Lauren McKinley

Crowdfunding can be a valuable financial tool for businesses looking to raise money without taking out a traditional business loan. However, there are numerous factors that go into the success of a crowdfunding campaign, and we’ve compiled a list of important crowdfunding statistics that may help your fundraising efforts. These statistics include data referencing geographical…

The best financing options for Amazon businesses should offer a variety of loan options, a quick approval and disbursement process, excellent customer service, and flexible qualification requirements. Amazon Lending has designated third-party providers it recommends that are in collaboration with Amazon, and we’ve also included our recommendations for alternative lenders if those programs aren’t suitable…

Essentially, Form 413 outlines your financial status across various accounts, income, assets, liabilities, etc. It provides the participating lender with information regarding your overall creditworthiness. It’s one element of the lending decisioning process that can play a major role in your approval status since it can be used to evaluate whether or not you’re able…

Credit card fraud, the most common form of identity theft in the US, can happen to anyone. It’s a global issue that can cause major problems if you don’t take proper steps to protect yourself. To demonstrate the effects of credit card fraud and how it can impact you and your business, we’ve compiled a…

A balloon mortgage is a type of loan that requires low or no monthly payments and requires a lump-sum payment at the end of the loan term. It differs from fully amortized loans where equal installments of the total balance are repaid over a period of time, and with a balloon mortgage, the remaining balance…

Venture capital (VC) is a type of financing that is provided to help scale high-potential startup businesses. Generally, this type of financial arrangement involves pooling funds from investors in exchange for equity within the company they’re financing. As a form of private equity, it’s usually offered by venture capitalists who are experienced investors and can…

Equipment financing can be used to acquire equipment necessary for your business operations. You can get a loan or a lease, depending on whether you want to utilize it for short- or long-term business purposes. The main difference between the two is that loans allow business owners to retain ownership of the equipment once the…

Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) loans are the most common type of loan offered by the SBA. These are government-backed loans issued through participating lenders designated by the SBA. Loan proceeds can be used for various business purposes, including purchasing equipment, inventory, real estate, and other working capital needs. You can choose from different types…

Our guide details how to get a loan to buy a business, from gathering required documents and reviewing company data to applying with your chosen lender and signing the final purchase agreement. Depending on the loan type and lender, there are various allowable uses of funds, but you’ll typically be allowed to use loan proceeds…

The loan-to-cost ratio, also known as LTC, is a calculation that’s used to evaluate the costs of a commercial real estate project. It is calculated by taking the loan amount of a commercial mortgage and dividing it by the property’s total project costs. It is reflected as a percentage. Lenders use the LTC ratio to…

Invoice factoring is a type of business financing that allows a company to get an advance on funds to cover its unpaid invoices. It can help your business with cash flow, as you don’t have to wait for customers to pay an invoice. The invoices are assigned to a factoring company, which will then provide…

A small business line of credit is a revolving credit facility that allows you to borrow funds on an as-needed basis. You can request a draw on the line, have the funds deposited to your account of choice, use the funds for business purposes, and repay the balance over time. This flexibility makes it a…