News & Insights

SBA is Unveiling New Credit Lines & the Advantages of Working With an SBA Preferred Lender

The SBA is launching a working capital pilot program in the coming months that is designed to be more attractive to both lenders and borrowers than the agency’s existing products, Guzman said in a phone interview with CNBC.

Trends Transforming Entrepreneurial Funding Landscape

According to a report by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, the global alternative finance market grew by 92% in 2021, reaching $1.19 trillion in transaction volume. This growth is being driven by the increasing popularity of platforms like Lending Club, Funding Circle, and Kabbage, which have collectively facilitated over $50 billion in loans to small businesses and individuals since their inception. In the United States alone, online alternative lending to small businesses reached $25.7 billion in 2021, up from $19.6 billion in 2020, according to data from Transunion.

Strategies for Supporting and Succeeding in Women-Owned Businesses

It has been reported that the number of businesses owned by women has increased at nearly double the rate of those owned by men. According to the National Women's Business Council's (NWBC) 2023 Annual Report, women-owned firms are responsible for creating approximately half of all new businesses for the third consecutive year. As of 2023, the most recent statistics indicate that women own and operate 1.4 million enterprises with employees. As we celebrate Women's History Month and prepare for International Women's Day, it's essential to continue supporting women-owned small businesses.

Entrepreneurship rates have been trending upwards in the United States for the past 19 years.

The top three challenges in entrepreneurs:

1) Recruiting

2) Inflation

3) Insufficient Capital or Cash Flow.

Securing Capital as an Entrepreneurial and Small Business Owners in 2024

Securing funding remains a critical aspect of success for small business owners and entrepreneurs. However, the process of obtaining a bank loan can often time be difficult especially when facing challenges posed by traditional banking institutions. The latest Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index, Big banks approved 13 percent of small business loan applications last month, down from 14.5 percent in January. However, Small banks’ approval percentages rose from 19.3% in September to 19.5% in October, marking an increase every month since June 2023. Understanding the landscape and employing strategic approaches could enhance small business owners and entrepreneurs to secure vital capital.