Articles
The 3 Most Effective Ways to Get Vendor Discounts
Creating successful relationships with vendors is every bit as important as the relationships you build with your customers. It doesn’t really matter if you sell a product or provide a service, most small business owners’ work with suppliers who either provide the goods you sell or products that help you deliver the service you offer.…
What Your Small Business Must Do Before the End of December
The holiday season is finally upon us, and while your small business may be focused on creating more happy customers this holiday season, there is another important consideration to keep in mind: the end of the year. Yes, the New Year is right around the corner. For your business, that means now is the perfect…
Is a Personal Mentor Too “Old School” in Today’s Technological World?
With tools like my smartphone, tablet, or laptop, I basically have the collected wisdom of the world at my fingertips; do I really need a personal mentor to help me build a successful small business? This isn’t an unreasonable question, and one David R. Bobbit, president of the SCORE Foundation helps answer. SCORE is a…
The 5 Coolest Small Businesses in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is known as a hotspot of movie stars, musicians and other celebrities, but did you also know that it is home to some of the coolest small businesses in the country? Today, Los Angeles is a go-to destination for budding entrepreneurs and skilled small business owners looking to make waves in their respective…
November Roundup: Headlines From Around the Web
Our blog isn’t the only place you can read what we’re saying about the world of small business. Here’s what we don’t want you to miss from November: USA Today: Where the Rubber Hits the Road: What it Really Takes to Succeed on Main Street—Noah Breslow There’s no shortcut to driving business success, but Noah…
Why Does My Lender Want to Know My Personal Credit Score?
Why is your lender asking about your personal credit score? It’s a reasonable question if you’re looking for a small business loan. For most small business owners, particularly if you’ve been in business less than five years, your personal credit score is every bit as important as your business credit score. For startups and early-stage…
It’s Not Too Late to Create the Perfect Holiday Display
The holidays are officially upon us. If you haven’t already, it’s time to get serious about the perfect holiday display for your small business. Holiday shoppers are probably already at your door, and the right display – either in your window or on the floor – will help attract even more buyers and show off…
7 U.S. Presidents Who You Never Knew Ran Small Businesses
You may be surprised to know that among the lawyers and captains of industry, many of the Chief Executives of the United States gained valuable leadership experience as small business owners. Here’s a roundup of 7 presidents who ran their own businesses. 1. George Washington (1st President) Washington ran two successful whiskey stills in early…
5 Reasons Small Businesses Don’t Rely On Black Friday
Black Friday (a term born in the 1960s when Philadelphia cops complained about holiday shopping traffic) has become an increasingly important event for the likes of Walmart, Target, BestBuy, and other big box stores. Last year, about 141 million consumers took advantage of the day’s famous deals, with the average customer spending a little over…
6 Business Secrets From America’s Biggest CEOs
Growing and running a business at the highest level takes a wide variety of skills, many of which aren’t taught in a classroom. Here are 6 takeaways from business leaders who have used all manner of routes and abilities to rise to the top of their fields. 1. Don’t Wait for Someone Else to Create…
How to Find Your Business Credit Score
In addition to your personal credit score, if you’re a small business owner you also have a business credit score. Although personal credit scores are used to evaluate most small business owner’s credit worthiness—even those who have been around for several years – your business credit score is a key piece of being able to…
5 out of 5 Business Owners Agree: Bankers Just Don’t Get Main Street
Earlier this week we invited five OnDeck customers in for a face-to-face discussion about their experience finding a small business loan, and their experience with us. Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing what the panel had to say and how it could help other small business owners on their journey. All five, before…
3 Easy Tips for Choosing a Payment Processor
With so many payment processors out there, how do you decide which one you should choose for your business? A new study from NerdWallet suggests both brick and mortar, as well as online small businesses, consider a number of factors before picking a provider. In order to narrow it down to what should work for…
The 4 Best States for Veteran-Owned Businesses
Across the country, states are finding ways to give thanks to the men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces. From dedicated government contracts to affordable and help securing small business loans, there are certain states that are making a concerted effort to for help veterans business owners. Here are four of…
8 Celebrities You’ll Be Surprised to Know Own Small Businesses
As Us Weekly would put it, “Stars: they’re just like us!” – and that’s true in business too. These eight celebrities have created and grown small businesses by following their passions, remembering their roots, keeping an eye on the details, and being persistent – traits familiar to every small business owner. Sandra Bullock: The Academy…