Business Directory


If you currently have a business or you are considering starting a business, establishing business credit is a good idea. According to the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) small business owners should take steps to establish credit in the name of their business as a way to preserve cash flow for necessary business operations, purchases, and rental payments. Here are a few basics to begin building business credit.

Separate Your Business Credit from Personal Credit

Business credit can and should be established separate from personal credit. When business owners use their personal credit to obtain business credit, they run the risk of lowering their personal credit scores. The business owner also risks being personally responsible for business liabilities. If you file bankruptcy and your personal and business credit are one in the same, you stand to lose everything. Business credit protects your personal assets.

No Personal Guarantees

The most important element to establishing business credit is finding lending institutions, credit card issuers and vendors that will establish business credit without you giving a personal guarantee. A personal guarantee involves using your personal credit information to guarantee repayment of the debt incurred by the business. In other words, you are obligating yourself to be 100% responsible for the business debt. It may be your intention to fully repay any debt incurred by the business; however, obligating your personal and business assets to repaying business debts can lead to financial ruin if any business setbacks occur.

Business Structure

Doing business as a sole proprietor will not allow you to distinguish your business credit from your personal credit. As a sole proprietor you may be “doing business as”; however, you are not a separate business entity. In order to establish business credit without a personal guarantee you must structure your business as a separate legal entity such as a corporation or limited liability company. Even if you have been doing business as a sole proprietor for years, you can restructure your business into a separate legal entity. Besides, it is a better choice to set your business up as an entity separate and apart from you. Your business could get sued and if all of your assets are tied together, financial ruin may be lurking in the background. Having a separate entity protects your personal assets.

Tax Identification Numbers

Your business entity must have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number (Tax ID). The EIN is your permanent number and can be used immediately for most of your business needs, including opening a bank account, applying for business licenses and establishing a business credit file. Never use your social security number. It may also be necessary to establish a State tax identification number. For the federal tax identification number you can apply online at www.irs.gov. The application process is fairly simple and you can receive the EIN immediately.

Business Checking Account

Your business entity should have at least one bank account, in the name of the business, that can be used as a bank reference. The older the bank account, the better. Having a business checking account helps in establishing your business identity and reputation. Banking relationships are still important in the business world. Building a strong relationship with your bank can be of assistance when you begin to seek business financing.

Get a Business License

You must always register your business and obtain a business license in the State, County or City where you conduct business. For some reason, this is not always done by businesses. It should be at the top of your “to do” list. Always register your business in the jurisdiction where you conduct business.

For a step-by-step process for building business credit please visit: www.rebuildcreditscores.com/Business_Credit.html



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Business Directory


Most people love to own a business of their own and attribute various reasons for this desire. In spite of this burning desire to own and operate a business they are very hesitant to put their best foot forward and venture out. What holds them back from Starting a New Business is certain Fear Factors indicated below.

1. No Self-Confidence:

They fear treading into unknown areas they have never been before. They don’t have the confidence of grappling with new problems and new issues that are bound to arise in their business. They are negative thinkers. They are more worried about failure rather than think positively about success.

2. No Money for Investment:

Since money plays a major role in starting a new business, it is important that you find ways and means of obtaining the money. The fear that hovers over their minds all the time is that they could loose their money in the event of their business ending up in failure. Hence they are unwilling to convince others to invest in their new business venture because within their hearts they are themselves pessimistic about the success of their own venture. This same fear restrains them from obtaining loans from lending institutions as well.

3. No Knowledge and Skills:

Most people who shy away from starting a new business or enterprise often give the excuse that they don’t possess the knowledge, skills or the expertise to set up a business. One need not possess all the skills and the expertise necessary to run a business. In fact many successful businessmen do not possess them either. You can get over this by employing people with the necessary skills to work for you or seek the advice of a business consultant. You too could upgrade your knowledge as you go along.

4. No Ideas:

Though money is not a problem to some but lack of ideas is indeed a major problem since they are unable to choose the right type of business. Identifying and choosing a Niche Business or a business that serves the need of the community should be the prime concern. If you want to be successful it is important that you do some research and set up a niche business, rather than a business that you love to do.

5. Bad Time Management:

Have we not heard people saying, “I simply do not have the time to do my present job and my other activities, how will I ever find the time to run a business?” Running a business does not consume more time than your job. It is not a question of insufficient time but it is your time management that is at fault and needs looking into. How well you manage your time is very crucial for the success of your business.

6. Bad Temperament:

Ups and downs are inevitable in business. The fear of encountering failure and the inability to face the consequences of this frightens them. A balanced temperament that can face successes and failures equally and withstand all kinds of pressures associated with it is essential.

7. Fear of Stress:

Whether you are on an 8 to 5 Job or running your own business you can undergo stress. Stress is not confined to business alone. Unfortunately some people fear that by running a business they could be unnecessarily stressed thereby creating health and family problems. Stress can be avoided with proper time management and avoiding the tendency to procrastinate.

Conclusion:

Paying undue attention to the above factors automatically creates a sense of fear and prevents you from giving serious thought to starting a new business. Thinking positively and associating with positive thinkers and go-getters will give you the courage motivation and confidence to take the first steps in starting a new business.



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Business Directory


The initiative of starting up a business is something very good. But the simple notion of starting up a business is sometimes plagued with certain thoughts of indecision or thoughts of canceling the whole idea of starting up a business. What is known is that a lot of people are afraid to get into business because they are troubled of loosing. This is because they might have previously experienced losses or might have seen others fail in business. It should be kept in mind that most of the failures often experienced in business are failures related to finances.

The fear of loosing should be something inherent in every business owner and particularly to those just getting into business. This fear is also experienced by those already established in business. But in most cases, they are very worried about sources of finance for their businesses.

One of the main ideas at the back of this article is to identify the various sources of financing a business as well as identify the various tools to take the business through to a stage of profit maximization. How can you seek for the finance necessary to run your business?

Loans

Loans are one of the commonest forms of securing finance for the business. Loans are commonly obtained through commercial banks and these will normally be made available to those who can show some convincing form of credit worthiness. However, the conditions over which loans are given will vary from one lending institution to the other.

One of the best ways to approach these lending institutions is to come up with a business plan which can be appreciated by the lending institution and also establish that your proposal has the least form of risk that can be thought of. Keep in mind that banks will prefer to put their money where they realize that risks are minimal or insurable than where risks cannot be insured. You must also make sure that you are a legal entity and that you have the necessary collateral to secure the loan.

Angel Financing

This is a type of scheme in which you will normally come up with a business program and present it to an individual or group of individuals who are willing and able to provide the necessary capital for the running of the business. It is common to find such groups working in a network today. You will also have to know about the various networks and how they function ahead of seeking financing from it.

Angel financing is also sought for and will be provided to businesses with very high risks. This will also warrant these financiers to demand for high returns on their investments. In most cases, what they stand to gain will be twenty or thirty times above the value of what they put in. This is a very expensive form of financing but it is probable that it can be made available to young business owners with businesses that have a high probability to expand. If you cannot get the required financing from a lending institution, you may opt for this form of financing.

Financing From Venture Capitalists

Venture capitalists are investors who gather money with the aim of putting it in businesses that are still at their inceptions or businesses that are experiencing insurmountable financial hurdles. Such business may lack the capital or personnel to direct the business and they may also be involved in businesses that have high prospects of making huge profits. However, those who provide finance under this type of scheme will want to have a considerable measure of influence over the affairs of the business. Business owners should therefore be wise enough on the amount of influence which they will accord to these investors.

There are other sources from which finance can be provided to the business. The business may decide to sell some of it shares to the public. It can also opt to sell what it acquired in the form of assets.



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