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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.

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. 

As a small business owner, it is necessary to make financial projections to give an accurate sense of what the future looks like. Year-end financial projections for the year ahead are crucial towards making better decisions and keeping your small business in check. These financial projections should be based on your small business's accounting data, such as expenses and cash flow. Using this information can help you better guide your company in a goal-oriented manner during 2014. Read on for some types of financial projections that could aid your small business.

How it grew: With a website that makes it easy for small companies to apply quickly for commercial loans online, seven-year-old Biz2Credit has positioned itself for profit. Biz2Credit's ever-expanding group of lenders, including a number of small banks, is eager to make deals with small firms at a time when bank loans under $1 million have stagnated, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey. Last year, Biz2Credit facilitated $380 million in loans, up from $200 million in 2012.

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.

Earnings and business credit scores of women-owned businesses 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.

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.

Within the last few years, social media has become a powerful tool that small businesses are increasingly utilizing. Neglecting social media platforms can be a big mistake. It provides small companies with the ability to directly communicate with existing customers and attract new ones. So what are the best ways to use this tool?

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.

As America honors its fallen soldiers this weekend, the country also recognizes the contributions of its returning veterans. They often face challenges such as permanent injury or a return to civilian life that can be difficult after years of serving in the military.

A Biz2Credit study earlier this year listed the Portland, Oregon, area as having the second-highest average revenue in the U.S. for businesses with fewer than 250 employees or under $10 million average revenue.