ADDITIONAL ECOMMERCE CHECKLIST THAT IMPACTS CREDIBILITY & BUSINESS CREDIT LONG TERM
Business credibility is affected by a multitude of e commerce factors. First of all, make sure your business is registered with search engines such as YELP.COM, CITYSEARCH.COM, and ZAGAT.COM. It is also essential that your business has registration with 411 information. You also want to make sure that you have a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which is standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a server and a client. When filling out loan applications, you must know the number of years you have owned your business’s website domain and guarantee that it matches your WhoIS domain listing. Your business website’s search engine ranking and directory listings are also crucial pieces of information for loan applications. Updating your website layout, backlinks, and policies also makes your business seem more credible to credit issuers. Your business website must accept a wide range of credit card companies in order to be seen as credible. Principals listed on your website must match the public record with the Secretary of State, business licenses, and other public data. Consistency is key. Your business website also must have the McAfee, Verisign, and TrustE seal. In the 21st century, it is essential that your business has a strong social media presence. The number of reviews, ratings, check-ins, news coverage, online activity, likes, and followers that your business’s social media page receives will determine your business’s popularity.
LONG TERM CREDIBILITY FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE BUILDING BUSINESS CREDIT
Long term credibility factors that influence building business credit include business trade references, number of business locations, revenue growth, press releases, advertisements, good standing with the Secretary of State, business licenses, state where the company was filed, UCC filings as creditor or debtor, lawsuits, liens filed, rent district, per capita income of the area of where the business is located, recent acquisitions, copyrights, DBAs, complaints or lack thereof (BBB), insurance, references, testimonials, entity biography, and intellectual property
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF STARTING A BUSINESS WITH AN AGED SHELF COMPANY?
When you start a business with the assistance of an aged shelf company, you can make money by offering your product and services with confidence, credibility and stability. Your business will receive instant access to customers who otherwise wouldn’t buy from you. Your business will also gain instant access to vendors because your aged company meets an age requirement. You will save time because you don’t need to wait for your corporation or LLC to age. Reduce your effort to meet business objectives and reduce stress about your business. You will instantly impress your customers, vendors, suppliers, supporters, and advertisers. Through partnering with an older company, you will maximize finance options and obtain better financing terms for your business. You will increase and extend cashflow for your company as well as gain immediate credibility. Access a wider variety of bidding opportunities and gain better positioning to take advantage of such opportunities. Your business will automatically meet unforeseen demands to meet obligations. It will be much easier for your business to close sales and handle objections. Avoid hassles when signing leases and rental agreements for space or for equipment. Minimize the risk of business failure due to an enhanced ability to close the sale, increase revenue, and negotiate on strength. Access additional lines of credit as a result of increased revenue. Vendors and customers seek to do business with a company that’s been around for years rather than weeks.
The Dos and Don’ts of Corporate Credit
There are many avoidable mistakes when it comes to establishing corporate credit for your business. First of all, don’t delay in incorporating. Incorporating a new company is better than not incorporating at all. An older corporation is a great advantage in overcoming the age hurdle immediately. Most competitors won’t even initially consider your business unless it has already been established for years. Don’t pay for the D&B corporate credit package. You don’t need the package, or D&B. D&B makes money from selling reports about your company. When your company applies for any business credit, D&B will issue a DUNS number automatically so they can sell business credit reports about your company. Therefore, you don’t need to pay D&B for a quick registration. Instead, save your $500 and spend it on business marketing.
Don’t use personal credit to finance business operations, instead obtain business credit in your company’s name. Never place your house and other assets at risk, and don’t use your home office to build corporate credit. Incorporate your business and obtain a business address for the company. Don’t post collateral from personal assets for business operations, it makes them vulnerable to loss. This risk is acceptable if you’re reasonably sure that it is necessary and there is a likelihood of success, otherwise it is a bad idea.
Don’t commingle business and personal assets. As a sole proprietor, you have unlimited liability, the use of a corporation or LLC provides limited liability. Keep company assets separate from business assets, then place business assets in your business. Never commingle contact information as well. Although your business name is on the corporation or LLC as the Director or Manager, the address of the company should be a business address. Keep the family assets and obligations separate from the business. Only use the family assets when you accept the total commitment of that collateral and what would happen if the collateral is lost. Don’t commingle credit histories. Keep your credit file separate from your spouse, separate from others (co-signer), and separate from your business. Don’t use your personal credit as a guarantor for a business loan unless it is absolutely necessary. Apply for credit under the company name to develop a company credit profile that is separate from your personal credit profile.
Don’t ignore special status. SBA offers special status such as Women Business Enterprise, Women-Owned Small Business, Business Development Program, Minority Business Enterprise, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Historically Underutilized Business Zones, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that will help aid your business funding. Don’t ignore business licensing and insurance. Compliance is a prerequisite to getting funded, so be sure to obtain the business licensing and insurance required by your state.
Don’t avoid making a reasonable business plan. Since most people don’t have a business plan, they lose out on opportunities, cost cutting measures, and execute poor accounting measures. Business plans help business owners stay focused. Business plans also assist in keeping things into perspective in how the business sits among competitors, the industry, location, break-even point, advantages, risks, customer profile, marketing plan, objectives, management, operations, financials, goals, and other issues. Don’t ignore business financials. The bank wants to see your business’ cash position, cash on hand, income sales, expenses, and repayment terms on loans. Finally, don’t ignore yourself. Critical information about you includes your financials, collateral, loan terms, interest rate, personal credit score, and reason for the loan. For more information, please click here.
PREPARATION FOR BUILDING CORPORATE CREDIT
Lenders require full transparency. This means your business name is listed on public records. Don’t use a nominee officer/contract officer if you are applying for corporate credit. Lenders prefer companies that are at least two years old. File the company in your home state as a foreign corporation and obtain a commercial address where you intend to do business. Obtain the phone number, using the commercial address as the billing address. Register your business’s phone number with 411 information services. Be honest on all applications for the best chances of building large amounts of business credit.
