Tag: Think

'I think he will be the first overall pick': How Will Levis is thriving at Kentucky, and what's next

After going from a run-first backup QB at Penn State to leader of No. 7 Kentucky, Levis’ next giant leap could be as a top pick in the NFL draft.

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'I think he will be the first overall pick': How Will Levis is thriving at Kentucky, and what's next

After going from a run-first backup QB at Penn State to leader of No. 7 Kentucky, Levis’ next giant leap could be as a top pick in the NFL draft.

The post 'I think he will be the first overall pick': How Will Levis is thriving at Kentucky, and what's next appeared first on Buy It At A Bargain – Deals And Reviews.

Investors Stay Put, Because They Can't Think of Better Options

Even the worst markets are supposed to have havens. Some unnerved investors are wondering if this one doesn’t.

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Think Outside the Box When Choosing Business Funding Companies

When you think of business funding companies, you are probably thinking about traditional financing institutions. Large banks, community banks, credit unions and such definitely do offer business loans.  However, if you are a small business, you may need to think outside of the traditional funding box a bit. 

Business Funding Companies Come in Many Forms

There are many different options when it comes to funding your business.  There are private lenders, which you may have heard referred to as alternative lenders. There are cash advance options which are bad news on all fronts, but especially for funding a business.  What you probably haven’t heard of however, is the small niche of business funding companies that do more than just offer business financing.  In addition, they offer help improving fundability. This may include consultation, coaching, educational opportunities, and more.  

These companies not only help you find the financing you need now, but they can also help you improve business credit and fundability so that you qualify for more and better funding throughout the life of your business. 

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

Business Funding  Companies: Credit Suite

This is exactly what Credit Suite does.  A business credit expert will consult with you to help determine where you currently stand in regards to fundability.  Then, they can not only help you find the best business funding for you now, but they can help you improve your fundability to ensure you qualify for even more funding, with better terms! 

A business credit expert can help you in ways you probably do not even realize. They have an inside track to what lenders are actually looking for. They can also help you steer clear of predatory lenders, which are all too prevalent in the world of business funding companies.  These experts are also aware of which lenders report to business credit reports to help build business credit, which ones do not require a person credit check or guarantee, and more.  

Working with a business credit expert will save you time, and in the long-term, money. The cost far outweighs the benefit, and you definitely get a bigger bank for your buck. 

Business Funding Companies: Alternative (Private) Lenders

The vast sea of alternative lenders is hard to swim in.  It is full of sharks that are searching for easy prey in the form of small businesses that need money.  If you aren’t careful, you will get swallowed up quickly.  Unfortunately, the industry is wrought with predatory lending practices.   

The key is to find a legitimate business funding company that fits your current needs.  A business credit expert is the best way to do this, but here are some good options from U.S. News and World Report to give you an idea of what is out there. 

As with all loans, rate, fees, minimums, maximums, terms, and other details can change without notice Be sure to check with the lender directly for the most up to date information.

BlueVine 

Loans are available from BlueVine  up to $100,000. Annual revenue must be $120,000 or more and the borrower must be in business for at least 6 months. Your personal credit score has to be 600 or above. It is important to note also, that BlueVine does not offer a line of credit in all states.  

Funding Circle

At Funding Circle, borrow up to$500,000. Decisions come in as little as 24 hours, and you can get funding in as little as 5 days. Repay on terms from 6 months to 5 years.

Funding Circle’s rates start at 4.99% per year. There are no prepayment penalties, there are also relatively fast decisions and funding. 

They do have a ton of fees, including for origination, missing payments, and insufficient funds. Also, some maximum rates are high!

OnDeck 

Obtaining financing from OnDeck is quick and easy. First, you apply online and receive your decision once application processing is complete. If you receive approval, your loan funds will go directly to your bank account. The minimum loan can be up to $500,000.
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Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans. 

 Just like any other online lender, they do have certain requirements to qualify for a loan.  For example, a personal credit score of 600 or more.  Also, you must be in business for at least one year. Annual revenue must be at or exceed $100,000. In addition, there can be no bankruptcy on file in the past 2 years and no unresolved liens or judgements. 

Rapid Finance

Rapid Finance offers a couple of different options.  Which one is right for you will depend on a number of variables. 

Small Business Term Loans

These range up to $1 million in funding, with terms from 3 to 60 months. Your business needs to be generating revenue to qualify. 

You will need to supply a government-issued ID (like a driver’s license), a void check from your business banking account, and the last three statements from your business bank account.

Merchant Cash Advances 

You can get up to $500,000 in funding. In a merchant cash advance.  This is funding based on your average daily credit card sales.  

You will need to supply a government-issued ID (like a driver’s license), a void check from your business banking account, your last three credit card processing statements, and the last three statements from your business bank account to apply for this.

Bad credit is no problem with this type of funding because typically, repayment is taken directly from credit card sales. 

Credit Line Hybrid: Out of the Box Business Funding

In addition to the lines of credit, merchant cash advances, and invoice funding that many alternative lenders offer, you might also try a credit line hybrid.  This is unsecured business financing.  It is also no-doc financing.  That means you need no collateral and you do not have to turn in any financial statement documents like bank statements or check stubs to qualify.  
business funding companies Credit Suite

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

You do need a 680+ credit score and there are a few other requirements.  However, if you don’t meet them all you can choose to use a credit partner. This could be a friend, family member, or partner that does meet the requirements.  You can use their good credit to apply for the credit line hybrid, but the payments would still be reported in the name of the business thus building business credit. 

Business Funding Companies Are Not Always What You Think

It’s not always about a bank or a credit union.  You may need to think outside the box for a number of reasons.  Maybe you want an option without collateral.  Maybe you want to use non-traditional types of collateral such as invoices.  Perhaps you do not qualify for a loan at a traditional bank. 

Whatever the reason, there are a number of options, and sometimes alternative lenders are the answer.  However, this industry has a fair share of predatory lenders.  The best ways to avoid the sharks is to work with one of the business funding companies that can help with more than funding. 

The business credit experts at a company like this offer not only help finding the perfect funding for your needs right now, but also can help assess and improve business credit and overall fundability.  

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5 Ways to Raise Money for Business You May Not Think About

Even with the world going crazy due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downslide, it is possible to raise money for business.  The key is to think outside the box and get creative.

Raise Money for Business: Beyond Traditional Loans and Investors

Most often people turn to traditional loans, including SBA loans, and standard investors when they need to raise money for business.  In times like these however, those options may not work so well. That means it will be necessary to seek out ways to fund your business you may not have thought of already.

Raise Money for Business: Angel Investors

Angel investors  are usually only in for a one-time deal. Many choose to spread their risk out over a lot of people and businesses to be certain they get a safe return on their investment.

Angels tend to be a lot more informal than most types of funding. They can be people you know, or people you connect with through networking or other means.

Angels are not covered by the Securities Exchange Commission’s (SEC) standards for accredited investors. Still, a lot of them are accredited investors anyway.

To become an accredited investor, a person has to have a minimal net worth of $1 million and an annual income of $200,000.

There are a number of angels who aren’t millionaires. They could be friends or colleagues with home equity, or local professionals who are looking to invest.

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What frustrates you the most about funding your business during a recession? Check out how our guide can help.

How Do You Find Angel Investors?

The best way to find these kinds of investors is to ask. You can also try an angel investors website or network. Try Gust, which used to be called Angel Soft. They keep a database of investors, companies, and programs. Startups can also search for business plan competitions and more.

Another option is to look at the biggest angel investor groups. Be aware, however, that these meetings are really only going to happen if you can get an introduction.

According to Entrepreneur, in order from smallest to largest the top 10 Angel Investor groups are:

  1. New York Angels Inc.
  2. Alliance of Angels (Seattle)
  3. Pasadena Angels
  4. Hyde Park Angel Network (Chicago)
  5. Band of Angels (Menlo Park, CA)
  6. North Coast Angel Fund (Cleveland)
  7. Golden Seeds LLC (NYC)
  8. Investors’ Circle (San Francisco)
  9. Tech Coast Angels (Los Angeles) and
  10. Ohio Tech Angel Funds (Columbus, OH)

Focus and requirements may vary from group to group.  For example, some concentrate on local startups only. Do your research so you don’t waste yours and the angels’ time if it isn’t a good fit.

Raise Money for Business: Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding sites allow you to pitch your business to thousands of micro investors. Anyone who wants a piece of the action can buy in.

Investors pledge amounts ranging from as low as $5 to as high as they want. They may give $5, $80, $150, or even over $500. As a general rule, they can give as much or as little as they want.

Though not always necessary, most business owners offer rewards for investment. Typically, this comes in the form of the product the business will be selling. Different levels of giving result in different rewards.

Raise Money for Business: Credit Cards

You have to be careful with this one.  Many would consider it the easy way out.  This is because even with credit that isn’t stellar, credit cards aren’t all that hard to get.  They also are not hard to get in trouble with. If you have established business credit, it’s best to use that to get credit cards to raise money for business.

If you do not have business credit, it’s time to fix that.  Regardless of the state of the economy, you need business credit to access funding for capital, growth, and expansion. Building business credit can happen even in a recession.

Raise Money for Business: Credit Line Hybrid

A credit line hybrid is revolving, unsecured financing.  It allows you to fund your business without putting up collateral, and you only pay back what you use.

What Does it Take to Qualify?

It is not as hard to qualify as you may think.  You do need good personal credit.  That is, your personal credit score should be at least 685.  In addition, you can’t have any liens, judgments, bankruptcies or late payments.  Also, in the past 6 months, you should have less than 5 credit inquiries, and you should have less than a 45% balance on all business and personal credit cards.  It’s also preferred that you have established business credit as well as personal credit.

raise money for business Credit Suite

What frustrates you the most about funding your business during a recession? Check out how our guide can help.

If you do not meet all of the requirements, all is not lost. You can take on a credit partner that meets each of these requirements.  Many business owners work with a friend or relative to fund their business.  If a relative or a friend meets all of these requirements, they can partner with you to allow you to tap into their credit to access funding.

Why Is It Such a Great Option?

There are many benefits to using a credit line hybrid.  First, it is unsecured, meaning you do not have to have any collateral to put up.  Next, the funding is “no-doc.”  This means you do not have to provide any bank statements or financials.

Not only that, but typically approval is up to 5x that of the highest credit limit on the personal credit report. Additionally, often you can get interest rates as low as 0% for the first few months, allowing you to put that savings back into your business.

The process is pretty fast, especially with a qualified expert to walk you through it.  One other benefit is this.  With the approval for multiple credit cards, competition is created.  This makes it easier, and likely even if you handle the credit responsibly, that you can get interest rates lowered and limits raised every few months.

Build Business Credit with a Credit Line Hybrid

The key is the approval of multiple business credit cards at once.  If your business is set up properly, they will report your on-time payments to the business credit reporting agencies.  These include Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax mostly, though there are others. Not all of them report to all of the CRAs, but some of them report to at least one.  Each account reporting consistent on-time payments helps you build strong business credit.

The Connection Between Business Credit and Fundability

Here is how it works.  The fundability of your business is like a huge puzzle.  All the pieces fit together, and you have to have all the pieces to see the complete picture.  Unlike a puzzle, some pieces are bigger than others, meaning if you are missing those pieces, the impact on your complete fundability picture is bigger. Business credit is the biggest piece of the fundability puzzle.

To begin building business credit, and thus fundability, you first have to set your business up to be a fundability entity apart from yourself.

How to Set Up Your Business to Build Business Credit and Be Fundable

There are a few things you have to do to be sure that your business debts are reported to the business credit reporting agencies and thus your business credit report, not your personal credit report.

Make Sure You Have Separate Contact Information

Your business has to have its own phone number, fax number, and address.  You can still run your business from your home or on your computer if that is what you want.  There is no need to even have a fax machine.

You can get a business phone number and fax number that will work over the internet instead of phone lines.  Also, the phone number will forward to any phone you want.  As a result, you can simply use your personal cell phone or landline.  Whenever someone calls your business number it will ring straight through.

Faxes can be sent to an online fax service, if anyone ever happens to actually fax you.  This part may seem outdated, but it does help your business appear legitimate to lenders.

You can use a virtual office for a business address. How do you get a virtual office?  What is that?  It’s not what you may think.  This is a business that offers a physical address for a fee, and sometimes they even offer mail service and live receptionist services.  In addition, there are some that offer meeting spaces for those times you may need to have an in person meeting.

You Need an EIN

Next, get an EIN for your business.  This is an identifying number that works for your business the same way your SSN works for you personally. By using an EIN for business transactions, you help ensure your SSN is not associated with your business.  That makes it more likely your account will report to your personal credit rather than your business credit. You can get an EIN for free from the IRS.

You Have to Incorporate

Incorporating your business as an LLC, S-corp, or corporation is non-negotiable.  First, it lends credence to your business as one that is legitimate. Also, it offers some protection from liability.

Which option you choose does not matter as much for fundability as it does for other things.  Your budget and need for liability protection play more into that decision.   The best thing to do is talk to your attorney or a tax professional.  You will lose the time in business that you already have.  When you incorporate, you become a new entity. That means, you basically have to start over.  You’ll also lose any positive payment history you may have accumulated.

This is why you have to incorporate as soon as possible.  Time in business is also important to building business credit and fundability.  The longer you have been in business the more fundable you appear to be. That starts on the date of incorporation, not the date you started doing business.

You Must Open a Separate Business Bank Account

You have to open a separate, dedicated business bank account.  There are a few reasons for this.  First, it will help you keep track of business finances.  It will also help you keep them separate from personal finances for tax purposes.

raise money for business Credit Suite

What frustrates you the most about funding your business during a recession? Check out how our guide can help.

There’s more to it however.  There are several types of funding you cannot get without a business bank account.  Many lenders and credit cards want to see one with a minimum average balance.  In addition, you cannot get a merchant account without a business account at a bank. That means, you cannot take credit card payments.  Studies show consumers tend to spend more when they can pay by credit card.

Licenses

For a business to be legitimate it has to have all of the necessary licenses it needs to run.  If it doesn’t, red flags are going to fly up all over the place.  Do the research you need to do to ensure you have all of the licenses necessary to legitimately run your business at the federal, state, and local levels.

No Matter What the Economy Looks Like, You Will Always Need to Raise Money for Business

As you can see, there are a few ways to raise money for business.  The need to do this is not something that comes along just with a recession.  With or without the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crash, you would still need funding for your business at some point.  If your business is suffering due to the pandemic and needs for social distancing, be sure you take advantage of all that is available.  This includes the Paycheck Protection Plan, as well as relief options from the Federal and State governments.  Even some businesses and professional organizations are offering help.

The first options mentioned however, including the credit line hybrid, are always available.  Be sure you work now to get your fundability and business credit in order. It will serve you well not only in hard economic times, but when the dust settles as well.

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Building Business Takes a Lot of Hard Work, but it Isn’t as Hard as You May Think

The key to building business successfully is to set your business up for success in the beginning.  Everyone knows that the key to building anything strong is to have a solid foundation, and the same is true of building a business.

Building Business Means Setting Up a Strong Foundation and Following Through

No one wants to go back to the beginning to build a foundation. It is always best to take the extra time to build a solid foundation on the front end.  That usually takes some extra work and more than a few extra steps. While it’s true that building business is not for the faint of heart, this extra work is always worth it.  Here is how to begin setting up your business for success. 

Building Business: It’s all in the Plan

Not only is a business plan necessary when it comes to getting business loans, but it is necessary to the day to day operations of your business as well.  Virtually all successful entrepreneurs will tell you that a major key to success is to plan to work and work the plan.  

Most traditional lenders are going to need to see a business plan as part of the loan application process.    Truthfully, it’s best to hire a professional business plan writer if possible. They can work with you to get all the necessary information and put it together in the traditional  format.  

If you cannot hire a business plan writer however, there other options. The Small Business Administration offers a template, and your local small business development center may also be able to help.

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Check out our best webinar with its trustworthy list of seven vendors to help you build business credit. 

For a business plan to be taken seriously by a lender, it needs to include the following: 

A Strong Opening 

 An Executive Summary

 This is a complete summary of the business idea. 

Description

The description goes into further detail than the summary, describing the business. This is where you work to build excitement about your business. 

Strategies

Layout your plan for getting started. Do you have a marketing plan, area in mind for location, or idea of how many employees you will start with? What is your ramp up plan? 

Market Research 

Market Analysis

This actually includes two parts. All that market research you did goes here: 

Analysis of audience

What need will your business fill, and for who? Are you a child care facility filling a need for affordable child care for working moms? Are you an eatery filling a need for a lunch spot for those working downtown? How will your business fill the need? All of that information goes in this section. 

Competitive Analysis

Is there already a business working to fill this need? Is there room for more? How do you plan to compete with them? 

If you are not a new business, this will be a market analysis that supports your need for funding, or that shows your business is strong and growing.

The Plan 

Plan for Design and Development

How is all of this going to play out, from start to finish. What steps are you going to take? This is more detailed than your strategies section.

Plan for Operation and Management

Who will own or does own the business and who will run or currently runs it from day to day. This could be as simple as stating that you are the sole owner and operator, or as complicated as laying out a complete partnership plan or board or directors’ format. It just depends on how your business works. 

Financials

Financial Information

This section includes current financials, projections, and a budget plan for the loan funds you are applying for.  Lenders need to see that you know how to handle the funds you get, and that you have a plan to pay them back.

Working the Plan 

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking the official business plan is only for lenders to help you get loan approval.  It isn’t. Your business plan should be a useable, practical tool that you can follow and refer back to. That is key to building business.   Are sales down? Refer to your plan. Struggling with cash flow? What does the plan say? Work the plan you worked so hard on and trust the process. Also, remember to revisit the plan occasionally even if things are going well to look for ways to improve it, or adjust it if necessary.

Building Business: Licenses

Do you need a business license?  What type of license do you need?  Ask yourself these questions and find the answers to begin building business on a solid foundation.  

Which Types of Business Licenses Do You Need?

If a federal agency regulates your business activities, you will need a federal license.  The Small Business Administration lists the following industries as needing a federal license.

    • Agriculture
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • Aviation
    • Firearms, ammunition, and explosives
    • Fish and wildlife
    • Commercial fisheries
    • Maritime transportation
    • Mining and drilling
    • Nuclear energy
    • Radio and television broadcasting
    • Transportation and logistics

The SBA also has a wealth of other information you need to know for starting your business, from help writing a business plan to finding funding.

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Check out our best webinar with its trustworthy list of seven vendors to help you build business credit. 

Building Business: What Funding Options are Available

There are a number of funding options available to help you when building business.  Which one you choose will depend on a number of variables. It’s likely the best option will be some combination of the many possibilities, including how fundable your business is.  We break them down for you below.

Traditional Term Loans 

These are the loans from traditional lenders such as banks and credit unions.  As a business, your business credit score can help you get some types of funding even if your personal score isn’t awesome.  That isn’t necessarily the case with this type of funding however. 

With a traditional lender term loan, you are almost always going to have to give a personal guarantee.  This means they will check your personal credit. You will need a personal credit score of 700 or higher to gain approval usually, with the best terms and rates coming at 750 or higher.  

Of all of the available business funding types, this is the hardest to get, but is also typically the option with the lowest interest rates and most reasonable terms.

SBA Loans

These are traditional bank loans, but they have a guarantee from the federal government. The Small Business Administration works with lenders to offer small business loans  that they may not be able to get otherwise based on their credit history. Because of the government guarantee, lenders are able to relax a little on the personal credit score requirements. 

In fact, it is possible to get an SBA micro-loan with a personal credit score between 620 and 640. These are very small loans, up to $50,000.  Personal collateral is also usually a requirement. 

 The trade-off with SBA loans is that the application process is long and involved. 

Business Line of Credit 

This is basically the traditional lender’s version of a business credit card. The credit is revolving, meaning you only pay back what you use, just like a credit card. However, rates are typically much better than a credit card.  The application and approval process is similar to that of a traditional term loan. 

If you need revolving credit and can qualify for a term loan, this is a good option. It is great for bridging cash gaps and covering short term expenses without the high credit card interest rates. 

There are no cash back rewards or loyalty points.  This makes some business owners prefer business credit cards despite higher interest rates. 

Invoice Factoring 

If you are an established business with accounts receivable, then you might consider invoice factoring. This is where the lender buys your outstanding invoices at a premium, and then collects the full amount themselves. You get cash right away, without waiting for your customers to pay the invoices.

This is a good option if you need cash fast.  It can also work if you do not qualify for other funding types. The interest rate varies based on the age of the receivables.

Non-Traditional Lenders

These are private lenders, not traditional banks and credit unions, that offer terms loans.  Usually they operate online. The difference between these and traditional lenders is that the loans have looser approval requirement and a much faster application process. Most often you can simply apply online, get approval in as little as 24 hours, and the funds are in your account within 24 to 48 hours after approval. 

These are an option if your personal credit isn’t terrible and you need money quickly.

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Check out our best webinar with its trustworthy list of seven vendors to help you build business credit. 

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a newer option for finding investors. While the average Joe that wants to start a business needs funding, it is not always possible to find one or two large investors. With crowdfunding, you can literally have a crowd of investors fund your business in $5 and $10 increments. 

There are many crowdfunding sites, but Indiegogo and Kickstarter are the most popular. The platforms are similar but there are some important differences. The most obvious is the timing of when you actually receive the funds that other invest in your company.

Find out more about each option here. 

Grants 

These are typically offered by professional organizations. There are some government grants available also. Competition can be stiff, but they are definitely worth applying for if you think you may qualify. 

While requirements vary from grant to grant, and most are only awarded to a certain number of recipients, this is an option is worth looking into if you fall into one of these basic categories. 

  • Women owned business
  • Minority owned business
  • Businesses run by veterans
  • Businesses in low income areas

 There are also some corporations that offer grants in a contest format that do not require much other than that you meet the corporation’s definition of a small business and win the contest. 

Business Credit Cards 

These get a bad rap, but in lieu of another option, they aren’t a bad option. The draw is that they are available to most, even if their credit score that isn’t awesome. The catch is, the lower the credit score, the higher the interest rate. Also, there are limits on how low they will go with a credit score. 

However, this is one type of funding that most of the general public is eligible for at any given time. They do a credit check, but your credit doesn’t have to be as high as it would be to gain approval for a traditional loan. 

 The downside of business credit cards is that they typically have a high interest rate. The upside is that many of them offer rewards in the form of cash or points that can be helpful. 

Building Business: Marketing

Once you have your foundation set, you have to actually build up the business.  That means getting others to buy whatever you are selling. Marketing is a term used for getting your product and service out there for others to see.  

The number one beginner tip for marketing is to know who you are marketing to.  You need to know what types of people will be buying your product so that you know how to convince them they need it.  This step was probably taken care of in the marketing section of your business plan.  

How you market will vary based on your budget, but these days social media marketing is huge.  It’s a lower cost option than traditional television and news print, yet highly effective. If you can get just one post to go viral, you’ve done something.  Get people talking about your product on social media and your marketing could basically be done for you, depending on what you are selling.

Of course, there is still a place for, and even a need for, traditional marketing when building business.  Generally speaking, the best bet is to hire a professional to handle all aspects of marketing.

Building Business: Networking

This is an aspect of building business that so many do not really think about until after the fact.  It can have a huge impact though. Of course, these days, as with marketing, much networking is done online through social media channels. There is something to be said for face to face connections however. 

While much of your business may be run online, limiting face to face interaction, take some time to consider ways to connect locally.  There could be those that need your services or product right in your area. Try joining your local chamber of commerce. They typically have events like business after hours that support this type of networking. 

Building Business Isn’t Hard, but it Does Take Work

Building a successful business takes a lot of hard work and a lot of luck.  Things can go wrong, even if you do everything right. You have to have a business plan, find funding, nail marketing, and work at networking.  However, if you set yourself up for success in the beginning, work hard, and don’t lose momentum, you may end up with something fabulous.

 

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How Long Does It Take to Establish Corporate Credit? Not as Long as You May Think

Finally! The Answer to “How Long Does It Take to Establish Corporate Credit?”

How long does it take to establish corporate credit?

The quick and dirty answer is, not long.  In fact, in just a few steps you can have a business credit profile ready to receive all your business account information and grow your business credit score.

However, often what people really mean when they ask the question “How long does it take to establish corporate credit?”is “How long does it take to build corporate credit?”  The answer to that question is quite different.  The process for establishing corporate credit initially is multi-step, but it doesn’t take all that long.  In contrast, the process for building corporate credit doesn’t have as many steps, but it can take substantially longer.  That is why it is important to start as soon as possible.

How Long Does It Take to Establish Corporate Credit from the Beginning?

If you start from square one, as your business it getting up and going, it will not take as long to establish corporate credit.  That’s because there won’t be anything to undo. The goal is to make your business appear fundable to lenders as an entity separate from yourself. It can be done at any point.  However, it is much easier and faster if you just start the process in the beginning. What’s the process?

How to Establish Corporate Credit

Establishing small business credit is a process. It is something that has to happen intentionally.  It does not happen passively in the same way personal credit does.  Once you have your business set up the right way however, the whole thing can happen pretty quickly.

You absolutely have to complete the steps in the right order.  Not doing so will result in repeated denials.  No one wants that.

Learn more here and get started toward building business credit attached to your company’s EIN and not your SSN.

How Long Does it Take to Establish Corporate Credit: Set Up Separate Contact Information for Your Business

Your business address, telephone number, fax number, and email address should all be separate from your personal ones.  Ensure your number is from a toll-free exchange and that it has a 411 listing.  You can take care of that here: http://www.listyourself.net.

Take note that your email address should not be through a free service such as Yahoo or Gmail.  Rather, it should have the same URL as your company website.  Can you guess the next point?  You need a professional website with paid hosting through a service such as GoDaddy. These days, if you don’t have a website you may as well not exist.  If you have a bad website, it’s even worse.  Just get it done right from the beginning.

In truth, when it comes to “How long does it take to establish corporate credit?”, the answer is however long it takes to get your website built professionally. The rest of the steps can be completed while that is going on.  Then, when your website is operational, you should have an established file and be ready to start building your business credit score.

How Long Does It Take to Establish Corporate Credit: Incorporate Your Business

The first thing you have to do after you have separate contact information is formally incorporate your business. The reason you need the contact information first is so that you can use it during the incorporation process.

Why incorporate?  If you are organized as a sole proprietorship or partnership, all business transactions are just going to hit your personal credit.  That is because there is no legal separation between you and your business. You are personally liable for all business debts.

You need to organize as a corporation, S-corp, or LLC.  Which one you choose will depend on the level of liability protection you need and how much you want to spend.  Any of them will serve the purpose of separating your business from you for the purpose of establishing business credit.

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How Long Does it Take to Establish Corporate Credit: Get the Digits

Next, there are two important identifying numbers you need to apply for.  The first is an EIN.  This is a number for your business similar to you personal SSN.  You can get one for free through the IRS website.

Next, you will need a D-U-N-S number.  This is also free, and you get it on the Dun & Bradstreet website.  You cannot have a credit file at Dun & Bradstreet without a D-U-N-S number.  Since they are the largest and most commonly used corporate credit reporting agency, you definitely need a D-U-N-S number.

How Long Does it Take to Establish Corporate Credit: Dedicated Bank Account

You also need a dedicated corporate bank account that you use only for business transactions.  This helps separate your business from yourself.  Not only that, it will also help keep business and personal expenses separate for tax purposes.

All of these steps can happen pretty fast.  Incorporation takes a little time, as does building a website. However, if you do it all on the front end you can speed the process along.  If you are taking these steps after your business is already up and running, it could slow things down a bit.

How Long Does It Take to Establish Corporate Credit, or How Long Does It Take to Build Corporate Credit?

The next steps in the process are geared toward building your corporate credit after your credit file is open.  The thing is, you have to get corporate accounts reporting to the corporate credit reporting agencies for your credit score to start building.  This can be tricky, as most lenders consider no credit to be equal to bad credit.  In the beginning of course, you have no credit.

If you do have credit already, but it’s bad, these steps can help improve it.  However, it will take longer. It is always faster to build from zero rather than from a negative number.

How Long Does It Take to Build Corporate Credit? Not as Long as It Would Without the Vendor Credit Tier

First you need to build trade lines that will report payments. This is also referred to as the vendor credit tier. These vendors will extend net 30 terms on invoices without a credit check.  Then they report your payments to the credit reporting agencies. This is how you get initial accounts reporting positive payment history.

Learn more here and get started toward building business credit attached to your company’s EIN and not your SSN.

Not all vendors are in the vendor credit tier.  Of those that are, there are a select few that are easier to get started with.  They can be used as stepping stones to gain more trade lines and thus, build your credit faster.  Here are a few of those easiest to get started with.

Uline

Uline is online at www.uline.com. They sell shipping, packing, and industrial supplies.  They report to D&B.

You have to have a D-U-N-S number. They ask for 2 references and a bank reference. The initial few orders may have to be prepaid to initially get approval for Net 30 terms.

Quill

Quill is another starter vendor. You can find them online at www.quill.com. They sell office, packaging, and cleaning supplies.  They also report to D&B as well as Experian.

Because Quill reports to two separate credit reporting agencies, you get two credit experiences with them. Place an initial order first unless the D&B score is already established.

Typically, they put you on a 90-day prepayment schedule. If you order items each month for 3 months, they commonly approve you for a Net 30 Account.

Grainger Industrial Supply

Grainger Industrial Supply is online at www.grainger.com. They sell safety equipment, plumbing supplies, and more.  They report to D&B. You must have a business license, EIN, and a D-U-N-S number.

For under a $1000 credit limit they approve almost anybody with a business license.

How Long Does it Take to Establish Corporate Credit: A Tip for Going Even Faster

One way to speed up the process is to ask vendors that you already work with if they will extend credit and report your payments.  This could even include utilities, rent payments, and telephone companies.  Internet providers are another option.  Since you are already making payments, you could instantly have several accounts reporting positive payment history without taking on any new debt.

Remember they are not required to report payments, but some will if asked.

After you have enough accounts reporting, its time to move on to the next credit tier.

Retail Credit Tier

Once there are 5 to 8 or more vendor trade accounts reporting to at least one of the CRAs, then you can apply for accounts in the retail credit tier. These are service providers which include Office Depot and Staples.

Fleet Credit Tier

Once there are enough accounts reporting from the retail credit tier you can begin to apply for accounts in the fleet credit tier. These are companies such as BP and Conoco. Use this credit to buy fuel, as well as to repair and maintain vehicles.

Cash Credit Tier

The next tier, the cash credit tier, is the goal.  One you have enough accounts reporting from the fleet credit tier, you can move on up to the cash credit tier. These are businesses such as Visa and MasterCard.

When applying for cards in any tier, only use your SSN and date of birth for verification purposes. For credit checks and guarantees, use your EIN instead.

How Long Does It Take to Establish Corporate Credit? Credit Monitoring

Know what is happening with your credit. Make certain it is being reported and take care of any errors as soon as possible. Get in the practice of taking a look at credit reports regularly.

We can help you monitor business credit at Experian and D&B for only $24/month. See: www.creditsuite.com/monitoring.

At D&B you can monitor at: www.dandb.com/credit-builder. At Experian, you can monitor your account at: www.smartbusinessreports.com/Landing/1217/. And at Equifax, you can monitor your account at: www.equifax.com/business/business-credit-monitor-small-business. Experian and Equifax cost about $19.99; D&B ranges from $49.99 to $99.99.

Learn more here and get started toward building business credit attached to your company’s EIN and not your SSN.

Update Your Information

Update your business contact information if you need to so that they have your correct, separate business phone number and address.  Incorrect information will only slow down your business credit efforts. At D&B, you can do this at: https://iupdate.dnb.com/iUpdate/viewiUpdateHome.htm. For Experian, go here: www.experian.com/small-business/business-credit-information.jsp.  Equifax updating can be found here: www.equifax.com/business/small-business.

Fix Your Business Credit

Mistakes on your credit report will also slow down the process. You can dispute any inaccuracies in your records. Mistakes in your credit report(s) can be corrected,but the CRAs often want you to dispute in a particular way.

Get your business’s PAYDEX report at: www.dnb.com/about-us/our-data.html. Get your company’s Experian report at: www.businesscreditfacts.com/pdp.aspx?pg=SearchForm. And get your Equifax business credit report at: www.equifax.com/business/credit-information.

How Do You Dispute

Disputing credit report mistakes usually means you mail a paper letter with duplicates of any evidence of payment with it. These are documents like receipts and cancelled checks. Never mail the original copies. Always send copies and retain the originals.

Fixing credit report inaccuracies also means you offer support for any charges you contest. Make your dispute letter as clear as possible. Be specific about the concerns with your report. Use certified mail to have proof that you mailed everything.

Dispute your or your company’s Equifax report by following the instructions here: www.equifax.com/small-business-faqs/#Dispute-FAQs.

You can dispute inaccuracies on your or your company’s Experian report by following the directions here: www.experian.com/small-business/business-credit-information.jsp.

And D&B’s PAYDEX Customer Service telephone number is here: www.dandb.com/glossary/paydex.

So How Long Does It Take to Establish Corporate Credit?

It’s hard to say.  If you are starting from scratch it won’t take as long.  You can get things headed the right way, right away.  You won’t be fighting an already bad score or trying to back track with incorporation and contact information.  Also, you will not be trying to correct mistakes on your report. If you are already up and running, it can take longer, but it still can be a relatively fast process.

Building your corporate credit will take substantially longer than getting the file established.  However, if you work the process the right way and handle the credit you get responsibly as it comes, it will not take as long as you may imagine.  It builds like a snowball and grows bigger, stronger, and faster as time goes on.

 

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