Escape the MCA trap. While we do not recommend stiffing anyone who has lent you money, you do have strategies available to escape the MCA trap. You either exit the MCA or workaround the MCA. But first, know what you are getting into. Look for warning signs before you sign the MCA. Confessions of Judgment Read More

Who should NOT use them? It’s a rough way to start the day.  You are a restaurant owner and sales have been inconsistent lately. Your power bill is past due, and you must pay it today, or the utility will disconnect your electricity for nonpayment. Last night when you checked, you had sales transactions that Read More

Who should consider using them? Merchant Cash Advances (MCAs) have developed a bad reputation, but they can serve a purpose and provide quick capital in an emergency. They provide funding (often within 24-48 hours) and lenient approval based on revenue. That makes them accessible for businesses with poor credit or urgent cash needs.  However, they Read More

By James Chittenden If you are looking to buy an existing small or medium business, protect yourself by looking for red flags in small/medium business finances. If you are looking to sell a business, clean up your books and implement the controls we recommend below. Clean finances increase the value of a business. Sloppy books Read More

By Derek Goodman Most conversations about law school focus on the legal career it leads to. The salary projections, the prestige, the years of study, the bar exam. What gets discussed less often is the business argument for pursuing a J.D., the case that, for a specific kind of founder targeting a specific kind of Read More

To get your new business ready for credit approval, you must establish the business as a separate legal entity and ensure all public records are consistent. Because lenders rely heavily on automated underwriting systems, minor discrepancies in your business name, address, or phone number will cause delays or trigger immediate denials.  Structuring your business correctly from Read More

For many small businesses, late summer is the perfect time to get financial records organized, strengthen cash flow management, and prepare for the final months of the year. Right now, there are two particularly good reasons to act: QuickBooks Online is offering 90% off for three months, and businesses should start preparing now if they expect Read More

By Derek Goodman Before you invest tens of thousands of dollars and two to four years of your life in a college credential, you need to know what the data actually says about whether that investment pays off, and for whom. If you’re a small business owner thinking about going back to school, or weighing Read More

By Derek Goodman Growing a business is an exercise in managed courage. While the instinct to scale quickly is natural, the most resilient enterprises are those that treat expansion as a series of calculated experiments rather than a single high-stakes bet. By implementing structured safeguards, business owners can protect their core operations while aggressively pursuing Read More

By Derek Goodman Standing out at a local fair or pop-up market requires more than just showing up and setting up a folding table. To truly capture attention, a small business must blend visual storytelling with interactive engagement to create a memorable brand presence. This guide explores how to leverage high-impact booth design, community connection, Read More