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If you're looking to start a small business and you don't have a trust fund, wealthy friends, a mega-rich godfather or haven't won the lottery, chances are you'll more than likely need a small business or bank loan. This means tons of paperwork and personal time. It's a process that can take months to get a green or red light and even longer to pick up the cash.

You may not realize it, but your website can damage your ability to get a loan. It would be crazy to imagine that if you have an existing business website when you apply for a loan your lender would not look at it. What do you want them to see? You want them to see a site that will draw and keep customers. After all, how can you pay back a small business loan if you do not have customers?

Once a Marine, always a Marine. They stand for an uncompromising code of personal integrity; accountability, self-reliance and discipline. honor, courage and commitment are the bedrock of a Marine's values," Wentz says. These are values that apply to entrepreneurs and their commitment to their businesses.

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.

Starting a blog can do wonders for your small business! You can use it to emphasize your company's mission, position yourself as a leader in your industry, and attract the attention of potential customers. Not only will your company get on more people's radar, but your company will also gain more customer loyalty. Here are a few things to keep in mind when starting a blog.

As 2014 begins, aspiring entrepreneurs are challenging themselves to create and abide by their New Year's Resolutions. This is the chance to start off with a clean slate; go out and do what you've always told yourself you were going to do. Perhaps this is the chance to get out there and start that business you've always dreamed about.

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.

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.

Everyone knows that opening a restaurant is a difficult undertaking, but it doesn't have to be all blood, sweat, and tears! Here, we break down some tips that will streamline the process of opening your own restaurant and help entrepreneurs obtain restaurant loans to start and grow their businesses successfully.

After going to school for the time and money it takes to become a veterinarian, most graduates are ready to get to work as soon as graduation is done. Whether you decide to jump straight into business for yourself or do some time in an established veterinarian's office first, when the time comes to branch out on your own you are going to need a lot of support. From finding loans for a veterinary practice to finding a location, there are going to be challenges. Where should you start?

Depending on what kind of business you have, you might not be able to turn to a bank for money. For those for whom a traditional bank is not a viable source of capital, a merchant cash advance can be the answer.

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.

People often ask me how to get a loan to start a business, or what type of documentation is needed to apply for a small business loan.  Although every bank has its own requirements, many documents are mandatory across lenders. Before applying, here are the basic small business loan requirements to keep in mind.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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