Category: Uncategorized
The Friendliest States for Small Businesses
According to a recent study, some U.S. states are far more friendly and accommodating to small business owners than are others. The third annual Small Business Friendliness Survey, conducted by Thumbtack, aimed to determine the states and cities that offer regulatory standards and conditions that best accommodate small business owners. According to the small business…
How Busy is Too Busy for Main Street?
Give Back to Employees with a Summer Get-Together
Getting your employees motivated can sometimes be a tough task. Sure, milestones will always spur the team forward – obtaining a high-level new customer, for example, or reaching a new sales goal. Yet most of the time, the hard work required by the job can be draining – especially in those sweltering summer months. That’s…
Your Business and Personal Credit Scores are About to Mix
Many small business owners likely think that their business credit scores and their personal credit scores don’t have an effect on each other. That’s never been entirely true – and recent developments mean that business and personal credit scores are going to start impacting each other even more directly. According to a report from the…
The Coolest Small Businesses in America
We think every small business is “cool”, but the list below takes cool to a whole new level. – The Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In, a miniature drive-in movie theater, located right in the middle of Miami, that allows space for a scant 18 cars per screening. – The Carousel Bar, which is exactly what…
OnDeck Generates $3.4B In Economic Impact & 22,000 Jobs Nationwide
We’re beyond excited to release our first economic impact report, which shows an estimated $3.4 billion in business activity and 22,000 jobs created from our $1 billion in small business loans delivered to date.
A guide to properly thanking your customers
As a small business owner, what keeps your customers coming back again and again? It isn’t simply having the best products and services. And it isn’t having the best promotions or marketing. Rather, creating an environment where your customers feel valued and appreciated is what fosters loyalty among your most important audience. 1. Don’t undervalue…
How to stay healthy while managing your business
Running a small business isn’t a 9 to 5 job, and often times it’s easy to let your health fall by the wayside. However, if you continue to put the company first and your own health second, you’ll eventually burn out. Here are some tips to keep in mind that will keep you feeling healthy,…
It’s Time to Refocus after Tax Season
Tax season is over (yay!), which means now is the time to put the focus back on your business. There are a number of different things to consider now that your paperwork is filed and your information is in process. Here are four: 1. Catch up on the books from the past few months Your…
5 Signs that you’re an East Coast Business Owner
Perhaps no set of business owners are as idiosyncratic as the ones on the East Coast. Comment below if these signs describe you. 1. You keep clothes for every season at your office year round Whether you’re in New England or farther down the coast, you’ve got to be ready for the weather to change…
Blood is thicker than Water: Do’s and Don’ts for Family Businesses
Family owned and operated businesses are a large part of America’s small business history. According to The Conway Center for Family Business, family-run businesses make up 80% of all businesses in North America1. That’s why it was no surprise that our article on Do’s and Don’ts for Husband and Wife Teams was one of our…
Crucial Guidance for Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Certifications
Our recent post on how to get certified as a minority-owned business was our single most viewed blog post ever. In response to the article, we received several requests for similar benefits for women-owned businesses, which we will explore today. Most government agencies, including city, state and national entities, as well as public companies, allocate…
Mixing Business with Pleasure: Do’s & Don’ts for Husband and Wife Teams
Who better to run a business with than your significant other? At OnDeck, we come across many successful entrepreneurs that are partners both in business and in life. However, mixing business with pleasure doesn’t come without complications. Listed below are some helpful do’s and dont’s for couples to keep their personal and professional relationships in…
A Brief Guide to Intellectual Property
As a business owner, it’s important to understand intellectual property and how it impacts your company. Defined as “a work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a manuscript or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright [or] trademark,” intellectual property might…
The 5 Cs of Small Business Lending
When applying for a loan, lenders will evaluate your overall risk based on five factors: The Five C’s of Lending. As a small business owner, it’s important to understand what they are and how they impact your lending profile. 1. Capital Lenders will always check to make sure that you have some capital to your…