Business is great. Client orders for your services keep piling up. As a result, your employees are all working extra hours to beat deadlines. Unfortunately, fatigue is slowly kicking in, and you can see that your workforce results are beginning to head in the wrong direction. Is it time to make that critical decision and hire an extra pair of hands? If you hire too early, you might blow your workforce budget. If you don't hire fast enough, work will outpace your capacity and unfinished tasks will become the norm. So, how do you know if your business can afford additional staff? Here are seven signs to keep on your radar.

We’re excited to share the news that Mark L. Rockefeller and Mickey Konson of StreetShares
have been selected as national finalists in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2018 program! They were selected as one of four finalists (out of 23 regional winners) in the financial services category. As the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur Of The Year has been at the forefront of identifying mold-breaking business leaders for more than 30 years. The program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, John Mackey of Whole Foods Market Inc., Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Inc., Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn Corporation and Mindy Grossman of HSN, Inc. We're honored to be recognized alongside so many incredible entrepreneurs!

We sat down with some of the veterans of StreetShares to talk about the significance of Veterans Day, what its like working with so many different branches in one place, what advice they have for those who are currently transitioning out of the military, and more! Watch the video series after the cut:

"I won this contract, and it was like 300k of 3D printers and laser cutters right out the door. And I looked at my bank account and I was like, 'That's not a thing.'" 

Does that sentiment sound familiar? If so, you're in great company- like Brad Halsey of Building Momentum. On a recent visit to our office, Brad told us all about how StreetShares helped his company out of a tight spot with a government contract, and how business financing set him up for success and growth from there.

You don't have to tell us twice that veterans make amazing entrepreneurs- but is it risky to invest in the military veteran community? StreetShares CEO Mark L. Rockefeller recently shared a powerful anecdote from the early days of StreetShares that illuminates the power of the veteran community- and reminds us that we still have a long way to go in fighting unfair prejudice and stereotypes.

Just like accounting and legal services, technology has become an essential component of all businesses today. But just like those services, the cost can leave small business owners with sticker shock. Adopting tech can also present your business with the added challenge of keeping up and staying current as technology changes, improves, and becomes obsolete. You might be ready to break out your ledger books and adding machine and go at it the old-fashioned way, but as a business owner, you first need to understand the benefits associated with adopting new technology. Here are just a few!

Are you looking for a way to expand your business? Government contracts can be very lucrative, offering exposure and the potential for future work. However, they can also be complex to navigate and it helps to know the lay of the land before you start. Let's walk through the best tips from top government contractors that you should know before submitting your first bid. 

StreetShares is very excited to work with USAA to provide a pilot program that gives their members access to small business loans. Both organizations share the same commitment to the military and veteran community so our goals are very much aligned. Through this pilot program, USAA members are eligible for discounted origination fees, helping to lower costs. In the U.S. there are nearly 3 million U.S. veterans who own small businesses, so USAA and Street Shares working together makes perfect sense. We look forward to helping USAA members grow their businesses and achieve their dreams.

Learn more on USAA.com here.

If you’ve been exploring your options for small business funding- or any other debt-based financial product- you’ve probably heard the terms “soft” and “hard” thrown around when referring to credit inquiries. What’s the difference between the two, and how do they affect your personal credit score?

Congrats to the winners of the food & beverage edition of the StreetShares Foundation Veteran Small Business Award! These finalists will receive a trip to Orlando to pitch their business live at the Military Influencer's Conference, where first, second, and third place will be determined. Without further ado, the winners are....