#financing
Business financing options and funding strategies
A 2026 LIHTC field guide for developers — how the 9% and 4% credits differ, how qualified basis and the 70%/30% present-value subsidies are calculated, the three overlapping compliance clocks, the IRS forms (8609, 8609-A, 8586, 8611), syndication mechanics, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes that cut the bond financing test from 50% to 25%.
A working guide to Rollover as Business Startup (ROBS) arrangements — the five required steps, why only a C corporation qualifies, the Form 5500 and prohibited-transaction rules, IRS-documented failure rates, and when alternatives like SBA loans or 401(k) participant loans make more sense.
A SAFE is a contract granting future equity with no maturity or interest, while a convertible note is a loan with 4–8% interest and an 18–24 month maturity that becomes due if no priced round closes — and Y Combinator's 2018 post-money SAFE locks each investor's ownership at Investment ÷ Cap, dilution that hits founders, not prior SAFE holders.
Nearly 80% of small business loan applications are rejected on first submission — not because the business is weak, but because the owner wasn't prepared. This guide covers the Five Cs of Credit, DSCR calculation, required documentation, loan type selection, and the common mistakes that sink applications before they start.
Only 41% of small business applicants receive all the funding they seek. This step-by-step guide covers loan types, lender requirements, approval rates by institution type, required documentation, and concrete steps to improve your eligibility before applying.
A practical breakdown of 7 small business loan types—SBA 7(a), 504, term loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, invoice factoring, and MCAs—with current rate ranges, qualification thresholds, and a 5-step framework for matching the right loan to your specific need.
A practical guide to micro loans for small businesses — covering the SBA Microloan Program (up to $50,000, average $13,000 at 8–13% interest), CDFIs, Kiva, and five qualification steps for entrepreneurs who can't access traditional bank financing.
Black-owned businesses face 39% loan denial rates vs. 18% for white-owned. Compare SBA 7(a), CDFIs, MBDA, and more to find funding that fits your business.
Merchant cash advances can fund your business in 24 hours—but at effective APRs often exceeding 100%. Learn how factor rates work, how to calculate your true cost, when MCAs make sense, and what cheaper alternatives to consider first.
A step-by-step guide to securing a business loan—covering SBA loans, bank terms, online lenders, credit score requirements, and the most common application mistakes small business owners make.
APR bundles a loan's interest rate and all lender fees into a single number, revealing the true cost of borrowing. Learn how to calculate APR, compare competing loan offers, and spot red flags in merchant cash advances and short-term financing.
A business line of credit gives you flexible access to capital—draw only what you need and pay interest only on what you use. Learn how it works, secured vs unsecured options, qualification tips, and when to use it vs a term loan.
