Financing & Credit

New plug-and-pay smartphone card readers make it easier (and cheaper) for merchants to accept credit cards.

Are you planning on leasing equipment for your business? Learn how to determine which equipment leasing company is best suited to meet your company's needs.

Banks are still reluctant to give credit to small businesses, but many are being more generous with unsecured personal loans.

Americans have done it for years. But banks are getting tough, and some people are going to jail.

Why should building business credit be on the top of your list? Learn why separating your personal and business finances should be a top priority.

Entrepreneurs are an innovative bunch. So what do they do for money when bank loans aren't an option? Anything and everything they can think of!

A business plan is a road map that helps determine your company's path to profits. From creating a vision to accounting for the unexpected, these hints can help you do it right.

Creating a sound business plan is critical for finding funding, determining how your business is managed and run, and planning for the future.

Business plan novices often don't recognize critical errors that can turn off potential investors. Be sure to avoid these five fatal mistakes.

Investors focus on key areas of your business plan when deciding whether to fund your business. Make sure your plan covers all the essential bases.

There are a number of reasonable startup capital options available to aspiring entrepreneurs. The key is good planning.

Crowdfunding offers an exciting new way for entrepreneurs to obtain startup financing. Check out the top crowdfunding sites to learn how to get your share.

A business credit line can help your business meet routine, short-term capital needs. Different types of credit lines require different collateral.

Before asking friends or relatives to invest in your business, know what you are getting into and how to structure these transactions.

Working capital calculations help you understand how much money it will take to run your business and how long it may take to reach a profit.

Most startups need funding, but fledgling entrepreneurs often don't know where to start their search for capital.

We present a handful of not-so-obvious mistakes that could put a serious dent in your credit score.

Banks want to use social-network data to assess credit risk. That means you had better be extra careful about whom you choose as your online "friends."

There's just ONE thing to remember about effective bookkeeping: Don't make it complicated. Here are five examples to illustrate my point.