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


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


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


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


¿Sabías que el 98% de los propietarios de pequeños negocios^ no saben cuál es el valor de su negocio? Si estás pensando en vender o tienes un comprador interesado, conocer el valor de tu negocio es importante a la hora de negociar la mejor oferta disponible. Aquí tienes cuatro formas de calcular el valor de… Read More


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


It’s no secret that starting a new business is hard work, and many aspiring business owners can face challenges throughout the process. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 30% of new businesses fail within the first two years, 50% within the first five years, and 70% within the first 10 years. … Read More


It’s no secret small businesses are the heartbeat of our economy. That’s why FirstBank launched a new video series aptly named “It Takes Courage”— a phrase encompassing the audacity it takes to build a construction business from scratch or start a successful string of restaurant concepts. In these videos, you’ll see how dedication, family support,… Read More