Credit cards have become the top source of financing for small business owners in the United States. In fact, the percentage of small businesses that now use credit cards has nearly tripled since 1993. At just 16 percent in 1993, the number has now risen to 44 percent. Thus, nearly half of America’s small business owners have turned to credit cards for their financing needs.
If you are one of the many small business owners who uses credit cards, you may have a pile of debt that you would like to shrink. Obviously, you’ll have to make payments to get that [...]

If you own a small business and are considering whether or not to accept credit cards, you may be unsure of what to do. Some believe that the fees and other hassles of doing so aren’t worthwhile while others want to cash in on this potentially lucrative form of payment acceptance. What is best for your business?
Below are some of the pros and cons of accepting credit card payments for your small business.
Pros
Access to More Customers
Seventy eight percent of Americans own at least 1 credit card. As most of these individuals likely prefer to use credit cards for at least [...]

With regulations being tighter than in past years and credit card issuers being more selective with their customers, getting a credit card isn’t as easy as it once was. This is especially true for those with bad credit, as the options are very limited for such individuals. Does this mean that you are out of luck if you need a credit card for your small business? No, it does not.
There are still options available to people with bad credit. Let’s take a look at a few of those.
Secured Credit Cards
A typical credit card does not require a deposit on your part. This [...]

New reports on American debt activity show that American consumers are loading up with certain kinds of debt early in the year. A report from Marketwatch establishes an increase of 17.8 billion in consumer debt in January, according to seasonally adjusted numbers from the Federal Reserve. Analysts had expected a gain of about $10 billion.
 
The jump in credit spending is part of a larger trend where debt numbers increased for five consecutive months, and most of last year as well, but economists are showing that this rise in our national appetite for debt doesn’t necessarily mean that people were going [...]

T-Mobile recently announced a new partnership with Square that will help small businesses accept debit and credit cards more easily and in more places. The Square chip that plugs into your mobile phone will allow customers to swipe and pay for their purchases on the spot.  This technology could be great for small businesses, especially given that in 2011 U.S. mobile commerce sales hit $5.3 billion, an 83% increase from 2010.  Being able to purchase the Square in a T-Mobile store will make it easier for small businesses to get on the mobile commerce train.
With this new technology, businesses will [...]