18 tagged with "Credit"
Understand business credit, scoring, and credit management strategies
The Altman Z-Score: A Five-Ratio Early Warning System for Business Failure
The Altman Z-Score combines five financial ratios into one number that predicted bankruptcy with 72% accuracy two years out. This guide covers the original formula, the Z' and Z'' versions for private and non-manufacturing firms, a worked example, and how to screen your own company, customers, and suppliers.
Are Business Credit Card Rewards Taxable? How to Record Cash Back, Points, and Bonuses
For most businesses, credit card cash back and points are non-taxable rebates, not income—but a bonus with no spending requirement is taxable. Spending rewards also reduce your deductible expenses, so record them as a contra-expense to keep deductions accurate.
Loan Covenants for Small Business Borrowers: How DSCR, FCCR, and Tangible Net Worth Decide When a Performing Loan Can Be Called
Loan covenants—DSCR, fixed charge coverage, tangible net worth, and leverage limits—can put a small business borrower in default while every payment is current. A practical breakdown of affirmative, negative, and financial covenants, cure periods, waiver requests, and what to negotiate before signing a credit agreement.
ASC 326 CECL Explained: Lifetime Credit Loss Estimation for Private Companies, Community Banks, and Credit Unions
ASC 326's Current Expected Credit Loss model requires private companies, community banks, and credit unions to book lifetime expected losses on receivables and loans from day one. This guide covers estimation methods (loss-rate, WARM, vintage, migration, DCF), pool segmentation, reversion approaches, and the July 2025 ASU 2025-05 practical expedient that lets entities skip forward-looking forecasts for current trade receivables.
How to Prepare for a Business Loan Application: A Complete Guide
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.
How to Get a Business Loan: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2026
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.
Best Small Business Loans: A Complete Guide for 2026
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.
Micro Loans for Small Business: The Complete Guide to Getting Started
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.
How to Get a Business Loan: A Complete Guide for Small Business Owners
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.
Bankruptcy for Small Business: What It Is, Types, and When to Consider It
Learn everything about small business bankruptcy, including Chapter 7, 11, and 13 options, the step-by-step filing process, costs, how it affects your credit, and practical alternatives like debt negotiation and restructuring.
Best Small Business Credit Cards: How to Choose the Right Card for Your Company
A comprehensive guide to choosing the best small business credit card. Compare cash back, travel rewards, low APR, and secured cards. Learn how to match your spending patterns to the right card and avoid common mistakes that cost businesses money.
Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio: What It Tells You and How to Improve It
Learn what the accounts receivable turnover ratio is, how to calculate it with the formula and real examples, what a good ratio looks like by industry, and 8 practical ways to improve your collections and cash flow.