Author: journeycapitaladmin

Ask Barbara anything. Your burning business questions, answered.

Running a successful business takes a great vision, perseverance and capital. No one knows that better than Barbara Corcoran, entrepreneur and star of the hit TV show Shark Tank. We teamed up with Barbara to help more small business owners get her no-nonsense, straightforward advice. Here’s your chance to ask Barbara anything; whether it’s questions…

A Guide to OnDeck Business Credit Reporting

Understanding your business credit profile A key measure of your business’ financial health is your business credit profile. We want you to get the most from your OnDeck relationship by helping you understand and manage your business’ credit profile. Since the credit profile describes how your business interacts with your creditors including online lenders, loan…

7 Ways the Government Could Help Your Small Business

For business owners, it can be easy to think of the government as a giant hassle. There’s all that red tape you have to fight for necessary permits, then of course there’s paying taxes, certifying employees, complying with all local, state, and federal laws, and the list goes on. Still, despite the day-to-day hurdles that…

Should You Sell Your Goods at a Flea Market or Crafts Fair?

Handmade crafts are enjoying a heyday in Canada. Etsy is seeing $2 billion in sales, which may soon be eclipsed by the fast-growing newcomer, Amazon Handmade. And brick-and-mortar markets are seeing a similar rise in interest. More and more consumers want unique handmade or vintage goods that display high-quality workmanship and offer an alternative to…
Barbara Corcoran

Barbara Corcoran Seal of Approval Winners’ Dreams Becoming Reality

Our Barbara Corcoran Seal of Approval contest winners achieved a lot since meeting with Barbara and receiving $10,000 each from OnDeck to grow their businesses. The December 2015 consultation with Barbara sparked a steady amount of opportunities for our three winners. Read on to see what they accomplished since our last check in. The Gents…

How the Military Prepared these Veterans for the Business World

Militaries equip soldiers with the skills to fulfill their missions and be great leaders in the process. But what happens when the military service ends and its back to civilian life? Business ownership is one avenue open to these veterans, and two OnDeck customers were kind enough to share their stories of how they came…
Women Entrepreneurs

Building a Successful Small Business: Advice From Women Entrepreneurs

We know many small business owners have difficulty accessing capital, but women business owners have particular trouble. While women own roughly 36% of the small businesses in the United States, only 5.5% successfully find financing at the bank, and 50% of those who applied for funding received nothing, according to the National Women’s Business Council.…

5 Questions With…Metro Cobbler & Co Shoe Repair’s Sunny Yoo

Our blog series “5 Questions With…” takes a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of our small business customers. Our next installment is below! Name: Sunny Yoo Company:  Metro Cobbler & Co Shoe Repair / Hakky Shoe Repair & Tailor Location: Owings Mills & Hanover, MD Products/Services: Shoe and Leather Goods Repair Years in Business: 5…

5 Questions With…Modwalls’s Rebecca Lonergan

Our blog series “5 Questions With…” takes a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of our small business customers. Our next installment is below! Name: Rebecca Lonergan Company: Modwalls Location: Aptos, CA Products/Services: Online modern tile store Years in Business: 12 Years Facebook:  Modwallstile Twitter: @Modwalls 1) Tell us about your business – what do you…

Can Small Restaurants Get Rid of Tips?

The idea of getting rid of tipping has reached a tipping point at some restaurants–most notably high-end dining rooms in big cities. But is the trend here to stay? And will it trickle down to smaller restaurants? In many states, waitstaff at restaurants depend on tips to round out their paychecks. Minimum hourly wages dip…

5 Questions with…Force Fin’s Susanne Chess and Bob Evans

Our blog series “5 Questions With…” takes a behind-the-scenes look into the daily lives of our small business customers. Our next installment is below! Name: Susanne Chess and Bob Evans Company: Force Fin Location: Santa Barbara, CA Products/Services: Underwater equipment Years in Business: 31 Years Facebook:  ForceFin Twitter: @ForceFin 1) Tell us about a day…

How To Get Happy Customers To Write You Online Reviews

In the age of the Internet, reviews of your business are easier than ever for customers to write, and for potential customers to access. Before checking out a new store or the latest restaurant, potential customers frequently whip out Yelp or the company’s Facebook page. Positive reviews boost your visibility, give you a good reputation,…

How to Make the Most of Your Small Business Facebook Page

Whether you use Facebook as your exclusive digital outreach, or as one piece of your online efforts, a little bit of knowledge goes a long way. Random updates and haphazard sharing aren’t going to gain followers; but with these best practices in place, you can work to gain new customers and increase customer loyalty. Build…