It has always been important for small businesses to safeguard private information; today even more so because so much of business operations and sales are done online. Small businesses in particular are vulnerable to hacking. Hundreds of millions of dollars every year are stolen by cyber thieves, and, as an NPR article reports, small businesses may have no recourse to recover losses.
Today, Wells Fargo announced that OBDC Small Business Finance, a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) headquartered in Oakland, received a $700,000 grant allocated over three years and $750,000 of lending capital from Well Fargo’s newly formed Diverse Community Capital Program.
Formalizing your business, or getting your business license and all necessary permits approved, is a critical component of getting your business off the ground. Without these documents, your business may be exposed to additional liability and fines.
The Small Business Administration and Small Business Majority have set up a series of webinars for small business owners to understand the reform and employer-shared responsibility provisions, as well as learn about the small business health care tax credit.
“Many people on our staff have come to Dark Garden after working in jobs that just didn’t work for them. We’re a place where people can feel at home while making a living,” says Autumn.
To download the press release, click here.
You may not realize that going online can actually make you money by growing revenue and profits even while you sleep. Developing an online strategy may make it easier for customer to reach you when you can’t reach them.
OBDC Small Business Finance is thrilled to partner with Mission Asset Fund to offer lending circles to small business owners in our program areas. When banks are not available, people across the globe lend each other money. LendingCircles.org has taken this to a new level by incorporating credit reporting. Now, in addition to accessing funds, a participant’s credit score can improve through positive credit activity.
On September 9, 1850, California became a free, nonslavery state and the 31st state to join the union. Today, our offices are closed to celebrate our state’s history.
Click here for an interesting overview of California’s formation – we had no idea how many capitol cities we had before we settled on Sacramento.
We’re back in the office tomorrow, and wishing everyone a Happy Admission Day!
We are honored to have been chosen as an Oakland NewCo. We’ll be hosting a 1-hour session right INSIDE our offices at 1:30pm on Thursday, October 8. Come hear Adrian Gomez Zavala and Scott Lewis discuss the critical importance of small businesses for our local economies and get a chance to meet with a few of OBDC’s clients who are creating jobs and helping to transform Oakland.
