Business BLOG

Setting up a home-based business may be a more cost-effective alternative to setting up a major company, but it may still drain the limited resources of a small business owner. To keep the business going, small business loans will definitely be necessary. These can be availed of through credit card services. This article will show you how. First, you need to set up your home based business. Do your research on the type of business you want to establish. Find out what licensing and zoning requirements you need to meet and ensure that you meet them all. Do not attempt to cut corners here. Get the services of an accountant, even if only on a consultancy basis, to help you set up your books and records correctly from the start. Ask for help in determining deductions so that you can plan on your business expenses. Establish a routine for keeping strict records of all income and expenses right from day one. Keep all business related receipts, invoices, client records, bank statements, bank deposit slips and canceled checks. Being home-based, you need to set aside a particular place in your home just for your business. Make sure it can accommodate all the necessary equipment. Check that you have the appropriate electrical outlets and have them installed if needed to avoid overloading your system. Set up rules to keep the area insulated from household noise and disturbances. Have a business phone installed that is separate from your residential line. Avoid having your children answer the business line. Install an answering machine to take calls when you are out or occupied. Get a post office box so that you can use that address in your official stationery and other documents, keeping your business profile professional. Hold client meetings in rented conference rooms or set business meetings in good restaurants. One of the most important steps in setting up your home-based business is to acquire credit card services that will enable you to accept credit card payments and debit card payments. These credit card services provide all the necessary software and hardware for you to be able to process payments in person, online or by phone. This step alone already expands the customer base that you can access. Credit card services will also serve you well once your home-based business begins to feel the need for additional capital. When you need to get small business loans, you will not have to approach banks which are most likely not sympathetic to small home-based businesses. The need for small business loans usually comes when the home-based business is already at least a year old. At such time, your home-based business would have created an average monthly credit card sales record with your credit card services company. You can refer to that when you approach your credit card services company for small business loans, sometimes called cash advances. Credit card services do offer small business loans to their clients based on average monthly credit card sales, without the need for any collateral. The aforementioned average monthly credit card sales guarantee your company’s capability to pay the small business loans. Payments will be automatically deducted as a percentage of future credit card sales. This arrangement frees you from worrying about the amortization for your small business loans, too. As soon as you pay up your small business loans completely, you are automatically eligible for new small business loans for as long as your home-based business is getting a good monthly average in credit card sales. With the help of credit card services, you can continue to expand and grow your home-based business.

 
This is not the same as using your personal credit to obtain a credit card with your business name on it. Obtaining a business credit card relies on your business credit information, not on your personal credit information.
When you are beginning your business, you will probably need to use your personal credit. After you have fulfilled certain basics, your business should rely on itself for credit.
These basics include incorporating your business as a legal business entity. This does not include DBAs (individuals Doing Business As company x). Consult a local business attorney about incorporations are available in your state.
Another basic for building business credit is establishing a business phone that matches your business address in the national 411 directory. Even business cell phone service can be set up for this. Residential addresses are okay, too. Just make sure you are listed as a business in 411 and that your information is correct. Always give lenders this same information.
The last basic step involves building credit with your vendors. If you are in the service industry, you can develop accounts with your office supply, Internet, and phone service providers. Otherwise, get a credit account with your suppliers.

Now you are ready to apply for a business credit card. Use all business information on the business credit card application. Use business sales numbers, list other business assets and liabilities. List business creditors (your vendors) and use business references. Simply put, make your business stand on its own when obtaining business credit cards.

Once you have a business credit card or two, use them for business expenses only. Carry some balance on them month-to-month, but plan on paying almost all of it off monthly. Do not use your business credit card to purchase items for which you could otherwise obtain business financing. Your long-term goal should be to establish solid overall credit for your business.
Establishing solid credit for your business is relatively easy to do if you start by following the three steps above. Then get business credit cards to further build your business’s credit. With good business credit as your foundation, you are now ready to get a business line of credit that does not depend on your personal credit.
While a business credit card is a great tool for using credit for business purposes, as with any tool, use your business credit card wisely and it will serve your business well.
Pat Gage, The Opportunity Creator, and a leading expert in the field of business credit has helped a number of clients target his specialty – starting, expanding, and growing their businesses through his trademarked 10 Steps to Money System. The Opportunity Creator is not only a sought after business credit coach, but also a national speaker. For more information on any topic discussed, visit Gage’s site at http://www. 10stepstomoney. com