No matter the size of your business, applying for a business credit card can offer a variety of benefits. You can use a business credit card to cover everyday expenses, build your credit history, and, in most cases, earn rewards for your spending. Plus—unlike personal credit cards—business credit cards tend to have higher limits and include unique tools to help you organize your finances. You can usually apply for a business credit card online, and the process is generally similar to getting a personal credit card. Here are five steps to follow. 1. Evaluate your eligibility. Although ..read more

Opening a business bank account is an essential part of running a small business. It’s the best way to separate your personal and business expenses. An added bonus is that it usually makes tax season a whole lot easier too. If you own a business in the Peach State, you may be looking for the best bank for small businesses in Georgia. The truth is that every financial institution is different. Finding the best one for you will depend on what you’re looking for in a bank. The Best Banks for Small Business in Georgia Establishing a business bank account can help streamline your bookkeeping and ac ..read more

Starting a business can be expensive. There’s production, advertising, inventory, packaging, employees, a storefront. You get the idea. It’s easy to see how the costs can begin to mount. Business funding can help bridge the gap when an entrepreneur needs a financial boost to get their business off the ground. While loans can be very helpful, there are funding opportunities that don’t require the entrepreneur to pay them back. Enter small business grants, AKA a no-debt solution to financing a small business. This guide outlines some of the best Washington state small business grants for which y ..read more

6 Best Minnesota Small Business Banks Financial Security Bank Chase Bank Citizens Bank Minnesota SPIRE Credit Union US Bank Axos Bank The state of Minnesota is characterized by its freezing winters and proximity to the Great Lakes. It is also known for its hospitable and friendly people, which is reflected in their local and community-operated small business banks. As a small business owner in the upper midwest, you’ll find that many of the best small business banks are primarily focused on serving regional communities. With so many small banking options in Minnesota, it can be challenging ..read more

6 Best Connecticut Small Business Banks Charter Oak Federal Credit Union Liberty Bank People’s United Bank Chase Bank Webster Bank Axos Bank When you’re on the hunt for the best small business bank in Connecticut, picking between a host of different types of banks can make the process challenging. Are credit unions better? Do larger banks provide better business services? If you’re not sure which bank is right for your business, don’t fret. Connecticut has plenty of reliable options when it comes to small business banks; so whether you’re looking for the best business bank account or the be ..read more

When it comes time to start a business, you need a few tools in your arsenal: a good idea, a great customer experience, and a lot of work ethic. The cherry on top? Funding. While there are many ways to fund a small business, grants are a great option. It’s no secret that starting a business can be really expensive and the costs can add up quickly. Business funding can make all the difference when an entrepreneur is ready to really grow their business. One of the most appealing forms of business funding are small business grants. What’s so exciting about small business grants? Basically, they’r ..read more

Anyone at the helm of a nonprofit knows that fundraising is a crucial part of success. It’s also something that can be incredibly challenging. In fact, research suggests that 23% of nonprofits lack a coherent fundraising plan. [1] As the fundraising process evolves, crowdfunding sites for nonprofits are emerging as a viable way to bring in much-needed financial resources. The strategy relies on collecting small donations from a collective group of individuals. Bit by bit, these bite-sized chunks of money can add up to make a significant change. Don’t believe it? Even though the average pledge ..read more

Virtually all Americans have been impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But not everyone has been impacted equally. For example, while the country’s richest people have actually seen a massive uptick in wealth since the start of the pandemic, many small business owners have had to fight tooth and nail to keep their businesses afloat.  In addition, not all small business owners are facing the same obstacles. While business owners in some states have seen operations return to relative normal, others have seen a large negative effect on their bottom line that they haven’t recovered f ..read more

When running a small business, the various fees surrounding your POS system and accepting card payments can be confusing. In fact, you may not know exactly how your issuing bank and payment processor are charging you. And, with consumers continuously preferring to pay with debit over both credit and cash—according to data from the most recent TSYS U.S. Consumer Payment Study[1]—it’s best to know what debit card processing fees you’re incurring when accepting these transactions.  This article, therefore, will break down the processing fees you face every time you swipe a customer’s debit c ..read more

One of the biggest mistakes new business owners can make is to mix their personal and business finances. It’s easy to see how this can happen: Oftentimes, when starting a new business, you’re pouring your own money into the business and all of your profits are either your income or they go back into the business. The point being, personal and business finance may overlap in the early days, but the best way to separate them is by opening a business bank account. More specifically, a business checking account is crucial for new businesses.  When looking for a business checking account, you ..read more