Comparison shopping: Small business loans

We've all done it. Whether it's online or in the store, we've compared prices, rates, deals, etc. It's smart shopping. If I could get a grill cover on Amazon.com for $35 or pay $50 bucks directly to

Comparison shopping is the name of the game

Home Depot, I think I'll go with Amazon. For small business owners looking for business loans, the process has been the opposite for too long. They go on Google and search for a business loan and click on the first offer available. Problem is many of those direct lenders are simply not providing you with the full marketplace of business loans available.

With SilverRockFunding.com we come into the mix like Expedia for business loans. You don't just go to Delta and book a flight---you search around. We do the same thing in our marketplace of lenders. You will be provided with the opportunity to look around and compare opportunities. This gives the power to the merchant and you remain in control.

All it takes to get going on a business loan is a business that has been operating for at least 6 months and a minimum monthly revenue of around $10,000. Your credit history is important, but our lenders will work with you if your credit puts you in a position for a bad credit business loan. Regardless, our network is standing by and ready to help get your business the funding it deserves. With options in our marketplace you will be able to decide what works (or doesn't work) for your business.

New lenders, new opportunities...

Silver Rock Funding is constantly looking for ways to get merchants access to new funding. From changing our lending network, to offering different types of loans for different small business loan needs. We've helped people get food truck loans, dentist office loans and so much more. This Fall we are pleased to be able to add a new lender who can help businesses of all types and sizes. Our new lender can help businesses that have only been in business for 6 months and that allows you as a developing entrepreneur the chance to fuel your business and its growth.

Mobile? No problem.

We've also developed a great way to keep in touch with so many touchpoints to access Silver Rock Funding and our network of lenders. Whether it's thru Facebook, Twitter or even Tumblr, our team is ready to help you around the clock. We've helped businesses get funded in so many different industries since we opened our doors 2 years ago and we are ready to help you too! Know someone who could benefit from the excellence of the Silver Rock team? Send them our way. We've also spent time telling you the stories of some great business owners in our Business ROCKstar series. Check them out!

Note: Every small business owner faces working capital issues. Silver Rock Funding is here to help. We offer a personal touch, with dedicated funding managers standing by to walk you through our application process and get you the cash you need. We can also help with bad credit loans for businesses.Silver Rock Funding can help get you the cash you need on your time and on your terms. The process is simple and you could get the loan within 72 hours. A funding manager is dedicated to you through the entire process. For most small business loans to be approved, you will need to provide six months of bank statements and three months of merchant processing statements. The decision to accept the terms and rates of the loans are completely up to you.

The ONE Trait ALL Successful Business Owners Have in Common

The well-known cliche, "It takes all kinds," might be truest when talking about CEOs and business owners. When it comes to businesses large and small, the men and women who run them couldn't be more diverse. The type of personality it takes to run a successful gym or health club is not going to be the same as the type of personality it takes to run a popular bakery or florist shop. The world is full of different passions and temperates, but there IS one trait ALL successful CEOs/business owners have in common... They're always learning!

Being a "forever student" is vital for a successful business, particularly if you own a small business you are trying to grow. 

"In the 1990s, systems scientist Peter Senge popularized the concept of learning organizations: groups that are engaged in perpetual journeys of self-education. One discipline practiced within such organizations is 'personal mastery,' which Senge described as a distinct kind of proficiency that is associated with a vocation or calling. 'People with a high level of personal mastery are acutely aware of their ignorance, their incompetence, their growth areas,' wrote Senge. 'And they are deeply self-confident.' That is the paradox of successful entrepreneurs - they are flawed but fearless" and always open to new ways of doing things.

So, if you're a small business owner reaching for success, open your mind to new ideas and become a serial learner. 

You might even want to open your mind to the idea of a small business loan. If you need extra financing to grow your small business, SilverRockFunding.com may be the answer. We have the interests of the small business community at heart and with our simple, free application you could access up to $500,000 as soon as tomorrow.

For the full article that inspired this post, click here.

Creating a Culture for Your Small Business

Developing a successful small business is as much about the "company culture" as it is about the product or service you're selling. If you don't create a fun, stimulating and rewarding workplace for your employees, your small business will suffer and you wont attract the top talent. So, how do you go about creating a vibrant company culture? Read on...

Put yourself in your employees' shoes and know how to do each of their jobs. "When you understand the challenges of each job, it’s easier to set reasonable, yet demanding, expectations and goals for everyone."

Contract your new hires for three months or set up some sort of "probationary" period. This gives you and your new employee a reasonable amount of time to decide whether or not you are a good fit for one another. This ensures you don't make a wrong hire and jeopardize your budding company culture.

Express compassion and empathy. It's important to show kindness when your employees are dealing with the inevitable issue. While you must create and maintain boundaries it's important to be flexible if, say, one of your employees' children is sick and needs to be taken to the doctor or their car battery died and they're going to be late.

Create traditions your employees can look forward to throughout the year. "Maybe it’s giving back at the holidays with everyone working in a soup kitchen or collecting gifts for underprivileged kids. Maybe it's an annual camping trip. Whatever it is, separate yourselves from the day-to-day minutiae and bond over other activities."

Encourage humor and laughter - within reason of course. Everyone has a different sense of humor and you don't want to offend anyone, but if you see a funny video on YouTube, email it to everyone in the office...and be sure to kindle inside jokes. Every great company culture involves laughter and not taking yourself too seriously.

These are just a few ways to begin creating the culture you envision for your small business...start here and then continue to build.

Now, on the flip side, if you have your company culture nailed down and are focusing on growing your small business (but lack the extra funds) you should consider a small business loan. SilverRockFunding.com can help you access up to $500,000 for your small business needs - whether that's a bigger office space for your growing team or additional inventory for your growing customer base.

For the complete article that inspired our post, head over to Entrepreneur Magazine.

Getting the Most Out of a Modest Marketing Budget

Marketing is vital to the growth of a small business, but when many people think marketing they see nothing but dollar signs. While marketing can costs a pretty penny, it doesn't have to. In this post, we'll share some useful tips (from Business2Community) on how to get the most out of your marketing budget...big or small.

• Stay top-of-mind with your customers with email marketing. "Email newsletters have the highest ROI of any digital marketing tactic. They are easy to produce, inexpensive, and an effective method for providing clients with relevant and personalized content."
• Lean on social media. Social media is a great, free way to push your product/small business. And, if you do want to throw some money into your social media efforts, Facebook and Twitter have affordable, user-friendly ad buy options. "Facebook Ads is an easy-to-use ad platform and one of the best ways to reach your target audience. The platform includes built-in tools which let you select specific targeting demographics so that your ads are shown to the right people."
• Don't overlook good ol' word-of-mouth... Develop a referral program for your product/small business so you can reward and maintain a relationship your loyal customers while attracting new ones. "Offering a discounted month of service or a free product is a win-win strategy that is sure to boost brand visibility and popularity."
• Claim and revise you Yelp listing. Yelp is an essential tool for businesses, it's how you gain the trust of potential customers through reviews from past customers. Many small business owners are intimidated by Yelp because they fear negative feedback and reviews, but it's a win-win because negative feedback offers an opportunity for improvement, while positive feedback is something customers are more likely to trust over paid marketing.

If you feel your small business needs a heavier hand in the marketing department, or maybe your small business needs a facelift in order to really grow, consider a small business loan. There are great services out there, like SilverRockFunding.com, that can help you access the funds you need for your small business needs. Don't waste another minute; apply today and you could receive up to $500,000 for your small business as soon as tomorrow.