What do you really qualify for financing? 

We realize show difficult and tasking it is to find a lender that will provide the best loan for your business or personal use.

Here are a few tips to help guide you to the best decision for your loan.

Common mistakes when applying for a loan:

  • Big effect for lenders are high usage of credit cards because business use them Vs. a loan. If possible reduce them before applying.
  • Checking your FICO and SBSS score, banks and lenders look at FICO & generally want 600+, SBSS score which is the business credit score that SBA and banks will use. Low is 140, banks will not accept anything under 160, generally they line in the 190++ range.
  • Is getting a loan and understanding what you really qualify for. Banks only approve about 10% of loans, general industry with alternative is around 40-60% approvals and have limited industries they serve.
  • Finding a lender that matched your requirements and conditions, i.e.., startup, working capital etc. and being prepared with all the requirements and paperwork such as tax documents, personal financial statements, bank statements, etc.
  • Cash flow on paybacks to the loans, lenders will match up your cash flow, bank deposits, credit card statements, too see what amount you can actually afford.
  • Each time you apply for a loan and they turn you down then you have to start all over again. This really affects your credit score every time you apply. Lenders look at how many inquiries. when they see several they know you are shopping and have n=been turned down.

What Lendingcapital provides: Our bQual report delivers your Small Business Credit Score (SBSS & FICO), your consumer credit score and full credit report, as well as a detailed fundability report assessing your financing prospects. And you may even be prequalified for a loan in real time.

About Us Clients nationwide turn to LendingCapital national funding platform with over 5000 lenders each year to identify the right funding options for their business projects and assistance in meeting their financing needs.

LendingCapital’s bQual application provides business owners the tools and knowledge to understand their creditworthiness before applying for and committing to a loan.

Use our bQual application and save time, energy, frustration, and Know the Score before you apply for a loan.

https://lendingcapital.net 

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The Business of Budgeting your Business…

The Business of Budgeting your Business

A budget? So, who needs a budget? You do-that’s who.

Unlike the government we actually need to balance our checkbooks. A budget allows you to identify spending habits, and allows your business (or personal) to make necessary adjustments and changes.

       Don’t just be in business to stay in business-be in business to grow your business

There are many areas to delve into for a complete business plan, for practical purposes we will stick to budgeting and a few essentials.

Check list: All of this and more inside my 16-award winning book:

“the sexy little book of finance III” 2 books in one-Personal & Business

  • Your budget should be on a spreadsheet in excel or another format so you can update.
  • Personal budget and Business information should be part of your routine.
  • Make copies of all serial numbers of vehicles, laptops, cell phones, or any other important information of equipment.
  • Copies of any operators or employees who have access to any equipment, vehicles, should have their drivers license and insurance so you have the information and can check any expiration dates.
  • Credit card numbers, expiration dates, and all employees who assigned a card
  • Record of all policies or contracts
  • Starting inventory and ending inventories (daily, weekly, monthly, and annually) or as deemed appropriate for your business model
  • Bank loans, all financial information stored & backed up daily on a private server or encrypted cloud program
  • ADD your own categories.

You should have a full marketing plan (in writing), websites with SEO search, game plan how are you going to market your product or services – internet-seminars-mailers-email campaigns-workshops-etc. If you are looking for money from a bank or lending institution all this will be necessary. Everybody thinks they can apply and get approved in 15 seconds with 3 little questions and nothing else to provide…SORRY, little things like bank statements, tax returns, personal financial statements (free on our website) just to mention a few things. You can see what else may be required on our website.

Now back to budgeting…

 

 

 

Month _________________                      Beginning Cash Balance $ __________________________

Category                                 Estimated Budget             Actual               Difference

Revenue/1099                         _______________           _______________      _______________

Accounts Receivable               _______________         _______________      _______________

Investment Income                 _______________         _______________      _______________

Interest Income                       _______________         _______________      _______________

Other                                       _______________           _______________      _______________

Total Actual Income:          _______________                                           _______________

EXPENSES

Rent/Lease                              _______________          _______________      _______________

Loans                                       _______________          _______________      _______________

Accounts Payable                    _______________        _______________      _______________

Inventory Purchase                 _______________        _______________      _______________

Equipment Purchases             _______________       _______________      _______________

Office Supplies                        _______________         _______________      _______________

Cell Phones                              _______________         _______________      _______________

Advertising                              _______________         _______________      _______________

Printing                                   _______________          _______________      _______________

Postage                                   _______________           _______________      _______________

Payroll                                     _______________          _______________      _______________

Payroll Taxes                           _______________        _______________      _______________

Health Insurance                     _______________       _______________      _______________

Repairs/Maintenance             _______________        _______________      _______________

Automobile Expense               _______________       _______________      _______________

Gas/maintenance                   _______________          _______________      _______________

Auto Insurance                        _______________         _______________      _______________

Business Insurance                 _______________        _______________      _______________

Accounting fees                      _______________         _______________      _______________

Retirement contributions        _______________      _______________      _______________

Web hosting                            _______________         _______________      _______________

Other                                       _______________          _______________      _______________

Total Actual Expenses $ _________________________

Income_____________ minus Total Expenses_____________= Ending Balance_______

This does not post correctly…see it on our blog

Be Prepared-Be Informed-Be Successful

The last time I got instant gratification – I got food poisoning

https://lendingcapital.net

EQUIFAX – 143 Million breached half the US population…ouch

We are a Corporate & Individual agency for LifeLock® Identity Theft Solutions  

Equifax with 143 million breached has created a national epidemic – and you will be 11 X more likely to have your identity stolen because of this. 

               How LifeLock Works 

 Give us a little information: birthdate, SSN, email, etc. 

WE SCAN 

We look for threats to your identity. 

WE ALERT 

We alert you of suspicious threats by text, email, or phone. 

WE RESTORE 

If your identity is stolen, our U.S.-based team will work to fix it. 

WE REIMBURSE 

We’ll reimburse funds stolen due to identity theft up to the limit of your plan. 

Our Million Dollar Protection™ Package 

Watch our 1 minute video https://youtu.be/yPrFsuTh-Vw  

As business you are a primary target, the average cost of a breach is around $100,000 per location! You need to add a level of protection that safeguards your employees, your business, and your clients. There are no hard costs to you the employer as it is a voluntary benefit-and IRS has approved as a non-taxable voluntary benefit. 

Our program offers a 15% discount (already built in the pricing on our website) 

We are SSL Certified-Malware Scanner-Google Blacklist-and McAfee protected. 

https://lendingcapital.net 

Frank J. Eberhart, CEP®, RFC®, Author 

 

Hack city- 43% targeted small business

Watch this video: https://vimeo.com/185391179

We are a corporate and individual agency for LifeLock Agency # C1A464

For more information and applications visit our website: http://www.lendingcapital.net

In 2015, there were over 1 million web attacks against people a day. Out of that staggering number, 43% targeted small businesses. With larger companies beefing up their cybersecurity measures, small businesses have become attractive targets for hackers. Owners should be concerned the average cost of a data breach for a small business merchant is between $36,000 and $100,000.

Common-sense solutions and general awareness of cybercrime techniques can greatly reduce your business’s vulnerability to cyberattacks.

  • Install Antivirus Software
    The best ways to steer clear of viruses and malware are to use an industry-leading anti-virus software solution. There are many options out there, do not install multiple anti-virus software as they can counter react and defeat the purpose. If you already have good antivirus software, make sure the auto-update and firewall options are turned on.
  • Back Up Your Files
    Symantec reports that ransomware—a method of using encryption to hold critical data hostage for money—increased 35% in 2015. Updating your web applications can help prevent an attack, but it’s important to regularly back-up important files just in case.
    To minimize the impact of a ransomware attack is to immediately disconnect the infected machine(s) from the network, reinstall the operating system and restore from your last good backup copy.
  • Email & Downloads
    Email scams are becoming ever more sophisticated. Spear phishing, for example, is an email that appears to be from an individual or business you know, designed to trick you into revealing personal info.
    It’s important for you and your employees to be wary of anything coming into your inbox. “Never click a link or open an attachment that you did not expect to receive. If you’re not expecting something or must think twice about the contents, don’t open it. Second step is to call and confirm from the sender
  • Install Software & Operating System Updates
    Pop-up reminders to update your web browser or operating system (like Windows or OS) may seem annoying, but don’t ignore them. “Ensure operating systems and applications are always fully patched with the latest security fixes. Updates will help protect you from cyberattacks.
  • Use Strong Passwords                                                                                                                            Weak passwords are an invitation for hackers. Don’t make the mistake of using         simple passwords, using the same password for multiple accounts. And you should change your passwords every 60 to 90 days.Businesses should invest in complex password policies for all their employees. These do not have to be too complex, but they should include a minimum of 10 characters, upper case letter, lower case letter, number and symbol. In addition, all businesses should incorporate some sort of identity theft software for their employees as well, this protects everybody.
  • Use Secure Encrypted Systems to Accept Card Payments
    Never photocopy, hand write, electronically key-in to a terminal, or manually copy credit card information. This is a common practice for orders over the phone, consider a secure online payment system like PayPal to accept transactions. If your systems are compromised, keystroke loggers and other hacking tools can scrape the manually entered information for later attacks.
    In addition, make sure you’ve upgraded to the latest point-of-sale equipment for in-person purchases, many of the POS systems today are using older technology and operating systems like Windows XP that are no longer supported, this leaves you completely vulnerable to attacks.
  • Don’t Bank Over Unsecured Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi connections at coffee shops, airports and other public places are convenient, but they aren’t secure. Never log into your online banking profile on an unsecured network—it’s all too easy for someone to steal your information that way. Look for little devices with generally 2 antennas sitting next to someone’s laptop or computer, this is called a pineapple, be aware.
    If you are a road warrior and are using public Wi-Fi, invest in a VPN service to secure your transmissions
  • Secure Physical Devices Storing Sensitive Data
    Don’t forget that sensitive data can be physically stolen as well. Computers and drives with private business or customer information should be protected. Assume somebody will steal them and plan accordingly. So, no leaving your computer in the front seat of your car, desk, or anywhere that is accessible to the public, employees who do not have proper clearance, and ALWAYS password protect all your devices, cell phones, laptops, computers, Ipad’s.
  • Train Employees & Yourself
    When it comes to cybersecurity, your actions are more important than any technology. If you have employees, hold regular training to make sure they’re aware of company IT policies, and how to avoid email scams and other types of cyberattacks. Practice what you preach, if you don’t it could put you out of business!

http://www.lendingcapital.net

 

Roses are Red…but are Violets really blue?

Well, maybe not. In today’s Tech world, what seems to be may not be.

Phishing, credit card fraud, email scams, all have become very sophisticated for sure.

As an example, I just listed my Note 5 on Amazon seller account, within minutes I had a buyer-until I read the response:

Does this sound like something Amazon would write?

Quote: “we hereby inform you that order have been completed for your item and payment have been received from buyer by us on your behalf. An additional 50 for shipping has been added. You can now go ahead and ship item and get back to us with shipping tracking number for shipment verification in other to transfer your payment into your account”.

Obviously, these morons were not very good at it. But many are.

A scammer contacts you out of the blue pretending to be from a legitimate business such a bank, telephone or internet service provider. You may be contacted by email, social media, phone call, or text message.

The scammer asks you to provide or confirm your personal details. For example, the scammer may say that the bank or organization is verifying customer records due to a technical error that wiped-out customer data. Or, they may ask you to fill out a customer survey and offer a prize for participating.

Alternatively, the scammer may alert you to ‘unauthorized or suspicious activity on your account’. You might be told that a large purchase has been made in a foreign country and asked if you authorized the payment. If you reply that you didn’t, the scammer will ask you to confirm your credit card or bank details so the ‘bank’ can investigate. In some cases, the scammer may already have your credit card number and ask you to confirm your identity by quoting the 3 or 4 digit security code printed on the card.

Phishing messages are designed to look genuine, and often copy the format used by the organization the scammer is pretending to represent, including their branding and logo. They will take you to a fake website that looks like the real deal, but has a slightly different address. For example, if the legitimate site is ‘www.realbank.com.au’, the scammer may use an address like ‘www.reallbank.com’.

You can be sitting in a café or deli or coffee shop, you can be hacked while you are sitting there, it’s called a “pineapple”  the Wi-Fi Pineapple makes man-in-the-middle attacks incredibly easy (click on), look around you and see if anyone is using it.

Pharming – the scammer redirects you to a fake version of a legitimate website you are trying to visit. This is done by infecting your computer with malware which causes you to be redirected to the fake site, even if you type the real address or click on your bookmarked link.

Warning signs

  • You receive an email, text or phone call claiming to be from a bank, telecommunications provider or other business you regularly deal with, asking you to update or verify your details.
  • The email or text message does not address you by your proper name, and may contain typing errors and grammatical mistakes.
  • The website address does not look like the address you usually use and is requesting details the legitimate site does not normally ask for.
  • You notice new icons on your computer screen, or your computer is not as fast as it normally is.

Protect yourself

  • Do not click on any links or open attachments from emails claiming to be from your bank or another trusted organization and asking you to update or verify your details – just press delete.
  • Do an internet search using the names or exact wording of the email or message to check for any references to a scam – many scams can be identified this way.
  • Look for the secure symbol. Secure websites can be identified using ‘https:’ rather than ‘http:’ at the start of the internet address, or a closed padlock or unbroken key icon at the bottom right corner of your browser window. Legitimate websites that ask you to enter confidential information are generally encrypted to protect your details.
  • Never provide your personal, credit card or online account details if you receive a call claiming to be from your bank or any other organization. Instead, ask for their name and contact number and make an independent check with the organization in question before calling back.
  • Watch for anything on your credit card alert that says canteen, they test your credit card in a vending machine, if it works-all hell breaks loose in minutes.
  • Go to your bank (on line) and set up your alerts, I set mine at $1 dollar, anything that hits my credit card I get an instant alert.
  • Subscribe to identity theft programs.
  • Change your password every 90 days.
  • Use credit cards, it is the banks money
  • Debit cards are your money, if scammed it can take months to get your money back.
  • If you use debit card always use it as credit, you have your signature to prove it was or was not you.

NEVER CLICK ON THIS

WARNING

YOUR SYSTEM MAY HAVE DETECTED VIRUSES ON YOUR COMPUTER

Your financial information may not be safe Call tech support at: xxx-xxx-xxxx

I hope this helps, I know I was a victim of identity theft several years ago, and it is not fun to undo, and in some cases, you are wiped out.

I subscribed to LifeLock®Identity Theft Solutions , I was so impressed with their services and protection I became a corporate agency for them. They monitor all 3 bureaus and more.

Good luck and pay attention!

Frank J. Eberhart, CEP® RFC® Author

www.lendingcapitral.net

Identity Theft better gear up…

We are a corporate agency for LifeLock® Identity Theft Solutions another layer we offer to help protect, grow your business and keep you in business!

And I enroll the ultimate plan for myself and family. On an average there are 3 to 5 black market enquiries to my credit every week!

Identity theft has become a national and international epidemic, if you have been to any store that has had a breach (like home depot, target, etc) you are likely to have your identity stolen. The numbers and costs are staggering. Don’t confuse credit card theft with identity theft!

As small business you are a primary target, the average cost of a breach is around $100,000 per location! You need to add a level of protection that safeguards your employees, your business, and your clients. There is no hard costs to you the employer as it is a voluntary benefit-easy application, and all done through payroll deductions for as little as 10 month.

What is Identity Theft Protection Service? Identity theft can be a nightmare that can damage your employees’ finances, credit and even their personal reputation. With identity theft protection from LifeLock, your employees can stay focused on your business while LifeLock stays focused on helping protect them from this every day risk. LifeLock® protection proactively monitors an extensive network for the use of personal information.† If a threat is detected, LifeLock alerts members by phone, email or text before the damage is done.
The Necessary, Voluntary Benefit for Your Employees Your employees are concerned about identity theft, and as their trusted benefits provider, they want you to offer them protection. In fact, 39% of employees said they would be likely to purchase identity theft protection as a benefit through payroll deduction.

With LifeLock identity theft protection, your employees will have peace of mind knowing their identity is being watched 24/7/365.

There were over 12.6 million victims of identity theft at a cost of nearly $21 billion dollars in 2012.2

Identity theft Protection Fits Within Your Benefits Portfolio Your organization is already taking the steps to protect employee data. Give your employees access to the tools that safeguard their information outside of work. Unlike some other benefits you already offer that appeal to limited employee demographics, identity theft protection is a universally relevant, voluntary benefit that all employees need because everyone has an identity to protect.
The many Good reasons to offer lifelock® service

 Employees want it

 No hard costs to employers

 No participation minimums

 Low maintenance administration

 Convenience of payroll deduction

 Many levels of protection to choose from

 Dedicated implementation and marketing support

 industry leading identity Theft Protection
LifeLock offers the most comprehensive identity theft protection to millions of members.† LifeLock service constantly scans billions of data points, searching for potentially fraudulent activity.
 recognized expertise
Law enforcement agencies and victim advocacy groups seek the expertise of LifeLock. Through an affiliation with the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, LifeLock has conducted extensive training about identity theft prevention for over 1,000 law enforcement agencies from coast to coast.
 Award-winning Product
In 2012, Javelin Strategy & Research named LifeLock Ultimate™ service “Best in Class overall” in identity theft protection solutions. Also recognized was the proactive nature of LifeLock Ultimate service, naming it “Best in Detection”.
 Advanced iD network®
The foundation of LifeLock protection is the only cross-industry compilation of identity information in the U.S. It’s used and trusted by six of the top 10 financial services companies, three of the top four wireless carriers, the Social Security Administration and other identity theft protection services.

lifelock identity Theft Protection LifeLock® identity theft protection helps proactively safeguard personal information and alerts members of potential threats.
lifelock ultimate LifeLock Ultimate™ service is the most comprehensive identity theft protection service ever created and even includes monitoring of new and existing checking and savings accounts.
service features lifelock identity Theft Protection lifelock ultimate Credit Application Alerts† 

 Non-Credit Alerts

 Lost Wallet Protection

 Address Change Verification

 Black Market Website Surveillance

 Reduced Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers

 Award-Winning Member Service 24/7/365

 $1 Million Total Service Guarantee‡

 Alias Name and Address Monitoring

 Court Records Scanning

 File-Sharing Network Searches

 Unauthorized Payday Loan Notifications

 Sex Offender Registry Reports

 Checking and Savings Account Application Alerts

 Bank Account Takeover Alerts

 Enhanced Credit Application Alerts

 Online Annual Credit Reports and Scores

 Monthly Credit Score Tracking  Priority Award-Winning Member Service 24/7/365 
Help Protect Your employees, your business, your clients.

LifeLock Eligibility Minimum Group Size: 2 Minimum Participation: none Individual Eligibility Information:  Valid Social Security number  U.S. resident (includes Puerto Rico and Guam)  Spouse/Children can only be enrolled with the enrollment of the primary  Name, home address, date of birth, Social Security number, email address and phone number are required for each member at the time of enrollment Ages: Protection for employees and spouses age 18+ and children (up to age 26)**
LifeLock Enrollment and Administration Enrollment Methodologies:
Pre-enrollment Employee Communications: LifeLock provides a variety of pre-enrollment employee informational tools to choose from and will work with you to ensure employees are made aware of this valuable benefit.
**As LifeLock Identity Theft Protection and LifeLock Ultimate service are available for adults 18 years of age and older, children under the age of 18 will receive a product designed specifically for minors. On their 18th birthday, children enrolled in LifeLock Junior™ will automatically be upgraded to the same level

http://www.lendingcapital.net

Frank J. Eberhart, CEP®, RFC®, Author