Nearly everything we do is online these days. From the TV shows we watch to buying groceries, getting our news, communicating with friends, working out, retail therapy, banking, and virtual museum visits...there's really nothing you can do in "the real world" that you can't do online (with some ahem obvious and notable exceptions.) The point is that as technology increases, so will our consumption of - and reliance on - being connected to The World Wide Web. 

As a small biz owner, protecting yourself and your customers from online threats and data breaches continues to be of utmost importance. As stewards of sensitive information, you have no choice but to adopt a serious stance towards cybersecurity.

Here are nine tips to help you stay safe.

1. It's essential to have strong passwords to protect your systems and sensitive data. You can also use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to make things even more secure.
2. Keep your software updated regularly to prevent any security...

Managing your finances effectively is crucial to the success and growth of your business. As a business owner, you'll face many big decisions in this realm, including whether to use credit cards or debit cards for your business transactions. Each option has its own pros and cons. In this post, we'll explore both and explain why you should consider using a credit card as your primary payment method.

Let's start with Debit Cards.

Pros?

1. No Debt Accumulation: Debit cards are linked directly to your bank account, so you can only spend what you have. This reduces the risk of accumulating debt and paying interest.
2. Simplicity: Debit cards are straightforward to use, and you won't have to worry about monthly payments, interest rates, or late fees.
3. Security: Debit cards come with security features like PINs and chip technology, making them a safe option for in-person and online transactions.

And the cons of Debit Cards:

1. No Credit-Building Opportunity: While responsible credit card use...

Business credit is a great way to get money as approvals are not based on personal credit. Business credit reports usually get started with a few vendor accounts who will initially offer credit. Initial accounts create tradelines and a credit profile and score are established. The company’s new profile and score are used to get credit. Newly obtained credit is based on the company’s credit per the EIN, not the owner’s credit based on the SSN. Personal credit doesn’t matter as the credit linked to the EIN is used for approval. When you use vendors to build your initial credit, you can then leave your SSN off of the application and can apply for business credit based solely on your EIN at most retail stores. Plus, you can get cash credit also, like high-limit cards with MasterCard and Visa. But building business credit all starts with vendor accounts. Without them, you won’t be able to start your credit profile initially, and that profile being...