Grounds for Growth: How Paul’s Coffee is Expanding Its Community Paul’s Coffee & Tea began with a simple love for coffee and the connections it creates. After years of working in the industry, owner Paul Waitinas decided to bring his passion home by opening a space where people could gather and enjoy something made with care. What started as one cozy neighborhood shop in Louisville,… Read More
Is Your Business Safe from Ransomware? 6 Ways to Strengthen Your Defenses In 2024, the FBI’s IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) reported a total loss of $16.6 billion due to cyber-related scams. In the same year, the largest known cyber ransom in history, $75 million, was paid for an extortion attack on a Fortune 50 company. This growing security concern was the topic of FirstBank’s recent “Decrypting… Read More
4 Ways You Can Leverage Influencer Marketing to Boost Your Business Influencer marketing has become one of the most effective tools in digital marketing. In fact, 90% of small businesses use social media as part of their existing marketing efforts. While it’s still a relatively new strategy, it’s proven to help drive growth, build trust, and create deeper connections with customers. Here’s how business owners can… Read More
Pricing Psychology: How to Set Prices That Attract Customers and Boost Profits Pricing policies play a critical role in shaping consumer demand. When customers clearly understand the cost and value of a product or service, they are more likely to make a purchase. That’s why pricing psychology, the study of how consumers perceive and react to prices, is important for business owners to understand. By applying insights… Read More
Denied a Business Loan? Here’s What You Should Do Next If you were denied during the business loan process, don’t panic — you’re not the only one. Nearly 20% of all small business loan applications are rejected due to several factors, like insufficient business or personal credit history. While being denied may seem like a setback, it’s an opportunity to set your business up for… Read More
3 Things You Should Know About Business Lending Fraud When applying for small business loans, it’s important to thoroughly examine your options to ensure they are safe and legitimate. A LexisNexis© report found that small business lending fraud increased by 13.6% year-over-year, with 64% of respondents anticipating the problem worsening each year. As lending fraud becomes more common, business owners should learn how to… Read More
3 Tips for Navigating the Evolving Business Landscape New business opportunities are emerging in the wake of the so-called Silver Wave or “Silver Tsunami,” each referring to the mass retirement of baby boomers — individuals born between 1946 and 1964. With, 53% of business owners planning to sell or transfer business ownership within the next decade, this societal shift is creating new opportunities… Read More
6 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Business from Check Fraud Did you know 63% of organizations experience check fraud? According to an AFP® Payments Fraud and Control Report, checks are considered the most vulnerable payment methods susceptible to fraud. That’s because checks contain significant sensitive personal information like bank account and routing numbers, physical addresses, and signatures. While checks are clearly the most susceptible to… Read More
Northern Colorado’s Taco Stop Expands with Award-Winning Flavors and Commitment to Service From humble beginnings as a food truck serving up authentic Mexican cuisine inspired by the flavors of Mexico City, The Taco Stop quickly became a beloved staple in Northern Colorado. What began as a small, mobile operation founded by Berenice Longoria and Cesar Lopez in 2012, has since transformed into a thriving brick- and-mortar restaurant… Read More
4 Ways to Protect Your Business from Disaster Did you know 40% of businesses that encounter a disaster or emergency close permanently after? That’s why emergency planning and disaster preparation is key to the success of business in the aftermath. Disasters and other emergency events can cause damage, delays, and interruptions to your business, leading to potentially devastating financial losses. Here are some… Read More