250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts. 95+ years of combined experience covering small-business and personal finance. Objective comprehensive business bank accounts rubric (Methodology).NerdWallet’s business banking content — including our ratings, reviews and recommendations — is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in small-business finances. Their journalism has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet’s strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.The best banks for small-business ownersWe’ve arranged these…

Small businesses play a significant role in the American economy, generating the majority of new jobs over the past decade. And, according to a new NerdWallet survey, despite facing challenges, most small-business owners find entrepreneurship rewarding.The survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults — among whom 425 currently own a small business — commissioned by NerdWallet and conducted online in October 2024 by The Harris Poll, asked current and former small-business owners a variety of questions about why they started their businesses, the challenges they’re facing and how they view their businesses’ futures.“Small businesses often act as a pillar to local…

Loan stacking involves taking out multiple small-business loans within a short period of time to allow business owners to increase the overall amount of money they can access. This method can work in certain situations, but the risks involved — both for lenders and borrowers — make it tricky to execute and typically best left as a last resort. What is loan stacking? Loan stacking refers to the process of taking out multiple business loans from different lenders at the same time, or within a short time frame. In theory, this method of business financing can help you access more…

What is trade credit?Trade credit is a short-term financing agreement that allows a customer to buy goods or services from a supplier and pay for them at a later date. Trade credit is also referred to as vendor credit or net terms. This type of financing is commonly used by business-to-business (B2B) companies. Trade credit can be a good option for managing cash flow and building business credit.How does trade credit work?Trade credit doesn’t function like a traditional small-business loan. Instead of a formal agreement between a lender and a borrower, this type of financing is a more informal credit…

President-elect Donald Trump made many promises to voters on the campaign trail, but it’s unclear how many of those will cross the bureaucratic finish line. With the Republican party securing a majority stake in both chambers of Congress for the first time since 2019, Trump’s agenda may stand a better shot of becoming reality. Here are some of the proposals that may have the biggest impacts on small-business owners across the U.S.Raising tariffs on imported goodsTrump wooed economy-anxious voters by focusing a lot of his campaign messaging around fortifying the economy and putting more dollars in Americans’ pockets. One of…

Millions of small-business owners are impacted by the Jan. 1, 2025 deadline for beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act. The Corporate Transparency Act aims to prevent illegal activities (e.g. money laundering, fraud, funding terrorism) by requiring businesses to disclose which individuals own their companies.Affected businesses must submit a BOI report on the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) website by Jan. 1, 2025. Wondering what action your small business needs to take? Below, we’ll review which businesses are beholden to BOI reporting, what the requirements entail and how to file a report.What is beneficial ownership information?Beneficial ownership…

The latest blockbuster bonus offer from Chase is about to expire. You have until 9 a.m. ET on Nov. 7 to snag a $900 bonus when you sign up for a new Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and spend at least $6,000 in the first three months. You won’t find a better, or more attainable, bonus from a cash-back business card — especially one with no annual fee.ChaseInk Business Unlimited® Credit CardNerdWallet Rating  NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer)…

What are the easiest business credit cards to get?It depends on your personal and business finances.Secured business credit cards are the easiest cards to get because they don’t have strict credit score or revenue requirements. Instead, you pay a deposit that serves as your credit limit. Look for a secured card that has low or no fees and reports to Dun & Bradstreet or another major business credit bureau, so you can build business credit as you use it.If your personal credit score is above 630 but below 690, your best bet for an easy approval may be a business…

How we chose the best balance transfer business credit cardNerdWallet rates business credit cards on their overall value. Factors in that evaluation include fees, rewards, eligibility criteria and other noteworthy perks. For balance transfer business credit cards, we paid particularly close attention to the following:Key features for balance transfer business cards🤓 How long is the intro APR period? We only considered cards with 0% intro APRs for balance transfers, with a period of a year or longer ideal. 🤓 How long do you have to transfer a balance? Even if an intro APR period lasts a year, you may not have…

Getting certified as a minority-owned business can be helpful for opportunities such as government contracts, small-business loans and business resource programs. You can get certified through the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). Your local government may also offer certification.Typically, you’ll need to be able to show that your business is 51% owned and operated by individuals that meet specific ethnic definitions. The requirements and process to become certified, however, can vary. Some programs, like the SBA 8(a) program, require you to renew your business’s certification on an annual basis.In search of business funding? What is a minority-owned business? Generally,…