December, 2018

article thumbnail

Small Business Grants for Women: 11 Incredible Opportunities

Fundera

The 11 Best Small Business Grants for Women Entrepreneurs. Grants.gov. National Association for the Self-Employed Growth Grants. Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant Program. Amber Grant. IdeaCafe Grant. #GIRLBOSS Foundation Grant. Cartier Women’s Initiative Award. GrantsforWomen.org. FedEx Small Business Grant. The Halstead Grant. Open Meadows Foundation.

article thumbnail

7 important questions to ask when choosing a Direct Debit provider

GoCardless

Are you using Direct Debit as a fast, efficient, low-cost method to collect regular fees, subscriptions or one-off payments from your customers? Or considering adding Direct Debit to your payments mix?

52
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

U.S. Small Business Employment and Growth: All the Statistics You Need to Know

Fundera

You’ve probably heard it said that “small business is the backbone of America.” But what does that saying mean in practice? How many small businesses are there in this country, and how many people do they employ? Even if you’re a small business owner yourself, it can be hard to understand just how important small businesses are and how much they contribute to the economy—especially since the press focuses much more on the country’s biggest companies.

article thumbnail

53 Business Quotes to Inspire You on the Toughest Days

Fundera

Any small business owner knows that entrepreneurship has its highs and lows. When you hit the low points of entrepreneurship, sometimes it helps to read some inspirational quotes from other prominent business owners who have been in your shoes. Here are 53 business quotes from inspiring entrepreneurs and leaders like yourself for the days when the going gets tough. 7 Small Business Quotes on Success.

article thumbnail

9 Holiday Marketing Tips That Won’t Kill Your Budget

Fundera

The holiday season is a critical money-making time for many independent businesses. What’s more, it’s a prime opportunity to grow your customer base and turn one-time buyers into loyal patrons. . “Most people are looking to buy presents for the people in their lives, so they’ll likely venture to sites and stores they wouldn’t shop at normally,” says Elizabeth Bradshaw, the owner of an online store called Canvas Art Boutique.

93
article thumbnail

How to Start an Ecommerce Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

Fundera

Much like starting any business , starting an ecommerce site is not easy, but the goal of setting up, launching, and maintaining sites where entrepreneurs, designers, and creators of all sorts can sell their wares is more attainable now than it ever has been. . Ecommerce businesses—which are businesses that transmit goods, services and funds over the internet—run the gamut in size and scope, from retail behemoths like Amazon to Etsy craft sites.

More Trending

article thumbnail

6 Startup Mistakes That Can Stunt Business Growth

Fundera

There’s a lot that can stunt your business’s growth. Financial problems, inefficient staff, negative reviews, and slumps in the economy are just some of the threats your startup may face. Many business setbacks are out of your control. However, you can safeguard your enterprise by avoiding a few common startup mistakes. 6 Common Startup Mistakes—and How to Avoid Them.

article thumbnail

How to Start a Wine Business

Fundera

To take on the challenge of starting a wine business, you need to be determined, fearless, and passionate about your craft—although owning a vineyard seems romantic, the wine business is a tough one. . Just take a look at the success story behind Russell Bevan of Bevan Cellars. Bevan bought his first 10 acres in Napa Valley’s Sonoma County in 2004, but it wasn’t until 2013 that he got his first 100-point Robert Parker score f or his 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon.

article thumbnail

LegalShield Reviews 2019: Pros, Cons, and Best Alternatives

Fundera

What Is LegalShield? LegalShield is an online legal service that provides affordable legal coverage for small businesses and individuals. Instead of paying the steep hourly rates typically charged by law firms, customers can pay a fixed monthly rate for legal representation and advice on a range of issues. The company is an industry veteran, founded in 1972.

article thumbnail

Business Owner Titles: How to Pick the Best One Possible

Fundera

Business Owner Titles. CEO. COO. President. Owner. President. Proprietor. Founder. Principal. Head of Operations. Managing Director. Technical Director. Creative Director. Director of Operations. Managing Member. Managing Partner. Administrator. Chief Disruptor. Chief Executive Philosopher. When you’re a small business owner trying to choose the right title to fit your position, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the number of choices you have—or to think your only options for business owner tit

article thumbnail

The Best 5 Email Marketing Platforms for Small Business

Fundera

Advertising Disclosure: Fundera receives compensation from our partners, which may impact how and where their products appear on our site. . The Top 5 Email Marketing Platforms. Constant Contact. ConvertKit. GetResponse. iContact. MailChimp. If you’ve spent any amount of time researching how to market your small business to achieve the best results, you already know that email marketing is hands-down the number one tool at your disposal.

article thumbnail

4 Signs That Show You’re Ready to Take Your Business to the Next Level

Fundera

The majority of all companies in America are operated by small business owners, many of whom operate a company of just one or two people. Although there are many reasons why small businesses fail , one of the primary reasons is lack of growth. Unfortunately, some business owners see early success as a reason not to change. Consistency within a business can be a good thing, but not when it’s to the point that it prevents business growth.

article thumbnail

8 Genius Marketing Tactics to Boost In-Store Sales

Fundera

8 Genius Marketing Tactics to Boost In-Store Sales. Theme days and events. Flash sales. Partnership with local philanthropy. Click and collect. Retargeting campaigns. Facebook ads. Joint partnerships. Giveaways. Advertising Disclosure: Fundera receives compensation from our partners, which may impact how and where their products appear on our site. .

article thumbnail

29 Data-Driven Ways You Can Improve Employee Morale Right Now

Fundera

As a small business owner, you’ve likely mastered the self-management techniques necessary to be your own boss. If you’ve grown your business enough to require employees of your own, it can be exciting to bring on new members to your team. However, learning to successfully manage others is a unique challenge that takes practice and patience. No matter if you’re a large business or only managing two other people, being in charge of others can challenging — and incredibly rewarding.

article thumbnail

7 Clear Signs It’s Time To Hire Your First Employee (Infographic)

Fundera

Building a successful business by yourself still takes the advice, expertise, and mentorship of countless others. Even as a solopreneur, other professional’s ideas and support can make or break your business. When growing your own business, it’s normal to gain many new skills and areas of expertise to be proud of. However, it is inevitable that you will discover areas of expertise in which you don’t excel.

article thumbnail

The Best High Yield Business Savings Accounts Right Now

Fundera

The 6 Best High Yield Business Savings Accounts. Capital One Business Advantage Savings Account. Axos Bank Business Savings Account. Community Bank of Pleasant Hill Business Premier Money Management Account. Goldwater Bank Savings Plus Personal & Business Account. First Internet Bank of Indiana Money Market Savings. Live Oak Bank Business Savings Account.

article thumbnail

Minority Business Grants: 25 Resources for Minority Entrepreneurs

Fundera

Best Minority Business Grants. Grants.gov Federal Grants Portal. The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grants Program. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) Grants. Rural Business Development Grants. FedEx Small Business Grant Contest. Minorities are majorly driving the growth of entrepreneurship in this country.

article thumbnail

The Expert’s Guide to Writing a Business Plan

Fundera

The 8 Components of a Business Plan. Executive Summary. Company Overview. Market Analysis. Business Organization. Product Development Plan. Marketing and Sales Plan. Financial Plan and Projections. Appendix. Whether you’re just starting your business or looking to get serious about a business you’ve run for quite some time now, you need a business plan.

article thumbnail

What Is a Perfect Credit Score and How to Achieve It

Fundera

What Is a Perfect Credit Score? When it comes to personal credit scores, the absolute perfect credit score is 850. Though it may seem impossible, it’s actually totally doable if you’re responsible with your debt and check (and recheck) your credit score often. But a perfect credit score may not be necessary if you have a great or even a good score.

article thumbnail

Selling a Business to a Competitor: 12 Business Experts Share Their Advice

Fundera

12 Tips for Selling a Business to a Competitor. Get an Idea of Your Business’s Value. Don’t Let Emotions Get in the Way. Always Proceed With Caution. Try to Get the Most Out of the Deal. Due Diligence Takes Precedence. Know Who You’re Working With. Make Sure You’re Ready to Sell. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions. Get What You’re Owed Now. Make Sure You’re The One Driving.

article thumbnail

Ready for Your First Credit Card Ever? Here Are 7 Steps to Credit Success

Fundera

Your First Credit Card: The 5 Best Sources. Your bank. If you’ve had a checking or savings account with a certain bank, this existing relationship will up your odds for qualifying for your first credit card. Credit cards for no credit history. These will take some work to find them, but almost all the major credit issuers offer “limited history” credit cards.

article thumbnail

What Is Experiential Marketing? 5 Examples That Worked

Fundera

Every business, big or small, strives for more than one-off purchases—they want their customers to become lifers. Often, establishing brand loyalty in your customers means proving to them, over and over again, that your product or service is the best they’ll find. Or, you could cut to the chase and draw in those loyalists through experiential marketing techniques… but what is experiential marketing?

article thumbnail

22 Must-Knows Before Starting a Small Business Partnership

Fundera

Entering into a small business partnership can be very exciting. You’ve (hopefully) found someone who shares your vision , works well with you, and has lots of great ideas. Together you feel you have what it takes to make your small business dreams a reality. Whether your partner is a long-time friend or someone you just met last week, it’s a great feeling to find someone you feel you can launch a business with.

article thumbnail

16 Entrepreneur-Approved Strategies to Find Employees

Fundera

16 Creative Ways to Find Employees. Always carry your business card. Recruit on social media. Search for keywords on LinkedIn. Vet employees through Instagram. Use Snapchat geofilters. Be open to conversing with strangers. Try out-of-the-box recruitment channels. Recruit while on vacation. Make note of good customer service. Try Craigslist. Poach from other businesses.

article thumbnail

The 3 Best Grocery Store POS Systems for 2019

Fundera

The 3 Best Grocery Store POS Systems for 2019. Revel POS systems for fully integrated, customizable POS system—at a significant cost. Clover POS systems for a happy medium between capability and reasonable, transparent pricing. Square POS systems if you’re willing to search for an external scale but want to access high-power inventory tracking. Remember the days when all a grocery store needed to ring up customers was a scale and a till?

article thumbnail

Instant Approval Business Credit Cards: Where to Get the Best

Fundera

The 4 Best Instant Approval Business Credit Cards. American Express Blue Business Plus. Chase Ink Business Unlimited. Capital One Secured MasterCard. Capital One Spark Classic. When you’re searching for a business credit card , time is of the essence. It’s easy to be intrigued at the concept of instant approval business credit cards—especially when you have emergency purchases to make and little fires everywhere to extinguish.

article thumbnail

Stripe vs. Square: Which Is Right for Your Business?

Fundera

Stripe vs. Square, Summarized. For a more developer-friendly online payment platform that offers far more payment options for customer, opt for Stripe. For more powerful in-person payment options and an easy ecommerce store setup option, go with Square. Two of the most recognizable payment processing companies on the market today are Stripe and Square, and as a result of this brand recognition, the question of Stripe vs.

article thumbnail

The Booming Economy Index: December 2018

Fundera

The American economy has been booming of late, with hundreds of thousands new jobs added every month, annualized growth numbers from the past two quarters at the tune of 3.5% and 4.2% , and the stock market currently experiencing its longest running bull market since March 2009. As small businesses across the country make up 99.7% of all U.S. employers and 64% of net new private-sector jobs, they truly are the backbone of the country’s economy and an aggregate indicator of its health and status.

article thumbnail

What’s the Difference Between Trademark and Copyright?

Fundera

Is your business also a brand ? Do you create original materials and assets for your business? If so, it’s important that you understand the difference between trademark and copyright? . Brand identity and intellectual property can be just as important as revenue when it comes to your business. Research shows that 43% of customers spend more money at brands they are loyal to, and 65% of a company’s business comes from existing customers.

74
article thumbnail

The Best High-Limit Business Credit Cards for Mega Spending Power

Fundera

The Best High-Limit Business Credit Cards. Chase Ink Business Preferred: The best high-limit credit card with a welcome bonus. Chase Ink Business Cash: The best high-limit credit card for cash back rates. The American Express Blue Business Plus: The best high-limit credit card for 0% intro APR offers. As you’re searching for the best business credit card for your business, all the bells and whistles can easily distract you.

article thumbnail

Giveaway Ideas to Win Customers for Your Small Business

Fundera

As a small business owner, you’re always looking for new ways to engage your customers—you want to get them excited about your company, and keep them loyal. Sometimes, that means offering coupons, rewards programs , or even just by using conventional marketing channels like print and digital advertisements. But business giveaway ideas could be a great way to shake up things.