Entrepreneurs, beware: Owning your own business can make it harder to get hired later. If you’ve been thinking about starting your own business lately, you’re not alone. Americans began launching ventures in record numbers during the pandemic, with an above-trend pace continuing through 2023. Unfortunately, many of of these enterprises won’t last long: 30% of […]
So, you have kicked off a new business, and you are looking for a way to get funds. First of all, you need to keep in mind that there is no best way to fund a new business. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, a method that worked for one type of […]
Insider trading − the legal kind − is a lot more profitable if you work for a multinational company. Corporate insiders who trade stocks based on the information they gain on the job earn a lot more if they work at multinational corporations than their peers at U.S. companies with no sales abroad. That’s the […]
Hi there, Great news! We now partner with Upstart to provide you with an additional option at check-out. Get a personal loan through Upstart Submit an application Fill out a form to check your rate in minutes Verify your information Most borrowers are instantly approved1 Get your money 99% of funds sent […]
Connect now with the world’s largest angel network with over 600,000 entrepreneurs and over 130,000 investors, and growing daily. We’ve designed a user-friendly form for entrepreneurs to build their pitch and have loads of tips and guides to guide them through the whole process. The online platform makes it quick and easy for entrepreneurs to […]
Life is marketing. Marketing ourselves personally and professionally, marketing our products, marketing our ideas. Every day we are constantly marketing or being marketed to. What constantly amazes me, is that knowing this, so few early stage entrepreneurs market their startup effectively. The business plan, executive summary, and financing pitch are the ultimate marketing tools. Marketing your startup successfully […]
Cryptocurrencies are experiencing their worst crisis since the arrival of the first crypto assets and virtual currencies in the 1990s and their democratization in the 2010s. Bitcoin had an unprecedented tumble in late 2020 and has yet to recover. In addition to this sharp decline, there is much discussion about the worrisome collapse of some […]
Why SVB and Signature Bank failed so fast – and the US banking crisis isn’t over yet. Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failed with enormous speed – so quickly that they could be textbook cases of classic bank runs, in which too many depositors withdraw their funds from a bank at the same time. […]
To the delight of investors across the cryptosphere, the price of bitcoin (BTC) has rallied over 53% since its low of US$15,476 (£12,519) in November. Now trading around US$23,000, there’s much talk that the bottom has finally been reached for the leading cryptocurrency after a year of painful decline – in November 2021, the price […]
Financial contagions can be triggered easily, if conditions are right. First one financial institution falls and then others follow, like a chain of falling dominoes. The cinder that sparked the global financial crisis in 2007 is considered by many to have been a March 14 briefing by executives of the Lehman Brothers’ investment bank. Under […]
Whether you need money to help with your new business, to purchase equipment, obtain a supply of cash to keep up with ongoing expenses, etc., you can always apply for a business line of credit. Whether or not you will be approved, however, will depend on a number of factors ranging from your credit score […]
If you have a great credit rating, you won’t find it difficult to get a mortgage. Almost every lender will be more than happy to serve you. On the other hand, if your credit rating is low, you will face a hard time getting a loan to finance your new home. Your credit reports and […]
Most people only pursue a loan when they are in dire need of obtaining funds. These funds can be used for emergencies, a new car, and even repairs to the home. Whatever the reason a person needs a loan, it can be disappointing when they get turned down. Thanks to The Equal Credit Opportunity Act, […]
When a privately held company goes public via an Initial Public Offering, it is one of the most significant milestones in the company’s entire history. The way it works is that the company issues share certificates to investors and gets listed on a chosen stock market. After the listing, the company’s shares can be traded […]
Greed and Fear. Two Emotions that play a bigger factor in the success or failure of humans than any other emotion we experience. Both fear and greed refer to an intrinsic emotional state. Tens of Millions of dollars have been made and lost based on these 2 emotions alone. In trading, in business and in […]
Too often, we consider things, based on labels, perceptions, etc, instead of delving, deeply, and considering, the true impacts, and ramifications, and possible, paths – forward! At – current, one of the most – discussed, topics, is, inflation, and what it might mean, to all, of us! However, these considerations, often, proceed, in an overly […]
This article compares and contrasts the responsibilities of a CFO versus a Controller, Accountant or Bookkeeper. Many business owners do not understand the differences between the roles and the value a CFO can bring to the business. Additionally, many business owners do not feel they can afford a CFO, however that is where a part […]
Creating clear and accurate financial forecasts for your company during the start-up stage is crucial. Most business owners complain that building accurate financial projects is time-consuming, and that time could be used generating sales rather planning. However, few investors will invest in your company if don’t have clear projections. Correct financial projections will help you […]
1. During the past decade, the size of seed rounds has remained stagnant and number of deals have decreased. To the untrained eye, it seems that there is more competition for seed dollars. Below the surface, however, startups are recycling founders experience. The reason why the number of deals has decreased is that teams are […]
In our home we try to get the children to help out. One day our youngest son came into the living room and asked, “Does anyone want a cup of coffee?” “Yes, please!” we said. He replied, “What kind of coffee do you want? Capitated or decapitated?” This old blog article about the commercial loan […]
The Big Boys, the ladies and men who make and arrange the really huge commercial real estate loans, have their own specialized language. You can think of it as advanced commercial mortgage-ese. Today we’ll discuss one of their underwriting terms, mark-to-market (MTM) accounting in real estate. Mark-to-market accounting assigns a value to real estate assets based […]
There are funding solutions for all types of businesses, although the more established businesses in good financial standing have the most options. Business lending companies vary from SBA-associated organizations to “angel investors”. The most common types of lenders are obviously traditional banks, but that might not be the right option for you. If your company […]
A CLE CLO stands for a commercial real estate Collateralized Loan Obligation, and it is a security that is backed by a pool of commercial loans. The individual borrowers make their payments to the issuer – the company that made and pooled the loans – and then the issuer makes payments to the investors who invested […]
Every year hundreds of commercial property owners get conned out of millions of dollars by advance fee scammers. An advance fee scammer is a criminal pretending to be a commercial mortgage lender. He will issue a very fancy-looking conditional commitment letter, which will call for some huge “good faith deposit” or “third-party report fee”. Once […]
In negotiating an income property loan, the size of loan the borrower can obtain is usually more of a sticking point than the rate or the loan fee. Since income property loan sizes are generally limited by the debt service coverage ratio (i.e., cash flow), rather than the loan-to-value ratio, the operating expense figure that […]
Large scale businesses may be better of working with a private equity firm. Debt capital has principal payments that are required on a monthly basis, whereas equity financing does not have these strings attached. In some instances, you may be able to sell preferred shares of your company is going to give up a controlling […]
One of the most important concerns of people who are planning to start a business is to how are they going to fund their business. Of course, a great business plan would not work without the funds to run the idea. Some people borrow money from rich friends, some use crowd-funding technique while other loan […]
The line in the sand has been drawn. You’ve vowed to never step foot back into that office alive again after working the same dead end job for ten years. It’s time to start that business you know for sure will succeed. All you need is to dedicate those sixty hours a week to your […]
Venture Capitalists are often called Vulture Capitalists and until you read the book: Confessions of a Venture Capitalist, Inside the high-stakes world of start-up financing by Ruthann Quindlen; well you probably will never understand how they got that slanderous title. In the book Ruthann explains what it was like working in Silicon Valley in a […]
So often we find that entrepreneurs are looking for venture capitalists to fund their next adventure. Unfortunately many entrepreneurs do not understand that venture capitalists are pretty industry-specific at least the very good ones are. Why is this you ask? Well, because even venture capitalists have limited amounts of resources and hundreds and hundreds of […]
Quick funny: Tomorrow is the National Home-School Tornado Drill. Lock your kids in the basement until you give the all clear. You’re welcome. Haha! For the past two weeks, we have been discussing the fact that just about every commercial bank in the country is out of the commercial mortgage market. The CMBS market remains […]
A great many residential lenders make revolving lines of credit (home equity loans) on owner-occupied homes; so it it natural for lots of commercial loan brokers to ask if their investor clients can get a a line of credit, secured by an apartment building or an office building. As a general rule, the answer is, […]
An interesting thing happened this week. Warren Buffet got his butt handed to him. Let me set the scene. Berkshire Hathaway is sitting on $128 billion in cash; but in comparison to the $2 trillion in cash that private equity firms are siting on, Warren Buffet’s massive cash hoard is chump change. Haha! Private equity […]
The past year has brought a flurry of changes for many people. Maybe you’ve embraced online shopping and want to start to incorporate meal planning into that experience. Perhaps you’ve gotten into selling things from the comfort of your home or you’re now working remotely with people around the world. Digital solutions meet modern needs […]
If you’ve launched a small business or dream of becoming a business owner, the task may seem daunting. The good news is, helpful resources — and funding sources — are available to support you as you plan, start and grow your business. Here are tips specifically for women and women of color business owners, that […]
This commercial financing article will describe the importance of avoiding “problem commercial lenders”. The article will NOT name specific lenders to avoid, but key examples will be provided to illustrate why prudent commercial borrowers should be prepared to avoid a wide variety of existing commercial lenders in their search for viable commercial financing. I have […]
A direct lender is an independent financial institution that makes loans to individuals and small businesses, rather than banks or credit unions. They offer low interest rates and flexible terms, which means you can get the loan you need without paying any fees. There are more than 3 million direct lenders in America alone, and […]
Banks prefer to lend to individuals that have formed LLC’s or Corporations. Forming a business entity shows the banks that you are serious about your new venture and that you are willing to take the correct steps to legally protect it. Don’t have an entity yet? That’s no problem, we can help get your business […]
By George Blackburne A borrower can expect to pay between $2,000 and $4,500 for an appraisal, if he needs a commercial loan. Multifamily appraisals are slightly less. The reason why commercial real estate appraisals are so expensive is because each commercial property is unique. In addition, the appraiser has to perform an extensive rental comparable’s […]
Being in a business means that you have to keep generating the money all time to manage finances and to operate the business smoothly. However, one thing that needs to be mentioned is that every business owner wants to expand his/her business for which a partner may be needed – be it for capital infusion […]
I see it happen a lot lately in Jakarta. Startups with 4-5 founders who are pretty much equal shareholders will look for very early Angel funding, which (if they get it) brings another shareholder on board. Now you’ve got a situation with 5-6 shareholders in a company that still has to land its first serious […]
Business pitches to investors are essential to the success of any business idea and its transition from concept to reality. Pitching to investors is often the inevitable first step to gathering support and funding for any business idea. Even the most original and innovative business idea and opportunity can be missed if potential investors are […]
Venture capital firms are different from private investors in that they have raised capital from a number of high net worth individuals with the intent to make investments on their behalf into promising start up companies and expanding businesses so that they can ultimately take the business public via an IPO or sell the business […]
Angel investors do not usually provide loans unless there is a substantial interest rate associated with this type of financing. There are many industries that are less risky and therefore more attractive to angel investors that allow them to provide equity capital to promising ventures. There are a number of strings attached to working with […]
There are several potential financing options available to cash-strapped businesses that need a healthy dose of working capital. A bank loan or line of credit is often the first option that owners think of – and for businesses that qualify, this may be the best option. In today’s uncertain business, economic and regulatory environment, qualifying […]
Getting your startup funded is not a small challenge. It’s even harder when your startup is at an early stage when there is no “field” proof that could indicate the chances of its success, like a working product, happy customers, steady income etc. in the early stage of a startup, founders need to prove investors […]
WHAT IS REVENUE-BASED FINANCING? Revenue-based financing (RBF), also known as royalty-based financing, is a unique form of financing provided by RBF investors to small- to mid-sized businesses in exchange for an agreed-upon percentage of a business’ gross revenues. The capital provider receives monthly payments until his invested capital is repaid, along with a multiple of […]
After the past year, many companies are reflecting on their values and how they can make a positive impact in their communities. Finding better ways to interact with the world is not just good business sense, but helps a company become a positive force, leading to a more sustainable, thriving community for everyone. Collaborating with […]
CRYPTOCURRENCY NEWS Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University On Sept. 7, 2021, El Salvador will become the first country to make bitcoin legal tender. The government even went a step further in promoting the cryptocurrency’s use by giving US$30 in free bitcoins to citizens who sign up for its national digital wallet, known as “Chivo,” or […]
A company named JCR Capital sent me an email flyer several months ago advertising their equity capital for value-add real estate investments. Value-add commercial real estate investments typically target properties that have in-place cash flow, but they seek to increase that cash flow over time by making improvements to, or repositioning, the property. In other […]
