Author: Nicolas Logan

The Art of Hiring a Contractor

The Art of Hiring a Contractor

I will certainly be sending write-ups on employing specialists to issue resolving common to not so regular house repair work and also enhancements home owners normally come across. In a previous life, I was a house enhancement professional for a number of years as well as have actually experienced scenarios from the various other side as a specialist. Taking time to discover these points must assist in your choice in employing a residence renovation professional.

I will certainly be sending write-ups on employing service providers to issue fixing regular to not so common house repair work and also enhancements house owners normally come across. In a previous life, I was a house enhancement service provider for a number of years as well as have actually experienced scenarios from the various other side as a specialist. There are points that a property owner can look for when employing a service provider. Taking time to discover these points must assist in your choice in working with a residence renovation specialist.

The post The Art of Hiring a Contractor appeared first on ROI Credit Builders.

Beating Imposter Syndrome and More –10 Brilliant Business Tips of the Week

Have you ever struggled with not thinking you or your business was good enough? Then you’ll want to read on and scoop up our tips for beating imposter syndrome.

The Hottest and Most Brilliant Business Tips for YOU – You Could Be Beating Imposter Syndrome and More

Our research ninjas at Credit Suite smuggled out ten amazing business tips for you! Be fierce and score in business with the best tips around the web. You can use them today and see fast results. You can take that to the bank – these are foolproof! Beating imposter syndrome is in your future.

Stop making stupid decisions and start powering up your business. Demolish your business nightmares and start celebrating as your business fulfills its promise.

And these brilliant business tips are all here for free! So, settle in and scoop up these tantalizing goodies before your competition does!

#10. Please Don’t Hurt Me, Customer!

Our first jaw-dropping tip is all about the bane of ever businessperson’s existence – handling angry customers. Last week, we looked at turning complainers into promoters. Here’s more on that topic. 

The Self Employed says for every brand promoter, you’ll have some 26 brand detractors. Ouch.

As you would probably expect, there’s a lot of harm which detractors can do. And it can be tough to get over that.

One idea is to continue to build as many positive experiences as possible. While you’re not going to be able to please everyone all the time, you can please more people than not. Well done, you could drown out some of the negatives.

But that doesn’t solve them. So, here are some tips for getting to the heart of the matter.

Find Your Complainers and Address Them

What happens when your brand isn’t tagged by the complainer? What if they get really coy, and refer to your business as ‘the company that shall not be named’? Is all lost, in terms of trying to find the complaints and properly handle them?

One idea is to use software such as Daylite, or some other CRM software. The idea is to locate any mentioning of your brand online, and sometimes those aren’t perfect. 

Listen to the Complainers

Now, if you’ve been on the internet for more than five minutes, you’re well aware that there are plenty of people who troll. And there are a ton of folks who just complain for the sake of complaining.

But what about the legit complainers? In such instances, your task is to acknowledge that hey, they’re right. And then tell them what you’re going to do about it. It doesn’t have to be anything detailed. Rather, you can say you’re going to review the matter. That’s good enough. But don’t forget to follow up and do just that.

#9. Run the Customer Journey Smoothly

The next awesome tip is about avoiding problems in your customer relations. Main Street ROI notes there are several ways to, well, mess things up.

We’ve covered a lot of similar territory before, so we won’t repeat ourselves. Rather, we’ll concentrate on what we think is the biggest issue.

Don’t Let Leads Slip Through Your Fingers

Have you ever been to a website which you wanted to be at, but somehow you lost the connection? Maybe you got a phone call and clicked away. Or you restarted. Another possibility is you were there for a while and meant to save the information, but something distracted you. And then, oops, it’s gone.

Imagine being on the other side of this. Heck, you probably don’t have to imagine. You’re probably living it. And you may not even know you are.

The Big Net

Those lost prospects are a bit like fish falling through a bigger than normal hole in a fisherman’s net when he’s failed to repair a tear. That fisherman needs a second net. And so, do you.

But how?

Consider adding a lead capture form to your website. You want contact information. So, in return, provide something for free. In exchange for a name and an email address, try providing a white paper to download. Or maybe access to a webinar not found anywhere else.

Not every lost prospect will fall into your secondary net. But it’s senseless to not put out that net and at least try to catch a few of them.

If you are as passionate about succeeding in business as we are, please help us spread the word about how to take the plunge and save time and money – and your sanity! Start beating imposter syndrome today.

#8. Get a Marketing Network Going

Our following life-changing tip concerns networking for marketers. Wordstream lays it all out for us. Connecting to similar businesspeople doesn’t have to mean just going to a networking event and collecting a bunch of business cards. And then promptly tossing those cards into a drawer and not finding them for a year.

We felt the article had good ideas and recommend checking it out in its entirety. So, we’ll showcase just one of their tips.

Be Our Guest

Contact people and ask them to be your guest bloggers! And do the opposite – ask if you can write a guest post for them. 

The best part of this tip was to do the legwork in advance, including crafting good headlines. Make it painfully easy for the host to say yes.

A Few Extra Words on Blog Guest Posting, From Us

We’ve taken a few guest posts over the years, and here are a few things we’ve learned.

First, craft guest posting guidelines and refer people to them. Second, craft standard responses to people who suggest guest posts. These should cover instances like an acceptance, an acceptance with reservations, a denial with a chance to resubmit, and a flat-out denial.

Ask for a relevant sample. So, here at Credit Suite, it would be a blog post or article about business funding, business credit, or maybe banking. We’ve accepted some posts about related topics, like business insurance. But the idea is to match our theme as closely as possible.

And determine what your standards are going to be. One thing I have found is that, if the pitch letter has grammatical and spelling errors in it, then the pitch sample probably will as well.

Make your life easier and have the guest poster write up a short bio. And give them a chance to give input on topic, title, etc. 

Most importantly, don’t ever be afraid to say no. We’ve only accepted about 5% (if that) of all of the pitches we’ve ever received. 

#7. Social Media + Sales = Results

So, for our next sensational tip, we looked at integrating social media with sales. HubSpot says that you can use social media to, for example, prospect for customers. How? Check places like LinkedIn, and find out their location, work history, and any mutual connections you may have.

Plus, people put all sorts of stuff into their LinkedIn profiles. They might be the member of a surfing club. Or maybe they identify themselves as a graduate of Quinnipiac University. Getting talking points and ways to relate to your prospects can only help you.

Here’s our fave tip of them all.

Social Proof on Social Media

What’s social proof? It’s reviews, mainly. What do other people say about your product or service – or your company? Why not share that with sales. Most people love social proof, as it can often feel more authentic than what a pitchman would say.

Consider Amazon. If there are any reviews for a product at all, people read them. And sometimes those reviews make the difference between a sale… and no sale.

‘The sleeves are too short.’ ‘It didn’t fit my window but the company could not have been nicer. They quickly replaced my purchase with the right size and didn’t charge me for shipping.’ ‘It says it’s chew-proof, but my dog took it apart in less than half an hour.’ ‘The coffee comes with a neat little surprise – a small bracelet with stone beads! I’ll give it to my daughter. What a fun little extra!’

For the positive reviews, give them to sales to make the most of them. And as for the negative reviews, see tip #10 – and address them! 

#6. Cold Emails, Hot Leads

This tip is so cool, and it works! Mail Shake tells us all about how to best cold email prospects. 

We recommend checking out the entire article so instead we’re going to concentrate on one thing.

It’s Not All About You

‘I am writing because …’ ‘You’re on my contact list because I …’ ‘I wanted to tell you…’ ‘Please help me…’

Are you guilty of any of these?

<Raises hand.>

Why should your prospect buy from you when all you can talk about is yourself? Start with them. ‘First off, thank you for …’ ‘You’ve got a great… and I was hoping to…’ See what I mean?

Now, if you could please, go back and reread the first sentence in this article.

Yeah. That’s why it looks the way it does.

Oh and by the way, better cold emailing might just give you the confidence to start beating imposter syndrome – see tip #5.

#5. Start Beating Imposter Syndrome Today

Grab this mind-blowing tip while it’s hot! 

It’s all about beating imposter syndrome.

Freelancers Union says imposter is all too common in the world. And we would venture to say that it’s likely to be more common for new business owners. It’s easy to feel you’re not good enough.

Imposter syndrome takes a number of forms, and that includes resisting raising your rates or asking for extra money for scope creep. It also includes taking guff from clients because you feel you need them. Or maybe, deep down, you feel you somehow deserve it.

I know it all too well. Let me tell you my story.

The Storyteller’s Story

I’ve mentioned this before, that I’m a fiction author. And this came from a number of choices I made and actions I took. Of course.

But it wasn’t overnight. It happened after a number of years of writing. This meant putting thoughts on paper and then, later, realizing how cliché or tired they were. It meant throwing prose against a wall, seeing if it would stick.

I belong to a ton of writing groups, particularly on Facebook and Twitter. These groups are filled with folks who lie about how much money they are making. Some are, yes, telling the truth. But a bunch aren’t. They’re also filled with people who claim you can’t use the term ‘author’ unless you’ve been published. That instead, you must say ‘writer’, as if it were a lesser title.

That’s a load of malarkey.

Beating Imposter Syndrome in the Book

You're Not An Impostor! Credit SuiteSo, how did I first get published? I actually won a contest. Normally, I would have been terrified of entering one. Yep, I would have felt I wasn’t good enough. How could I possibly be good enough, with so many awesome authors out there? I had no experience and no portfolio. There was nothing I could point to and say, ‘I’ve been published at ___’.

Nothing. Nada. Zip.

So, for me, beating imposter syndrome meant putting myself out there and saying ‘oh, to hell with it! Let’s see what happens.’ I hesitated before I sent the email. How could I possibly measure up? I didn’t deserve that sort of success. But I sent the email anyway.

And, once I sent it, I second-guessed myself for a few months.

Some Solutions for Beating Imposter Syndrome

Our favorite tip was to surround yourself with people who are further along than you are. This is for the purpose of mentoring, yes. But I like to think it’s also for the purpose of seeing that it’s possible. Know that person was once in your position. And they made it – or at least they’ve made it further than you have. 

It’s very encouraging.

And, I might add, ignore the folks who claim you need to satisfy some nebulous, weird ideal which, bottom line, means nothing for your success or your career or industry. Of course, CPAs have to pass exams, and a long haul trucker must have the proper driver’s license. But if someone tells you the equivalent of you can’t be a real ___ without a totally unnecessary ___, then smile sweetly. And ignore them.

They’re only projecting their own insecurities on you.

And, here’s one more thing. When you’ve made it, or at least made it further – do the same for those not so far along as you. Don’t pull the ladder of success up behind you. Throw a rope down and help the next person up.

If you are as passionate about succeeding in business as we are, please help us spread the word about how to take the plunge and save time and money – and your sanity! Start beating imposter syndrome today.

#4. Businessperson, Motivate Thyself!

So, check out this spectacular tip, all about motivating yourself. Addicted 2 Success notes that daily motivation starts the night before. And we could not agree more!

So, here are a few tips, together.

The Night Before

Get to bed early. Yeah, really. That means, binge watch Netflix some other time. We would also add that sleep deficits can be downright dangerous. Try to get more sleep and try to get it early.

But before you turn out the light, plan the following day the night before. This means making a list, and it also means visualizing how to get each task accomplished.

By the way, this should help with insomnia. After all, if your tasks are already written down, and you’ve already considered how to get them accomplished, you might spend less time in bed, worrying.

Here’s one tip, just from us.

Batch What You Can

What the heck does that mean? It means getting your lunches together on Sunday, rather than every morning. It means choosing your clothes for the week, or at least the night before. It may also mean cooking something which will work for you for much of the week, like plain drumsticks, which can be served with mashed potatoes and gravy one night, and with buffalo sauce on another night. 

You’re going to need to get dressed on Thursday and make dinner on Wednesday. You’ll have to carry your lunch (or at least snacks) on Friday. And you’ll need to, say, pay for coffee with exactish change on Monday. 

Since you already know this stuff is happening in advance, stop behaving as if it’s blindsiding you! It isn’t. So, be prepared, and you’ll be a far happier person. And that will translate into improved motivation.

#3. You Don’t Have a Big Budget; But You Can Still Have Big Motivation in Your Business

So, it’s not your imagination: this winning tip can help you motivate your employees – even when the Benjamins just aren’t there. Effortless HR tells us flexibility can be an excellent motivator for people. In fact, parents tend to value it more than a higher salary! So, if you can allow an employee to work from home or later or earlier in the day, do it.

Here’s our fave tip from the pack.

Tradition!

So, this is a neat idea, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot. What can your business do together which won’t break the bank? I once worked for a company which did a potluck lunch once per quarter. People either made something or brought paper plates or soda or the other trappings. Or they contributed a little cash. 

Sitting down together was fun and relaxing. It took us all out of our everyday lives for a few hours, every three months. It’s easy to do something like this. And – bonus – how about asking your employees what they want to do?

#2. What’s in a Business Name?

Our second to last unbeatable tip can give you a new perspective on naming your business. Crowd Spring reveals all about naming your business properly. We’ve covered similar ground on our blog. There are ways to name your business which can lock you out of financing. 

Don’t do that.

This article provides a few other reasons why one name or another could be a pitfall for your business. We suggest you check out the article in its entirety for examples and advice on how to avoid issues.

So, here’s one issue they outlined.

Guilt by Association

Disney recently bought 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures. And they promptly dropped the ‘Fox’ from both acquisitions.

Never mind that these properties aren’t owned by Murdoch (the folks who own Fox News). Disney didn’t want to alienate any potential customers. By dropping the term, they neatly sidestepped that.

For Disney, it was also convenient, as they would have likely been renaming those properties anyway. So, they changed the names to better associate them with the Disney brand. At the same time, they dropped a term which could have turned off some customers.

Smart folks, those Disney people.

#1. Clean Office, Organized Mind

We saved the best for last. For our favorite remarkable tip, we focused on neatening up your office. Noobpreneur says too much clutter can make your job harder. After all, what was the last time you just knew you had a piece of paper on your desk, but now you’ll be damned if you can find it?

This is not good, and you know it! So, getting organized makes sense not just to keep your work area germ-free (ish – we all know there are going to be germs) – it can potentially help you keep clients. 

Here’s the best tip, we felt.

Paper 1, 2, 3

Your paper should have three potential homes. This can, by the way, work for virtual documents as well.

  1. You haven’t gotten to it yet.
  2. It’s a work in progress.
  3. You’re done – so you file the paper. Or you toss it, if appropriate.

We would argue that you may need to make #2 a little more granular. One idea could be a separate folder or the like for a work in progress where you’re waiting for something from someone else. Or you might want to separate time-sensitive items in pile #1. 

You do you. But please, get organized!

So, which one of our brilliant business tips was your favorite? And which one will you be implementing now? 

If you are as passionate about succeeding in business as we are, please help us spread the word about how to take the plunge and save time and money – and your sanity! Start beating imposter syndrome today.

The post Beating Imposter Syndrome and More –10 Brilliant Business Tips of the Week appeared first on Credit Suite.

Educators Retirement

Educators Retirement

The Teachers Retirement System was developed for this basis. The Teachers Retirement System is an unique body developed in every state in the United States to give 3 essential advantages of retired life for the instructors.
The carrying out body of the Teachers Retirement System is accountable for looking after the profits gathered. The Teachers Retirement System additionally is accountable for the investing as well as supporting the incomes that they have actually gathered in order to give solid returns for their participants, in settlement for the count on that the Teachers Retirement System have actually accumulated throughout the years from the instructors.
Every specific Teachers Retirement Systems are called for to lug out its negotiations so as to act in conformity with the control of the state it lives. Educators that desire to come to be a participant of the Teacher Retirement System are required to pay a deliberate payment every month.
The Teachers Retirement System offers retired life and also various other relevant advantages for employees of exclusive or public colleges, organizations and also institutions. The Teachers Retirement System is required to give retired life as well as various other linked advantages approved by the legislation for its recipients as well as participants.
The Teachers Retirement System is dedicated to skilled, accurate, rewarding as well as appropriate delivery of the advantages and also solutions to the participants and also pensioners. The Teachers Retirement System is liable for the managing the fund by which the educators as well as staff members of the public institutions, colleges and also establishment of the each State in the United States of America. The settlements depend on the retired life strategy its participants have actually picked.

The Teachers Retirement System is an unique body developed in every state in the United States to give 3 essential advantages of retired life for the educators. Educators that desire to come to be a participant of the Teacher Retirement System are required to pay an ironclad payment every month. The Teachers Retirement System supplies retired life as well as various other relevant advantages for employees of exclusive or public colleges, establishments and also colleges. The Teachers Retirement System is required to give retired life and also various other connected advantages approved by the legislation for its recipients and also participants.

The post Educators Retirement appeared first on ROI Credit Builders.

Educators Retirement

Educators Retirement

The Teachers Retirement System was developed for this basis. The Teachers Retirement System is an unique body developed in every state in the United States to give 3 essential advantages of retired life for the instructors.
The carrying out body of the Teachers Retirement System is accountable for looking after the profits gathered. The Teachers Retirement System additionally is accountable for the investing as well as supporting the incomes that they have actually gathered in order to give solid returns for their participants, in settlement for the count on that the Teachers Retirement System have actually accumulated throughout the years from the instructors.
Every specific Teachers Retirement Systems are called for to lug out its negotiations so as to act in conformity with the control of the state it lives. Educators that desire to come to be a participant of the Teacher Retirement System are required to pay a deliberate payment every month.
The Teachers Retirement System offers retired life and also various other relevant advantages for employees of exclusive or public colleges, organizations and also institutions. The Teachers Retirement System is required to give retired life as well as various other linked advantages approved by the legislation for its recipients as well as participants.
The Teachers Retirement System is dedicated to skilled, accurate, rewarding as well as appropriate delivery of the advantages and also solutions to the participants and also pensioners. The Teachers Retirement System is liable for the managing the fund by which the educators as well as staff members of the public institutions, colleges and also establishment of the each State in the United States of America. The settlements depend on the retired life strategy its participants have actually picked.

The Teachers Retirement System is an unique body developed in every state in the United States to give 3 essential advantages of retired life for the educators. Educators that desire to come to be a participant of the Teacher Retirement System are required to pay an ironclad payment every month. The Teachers Retirement System supplies retired life as well as various other relevant advantages for employees of exclusive or public colleges, establishments and also colleges. The Teachers Retirement System is required to give retired life and also various other connected advantages approved by the legislation for its recipients and also participants.

The post Educators Retirement appeared first on ROI Credit Builders.

The post Educators Retirement appeared first on Buy It At A Bargain – Deals And Reviews.

New comment by lambda123 in "Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (December 2019)"

From developing MVP from scratch alone, to doing growth hacking, to leading international teams spanning across continents, I have done it all.

Location: Asia. Internet. Planning to relocate to Canada soon.

Remote: Yes.

Resume: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fvnKGKM6T2yAtkMhShAyxJtS…

Willing to relocate: No

Technologies: Rails 2.x, Rails 3.x, Rails 4.x , Rails 5.x, Rails 6.x Sinatra, Ruby 1.8, Ruby 1.9, Ruby 2.x, Elixir/Phoenix React.js, Haml, Sass, Bootstrap, Javascript, CoffeeScript, Jquery, Spring, Zeus, Geokit, Geocoder, ImageMagick, MiniMagick, Rmagick, PalerClip, CarrierWave, Devise, Sidekiq, ActiveAdmin, RailsAdmin, CanCan, Nokogiri, FriendlyId, Ckeditor, Liquid, SimpleForm, Rspec, Cucumber, Postgresql, Mysql Git, Github, Vim, Ubuntu

Email: sunil.sks222@gmail.com

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.

building business Credit Suite3

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.

building business Credit Suite3

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.

build biz Credit Suite3

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.

 

The post Building Business Takes a Lot of Hard Work, but it Isn’t as Hard as You May Think appeared first on Credit Suite.

Get a Look at Instant Approval Business Credit Cards

Check Out Instant Approval Business Credit Cards

We looked at a lot of instant approval business credit cards, and did the research for you. So here are our picks.

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

This reveals you can get a lot more funds with small business credit. And it also means you can have personal credit cards at stores. So you would now have an extra card at the same stores for your company.

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

Instant Approval Business Credit Cards: Benefits

Perks can differ. So, make sure to pick the benefit you would prefer from this array of alternatives.

Instant Approval Business Credit Cards: Ironclad Secured Credit Cards

Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card

Take a look at the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card. It charges a $25 yearly fee per 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 build or rebuild their credit.

Pick this card if you want to get 1.5% per dollar in purchases without any limits or earn 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/

Instant Approval Business Credit Cards for Average Credit

Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business

For average credit, we like the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. It has no yearly fee. There are cash-back rewards. The card gets 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 BEAR IN MIND: the ongoing APR is 24.74% variable APR. And the penalty APR is even higher, 31.15%. Also, there is no sign-up bonus.

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.

Instant Approval Business Credit Cards for Credit Building

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Make sure to check out the Discover it® Student Cash Back card. It has no annual fee. The credit card also has 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 special feature is that it provides an incentive for scholars to maintain good grades with a $20 statement credit. If scholars earn a GPA of 3.0 or better each school year, the card will award the $20 statement credit annually for up to five years.

Details

Use this 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 offers an excellent way to raise FICO while also getting rewards.

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

In the first 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 greater. 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

Instant Approval Business Credit Cards for Low APR/Balance Transfers

Discover it® Cash Back

Take a 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 on the Prime Rate.

Details

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

You will earn an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match. This is for all the cash back you have gotten at the end of your first year, automatically.

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

Instant Approval Business Credit Cards with 0% APR – Pay Absolutely Nothing!

Capital One® Quicksilver® Card

Take a look at the Capital One® Quicksilver® Card. It features flat-rate rewards of 1.5% on all purchases. There are no limits how much in cash back rewards that cardholders can attain. Also, the card has a $0 yearly fee.

Details

New cardholders have a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after opening the account. And then they have a 14.74 – 24.74% (variable) APR after that. A cash bonus of $150 goes to those who make a minimum of $500 on purchases. So this is in 3 months of account opening.

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

Moreover, there is a cash bonus of $150 is available to cardholders. This is if you make a minimum of $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening.

The card also offers travel accident insurance. And you can 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 then there’s the higher APR after the initial 15 months.

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

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. After that, the card has a 13.24 – 23.24% variable APR

Earn 3 points/dollar spent when you book travel with 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 initial 60 days of opening up the account. Cardholders get travel accident insurance, and lost luggage reimbursement.

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

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

Have a look at the JetBlue Plus Card for an additional offer of a 0% introductory APR

Earn six points/dollar on JetBlue purchases, two points/dollar at eating 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 yearly fee, and earn 40,000 bonus points. New cardholders receive a 12 month, 0% initial APR on balance transfers made within 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.

Instant Approval Business Credit Cards with No Annual Fee

Uber Visa Card

Check out the Uber Visa Card. Uber is the very 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 in the app.

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

Details

Pay your cell phone bill with this card, and get insurance up to $600 for cellphone damage or theft.

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

But there is no introductory rate. 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 within the Uber app, accumulate at least 500 points, or $5. Cardholders can convert a maximum of 50,000 points, or $500, in a given 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 somehow. 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.

Keep in mind: the $0 annual 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 available 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

Look at the Ink Business Cash ℠ Credit Card. Companies can get cash back with each purchase. Spend $3,000 in the initial three months from account opening. And you’ll get a $500 bonus cash back.

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

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

Details

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

Note: this card has a balance transfer fee. Pay 5% of the amount transferred or $5, whichever is greater. 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 earn 1 mile/dollar. Earn a 50,000-mile sign-up bonus after spending $3,000 in the initial 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. Additionally, 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 option 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. Earn six points per dollar of eligible purchases at participating SPG and Marriott Rewards hotels.

And get four points per dollar at US restaurants, American gas 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, get two points per dollar.

Details

Get 75,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the initial 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 annual fee. There is a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then it’s $95 afterwards. 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

Instant Approval 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 ends, the APR for purchases is 14.24 to 21.24%. So, this is variable and based on creditworthiness.

Details

This credit card has various 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 purchased from American service providers. But this pertains 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 annual 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

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

The Perfect Instant Approval Business Credit Cards for You

Your absolute best instant approval business credit cards hinge on your credit history and scores.

Only you can choose which features you want and need. So be sure to do your homework. What is outstanding for you could be catastrophic for other people.

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

 

 

The post Get a Look at Instant Approval Business Credit Cards appeared first on Credit Suite.