The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

In the world of small business where cash is king, a business’ cash flow is a key indicator of their financial health. For businesses that are facing cash flow issues or problems with slow accounts receivable, there is an alternative solution for finding cash in a pinch that doesn’t involve taking on conventional debt through credit: factoring.

Photo courtesy of Military Influencer Conference and  Semper Anticus Photography

A buzz of excitement passed through the crowd at the 2018 Military Influencer Conference hosted in Orlando, late last month. The StreetShares Team was about to introduce the top three finalists of the StreetShares Foundation Veteran Small Business Award – Food & Beverage Edition to a crowd of excited conference goers.

Over 100 veterans and military spouses applied for the StreetShares Foundation Veteran Small Business Award. The StreetShares team chose 14 finalists and over 11,000 online voters chose the final top three contestants. The audience at the Military Influencer Conference was about to hear the pitches of the top three finalists and their votes would determine first through third place prizes, totaling $25,000. Not only was each finalist walking away with a cash prize, but all contestants would also win a one-on-one coaching session with Jim Koch, CEO and Brewer of Samuel Adams Beer.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

Loans and financing come in two main flavors: secured and unsecured. For most consumers, deciding between secured and unsecured loans isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when choosing a loan. Often consumers don’t even have a choice between choosing a secured or unsecured loan depending on how the loan is already structured.

However, it’s still important to know the differences between these two types of loans. Below is a quick guide to everything you need to know about secured and unsecured loans.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

Cryptocurrency. It’s buzzworthy and always trending. Your college roommate’s cousin’s friend’s barista invested in cryptocurrency and now he’s a millionaire. It’s everywhere and it seems that everyone has an opinion on it. Is it the future of banking and finance or just another passing trend?

Regardless, it’s hard to have an opinion on cryptocurrency if you don’t understand it. Cryptocurrency and the innovative technology behind it seem complicated, but this short guide will introduce you to cryptocurrency in plain and simple English.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

For some small business owners, it might feel like cash only flows one way – out. But, cash flow is the net amount of cash coming in and out of your business. The cash flow of your business paints a picture of the health of your company. Your business might have great sales numbers but if customer payments are coming in late, cash flow can turn negative.

Cash is king and without it, your business is DOA. As a small business owner, it’s not uncommon to find yourself in a situation, good or bad, where you need a little extra injection of cash. To find that money for their businesses, small business owners often look to cash flow loans.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

Having access to credit is a lifeline for small businesses. Maybe you’re just be starting out in your ventures and you’re looking for start-up funds. You could be in a tight spot financially and cash flow is slow. Or, maybe business is booming and you finally realize that it really does take money to make money. Whatever the case may be, having a game plan for how your small business will use credit is crucial.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

Congratulations! Not everyone has the heart or perseverance to take their big idea to the next level. As a new small business owner, prepare yourself a never-ending list of tasks and problem-solving. When so many obligations start to come at you, it’s tempting to just fly by the seat of your pants. However, seasoned entrepreneurs will tell you to establish practices, policies, and good habits early on in your journey.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

If you’ve ever needed to make a financial decision and thought to yourself, “how will this affect my credit score?”, we salute you. For the majority of Americans, the world of credit seems to be shrouded in secrecy and myth. Terms like credit score, credit report, and FICO score are thrown around without consumers knowing their true meaning. Understanding your FICO Credit Score and why it matters is important, but it doesn’t need to be complicated.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

Wall Street gets a bad rap in the media. Stories of greed and corruption seem to fight their way to the top of the headlines every day. However, there is a new valiant knight on Wall Street: enter “Impact Investing”. It’s not just another buzzwordy term either, impact investing has been around for over ten years, although it’s finally starting to gain traction with individual investors for reasons that go above and beyond potential profits.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

Finding a good financial advisor can feel like a really intimidating process. Maybe you think you don’t have enough net worth to merit needing an advisor. Or you don’t feel like you can actually afford an advisor. After all, you’re trying to make money, not spend it. Maybe it’s just the thought of handing over the reins on your personal fortune a stranger. However, at some point in your life, it might be necessary to seek out the expertise of a financial advisor. If the process of finding a good financial advisor seems daunting to you, then simplify it by educating yourself on the basics and breaking it down into a few actionable steps. You’ll feel more confident in the advisor you chose, knowing you’ve done your research.