Small Business Capital

Hiring an employee is exciting — but finding a great employee can be one of the most challenging and important things a small business can do. You want to find a candidate who can do the job but will also contribute to the growth and culture of the company. Finding…

Every business has to start somewhere, whether a Silicon Valley tech start-up coding from a garage or a local store selling to its first customers. 2021 was a record year for new companies, with Census Bureau data reporting nearly 5.4 million new establishments. Yet one in 12 go on to…

When people shop locally, small business owners and their families and employees benefit from the revenue and the satisfaction of building meaningful relationships in their community. And around $68 out of every $100 stays local, compared to $43 when shopping at a national chain. The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA)…

In our age of hyper-convenience, online stores and corporate giants offer quick, affordable purchases for anything from groceries to sports apparel. But choosing to shop local can provide a number of benefits to both you and your local community. “Shopping local” means buying from independently owned businesses and neighborhood stores…

Do you know your business credit score? Running a small business means making constant financial decisions — often with limited time and information. One factor that can quietly shape many of those decisions is your business credit score. Whether you’re applying for a business loan, opening a business credit card…

Although the SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration) isn’t a lender, it has guaranteed millions of small business loans since it was established in 1953. SBA loans are […] The post What Is an SBA Loan? appeared first on OnDeck….

National Small Business Week is an annual event dedicated to recognizing the contributions of small businesses to the economy and local communities. And for good reason — small businesses employ 45.9% of American workers, and make up 43.5% of the country’s gross domestic product. In 2026, this celebration will take…

If you’ve got customers who pay on net 30, net 60, or longer, you already know the problem: your cash flow can get squeezed even when sales look strong. Your balance sheet may show plenty of accounts receivable, but you can’t pay bills, cover payroll, or buy inventory with “unpaid…

College marketing materials often focus on their big-name alumni, including those who have gone into leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies and international brand names. But small businesses are the engine rooms of the American economy. Companies of under 500 employees account for 99.9% of all businesses, employing 45.9% of…

Small businesses are a big deal in America — and their share of the economic landscape is expanding. Companies with fewer than 500 employees have created more than 70% of new jobs since 2019, according to the Treasury, and now account for 51% of private employment in America. In 2024,…

The restaurant trade is set to become a trillion-dollar industry in 2024. Along with those who enter the business for the joy of food and hospitality are plenty of entrepreneurs looking for a slice of that vast revenue. But with high set-up costs, average pre-tax profits of just 4% for…

Something strange is happening to coffee shops: the chains are getting smaller while the independents are getting bigger and bolder. Big chain cafés are saving money by opening smaller premises to minimize costs and concentrate on walk-through trade. Meanwhile, independent cafés are capitalizing on their already cozy premises by delivering…

The U.S. Small Business Administration defines a family business as one that is majority-owned by at least two members of a family. Around 27.3% of businesses are family-owned — most of these are small businesses (fewer than 500 employees), and indeed 72.8% have fewer than 10 employees. Family businesses are…

Whether it’s for early morning pancakes or a sumptuous three-course dinner, Americans just love to dine out, with the average person in the U.S. indulging in a visit to a restaurant three times a month. Grabbing a bite at a fast food chain is a popular go-to — indeed, we’re…

If your small business accepts credit cards — in person or online — you’re paying processing fees. And depending on how your payment processor sets up your plan, those fees may be cutting deeper into your profits than they should. Here’s what small business owners need to know about how…