September, 2016

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The 25 Best Online Business Ideas for Every Aspiring Entrepreneur

Fundera

Wouldn’t it be great to work from anywhere? It’s every office worker’s biggest daydream: sleep in late, set your own hours, take long lunches, vacation whenever you want, be your own boss. Running a successful online business combines all the independence of small business ownership with the freedom of the internet. Plus, online businesses tend to be a heck of a lot cheaper to manage.

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Building your growth plan: Key metrics to consider - Part 1

Abrigo

For many banks and credit unions, it is hard to feel anything but stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. In the current market, banks and credit unions are facing pressure on all fronts. Interest rate margins remain slim, and FinTech companies that compete directly with traditional banks and credit unions seem to pop up overnight. At the same time, the regulations governing financial institutions continue to become increasingly complex and demanding.

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Successful onboarding to cloud services

GoCardless

Onboarding is the process of getting clients to successfully start using a new service. In this free e-Book, we show you how to successfully onboard clients to a cloud service.

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Cloud Computing and the Credit Professional

Credit & Management Systems, Inc.

Over the past few years, credit managers (along with the rest of the world) have come to know “The Cloud.” This mysterious object stores all of our data, has unlimited processing power, runs virtually every modern system and can be accessed anywhere from any device. However, there is still a great deal of confusion about how it works and the associated benefits of utilizing it particularly for the credit industry.

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5 Essential Tips to Juggling a New Baby and a Small Business

Fundera

As a mother herself, Suz O’Donnell knows plenty about trying to balance a new baby and a small business—arguably two of the toughest jobs in the world. She’s the president of Thrivatize , a business that focuses on helping ambitious career moms create a work-life balance that sets them up for success. In a way, the two endeavors are similar: They need almost undivided attention and commitment, as well as a nurturing sensibility.

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Inspired to Build? Learn How Commercial Real Estate Loans Work

Fundera

Buying real estate for your small business? It’s an exciting move, but also a stressful one. Expanding to a new location or just renovating your current space is a big step for a small business owner—so you should know the ins and outs of the process before you get too far in over your head. By learning how to navigate commercial real estate loans, you’ll be well equipped to get the best rate and terms for your business.

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Freshbooks vs Quickbooks: Which is Best for Your Business?

Fundera

My friends at Fundera asked me to write an article comparing Freshbooks vs QuickBooks. I did indeed do that, but I have to say this before you read any further: I’ve owned a bookkeeping and consulting business, Kildal Services LLC , for the better part of 15 years. We only support QuickBooks products, and I’ve exclusively used some version of QuickBooks since 1998.

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Freshbooks vs Quickbooks: Which is Best for Your Business?

Fundera

My friends at Fundera asked me to write an article comparing Freshbooks vs QuickBooks. I did indeed do that, but I have to say this before you read any further: I’ve owned a bookkeeping and consulting business, Kildal Services LLC , for the better part of 15 years. We only support QuickBooks products, and I’ve exclusively used some version of QuickBooks since 1998.

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The Step-by-Step Guide to Helpful Chase Small Business Loans

Fundera

If you’re a small business owner on the hunt for business loans , you probably know the deal with traditional banks: big banks just don’t lend to small businesses. That’s partly true. More than 80% of banks reported that they tightened their lending standards for small businesses after the recession. Today, only about 20% of small business owners who apply for bank loans are approved.

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You Absolutely Need to Know About Secured Business Credit Cards

Fundera

As a business owner, you’ve probably been told over and over that you need a business credit card to build and boost your credit. Sounds great, right? Who doesn’t want to establish more credit history and a better score? Well, you’re searching for the best business credit cards in the bunch and you find yourself in this conundrum: you need a business credit card to build your credit… But you don’t qualify for a business credit card because you don’t have sufficient credit history or your credit

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You Absolutely Need to Know About Secured Business Credit Cards

Fundera

As a business owner, you’ve probably been told over and over that you need a business credit card to build and boost your credit. Sounds great, right? Who doesn’t want to establish more credit history and a better score? Well, you’re searching for the best business credit cards in the bunch and you find yourself in this conundrum: you need a business credit card to build your credit… But you don’t qualify for a business credit card because you don’t have sufficient credit history or your credit

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The Best Insider Guide to 5 Bank of America Small Business Loans

Fundera

Walk down any street in the United States and you’ll probably stumble across a Bank of America outlet. Maybe you’re strolling by one of their 4,700 financial centers or passing one of their 16,000 ATMs. You don’t need to look at their their numbers to know just how big of an influence Bank of America has. Actually, we take that back. If you’re a small business owner, here’s one fact you might care about: Bank of America works with over 3 million small business owners in the U.S.

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The 3 Best Ways to Stay On Top of Your Personal Credit Score

Fundera

Many small business owners use their personal credit to run their businesses, and if you’re a sole proprietor, your business credit and personal credit are closely linked. It’s extremely important to work on building your personal credit, and not just for your business’s sake. Over the course of your lifetime, you could end up paying $230,000 less in interest if you had an excellent credit score (750+) than if you had a credit score that needs work (300–639).

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Meet the Small Business Hero Behind the Last Bookstore [Video]

Fundera

Welcome to The Last Bookstore from Chad Howitt on Vimeo. Does the arrival of the digital age signal the beginning of the end for printed books? Josh Spencer doesn’t think so. As the founder of Los Angeles’s The Last Bookstore , he has first-hand knowledge of how precious traditional, ink-and-paper books continue to be. After an accident left him without the use of his legs, Josh had a lot of questions about what his future held.

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13 Ways Protecting Your Data Could Save Your Business

Fundera

Ask small business owners what their backup and disaster recovery plan looks like and you might hear that it’s something they plan to do—someday. Many small businesses have no dedicated IT staff, but they do have a long list of other priorities—finding suppliers, moving inventory, and hiring staff. When it comes to data protection at small and midsize businesses, the plan is often a two-step process: Procrastination and panic.

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The Top 5 Payroll Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Business

Fundera

Small business owners have been looking more and more into outsourced payroll solutions to automate what can be a cumbersome process—paying your employees and filing payroll taxes. Payroll is a core part of what makes your business function, how you build trust with employees, and how you manage the often complex tax requirements involved with running a business.

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Need Capital? No Problem: Here’s How to Get a Business Credit Card

Fundera

Thinking about applying for a business credit card ? Smart move. Using a business credit card comes with a lot of perks for small business owners. You can use one for backup business financing , to build business credit , to cushion your cash flow, to earn rewards on your purchases… The list of benefits goes on and on. In fact, it’s hard to find a reason not to use a business credit card for your small business.

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Best Bank For Small Business? These 4 Top The List

Fundera

If you’re ready to get serious about your small business, you’ll want to set up a business bank account so you can start managing your finances. That’s a big step in the right direction. But when you’re actually searching for a bank to work with, you’ll quickly realize that finding the right bank for your small business is easier said than done. It takes more than just knocking on the door of the bank nearest your business.

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Best Bank For Small Business? These 4 Top The List

Fundera

If you’re ready to get serious about your small business, you’ll want to set up a business bank account so you can start managing your finances. That’s a big step in the right direction. But when you’re actually searching for a bank to work with, you’ll quickly realize that finding the right bank for your small business is easier said than done. It takes more than just knocking on the door of the bank nearest your business.

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Ever Heard of a CPN? It Can Ruin Your Loan Application

Fundera

Ever heard of a CPN? If not, read on: they could make a big difference to your loan application. Short for credit privacy number or credit profile number, CPNs are nine-digit numbers promoted online as an alternative to your Social Security number (SSN). (In fact, they’re sometimes called Secondary Credit Numbers, or SCNs.) With rising concerns about identity theft, data breaches, and online privacy, you might be considering using a CPN.

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So You’ve Got a Headway Line of Credit. Here’s How to Use It.

Fundera

When it comes to applying for a line of credit from Headway Capital, the most important question of all is perhaps the most obvious: How soon can I get my money? Lots of small business owners who look for alternative financing —i.e., not from a traditional big bank—need money for emergency repairs, to take advantage of a great deal on supplies for their inventory, or to pay bills.

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How This Entrepreneur Built One of the Most Successful Fitness Chains

Fundera

Anne Mahlum always had a passion for making fitness more accessible. Her first venture, Back on My Feet , used running to help the homeless create self-identity and develop discipline. “When the homeless start to look at themselves as athletes and they have an environment of structure, it changes the way they approach things,” says Mahlum. But what Mahlum loves and does best is to “create and build.

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The 6 Best Business Credit Card Offers Currently Available

Fundera

When you’re researching the best business credit cards for your small business, how heavily do you weigh sign-up bonuses and welcome offers in your decision? Maybe you just skim through them—they’re just flashy bonuses that come with every business credit card offer, right? Well, most credit card companies try to entice you with a sign-up bonus, but not all offers are created equal.

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Valuation vs. Calculation: When to perform which

Abrigo

Accountants and valuation professionals may be asked to opine on the value of businesses for many different circumstances. It could be that a business owner asks casually about the value of his or her business as a first step to planning an exit strategy. Another situation could involve a partnership split or a high-profile divorce, such as Angelina Jolie’s recently announced split from Brad Pitt, where one or both parties have business interests that could eventually become part of related liti

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An Insider Look At How Capital One Small Business Loans Can Help You

Fundera

Need small business financing ? Well, small business owner, you have a few paths you can take for funding. You can knock on the doors of family, friends, or investors for a little help. Or you can try applying for a small business loan from an online lender or a traditional bank. If you choose to go the commercial bank route, you might have more financing options than you thought.

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Meet the Small Business Hero Behind the Last Bookstore [Video]

Fundera

Welcome to The Last Bookstore from Chad Howitt on Vimeo. Does the arrival of the digital age signal the beginning of the end for printed books? Josh Spencer doesn’t think so. As the founder of Los Angeles’s The Last Bookstore , he has first-hand knowledge of how precious traditional, ink-and-paper books continue to be. After an accident left him without the use of his legs, Josh had a lot of questions about what his future held.

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9 Motivated Small Business Owners Share Their Advice [Video]

Fundera

What’s your entrepreneur story? from Homegrown on Vimeo. Ever wish you could sit down for a pep talk with other experienced small business owners? Here’s your chance. Homegrown, a business advocacy network based in the Philippines, spent time with 9 successful small business owners and asked to hear their stories. Though their industries range from tech to food service to retail, the same words popped up over and over again in their responses—words like “passion,” “

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The 8 Best Cities for Small Business in New York State

Fundera

Small businesses thrive because of their communities. Customers eat at restaurants on Main Street, shop at their local hardware store, visit the doctor down the block… When you think about it, a town’s culture is largely defined by the relationships between entrepreneurs and their neighbors. While these interactions happen all across the country, there are certain communities that are especially hospitable to small business.

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The 8 Best Cities for Small Business in New York State

Fundera

Small businesses thrive because of their communities. Customers eat at restaurants on Main Street, shop at their local hardware store, visit the doctor down the block… When you think about it, a town’s culture is largely defined by the relationships between entrepreneurs and their neighbors. While these interactions happen all across the country, there are certain communities that are especially hospitable to small business.

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Here’s How Headway Capital Decides Whether to Give You Money

Fundera

Applying for a line of credit from Headway Capital only takes a few minutes. As we talked about in the first part of our series on Headway Capital, their three-step application is easy to access, fill out, and finish. The next stage is the underwriting process. Any small business owner who has applied to a major financial institution or alternative lender for a loan probably knows about underwriting… But for those new to the business of obtaining capital, it goes like this: Underwriting i

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What is keeping your financial institution from growing?

Abrigo

A common problem impacting productivity and the ability to serve customers is inefficient processes. Many of these are inherited and accepted as “just the way we do things.” But in order to work smarter, not harder, and provide a good experience for customers, inefficiencies should be challenged in favor of fresh ideas and processes. Across the banking industry a current strategic focus is loan growth – increasing the portfolio by both acquiring new customers and expanding services offered to ex