Good Money for your Small Business
The Sustainable Business Alliance and The East Bay Express have come together to produce a “Good Money Guide” for Bay Area Small Businesses. OBDC Small Business Finance is thrilled to be a part of this project.
Who Else is Raising the Minimum Wage?
Small business owners are not the only people thinking about changes to the minimum wage. A few major corporations have made the choice to voluntarily raise their compensation levels for their lowest-paid workers.
Financial Services: A Look at the Players
Two independent reports were recently released finding that Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are a critical component of the financial services industry, to ensure low-income people have access to credit and capital.
Celebrating Women’s History Month with Entrepreneurs
In the United States, women own 10.6 million businesses that produce approximately $2.5 trillion in sales every year. These women-owned companies employ 19.1 million workers, or one in every seven employees. Even though women own approximately 30 percent of small businesses, women-owned companies make up just 16 percent of bank loans and 17 percent of SBA loans. You can find more statistics about women entrepreneurs in this great fact sheet.
Implementing the Minimum Wage: Resources for Borrowers
This week, the new minimum wage ordinance in Oakland went into effect. For more about the new laws and some tips about how to navigate the implementation process, check our our past blogs. Businesses across town are still working on all the systems and processes needed to comply with the law. Here are some resources to support you in that process:
Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) and the Citi Foundation Select Jen Leybovich, Vice President – Strategy & Development for Prestigious Citi Leadership Program for Opportunity Finance
Oakland, February 24, 2015 – OBDC Small Business Finance announced today that Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) and the Citi Foundation have selected Jen Leybovich, Vice President – Strategy & Development, OBDC Small Business Finance, as one of 48 community development financial institution (CDFI) professionals who will participate in the second annual Citi Leadership Program for Opportunity Finance.
The New Minimum Wage Mathematically Speaking
On March 2, the minimum wage increase in Oakland takes effect, and small business owners across the city are getting ready for the new regulation. Oakland will have the highest minimum wage in the country (though Emeryville is attempting to raise their minimum wage as high as $14/hour), and the discussion from small businesses about this increase has been mostly positive.
Get To Know Our Borrowers: HauteButch, Veteran-Owned Business
OBDC is excited to celebrate the businesses we support. This month, we’ve profiled Karen Roberts of HauteButch, a clothing company offering their customers a line of masculine and gender-neutral clothing and footwear designed for women’s bodies.
Minimum Wage Rises and Small Businesses Weigh In
On March 2, the minimum wage increase in Oakland takes effect, and small business owners across the city are getting ready for the new regulation. Oakland will have the highest minimum wage in the country (though Emeryville is attempting to raise their minimum wage as high as $14/hour), and the discussion from small businesses about this increase has been mostly positive.
Diverse Companies Make More Money
A recent report from McKinsey & Co demonstrates that diversity in a company’s leadership is not just nice to have, but actually has a strong relationship to better financial performance.