Restaurant Financing Is Available!

For entrepreneurs in the restaurant business, the recession has been tough. Sales volumes in the dining sector have been cut, and banks are much less willing to make small business loans to restaurant owners as a result. While overall consumer spending on restaurants is down, many restaurants are doing just fine in these tough times.
Unfortunately, banks aren’t cutting breaks to restaurant loans to business owners whose bottom lines haven’t suffered. This can make expansion, remodeling and other necessary expenses difficult to cover. Rapid Capital Funding offers a special restaurant financing program that can put cash in your pocket in days. There’s no long application form to fill out, minimal paperwork to provide and no long waiting period to find out whether your request has been approved.
With Rapid Capital Funding’s merchant cash advance program, you can get the working capital you need to run your business, pay bills, buy or lease new equipment, open a second location or whatever you want to do. Contact Rapid Capital Funding today and let us show you how to get the financing you need for your business.

Photo Credit: William Murphy, via Flickr

Bookmark it

Home Based Businesses An Option During Recession

For many workers who have either lost their jobs, or experienced a reduction in income, the temptation to start a home-based business can be irresistible. Home-based businesses and home-based franchise businesses can provide a great “ready-made” opportunity to make money, but experts warn that many people who are hoping to cash in on a home-based business windfall are setting themselves up for financial disaster.

Workers need to be wary of home-based business opportunities that require high up-front investment or that promise fast returns. Generally, the most stable home-based business opportunities come from reputable companies with a long history of providing franchise support. Many home-based business opportunities involve sales, so if sales work isn’t attractive, look for non-sales based opportunities. Better yet, look into creating your own opportunities to make money at home.

Gap Reports Huge Growth In Online Sales

If you still think that Internet shopping is a “wait-and-see” proposition, guess again. Uber-retailer The Gap reported that its same-store sales were down by 8% for the second quarter of 2009, but its Internet sales jumped by 17%, to $191 million in the same time period. Overall, the Gap’s Internet sales now account for more than 7% of the company’s overall bottom line.

Photo Credit: Paul Falardeau, via Flickr

Bookmark it

Dry Cleaner Business Going Green

For years, dry cleaners have been at the epicenter of a battle with environmentalists about the safety of their industry. Now, more dry cleaning businesses are turning to “green” cleaning in an effort to reduce their impact on the environment. Dry cleaning chemicals have long been accused of contaminating drinking water and ground water, and causing more harmful health and environmental concerns.

Public Enemy Number One in terms of dry cleaning chemicals is perchloroethylene, or “perc.” Perc exposure has been identified as a carcinogen and an environmental hazard by the Environmental Protection Agency. Now some dry cleaner businesses are turning to silicone-based cleaning solutions instead of perc. The silicone solution breaks down into sand, carbon dioxide and water and is currently considered both safe and environmentally friendly. Laboratory testing has shown that the solution is associated with a higher risk of cancer in laboratory mice. In addition, the solvent’s manufacturing process uses chlorine, which can generate harmful emissions.

Consignment Shops Doing Brisk Business

Retail clothing sales were up in August, primarily due to back-to-school shopping. One area of the retail clothing business that’s seen excellent growth in this troubled economy is consignment sales.

At a consignment shop, the storeowner acts as a broker for customers who want to sell goods. The consignment store owner provides retail sales space and conducts the transaction for a small fee on behalf of the merchandise owner. In consignment shops, goods are often displayed as they would be in a regular retail shop. The most successful consignment shops include those that feature children’s clothing, sporting goods and household items.

Photo Credit: Ralph Hockens, via Flickr

Bookmark it

Exotic Pet Business On The Rise

Exotic pets have piqued consumer interest. Consumers who prefer these pets say that exotics require much less maintenance than dogs and cats do, and fit better into a busy lifestyle. Exotic pet shop owners say business is brisk, despite the recession.

Not everyone is thrilled about the idea of sharing space with pythons, snakes and iguanas, though. Representatives from the Humane Society say that it can be difficult to place full-grown exotic pets in new homes when the original owner gets tired of them or when they escape into the wild.

Retail Sales Figures Were Up In August

Retailers got a much needed 2.7% boost in sales in the month of August, largely due to the back-to-school shoppers who filled stores looking for bargain clothing, school supplies and equipment. Also included in retail sales were sales of new cars. When new cars were subtracted from the picture, overall retail sales rose 1.1%, up from a 0.6% decrease in July. Retail sales were up broadly, meaning that there was no one retail sector that benefitted more than another. Auto sales definitely got a lift, but some analysts say that the new auto sales derived from the Cash for Clunkers program means that fewer discretionary dollars will be available for spending in the coming months.

Retail store business financing is still keeping retailers down, and small retailers say that getting retail financing ahead of the holiday season is among their top concerns.

Photo Credit: Tambako the Jaguar, via Flickr

Bookmark it

New Real Estate Business Rules Affect Appraisers

New rules instituted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in May have left some real estate appraisal businesses in the lurch. Until the new rules went into effect, banks and other lenders were free to choose their appraisal firms. Since May however, lenders must contact an appraisal management company, which then assigns an appraiser to evaluate a property.

Banks and other lenders say that they prefer to choose the appraisers they work with and that the new rules are slowing down the process of approving or denying real estate loans. Appraisers, many of whom operate their businesses from their homes say that appraisal management firms are cutting their pay by as much as half, and awarding work to inexperienced appraisers who aren’t familiar with the neighborhoods in which they’re working. This in turn produces property valuations that are either too high or too low, and is causing otherwise solid home sale offers to fall through.

Restaurant Business Is Giving Mixed Signals

Restaurant spending was up in August for the first time in months. Eating out is considered a discretionary expense, and is often the first cut consumers make when they’re trying to save money. Although restaurant spending did rise by 0.1%, analysts say that the rise is more likely attributable to an increase in the price of food, rather than a vote of confidence on the part of consumers. Restarant financing is still a big problem for restaurant owners, who say that poor sales combined with tight credit are keeping them in a holding pattern.

Photo Credit: Liz West, via Flickr

Bookmark it

Try A Home Based Business Franchise

As a rule, recessions are good for franchising. High unemployment coupled with a desire to have more control over work life are two reasons that franchises become so attractive, especially during poor economic times. The home based franchise is a special category that affords the ability to work a home based business and gives the security of a franchise operation at the same time.

If you operate a home based business, or are looking to open or expand a franchise business, financing will be among your chief concerns. Banks may be unwilling or unable to finance you franchise operations, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find the franchise business financing you need to take your business or your home based business to the next level.

Rapid Capital Funding can provide you with the working capital you need to run your business, even when you can’t find a small business loan from a traditional lender. If your business accepts Visa or MasterCard, your business likely qualifies for a small business loan alternative from Rapid Capital Funding.

Contact us today for more information on how you can get the franchise business financing or home based business financing you need.

Photo Credit: DBKing, via Flickr

Bookmark it

August Was A Rosy Month For Auto Business

According to the US Department of Commerce, retail auto sales were up 2.7% in August, which beat the 2.0% expected rise in sales. In addition to improved retail auto sales, increased gas station sales of 5.1% and a 10.6% increase in auto parts and sales lifted the automobile sector nearly three-fourths of a percentage higher than initially predicted, once retail auto sales were factored out. Gasoline sales rose by nearly 2.4%.

For retailers in the auto business this comes as welcome news. Auto dealers and suppliers are hoping for a lingering bump from the government’s recently retired “Cash for Clunkers” program. Consumers who didn’t qualify for the program are taking a renewed interest in auto parts as they take measures to keep their vehicles on the road longer.

For after-market auto parts suppliers, the recession has been relatively good for business. If you own an after-market auto parts supply store and are looking to expand your business, but think you can’t get a small business loan, think again. Contact Rapid Capital Funding today for more information on our small business loan alternatives and let us show you how quickly we can put working capital in your account!

Photo Credit: .Larry Page, via Flickr

Bookmark it

Internet Shoppers Are In A Hurry!

In a study conducted by Forrester Consulting for content streaming service Akamai. Researchers found that 40 percent of all online shoppers expect to wait no longer than three seconds for an e-commerce site to load, while 47% of shoppers expect a Web site to load in two seconds or less. The study also showed that a highly optimized e-commerce site that loads quickly was a significant factor in site loyalty. Nearly eight of ten study participants said that a poor online experience would make them less likely to buy from the same online store again, and nearly 3 in 10 participants said that a bad online experience would make them less likely to make purchases at a brick-and-mortar store run by the same retailer.

Maintaining an excellent online shopping experience is exceptionally important, since a less-than-optimal experience may translate into reduced sales in a company’s physical stores. If you already have an Internet-based business, you may want to evaluate your online presence to see how well it meets the customer’s expectations.

Maintaining a positive Internet experience through solid site design can take a lot of effort and may require the assistance of professional Web designers and Web programmers. If you want to build or rebuild your online e-commerce site, Rapid Capital Funding can provide the working capital you need. Contact Rapid Capital Funding today to see whether your business qualifies for one of our small business loan alternatives.

Photo Credit: Q. Thomas Bower, via Flickr

Bookmark it

Try A Home Based Business Franchise

Homeowners are paying closer attention to their homes for a variety of reasons today. With housing values on the downslide, keeping up the appearance of a home is more important. In addition, many homeowners also use their homes as a base of operation for their small home-based businesses.

The unstable economy means that fewer people are employed in traditional positions. It also means that more people are turning to home-based business opportunities to generate cash, either to stabilize family finances, pay down debts, increase savings or develop an independent line of income in case the worst happens.

These small business owners are also looking for alternatives to small business loans that won’t break the bank. Rapid Capital Funding offers small business loan alternatives that are ideal for businesses that conduct a high percentage of credit card transactions. These small business loan alternatives don’t require excellent credit and don’t come with minimum monthly payments. Our small business loan alternatives enable your small business to finance its own expansion and offer repayment terms that make sense for a growing business.

Rapid Capital Funding even offers franchise business financing for small business owners who are looking to expand their businesses, or steer their franchise businesses through hard times. Contact Rapid Capital Funding today for more information on our small business loan alternatives for home based businesses and franchise businesses.

Photo Credit: Achim Hepp, via Flickr

Bookmark it

Pending Home Sales Lift Real Estate Business

According to the National Association of Realtors, pending home sales have increased for the sixth straight month, lending support to the idea that a recovery may be underway. Other analysts are not sure that the NAR’s assessment is correct. Earlier this year, the NAR changed its categorization of a “short sale” to a “pending home sale” when the purchaser makes an offer, instead of when the bank approves the sale. That’s created a lot of “pending sales” about three-fourths of which are unlikely to close.

The home sales market is tough, but home sales are up in part thanks to the first-time homebuyer credit, which is scheduled to expire in November. The program offers an $8,000 tax credit to first-time homebuyers and has generated a lot of interest from prospective home buyers. The increased traffic in homes for sale is good news for the real estate business. Home staging companies, property maintenance firms, landscapers, and home repair contractors are finding a lot of additional work. Real estate business financing is still hard to come by, however. The inability for these firms to access capital is driving interest in alternatives to small business loans.

Home staging is a particularly effective technique for showing off an empty home’s best qualities. Home staging requires the home to have a tidy but lived-in look, and often means that upscale furniture and other decorative touches are brought into the home. The home is professionally decorated to help the buyer envision the home’s potential. If you’re looking for real estate business financing, or furniture business financing, contact Rapid Capital Funding today for information on how our small business loan alternatives can put your real estate business in the black in no time!

Photo Credit: Juan ValideRuten, via Flickr

Bookmark it