Articles
These 4 Business Types Are Winning the Crowdfunding Game
Crowdfunding, a mix of crowdsourcing and fund-raising made popular by sites like Kickstarter and IndieGogo, has become all the rage for some businesses due to its accessibility and global reach, not to mention its growth. In 2012, entrepreneurs crowdfunded $2.7 billion for their business ideas, which grew to $5.1 billion in 2013, and projections show…
3 Small Business Trends to Watch in 2015
2014 was an exciting year. Small business has been an important part of economic growth and job creation and has helped develop and improve on business tools that impact every business large and small. The coming year looks to be even more exciting. Here are three trends to watch for in 2015 that will have…
Running a Small Business? Don’t Make these 4 Mistakes
We all make mistakes; some of them are just more costly than others. Running a small business isn’t for the faint-hearted and mistakes are part of the game. With that in mind, here are four mistakes to avoid that you don’t have to learn the hard way: 1. Don’t ignore the details It’s been said,…
Will Credit Monitoring Hurt Your Credit Score?
The short answer is no. Credit monitoring does not hurt your credit score. According to Experian: “If consumers access their own credit reports, it does not have any effect on their credit scores. Reviewing a credit report results in what is called a “soft pull,” or “soft inquiry,” meaning it will only be seen on…
9 Current NFL Players Who Run Small Businesses
All too often, the careers of professional athletes last a few short, but profitable, years. And once those years are over, many players struggle to stretch their salaries. But the smart ones start thinking early about their second acts. So kudos to these current NFL players who are also budding entrepreneurs. Jake Locker, Michael Koenen,…
Four More Great Pieces of Small Business Advice From Four Great Movies
Did you know a relaxing trip to the movies might also be a valuable learning experience? Beloved classics and recent releases can shed light on many of the issues small business owners face every day. Who knew your favorite flick could provide a valuable lesson or two about running a successful business. Check out these…
5 Smart Business Lessons From Your Favorite Christmas Movies
1. Think Before Committing to a Big Purchase on Credit: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) Who can forget how desperate Clark Griswold is for his year-end bonus, since he’s already put down an advance on a new swimming pool. When his “bonus letter” reveals a membership to a Jelly of the Month club rather than…
Cell-Phone-Fixated Customers Can Be Nightmares—Share Your Stories With Us
Cell phones have transformed the way we do business. They’ve enabled millions of businesses to reach customers and sell goods instantaneously around the world. But these devices we carry with us every moment of the day also create a host of problems for business owners, especially when it comes to people using their phones inside…
Looking For a Small Business Loan? You’ll Need These 6 Documents
It’s true, every lender is different and many of them don’t require the same documentation, but here’s a list of six important financial documents that will help you prepare for just about any small business loan—from the SBA to an online lender. 1. Your business financial statements: These are the documents the lender will look…
You Might Be Surprised By Who Experiences a Holiday Bump—I Was
Many small businesses experience a boost in business during the holiday season. Restaurants do very well during the holidays, almost as good as February when they get a boost in traffic for Valentine’s Day. December is actually the best day of the month for Grocery stores too. Looking a little deeper, I noticed a few…
4 Simple Bookkeeping Tips to Start of 2015 Right and Prepare for Tax Season
Most small business owners don’t start a small business because they’re excited about doing the bookkeeping or managing the finances—but it’s a critical component to a successful business. The following four tips will help even a novice small business owner, turned bookkeeper, get a handle on his or her business finances: 1. Organization is critical…
Customer Success Story: The Mystic Florist
About The Mystic Florist Shop Richard Carrillo has been a professional florist for more than 30 years. His Mystic, Connecticut floral shop, The Mystic Florist, specializes in beautiful floral arrangements—with styles that include New York City Contemporary, Hawaiian Tropical, and New England Wild and Country for weddings, anniversaries, bridal, and other special events. Like Many…
Why Our Customers Choose OnDeck
ONDK: An Incredible Milestone for the OnDeck Team
In 2007, OnDeck launched with one goal in mind: to power the growth of small business through lending and technology innovation. Over the last seven years, we’ve made tremendous strides by staying 100% focused on small businesses and meeting their financing needs. And today, we reached an incredible milestone in our company’s journey. We’re excited…
Customers Told Us What They Really Thought of Us
In November we invited five customers to OnDeck to share their experiences getting a small business loan—what was it like, was it easy, was it time consuming? Not long ago we shared what they thought of their experience with the bank—they unanimously agreed, bankers just don’t get Main Street. Then we held our breath and…