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Raising capital is difficult under normal conditions, and a tight credit market and fears of an economic slowdown have made the challenge harder. Unproven early-stage companies could face a tough time finding funds from informal investors who are less willing to take risks in an unsteady economy. Firms looking for equity investments should expect Read More

Make way for peer-to-peer lending - where anyone with Web access can be a banker and small business owners are finding a new way to raise cash. The industry is still in its infancy, but has been catching fire as major players enter the market. The UK's Zopa - considered the grand-daddy of the niche - launched its U.S. operations in December, Cali Read More

All Monique Walker needed was $5,000 to rebuild her business in Houston after Hurricane Katrina. But the banks said no. Arga Bourgeois needed $10,000 to expand her store, the only health food outlet in her black neighborhood. But the banks said no. Both women found help with Acción Texas, a nonprofit lender that provides microloans to startups or Read More

Community banks often have the edge in securing small-business clients because of the personal attention they can provide and the knowledge they have of their market; many have bankers who have worked in the same market for more than 30 years. These types of banks offer a full range of services and are able to make decisions locally, based on the Read More

I noticed there was an article last week about how small businesses don't bother to calculate ROI, so I thought I'd add this primer video. Read More

This is about the guy who started TheFunded.com, a Web site that lets entrepreneurs anonymously rank, review, and post comments about venture capital firms. Not only can you use the site to find VC firms, but you'll get the inside scoop of how they'll treat you. Read More

I you've been in business long, chances are there's money leaking out of your bank account every month. Money you could be saving and taking home at the end of the month or using to grow your business. Here's how to find and plug the leak. Read More

Finding investors is hard work. Entrepreneurs who have been through the process a few times, like Todd Parsons, 40, co-founder of San Francisco-based BuzzLogic, will tell you it's the hardest part of running a business. For Parsons, who co-founded BuzzLogic with Jeff Glover, 40, and Mitch Ratcliffe, 45, finding venture capital to turn the consult Read More

There are banks and credit unions and loan sharks. Now you can add a new funding option to the list and it's one that small businesses, with good solid credit, may find extremely beneficial. Simply, the Lending Club uses social networking to hook lenders and borrowers together. It's like the Match.com of credit. Those with good credit reports ca Read More