Most Active Articles 2009-11-24T12:54:59.161-05:00 Business Exchange Business_Exchange@businessweek.com urn:com:businessweek:bx:topic:most-active:small-business-debt Neal Gordon ngordon931 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:15996648905167497896-d393dd766dbc1c880277a6fd97d591a2 2009-11-24T12:00:57.158-05:00

Nov. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Bank of England Governor Mervyn King said he’s concerned that some banks receiving taxpayer-funded bailouts are too eager to return to investment banking. “I have in one or two instances been concerned that banks, particularly...

Nov. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Bank of England Governor Mervyn King said he’s concerned that some banks receiving taxpayer-funded bailouts are too eager to return to investment banking. “I have in one or two instances been concerned that banks, particularly... http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=adW96xkWYEJY&pos=4 David Sussman dsussman850 0 0 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:6709321056722267516-3f94fa3def3023d8fd7050816d22a7a0 2009-11-23T17:31:06.955-05:00

These unsustainable debt levels will have a continued detrimental effect on business, as interest rates will continue to increase in response. This will cause any available financing (which is still not widely available) to become more expensive.

These unsustainable debt levels will have a continued detrimental effect on business, as interest rates will continue to increase in response. This will cause any available financing (which is still not widely available) to become more expensive. http://www.prlog.org/10254079-lessons-from-the-front-line-of-the-american-economy.html David Sussman dsussman850 5 5 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:15689224694935529215-9700fba8bb7dd80d9751d542fa2626e5 2009-11-18T13:13:55.676-05:00

The small business credit crunch has justifiably been one of the primary news themes during the recession and slow recovery. And while stingy, risk-adverse credit behavior from banks and lenders is often labeled as the primary culprit, some small business owners may actually be exacerbating the credit crunch, albeit more due to ignorance than intentionally bad habits.

The small business credit crunch has justifiably been one of the primary news themes during the recession and slow recovery. And while stingy, risk-adverse credit behavior from banks and lenders is often labeled as the primary culprit, some small business owners may actually be exacerbating the credit crunch, albeit more due to ignorance than intentionally bad habits. http://blog.cortera.com/2009/11/18/three-tips-to-gain-and-keep-business-credit/ Alex Coté acot608 4 4 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:18251688349557901820-c690df0528deec2592c5d9749848bcfb 2009-11-15T10:32:08.269-05:00

If you're having a tough time getting customers to pay, you're certainly not alone. As a result of the roiling economy, many business owners are dealing with foot-dragging clients who are now late and requesting payment extensions on bills.

If you're having a tough time getting customers to pay, you're certainly not alone. As a result of the roiling economy, many business owners are dealing with foot-dragging clients who are now late and requesting payment extensions on bills. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703683804574533482721614374.html Alex Coté acot608 9 9 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:10873218442495752664-751d90209ec03197638130721dd0e72c 2009-11-10T10:27:48.319-05:00

The S&P is up over 50% since its March 2009 lows and yet for most of us, the leading indicators and large company earnings seem to defy the reality on Main Street. Newsweek offered a view on why such a gap may exist – and some indicators are emerging to focus on small business sentiment — but the fact remains that most prominent economic indicators fail to paint a true view of Main Street conditions. Last month we started publishing a small business index that takes a shot at filling the gap. Based on same criteria lenders and businesses use for determining credit viability, the SBI provides a view into the cash flow on Main Street. And just as Newsweek paints the picture of the Wall Street – Main St gap, the Cortera SBI™ shows increasingly divergent behaviors between the largest of businesses and the nation’s millions of small companies.

The S&P is up over 50% since its March 2009 lows and yet for most of us, the leading indicators and large company earnings seem to defy the reality on Main Street. Newsweek offered a view on why such a gap may exist – and some indicators are emerging to focus on small business sentiment — but the fact remains that most prominent economic indicators fail to paint a true view of Main Street conditions. Last month we started publishing a small business index that takes a shot at filling the gap. Based on same criteria lenders and businesses use for determining credit viability, the SBI provides a view into the cash flow on Main Street. And just as Newsweek paints the picture of the Wall Street – Main St gap, the Cortera SBI™ shows increasingly divergent behaviors between the largest of businesses and the nation’s millions of small companies. http://blog.cortera.com/2009/11/10/the-main-street-credit-squeeze-continues/ Alex Coté acot608 0 0 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:895202382217469917-27df6baf2d280ceefdeb10adc63f5802 2009-11-09T10:51:20.053-05:00

Building business credit isn’t just about paying your bills on time. Ideally you want those on-time payments reported to the credit agencies so other vendors and lenders will see your stellar payment history. But if your small business, like many,...

Building business credit isn’t just about paying your bills on time. Ideally you want those on-time payments reported to the credit agencies so other vendors and lenders will see your stellar payment history. But if your small business, like many,... http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/banking-law-credit-regulation/13403748-1.html Alex Coté acot608 1 1 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:12441193943939343961-15afb7fa0d922c93bc89564abd31dfbf 2009-11-04T10:11:35.978-05:00

Even before small-business lending giant CIT Group filed for bankruptcy last weekend, entrepreneurs and mom-and-pop shops were having a hard time funding their operations. So far this year, small-business loans have slid by 3 percent nationwide, or $113 billion, which is the first decline since 1993, according to the most recent data from the Federal Reserve. With tight credit restrictions and a dwindling supply of lenders, many small-business owners have stripped their personal savings or funded purchases through high-interest credit cards in order to survive.

Even before small-business lending giant CIT Group filed for bankruptcy last weekend, entrepreneurs and mom-and-pop shops were having a hard time funding their operations. So far this year, small-business loans have slid by 3 percent nationwide, or $113 billion, which is the first decline since 1993, according to the most recent data from the Federal Reserve. With tight credit restrictions and a dwindling supply of lenders, many small-business owners have stripped their personal savings or funded purchases through high-interest credit cards in order to survive. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/04/loan-climate-chilling-main-street/ Alex Coté acot608 1 1 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:16304894747132849991-fc79810ee4ed729fc4167a5e63373133 2009-10-30T17:25:32.368-04:00

Earlier I blogged about a story by George Cloutier in BusinessWeek’s The Turnaround Ace blog. Now that I’ve had some time to fully digest it, I have to say his advice is not only bad, but it’s also flat out wrong. Worse, it’s downright dangerous. It’s exactly the kind of counsel that can cause confusion among small business owners and frankly, its publication is irresponsible. Scan through the growing list of scathing comments about this article, and you’ll see I’m not alone. There are many troubling aspects of this article, but let’s hone in on a few:

Earlier I blogged about a story by George Cloutier in BusinessWeek’s The Turnaround Ace blog. Now that I’ve had some time to fully digest it, I have to say his advice is not only bad, but it’s also flat out wrong. Worse, it’s downright dangerous. It’s exactly the kind of counsel that can cause confusion among small business owners and frankly, its publication is irresponsible. Scan through the growing list of scathing comments about this article, and you’ll see I’m not alone. There are many troubling aspects of this article, but let’s hone in on a few: http://blog.cortera.com/2009/10/30/terrible-advice-from-a-small-business-expert/ Alex Coté acot608 2 2 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:10887705193449430162-0ed96349a62e714be80218045b6f660f 2009-09-08T10:35:31.245-04:00

Many business owners are confused by the terms debt and equity. This article helps to explain the differences and benefits.

Many business owners are confused by the terms debt and equity. This article helps to explain the differences and benefits. http://www.ccassociates.com/debtsvsequity.html Gary Honig ghonig155 6 6 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:14658127150828092404-d8af349054e23dc968f578606896edde 2009-08-14T13:35:18.108-04:00

Small-business owners hoping for some assistance of the sort given to the nation’s biggest banks applauded when the Small Business Administration unveiled a lending program in May. Skip to next paragraph Related How to Apply for a Federal Bridge...

Small-business owners hoping for some assistance of the sort given to the nation’s biggest banks applauded when the Small Business Administration unveiled a lending program in May. Skip to next paragraph Related How to Apply for a Federal Bridge... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/business/smallbusiness/13small.html?ref=smallbusiness John Maresca jmaresca218 2 1 1 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:6885041685557759368-a3585ec643dfc79b19b5c708510d68b0 2009-06-19T18:17:57.926-04:00

It seems like there’s a clear market need for new types of small business financing. So let’s start a discussion. What does the future of small business financing look like?

It seems like there’s a clear market need for new types of small business financing. So let’s start a discussion. What does the future of small business financing look like? http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/running_small_business/archives/2009/06/whats_the_futur.html John Tozzi jtozzi282 7 5 1 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:11506856809667794073-33140a3f0df8f13eea5132f001e34536 2009-07-29T06:03:58.025-04:00

Many individuals are plagued by tax debt. The accumulation of tax debt can be very stressful but rest assured there are tax debt professionals available if you feel you cannot attack the debt yourself. Many companies provide tax assistance, and...

Many individuals are plagued by tax debt. The accumulation of tax debt can be very stressful but rest assured there are tax debt professionals available if you feel you cannot attack the debt yourself. Many companies provide tax assistance, and... http://www.small-business-articles.com/some-guidelines-for-dealing-with-tax-debt/ Ivan Widjaya iwidjaya482 2 2 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:4017060599845221160-32cb028bfdcb574292e3b1631dc94cc8 2009-05-20T14:44:43.983-04:00

If your small business is hurting and needs help, the free money starts flowing June 15. And yes, it really is free — as in interest-free and with no SBA fees attached. Starting June 15, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will guarantee...

If your small business is hurting and needs help, the free money starts flowing June 15. And yes, it really is free — as in interest-free and with no SBA fees attached. Starting June 15, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will guarantee... http://www.whatworksforbusiness.com/2009/05/free-sba-bridge-loans-start-june-15/ Daniel Kehrer dkehrer628 4 4 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:3968717541866913835-88b4cb32278a48260fb535a1285b6009 2009-07-21T01:26:00.000-04:00

taking much of the government's attention and stimulus cash. The government decision last week against bailing out small business lender CIT Group raised fears of thousands of companies left without funding for day-to-day operations, and the lack of

taking much of the government's attention and stimulus cash. The government decision last week against bailing out small business lender CIT Group raised fears of thousands of companies left without funding for day-to-day operations, and the lack of http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r2098200730&f=9791 3 2 1 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:15848158002580781153-df627f996d74c72ee07bcf293fd93b19 2009-06-11T17:12:18.256-04:00

By Diana Ransom | SmartMoney According to the Small Business Administration, thousands of needy small-business owners are about to receive some debt relief — just in the nick of time. Beginning on June 15, the agency will begin doling out 10,000...

By Diana Ransom | SmartMoney According to the Small Business Administration, thousands of needy small-business owners are about to receive some debt relief — just in the nick of time. Beginning on June 15, the agency will begin doling out 10,000... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124458265906299453.html John Tozzi jtozzi282 2 2 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:15025392630717098844-1d0a44baa2a8b069a6e5a81e148bcf12 2009-03-30T12:13:43.343-04:00

A top Small Business Administration official said the agency is "working as quickly as possible" to implement a new bridge loan program created by the economic stimulus legislation. Through this temporary program, small businesses that are having...

A top Small Business Administration official said the agency is "working as quickly as possible" to implement a new bridge loan program created by the economic stimulus legislation. Through this temporary program, small businesses that are having... http://www.bizjournals.com/extraedge/washingtonbureau/archive/2009/03/30/bureau2.html Neal Gordon ngordon931 5 5 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:17812742353005740638-fe3ba5f3af09f38ff80c0898b51b3729 2009-07-09T15:06:39.594-04:00

When your creditors aren't the the original lenders, they may be less willing to work with you to save a business.

When your creditors aren't the the original lenders, they may be less willing to work with you to save a business. http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/running_small_business/archives/2009/07/bankruptcies_wh.html John Tozzi jtozzi282 0 0 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:4632184266166585944-32e49f9777b6dbde7a171f3653145508 2009-06-10T04:16:00.000-04:00

The Small Business Administration plans to begin approving ARC loan applications next week, but banks around the country remain wary of the emergency debt-relief program. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Struggling small

The Small Business Administration plans to begin approving ARC loan applications next week, but banks around the country remain wary of the emergency debt-relief program. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Struggling small http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r2024695248&f=9791 3 2 1 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:14958752469261529476-4ce0837f40e82413e16e44e3d196cf92 2009-06-08T00:47:00.000-04:00

more than 25 million small businesses, according to Equifax, Inc. (NYSE: EFX) analysis of its comprehensive database of small business information. Economically hard-hit areas in California, Texas and the Western part of the U.S. are at the top of the

more than 25 million small businesses, according to Equifax, Inc. (NYSE: EFX) analysis of its comprehensive database of small business information. Economically hard-hit areas in California, Texas and the Western part of the U.S. are at the top of the http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r2020810171&f=9791 3 2 1 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:10455639183954897602-f8caa7efc7add0712e41ae482f8a1ede 2009-06-15T03:53:00.000-04:00

small businesses that need short-term help to make their principal and interest payments on existing and qualifying business debt. ARC loans are 100 percent guaranteed by the SBA and have no SBA fees associated with them. ARC loans will be disbursed

small businesses that need short-term help to make their principal and interest payments on existing and qualifying business debt. ARC loans are 100 percent guaranteed by the SBA and have no SBA fees associated with them. ARC loans will be disbursed http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r2035085300&f=9791 2 1 1 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:2463140408463731667-c928c24adf51c03f8d9f5577520ef138 2009-04-30T17:26:13.419-04:00

In the midst of the worst economic contraction in decades, some small business owners are experiencing an additional—and brutal—cash squeeze, this time at the hands of their credit-card processors.

In the midst of the worst economic contraction in decades, some small business owners are experiencing an additional—and brutal—cash squeeze, this time at the hands of their credit-card processors. http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/apr2009/sb20090424_480177.htm Shirley Brady sbrady224 4 2 0 2 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:3437163856509487576-dd620a592f1bebee67fa11c4462b20b8 2009-05-19T10:43:04.241-04:00

In 1994, Glenn Rink figured out a way to turn oil slicks into solid sheets that could be easily plucked out of the water. "This is going to save the world," he remembers thinking shortly after creating AbTech Industries in 1996. The oil companies he...

In 1994, Glenn Rink figured out a way to turn oil slicks into solid sheets that could be easily plucked out of the water. "This is going to save the world," he remembers thinking shortly after creating AbTech Industries in 1996. The oil companies he... http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1877020_1877030,00.html Lauren Young lyoung404 2 2 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:3270030547310087476-9c4fc38097f6452c061a63074f93591d 2009-05-12T15:02:45.054-04:00

In a last-ditch bid to survive the nation's economic downturn, Advanta Corp. is closing its small-business customers' credit cards to new charges after June 10, the Montgomery County company said yesterday.

In a last-ditch bid to survive the nation's economic downturn, Advanta Corp. is closing its small-business customers' credit cards to new charges after June 10, the Montgomery County company said yesterday. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20090512_Advanta_Corp__suspends_credit_cards.html Lauren Young lyoung404 0 0 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:8117455362976669750-7d766f0ba12f35fec1b3a2400af2afaa 2009-05-11T16:38:10.655-04:00

(WOMENSENEWS)--On Mother's Day Shana Miller Kennedy isn't expecting breakfast in bed. She says her children--ages 6, 4 and 2--are too young to pull that off. "Maybe I'll get some homemade cards, that would be sweet."

(WOMENSENEWS)--On Mother's Day Shana Miller Kennedy isn't expecting breakfast in bed. She says her children--ages 6, 4 and 2--are too young to pull that off. "Maybe I'll get some homemade cards, that would be sweet." http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/4005/context/cover/ Lauren Young lyoung404 0 0 0 0