Credit bureaus arose to help lenders quickly gauge the reliability of a potential borrower. In the past, you could go to the good ol’ general store and the owner would know you, your character, and whether or not putting your items on “charge” (or on credit) was a good idea. That method may have worked in the past, when communities were small and isolated, but there had to be a better way moving forward. Thus credit bureaus were born.

Lenders like to know exactly how you plan on using the money they may potentially lend to you. If you’ve made successful investments in the past, like purchasing additional equipment that increased your sales revenue by 25%, and are planning on purchasing more equipment with the loan your applying for, be sure to tell your lender! It will demonstrate that you’re experienced in business and that you’re likely to increase your cash flow (which a lender hears as “we’re getting our money back”).

Do you have poor credit? Or even fair credit that you want to improve? Your personal credit score can impact not just your personal finances, but also your opportunities for small business loans and other forms of financing.

The decisions you make, the research you do, and the experiences you have with the POS system support team are all going to impact your journey to finding the right POS system.

You’ve got bookshelves full of books — but do you have a POS system to track all those sales? Here are 5 great bookstore POS systems to check out, complete with inventory management, eCommerce support, and more!

What types of reports should you look for when choosing a POS? Or, if you already have POS software, which are the most important reports to pay attention to? Read on for a rundown of the top standard POS reports and a sample of systems that provide these reports.

Before you even begin researching or trying to figure out how much you can afford, you need to ask yourself if a loan is right for your small business. Just because you can afford to take one out doesn’t mean you should.

The debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is a financial tool used to measure the relationship between a person’s debt and income. The DTI ratio is calculated by dividing recurring monthly debt payments by gross monthly income.

Chances are, if you’ve done your research, you’re looking into at least a few systems that are Android, iPad, or tablet-based. Tablet POS systems can be a server or manager’s best friend. Read on for an in-depth look at some of our favorite restaurant tablet POS systems.

Wondering if it’s time to switch over from cash-only to credit card payments for Girl Scout cookie sales? Check out our handy guide to accepting credit card payments and the best options for Girl Scouts