Learn how the money side of business actually works
Real talk on funding, payments, and protection: rates, traps, and how to qualify. No fluff. No sales.
Funding
Getting funded, comparing programs, and steering clear of the traps.
Bank Said No? 7 Real Funding Paths That Don't Require Perfect Credit
A bank denial isn't the end of the road. Here are seven legitimate ways small businesses get funded, and who each one fits.
Read article →How to Escape a Merchant Cash Advance: Refinance, Buyout, or Settle
Daily payments draining your account? Here are the three honest ways out of an MCA, and how to tell which one fits.
Read article →Factor Rate vs APR: The One Calculation That Tells You If an Offer Is a Trap
A 1.3 factor rate is not 30% a year. Here's how to convert any factor rate to its true APR before you sign.
Read article →Loan Broker vs Direct Lender, and 4 Red Flags of a Predatory Broker
A good broker shops the whole market for you. A bad one costs you money. Here's how to tell the difference before you sign.
Read article →Qualifying for Business Funding: The 5 Things Lenders Actually Look At
Time in business, revenue, credit, industry, use of funds. That's it. Everything else is noise.
Read article →How to Avoid the MCA Debt Trap
MCAs (merchant cash advances) market themselves as 'easy funding.' Here's how to spot one and what they actually cost.
Read article →SBA vs Working Capital: Which one fits?
SBA loans are cheaper but slow. Working capital is fast but pricier. Here's how to pick.
Read article →Merchant Services
Card processing, statement fees, and keeping more of every sale.
Cash Discount vs Surcharge vs Lower Rates: An Honest Comparison
Passing card fees to customers sounds great until you read the rules. Here's how the three approaches really differ, and when each backfires.
Read article →The 7 Junk Fees Hiding on Your Merchant Statement
Most of what inflates your processing bill isn't interchange. It's padding. Here are the seven fees worth questioning.
Read article →How to Read Your Merchant Statement in 5 Minutes
Your processing statement is designed to be confusing. Here's how to find your real rate and the junk fees hiding in it.
Read article →Business Insurance
Key-person, buy-sell, and the life insurance SBA loans require.
Cross-Purchase vs Entity Redemption: Which Buy-Sell Structure Fits You?
The two ways to fund a partner buyout with life insurance work very differently on taxes and ownership. Here's how to tell them apart.
Read article →How Fast Can You Get Life Insurance for an SBA Loan (So You Don't Delay Closing)
If your SBA lender wants life insurance before closing, timing is everything. Here's how fast it really takes, and how to avoid stalling your loan.
Read article →Does Your SBA Loan Require Life Insurance? A Borrower's Guide
Many SBA 7(a) loans require life insurance on the owner as collateral. Here's when it applies, how much you need, and how to keep it from delaying your closing.
Read article →Can You Use Term Life Insurance for an SBA 7(a) Loan?
Yes. Term life satisfies most SBA collateral requirements, and it's far cheaper than the whole life policy you may be pitched.
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