Small Business Funding Tips: Building Business Credit

Bad credit affects millions of people. If an individual is trying to get a loan, having bad credit makes this especially difficult. Many lenders are much more hesitant about giving out money, and are incredibly more reluctant to lend to "high risk" individuals--or people with bad credit. Well, at least not without attaching tons of interest or some type of required additional security.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners with bad credit find this even more frustrating because one of the first things needed to get a business off the ground is money. Unfortunately, there aren't many options business owners who are trying to get funding in spite of their bad credit. Typically, they must get a bad credit loan of some sort, but generally there is some type of catch or high interest rates.

Business Credit
One of the best options for entrepreneurs and business owners with bad credit is to establish business credit. This process can take a few years but it is well worth it because it will not be connected to your personal credit. If you establish a high amount of business credit it means that you will qualify for lower interest loans. As a side note, it is also important because if your business ends up suffering from bad credit it will not further damage your personal credit rating.

Get Started Establishing Business Credit
It is important to establish a formal business type in order to clearly specify that your business is separate from your personal credit. You can set up an sub-chapter S corporation or LLC (limited liability company), for example.

1. Business Checking Account
Get a business checking account under your business name. Use this account to handle all business finances, rather than using your personal finances.

2. Business Phone Line
Get a business phone line in the name of your company, and conduct all business related calls from this phone line. Tip: It is important to use a phone company that will report your payment history to the credit bureaus. You can call and ask. If they do not, it is best to find a company that does.

3. Vendor or Trade Credit
Establish trade credit with office supply and equipment vendors. This is simply when vendors finance any purchases you make with them--for supplies, inventory, and equipment--and you pay them off over time. Tip: You need to find vendors who will finance your purchases without requiring the use of any personal finance information and without requiring that your credit be tied to your social security number.

4. Business Credit Cards
Get business credit cards in the name of your business. It is a good idea to get a few, and to pay your monthly balances on time. Tip: Many business cards must be tied to a person's personal credit, so it may take you some time to find a company that does not do this. But remember that it is a must to have your business card separated from your personal finances and credit. It is also incredibly important to make sure that they report all of your payment history to the credit bureaus.

The Truth About Bad Credit Debt Consolidation!

Bad credit restricts approval for most kind of loans and even if approval is possible, the loan terms are altered to match the risk implied in the financial transaction for the lender. In order for a loan to be suitable for debt consolidation, there are however, certain terms that need to meet some requirements and bad credit may impede this.

Secured And Unsecured Consolidation Loans

Secured consolidation loans are home equity loans or second mortgages that use your home equity to guarantee the loan amount. The interest rate charged for this kind of loans is low and thus, they are perfect for consolidating debt. Since the loan is guaranteed, there are not harsh credit requirements and someone with bad credit can easily get approved.

Unsecured consolidation loans have no collateral at all and thus, the risk involved in the financial transaction is higher and so is the interest rate charged for them. The lack of collateral also implies that the lender will have more strict requirements for approval and though someone with bad credit may get approved, he will be required to pay higher interest rates.

Thus, bad credit applicants should be divided in two: those who are homeowners and thus, despite their bad credit can obtain a reasonable interest rate and those who are non-homeowners and need to resort to unsecured consolidation loans. The latter, even if they qualify and get approved for an unsecured consolidation loan, chances are that they'll have to face higher interest rates and thus, consolidating with a higher rate makes the transaction too onerous to be useful.

Consolidation Loan Amount

The loan amount is also an important issue, depending on the amount of outstanding debt you have, you'll need to apply for a high amount consolidation loan or a small or medium amount consolidation loan. High loan amounts can only be obtained through secured consolidation loans and thus, only those with bad credit who are homeowners can consolidate high amounts of debt.

Those who are non-homeowners can only obtain small to medium loan amounts by requesting an unsecured consolidation loan. Else, non-homeowners should hire the services of a debt consolidation agency that can negotiate with creditors new loan terms since qualifying for an unsecured consolidation loan with bad credit is difficult and you can't obtain high loan amounts.

As you can see, obtaining a bad credit consolidation loan is almost impossible for tenants and non-homeowners. It is better for them to hire a debt consolidation agency and have their debts re-negotiated. However, those bad credit applicants who can offer an asset as collateral can get secured consolidation loans for fair amounts in order to exchange their expensive debt for a single and cheaper loan.

Financing Lender

There are countless business and personal scenarios where financing can help open up the doors to unforeseen opportunity. Financing can make seemingly impossible goals affordable and realistic. When seeking financing, lender selection is one of the most important considerations for the potential consumer. The availability of a financial lending options today is unsurpassed---virtually every type of financial solution is now available for creditworthy customers. However, not each type of lender offers each solution. Most lenders specialize in only a certain type of loan. In addition to this, lenders vary greatly in their rates, loan procedures, and even the financial options that they offer. A consumer must take all of these factors into account when seeking a financing lender.

The financing lender offers a mortgage, personal or business loan at rates and terms variant with the customer. Interest rates will vary upon each applicants’ individual credit situation and the amount of money being requested. Rate shopping is a very important aspect when selecting a lender. A mistake many customers will make, however, is looking at rates alone. Several other costs can be incorporated into a loan which must also be calculated. Closing costs, application fees, and pre payment penalties are all important considerations. A reputable financing lending firm will never ask for any kind of upfront fee. It’ important to make sure that your lender will not charge you unless your loan request is both approved and funded.

Finding a financing lender for a mortgage or other loan program can affect your life for decades. Finding a lender that will help you identify your specific needs and customize a solution to fit them is of vital importance. Expertise and professionalism are both key factors here. An expert loan consultant can help identify your needs and suggest a suitable financial solution, and help you feel confident about your choices.