Meredith Wood

26 posts

Meredith Wood is the head of content and editor-in-chief at Fundera, an online marketplace for small business financial solutions such as loans, credit cards and bank accounts. Prior to Fundera, Meredith was the CCO at Funding Gates. Specializing in financial advice for small business owners, Meredith is a current and past contributor to Yahoo!, Amex OPEN Forum, Fox Business, SCORE, AllBusiness and more.

loans

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4 Tips for Funding a Business When You Have Student Loans

Though the Biden Administration has moved to forgive hundreds of millions of dollars in student loans, student loan debt promises to linger for years for many, with repayment taking anywhere from 10 to 20 years....

byMeredith Wood

March 20, 2024

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6 Things All Entrepreneurs Should Do in November

With fall in full swing, most entrepreneurs’ thoughts turn to the essential work that comes alongside the changing seasons. This means closing out the year on a high note, getting geared up for the holiday...

byMeredith Wood

November 2, 2023

industries

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Non-Seasonal Startups: Year-Round Lucrative Industries for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs looking to start a company, the industry and business you choose can be the difference between walking away with nothing or reaching the pinnacle of success. Only 30 percent of small businesses make...

byMeredith Wood

September 15, 2022

burnout

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8 Ways to Avoid Burnout When Starting a New Business

We’ve all felt burned out at one point or another — that feeling of total fatigue, both mental and physical, which comes from working ourselves too hard. Soon we’re experiencing symptoms like depression and exhaustion,...

byMeredith Wood

April 16, 2022

digital tools

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13 Digital Tools Every New Business Needs

Modern startups run on digital tools. From communicating with customers, collaborating internally or protecting their assets, entrepreneurs should know that there’s a digital platform or service for everything. The truth is, those that don’t embrace...

byMeredith Wood

December 13, 2021

Small business grants

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Top Small Business Grants for Women and Minorities

For an updated list of grant programs for women and minorities available in 2021, please click here. Funding a small business can be quite the undertaking, whether you’re starting a new venture for the first...

byMeredith Wood

November 28, 2021

business plan

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A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Killer Business Plan

A business plan is as important to a new business as a map is to a ship, or blueprints are to an architect. A written business plan will guide your actions and keep you focused...

byMeredith Wood

October 5, 2021

business credit card

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7 Reasons Every Startup Needs a Business Credit Card

A business credit card is one of the most important financial tools in any startup's toolbox. It’s way more than just a personal credit card that you use for business dealings—it’s a unique, flexible form...

byMeredith Wood

December 16, 2020

small business saturday

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5 Free Ways to Market Your Business for Small Business Saturday

The small business’ answer to Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, is a nationwide event that highlights all of the awesome things that small businesses, small business owners and entrepreneurs offer consumers. Small business owners help...

byMeredith Wood

November 7, 2020

productivity

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9 Habits Successful Entrepreneurs Use to Increase Productivity

There are always those successful entrepreneurs and small business owners who check so many tasks off of their to-do list, it seems they must have extra hours in the day. But since they’re only human,...

byMeredith Wood

April 13, 2020

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7 Small Business Grants for Entrepreneurs

Using small business grants can be extremely appealing. After all, it’s money you don’t have to pay back, which means no interest payments, no late payments and no chance of losing any collateral. So, why...

byMeredith Wood

April 22, 2019

side hustle

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7 Steps to Starting a Side Hustle While Working Full Time

People with an entrepreneurial mindset often find themselves toying with an idea for a business that they can start up while still working their day job. Continuing to work your full-time gig while starting up...

byMeredith Wood

April 8, 2019

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The Best Freelance Gigs and Side Hustles to Go After in 2019

Freelancing is becoming the new normal for American workers. Today, 40 percent of us use websites like Upwork and Guru to find gigs, which we perform as side hustles or as part of a larger...

byMeredith Wood

April 6, 2019

bad credit

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Can You Get a Business Loan with Bad Credit?

Let’s say you’ve identified an opportunity for your business. It might be a bulk deal on inventory, a necessary equipment upgrade, or a great space for a second location. There’s just one problem: You don’t...

byMeredith Wood

March 29, 2019

mentor

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7 Ways to Find a Mentor (and Why Having One is Vital to Your Startup’s Success)

When you start a new business, you’re going to want to find a good mentor. Mentors are as close to a business success hack that exists: they can provide validation, encouragement, networking opportunities, perspective, industry-specific...

byMeredith Wood

February 28, 2019

e-commerce

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7 Signs You’re Ready to Expand Your E-Commerce Business

An e-commerce business can be a passive form of income, a full-fledged business or a barebones offshoot of your brick-and-mortar business that you built because you were told you had to start selling online. It...

byMeredith Wood

December 10, 2018

marketing

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How to Establish a Marketing Presence as a Lean Startup

When you first start your business, it’s expected that money will be tight — and most of it is probably going toward your startup's basic needs. When cash flow is limited, choosing what to prioritize...

byMeredith Wood

August 23, 2018

money

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10 Essential Money Tips for Young Entrepreneurs

Being an entrepreneur is challenging, but it can be especially difficult if you begin building your business at a young age. Young entrepreneurs face unique hurdles like creating a company with less work and life...

byMeredith Wood

August 10, 2018

loan

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4 Things You Need to Know Before Applying for Your First Business Loan

You had an idea and you turned that idea into a new business. Congratulations! But as you work to get your dream off the ground or grow in new areas, you find yourself in need...

byMeredith Wood

August 1, 2018

facebook

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How the Recent Facebook Algorithm Changes Will Affect Your Startup

Entrepreneurs can’t ignore the influence of social media on finding business online. Having a presence on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook isn’t optional anymore—it’s a crucial part of establishing your startup's identity. In fact,...

byMeredith Wood

April 23, 2018