CPAs spend the bulk of their careers bearing up under the weight of their tax and compliance workload while bringing in revenues that fall short, given the time and effort invested in a compressed timeframe. Having better, higher-paying clients may feel like a dream, and you may think you’re destined to become a mini H&R Block.
Abrigo
MAY 11, 2017
Stress testing programs should consider their tests in a one-year time horizon measured in both a mild and severe scenario. Mild scenarios should test items to where they honestly think they will be in one year. Severe scenarios should try and replicate conditions that represent the worst possible outcome for the portfolio but are still logically possible (do not blindly make up severe scenarios).
Abrigo
MAY 9, 2017
In a recent Sageworks webinar with David O’Connell from Aite Group on the small business borrower experience, David presented data from an Aite survey of small business borrowers. One of the most fascinating insights from the data was how closely alternative are nipping at the heels of banks when it comes to borrower satisfaction. Several questions from the survey analyzed the timing of the application process for SMB borrowers, their satisfaction with the process, and their biggest pain points.
Abrigo
MAY 8, 2017
Over the past few years, the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, where Sageworks is headquartered, has been named among the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., the best places to live, the top boomtowns and the best places to start a business (among many other accolades ). It’s also home to a vibrant tech scene and has been honored as such among the cities creating the most tech jobs and the best American tech cities.
Abrigo
MAY 5, 2017
Interest rates may be important to small business borrowers, but when it comes to how satisfied they are with recent borrowing experiences, it’s not all about the money. Instead, applicants have more gripes about the process they encountered at financial institutions than about the financial aspects of their transactions, according to the 2016 Small Business Credit Survey by the Federal Reserve.
Abrigo
MAY 3, 2017
Stress testing programs should consider their tests in a one-year time horizon measured in both a mild and severe scenario. Mild scenarios should test items to where they honestly think they will be in one year. Severe scenarios should try and replicate conditions that represent the worst possible outcome for the portfolio but are still logically possible (do not blindly make up severe scenarios).
Abrigo
MAY 3, 2017
Data analytics are gaining momentum as they are increasingly being used during the audit process. As auditors know, data analytics are required during both the beginning and the end of an audit. However, analytics can also be employed efficiently and effectively as substantive procedures. Data analytics can easily do the work that previously relied on human inspection, work such as determining whether a sale or expenditure is customary based upon data-driven parameters.
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