DataRobot is the leading end-to-end enterprise AI platform, taking customers from data ingest all the way to automated, monitored decisions.
We are trying to deduplicate the work that Data Engineers, Data Scientists, and MLOps people do every day, and dumb it down so that it can all be controlled with a UI.
My team is leading the effort to allow users to augment our generated pipelines to better fit their data. To do that, we have developed a secure platform built on Kubernetes to run these algorithms.
However, we need somebody who knows how to make this platform more secure, more performant, and rock-solid. If security and performance for arbitrary customer code is your forte, or you’d like it to be and you’ve done lots of DevOps and Kubernetes work in the past, come join me.
You can email josh.preuss+apply@datarobot.com (me) or just drop your resume at the link above, and it will be routed to me that way too.
We’re accepting applicants in timezones between UTC+6 thru UTC to UTC-7
gather.town | various roles & levels | full-time | remote (based in the US but hiring internationally!)
About us: Gather Town is a video-calling space for offices, conferences, events, and social events that lets multiple people hold separate conversations in parallel, walking in and out of those conversations just as naturally as in real life. One of our co-founders, Phillip, posted some info about the launch a few months ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25039370
Some high-priority roles that we’re hiring for in particular:
To echo our mission, physical constraints should not dictate the ways we work, socialize, interact, and function as society. To that point, we’re a remote company and hiring around the world with team members distributed across the globe (fun fact: 3 of our co-founders have never met in person).
We have a few more roles posted on our job board. Feel free to apply there or if you have any questions, you can reach out to jobs@gather.town. If you’re simply curious about our platform, give it a try on gather.town.
Service Credit Cards Essential for Home Based Businesses
Those that run home-based services come from among one of the most vibrant sectors of the operating globe. Innovation has actually transformed the means individuals function as well as we are observing possibly the biggest sociological change in generations. , if you are a home-based organization proprietor you are component of that change.
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Functioning from residence offers you 2 fantastic advantages: you do not need to pay rental fee for workplace, as well as you do not need to commute (no thrill, no website traffic, much less gas). Functioning from residence likewise involves cautious preparation particularly when it comes to moneying the organization. This is where organization bank card end up being extremely helpful.
One of the most usual reason home-based companies fall short is the mismanagement of financial resources. A lot of those that possess home-based service are utilizing their hard-earned financial savings, residence equity fundings or credit lines, and also individual charge card, not company bank card, as resources of their organization funds.
Utilizing your cost savings might be better, if you have sensible guarantee that your home-based company will certainly gain earnings at a price greater than the passion price on your tiny organization credit history card. On the various other hand, unless you utilize service credit score cards for your organization, you run the danger of combining your individual and also service costs, as well as that makes them more difficult to handle.
Whether the service is residence- or office-based, the company requires to maintain company funds different from the proprietor’s individual financial resources. You will truly value this organization credit history card advantage when tax obligation period comes and also you download your company credit score cards purchase background, as well as your yearly and also regular monthly records, from your organization credit score card business’s internet site: tax obligation declaring comes to be a wind.
You’re most likely to sustain large acquisitions when you are simply beginning out your home-based service. Utilize an organization charge card to spend for workplace tools such as computer systems. You will certainly obtain some acquisition security, and also this is one service charge card advantage that is difficult to overemphasize.
There are a variety of methods to look for an organization charge card. You might be perplexed concerning which among the lots of service charge card provides to select: there are numerous flying about. You might wish to chat with a good friend that is company savvy prior to making any type of choice on which organization bank card to obtain.
There might be drawbacks to making use of company bank card, yet sensible use offers you a truly reliable monetary device. Any kind of company requires credit scores; as well as service charge card assist you to develop simply that for your home-based service. The most effective point to do, if you have questions on whether you ought to obtain a service charge card or otherwise, is to talk with a service specialist regarding it.
Utilizing your cost savings might be better, if you have practical guarantee that your home-based company will certainly gain earnings at a price greater than the rate of interest price on your little company credit rating card. On the various other hand, unless you utilize service credit score cards for your organization, you run the threat of combining your individual as well as organization expenditures, as well as that makes them tougher to take care of.
Whether the service is house- or office-based, the company requires to maintain service financial resources different from the proprietor’s individual funds. You will truly value this company credit score card advantage when tax obligation period comes and also you download your organization credit report cards deal background, as well as your yearly as well as month-to-month records, from your organization credit history card firm’s web site: tax obligation declaring ends up being a wind. Any type of service requires debt; and also company credit history cards aid you to develop simply that for your home-based organization.
Women owned companies are exploding onto the scene. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that companies such as Cisco, Liquid Paper, The Body Shop, Spanx, and Proactive are all owned by women.
What Women Owned Companies Need to Succeed
Women owned companies are definitely becoming a force in the entrepreneurial world. According to Fundera, 40% of US businesses are owned by women. If you are ready to join the ranks, here is what you need to know.
Women Owned Companies: Start Off On the Right Foot
All businesses, including women owned companies, need strong fundability. This starts with how your business is set up. The first part of this is separating the business from yourself. This starts with having separate contact information, meaning you do not use your personal address or telephone number as your business address or telephone number.
That sounds easy enough. However, many entrepreneurs, especially women, choose to start their business from their residence. It makes sense. In theory, a female business owner could better manage a home and children if running a business from home. Even a woman, or a man for that matter, without a family could find benefit in the flexibility of running their own business from home. There is no commute, you cut the cost of buying lunch out, and you can work in your pajamas.
Foundation of Fundability
While some would argue these things are not all they’re cracked up to be, one thing is for sure. It is definitely tempting to use your personal contact information as your business information if you work from home. There are two things you need to know about this.
What frustrates you the most about funding your business? Check out how our free guide can help.
Contact Information
First, regardless of where you run your business from, you do not need to use your personal contact information as your business contact information. Second, you can still run your business from your home and still have separate contact information for your business.
The phone number part is easy. You could get a separate phone, but it isn’t necessary. It is easy enough to get a number that works through the internet. You can then forward it to your regular phone, and whenever someone calls your business number it will ring to your personal phone.
An address is a little trickier, but not impossible. Whatever you do, don’t use a P.O. Box or an UPS box. Many types of funding will not accept this type of address. They want to see a physical address.
Other Setup Information
This is not the only issue with setting up your business to be fundable. But it is the first step. After that you need an EIN, you need to incorporate, and you absolutely must get a D-U-N-S number. You also have to open a dedicated business bank account.
The whole point in setting up your business to be fundable is so that you can get funding for your business. There is a huge catch 22 here, as if you are already running a business and are not yet set up to be fundable, you may need money before you can get it done. The set up is only one piece of the fundability puzzle. There are over 100 different fundability factors that lenders consider. Building business fundability takes time.
Best Funding for Women Owned Companies Right Now
The problem is, the longer you wait, the hard it gets to build fundability. Not only that, you need money now, right? How do women owned companies get the funds they need to grow and thrive, or just survive, in the meantime? We have a few suggestions.
Credit Line Hybrid
The credit line hybrid is unsecured business financing. It is available to pretty much anyone for any type of business expense. You can use it for real estate, equipment, working capital, and even startup expenses. Not only that, but there is no security required. Furthermore, there is no down payment, and you do not have to provide income documentation. It is completely no-doc financing.
You do need to have personal credit of 680 or above. Also, there cannot be any late payments in the past 12 months, there can be no open collections or bankruptcies, and there should be less than 4 inquiries in the past 6 months on your consumer credit report. There also has to be at least 2 open credit cards with a $2,000 limit or higher with 2 years of good payment history.
If you do not meet these requirements, you can take on a credit partner that does meet them. The payments will still be reported on the business’s credit report, so business credit will build whether you get the financing yourself or through a credit partner.
You can get up to $150,000, and often interest rates are as low as 0% for the first 6 to 18 months.
Business Revenue Lending
If your business has consistent revenue of $120,000 per year or more, you may qualify for this type of funding. Lenders verify revenue using bank statements. There can be no recent bankruptcies, but the minimum credit score to qualify is as low as 500.
A business must also be in operation for a year or more, and they must do over 5 small transactions each month to get business revenue financing.
What frustrates you the most about funding your business? Check out how our free guide can help.
Merchant Cash Advance
If your business accepts credit card payments and you have at least a 500 FICO, you could get up to $750,000 in a merchant cash advance. Credit rates are usually lower compared to traditional financing as well.
Your business must bring in $100,000 or more per year in credit card sales, and typically you can get approval equal to one months credit card financing volume.
Account Receivable Financing
Outstanding account receivables can also be a source of funding for your business. Get as much as 80% of receivables advanced in less than 24 hours. You get the rest of the accounts receivable amount once you collect full payment for the invoice. Closing takes 2 weeks or less.
Receivables should be with the government or another business. Getting financing with receivables from individuals is not as easy. If you also have purchase orders, then you can get financing to have those filled. You won’t need to use your cash flow to do so.
Equipment Financing
You can secure this type of financing by using existing equipment or new equipment you want to purchase as collateral. Funding is available up to $10 million. Terms range from 5 to 60 months, and you need a minimum 550 FICO.
The equipment must be new, and most types of equipment are acceptable, including software.
You’ll need to provide details on the equipment to be financed and, depending on the loan amount and certain risk factors, you may need to show 2 years corporate and personal tax returns.
Enterprise SBA Loans
For these loans you have to have collateral worth up to at least 50% of the loan amount, but you only need a FICO of 620. There also can be no bankruptcies in the past 4 years. Only for profit companies qualify, and they must have positive trends in sales growth. Generally amounts are available of up to $12 million with terms up to 25-years.
What frustrates you the most about funding your business? Check out how our free guide can help.
Women Owned Companies Can Get the Funding They Need
While there are some women business grant opportunities out there, they are highly competitive and rarely enough to fully fund business needs. These funding options are great for immediate cash needs, and you can work on building your fundability in the meantime. Once your business has strong fundability, you can have pretty much any business funding you need.
The absolute best way to build fundability is with the help of a business credit expert. They can walk you through the complicated web of the many factors that affect fundability, including helping you find accounts that will report to your business credit profile. That is the only way to build a business credit score.
Are you on the brink of taking your business to the next level but need an injection of cash? A business line of credit may be the right solution. Once approved, you’ll have access to funds that you can withdraw on an as-needed basis (up to your credit limit). Of course, you’ll eventually have to pay back everything you borrowed plus fees and interest. So how can you best use a business credit line and avoid getting in over your head? Sometimes it helps to know what NOT to do. Here are five unwise ways to use a business lines of credit that you should definitely avoid.
#1 Cover personal expenses
This is a big one, hence, the number one ranking. If you take out a business line of credit, you may be tempted to use some of the proceeds for personal reasons. Maybe you need a little bit to make ends meet or have been waiting for an opportunity to book a getaway? That’s usually not a good idea.
Most lenders of business credit lines prohibit borrowers from using the money for personal expenses. If your lender finds out that you broke the terms and conditions agreement and used the money for personal reasons, you could face undesirable consequences — such as the entire balance becoming due early.
Further, the purpose of the business credit line is to enable you to invest in your business so it grows, is more profitable, and is able to pay back the money you borrow. When you use the money for personal reasons, it’s not helping those causes. So when it comes to a business line of credit, be sure to keep it strictly business.
The best use of a business line of credit is to invest it into your business so it can grow. How? Buying inventory, launching a marketing campaign, and buying equipment are all great examples.
In all of these scenarios, the money you spend should have a good chance of increasing the amount of revenue you earn. In theory, this approach can help you get off the hamster wheel of not having surplus money which causes you to need loans in the first place.
On the other hand, if you are spending borrowed money (which comes with interest charges and fees) to pay routine expenses like rent or utility bills, they are costing you more without offering returns. This can be a slippery slope you want to avoid.
#3 Borrow more than you can repay
When taking out a business credit line, it’s important to consider how much you can reasonably afford to repay. It can be tempting to take as much as you can get and hope for the best. However, a better route is to look at your historical income alongside your projections to figure out what repayment amount you can comfortably afford. If you are expecting a revenue increase, it’s often best to base the amount you can repay on conservative ROI estimations to be sure you can afford the payments.
#4 Withdraw the funds before you need them
One of the biggest benefits of a business credit line over a loan is that you only pay interest once you withdraw money from the credit line. When you don’t need a lump sum all at once, you can save by withdrawing the funds as you need them.
For example, say that you need $10,000 to buy inventory but want to buy it in four stages that cost $2,500 each. You could potentially save by getting a credit line and withdrawing the funds as you need them versus getting the whole $10,000 upfront and paying interest from day one. However, you will have to compare the overall cost of the credit offerings available to you to see which is a better deal.
The bottom line? If you don’t need all the money upfront, don’t withdraw it until you need it!
When money becomes available to you, it can get the wheels of your imagination turning. You may start thinking about office upgrades, fancy dinners out with the team, or a new tailored suit. While all of these expenses are for the business, they are not necessary to grow and don’t provide a meaningful ROI. When the line of credit is fully withdrawn, you don’t want to be left regretful, wondering where it all went. Be sure to create a plan for how you will spend the money for strategic purposes that tie directly to growth.
Frequently asked questions about business lines of credit
Now, here are answers to frequently asked questions about business lines of credit.
What is the difference between a secured and an unsecured business line of credit?
Business lines of credit can be secured or unsecured. When secured, it means that you have to offer up some collateral in exchange for the loan. For example, you could provide assets such as inventory, equipment, or buildings. If you default when making repayments on the credit line, your lender can then seize your assets and sell them to pay off the loan.
With an unsecured business credit line, you are approved based on your credit and financial profiles. They trust that you will repay the loan. If you don’t, they can’t directly seize any of your property. However, defaulting on a loan will hurt your credit and can result in a lawsuit where they sue you to recover their losses.
Should I get a revolving line of credit?
A revolving line of credit enables you to borrow money from your credit line, pay it back, and then borrow it again (similar to a credit card). However, credit lines often have higher credit limits and lower interest rates than credit cards. If you need a larger amount of working capital on an ongoing basis, a revolving business line of credit can be a helpful solution.
If a business credit line sounds like the right move for your business, the next step is to get approved. What are the common business line of credit requirements? In most cases, you will need at least six months to a year in business and $25,000 in annual revenue. Additionally, you’ll likely need to have a “fair” personal credit score of 580 or higher. Some lenders will want to check your business credit, and if you don’t have any history, will require a higher personal credit score. Keep in mind that requirements and terms can vary from one lender to the next so it’s smart to shop around and compare offers!
Author bio: Jessica Walrack is a professional writer who specializes in business and personal finance. You can find her work featured on MSN Money, The Simple Dollar, Bankrate, and more.
A web presence is essential for getting found online, especially these days. According to Statista.com, nearly a third of consumers in the United States look online for a local business every day. It’s simple: websites are essential for attracting new customers.
A website proves invaluable in other ways, too, like showcasing your products and increasing leads. However, your website doesn’t need to cost a fortune and include the latest features. If you’re a small business that just wants to let customers know who you are and what you do, a free Google website may be just what you’re looking for.
What is Google’s Free Website Builder?
Google’s free website builder is part of Google My Business and helps customers discover you online.
When creating your website, Google takes the information in your GMB business profile and uses it for the building blocks of your website. Aside from some customization, you’re pretty much good to go from there.
Although there’s no cost, free Google websites are professional-looking and offer a selection of contemporary themes.
Google’s website builder is suitable for everyone, even for beginners. There’s no need for technical expertise with a free Google website and no worries regarding extensive backups.
Additional benefits with a free Google website are:
You don’t need to rely on social media: Not every potential customer is on social media, and many may not be on the platforms you like best. Having a website of your own, where people can Google your name or what you sell and find your information without signing in to Facebook or Twitter, can bring in those customers.
Ease of use: One of the main benefits of a free Google website is its simplicity, and it delivers great-looking websites. For instance, even the free version of WordPress can seem overwhelming for the absolute beginner, with menus, pages, sub-menus, etc.
It provides the essentials: If you’re not looking for the whole e-commerce experience, then a free Google website is all you need for reaching out to a broader audience.
Here are some more reasons why you should use a free Google website for getting online.
Why Should You Build a Website Using Google’s Free Tool?
Only 64 percent of small businesses have websites. Meanwhile, 70 percent of potential customers are more likely to buy from a business with a website.
This means 36 percent of businesses may be missing out on 70 percent of buyers.
Websites make businesses seem more legitimate, particularly if the website looks professional. Google websites, which take almost no time to set up and require minimal maintenance, can look like you spent hours of time and thousands of dollars to make it look great.
If Google’s free website gets you found, why not take advantage of its ease of setup and free features?
Google Website Builder Features
The number one thing that sets Google’s business websites apart from others is that it automatically makes the site for you.You can alter things as you need, but if you have a Google My Business account and select the website option, it automatically populates the information on a site for you using a template you choose.
Don’t let its simplicity fool you. A Google My Business free website offers you plenty in the way of features.
For instance, it provides you with built-in optimization so customers can:
contact or message you
place orders
get quotes for services
book your services or arrange deliveries
Additionally, a free Google website allows you to “showcase what makes your business special” via:
images
stories
posts
Other features worth mentioning are:
integration with Google Maps and Calendar
image carousel and video links
connection with Google Drive
Besides the above, Google gives you automatic updates, advertising, and it’s mobile-friendly too.
As you can see, a free Google website offers a lot to the new business owner, but how does it compare with others?
Google Website Builder Versus WordPress and Other Similar Tools
The Google website builder one-page format beats many other options in the simplicity stakes.
Additionally, it creates a website with almost no effort on your side, which is where Google’s product stands out from similar tools. It also lets you import images with a few clicks, and you can track analytics, so all in all, it offers you the essentials.
The other main advantage over its rivals is you’re not starting from scratch, and you aren’t making all the decisions yourself.
Although it may seem basic to some, Google gives you a functional, great-looking website, and with some imagination, it delivers impressive results.
For inspiration, look at what Steel Mailbox did with theirs. This Google business website starts with the basics that could be pulled in from their business information (e.g., the directions function).
If you click the “hamburger” in the upper left, you see options the company chose to add, which jump you to different page areas. One cool feature they added was a list of mailbox types with brief definitions of each one. This allows people shopping for mailboxes to understand what type they need without having to dig through Steel Mailbox’s non-Google site.
If a customer clicked on one of those blue links, they would be taken directly to the type of mailbox they’re looking for. If they went through the main site—and you can have both a simple Google business site and a more in-depth one—they would likely have to do more digging to find precisely what they need.
What a great feature for customers on the go.
When it comes to this type of website, perhaps its weakest area is ongoing SEO optimization, but you can use a free or paid-for tool to find keywords and include them in your descriptions and posts.
You’ve two options for getting started. WordPress.com gives you the free version, while WordPress.org offers a paid one.
At the free level, the most significant difference between Google and WordPress is that you can create multiple pages within your site, while Google has a one-page format.
When you get to the paid levels, you can add additional functions.
While WordPress offers many more functions than Google websites, no matter which level you use, you have to start from scratch. Nothing is auto-populated. Nevertheless, there are plenty of tutorials online if you’re just learning, and you won’t need to do any coding.
Wix
Wix is another free website builder, although it also offers premium and e-commerce plans too. Getting started is simple. Just sign up or log in with Facebook or Google to get started.
Like WordPress, the free level is relatively limited in functionality. If you’re willing to pay, though, you can access hundreds of templates, additional types of analytics, and more.
Wix provides 500 different templates, and its drag and drop feature means beginners can use it without needing technical expertise.
After you have set up your Google My Business page (detailed steps are in the next section), you’ll be able to see your site free google website in a standard setup. You can then start customizing from there.
The list nearest your sample site includes things you can do right now, like add photos, text, and themes. The one furthest left includes:
home
posts
reviews
messages
products
insights
Take some time to get to know these options and which each one does.
From the home page, you can also:
finish your profile by adding opening hours, descriptions, and logos
update customers on news and events
create a custom @yourbusiness email address
launch virtue tours and create adverts
You can see the themes, add pictures with a photo gallery, and edit your site’s categories from the other menu.
To best set up your site, follow these steps:
Choose your theme: For customizing, the most obvious starting point is by looking at the themes. There are ten to choose from, all with different colors and styles of text. Click on them one by one to see which theme most closely matches your business’s style and the image you want to convey.
Add Photos: Click on the top right-hand corner of the header picture, drag your photo, or upload one from your computer. To add other images, click on “photos” on the left-hand side.
Editing: Edit text by clicking the blue “Edit” button under photos.
Additional changes: Click “More” to change settings, publish, or for advice on getting customers.
It’s that easy! You’ve finished building your free Google website, and you should be ready to start getting noticed online.
How to Build Your Free Google Website
Before building your website, set up your Google my Business Page, if you haven’t already. Here’s how to do just that.
Go to Google’s website builder.
You’re looking for the “website” heading. It’s the third one along at the top.
Add your business name and click the blue arrow.
Add your business category.
If your service or industry isn’t clear cut, add the class representing your company the best. Click “Next.”
Select your location preferences.
Now, Google asks if you want your business location to appear on your website. Either select “Yes, I want it to appear on my website” or “No, I prefer not to.” Depending on the type of business, you may need to include an address. Choose the appropriate option and click “Next.”
Choose if your business provides deliveries or services.
Choose if your business provides deliveries or services. This step is optional.
Add your region and click “Next.”
Add your phone number.
Add your business address details, including country and zip code.
Verify your accout.
Do this by clicking on the “Home” page, which you’ll find at the top of the menu on the left, and following the “Verify” link.
You’re ready to start building your free Google website!
Create a Free Google Website FAQs
What Is the main benefit of a free Google website?
Unlike its rivals, you’re not starting from scratch, and you aren’t making all the decisions yourself. Although it may seem basic to some, a Google site gives you a functional, great-looking website, and with some imagination, you’ll get impressive results.
How do I set up a Google My Business Page?
Google provides step-by-step instructions.
Do I Need Technical Expertise to Build a Free Google Website?
No, a free Google website creates a professional-looking website with minimal input from you.
How Does a Free Google Website Compare With Its Rivals?
While other options offer additional features, Google outshines its competitors regarding simplicity and ease of use.
Conclusion
Having an online presence is a necessity these days. If would-be customers can’t find your website, you’re likely missing out on clients.
However, building a website doesn’t mean spending a lot of money or needing technical expertise. Instead, you can begin by starting with a free Google website and set it up in a few easy steps.
Once you’re online, you can start benefiting from additional leads, more customers, and increased conversions—all the things you need for increasing your business success rate and growing a thriving enterprise.
How has using a free Google Business website affected your business?
Max Verstappen crashing out of the lead, Lewis Hamilton fluffing the chance to re-claim the championship lead and three of F1’s most popular drivers on the podium. Here’s how Baku;s wild race unfolded.
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