5 Questions to ask when deciding on an SBA Loan

25 June 2019

Capital is to a business what oxygen is to a plant. Without it, the business cannot grow and will very likely starve and die. Businesses find their capital in a variety of ways. Some simply have wealthy owners or investors who are willing to take the risk and provide the business the funding it needs to get started up and to take on major projects. Others sell stocks or bonds in the hopes of raising enough cash. While this may be the ideal situation for most businesses, it is not what most end up doing. For most businesses, the standard way to raise money is to get a business loan from a bank.

The government knows this and has created a number of programs trying to help American small business succeed. For instance, the Small Business Administration, or SBA, has several different types of loans that are meant to privilege small businesses and help them grow. These are usually a great option for most small businesses. Is an SBA loan right for your business? Here are a few questions you should ask yourself.

1. Do I have all the information the bank will need?

Since SBA loans are secured by the government, they have a standardized set of required information that must be sent into the bank. A few highlights from this list are:

A well thought out business plan
A business license
A business credit report
Business tax returns
Resumes of key personnel
Personal tax returns
Personal financial statements from stakeholders with more than 20% of the business

As you can see, the requirements here are rather extensive. The SBA is trying to minimize the default risk on these loans that they are ensuring.

2. Is my business eligible?

SBA loans are meant to be accessible, but that doesn’t mean that everyone will be able to get one. The program does not rely on taxpayer money, so it takes steps to remain solvent. To be eligible, your business must be based and operate out of the United States. It must also work within an approved (though very large) list of industries. You must show that you are not able to get the same credit at reasonable terms through other means and also be below size requirements, typically meaning less than $15,000,000 in annual revenue.

3. Why am I seeking a loan?

This is a good question to ask whether it is a personal or business loan. When seeking business credit, you must make sure your motivation is correct. Too many business owners get stuck financing vanity projects or trying to keep up cash flows with borrowed money when they really need to fix the root problem. It is always a good idea to speak with an accountant or financial professional before taking on business debt. Not only can they advise you if it is the best course of action, but they can also help you structure the business and the debt itself in the best way for your company.

4. Should I get an SBA Express loan?

Knowing what kind of loan you need is just as important as knowing whether you need a loan or not. The SBA has six major categories of loans, so you will need to do your research before deciding which is right for you. For instance, there are options for businesses that need money quickly. The SBA Express loan program can get you approved for a loan in as little as 36 hours, much faster than the standard three months for most loans. If you need money now, it is there for you, but only if you are financing for the right reasons.

5. How will I pay it back?

Loans are a normal part of business, and many businesses would not be where they are today without the financial help they received early on. That said, having a repayment plan is just as critical as every other step of the process. The bank you take your SBA loan out with will be more than happy to help you plan out how to repay them. It is worth noting that SBA loans do have an extra fee attached, anywhere from below 1% to around 3.5%. This is to make sure the program can stay solvent going forward since it does not receive taxpayer money, as previously mentioned. This fee is amortized over the life of the loan and is simply added into the payments you already have to make, so it is not even an out of pocket expense you need to budget for.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list of questions. Anytime you are considering borrowing money, you need to do a tremendous amount of research and make sure that it is really the right decision for your business. Ultimately, you are the only one that will know whether or not this is the right course of action. Some business owners cite their gut feeling on this, others have methodologies for deciding. Regardless of your process speak to an expert about your financing options. Your business will thank you!

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8 Tips To Increase Your Cash Flow In Your Business

In order to easily increase your cash flow in your business, there are some proven methods you can use. Although there is no "magic bullet" that guarantees success, it's possible to use these tips to improve your cash flow and make it more manageable. In this post, we'll talk about 8 of the best ways you can increase your cash flow in your business by looking at, The importance of stable cash flow, Identifying sources of revenue, and where they come from. We'll also talk about how often you should look for new sources of income and what factors play into that decision. Cash flow is a very important aspect of running a business. You'll need to know how much money you have at any given time and what bills you need to pay in order to keep your company afloat. If you're in the midst of preparing payroll, trying to buy some inventory, or simply trying to maintain your office building, it can be difficult if there isn't enough money coming in by the end of the day. Checkout Eight Prime Tips To Increase Your Cash Flow In Your Business: Here are a few tips to increase your cash flow in your business. 1. Review your pricing strategy: If you're selling a product or service, you're going to need to know what the market will bear. Look at your competitors and see what they're doing and how much they charge for their products. You can also look at other businesses that offer similar products or services and see how they price those items. It's critical to periodically review your pricing strategy in order to ensure that you're making enough money off of each transaction in order to keep it profitable, but also not being too greedy so you scare away potential customers. 2. Involve cryptocurrencies in payment: You can use cryptocurrencies to accept payments for products and services. For example, you may want to sell your book on Amazon and accept payment in bitcoin. You can also accept payment in another cryptocurrency so long as the customer has a way to convert that currency into bitcoin. Having different payment options available makes it easier for customers to pay you, so make sure you take advantage of digital currencies if you're still accepting only fiat currency. You can use bitcoin as a payment gateway for your business and lots of companies are already doing so. Visit bitcoin code for more information. 3. Improve your collection process: It's important to know how much money you owe your vendors in order to make sure they know their payments are due. You can do that through a variety of methods, from negotiating payment terms to referring your customers directly to your creditors. You can also look for new ways to get paid by offers or discounts for prompt payments. In order to improve your collection process, look at what is working and what isn't. 4. Cut costs: You can always find a way to cut costs, especially if you're in the middle of a cash crunch. If you need to conserve cash, try cutting back on the costs that aren't necessary. Start by eliminating non-essential personnel or outsourcing those positions to save money. You can also decrease your rent and your utility bills by looking for cheaper sources for these services as well. 5. Increase your inventory turnover: Inventory turnover is a mathematical formula that shows how often you have to buy and sell inventory in order to make a profit. You probably already do some maths when you're selling the product or service, but if you're doing it manually, it's a good idea to run the numbers again and see if they're convenient and profitable for your business. If you're not turning your inventory over at a satisfactory rate, try to discover why and see if there's something you can change to improve that number and make more money. 6. Get creative with financing: There are many different ways to finance a business. Many of the financing options you have will depend on your credit score and where you're applying. For example, applying for a loan at a bank is probably one of the more difficult forms of financing because it's extremely competitive. You may want to try smaller banks that keep less debt or seek out alternative options like peer-to-peer lending or crowdfunding campaigns on sites like Kickstarter. 7. Manage your tax liabilities: It's important to know what you owe the IRS and what your tax liabilities are. If you miss a bill or if something in your business changed that affected your tax liability in some way, it's important to review your documents to see if there are any errors. You can also run a financial audit by yourself or hire an accountant to check for problem areas that may lead to increased taxes. 8. Review your insurance coverage: It's important to review your insurance coverage and see if you need more of it. For example, there may be a gap between what you have now and what your policy covers. There are a lot of people that don't understand why they have insurance, but it's crucial to have a policy in place to protect your assets. If you're not sure whether you need more insurance, contact the provider and ask them what you should do. Conclusion: In conclusion, it's very important to have a good cash flow, especially if you're looking to expand your business. In order to increase your cash flow, you need to identify where all of the money is going and where it needs to go so that you can make sure everything is covered. You'll also need to keep track of how much money you owe in different areas of your business so that you know when you're falling behind. Read Also: Are Commercial Banks A Good Career Path In 2022? Quality Of E-Commerce Data Entry Services- Whether You Should Invest In Them? Starting Your Rare Coin Collections: A Beginners Guide to the 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dime

How To Choose The Best Auto Insurance Company?

The auto instance is something, which one can be devoid of, and if someone is doing the same then you are putting your automobile at risk. Whether it is a home or whether it is a matter of life or whether it is the matter of automobile, one should have the insurance cover. For having the best insurance cover, it is important to have the best insurance company. If you have purchased any insurance cover in past times then you must be having the idea of how to buy it but if you are buying it for the first time then you should consider some important things, which are mentioned below So, basically here are the important things to consider before choosing the apt insurance company for you. Experience: If an auto insurance company is in any business then it is important to have the experience. Experience does not mean that having the experience of six months is enough. In fact, an auto insurance company is considered as experienced only if the company has the experience of three to four years or more than that. Although the experience may vary from company to company, so it is you who can decide the company on the basis of experience. Mouth recommendations: Mouth recommendation means that your friend or family or any other person is suggesting the insurance company to you. Although it is good to choose the company on the basis of mouth recommendation it does not mean that you have to completely rely on the mouth recommendation. Along with this, you should do the research on your own. Try to know more about the company: Getting the general insurance quote should not be the only necessity. People get the insurance quotes from the different companies and after comparing the quotes, they select the one. Although knowing about the insurance is good but it does not mean that it is more than enough. Try to know about the present, past, and future of the company. If any company is holding its place in the market for the past several years then it is good to go with the same company. Reputation: The reputation and status of the company amongst the people are almost interrelated. If any company is having a good reputation in the market and in the customers then it is always good to go with the same company. Always try to get in touch with the prior customers of the insurance company and such customers can guide you in the best possible way. If any company is having a good place in the people’s hearts then it means that the company has done something good for the customers. Online existence: Nowadays, people believe in online businesses as compared to offline businesses. The online existence of the company is helpful for the customers also because there is no need to go to the different insurance companies for having the insurance cover. In addition to this, either the people get the costly insurance cover or the people get stuck into the traps. So that is why it is advised to get the insurance cover from the companies which are having an online existence. Reviews: If any company is having an online existence then it is for sure that the company will have the reviews. The reviews of the companies vary from their status to status. The better reviews of the company suggest the better qualities of the company and the poor reviews of the companies have the poorer quality. In short, people can make their search accordingly. Affordability: There are several companies, which offer different insurance coverage to their customers, but the price of the insurance cover varies from the company to company. So, always try to find the company, which offers the best insurance cover at the affordable prices. Si, in this way you can make your search in the way of finding the best auto insurance company. Read Also: Your Simple Guide To GAP Insurance Is Telecommunications Equipment A Good Career Path In 2021?

Insure Your Health, Ensure Your Wealth: How To Dodge Common Insurance Blunders

Healthcare costs are skyrocketing, and this era is also witness to relentless medical inflation contributing to increasing concern. Concern regarding what? You may ask. The concerns regarding the finances and ourselves are taking the wheel. Each year, people and their families struggle to navigate the complex health insurance structure. They are often face-to-face with pitfalls that drain their finances. This, in turn, compromises their health and well-being. The only fitting way to combat this is through proper knowledge and foresight, which can help avoid common insurance mistakes. Financial and health stability should also be kept in check. The following article will explore practical ways to avoid these pitfalls and secure a healthier, brighter future. Common Mistakes When Buying A Health Insurance Plan When you think of buying health insurance, there are high stakes you may miss. Overlooking key details or inadequate coverage can cause significant financial strain compromising healthcare. Unfortunately, several individuals often find themselves in traps, which may be due to an oversight or a misunderstanding. The following section will dissect some of the most prevalent health insurance mistakes. It also provides insight into each of these mistakes, guiding ways to avoid them: Insufficient Coverage One of the biggest mistakes you can make is choosing health insurance with insufficient coverage. It is common for the desire to save on premiums to drive our decisions; however, as an individual, you may choose plans that provide limited protection. There have also been cases where individuals have unexpected medical expenses, leaving them vulnerable. Thus, it is important to carefully assess the healthcare needs, including future scenarios, before selecting a plan that provides adequate coverage. These should include surgeries, hospitalization, specialist consultations, and medications. Avoiding A Comprehensive Cover This is another common mistake that has been seen in recent times. Not choosing a comprehensive health insurance plan can make you miss out on coverage of potential medical emergencies. Some health insurance plans with basic coverage will not even consider chronic conditions that can have significant effects. Comprehensive plans, if the name did not suggest so, offer broad coverage such as preventive care, maternity benefits, and mental health services, among others. Choosing a broad coverage plan gives us peace of mind that we’ll be protected against unforeseen health circumstances. Not Disclosing All Medical Conditions. Failing to disclose or hide pre-existing medical conditions during the application process can lead to serious consequences. The insurers depend on specific information that allows them to evaluate the risks, thus determining premiums. Some of the dire consequences of obscuring medical information include: Denial of claim Policy cancellation So, being transparent while applying for health insurance will only help you reap the benefits in the long run. This is helpful when you want to ensure complete coverage while also avoiding any complications when the time comes to claim the policy. Overlooking Terms And Conditions Shockingly, a significant number of policyholders make the mistake of ignoring the fine print on their health insurance policy. The fine print contains terms and conditions that lead to misunderstandings about crucial information such as the coverage limit. This can also include waiting periods, exclusions, and claim procedures. Thus, it is very important to review the policy document, seeking clarity on any ambiguous terms and understanding the coverage scope and limitations. You will also learn about your obligations as a policyholder. Not Comparing Plans One of the most critical errors you can make while purchasing a health insurance plan is choosing the first one you see. When buying anything, it is best to compare before you finalize your decision. Why should something as important as a health insurance plan be neglected? An insurer offers different coverage options, deductibles, and premiums, along with network providers. Missing out on comparing different health insurance plans can cause you to lose benefits that would suit you better. You must take appropriate time to research and compare the different policies available. This way, you will be able to compare important factors such as coverage limits, cost, network size, and customer reviews. Lastly, comparing plans can prevent you from overpaying for coverage. Insufficient Research This continues on the point of missing benefits as one of the results you want to avoid. If you rush to buy a health insurance plan without sufficient research, you can have serious FOMO later. You must research different insurance providers and learn more about their reputations through reviews and financial stability. You should also look into their customer service track record. Research also helps you learn about the types of plans available, such as PPOs, HMOs, and high-deductible plans. This way, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your budget and preferences. Missing Cashless Hospital Networks The availability of cashless hospitals should be missed as it will be a huge oversight on your part. Missing this during a health insurance plan purchase can seem like a huge loss later. Choosing a policy without verifying the network of hospitals with cashless treatment as an option can prove to be inconvenient for you. This can put pressure on you during an emergency as it will push out-of-pocket expenses. Thus, you must check for the availability of cashless hospitals in its network. Having reputed hospitals in or near your area will be a bonus. This allows you smooth access to quality healthcare that does not pose the problem of upfront payment. Additionally, reimbursement claims too. Therefore, you must check if your insurer has a network that also boasts of cashless hospitals. This will help you avoid strain on your finances, reducing your worries. Purchasing Only In Old Age Despite being a common practice, health insurance purchases should not be postponed to old age. Aging is a natural process that brings about many changes in the human body. Several health issues pose a challenge in acquiring good health insurance. Waiting until health problems arise will result in higher premiums because of pre-existing conditions, and it may also introduce exclusions. Thus, you are advised to invest in a health insurance plan as early as possible to enjoy lower premiums and more accessible coverage. This further ensures comprehensive protection for life. Conclusion Health insurance plans can be complex, and you must make informed decisions to find peace of mind and financial security. This article highlights all the key areas you must take care of, prioritizing comprehensive coverage, thorough research, and transparency. Buying a health insurance plan? Remember that the right choice will help you live a wealthier and healthier tomorrow. Read Also: Why You Need Commercial Property Insurance The Comprehensive Guide To Property Insurance Toronto How To Choose The Right Insurance Plan For Business Owners

5 Questions to ask when deciding on an SBA Loan

1. Do I have all the information the bank will need?

2. Is my business eligible?

3. Why am I seeking a loan?

4. Should I get an SBA Express loan?

5. How will I pay it back?

7 Reasons to Apply for a Loan Online

Bitcoin Profit Review 2019

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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8 Tips To Increase Your Cash Flow In Your Business

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5 Questions to ask when deciding on an SBA Loan

1. Do I have all the information the bank will need?

2. Is my business eligible?

3. Why am I seeking a loan?

4. Should I get an SBA Express loan?

5. How will I pay it back?

Share this Article

7 Reasons to Apply for a Loan Online

Bitcoin Profit Review 2019

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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