 MIDNIGHT OIL EDITION 292 |
| Feeling the burn of late nights and early mornings at your business? Welcome to Midnight Oil, a newsletter designed to fuel your entrepreneurial journey at every stage. Each week, we’ll send you a curated selection of timely tips, inspiring stories, and the latest small business news to keep you motivated and moving forward. Consider it your weekly shot of entrepreneurial espresso. |
RESOURCES & TIPS How to establish and grow your company’s credit ratingA good business credit rating unlocks opportunities for securing loans, attracting investors, and negotiating insurance rates. Whether starting, scaling, or seeking investors, here’s a roadmap to help you build a strong company credit rating. |
| Flo-Magic Playbook: From YouTube Viral to Walmart ShelvesIn today’s digital age, having a strong social media presence can make or break a business. Discover the journey of Justin Flom, a magician turned social media influencer, who used his carefully curated following to bring his innovative airbrush kit for kids to the masses. |
| A guide to securing small business loansTurning your big idea into a business requires capital, which, for many startups, can be a difficult first step. Fortunately, a variety of loan options are available. This guide will walk you through understanding these options and preparing to apply for the loan that best suits your business needs. |
CO— READER SURVEY Your Voice Matters (and Could Win You $100!)Are you a business owner, entrepreneur, or decision-maker? Then we need your voice! At CO—, we’re dedicated to providing you with the most relevant and insightful content to help your business thrive. To ensure we’re hitting the mark, we’re inviting you to participate in our quick audience survey.By sharing your insights, you’ll be helping us fine-tune our content to address your specific needs and interests better. Plus, you can enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card! Take our quick audience survey today and help us build a better CO— for you and the entire business community.TAKE THE SURVEY |
| QUOTABLE MOMENT“If you’re a small business owner, I’d say this: Don’t hesitate to lean on AI. It’s like having an extra set of hands (or an extra brain) to help you tackle the challenges of running a business.”— Shahla Karimi, Founder of Shahla Karimi Jewelry, shares how — and why — small business owners should consider leveraging AI to improve efficiency and boost profitability. |
| CO— EVENTSRegister Now for This Month’s Free Small Business Event!Our newest event series, C-Suite to Main Street, connects you with tangible tips for starting, running, and growing a business from founders and executives at today’s most influential companies. Join us for our first episode on February 27 at noon ET, where we’ll speak with Saeju Jeong, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of digital healthcare company Noom.Tune in to hear how this popular app – best known for helping thousands of users lose weight – adapted to massive shifts in the health and wellness industry since its founding in 2008 and get actionable tips for keeping your business nimble and prepped for any challenges and sea changes that lie ahead. JOIN US! |
| BY THE NUMBERS 25%A quarter of small businesses faced AI-driven scams last year, leading to high cyberattack costs and long recovery times. Here’s why cyber insurance is essential for protecting businesses of all sizes. $101BThe amount in losses from return fraud last year according to the NRF, but AI is helping retailers cut costs by empowering buyers, identifying trusted customers, optimizing logistics, and reducing fraud. Explore four AI-driven strategies that help merchants slash return expenses. 6Got a great business idea? Next step: funding! Use this financing guide to understand how to apply and six financing options to bring your vision to life. |
| GRANTS & AWARDSThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative connects the military community with meaningful employment opportunities. To further this goal, Hiring Our Heroes’ Small Business Grant Program is awarding a one-time grant of $10,000 to five small for-profit businesses owned by veterans and/or military spouses. Apply by February 28.Skip is offering its $10,000 Growth Grants to entrepreneurs across the U.S. to provide financial support for small businesses. To qualify, applicants must be active or trial Skip Plus members, at least 18 years old, and own a business at any stage of development in any industry. Applications are due by February 28.The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has various grants available to small businesses in the education sector. Each grant has unique eligibility criteria, with some opportunities set aside for public schools, state agencies, or nonprofit organizations; however, others allow applications from for-profit private sector companies. Deadlines for currently available DOE grants run through March 17.Honeycomb Credit is offering a $10,000 Breakthrough Grant to support small businesses in achieving their next big milestone, such as opening a new location, launching a food truck, or franchising. No purchase or payment is required to apply. Applications are due by April 2.The Halstead Grant is an annual award for emerging silver jewelry artists, offering $7,500 in cash, a $1,000 Halstead gift card, and industry recognition. Winners will also receive personalized feedback from industry judges to refine their business approach. Applications are due May 1.More grant & program information can be found here. |
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