The Reality of the Small BusinessThis seems to be the age of the entrepreneur, with small startups such as Facebook and Twitter proving that small businesses can grow – potentially exponentially with the right resources. Unfortunately, success stories like Facebook are rare in the small business world, with over half of small businesses failing within five years of their startup, mainly due to lack of funding.As any small business or entrepreneur knows, funding is one of the most difficult parts of starting a business. Banks are especially hesitant in giving out business loans to small and start-up companies, especially with the economical downslide of 2008. Crowdfunding is a great idea, but is only successful part of the time. Getting a business credit card is a great option… until the debt costs outweigh the business income.The fact of the matter is, it is nearly impossible to get a business started without money, and it is nearly impossible to get the funding needed without an established business. This catch-22 is what sets most businesses down the path to financial hardship. However, there is now a new way to fund smaller businesses in the form of a microloan.The SBA Microloan ProgramThe U.S. Small Business Administration has begun a program which provides funds to intermediary non-profit community oriented lenders to administer microloans to eligible businesses. Unlike a bank loan, which can range anywhere from $150,000 to $250,000, microloans range from $10,000 to $50,000, providing small businesses enough funding to cover basic costs for their start-up without the risk of crushing debt.An SBA micro business loan cannot be used to pay off existing debt or purchase new real estate, but it can be used toward the purchase of supplies and machinery, working capital, inventory and supplies, and furniture and fixtures for the space. The payback plan of the micro business loan also varies in regards to the business’ planned use of the funds, the loan amount, and the needs of the business owner. Unlike large bank loans, a microloan is tailored specifically for the small business owner to succeed.Micro business loans can make a macro-difference for your small or start-up business. These loans are designed to help you launch and expand your small business with a maximum six year payback plan, and interest rates spanning between eight and thirteen percent. Money lenders who offer microloans are beginning to become more prominent, making entrepreneurial start-ups less financially daunting.In ConclusionIf you are a small company interested in a micro business loan, there is a comprehensive list of SBA approved lenders on their website. The list is broken down by state, so no matter where your business is located, you can speak to a local microloan lender here to get your business financed. There are also online lenders such as trustleaf.com and PayPal’s Working Capital program. However, it is important that you do significant research and ensure you are getting the best microloan offer from these companies.If you have been turned down by different banks for a business loan, consider the microloan process Here. It could be just the right amount of money to make your start-up a recognized business. visit site
Tag Archives: services
What Are The Greatest Changes In Shopping In Your Lifetime
What are the greatest changes in shopping in your lifetime? So asked my 9 year old grandson.
As I thought of the question the local Green Grocer came to mind. Because that is what the greatest change in shopping in my lifetime is.
That was the first place to start with the question of what are the greatest changes in shopping in your lifetime.
Our local green grocer was the most important change in shopping in my lifetime. Beside him was our butcher, a hairdresser and a chemist.
Looking back, we were well catered for as we had quite a few in our suburb. And yes, the greatest changes in shopping in my lifetime were with the small family owned businesses.
Entertainment While Shopping Has Changed
Buying butter was an entertainment in itself.
My sister and I often had to go to a favourite family grocer close by. We were always polite as we asked for a pound or two of butter and other small items.
Out came a big block of wet butter wrapped in grease-proof paper. Brought from the back of the shop, placed on a huge counter top and included two grooved pates.
That was a big change in our shopping in my lifetime… you don’t come across butter bashing nowadays.
Our old friendly Mr. Mahon with the moustache, would cut a square of butter. Lift it to another piece of greaseproof paper with his pates. On it went to the weighing scales, a bit sliced off or added here and there.
Our old grocer would then bash it with gusto, turning it over and over. Upside down and sideways it went, so that it had grooves from the pates, splashes going everywhere, including our faces.
My sister and I thought this was great fun and it always cracked us up. We loved it, as we loved Mahon’s, on the corner, our very favourite grocery shop.
Grocery Shopping
Further afield, we often had to go to another of my mother’s favourite, not so local, green grocer’s. Mr. McKessie, ( spelt phonetically) would take our list, gather the groceries and put them all in a big cardboard box.
And because we were good customers he always delivered them to our house free of charge. But he wasn’t nearly as much fun as old Mr. Mahon. Even so, he was a nice man.
All Things Fresh
So there were very many common services such as home deliveries like:
• Farm eggs
• Fresh vegetables
• Cow’s milk
• Freshly baked bread
• Coal for our open fires
Delivery Services
A man used to come to our house a couple of times a week with farm fresh eggs.
Another used to come every day with fresh vegetables, although my father loved growing his own.
Our milk, topped with beautiful cream, was delivered to our doorstep every single morning.
Unbelievably, come think of it now, our bread came to us in a huge van driven by our “bread-man” named Jerry who became a family friend.
My parents always invited Jerry and his wife to their parties, and there were many during the summer months. Kids and adults all thoroughly enjoyed these times. Alcohol was never included, my parents were teetotallers. Lemonade was a treat, with home made sandwiches and cakes.
The coal-man was another who delivered bags of coal for our open fires. I can still see his sooty face under his tweed cap but I can’t remember his name. We knew them all by name but most of them escape me now.
Mr. Higgins, a service man from the Hoover Company always came to our house to replace our old vacuum cleaner with an updated model.
Our insurance company even sent a man to collect the weekly premium.
People then only paid for their shopping with cash. This in itself has been a huge change in shopping in my lifetime.
In some department stores there was a system whereby the money from the cash registers was transported in a small cylinder on a moving wire track to the central office.
Some Of The Bigger Changes
Some of the bigger changes in shopping were the opening of supermarkets.
• Supermarkets replaced many individual smaller grocery shops. Cash and bank cheques have given way to credit and key cards.
• Internet shopping… the latest trend, but in many minds, doing more harm, to book shops.
• Not many written shopping lists, because mobile phones have taken over.
On a more optimistic note, I hear that book shops are popular again after a decline.
Personal Service Has Most Definitely Changed
So, no one really has to leave home, to purchase almost anything, technology makes it so easy to do online.
And we have a much bigger range of products now, to choose from, and credit cards have given us the greatest ease of payment.
We have longer shopping hours, and weekend shopping. But we have lost the personal service that we oldies had taken for granted and also appreciated.
Because of their frenetic lifestyles, I have heard people say they find shopping very stressful, that is grocery shopping. I’m sure it is when you have to dash home and cook dinner after a days work. I often think there has to be a better, less stressful way.
My mother had the best of both worlds, in the services she had at her disposal. With a full time job looking after 9 people, 7 children plus her and my dad, she was very lucky. Lucky too that she did not have 2 jobs.