Category: Business Financing

Starting a Business After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: A Guide to Moving Forward

Starting a Business After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: A Guide to Moving Forward

Key Findings: Nearly 450,000 Americans filed for bankruptcy in 2023, and there were nearly 19,000 business bankruptcies the same year.  Americans are also starting businesses in record numbers, with over 21 million businesses started over the past four years. Bankruptcy will create challenges for starting a business, but does not have to stop entrepreneurs who are passionate about launching their business.  “I love entrepreneurs,” says San Francisco bankruptcy attorney Cathy Moran. “They are the most optimistic and hard working folks… Read More
Can You Start and Run a Business Without Loans?

Can You Start and Run a Business Without Loans?

Key takeaways: Starting a business  without loans offers greater control and flexibility, but requires careful planning and realistic expectations about how to grow with fewer resources. Small business loans and financing can help you grow faster, and be more competitive, but also carries financial risk.  Success often comes from combining multiple strategies: starting lean, reinvesting profits strategically, and knowing when financing might make sense for growth opportunities. When Levi King started his sign manufacturing and repair business in Idaho in… Read More
How to Get Money to Start a Business in 2025

How to Get Money to Start a Business in 2025

Key takeaways: If you need money to start your business, keep in mind that many successful businesses get creative and use a combination of personal savings, side hustle income, and strategic small business loans rather than waiting for perfect funding conditions. Learn how to layer multiple funding sources together—like microloans, crowdfunding, supplier credit, and business credit cards—to create a more flexible and resilient financing strategy. Build your business credit profile to position your business for more opportunities in the future. … Read More
SBA Working Capital Line of Credit: Everything Small Businesses Need to Know

SBA Working Capital Line of Credit: Everything Small Businesses Need to Know

Key takeaways: The SBA introduced a new working capital line of credit program in 2024. It offers up to $5 million in flexible working capital through revolving or non-revolving lines of credit. These loans are available to eligible businesses with at least 12 months business history. Find out whether this loan may be right for your business, and explore alternatives.  As a small business owner, having access to working capital can make the difference between taking advantage of opportunities, instead… Read More
Top Business Loans and Grants for Native American Entrepreneurs in 2024-2025

Top Business Loans and Grants for Native American Entrepreneurs in 2024-2025

There are about 49,000 American Indian and Alaska Native-owned small businesses in the US, according to US Census Bureau research. Indigenous entrepreneurs in the USA often face significant financial challenges, however: 56% of Native and Indigenous entrepreneurs cite financial issues such as raising capital or budgeting as their biggest challenge, according to a Breaking the Blueprint HubSpot blog survey. 16.3% of Native households don't use banks, due to high poverty rates, systemic racism, and lack of brick-and-mortar institutions on reservations,… Read More
When Can Your New Small Business Get a Business Loan

When Can Your New Small Business Get a Business Loan

Getting a small business loan for your new venture can feel like a catch-22: it takes money to make money. Lenders want to see a track record, but how are you supposed to get that?  Here we’ll explain when (and how) your small business can get a business loan. How Do Business Loans Work for a New Business Startup loans can be among the most difficult to get. Business loan requirements often consider three or four main factors: How long… Read More