The Playbook
Clear, sourced answers to the business-funding questions owners actually ask: what lenders look at, how requirements vary, and what's realistic. No hype, and no “guaranteed approval” nonsense.
- Funding Types & ComparisonsLast updated: July 28, 20266 min read
Types of business funding, plainly explained
Term loans, lines of credit, SBA-backed loans, equipment financing, invoice factoring, and merchant cash advances: what each one actually is, what it tends to fit, and the trade each makes between cost, speed, and reach.
Read more - Funding Types & ComparisonsLast updated: July 24, 20266 min read
Business line of credit vs. term loan: which does what?
A term loan is a lump sum repaid on a schedule. A line of credit is reusable capacity you draw when you need it and pay interest only on what you use. Here's how the two structures really differ and the mistakes that make each expensive.
Read more - Funding Types & ComparisonsLast updated: July 22, 20267 min read
How merchant cash advances actually work
A merchant cash advance gives you a lump sum today in exchange for a fixed slice of your future revenue, priced with a factor rate and collected through daily or weekly debits. Here's the honest mechanics, step by step.
Read more - Qualification & RequirementsLast updated: July 17, 20266 min read
Documents you need to apply for business funding
What paperwork does business funding actually take? It scales with the product: revenue-based financing may want little more than bank statements, while bank and SBA loans ask for tax returns, financials, and more. The full checklist, by tier.
Read more - Qualification & RequirementsLast updated: July 15, 20266 min read
Do you need collateral or a personal guarantee for a business loan?
Collateral is an asset the lender can claim. A personal guarantee makes you personally liable. Most small-business funding involves at least one of them, and knowing which one you're signing matters more than either word suggests.
Read more - Qualification & RequirementsLast updated: July 12, 20266 min read
Business funding with under 1 year in business
Under a year in business, most doors are harder to open but not all of them are closed. What time in business actually signals to lenders, which options tend to open earliest, and how to use the months you have.
Read more - Qualification & RequirementsLast updated: July 7, 20266 min read
How lenders review your business bank statements
Bank statements are the closest thing to a lie detector in a funding review. Here's what lenders actually read in them: deposits, balances, negative days, existing debits, and the patterns that quietly help or hurt a request.
Read more - Funding Types & ComparisonsLast updated: July 3, 20267 min read
Merchant cash advance vs. business loan: what's the difference?
A merchant cash advance is not a loan. It's an advance against future sales, priced with a factor rate and repaid through frequent debits. Here's how the two really compare on cost, repayment, speed, and risk.
Read more - Existing Advances & DebtLast updated: June 29, 20269 min read
Getting business funding when you already have an advance
Can you get more business funding when you already have a merchant cash advance? It may be possible with one, and harder with several. An honest look at how existing advances affect a new request, what 'stacking' is, and how to protect yourself.
Read more - Qualification & RequirementsLast updated: June 27, 20267 min read
What disqualifies you from a business loan?
Rarely does one thing disqualify you everywhere, but several factors commonly make business funding harder or more expensive. An honest look at the real red flags lenders watch for, and what can help in each case.
Read more - Qualification & RequirementsLast updated: June 20, 20267 min read
What credit score do you need for a business loan?
There's no single credit score that qualifies you for a business loan. It depends on the lender and the type of funding. An honest look at personal vs. business credit, what different lenders tend to want, and how to check and strengthen your score.
Read more - Qualification & RequirementsLast updated: June 14, 20268 min read
Can you get a business loan with bad credit?
Yes, getting business funding with bad credit is often possible, but with fewer options and at a higher cost. An honest look at what lenders weigh besides your score, which options are more reachable, and how to strengthen a weak-credit request.
Read more - Qualification & RequirementsLast updated: June 13, 20267 min read
Business loan requirements: what lenders typically look at
What do you actually need to qualify for business funding? An honest look at the factors lenders typically weigh (credit, time in business, revenue, cash flow, and more) and how requirements vary by lender.
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