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Whenever you set up any form of debt settlement agreement with your debtor or your credit card company, your chances for obtaining reliable credit in the future from the same company is considerably reduced. In addition to this, such a step will also impact your overall credit score in a negative direction. The process of debt settlement basically calls for offering the credit card company with a negotiated settlement that aims to convince the company to accept a payment much less than the final debt payment or the total owed amount. Well though many of these processes are successful in relieving the consumer of all his or her debt obligations and also in preventing the lenders from selling any future debt to the collector, however most of them tend to leave your future financial story with a black mark for the next seven years at least.

However, the budget deal forged at the end of the year provided confidence that there would not be another hurtful showdown in the near future. As the year progressed, we saw record gains by the stock market and a rebound in the real estate market across the nation. The unemployment rate has been dropping steadily and is hovering around 7 percent, far from the nearly10 percent unemployment rates during 2009 and 2010. Further, interest rates for small business borrowers are still low, and banks are beginning to lend again, although not yet at pre-recession levels. 

So what exactly is a microloan? The Microloan Program was developed in 1992 by the SBA for the purposes of making available very small loans to business owners who need small business loans. Nonprofit intermediaries are used to make the loans. Currently, 170 nonprofit organizations are administering the Microloan Program, in almost every state. Since 1992, the Microloan Program has handed out over 12,000 loans, totaling a whopping $112 million. The funds of a microloan can be used for many business needs, including capital, inventory, supplies, and equipment.

According to the recent second annual women-owned business study by Biz2Credit, the average time period is just two years when a female entrepreneur applies for a loan. Meanwhile, in Illinois, a male-owned firm averages 31 months before it applies for a loan. That figure for the women-owned companies is lower than the average total of 27 months when women apply for loans, according to the Biz2Credit.

Can I Get a Small Business Loan from the Government? This is the question on many an entrepreneurs' minds, and the answer is not so cut and dry. The short answer is no, there is no such thing as a government small business loan. However, there is gray area.

There are times office equipment breaks down and you can simply write a check or draw from the business line of credit for repairs or replacement. Other times this is not the case. In those instances, it is necessary to call in the big guns. Equipment financing is likely the answer when other options just will not work.

The small business world can at times be very unpredictable. The government shutdown last year, for example, certainly did not do America's small businesses any favors. While there is no way to predict the future with 100% accuracy, here is a guide of what 2014 might hold for small business entrepreneurs.

Making more money is the obvious way to increase your bottom line, but just as you try to save when spending your personal budget, you want to save when spending , as well.Similar to using coupons for grocery and household items at home, looking for discounts and ways to save money during the daily course of business is essential to success.

The reasons for the big bank pullback, Arora says, are three-fold. First, big banks have more challenging underwriting standards and they may be waiting for 2013 tax returns from businesses. The harsh winter has also wrought havoc on business sales as customers stayed home and businesses themselves pulled in and perhaps sought fewer loans. Lastly, Arora says, banks haven't done a good job automating their loan processes, so it slows down their loan approvals

During the "credit crunch" of 2009 - 2011 when the largest financial institutions closed the spigot on small business lending, approval rates sunk to single digit percentages at many big banks. During this dry period, credit unions and alternative lenders filled some of the void and small banks, in particular, were the most willing to lend.

There is often a debate in the heads of small business owners over whether they should buy that new piece of equipment or just lease it. It may seem to be a small question with only month to month ramifications, but that fact is that the choice made can affect your tax return as well. It may do so even if you do not intend for it to.

A New Year means a fresh start for many, and what better way to kick things off than by opening your own business? Startup business loans are out there waiting for savvy entrepreneurs to snatch them up and put them to good use, but how exactly does one do that? These 5 tips should help you prepare to take on the world of business ownership by storm.

Earnings and business credit scores of women-owned companies soared in 2013, according to Biz2Credit.com, the leading online credit marketplace, which analyzed more than 10,000 applications from all across the U.S. on its platform during the past year. Average earnings for women-owned businesses rose to $54,114 in 2013 from $35,135 in 2012 -- a whopping 54% jump in a year-to-year comparison. Further, the average credit score for women-owned companies rose to 610 in 2013, up from 592 in 2012.

Do you need to make changes to your products' prices, in order to adjust your small business's bottom line? Many entrepreneurs are hesitant to do this because they are afraid of alienating their current customers. The success of your pricing policy depends on how the policy is implemented. Part of this means timing the pricing change carefully, and predicting your competitors' reactions to the pricing change.

In the process of starting your own small business, the first stretch is always the busiest and most difficult. Working every day for 12 hours straight is not uncommon. Even though you may be enjoying it, you're probably wondering when the craziness will let up a little. Here are four tips to ensure that your hard work will come to fruition, and that your small business will keep growing - slowly but steadily!

Before you even write up your loan application, carefully consider how much money you need. Set a limit for your expenses, and stick to it! Think about the money you absolutely must spend on bare essentials (i.e. real estate, basic equipment), and avoid paying for things you don't absolutely need for opening your small business. (Remember, you can always buy them later if your start-up is successful!)

Whether you are starting a new company, buying more real estate for your established business, or acquiring new equipment, you will most likely need to apply for a small business loan to secure financing. The process of acquiring capital can be a lengthy one.

The month of October has caused jitters since 1929, when "Black Tuesday" (Oct. 29, 1929) signified the stock market crash that ushered in the Great Depression. In two days, Monday, Oct. 28 and Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929, the market lost nearly a quarter of its value.

All businesses have strengths--and we hate to admit--weaknesses. So when it comes to running your operation, focus on the factor that best generates business. As an example, Helen Ling, owner of a gift shop called Enchantments that specializes in jewelry and other items hand-made by skilled artisans, uses the calendar to promote different gift items. In May, she features Mother's Day gift ideas, in June, the focus is on brides. Naturally, the holiday gift season looms large.

Many people are under the impression that marketing is difficult and expensive. However, some of the most effective marketing strategies can actually be quite affordable. There are many ways to spread the word about your small business.