For many people, owning a bakery is a labor of love, an opportunity to share their passion and prowess for baking cakes and other sweet goodies with customers who hopefully will become regulars. But don’t kid yourself—it takes a lot more than the ability to turn flour, sugar and other ingredients into craveable creations to [...]
It’s a tough time to be a small business owner. Supply-chain issues and workforce challenges are having a negative effect on just about all businesses, but inflation seems to be the biggest culprit—for 91% of small businesses according to a recent Goldman Sachs survey—with increasing energy costs, in particular, playing havoc with bottom lines. [...]
According to ReseachAndMarkets.com, the global cosmetic surgery and procedure market size is expected to reach $145.7 billion by 2030, registering a compound annual growth rate of 9.6%. This increase is primarily attributed to the popularity of digital photography, consumers’ rising need to boost self-esteem and the introduction of self-monitoring apps. If you own a [...]
In part 1, we answered some commonly asked questions about securing a loan as a cannabis business owner—what a cannabis loan is, if you can get one, which loan might be right for you, who offers these loans and how you get one. We noted that since cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance on [...]
With millions of Americans considering their pets to be an important part of their family, you would expect that the pet grooming industry is pretty healthy — and you would be right. According to IBIS World, the market size of the pet grooming and boarding industry has increased faster than other services, and it stands [...]
While more and more cannabis businesses are being recognized as legitimate operations, the path to financing in this industry is still a bit murky. Cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance on a federal level, so even if it’s legal in your state, you won’t be able to get a cannabis business loan from a [...]
The best-laid plans for many businesses have been rudely thrust aside for the last couple of years, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing a significant upheaval to business as usual. While there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel, with the number of new cases finally starting to subside, the reality of inflation [...]
Following on the heels of the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Regulation approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to accelerate the first wave of zero-emission trucks, Senate Bill 372 was passed last year to provide financial incentives for affected businesses. These measures aim to improve air quality and help the state achieve its aggressive [...]
If your business has committed to a new project that requires hiring new people, and you are finding it difficult to find quality employees, you are not alone. A nationwide hiring shortage has resulted in a job seeker’s market—there’s a lot to choose from, so people are being really selective. At a recent job fair [...]
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is certainly not immune to the havoc caused by the pandemic to many small businesses. As a matter of fact, it’s just retooled its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, so even if you were previously turned down for an EIDL, the SBA suggests you reapply. “Our mission-driven SBA team [...]
A love of beer is just one of the many requirements for operating a startup brewery, since brewing and drinking beer is only part of what you’ll be doing as a brewery owner. You should be aware that much of your time will be spent cleaning, as well as managing your books, sales, vendors and [...]
It’s no secret that one of the hardest hit industries during the pandemic was the restaurant industry. Many eateries have closed their doors since mid-2019 and others are barely hanging on, trying to make ends meet until things go back to “normal” again. Traditional lenders have long been wary about lending to restaurant owners given [...]
