Small businesses generally have a difficult time obtaining the financing they need to grow. Barriers to growth capital can seriously hinder an owner's plans for expansion. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the last 20 years have seen a significant decrease in banks’ lending to small business: In the mid-1990s, small business loans represented one third of all business loan balances; today it’s down to one in five. Last quarter, overall business lending grew at an … [Read more...]
Easier SBA lending requirements are in your future
There's good news for entrepreneurs: Small business lending is hot again. Since the financial crisis of 2008, small businesses have had a difficult time accessing loans through traditional banks. But with small-business confidence on the rise and a slowly-but-surely improving economy, small-business borrowers are once again front and center on the competitive stage of business loans. Numerous non-bank lenders that are focused on small business have emerged in the past few years, with some … [Read more...]
Borrow Your Way to a Lower Tax Bill
It's not likely the first thing that comes to mind when looking to lower your taxes, but borrowing money (the right way) can save you thousands. Borrow Your Way to a Lower Tax Bill Taxes are going up. Way up. Starting this year and continuing through 2018, a series of taxes on earned income, investment income, payrolls and certain benefits will increase dramatically. Healthcare reform, the Fiscal Cliff resolution, adjustments for inflation and other factors are the root cause. The net impact … [Read more...]
Vanguard Group Founder John Bogle Believes We Are Headed for a Massive Financial Disaster
The U.S. is headed for a retirement crisis which could wipe out the dreams of most workers and business people. And John bogle Believes we are headed for a massive financial disaster. John Bogle founded The Vanguard Group in the 1970s and built it into the second largest mutual fund company in the world with current assets of $2 trillion. Bogle is also largely responsible for making Index Funds available to small investors. When it comes to providing an expert opinion on investing for … [Read more...]
Small companies raise red flags about who’s footing the bill
Who is Really Paying That $1M+ Salary? Big pay checks at small companies raise red flags about who's footing the bill. A key benefit of owning your own business is the ability to enjoy fully the fruits of your labor. Entrepreneurship is one of the main ways to achieve financial independence. But some people, however, are taking issue with the high levels of compensation paid out at some small businesses. They believe that its unfair for executives to earn as much as $1 million per year or more … [Read more...]
The SBA’s sequester-related cuts will reduce loan guarantees for small businesses
Does The SBA Have A Sequestration Contingency Plan? The SBA's sequester-related cuts will reduce loan guarantees for small businesses. What's their contingency plan? While the sequestration-related budget cuts are no longer front-page news, their impact is only just beginning. One of the agencies that has been impacted is the Small Business Administration, which uses a significant portion of its budget to secure small-business loans. It is very likely that cuts from the sequester will reduce … [Read more...]
Business Travel Will Never Be the Same Again
Business travelers have permanently changed how they approach getting from A to B thanks to the Great Recession. Business Travel Will Never Be the Same Again. During the Great Recession, most companies modified their executive travel policies. Eliminating business-class travel, flying at off hours to buy cheaper tickets, using online reviews and social media to find deals and avoiding activities that generate extra fees were just some of the changes implemented in an effort to save money. Now … [Read more...]
Retailers Using Shared Data to Reduce Employee Theft
Retailers are working together to stop "five-finger discounts" from ruining their businesses. Inventory shrinkage, a fancy term meaning theft, is a huge problem for retailers. Over $90 million worth of inventory disappears from warehouses and store shelves across the country every single day. What is most disappointing is that an estimated 44 percent of shrinkage is perpetrated by employees. To deal with this issue, several companies have proposed an innovative solution, retailers are … [Read more...]
New Legislation: No Such Thing as Illegal Immigrants?
A guest worker program would allow undocumented immigrants the opportunity to work legally. New Legislation: No Such Thing as Illegal Immigrants? A large-scale "guest worker" program may finally be on the horizon in the United States again after a contentious but successful negotiation by labor, business and political leaders. Despite highly passionate views on immigration from all sides, the parties were able to come together to produce a plan with support from all three interest groups. When … [Read more...]
How Much Does Paid Sick Leave Really Cost?
The battle over paid sick leave is heating up. But with so many companies already offering it, is the battle already over? Should paid sick leave be required by law? Once again, this benefit is making headlines as members of Congress, state legislatures and even city councils present proposed legislation to make sick leave mandatory. While more than eight out of ten large companies already offer paid sick leave, fewer small businesses do. There seems to be a direct correlation between the size … [Read more...]
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