Category: Uncategorized

Having a lender on your side can be huge for early stage businesses with a high volume of relatively small transactions

Key Takeaways

1. What is a merchant cash advance?
2. What are the qualificationsfor obtaining a merchant cash advance?
3. How does the payback work?
4. The timing of your receipts is often more important than the volume of your receipts.

What is a merchant cash advance?

A merchant cash advance is a loan between a merchant and a funder that provides immediate cash to the merchant in exchange for a specified profit.

The word “merchant” dates back to the 13^th century to describe a class of enterprising people who sold goods and services to other businesses. That would be considered wholesale or business-to-business (B2B) in today’s terminology. Someone who sells goods and services to consumers is considered business-to-consumer (B2C) in today’s language. 

By Samuel Bethea

Key Words:

1. Niche
2. Goals
3. Passion

Key Takeaways

• Can you answer the question, “What Is Your Passion?”
• Everyone has a unique niche in life that lives within their true passion and interests.
• All too often, adult responsibilities get in the way of our dreams.
• Play is what enables us to do our best work and is what leads you to find your true passions and interests. Think back to your 8 year-old self.

What does it feel like when you finally find your niche and are able to work within it? Many people describe the experience as exhilarating, fun, and giving them a sense of completeness. With such great prospects for fulfillment, why not make every effort to find your niche?

4 ‘must-do’ steps for success

By Samuel Bethea

Key Takeaways

• Most entrepreneurs have tremendous passion and energy, but you can’t wear 10 hats forever.
• Be honest with yourself about which business functions you do best, and which would be better to let others handle—a business coach can help you decide.
• Running a venture without a business plan is like driving a car without a steering wheel. Have the plan only in your head does not count.

One of the first major decisions that any entrepreneur must make when starting a new enterprise is how to fund the business. Early stage companies usually cost twice as much as you think to fund and involve A LOT more hours than you ever put in as a salaried employee.

5 keys to a successful startup

By Samuel Bethea

Key Takeaways

• Successful entrepreneurs have to be part samurai and part ship captain.
• You are the face of your business—your personal character and leadership style is on display at all times.
• Your business is only as good as the talent it can attract and retain.
• Don’t focus so hard on topline growth that you forget about managing costs.

Starting a new venture is one of the most rewarding activities that you can undertake in business. A successful entrepreneur has many of the qualities of a samurai—one who goes alone and conquers.

Key Takeaways

By Samuel Bethea

Key Takeaways

• U.S. teens account for nearly $260 billion in spending annually.
• Teen credit should be used to teach responsibility and maturity (not materialism). That will pay dividends later in life.
• There are several smart ways to provide teens with credit that you can monitor without interfering on their newfound independence.

Teens and young adults always need spending money and they don’t want to keep hounding their parents for cash. Facing this prospect, plenty of debt-dubious parents wonder how best to introduce their kids to the temptations of swipe-and-sign. As with most child-rearing decisions, the best course of action depends on the individual child. Thanks to an ever-increasing number of credit and debit options, savvy parents can choose the card best suited to their teen’s temperament, financial sophistication and maturity level.