Business Loan Options Blog

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A centuries old French bank has decided to do the unthinkable: Forgive old debts.  The Credit Municipal de Paris, also known as the Mont-de-Piete, has a 375-year history of offering loans to the poor who pawn their items to the bank for an ethical loan that averages 4 to 8.9 percent interest per year.  Anyone could use the bank to get quick cash in desperate moments by bringing in an item, and notables like Claude Monet and the third son of King Louis-Phillipe were clients along with thousands of Paris’ poor.  In celebration of that 375-year history, the bank has sent out notices of debt forgiveness to some of their poorest clients and told them to come in and pick up their valuables for free. Read the rest of this entry »

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When one system falls apart, another steps in to take its place out the sheer force of vacuum left behind. “System D” a catchphrase coined by Robert Neuwirth for the black market activity that does not include gun-running, drugs, and human trafficking, but is still illegal. What makes it illegal? Read the rest of this entry »

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Baby boomers have changed the landscape of the home, and now they are changing business in America. Read the rest of this entry »

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Yes, Virginia, there is a jobs Santa Claus and his name is Gov. Bob McDonnell. States tiring of looking to federal programs for a reduction in their unemployment rates are starting to initiate their own growth agendas and Virginia is at the forefront. A two-year budget proposed by the governor includes almost $37 million in funding to spur economic growth by creating jobs in the state of Virginia. Since being in office, the focus has been on reducing the state’s unemployment rate from 7.2 percent initially to a current 6.2 percent. Read the rest of this entry »

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The “Made in the USA” movement has always been popular with people trying to get jobs back to this country, but now the strategy is coming to your local cities and neighborhoods. “Made in N.Y.C.” for instance is a group trying to promote items manufactured locally in the New York area. Other organizations intent on bringing manufacturing back to the United States are also going local. With farmers’ markets having so much success, it has become evident that there is a market for things made locally, and this can be extended to all manner of manufactured goods. Read the rest of this entry »

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As online sales skyrocket, American retailers are finding out there is more to online shopping than just putting up virtual deals. The new Wild West may be a patch of land that doesn’t even exist physically, but for Christmas shoppers and online retailers the Christmas madness has affected their online buying experience. What was once the easiest way for couch potatoes to check people off their Christmas lists is becoming full of obstacles. Big retailers, like Best Buy, were caught unprepared for the large demand and canceled orders made as early as November of this year. It is becoming fairly obvious that online sales strategies need to take into account inventory fulfillment and customer service before they promise something they can’t deliver. Read the rest of this entry »

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Take a cue from some of the big retailers and offer your customers a choice of virtual gifts this year. E-gifting is becoming more popular to consumers who don’t have to wrap the gift, send it via regular mail, and they often provide the same enjoyment as a traditional gift. For businesses like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Netflix, e-gifts are a natural to complement their physical offerings and have continued to increase their bottom line. Read the rest of this entry »

Hart Main is an enterprising 13 year old who just invented candles for men. He realized most guys do not want scents such as fresh laundry or lavender. He decided to found ManCans, which is a candle designed for men. The scents include things like bacon, New York Style Pizza, and Grandpa’s Pipe. In business, your imagination is really the key. If you want to succeed with a great idea you have to find a niche and run with it just like Hart Main. Consider Netflix and Groupon as other examples. Both of these companies are highly successful because they found an idea that would fill a need.

Though things have not taken off into the million dollar realm for Hart Main he is certainly doing well. ManCans is offering scents men will really like such as smelling like a new glove for baseball instead of a dewy forest.
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The recession has left many families in financial despair. It has been devastating for many with losing not only jobs, but also homes.  The outrageous cost of fuel and food hoes not help the situation either.  It has been difficult to see the positive in all of this, and so it is refreshing to read or hear about new business ideas popping up and being successful.  What is very surprising, is that these new businesses are being created by women – and they are on the rise. Many of the women owned businesses are not in need of any merchant lending. Perhaps they have another income stream, such as an employed spouse or their business is home based and the need for inventory is small.

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Lots of attention is being paid to Millennial buying habits as this demographic begins graduates and starts establishing families. Many will seek out cash advance options just to start out their lives with the perfect wedding. However, wedding planners aren’t the only types of businesses that will benefit from this demographic coming of age, there are a whole spectrum of businesses that can cash in on this growing trend for nuptials just by tweaking their services. If you are wondering how to get a little more business in the door, it may pay to wonder how your business can help those Millennials who are going to get married soon.
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