Erica Seppala

A business loan proposal is your opportunity to explain to a potential lender why they should take on the risk of lending to you. It’s a persuasive essay to convince the bank you are a viable business that will not default — you will paint that picture both with a narrative about your business and your profit/loss metrics.

Small Business Administration (SBA) loans are popular with business owners due to their competitive rates and favorable terms. However, these low-interest loans are only available to businesses that meet stringent requirements. Unfortunately, this means that some small businesses will have their SBA loans denied and will need to seek alternative options or apply again in the future.

If a business loan still seems like a solid financial option for your business, you can move into calculating your monthly business loan payment. This will further help you decide if getting a loan will help boost the growth of your business.

Business property insurance usually covers some but not all natural disasters. Certain types of natural disasters are almost always excluded from standard policies, including hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. If you live in an area that’s vulnerable to those types of disasters, speak with your insurance provider to learn your options.

If you’re looking for an online bank with strong rewards, LendingClub should be in the running. LendingClub offers competitive rewards checking features with both APY and cashback earning potential, and while the high-yield savings rate is a bit lower than those of competitors like Live Oak Bank or Mercury, there’s no minimum or maximum balance limit for APY earnings.

The most important kind of insurance for most small businesses is general liability insurance. Commercial property insurance is also important. You may be able to combine these two types of coverage into one policy, known as a business owner’s policy or BOP that lets you obtain coverage at a discount.

It can be harder for startups to qualify for business loans since many lenders want to that a business is profitable before they lend it money. One way to get around this Catch-22 is to use personal loans to finance the early stages of a business.

Most commercial renters insurance will cover damages to your business inventory, computers and electronic equipments, furnishings, and damages to the building caused by your business operations. Personal property is generally not covered. Damage from natural disasters or from faulty utilities may not be covered.

You may qualify for an ERC loan if you have a valid and verifiable ERC claim filed with the IRS. In most cases, lenders will not look at factors like personal credit score or business revenue, but this varies based on the company you opt to work with.

Trying to lower your credit card processing costs is more important than ever, as inflation drives up the costs of goods and services, and credit card interchange fees continue to rise. We discuss the industry averages for credit card processing costs, which can show you how your costs compare to other businesses.