FastUpFront Small Business Blog

Just when you thought it was hard enough to remain creditworthy as a small business owner or solopreneur, a new report published at American Banker highlights a potential banking trend that could change the way credit is built and maintained. According to the report that discusses nine trends affecting risk software in the banking industry, [...]

We all know that good credit is highly sought after. And should we forget, those catchy little jingles are there to remind us, prodding with “free,” instant online credit reports. But once you find out what your score is, you may still be left wondering what exactly it’s good for, and more specifically, what does [...]

Credit report inaccuracies can wreak havoc on your business’ credit score- and when they do the result can be disastrous. A business’ credit score is generally the deciding factor in the approval of most business loans and business financing. Moreover, prospective business partners, investors, and clients all may consider your business’ credit rating when deciding [...]

Amid cautious consumer spending and an overall economic and legislative uncertainty, having a reliable source of credit and short-term financing is a necessity for small business owners. One of the more popular credit options among small businesses has been a bank sponsored business line of credit. But these days, many current small business account holders [...]

This post is the final part of a four-part series on credit card reform. In the three previous posts, I discussed the possible affect of the credit card reform bill that was passed by the US Senate earlier this month. The bottom line for consumers and small businesses is that this new legislation will probably [...]

This post is the third of a four-part series on credit card reform. The consumer reaction to the credit reform bill has been taking the spotlight ever since the legislation was approved by the US Senate two weeks ago. Though the changes proposed in the new legislation will have some effect on consumer credit card [...]

This post is the second of a four-part series on credit card reform. Two weeks ago the US Senate approved a credit reform bill designed to protect customers overburdened by their financial obligations and subsequent poor credit ratings. But even after the bill was pushed through the Senate, one glaring question still remains: Will the [...]

This post is the first of a four-part series on credit card reform. The next three posts in this series will discuss the expected effects of the credit reform bill in general as well as how credit reform may effect small businesses in particular. The series will then end off with some credit card alternatives. [...]

It used to be that credit insurance was exclusive to the large companies that could afford to pay the high premiums in exchange for a bit of financial peace of mind. Not any more. In response to the economic slowdown and an across-the-board reduction in consumer spending, now even small and mid-sized businesses are considering [...]

In response to the current economic situation, many businesses are being more deliberate when it comes to deciding who to work with and hire. This includes their relationships with other businesses. Not surprisingly, conducting business background checks is fast becoming a standard practice among companies big and small. Getting information on potential business partners or [...]