Entrepreneurship

May 27, 2019
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Any business owner will agree that an increase in their cash flow is never a bad thing. Although selling more products or gaining more customers may seem the most obvious ways to do this, there are other, more behind-the-scenes ways to go about bringing more money into your business. Here are three ways to increase your business’s cash flow that don’t have to do directly with selling more.

Stick To a Budget

Sticking to a budget is important to do in any aspect of life, but especially so when it comes to your business. Having a clear, set budget when you begin the day, month, quarter, and year will ensure that you always know about where you stand when it comes to your money. If you don’t have a solid budget to stick to, you will almost definitely get muddled up in all the transactions and expenses in your daily business dealings. Budgeting out all of your expenses (and planning for the ones you might not see coming) will keep the maximum amount of working capital in your hands, and you won’t lose money on poor planning.

Never Have More Than a 50% Income-Debt Ratio

While nobody wants to be in debt, often times it’s unavoidable when you’re opening or growing your own business. In fact, if done smartly and well-planned, it could be very beneficial to business and get you more profit in the long run. However, you never want to get yourself into a situation where you are making less money than you owe. If you find yourself in a situation where you are coming to a breakeven point, don’t take out any more debt until you get it handled. It’s a very slippery slope when you are not pulling in enough cash to at least equal what you are putting out.

Only Put Business Expenses On Your Business Account

If you start making money from your business, it can be very tempting to start buying yourself personal things here and there. Even if these expenses are small, it’s very important to keep your business expenses and your personal ones completely separate. It can be only too easy to get caught up in spending on things you want here and there and find yourself in a situation where you don’t have enough revenue to take care of your business’s expenses (this is especially dangerous when there are unseen/emergency costs). It’s better to create a budget (see tip #1) and set aside revenue coming from your business, to pay for itself. Once you finish this, and you have your profit, you can put that into your own personal account, and use it as you will. This clear separation will help you stay organized and make sure you aren’t left high and dry when it comes to keeping your business afloat.

Want to learn more about business loans with the best rates? Click here for a FREE quote from Onebox Funding.


May 23, 2019
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“Time is money” is probably a phrase you’ve heard before, especially if you happen to be one of the hard-working people who start their own small business. Whether you wanted to work with something that you’re passionate about, or you just want to be your own boss and make your own hours, having your own business is something that you can be very proud of. However, it’s not all fun and games. In fact, it is an unimaginable amount of hard work to start your own company, which is why most business owners are losing sleep (especially during the first 6 months to a year).

So if time is money, that means that every minute you spend working on growing your empire is another dollar coming your way. This is true, to an extent, however, there is a peak and plateau that comes with working all hours of the day. It’s great to work hard and passionately in order to build the business of your dreams, and it’s even better to have goals for the future of it. But, working day in and day out for extended periods of time without a break is actually a recipe for disaster. Here are 3 big reasons to disconnect fully from your company from time to time.

1. Preventing Burnout

Burnout is one of the leading causes of failed new businesses, and it can happen if you are not taking enough breaks. When you first come up with an idea, you are full of passion, innovation, and excitement, and you are running on pure adrenaline to put your ideas into motion. Unfortunately, this burst of motivation does not last forever, and you’ll find it quickly leaves you once tedium and struggle (which are inevitable for any business) set in. Make sure to pace yourself and distribute your energy evenly by taking intermittent breaks from your work, so that you don’t burn out after a few months.

2. Having a Fresh Perspective

When you find yourself looking at the same problem for a long time, without a break, you begin to lose clarity and focus. However, if you were to take a step back and do something else for a while, most likely you’ll find that when you do return, you will be able to look at the situation in a different, refreshed way.

3. Appreciate Your Life Outside of Business

Focus on something other than your dream company? Absolutely. It’s so important to remember that there are always other aspects of your life, like your family and friends, your health, your hobbies, etc. To have a truly full life, you need to make sure that your business doesn’t take you away from the people you love.

Want to learn more about the best business loans? Check out Onebox Funding here and get a FREE quote.


May 2, 2019
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Ever since the feminist movement in the 1960’s, when women in American began to enter the workforce in droves, women have been climbing the corporate ladder and becoming more successful than ever before. Not only do they hold jobs that were, for many years, available only to men, but many have taken management and entrepreneurial roles.

Women in entrepreneurial and managerial roles often excel in their positions. While this may not be surprising, it is interesting to explore what makes women so successful at leading teams, company operations, and even entire businesses. Here are the three traits women often have which equips them with the tools for success in business.

1. They Are Excellent Multi-Taskers

Women are programmed to be able to multi-task and have been doing so for centuries. Years ago, women were often expected to keep the house, raise the children, and take care of her husband while he was at work. This family model is outdated, and often times, modern women take on all of these responsibilities while they are also employed. Being able to multi-task efficiently makes running a business, with its many different complexities and responsibilities, a bit more doable.

2. They Are Good Listeners

Women tend to be a more willing shoulder to cry on than men when the issue of discussing feelings comes up. But being a good moral support system isn’t the only benefit to being a good listener. Women in managerial roles tend to take other peoples’ thoughts and opinions into account, which helps keep employee spirits high. Not only that, but being a good listener also makes people connect more strongly with you, so this is a great skill to have when it comes to networking and creating great connections for better business opportunities. Also, it helps that they typically have their ears and eyes open to everything happening around them, leaving little room for missed opportunities or potential errors in business.

3. They Are Less Likely To Be Over-Confident

While this may not sound like a good thing at first, being a little less sure of yourself can actually help you a lot when running a business. Being in charge of a company means that you must always be growing and adapting to changes, whether they be in the market, in your customer base, or in demand. We aren’t saying to be constantly second guessing yourself, but if are aware of your own humanity, that is, the potential for error, you will be more likely to catch any mistakes or rethink certain ideas to be even more efficient.

Want to learn more about taking out a loan for your small business? Click here for a FREE quote.


April 18, 2019
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“Time is money” is probably a phrase you’ve heard before, especially if you happen to be one of the hard-working people who start their own small business. Whether you wanted to work with something that you’re passionate about, or you just want to be your own boss and make your own hours, having your own business is something that you can be very proud of. However, it’s not all fun and games. In fact, it is an unimaginable amount of hard work to start your own company, which is why most business owners are losing sleep (especially during the first 6 months to a year).

So if time is money, that means that every minute you spend working on growing your empire is another dollar coming your way. This is true, to an extent, however, there is a peak and plateau that comes with working all hours of the day. It’s great to work hard and passionately in order to build the business of your dreams, and it’s even better to have goals for the future of it. But, working day in and day out for extended periods of time without a break is actually a recipe for disaster. Here are 3 big reasons to disconnect fully from your company from time to time.

1. Preventing Burnout

Burnout is one of the leading causes of failed new businesses, and it can happen if you are not taking enough breaks. When you first come up with an idea, you are full of passion, innovation, and excitement, and you are running on pure adrenaline to put your ideas into motion. Unfortunately, this burst of motivation does not last forever, and you’ll find it quickly leaves you once tedium and struggle (which are inevitable for any business) set in. Make sure to pace yourself and distribute your energy evenly by taking intermittent breaks from your work, so that you don’t burn out after a few months.

2. Having a Fresh Perspective

When you find yourself looking at the same problem for a long time, without a break, you begin to lose clarity and focus. However, if you were to take a step back and do something else for a while, most likely you’ll find that when you do return, you will be able to look at the situation in a different, refreshed way.

3. Appreciate Your Life Outside of Business

Focus on something other than your dream company? Absolutely. It’s so important to remember that there are always other aspects of your life, like your family and friends, your health, your hobbies, etc. To have a truly full life, you need to make sure that your business doesn’t take you away from the people you love.

Want to learn more about the best business loans? Check out Onebox Funding here and get a FREE quote.


March 14, 2019
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Creating your own business is one of the most difficult, yet extremely rewarding thing you could do in your working life. Although by now there have been more attempts are creating start-ups than we can even count, not all of them have been successful. In fact, according to a study done by Statistic Brain, the failure rate of all U.S. businesses after 5 years in action was 50+%. That number increased to 70+% after 10 years.

These numbers may seem discouraging, but it’s important to remember that not every business owner has the right tools to be successful. Here, we’ll talk about the 3 most effective habits of successful business owners so you won’t find yourself falling behind when it’s time to take your business to the next level.

1. Creating Strong Networks

It might be tempting to want to keep the entire workings of your business within your own control, especially for those who are strong-willed and don’t work well with others. However, the most successful business owners understand that no one person is excellent at everything. Therefore, they surround themselves with a “dream team” of intelligent people who are very skilled at the things they might not be as strong in. By having a strong network of people with a wealth of knowledge to help you, you will be much less likely to miss something important.

2. Seeing Problems as Potential Opportunities for Growth

It’s easy to get discouraged when your original business strategy isn’t going as planned. However, the most successful business owners understand that there will always be failures and mess-ups along the way. Instead of becoming angry or discouraged when an issue comes up, successful merchants are able to look at the situation from a well-rounded point of view. They see it, not as a problem, but instead as an opportunity to make their business even better and as a learning experience of what works and what doesn’t This positive attitude is absolutely vital for a successful business.

3. Taking a Well-Earned Break

This one might seem confusing to some. How can you continue to grow your business if you are off in the Bahamas ignoring it completely? The most successful business owners know that taking a complete vacation from your business is actually the best thing you can do for it (and for your own mental health). After such a long time of sleepless nights and the stress of running a new business, it’s only human that we start to experience burnout. When you’re burnt out, you’re much less able to make well-informed decisions when it comes to your company. Do yourself, and your business, a favor and take the time to keep yourself rested and at optimum health. Having a clear head will save you a lot of grief in the long run, even if it means a few days of rejuvenation.

Want to learn more about choosing the right small business loan for your business? Find out what Onebox Funding can do for you here.


February 27, 2019
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When you think customer service, your head probably goes straight to sitting on the phone waiting for what feels like hours on hold for the “next representative to assist you”. While we’ve all experienced the nightmare of needing help with a product or service, we also know how much difference a helpful person with a great attitude can make.

No matter if you’re offering financial advising for debt consolidation, running tours of deserted islands, or selling homemade donuts at your coffee shop, the customer experience is almost completely determined by the service they experience while doing business with you.

Think of a time when you really needed help, and you contacted the company for assistance. Was your customer service representative helpful? Did he or she have a can-do attitude? Did he or she make you feel like you were his or her top priority, and helping to find you a solution to your problem was the only thing that mattered? If so, this probably not only made your problem seem less upsetting but, whether you know it or not, it made that company have a much better reputation in your mind.

Now think of another time when you needed help from an employee and you were left feeling much worse than when your problem started. Maybe that representative was in a bad mood that day, or was not competent and did not know enough about the product to help you find a solution. Assuming your problem did finally get solved, do you remember the feeling you were left with? Even if it’s not conscious, that representative left a bad taste in your mouth, which you associate with the entire company.

Business owners of all kinds must put the customer experience as one of their top priorities. Not only will it keep your customers happy, but a happy customer will eventually lead to more business and more successful sales in the long run.

For one thing, a customer who had a great experience working with you during his or her buying process is way more likely to tell his or her friends about you. Word of mouth is a great, personal way to spread the word about your business and let it grow.

Customer loyalty also relies heavily on the customer experience when it comes to doing business with you. If a customer feels special and feels that his or her needs were met in a timely fashion, there is a much bigger chance that the customer will stay loyal to you, and won’t want to move to a competitor (even if his product is slightly better).

For these reasons alone and many others, it is so important to make customer service a necessity when running a business. Any business owner will profit greatly from treating his or her customers well and giving them a positive experience that stays with them throughout their time doing business with you.

Ready to take your business to the next level? Find out more about the right small business loan for you with Onebox Funding, here.


February 25, 2019
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In this day and age, becoming an entrepreneur and owning your own business is becoming more and more enticing. And why wouldn’t it? Make your own hours, be your own boss. As tempting and rewarding as being a business owner might be, it also requires loads of hard work and excellent time management skills.

The truth of the matter is, not everyone is cut out to run his or her own business. If you really do want to make it on your own, then it’s important to be aware of these common mistakes unsuccessful business owners make which ultimately brings them to failure.

Mistake #1: Not asking the advice of successful business owners

Although it may be tempting to try and make it on your own, you would be doing yourself a huge disservice if you aren’t looking around to see where others have failed in their own businesses. Not everyone has access to a close friend who can mentor you in the art of starting a business, but there is an infinite number of resources you can look into for insight. Many business owners have published books and lectures on tips and tricks for running a business. Maybe you even have a few friends who are willing to talk with you about some of the things they wished they’d known before diving in. Either way, it’s always a good idea to look to others and try to learn from their mistakes.

Mistake #2: Not having a solid growth projection for the future

Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture of a business, especially when you’re just starting out. However, if you don’t have at least an idea of your goals for the next few months, 5 years, decade, etc. you could be setting yourself up to stay small. A good entrepreneur has a timeline of small goals and big milestones. These not only help to propel the business forward, but they also keep everything organized in order to grow in a smart way.

Mistake #3: Not having the proper funds to do the job and do it well

Unsurprisingly, it’s impossible to get your business up and running without a chunk of cash. However, even if you don’t have a big sum of money to utilize for starting your business, there are ways to get funded. A small business loan can be your golden ticket to having the funds to get everything started. For example, equipment financing is an option for business owners who need to make a bulk purchase of materials and/or tools to get their project rolling.

While it may be a little scary to get started, being your own boss really does have its perks, and the feeling of pride and freedom that it gives you is second to none. Make sure to have a solid plan, be ready to work hard and learn a lot, and avoid the common mistakes listed above, and you’ll be well on your way!

Ready to take your business to the next level? Find out more about the right small business loan for you with Onebox Funding, here.


February 22, 2019
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Anyone who has ever started a company knows that it is the most thrilling and terrifying thing in the world to take your business to the next level and grow it. However, not scaling your business responsibly, with the right knowledge and tools, can be detrimental to your business’s success and can land you in some pretty hot water.

When you’ve had some success for a while, you may decide that it’s time to take the next step with your business. This could mean opening up new branches, taking on more customers or projects, introducing new products, etc. No matter how you want to scale, it’s imperative to have a solid plan and the resources to handle any growing pains you might encounter. Here are some questions you’ll want to ask yourself to see if you are indeed in a good position to take your business to the next step.

1. Do I have the manpower to scale?

While you may not have had any trouble managing 20 of your customers by yourself, you might find yourself gasping for air when you take on 100 of them. Making sure that you have enough employees available to maintain the level of service while upping the number of customers you have is absolutely vital to a successful business. If your existing customers feel that they are no longer receiving the quality of service they were previously receiving because you have spread yourself too thin, they will most definitely begin dropping you.

2. Do I have the finances to scale?

Maybe you have thought about hiring a few more hands to help you, but do you have the financial backing to be able to pay them? Money is probably the most important factor to take into consideration when trying to scale your business up. Maybe you will need to purchase new equipment or install new technology. Or maybe you will need money to grow your marketing campaigns online. Whatever the reason, you will need cash and lots of it. Luckily, there are small business loans available that can help you with everything from equipment financing to debt consolidation. Just make sure that you understand the terms of the small business loan (interest rate, payment amount, payment period, etc.), and that you will be able to pay it back when the time comes.

3. Am I ready for a possible setback or failure?

No business owner wants to believe that his or her business will fail. Unfortunately, growing a business is a learning experience, and mistakes can happen. Most likely, any business owner will come across at least one or two unexpected setbacks while trying to expand. The important thing is to be ready for anything and to have the strength to get back up and keep going.

Scaling your business is not easy, but it can be very rewarding and profitable if you have a good attitude, a great work ethic, and a drive for success. All the while, it’s important to remember to take things as slowly and surely as you need to, and to enjoy the journey while it’s happening.

Ready to take your business to the next level? Find out more about the right small business loan for you with Onebox Funding, here.


February 20, 2019
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Over the past decade, social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest have become hugely popular among children and adults, alike. Social media networks open up a whole world of connecting with old friends, sharing photos, discovering new recipes and DIY projects, and much more. With so many ways to benefit from these websites, it’s little wonder that they’ve become so popular.

But did you know that social media sites are not just for when you’re surfing the web in your free time? In fact, these sites are an enormously helpful tool in promoting and growing your business.

With the days of business owners advertising themselves in the local newspaper long gone, merchants now have the opportunity (and obligation) to reach out to potential customers on a global scale, online. Creating a company website is a great place to start, but if you don’t get the word out to enough of an audience, all of that hard work could be for nothing.

Social media sites are a fantastic way to get yourself and your business out there and noticed by the masses, and to begin marketing your way to successful sales. Here are three useful ways to use social media networks in order to grow your business.

1. Create Customer Relationships

With so much of our daily lives being conducted online, it’s important for your business to have a lively and active online presence. A Facebook page dedicated to your company allows for back and forth engagement with your customers and potential consumers. You can post your latest products and news, and your followers can like, share, and even comment their opinions directly onto your posts. By creating discussions with and between your customers, you will gain insights into their specifics needs and pain points, letting you better customize their customer experience. A customer who feels heard is much more likely to stay loyal to your company.

2. Drive Traffic to Your Site

As we mentioned previously, it’s no use building a website for your company if nobody is visiting it. Using social media, you can post links to your website or blog with eye-catching imagery and enticing campaign captions which will draw people to click. This brings potential customers out of the social media network and right into your website.

3. Track The Competition

Unless you have a completely and totally unique product or service to offer (which is almost unheard of nowadays), you probably have at least one or two competitor companies competing for your customers. If they are any good at what they do, most likely they are already utilizing social media to market themselves. Following your competitors’ pages is a great way to keep tabs on them, and see if they are doing something that you might have missed.

There are so many benefits to using and understanding social media to help your business flourish, it’s really a great loss to not utilize them. Any business owner will benefit from making social media a part of his or her small business marketing strategy.

Ready to take your business to the next level? Find out more about the right small business loan for you with Onebox Funding, here.