McLaren withdraws from Australian GP after positive coronavirus test

McLaren has withdrawn from this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix after one of its team members contracted coronavirus.

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Best Business Credit Cards

Check out the best business credit cards!

The Very Best Business Credit Cards

We researched a number of company credit cards for you. So, here are our picks.

Per the SBA, small business credit card limits are a whopping 10 – 100 times that of consumer credit cards!

This reveals you can get a lot more money with small business credit. And it also shows you can have personal credit cards at retail stores. So, you would now have an additional card at the same retail stores for your company.

And you will not need collateral, cash flow, or financial data to get small business credit.

Best Business Credit Cards: Advantages

Benefits can vary. So, make certain to select the perk you prefer from this selection of options.

Best Business Credit Cards with 0% APR – Pay Zero!

Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® Credit Card 

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card has no yearly fee and comes with a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the initial nine months. Afterwards, the card has a 13.24 – 23.24% variable APR

Earn 3 points/dollar spent when you book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center and 1.5 points/dollar on all other purchases. You can earn unlimited points and points will never expire.

Details

There is a 25,000-point sign-up bonus when you spend $1,000 in the first 60 days of starting the account. Cardholders get travel accident insurance, and lost luggage reimbursement. 

They additionally get trip cancellation coverage, trip delay reimbursement and other advantages.

There is no introductory rate for balance transfers. Also, bonus categories are limited.

Get it here: https://www.bankofamerica.com/smallbusiness/credit-cards/products/travel-rewards-business-credit-card/ 

JetBlue Plus Card

Consider the JetBlue Plus Card for yet another offer of a 0% introductory APR

Get six points/dollar on JetBlue purchases, two points/dollar at dining establishments and grocery stores. And get one point/dollar on all other purchases. 

Details

Spend $1,000 in the first 90 days and pay the annual fee. So, then you can get 40,000 bonus points. New cardholders receive a 12-month, 0% introductory APR on balance transfers made in 45 days of account opening.

Thereafter, the variable APR on purchases and balance transfers is 17.99%, 21.99% or 26.99%, based on creditworthiness. Benefits include a free first checked bag and 50% savings on in-flight purchases.

There is a $99 yearly fee for this card.

Get it here: https://cards.barclaycardus.com/cards/jetblue-card/   

Establish business credit fast with our research-backed guide to 12 business credit cards and lines.

Best Business Credit Cards with No Annual Fee 

Uber Visa Card 

Check out the Uber Visa Card. Uber is the first ride-sharing service to offer a credit card, in a partnership with Visa and Barclays.

The card offers 4% back per dollar spent at restaurants, takeout and bars, including UberEATS. Also, earn 3% back on hotel, airfare and vacation home rentals. And get 2% back on online purchases. 

So, this includes retailers and subscription services like Uber and Netflix. And get 1% back on all other purchases. Each percent/point has a value of 1 cent. Redeem points for cash back, gift cards or Uber credits directly within the app.

By spending at least $500 in the first 90 days, users can earn a $100 sign-up bonus. Cardholders spending at least $5,000 yearly are eligible to receive a $50 credit toward online subscription services. 

Details

If you pay your cellular phone bill with this card, you are insured up to $600 for cellphone damage or theft.

Cardholders are eligible for exclusive access to specific events and offers. Uber anticipates the majority of these offers to be available in major cities like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and DC. There is no foreign transaction fee.

But there is no introductory rate. So, the APR is a variable 16.99%, 22.74% or 25.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Cardholders with less than stellar credit will be on the higher end of the range. 

Also, there are restrictions on Uber credits. To redeem points as credits in the Uber app, accumulate a minimum of 500 points, or $5. Cardholders can convert a maximum of 50,000 points, or $500, per day.

Get it here: https://www.uber.com/c/uber-credit-card/ 

Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi 

Not taking Uber? Then you’ll want to fill your gas tank someway. Why not do so with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi?

This credit card earns cash back with every purchase. Get 4% cash back on the first $7,000 spent on eligible gas purchases annually (1% after that). Get 3% cash back at restaurants and on eligible travel purchases. Also, earn 2% cash back at Costco and Costco.com. And earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

So, keep in mind: the $0 yearly fee is only for Costco members. And an active Costco membership is required. Cardholders will get access to damage and theft purchase protection, extended warranty coverage and travel accident insurance.

Also, there is no sign-up bonus offered with this card.

Get it here: https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/credit-card-details/citi.action?ID=Citi-costco-anywhere-visa-business-credit-card

Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card

Have a look at the Ink Business Cash ℠ Credit Card. Businesses can get cash back with every single purchase. Spend $3,000 in the initial three months from account opening. And you’ll earn a $500 bonus cash back.

There is a $0 yearly fee with a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers. Afterwards, the APR is a 15.24 – 21.24% variable. 

The card features travel and purchase coverage benefits. So, this includes an auto rental collision damage waiver and extended warranty protection.

Details

Earn extra cash back on business categories. So, these include office supply stores, telecommunications, gas stations and restaurants.

Note: this credit card has a balance transfer fee. Pay 5% of the amount transferred or $5, whichever is more. Also, there is a foreign transaction fee of 3%.

Get it here: https://creditcards.chase.com/small-business-credit-cards/ink-cash 

United MileagePlus Explorer Business Card

Get a good look at the United MileagePlus Explorer Business Card.

Get 2 miles/dollar with United and at restaurants, filling stations and office supply stores. All other purchases get 1 mile/dollar. Earn a 50,000-mile sign-up bonus after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening. 

Benefits include priority boarding, a free first checked bag for you and a companion on the same reservation.

Details

Also, get two United Club passes annually. And get hotel and resort perks including upgrades. On top of that, get early check-in and late checkout. And get an auto rental collision damage waiver. 

Also, get baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Finally, get trip delay reimbursement, purchase protection, price protection and concierge service.

After the first year, the card has an annual fee of $95. APR of 17.99% – 24.99%, based on creditworthiness.

Get it here: https://creditcards.chase.com/small-business-credit-cards/united-mileageplus-explorer-business 

Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express

Another alternative is the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express. 

This card is for those who stay at Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott hotels often. Get six points per dollar of eligible purchases at participating SPG and Marriott Rewards hotels.

And get four points per dollar at American restaurants, American filling stations, and on American purchases for shipping. 

Also, earn four points to the dollar on wireless telephone services purchased directly from US service providers. For all other eligible purchases, earn two points per dollar.

Details

Get 75,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months of account opening. Benefits include free in-room premium internet access, Sheraton Club lounge access, and purchase protection. 

Plus, you get car rental loss and damage insurance. And you get baggage insurance. There is also a global assistance hotline. And there is a roadside assistance hotline. And get travel accident insurance and extended warranty coverage.

The most significant issue is the yearly fee. There is a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then it’s $95 after that. Plus, there is no 0% introductory APR. Instead, there is a 17.74 – 26.74% variable APR

Get it here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/business/business-credit-cards/spg-amex-starwood-credit-card 

Best Business Credit Cards for Average Credit

Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business 

For fair credit, we like the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. It has no yearly fee. There are cash-back rewards. The card earns an unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases. There is an annual fee of $0.

With this card, you will get benefits including an auto rental collision damage waiver, and purchase security. And you also get extended warranty coverage. And you get travel and emergency assistance services.

But REMEMBER: the ongoing APR is 24.74% variable APR. And the penalty APR is even higher, 31.15%. Also, there is no sign-up bonus. In addition, this card reports monthly to personal credit. It does report to business credit as well, but they generally require a personal credit check and will always report to personal credit.

Get it here: https://www.capitalone.com/small-business/credit-cards/spark-classic/ 

Establish business credit fast with our research-backed guide to 12 business credit cards and lines.

Best Business Credit Cards for Luxurious Travel Points

IHG ® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card

Consider the IHG ® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card. it earns hotel rewards worldwide. For each dollar spent at participating IHG hotels, earn 10 points. Get two points per dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants. 

Plus, all other purchases earn one point. New cardholders can earn an 80,000-point sign-up bonus when they spend $2,000 in the first three months of account opening.

Details

This card offers a free one-night hotel stay per year. Plus, there is a variety of benefits like travel and purchase coverage and an upgrade to Platinum Elite status with the IHG Rewards Club. The club offers complimentary room upgrades when available and guaranteed room availability.

The biggest issue is that the card does not offer a zero percent APR introductory rate. And the standard APR is 17.99 – 24.99% variable. Also, the annual fee is $89.

Get it here: https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/ihg/premiernaep 

Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card

This card earns six points/dollar spent at participating Marriott and SPG hotels. And get two points/dollar on all other purchases. 

Spend $3,000 in the first three months from account opening and get two free night awards (each valued up to 35,000 points). 

Cardholders get access to perks including a free one-night stay annually after account anniversary. Also get travel and purchase protection. So, this includes free standard in-room Wi-Fi and priority late checkout.

Details

Perks include baggage delay reimbursement, and lost luggage reimbursement. There is also trip delay reimbursement. And there is purchase protection. Plus, there are concierge service and automatic Silver Elite status, which includes a 20% bonus on points. 

Spend $35,000 each account year and get an upgrade to Gold Elite status. So, that includes a complimentary room upgrade, free daily breakfast and 4 PM late checkout.

There is an annual fee of $95. The APR is a 17.99– 24.99% variable.

Get it here: https://creditcards.chase.com/marriott/apply 

Best Business Credit Cards for Low APR/Balance Transfers 

Discover it® Cash Back

Look at the Discover it® Cash Back card. There is a 10.99% introductory APR for six months from date of first transfer. So, this is for transfers under this offer which post to your account by January 10, 2019.

After the introductory APR expires, your APR will be 14.99% to 23.99%. So, this is based on your creditworthiness. Your APR will vary with the market, which is based upon the Prime Rate.

Details

You can get 5% cash back at different places every quarter. So, these are places like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com, or wholesale clubs. But this is up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate. Also, automatically earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

You will get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you have earned at the end of your first year, automatically.

Get it here: https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/cash-back/it-card.html 

Credit Builder Company Credit Cards – Make Your Credit Surge!

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Be sure to look at the Discover it® Student Cash Back card. It has no yearly fee. The card also offers a six-month introductory period of 0% APR on purchases. And there is an APR of 14.99 – 23.99% variable on all purchases after that period.

One one-of-a-kind feature is that it offers an incentive for scholars to maintain good grades with a $20 statement credit. If students earn a GPA of 3.0 or better each school year, the card will award the $20 statement credit each year for up to five years.

Details

Use this credit card to build personal credit. While this is a personal card versus a business credit card, for new credit users, their FICO scores will matter. And this credit card provides an excellent way to raise FICO while also getting rewards. Better personal credit can also, often, be the key to unlocking online lending.

You can earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter such as grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants or Amazon.com up to the quarterly maximum. After that, this card offers unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases.

In the initial year, all cash back rewards are matched 100%.

Downsides include a cash advance fee of either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is more. And though they waive the first late payment fee, a fee of up to $37 applies on all other late payments. There is also a returned payment fee of up to $37.

Get it here: https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/cash-back/it-card.html 

Best Business Credit Cards for Cash Back

SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card from American Express

Look at the SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card from American Express. There is a $0 yearly fee. And there is a 0% APR on purchases. So this is for the first 15 months an account is open. 

But when the introductory period runs out, the APR for purchases is 14.24 to 21.24%. So, this is variable and based on creditworthiness.

Details

This credit card has several benefits. These include purchase protection, car rental loss and damage insurance. And they also include a baggage insurance plan, extended warranty coverage and a global assist hotline.

Also, earn 5% cash back at US office supply stores and on wireless phone services. So, these must be bought from US service providers. But this applies to the initial $50,000 of annual spending. Then, you get 1% cash back.

You also earn 3% cash back on spending category of your choice. So, this is from eight distinct categories. They include airfare, gas, advertising and computer purchases. But it applies to the first $50,000 of yearly spending. Then, you earn 1% cash back.

Cash-back bonuses are automatically credited to the customer’s billing statement.

Note: you cannot use this card for balance transfers. There is a foreign transaction fee of 2.7%. The card charges up to $38 in late fees. And the returned check fee is also $38. The penalty APR is 29.99%. 

And, it kicks in if you have two or more late payments within 12 months. It can also apply if you fail to make the minimum payment on time or have a returned payment.

Get it here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/credit-cards/simply-cash-plus-business-credit-card/44279 

Capital One® Quicksilver® Card 

Look at the Capital One® Quicksilver® Card. It offers flat-rate rewards of 1.5% on all purchases. There are no limits to the amount of cash back rewards that cardholders can earn. Also, the card has a $0 annual fee.

New cardholders have a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after opening the account. Then afterwards they have a 14.74 – 24.74% (variable) APR after that. 

A cash bonus of $150 is available for those who make at least $500 in purchases in 3 months of account opening.

Details

Also, cash back rewards do not expire for the life of the account. And there is no limit to how much you can earn.

This credit card also offers travel accident insurance. And you get an auto rental collision damage waiver. There are no foreign transaction fees. And there is extended warranty coverage.

Downsides are the flat reward rate, not allowing for any more than that. And the higher APR after the first 15 months.

Get it here: https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/quicksilver/ 

Establish business credit fast with our research-backed guide to 12 business credit cards and lines.

Best Business Credit Cards – Get a Secured Option

Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card

Check out the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card. It charges a $25 yearly fee per credit card (up to 10 employee cards). It also requires a minimum security deposit of $500 (up to $25,000) and it is designed to help cardholders develop or rebuild their credit.

Choose this card if you wish to get 1.5% per dollar in purchases without any limits or get one point for every dollar in purchases. You also get 1,000 bonus points for every month your company makes $1,000 in purchases on the card.

Details

Also, you get free FICO scores every month. There are no foreign transaction fees. It is possible to upgrade to unsecured credit. Your account is regularly reviewed. And you may become eligible for an upgrade to an unsecured card with responsible use over time. Approval is not guaranteed and depends on factors including how you manage this and your other accounts.

APR is the current prime rate plus 11.90%. There is no introductory APR period and no sign-up bonus. This is not a card for balance transfers.

Get it here: https://www.wellsfargo.com/biz/business-credit/credit-cards/secured-card/ 

Best Business Credit Cards for Jackpot Rewards

Ink Business Preferred ℠ Credit Card

Get a look at the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card from Chase. Cardholders earn 3 points for every dollar spent on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone and qualifying advertising with the card. So, this is up to $150,000 each year. And all other purchases earn an unlimited one point per dollar spent.

This is a Visa card.

Cardholders get benefits like purchase protection, trip cancellation or interruption insurance. They also get cellphone protection. And they get extended warranty coverage. And they get an auto rental collision damage waiver.

Details

Earn 80,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. There is an annual fee of $95. You can add employee credit cards at no additional cost.

This credit card only offers 3 points per dollar to a limit of $150,000 a year. So, this is for travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone and qualifying advertising. All other purchases get an unlimited flat rate of one point per dollar. And there is no introductory APR

Get it here: https://creditcards.chase.com/small-business-credit-cards/ink-business-preferred 

The Best Business Credit Cards for YouGreat Biz Cards Credit Suite

Your absolute best company credit cards hinge on your credit history and scores.

Only you can pick which features you want and need. So, be sure to do your homework. What is excellent for you could be disastrous for another person.

And, as always, be sure to establish credit in the recommended order for the best, fastest benefits.

The post Best Business Credit Cards appeared first on Credit Suite.

Is It Too Good to Be True? An In-Depth Kabbage Review

As a general rule, if something seems too good to be true, it is.  Kabbage offers fast, flexible financing. Approval is easy to obtain, and in most cases, you can have funds in just a few minutes.  In addition, their minimum eligibility requirements are much easier to meet than some others. Wondering if Kabbage is right for you? Our in-depth Kabbage review can answer that.

Is Kabbage Right for You? Find Out in Our Complete Kabbage Review

Kabbage is one of several lending companies online. It provides small business funding in the form of a line of credit. Now, I reveal the details about this online lending option in my in-depth Kabbage review.

Kabbage Review: Basic Background

Kabbage is a venture funded company that is backed by investors which include SoftBank Capital, Thomvest Ventures, Reverence Capital Partners, Mohr Davidow Ventures, the UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund, ING, BlueRun Ventures, Santander InnoVentures, Scotiabank, and TCW/Craton.

The company offers perks for its customers. These include specials from Dun & Bradstreet, UPS, Vonage, and Adobe Creative Cloud among others.  

Kabbage Review Credit Suite

Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans

Kabbage Review: What You Need to Know about Kabbage Loans 

First, they offer lines of credit.  This means it is revolving credit you can use as needed.  For most, amounts of up to $250,000 are available. You can qualify in as little as 10 minutes. Furthermore, terms are 6, 12, or 18 months. You have to be in business for more than one year, and your business revenue has to be $50,000 annually or $4200 per month over the last 3 months. 

Kabbage Review: Credit Reporting and Score Requirements

In the course of this Kabbage review, I could not find anything concrete about a credit score requirement or credit reporting.  I did find other reviewers that had contradicting information. For example, one claimed there was no minimum interest rate requirement.  In contrast, another claimed that the minimum interest rate for application approval is 500. Another put the minimum at 560. Whatever the case, it appears that their minimum required credit score is much lower than others in the field. In addition, one reviewer stated that they do not report on-time payments to the credit agencies, but they may report late or missed payments. 

The only thing concrete I could find from Kabbage themselves is that they do a one-time hard credit pull.  A hard credit check will affect your credit score. Also I found this information in the FAQs on the Kabbage website. It wasn’t just out there on a top page.

Kabbage Review: Approval and Receipt of Funds 

Kabbage links to your bank or merchant accounts to understand your cash flow and decide what amount you can afford to borrow. Their lines of credit range from $1,000 to $250,000. 

For lines of credit up to $200,000, if they are able to automatically get business information and verify your bank account, they can approve a loan in minutes.  Amounts over $200,000 must have a manual review. Sometimes, mistakes happen during the sign-up process. Also, they may send small deposits to help confirm your banking information for security purposes. In these cases, it may take longer to get access to funds.

Once everything is settled, they send funds to the account of your choice. If you choose to have your funds deposited to a PayPal account, it takes just a few minutes. However, loans that go to a business checking account can take up to three days to be deposited.  It just depends on your bank. 

They retain access to your account.  This means they can review your revenue faster than other lenders.  Still, it also means they have access to your account for the duration and beyond unless you take action. 

If you make a draw using the dashboard or app, you have to take a minimum of $500.  In contrast, if you use your Kabbage card there is no minimum draw. 

Kabbage Review: Interest Rate vs. Fees

Kabbage uses a monthly fee model rather than an annual percentage rate.  Fees range from 1.5 – 10%. This sounds fabulous, of course, but you need to look a little closer.  First, the fee amount is based on business performance factors. This is similar to how traditional lenders assign interest rates, so not really a big deal. 

The problem comes in with how the fee is actually applied.  They are forthright about this on their site, but you do have to dig around and do some research to fully understand it.  They offer a calculator to help you.  Use it. I gave it a shot, and according to the calculator on the Kabbage website, a $30,000 loan paid out over 6-months at a 3% fee would result in a total of $33,300 total being paid back.  If you do the math on that, you are paying back an effective 11% interest rate, if it were interest and not a fee.  

Three percent of $30,000 is $900.  You pay that $900 fee each month for the first two months, and the $375 per month for months 3-6.  While I could not find an explanation on the reduction in fee over the last 4-months, it could have to do with the reduction in principal.  The issue is, you end up paying way more in fees than it may appear until you dig a little deeper. With fees going up to 10%, it is imperative that you use the calculator to get a true understanding of loan cost on the front end.  

Kabbage Review: What Does Kabbage Say About the Issue? 

Here is how Kabbage explains it on their site: 

“Kabbage’s maximum rate for each month is 10%. Third party partners may occasionally charge up to an additional 1.5% for each month. Every month you’ll pay back 1/6 of the total loan (for 6 month loans), 1/12 of the loan amount (for 12 month loans), or 1/18 of the total loan (for 18 month loans) plus the monthly fee. Your actual fee rate if qualified is based on a review of your revenue and credit history. For more details, read about our Rates & Terms.”

Kabbage Review Credit Suite

Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans

Kabbage Review: Does Kabbage Make Loans to Everyone? 

The short answer is no.  They state that they do not extend credit to those businesses dealing in “marijuana, CBD, firearms, gambling, financial institutions, lending or non-profit organizations.”  However, there is a footnote on firearms that states only specific businesses dealing in firearms are excluded.  Consequently, some firearms dealers are eligible. If this is you, be sure to do your due diligence. 

Speaking of Due Diligence: Ratings and Reviews

I never write reviews without checking out the reviews of others.  Consequently, this Kabbage review is no different. I find it wise to start at the Better Business Bureau.  Kabbage has an impeccable BBB file.  They have been accredited since 2014.  In addition, they have an A+ rating. Also, there are over 180 reviews and they are overwhelmingly positive.  As a result, they have a rating of 4.5 stars. Most of the positive reviews were noting how fabulous customer service is. 

The one negative review I found, though I admittedly stuck to the ones in the most recent year, was related to the person not fully reading the information on the website or asking questions.  There are 49 complaints on their BBB file, which are separate from reviews. With complaints, Kabbage can respond. From what I can see, they responded each time and either made the situation right, or they answered the issue with how the customer simply did not understand the process as it was clearly written on the website.

In addition to the BBB, I looked at other review sites when conducting my Kabbage review.  Other sites had more negative information. Virtually all of the negative reviews were related to either unexpectedly high payments, credit inquiries, or bank account access. It appears that, due to ongoing account access, they can draft payments from your account.  While they do disclose this, it seems a lot of borrowers miss it. As you can imagine, this results in some overdrawn bank accounts. 

Kabbage Review: The Final Decision on Kabbage

My final opinion after my Kabbage review is, they will do in a pinch but try to find something better first.  It appears that they truly stand by what they do and offer a legitimate product. They do not lie about anything or misrepresent themselves in any way.  

However, the fee model is confusing even to those that work with finances every day, like me.  It could be seen as a ploy to make it appear that interest rates are 1.5% to 10%, when in fact there is no actual interest rate, and the fees are much higher than it sounds.  The information is all there, but you do have to look for it. 

I highly recommend, if you choose to take out a line of credit with Kabbage, you do complete and thorough research.   Read through positive and negative reviews on the BBB and on other sites, and read all of the FAQs on the Kabbage website, along with the footnotes.  

How Do I Find Something Better?

That’s the million-dollar question isn’t it?  Most people use a service like Kabbage because it is easier to get approval with a poor credit score.  My Kabbage review convinced me that if you can get funding that costs less, you should. To do this, you need to increase fundability.  The truth is, your credit, both business and personal, are only a small piece of the complete fundability of your business.  

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What is Fundability? 

At its core, fundability is the ability to get funding for your business.  When a lender considers lending to your business, do they feel that you are high risk?  Do you appear to be a business that can and will pay back the debt?  Lenders are in it for the money, and they need to feel they will get a return on their investment. Truly, a high credit risk is not a wise lending choice.  

How Do You Increase Your Fundability?

The harder question is how does a business increase their fundability?  What makes this answer difficult is that there is so much the answer must cover.  As I mentioned, a great business credit score is important.  However, there is a lot more to it.

A potential creditor needs to see that your business is legitimate and profitable.  Many loan applications are denied approval due to fraud concerns.  Others, simply because something didn’t match up and threw up a red flag. Maybe the addresses or phone numbers didn’t match on a couple of reports and it just looks unprofessional.   

Make Sure Your Business Is Set Up to Be Fundable

It has to be set up to appear to be a fundable entity separate from you, the owner.  How do you accomplish this? Make sure your business has a  fundable foundation. The building blocks of a fundable foundation include: 

  • Separate Contact Information
  • An EIN
  • Incorporation
  • Dedicated Business Bank Account
  • All Necessary and Proper Licenses
  • Professional Business Website

In addition to a fundable foundation, the following factors affect fundability. 

Business Credit Reports

The next piece of the fundability puzzle after the fundable foundation is your business credit report.  That is the credit report, much like your consumer credit report, that details the credit history of your business.  It is a tool to help lenders determine how credit worthy your business is.  

Where do business credit reports come from?  There are a lot of different places, but the main ones are Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, Equifax, and FICO SBSS.  Since you have no way of knowing which one your lender will choose, you need to make sure all of these reports are up to date and accurate. 

Other Business Data Agencies 

In addition to the business credit reporting agencies that directly calculate and issue credit reports, there are other business data agencies that affect those reports indirectly.  Two examples of this are LexisNexis and The Small Business Finance Exchange. These two agencies gather data from a variety of sources, including public records.  This means they could even have access to information relating to automobile accidents and liens. While you may not be able to access or change the data the agencies have on your business, you can ensure that any new information they receive is positive.  Enough positive information can help counteract any negative information from the past. 

Identification Numbers 

In addition to the EIN, there are identifying numbers that go along with your business credit reports.  When considering what is fundability, you need to be aware that these numbers exist.  Some of them are simply assigned by the agency, like the Experian BIN.  One, however, you have to apply to get. It is absolutely necessary that you do this. 

Dun & Bradstreet is the largest and most commonly used business credit reporting agency.  Every credit file in their database has a D-U-N-S number.  To get a D-U-N-S number, you have to apply for one through the D&B website

Business Credit History

Your credit history has everything to do with everything related to your credit score.  This is a huge factor in the fundability of your business.  

Your credit history consists of a number of things including: 

  • How many accounts are reporting payments?
  • How long have you had each account? 
  • What type of accounts are they?
  • How much credit are you using on each account versus how much is available?
  • Are you making your payments on these accounts consistently on-time?

The more accounts you have reporting on-time payments, the stronger your credit score will be. 

Business Information

On the surface, it seems obvious that all of your business information should be the same across the board everywhere you use it.  However, when you start changing things up like adding a business phone number and address or incorporating, you may find that some things slip through the cracks. 

The key to this piece of the business fundability is to monitor your reports frequently. 

Financial Statements

This encompasses a broad spectrum of things.  First, there is the obvious. Both your personal and business tax returns need to be in order.  Not only that, but you need to be paying your taxes, both business and personal.  However, there is yet another layer.  

Business Financials

It is best to have an accounting professional prepare regular financial statements for your business. Having an accountant’s name on financial statements lends credence to the legitimacy of your business. If you cannot afford this monthly or quarterly, at least have professional statements prepared annually. Then, they are ready whenever you need to apply for a loan. 

Personal Financials

Often tax returns for the previous three years will suffice.  Get a tax professional to prepare them.   This is the bare minimum you will need.  Other information lenders may ask for include check stubs and bank statements, among other things. 

Bureaus

There are several other agencies that hold information related to your personal finances that you need to know about.  Everyone knows about FICO.  Your personal FICO score needs to be as strong as possible. It really can affect business fundability and almost all traditional lenders will look at personal credit in addition to business credit. 

In addition to FICO reporting personal credit, you have ChexSystems.  In the simplest terms, this keeps up with bad check activity and makes a difference when it comes to your bank score.  If you have too many bad checks, you will not be able to open a bank account.  That will cause serious fundability issues. 

Personal Credit History

Your personal credit score from Experian, Equifax, and Transunion all make a difference.  You have to have your personal credit in order because it will definitely affect the fundability of your business.  If it isn’t great right now, get to work on it.  The number one way to get a strong personal credit score or improve a weak one is to make payments consistently on time. 

Application Process

So much plays into this that you may not even think about. First, consider the timing of the application.  Is your business currently fundable?  If not, do some work first to increase fundability. Next, ensure that your business name, business address, and ownership status are all verifiable.  Lenders, even Kabbage, will look into it.  Lastly, make sure you choose the right lending product for your business and your needs. Do you need a traditional loan or a line of credit? Would a working capital loan or expansion loan work best for your needs?  Choosing the right product to apply for can make all the difference. 

Kabbage Review: Final Words

If you have no other options and you are desperate, Kabbage can help you out in a pinch.  However, you must be sure you know what you are getting into. If you qualify for a good rate with them, you likely qualify for a loan that does not cost as much somewhere else.  If your fundability is not up to par, get started working on that now. Start by doing an analysis of fundability and go from there.   

The post Is It Too Good to Be True? An In-Depth Kabbage Review appeared first on Credit Suite.

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