Small business financing opens under incentive program

Small business owners have been encouraged to seek out financing to expand their businesses or explore new ventures, thanks in part to tax breaks and other credit enhancements under the Small Business Jobs Act. The law temporarily allows for some small businesses to refinance their owner-occupied commercial real estate mortgages from spring 2011 until September 27, 2012, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration's website. The law also funds training programs at small business development centers nationwide. Additional federal guarantees on small business loans aim to persuade financial institutions to lend available funds, writes Robert Stammers of Investopedia. (Businesses can also increase the size of their loans from these institutions by focusing on the underwriting criteria, he says.) Since delayed financing is one of the top reasons for business failure, according to the administration, maintaining good credit is vital to securing adequate financing and keeping a business afloat. For some, the economic recovery has been slow to materialize, and a poor small business credit report can leave entrepreneurs struggling to qualify for traditional loans. In those cases, short-term financing such as short term loans, car-title loans or tax refund advance loans can offer an alternative solution for businesses.