Meghan Ott's blog

Business Owners: Beware of Coronavirus Loan Relief Fraud

This blog originally appeared on the blog of our partner CDC Small Business Finance 

As a small business owner, we know you need relief and you want it fast. We urge you to be diligent when getting an emergency loan. It’s critical to know how to not fall victim to scams and fraud.

“Fraudsters have already begun targeting small business owners during these economically difficult times,” according to the SBA, which warned owners in particular of grant and loan fraud and phishing schemes.

Tips: How To Face The Impact Of The Coronavirus On Your Small Business

This post originally appeared on the blog of CDC Small Business Finance

CDC Small Business Finance understands the profound impact of the Coronavirus on small businesses everywhere. The challenge may seem overwhelming, but we have concrete steps for small business owners to take as they face it. 

Our Business Advisers have prepared their top tips for businesses impacted by COVID-19. 

We urge you – these tips are important to address immediately and continually over the next 30 to 60+ days.

Celebrating black entrepreneurship with resources and tips from small business experts

This post originally appeared on the blog of Small Business Majority.

In celebration of Black History Month, we hosted a Twitter chat during which we asked partners like Accion, CAMEO, Working Solutions, Illinois SBDC and Main Street Launch to share resources and advice with Black small business owners and entrepreneurs. 

SBA loan sets table for African-American restaurateur to get bank loan and expand

This post originally appeared on the blog of CDC Small Business Finance

When Georgia’s restaurant opened in Anaheim’s historic Packing House in 2016, co-owners Gretchen Shoemaker and Marlon Machado conservatively projected first-year sales to be between $250,000 and $500,000. By the fifth month of serving their version of “soul delicious” food to thousands of patrons, they hit $1 million.

5 easy ways to market your business during the holiday season

As any small business owner knows, the holiday season is the perfect time to boost your bottom line. But figuring out the best way to market your business or product and how to stand out from the crowd can feel overwhelming. But, there's no need to get your stockings in a twist. Whether you’re an online vendor, a restauranteur or even an accounting firm, there are some easy ways that you can connect with your community and your clients during this busy time of the year.

Resources and more for veteran small business owners

Did you know there are more than 2.5 million veteran-owned businesses in the U.S? Our nation’s veterans are hard-working, resilient and resourceful, making them specially equipped for entrepreneurship. However, they can often face significant obstacles when it comes to accessing capital and business networks. If this sounds familiar to you, you’ve come to the right place. In honor of National Veterans Small Business Week, we’re sharing some of our favorite stories of successful veteran entrepreneurs and resources that can help you start and grow a veteran-owned business. 

Predatory lending cripples business half a lifetime in the making

While many 13-year-olds dream of becoming firefighters or football players, 13-year-old Johnathon Bush not only dreamed of being an entrepreneur but was already becoming one. While growing up in Toledo, Ohio, he realized the only way he could make money at a young age was through entrepreneurship, so he started baking cookies and selling them to friends and family. But, his bake sales evolved into something bigger than his middle school self could have expected. 

With a level playing field, latino entrepreneurs could contribute $1.47 trillion to the U.S. economy

As an organization committed to creating access to capital for Latino entrepreneurs, we feel it is critical to share a look at the state of Latino-owned businesses. We encourage everyone to ask themselves if they are stepping up to support Latino small business growth and success.

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