For any entrepreneur, the threat of inflation looms large. The cost of doing business tends to go up and down every year. You may ask “how to survive inflation in 2022?” That’s why small business owners must stay on top of small business inflation and its impact to create sustainable success in their businesses.

Fortunately, there are plenty of measures that you can take to implement business strategies for high inflation.

What Is Inflation?

Essentially, inflation is a sustained increase in the average prices of goods and services in an economy. Prices rise due to increased demand or scarcity of goods and services.

For example, if there are ten apples in a basket and only one person wants them, each apple is worth $1. But if ten people wish to buy those apples and only ten are available, each apple will be worth $10.

The value of money decreases as prices rise because you need more money to buy something that costs more. This increase causes your purchasing power to fall over time.

How Does Inflation Affect Small Businesses?

When you’re running your own small business, inflation can affect your business in many ways, including:

• Causing rising prices on business essentials like raw materials and finished goods.
• Increasing costs of employee pay.
• Causing higher interest rates and taxes.

These effects add up and soon become too much for many small businesses, which lay off workers or struggle to grow because they do not know how to deal with inflation as a small business.

What Can Businesses Do To Stop Inflation and Lessen Its Impact?

While you can’t stop small business inflation, there are steps that you can take to help your business become more cost-effective and less exposed to its effects. Small business owners are adjusting to inflation every day. Here’s why you should become a business owner and use the following four approaches to help combat inflation.

Raise Prices Prudently

One of your first instincts with increasing inflation is to raise prices, but that isn’t always good for your business. Raising prices too much can hurt sales and cause clients to flock elsewhere.

But raising prices too slowly can also cause a decline in your profits. It would be best to strike a balance. Raise prices when necessary, but do so carefully and conservatively and you will not be part of the many examples of businesses affected by inflation in 2022.

If you end up overpricing your goods or services, demand decreases. Your profit margins could fall further because you still have to pay for expenses that are not offset by increased revenues.

Make sure any price increases are temporary and respond immediately if demand drops. Raising prices should be done strategically and without hesitation when warranted.

As long as you know why you’re doing it, you should be able to keep more money in your pocket while ensuring your customers continue coming back for more. You don’t want customers associating your company with price gouging.

Invest in Technology

Owners can protect themselves from small business inflation by investing in technology that helps keep their costs down. Investing in new technology will help you lower your overhead.

Lower overhead means you’ll have more money available for more important things, like paying employees and buying inventory. New technology also allows you to improve efficiency and productivity, which are essential factors in how to grow a small business.

For example, consider how much time each employee spends at checkout if you’re looking for a new point-of-sale (POS) system or POS software. If they’re spending too much time at checkout and not enough time buying products, then investing in POS software might be what your business needs to grow.

When choosing technology solutions for your small business, make sure they’re compatible with whatever operating systems or devices you currently use. You don’t want to spend hours learning to use something completely different from what you already know.

Find Ways To Increase Your Profit Margins

Increased profit margins are one of your most effective ways to insulate yourself from inflation. If you’re a service provider, consider raising your fees, whether it’s for print work or construction projects.

Think outside the box if you’re wondering how to find opportunity in every situation. If you’re a retailer, cut overhead costs. Cutting costs can translate into more income for you, even as prices rise around you. The more you understand how your business works, the easier it will be to spot potential areas for improvement.

You don’t have to implement them all at once. Take some time to think through each idea before moving on. You never know when something small could add up to significant savings down the road.

For example, buying several hundred gallons of fuel upfront may cost less than filling up whenever needed. By buying ahead and storing fuel in large containers or even underground tanks, you’ll also have less exposure to fluctuating gas prices over time.

Diversify Your Investments

The main issue with inflation is that the only way to combat it is to increase returns, which implies taking more risks. Diversifying your investments may be a good idea if you’re a small business owner.

The diversity will offer protection in case one sector or asset crashes while another continues to increase in value. For example, putting some money into domestic stocks and bonds will diversify from relying solely on imports/exports.

If an economic crisis occurs overseas and drives down import prices, your profits won’t suffer as much. You can also diversify by investing in different industries like buying real estate near factories or retail stores instead of residential homes.

When businesses are doing well locally, you benefit from increased demand for housing. When companies aren’t doing so well nationally or internationally, you still have revenue from rent checks. Diversification isn’t about maximizing profit but about minimizing risk.

Conclusion

Although inflation is a fact of life, it doesn’t mean you should allow it to control your finances. You can lessen its impact by taking proactive steps and keeping your business growing.

Start by implementing one or more of these strategies into your daily routine. You might be surprised at how quickly inflation can disappear from your radar. This way, your business will still be able to grow and thrive as if there was no inflation at all.

YouTube and TikTok are two of the most popular social media platforms in 2022, with 2.29 billion and 1 billion monthly active users, respectively.

About 12.5% to over 25% of the global population uses these platforms. This usage rate makes them ripe for marketers and advertisers to reach their target audience worldwide.

However, are these social media giants useful for small businesses? Should small businesses market and advertise on these platforms?

If so, which is better for your small business?

In this article, we will answer these questions by looking further into how to use social media for business. By the end, you will know if advertising your business on YouTube vs. TikTok is worth it and which is better.

Let’s dive in.

Is TikTok Good for Small Businesses?

TikTok reminded the business world how important staying agile in an ever-changing world is.

TikTok carved out its place in the ultra-competitive social media landscape faster than any entrenched giants could react.

However, to stay relevant and profitable, social media platforms must be able to monetize predictably and consistently. This usually involves making it profitable for other businesses to advertise on their platform and gain organic exposure through their posts.

While TikTok specializes in helping businesses and social media influencers gain large-scale exposure, TikTok can be a powerful platform for small businesses to build brand awareness and drive local business revenue to young adult audiences.

TikTok’s algorithm is one of the best at targeting the right audience with the right content. Their ad platform allows businesses to choose their targeting or allow TikTok to deliver their ads to the best audience.

This can be helpful for small businesses that may not have the budget to outsource their advertising to an agency and want to keep things simple.

In addition, small businesses can find a lot of success with influencers to promote their brand and piggyback off the trust the influencer has developed with their following.

Ecommerce brands often work with TikTok influencers to promote clothing and other products and can sell out with one high-quality post.

So when it comes to TikTok vs. YouTube for business, both offer organic and paid options that can benefit small businesses.

How Do I Grow My Small Business on YouTube?

Contrary to TikTok, YouTube specializes in longer-form video content (however, YouTube Shorts are becoming more popular).

Small businesses can grow their business on YouTube in a few ways:

• Organic videos
• Video advertising
• YouTube Shorts

One of the best ways for small businesses to use YouTube is to create valuable long-form videos to educate and entertain their target audience.

These videos can educate your audience to do business with you and help build a relationship with your brand.

YouTube also offers one of the best online advertising platforms available. With the ability to target users by interests, demographics, affinity segments, and more, YouTube advertising is an excellent way for small businesses to reach their target audience.

Furthermore, to compete with TikTok, YouTube launched YouTube Shorts. YouTube Shorts allows creators to post short-form videos similar to TikTok videos. With 15 billion daily views, YouTube Shorts have been blowing up, allowing businesses to reach their audience through another organic medium.

Benefits of Advertising Your Business on YouTube vs. TikTok

While both YouTube and TikTok can help small businesses expand their reach, advertising your business on TikTok vs. YouTube depends on the ads you want to run and who you want to target.

Here are some of the benefits of advertising your business on YouTube vs. TikTok:

YouTube offers businesses the opportunity to advertise to a broader demographic. The age range of users spans all ages, from young adults to people in their 60s and older.

Therefore, if your business typically markets to an older crowd in their late 20s and above, YouTube is likely to be the better option for you.

Listing your business on Google may seem like the best idea. However, YouTube is likely a better option if your audience is looking for “how-to” content. As the second-largest search engine in the world, many people turn to YouTube to learn new information and skills.

If your market is trying to learn something, you have a good chance of getting on their radar using YouTube.

On the other hand, if your business primarily markets to a younger audience, or if younger people are an important audience segment, there is no better platform to advertise on than TikTok.

TikTok has blown up with the younger market, and TikTok ads typically look almost the same as regular TikTok posts. Your ads can fit seamlessly into the TikTok community while driving brand awareness and clicks to your website.

TikTok thrives on short-form, highly engaging content that delivers a unique blend of trendiness, entertainment, and education. If you run a more modern brand that wants to set itself apart, TikTok can be an excellent platform to build a presence on.

Pros & Cons YouTube vs. TikTok

The pros of advertising your business on YouTube include:

• Long-form video content to have more time to engage your audience
• Precise targeting based on interests and demographics
• A global audience

The cons of advertising your business on YouTube include:

• Higher advertising costs than some of the small platforms
• You are limited to video ads

The pros of advertising your business on TikTok include:

• Short videos don’t require lots of time or investment to create
• Influencer marketing is highly effective
• A robust advertising algorithm to increase advertising effectiveness
• A vast younger audience that is likely to age up over time

The cons of advertising your business on TikTok include:

• The audience is mostly in their late 20s and younger, so if you’re business markets to older people, there might not be enough on the platform yet

YouTube vs. TikTok – Who Wins?

In the debate between YouTube vs. TikTok for small businesses, the winner depends on who your company is trying to market to and what type of content (long-form or short-form) you are better at.

YouTube wins for long-form content targeting any age group, demographic, or interest. TikTok wins for short-form content targeting young adults.

Ideally, all of a company’s clients would pay every invoice and bill on time. However, that’s not a reality even large enterprises live in. There will nearly always be a percentage of customers who pay late or don’t pay at all. While companies sometimes handle debt collection in-house, many small businesses don’t have the bandwidth to do that.

Instead, debt collection for smaller companies tends to involve hiring an outside agency. A debt collection agency has experts on hand familiar with debt collection regulations and best practices. Moreover, an agency can help your small business design and execute a debt collection strategy. Let’s examine how debt collection for small business organizations works.

What Is a Debt Collection Agency?

A debt collection agency is a company that collects outstanding debts for another person or business. Some agencies may also purchase bad debts from other businesses and then try to collect on them. Say you have a revolving line of credit and are 90 days past due on one of your minimum monthly payments. An agency will call or write to you to encourage you to pay.

Debt collection agencies can also reach out to associates or relatives of someone who owes a debt. Agencies do this to find that person or get updated contact information. In doing so, they must abide by the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. Unfair practices include pressuring people to pay more than the original debt unless allowed by law or contract.

When making a debt collection agency list, verify the agency practices fair debt collection techniques. In addition, check to see if the agencies are licensed in the state your small business operates in. Many states and some cities mandate this. You can also ask for client references and skim reviews or testimonials.

How Collection Agencies Work

A collection agency needs to know the ins and outs of the financials of your business. That includes your existing invoicing and accounts receivables practices. To come up with debt collection strategies for your business, an agency will need to know how many invoices are in arrears. In other words, how much is past due, and how long has it been outstanding.

Collection agencies will want a list of customers who owe your business money. Once agencies collect the debt, they turn over what is owed to you. However, debt collection through an agency does come at a cost. Agencies will deduct their fees from the amounts they recover.

This structure is similar to working with a real estate agent. The agent does not collect a commission or a fee unless they close the deal. Once they sell a home or help you buy one, they then collect their commission from the seller’s proceeds. Likewise, debt collection agencies don’t charge a fee until debts are successfully recovered.

Debt Collection Regulations 2022

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) outlines many debt collection regulations for agencies and companies. Debt collection for small business firms falls under these stipulations. Any agency working on your behalf or an in-house team will need to adhere to these standards.

• Debt collectors cannot contact people at work.
• Agencies and collectors cannot reach out to clients before 8 am or after 9 pm. This rule applies to the client’s local time zone. The exception is if the customer and debt collector agree to a phone call outside of 8 am to 9 pm.
• Business debts are not covered by the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act. However, personal debts like student loans and mortgages are.
• Debt collection agencies can call, email, send letters, or use text messages to collect on a past-due debt.
• Consumers can request agencies stop contacting them.
• Debt collectors cannot harass or threaten clients. Agencies also must represent the business accurately and cannot attempt to collect anything else but what someone owes.

How Should I Choose a Debt Collection Agency for My Small Business?

Finding the best collection agency for small business debts starts with a search. You can look online for debt collection agencies near me or debt collection agencies for small businesses. Checking with the local chamber of commerce or asking someone you know for referrals are additional ways to find a good agency.

While you’re searching, go beyond recommendations and online reviews. Interview different agencies and verify their practices are ethical. You can look up agencies with the Better Business Bureau, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and your state attorney’s office.

One of the pros and cons of buying an existing business is that you may be inheriting a debt collection agency. With that in mind, see if there is a contract in place. Even if there is, do your due diligence. After all, you don’t want to continue a relationship with an unethical agency.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Collection Agency?

A collection agency is going to charge fees for each collected debt. These fees usually represent a percentage of the debt. However, many agencies base those percentages on the size or age of the debt. Some debt collectors will negotiate reduced fees with small businesses.

More than likely, you’re going to find a range of fees out there. Nonetheless, smaller and older debts usually come with higher percentages. These fees can be as high as 50% of the collected amounts. As debts get larger and fresher, that figure can be as small as 10%.

Best Collection Agency for Small Business in 2022

The best debt collection agency for your small business is going to be one that can match your must-have criteria. Maybe that’s one you can easily meet with and is well-versed in state laws. On the other hand, maybe your small business needs an agency that represents other companies nationwide and has an extensive network.

As you consider what kind of debt collection for small business you need, you’ll get a sense of which ones will make your shortlist. That being said, the most important factor is ethical practices and a sound track record. Be sure to check for the number and nature of any complaints before hiring a collection agency.

If you have a retail business, you’re likely familiar with the challenges that come with retail loss. It is an issue among retail stores, but there are loss prevention strategies to ensure that your profits and inventory are protected.

What Is Retail Loss?

Retail loss, also known as shrinkage, is losing retail merchandise by theft, fraud, damage, and other instances of inventory loss. Shrinkage is damaging to retail stores because, typically, the business buys and sells inventory, so if that inventory doesn’t make a profit, the business loses a lot of money.

Loss prevention strategies formulate because of this profit loss. This profit loss comes from but is not limited to employee and consumer theft, damaged goods, and administrative errors. Here are some retail loss prevention tips and examples for small businesses.

Proper Inventory Management

Business owners should understand how effective inventory management can be when discussing loss prevention techniques.

Inventory management is vital for several reasons, but understanding what you’re losing is the most prominent reason.

Time and time again, you see managers and retail business owners lose track of their inventory. Time-sensitive inventory such as produce and food products with limited shelf life can expire if it’s not accounted for and cycled adequately onto the shelves for the consumer to buy.

Keep track of ordered inventory and double-check to ensure every item has arrived safely and undamaged. Keep track of each item and shelf as needed.

Security Measures

When discussing the best practices for loss prevention, the focal point will be security. Essentially, a security system or systems are in place to prevent theft and fraud.

Protect Inventory From Damage

Inventory is your profit. You’ll see a massive hit to your business’s profit the more you lose before a customer can buy it. Of course, products will get damaged and break once they’re in the hands of the consumer, but ensuring that your inventory as a retailer doesn’t get damaged is vital.

For a smaller business focusing on protecting merchandise is especially important. If you have one store, all your income will come from turning a profit from as much inventory as possible, so every bit of goods counts.

Protect Products From Theft

Smaller businesses can implement numerous security methods without hiring an entire security firm to deal with theft from consumers and employees.

Essentially, if a product is fragile, expensive, or easy to steal, you may want to consider adding another layer of protection. Items that usually have an extra layer of protection, for example, are video games, medicine, and computers.

Clothing is a perfect example of something relatively easy to steal.

Retail security tags are a pretty inexpensive option when bought in bulk. The best part is these tags are reusable. In addition, these tags assure that consumers and employees are mindful of stealing this particular item. With a detective system in combination with security tags, no clothing will leave the store without the knowledge of the employees.

Paying for Security Upgrades

Retailers tend to flake on security because of the expenses, but the upfront cost is well worth the investment. The security detection system and security tags are an example of an upfront fee but ensure that all of your clothing and even products will have a more challenging time moving out the front door.

Even if your business currently doesn’t have the money to cover security upgrades like cameras, glass cases, and chips, there are still options for funding. For example, retail store business loans can cover those costs and pay them back with the extra money you make from selling all your merchandise in your store.

For the pros and cons of alternative funding methods for security upgrades or, in general, check out our article on alternative business funding. Also, check out this article for more details about a business loan for retail shops.

Employee Training

Loss prevention focuses on mitigating loss on every front, even the home front. Sadly, it’s not uncommon for employees to be the source of theft or negligence. However, there are a few basic things a small retail business can do to ensure minimal loss on the home front.

Train Employees to Spot Theft

Properly train employees to spot theft from both consumers and other employees. Having clear guidelines and rules during employee orientation can drastically increase an employee’s ability to detect theft.

Giving employees incentives and rewards for reporting and stopping this kind of behavior is a proactive way of engaging your employees to prevent theft.

Make Sure Employees are Happy

It’s essential to make sure your employees don’t have a reason to steal from you. Well-paid employees tend to feel satisfied and secure in their position compared to underpaid and disgruntled employees who wouldn’t care if you lost a few extra dollars as a business owner.

Satisfied employees ensure they’re focused on doing an excellent job while not ruining their job position because of theft.

Returned Items

Unfortunately, customers aren’t always the most trustworthy shoppers, especially with returned items. While defective products are most undoubtedly prevalent, your employees should know why customers return their items.

These consumers are known to buy a new product they already own and return their old one in the box, claiming the new one they bought was defective. Sometimes they can get away with this if customer support is negligent.

Ensure your employees check the condition of the products, the serial numbers if applicable, and most importantly, the receipts of that particular product. There are numerous methods to check if a consumer is returning the original product they bought or returning a broken one and keeping that new one.

Thieves may target customers themselves as well. Items stolen from consumers outside your store may try to be returned by the thief. Remember if you have return policies to emphasize needing a receipt for proof of purchase. Mandating proof of purchase will prevent instances such as this from happening. You’ll be able to report it to the authority to hopefully stop that individual from committing an act like that again.

Conclusion

Retail loss is a widespread issue, but loss prevention strategies in retail are getting better every day. Remember, when investing in loss prevention, you’re ensuring that you protect your inventory and future profits.

Limited liability companies are the most popular choice for small businesses. The numerous benefits of forming an LLC are why it remains the favored option for small companies. The advantage of LLCs comes from the limited liability the business owners have in case of lawsuits, financial burden, and tax flexibility.

These LLC benefits also open up avenues for additional financing. Depending on your business’s needs, you may find certain types of loans for LLCs more favorable than others. Regardless it’s important to understand what an LLC loan is and how to get a business loan as an LLC company.

What To Consider Before an LLC Business Loan

An LLC Loan is a small business loan that focuses on funding the LLC, not the company’s owners, even though it’s technically a byproduct of the loan.

Before jumping the wagon to take out a business loan, it’s important to understand the purpose of that loan. LLC loans must serve a purpose to keep a business running or make a profit to pay off the loan.

As an LLC, you should consider how that loan will ensure minimal liability while also opening up avenues of cash flow that will make up for the burden of a loan. Taking out a loan to access emergency capital isn’t an idea anyone would recommend in the business world.

Banks and other loan providers want to ensure that they make money by providing loans. Having a plan to ensure that happens is vital to guaranteeing stable income and acquiring an LLC business loan in the first place.

Types of LLC Business Loans

Bank Loans are essential for established LLCs to attempt to acquire. LLC bank loans offer flexibility and low-interest rates. The only issue with a business loan from a bank is the strict requirements needed.

Banks will typically only give loans to businesses that have proven their financial competency. Having a good business and personal credit score will drastically increase your chances of acquiring a bank loan.

SBA Loans

SBA loans are similar to bank loans in a few ways. They offer flexibility and access to cash but require a significantly lengthier application process.

LLC Business Lines of Credit

Business lines of credit are one of the easiest ways an LLC can gain access to more capital. A business line of credit isn’t necessarily a loan. It’s an extended pool of capital.

The idea behind a business line of credit is having continuous access to capital instead of receiving just a lump sum of cash. This method allows financial flexibility when necessary.

LLC Invoice Financing

Invoice financing is another easy way for an LLC to acquire capital via collateral. This option may be favorable for businesses that have unpaid invoices from consumers.

Invoice financing allows a business to receive a cash advance for unpaid invoices. These unpaid invoices act as the collateral, which means these loans as secured. Secured loans are easier to acquire because of this collateral factor.

The downside of invoice financing is the fees that may come with receiving these cash advancements. Some fees are predetermined, while others stack up depending on how long it takes the consumer to pay these invoices.

LLC Loan Requirements

Depending on your lender, you may need additional documentation and requirements to apply for an LLC loan. If this is the case, you should talk to the loan provider about the requirements to apply and get the loan.

The following are common requirements:

Financials: Loan providers need to understand the business’s financial position when discussing financial documents. These documents may involve the company’s balance sheet, cash flows, account statements, and tax returns.

Personal Financial History: Some banks and loan providers will usually ask or look for the LLC’s financial history representatives. If the representatives have a good credit history, they will feel more comfortable entrusting a business loan to your company.

Collateral: Banks or loan providers will ask you to put up business assets for collateral if your loan is secured. Assuming your loan is secured, you will need to put something of higher value than the loan. Typically, the loan you get will be worth 75% of the asset’s estimated value.

Business Documents: You will most likely need to provide relevant business documents that show the company’s competency. These documents may include your company’s business plan or intent with the loan, such as construction plans or a business plan involving the money.

Other documents may include legal agreements with other parties involved and operating agreements.

Read more on how to qualify for small business loans to better your chances of qualification.

FAQ

Below are the answers to the most common questions about LLC small business loans.

How to get a loan with an LLC?

LLC small business loans are simple application and review processes with loan providers and banks. Having a good financial standing will make this process faster and more consistent.

What is an LLC business loan?

LLCs operate as separate entities from their owners. Since this is the case, the actual owners remain independent from any financial burdens the company may face. The only core difference between a standard business loan and an LLC business loan is what kind of business it’s funding.

Do you need an LLC to get a business loan?

Small business loans are usually completely applicable and available to LLCs, but you don’t have to be an LLC to receive a business loan.

Can an LLC get an SBA loan?

SBA loans are entirely available to LLCs and highly recommended when applicable as the requirements are less strict than a bank loan.

Can a new LLC get a business loan?

It’s perfectly viable for a new LLC to acquire a business loan, while it may have some challenges. Usually, banks need an LLC to have two years of operational experience before considering them for an LLC business loan.

The world of e-commerce presents a compelling opportunity for those looking to start up a side hustle or even start their own full-time business. 

When it comes to selling online, there are many avenues vendors can explore, perhaps none more enticing than Amazon, the world’s number one digital marketplace. 

Here are seven of the most important things to take into account when considering how to become an amazon seller

How to Sell on Amazon for Beginners 

Getting the ball rolling is easy.

You need to create/register a seller’s account to sell on Amazon. This will provide you with the main dashboard you will use to add new listings, monitor your existing inventory, and track reports/performance metrics.  

You will need to enter relevant information such as business name, address, and tax info (EIN, SSN, etc.) and consider if you want to begin with an individual or professional account. 

Once you are fully registered, it’s time to decide what you want to sell and how you plan to go about making sales.

Finding Good Products to Sell

Perhaps the most critical aspect of selling on Amazon is choosing the product you want to sell. You need to strike a delicate balance in finding something people want to buy in an already oversaturated market.

Many people that try selling on Amazon are either not successful or don’t know how to grow ecommerce business over time. Often this is not due to a lack of effort but rather a faulty business plan, target niche, or product. 

To be successful, you’ll want a product that has:

• Good profit margins
• Limited competition
• Decent search volume

It is vital to strike a delicate balance between something people are beginning to search for, but that has not generated a ton of sales just yet. The reason is to ensure demand but avoid extensive competition.

You will also want to find a reputable supplier to ensure your product is meeting basic quality standards and that you can get it sent to Amazon shipping centers promptly for fulfillment. 

What Can I Sell on Amazon as a New Seller? 

The great thing about ecommerce sites like Amazon or Shopify for small business is that you can sell just about anything, even as a beginner. 

Some ideas for possible products include:

• Clothing
• Electronics
• Jewelry 
• Toys & Games

Before honing in on your niche, you will want to conduct rigorous market research to determine what types of products are currently selling. You also want to determine who the product is for, why they need it, and how you can appeal to them. This is fundamental in learning how to become an Amazon seller.

The Advantages of Selling on Amazon 

The biggest advantage of selling on Amazon is leveraging its robust brand recognition and existing customer base. By gaining access to Amazon’s extensive marketplace, new sellers can avoid several early steps, such as launching paid ads or focusing exclusively on expanding their company profile.

Because your store falls under the Amazon umbrella, you also don’t need to worry about figuring out shipping or how to handle returns, which is especially beneficial for new sellers who are less familiar with these processes.  

How Long Does It Take to Become an Amazon Seller?

Starting a small business online is fast and easy. Whether you are launching a store on your own platform or using a third-party one, you can usually get up and running in just a number of days.

In most instances, your Amazon seller’s account will be approved in as little as 24 hours. However, while you can begin using Amazon’s platform to post listings and test out products, getting your first sale may take some time. 

As you learn the ropes, you will become increasingly familiar with techniques that will help your store increase its visibility within Amazon’s search algorithm by optimizing your listings with keywords and finding products in emerging markets. 

Are There Any Amazon Seller Fees? 

How much money do you need to become an Amazon seller? The good news is not a whole lot. However, to be successful over the long term, you will need to set aside some out-of-pocket costs.

This includes some Amazon seller fees you should be aware of before you begin selling products on the platform.

When you register as a seller, you can sign up as an individual seller or a professional seller. If you choose the individual option, Amazon will charge you .99 cents for each product you list on their site. If you choose the second option, you must pay a monthly fee of $39.99. 

While it is tempting for new sellers to select the individual plan, for those planning to remain selling over the long haul, it is recommended switching over to the professional option once you start making your first sales to avoid a monthly cap.

One major perk for consumers is Amazon’s free shipping options. The reason it is free for customers is that often vendors are the ones footing the bill. Other fees associated with selling on Amazon include referrals and taxes for certain products and shipping/fulfillment. 

How to Increase Sales on Amazon

Registering an account and getting your store up and running is easy. The hard part of how to become an amazon seller is consistently making sales. 

Even after you make your first few sales, you need to constantly monitor performance indexes and stay ahead of the curve with diligent customer/product research. 

Buying products from third-party suppliers and selling them for a higher price on Amazon is a business strategy known as dropshipping. While it can be lucrative, there are certain methods you need to be aware of to scale and determine how to grow a dropshipping business. 

To increase sales over time, consider doing the following:

• Targeted keyword research that will help your listings show up in search
• Evaluate top competitors in the same niche
• Use high-quality images and accurate descriptions
• Set competitive pricing with good profit margins
• Test out paid ads and social media strategies
• Manage your inventory and evaluate performance

If you carefully consider all these factors and take the time to research and develop your brand, the odds are good that you will find success selling on Amazon.

If you have credit troubles, it can be frustrating to try and get approved for a small business loan. You may have tried applying for an SBA loan only to find out that it didn’t go through. You may wonder why your SBA loan was denied, or what you should do next.

We will help you answer these important questions, so you know what to do next time you apply for an SBA loan.

What is an SBA Loan?

Understanding SBA loans is the first step in learning to apply. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers several loan programs that support small businesses and entrepreneurs by providing financing to those who may not qualify for a traditional loan on their own.

SBA loans have longer repayment terms than conventional bank loans. They serve one purpose – to help small business owners start, grow, and succeed. In the event of emergencies, you can also apply for SBA disaster loans.

SBA loans are good for small businesses. They have some great perks. But the approval process is hard and disappointing. If your SBA loan gets denied, you can appeal the decision.

SBA Loan Denied- Now What?

Receiving a denial letter from a lender can be discouraging. However, getting back on track relatively quickly is possible. First, you must determine the reason for your SBA loan application denial.

If the denial was due to bad credit or a lack of collateral, you could address these issues. If the problem is poor cash flow, poor business management skills, or other more systemic issues, it may be time to consult with a business advisor or accountant to address them

Here is what to do after your SBA loan application falls through:

Find out why

If you didn’t get the loan you applied for, ask why. It’s important to know why you didn’t get the loan so that you can plan.

After you get the rejection letter, you should call the bank to find out why. Some of the reasons can be that you don’t have enough experience or lack enough collateral. You can improve these areas to get approved the next time you apply.

Appeal to the SBA

If you want to contest a decision, you can ask the SBA to review it. Or you can re-examine your file and present more evidence. The best evidence should help you contest the outcome and ask the SBA to reconsider its decision.

But if you do something that makes you ineligible for the small business loan, you can’t change that by asking the government to reconsider.

However, if you discover that your credit report contains errors, you may have a cause for requesting a reconsideration.

Applicants interested in submitting a reconsideration request should summarize the reason for denial and include why the SBA should reconsider the request.

Wait and Reapply

You can’t get an SBA loan if you don’t have any collateral, credit history, or money. If this is the case, wait 90 days and apply again. You can also try to improve your personal and business credit.

What Percentage Of SBA Loans Get Denied?

Banks are for lending money to people and businesses. Small banks usually lend money to small businesses and people. They lend less money than big banks do.

Big banks lend money to big companies, but they don’t lend much money to small businesses. That is why 1 in every 5 SBA loan applications fails.

If My SBA Loan Didn’t Go Through, Can I Apply Again?

If you don’t get the loan the first time you apply, you can try again. But you have to wait for a while after your first application.

It is advisable to take some time to improve your business and credit history before applying again. You are able to reapply again after 90 days.

Reasons for My SBA Loan Rejection

Your loan application may not be successful for various reasons, but some of the more common ones are as follows:

• You or your business  has a low overall credit score
• You lack adequate collateral or assets to secure the loan
• You already have outstanding debts.

Experts also advise watching out for the flowing SBA red flags:

Low capital

Insufficient capital means loan applicants may fail to service loan repayments.

Negative credit history

Bankruptcy, liens, and past government defaults reduce your chances of getting the loan.

Irrelevant industry

You won’t get the loan if you work in an industry that the Small Business Administration does not lend to.

Alternative Options If You Don’t Get an SBA Loan

If your SBA loan doesn’t succeed, you have other options. Here are some alternatives that you may find helpful.

Hard Money Loans

Suppose you’re looking to buy a piece of commercial real estate. A short-term hard money loan might be a good option. Credit score and income are not important considerations. Your real estate collateral value is the most important consideration for lenders.

Online Lenders

Online lenders can help you get money for your business. The biggest caveat is that they might charge you a higher interest rate than a bank. Before you borrow from an online lender, check their fees. Each online lender has its standards.

Business Credit Cards

If you are a small business owner and want to build business credit, you can apply for a business credit card. Businesses can have credit card accounts that are separate from their personal credit.

Invoice Financing

If a small business loan fails, you can try invoice financing. Invoice financing allows you to access working capital to pay pending invoices.

Invoice financing can help you cover daily expenses like inventory and supplies. In contrast to SBA loans, only B2B companies are eligible for these loans.

Fee-based lenders will let you borrow money for invoices due in 30 to 90 days. Loans against invoices are usually fairly low-interest. If you have bad credit or no business credit history, you are unlikely to qualify for invoice financing.

Didn’t Get Your SBA Loan?

SBA loans are useful because they can help pay for many different things like buying equipment or making repairs to the business premises.

If your SBA loan gets declined, you can reapply or simply explore alternative financing options. Learn how to apply for an SBA loan so you can ensure all the necessary information is included in your application. Before that, it’s critical to invest time in understanding your business’s financial position and why your application failed. You can always seek help from professional financial experts.

Understanding the risk of identity theft to your business will help you take the appropriate measures to protect yourself from identity fraud. Many businesses don’t protect their data properly, leading to data breaches and a loss of customer trust. Here’s what you need to know about identity theft and how it relates to businesses.

What Is Business Identity Theft?

Business identity theft refers to when scammers obtain a business owner’s personal information to pose as them. They use that information to open credit lines, illegally use the business owner’s existing credit cards, take out loans, or obtain tax refunds and other benefits.

Once a hacker has access to your personal information, there’s a lot they can do with it, even posing as you to open up fake office locations and scam customers.

Another type of business identity theft is when thieves target your customers instead of you. If a hacker can obtain sensitive customer data, such as credit cards and social security numbers, they can access bank accounts, take out loans, and more. That’s why protecting the private information of customers is so critical.

How to Protect Your Business from Identity Theft

Identity thieves typically obtain personal information through several methods. Some take advantage of weak security controls to hack into your system, while others rely on moles inside your company willing to sell you out. Here are the best business identity theft protection practices.

1. Take the Right Online Security Measures

Business identity theft protection starts online. A system lacking security is an easy target for hackers.

Using strong passwords and activating two-factor authentication is a start. For added security, use an authenticator app instead of SMS-based 2FA, as text messages are subject to sim swap attacks.

Install firewalls on your network and use antivirus software to scan and monitor your devices for breaches.

Employee mistakes are a common factor in business identity theft, so employee cyber security training is crucial. Employees who aren’t trained in the best online safety practices may click on malicious email attachments or links sent to target your business, or they may enter sensitive passwords on public Wi-Fi networks.

2. Encrypt and Protect Your Data

It’s not just your online data you need to protect but also any data kept offline. Some identity thieves break into offices to steal laptops, hard drives, and even documents that can reveal sensitive business and/or customer information.

Make sure employees know to turn off and lock their computers when leaving the office. Encrypt your hard drives and CDs, and keep important documents in locked filing cabinets. Ensure you install a solid security system, complete with cameras and alarms, in your office.

3. Restrict Access as Needed

Many cases of data breaches occur due to employee misconduct. Employees who have access to customer information they shouldn’t have can sell that information or use it for their gain.

By setting user access permissions and only providing passwords to the right employees, you can protect sensitive customer and business data. In the office, you can use key cards to restrict access to certain rooms or files.

When employees leave the company, make sure to change passwords and delete their accounts as needed.

4. Choose Your Vendors Carefully

If you’re working with vendors who will have access to credit card details or other customer information, make sure they can be trusted. Furthermore, make sure they have the right security features in place.

5. Use an EIN

Using an EIN for your small business instead of your social security number will protect you in case your business suffers identity theft. Furthermore, keep your finances separate, using your EIN to apply for a business credit card.

What to Do if You’re a Victim of Business Identity Theft

If you suffered business identity theft, find out what information has been stolen and what the thieves have done with the data. You’ll need to inform customers if their information has been exposed. If the thieves used your identity to pose as your business, you’ll need to freeze your accounts and report the theft.

How to Report Business Identity Theft

You can report Identity theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. See instructions here for reporting the theft to the IRS in case the thieves filed fraudulent tax returns.

You’ll also need to contact your banks, creditors, and the three major credit bureaus to ensure they know about the theft. That way, they can freeze your accounts, help you recover fraudulent charges, and help you fix your credit score.

Finally, report the theft to law enforcement. Also, look for state resources on identity theft, and notify the appropriate state department, so you can correct phony business information.

Business Identity Theft Cases

Let’s talk about some business identity theft examples that recently occurred.

• Cash App recently suffered a data breach of customer names and portfolio details due to a former employee downloading information.
• Equifax suffered a data breach a few years ago in which hackers obtained the records of almost 150 million Americans.
• Two thieves in Pennsylvania bribed hospital employees to provide forms with sensitive patient details, using those details to fraudulently obtain more than $250,000 in tax refunds.

Business Identity Theft Statistics Of 2022

Here are some updated statistics that underline the importance of preventing business identity theft.

• According to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), identity theft cases in the first three quarters of 2021 exceeded cases in all of 2020 by 17%.
• According to the Insurance Information Institute and the FTC, 2020 saw a 114% increase in identity theft complaints compared to the previous year, as well as a massive increase in monetary losses due to identity theft ($3.3 billion compared to $1.5 billion).
• Someone is the victim of identity theft every 14 seconds. Many of those cases are driven by business identity theft.

Final Word

Monitoring your business for sudden credit report changes or inaccurate tax returns can help you detect ID theft and prevent losses. You can also get business identity theft insurance to help protect you from monetary damages as a result of ID theft. Check out these other types of business insurance as well.

If you’d like your business to succeed, check out this post on how your business can survive a recession.

Having enough cash on hand will ensure your business can stay afloat and survive even during difficult economic times. However, just how much cash should a business have on hand? Read on to learn how to calculate how much cash a company needs.

What Is Cash on Hand?

Cash on hand refers to funds you have set aside for emergencies and other unexpected expenses. Many businesses keep money on hand in savings accounts, though choosing the proper high-yield savings account can help you get more out of your money. However, cash on hand can also refer to assets that you can quickly exchange for cash.

In either case, cash on hand shouldn’t be invested into stocks or high-risk investment opportunities. That’s why it’s called “cash” on hand.

Why Your Business Needs Cash on Hand

Having cash on hand is critical for a few reasons. It will help your business keep operating even if you go through a few months of no profits, which can happen due to new competition, economic downturns, and sudden losses.

The economy can take a downturn at any given time, and cash on hand gives you time to get through it or help you figure out strategies to overcome it. You’ll be able to keep buying goods, paying employees, and handling your other expenses.

In addition, cash on hand can help you in emergencies, such as if a machine breaks and you need to buy a new one, a fire breaks out in your office, and other potential emergencies.

Finally, cash on hand makes it easy to expand and scale your business. You’ll be able to invest in new projects, features, services, and equipment without needing to save up first, allowing you to get ahead of the competition.

What Is the Average Cash on Hand for Small Businesses?

The rule of thumb for cash on hand for small businesses is 3-6 months of operating expenses. That includes:

• Fees
• Rent
• Cost of goods
• Wages
• Taxes
• Etc.

How to Calculate How Much Cash a Company Needs

Every business is different. Some businesses need at least six months of expenses in cash on hand, while others need only three or four.

So, how can you know how much cash your business needs?

The first thing to figure out is what your costs are every month. For some businesses, this is easy – just look at your expenses for the past 6 months, add them together, and divide that number by six.

However, it gets a bit trickier if you have a seasonal business. For example, if you sell Christmas trees, you can’t calculate your expenses from February to July to determine your monthly expenses.

Similarly, if your business is new, you’ll have to deduct startup expenses that only applied the first few months. The same applies to one-time expenses like building renovations.

The next factor to consider is the percentage of those expenses that aren’t truly necessary. If you can cut expenses and still operate on a profit (or without a loss), those expenses don’t need to be included in your monthly total. If an emergency arises, and you need to rely on your cash reserves to keep you afloat, you can cut those expenses.

For example, you may be able to lay off some workers and still operate at a decent level of productivity.

There are other factors you must take into account as well.

If your business has excellent credit and you can get a quick retail store business loan with low-interest rates at any time, you might not need as much cash on hand. If you have assets you can quickly sell, the same applies. In addition to the liquidity of your assets, consider whether they are appreciating or depreciating.

Similarly, if you can get a merchant cash advance, you can take the advance into the equation when determining the ideal cash-on-hand amount for you. (Read: How does a merchant cash advance work?)

If your cash flow forecast is pretty healthy for the next couple of months, you may also be able to get away with less cash in hand. Nevertheless, don’t rely on that – you need to be conservative when forecasting future cash flow and consider the worst-case scenario.

Industry forecasts can also help, but if Covid-19 has taught us anything, it’s that we can never know what will happen.

Finally, the nature of your business is significant as well. If you operate a currency exchange office, you need more cash on hand than if you offer HVAC repair services.

Cash Reserve Formula for Small Business

The typical cash reserve formula for small businesses is as follows:

(Total monthly expenses) – (discretionary spending) x (number of months) = cash on hand

Having too much cash on hand can also be detrimental.

Have you ever wondered, “Would it be better for the business to have a lot of cash on hand? Why or why not?”

Depending on the nature of your business and the other factors I discussed above, having more than six months of expenses in cash on hand can sometimes be okay. However, having too much cash can also cause you to miss out on more profitable business investments and expansion opportunities.

Besides, you may be able to earn higher interest rates by putting the extra money in less liquid assets, like stocks or bonds.

Furthermore, some business owners have difficulty sticking to a budget when they have too much cash on hand, becoming reckless in their expenditures. Not only that, but having too much cash in the bank can make your losses greater if you end up being the victim of business identity theft or hacking.

Final Word

If you don’t have any cash on hand, you may struggle if you have a few slow months. Use the tips provided above to learn how much cash on hand you should keep in the bank. If you’re interested in learning more budget and cash flow tips, check out these hidden secrets in small business bookkeeping.

Maybe you received a loan rejection or know you have poor credit. Perhaps you have a startup idea and need a small business loan. Regardless of your situation, an unsecured guarantor loan can seem like the ideal solution.

While these loans are less risky for the borrower, there are still consequences for nonpayment. Learning everything you can about guarantor loans will help facilitate your decision.

What Is an Unsecured Loan?

Secured loans are attached to physical assets the loan borrower can use as collateral. For example, a mortgage loan for a house uses the home as collateral. If the borrower fails to repay the loan, the lender can re-sell the home to make up for nonpayment.

On the other hand, an unsecured loan has no attached collateral. The lender thus has a higher risk of not receiving payment from the borrower. However, a lender can still pursue legal action if the borrower doesn’t comply with payments.

How Unsecured Guarantor Loans Work

What is an unsecured loan and how does it work? An unsecured guarantor loan implies that a second party adds their name to the loan.

If you have poor or no credit history and know someone who doesn’t, taking out an unsecured loan together would make the other person the guarantor. You will remain the primary borrower on the loan.

An unsecured guarantor loan has no collateral and relies on a financially stable guarantor. Your guarantor may choose between guaranteeing the entirety of a loan, or a part of it.

If you miss a loan payment or several, the lender will first seek other ways to get the money back. As a last resort, the lender will expect your guarantor to make your missed payments.

Loan Guarantor vs Cosigner

A guarantor loan meaning is different from that of a cosigner loan. When you have a cosigner on a loan, both parties are equally responsible for paying it back.

On the other hand, loan guarantor responsibilities are limited to paying when the main borrower cannot. If you take out a loan with a guarantor, you’re still the one on the hook for repayment. Your guarantor only makes the loan less risky for the lender by agreeing to pay when you miss a payment.

How To Apply for a Guarantor Loan

There are a few steps involved in knowing how to apply for a guarantor loan. The first step is knowing how to get a guarantor for a loan. While almost anyone can be your guarantor, the person must meet the lender’s prerequisites.

Typically, these are as follows:

• An age of 21 and over
• Have a high credit score
• Meet a certain threshold for annual income (this will vary by lender)
• Proof that they can comfortably pay for the main borrower
• Proof of residence in the country

After you secure a guarantor, the next step is to do some research. Compare different guarantor loans to see which is the most convenient for your situation. You will want to ensure you are eligible for the one you choose.

Lastly, weigh a guarantor loan against other potential solutions. Sometimes, a bad credit loan may be an option. When you’re sure you and your guarantor are comfortable with a loan’s conditions, apply for the loan.

Pros and Cons of Unsecured Guarantor Loans

Applying for an unsecured guarantor loan has several advantages and disadvantages. It’s a decision you must weigh carefully.

Pros of an Unsecured Guarantor Loan

The following are the top reasons an unsecured guarantor loan may be a good idea.

No Need For Credit

If you lack credit history, you will benefit immediately from having a guarantor with excellent credit. You won’t have as many prerequisites to worry about and your guarantor’s credit will essentially make up for yours.

You’ll Pay Less

Because having a guarantor reduces risk for your lender, the price of the loan will drop. Paying less on a loan is an attractive incentive particularly if you have bad credit.

Less Interest, Larger Loan

A guarantor provides lenders with a guarantee that loan repayment will occur more smoothly. Thus, a guarantor loan will have a reduced interest rate. You may also enjoy a larger loan amount thanks to having a guarantor.

No Collateral

You won’t have anything taken away if you miss a loan payment. With an unsecured guarantor loan, there is no physical asset a lender can take or sell to pay your debt. This is especially crucial for businesses since you won’t have to give up any part of your business to pay the loan.

Cons of an Unsecured Guarantor Loan

Despite its plethora of benefits, unsecured guarantor loans don’t come without risk. Here are some of the downsides.

You’re Tied To Your Guarantor

If something goes wrong and you can’t repay your loan, your relationship with the guarantor may suffer. For this reason, you should choose your guarantor wisely and consider the risks of compromising the relationship.

A Guarantor’s Credit May Decrease

The guarantor takes a substantial risk in accepting to guarantee your loan. If there is a default payment, remember that it will reflect badly on both your credit report and your guarantor’s. Someone with a high credit score may thus not want to take on such financial responsibility.

A Need for Private Information

The stakes are high when you’re guaranteeing a loan for someone else. That means your guarantor will likely ask you for personal information to ensure the risk is worth taking. You may need to provide details about your bank account and finances to the guarantor so they can weigh the decision.

Higher Rates Than Secured Loans

While it’s true that unsecured guarantor loans are one of the best options available to those with no credit, it’s still not always the optimal choice. With a secured loan, you’re more likely to see lower rates than with an unsecured one.

What Are the Alternatives To Unsecured Guarantor Loans?

Alternatives to guarantor loans vary and depend on factors like the loan type, your credit history, and your ability to secure a guarantor. Some factors may limit your ability to secure other loans such as small business loans.

Unsecured Loans Without a Guarantor

You may not necessarily need a guarantor for an unsecured loan. While it increases your chances, you should first check your credit score to make sure. Often, you may be able to obtain an unsecured loan yourself.

Secured Loans

If you’re certain you can repay your loan, obtaining a loan with collateral is a good option. If you need a loan for a very high amount, it may be worth looking into this option.

Bad Credit Loans

Options exist for high-risk borrowers. If your credit history isn’t ideal, you can still obtain a loan yourself. However, consider that these loans are riskier for the lender and will come with a hefty interest rate and limitations.

Credit Unions

Check your location for credit unions. These entities act as non-profit organizations and offer local individuals saving or lending options. Credit unions often have prerequisites, such as doing work in the nonprofit sector. Check requirements before applying.