Articles
Understanding Common Small Business Loan Terms
There’s a lot that goes into choosing the right small business loan. In a previous blog post we talked about some of the common qualifying criteria associated with a small business loan, today we’re going to talk about some of the common loan terms, typical loan amounts, and how long it takes to get funds…
Dynamic Duos in Business – 7 of the Most Successful Father/Child Teams
These seven titans of industry are household names, but they’ve worked hard to bring along the next generation of leaders – their children. In each company, father CEOs have worked closely with sons or daughters, and in turn, the children have often eclipsed their fathers’ success. 1. Edward “Ned” Johnson III/Abigail Johnson: Fidelity Investments Fidelity Investments was…
How to Find the Right Business Loan
There are more business loan options available today than ever before. Nevertheless, knowing where to look and what to look for among traditional lenders, online lenders, non-profit lenders, and crowdfunders can be confusing. Today we’re going to talk about some of the basic qualification criteria to help you focus your search in those places where…
How to Get a Top-Notch Marketing Strategy on a #SmallBiz Budget
A marketing strategy takes time, expertise, and research. Every business and market is unique, and so every strategy must be as well. Most small business owners have a lot on their plates, and little time to dedicate to creating a comprehensive marketing plan. As such, getting help is the key. It will help ensure that…
Small Business Loans: Convenience and Capital
I’m not convinced there’s a one-size-fits-all business loan that meets the financing needs of every business. I do believe there are some pretty compelling reasons why online financing options are a good fit in certain circumstances: 1. Convenience: It’s no secret to any small business owner who has ever sat across the desk from their…
Motivate Your Sales Team With These 3 Steps
Day in and day out, sales pros face rejection in their work. The highs can be euphoric when you land a major sale, and the lows can be brutal when you don’t. Keeping your sales team excited about their jobs, and focused on achievement, can be challenging for this reason. But it’s worth doing —…
Video: Tips for Running Your Small Business Better (Part 1 of 4)
When we asked business owners like you how they viewed small business financing, we overwhelmingly heard two things: Most business owners are not aware of their financing options Banks don’t do a great job of explaining what financing options are out there Well, we heard you loud and clear. We’re taking steps to demystify the mystery…
4 Team-Building Techniques That Work for Small Business
Having a cohesive team is crucial for any small business, but building one isn’t easy. Simply putting together a group of people is not “team building” — it takes specific actions and experiences to allow employees to come together into a unit. And as the person running the show, it’s up to you to know…
Why You Need a Marketing Strategy, and 3 Steps to Build One
Marketing your business is no easy task, especially with the countless number of marketing activities that exist today. So, how do you know which are the right ones for your business? It depends on your marketing strategy. What exactly is a marketing strategy? Simply put, it’s a marketing plan of action. A well thought-out marketing…
Small Business Loans and Bad Credit?
While it’s true, a good personal credit score is an important metric small business lenders use to evaluate a business owners credit worthiness, a less-than-perfect credit score doesn’t rule out a loan provided other metrics look good. Before you start looking for loan, make sure you have a handle on these four things: 1. What…
Webinar Recap: An Insider’s View to Securing Capital to Grow Your Business
Last week we teamed up with our small business education partner SCORE to provide an insider’s view into the new world of business lending in a live webinar. Ty Kiisel, contributing editor at OnDeck, spoke to nearly 300 live listeners to demystify the new landscape of small business lenders. He covered the five major types…
Want to Market Your Small Business Online? Start With These 3 Simple Things
Using the Internet to market your business doesn’t require expensive tools or a fleet of social media strategists. In fact, harnessing the power of the Internet for marketing your small business all starts with three crucial areas. Master them, and you’ve got a foundation to execute an online marketing strategy that brings results. 1. Web…
4 Rules for Handling Conflicts With Your Business Partner
The one certainty with a business partnership, as with any close relationship, is that conflicts will arise. But when you’re working very closely with another person or group, it can be easy to get emotional and lose sight of the larger picture, particularly when the stakes are high and money is on the line. A…
When You Need to Get a Business Loan Fast
There are times when a small business owner doesn’t have the luxury of weeks or months to find a small business loan for his or her business. Sometimes an opportunity to purchase inventory at a discount, launch a marketing campaign, or even deal with a crisis happens so quickly they need access to capital right…
Getting a Small Business Loan—What You Need to Know
At OnDeck (learn more about our business loans here) we’ve delivered over $2 billion to businesses since we started making small business loans in 2007. After talking to all of those business owners—and countless others—many tell us they wish that had known how to better prepare for the search for a loan. With that in…