Small Business Blog Posts

A business plan is a written document that provides a complete overview of your business, including information about your business’s services, strategies, finances, and goals. All businesses should have a business plan, but a business plan is especially important when applying for a business loan.

The difference between gross pay and net pay is simple: gross pay includes all employee earnings prior to any payroll deductions, while net pay is the earnings left over after payroll taxes and deductions are subtracted from an employee’s gross pay.

Your business loan may be denied for reasons including low credit score, not enough revenue, lack of collateral, or an incomplete loan application. Your lender should provide written notice as to why your loan was denied. However, you can also reach out to the lender directly to learn more about why you weren’t approved.

Social Security taxes are the federally mandated contributions employers and employees must pay into to support the Social Security program, which provides retirement income for American workers aged 65 and over.

Commercial truck insurance is a type of commercial auto insurance. More specifically, it’s a bundle of insurance policies that offer comprehensive protection for trucking businesses and independent owner-operators. The exact combination of insurance your business needs depends on the specifics of your operation.

While the ERC program does have a few similarities to grant programs, there is not an actual ERC grant. Instead, the ERC is a refundable tax credit available to eligible small businesses that kept employees on payroll throughout 2020 and 2021.

A bank small business loan is a loan that a business owner receives from a bank. This can be a traditional loan that provides a lump sum of cash, or a more flexible option like a business line of credit. Bank loans typically offer low rates and long repayment terms but may be more difficult to qualify for than other types of business funding.

The best business savings accounts are easy to apply for, offer an interest rate or APY at or above the national average for savings accounts, and offer features aimed at small businesses. We think Live Oak, First Internet Bank, BlueVine, LendingClub, NBKC, U.S. Bank Platinum Money Market, Lili, Grasshopper, and Prime Alliance meet those requirements.

Online banking works similarly to traditional banking; there’s just no physical location for you to visit and sometimes fewer products (loans, different accounts, etc.) to choose from.

Johnson’s independent children’s bookstore is seriously thriving, and now, thanks to a $10,000 opportunity grant from Merchant Maverick, she can continue following her small business dreams and building her bookstore.