Articles
In Real Life: Businesses That Succeed Offline
Customers can do almost anything online these days. Shopping, ordering groceries, or watching movies are all exchanges many people choose to make using the convenience of the Internet. Still, websites and e-commerce don’t solve everything, and there continue to be some businesses that thrive offline. Perhaps formulas and code don’t always translate to good practices…
Five Ways to Motivate Your Best Employees
No matter how successful your company’s business plan is, how many investors you can excite, or how many hours you spend working yourself, there’s one thing your company can’t do without if you want it to thrive. Star employees. Great employees are the people that make the behind-the-scenes of your business run smoothly. They’re the…
Does a Business Line of Credit Make Sense for My Business?
Every small business owner sometimes faces situations where they need quick access to capital to address immediate needs—sometimes those needs involve solving a near-term challenge, but often they are to take advantage of opportunities. Establishing a business line of credit is one way many business owners prepare for those immediate cash needs. A business line…
Comfy Office, Happy Employees: 5 Easy Upgrades
Comfortable office spaces are a must for both you and your employees. A comfortable working environment will make your employees more productive. Whether you’re a retail outlet, a technical service provider, or a warehouse, here are five quick tips on how to increase the comfort factor at your office without breaking down the walls—or breaking…
Online Business Loans in 2015
Small business owners continued to turn to online small business lenders in 2015. Here are five reasons: Many traditional lenders (like banks) are still reluctant to offer financing to the smallest small businesses The application and approval process is more streamlined for the borrower with online lenders Online lenders are now considered more main stream…
20 Business Tasks You Can Easily Automate
Between long to-do lists, email responses and the never-ending cycle of meetings, the workday can be consumed by the mundane missions of everyday business life. That’s why taking routine, recurring tasks off your to do list is essential for your productivity. While you may be able to delegate some complicated, repetitious chores to employees, you…
See Where Our Barbara Corcoran Seal of Approval Winners Are Now…
It’s been over a month since our Barbara Corcoran Seal of Approval contest winners received the opportunity of a lifetime – $10,000 to grow their businesses from OnDeck, and a private consultation session with business mogul Barbara Corcoran at OnDeck HQ in New York City. We checked in with our winners to see how they put…
The Presidential Election: Business Owners Weigh In
In a recent online survey, small business owners identified the top three priorities for candidates running in this year’s Presidential election. Of the business owners surveyed, 94.1% voted in the last election—which means Washington, and the candidates, better be paying attention.
Looking for the Right Short-Term Small Business Loan?
There are a lot of options for small business owners looking for financing these days. And, more small business owners than ever are looking online—with online lenders providing an estimated $7.9 billion in small business loans last year. According to Morgan Stanley, that’s up 68 percent from 2014. Traditional financing at the local bank is…
5 Questions With…Modwalls’s Rebecca Lonergan
Our blog series “5 Questions With…” takes a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of our small business customers. Our next installment is below! Name: Rebecca Lonergan Company: Modwalls Location: Aptos, CA Products/Services: Online modern tile store Years in Business: 12 Years Facebook: Modwallstile Twitter: @Modwalls 1) Tell us about your business – what do you…
Can Small Restaurants Get Rid of Tips?
The idea of getting rid of tipping has reached a tipping point at some restaurants–most notably high-end dining rooms in big cities. But is the trend here to stay? And will it trickle down to smaller restaurants? In many states, waitstaff at restaurants depend on tips to round out their paychecks. Minimum hourly wages dip…
The Easiest Ways to Start Building a Strong Business Credit Profile
It can sometimes feel like a catch-22. Part of building a strong credit profile is responsibly using your business credit, but obtaining that business credit so you can responsibly use it is sometimes easier said than done—especially for young companies just getting started. As a result, it might be tempting to use your personal credit…
Does a Grant Make Sense for Your Business?
Access to capital is a big concern for many small business owners. Whether it’s to open a brand new company or to expand an established business, a grant can be a potential source for this much-needed funding. Nevertheless, there are differences between applying for a grant compared to applying for a loan; and in the…
5 Questions with…Force Fin’s Susanne Chess and Bob Evans
Our blog series “5 Questions With…” takes a behind-the-scenes look into the daily lives of our small business customers. Our next installment is below! Name: Susanne Chess and Bob Evans Company: Force Fin Location: Santa Barbara, CA Products/Services: Underwater equipment Years in Business: 31 Years Facebook: ForceFin Twitter: @ForceFin 1) Tell us about a day…
Planning a Successful Succession for Your Business
Sometimes in business, you may come to a point where the best option is to shut down. Making the decision to close the doors of your company is difficult, but at times, the hardest choice to make is the right one. This does not mean you’re in dire straits. Perhaps you know the right path…