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Resources

Government pages about starting a business:

Small Business Loans:

"Small businesses hit hard by credit crunch, survey says" Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Oct. 3, 2008. www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_591333.html
"Brother, Can You Spare a Loan?" New York Times, Sept. 30, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/business/smallbusiness/01CREDIT.html?ref=business
"Novel ways to cash in on travel reward points" The Toronto Star, Oct. 2, 2008 http://www.thestar.com/Travel/article/509004
"Local small businesses finding it harder to secure loans" pressofAtlanticCity.com Oct. 3, 2008 www.pressofatlanticcity.com/106/story/274884.html
"Tight credit becomes problem for small-business owners" USA Today, Oct. 2, 2008 www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2008-09-28-small-business-credit-crunch_N.htm
"The Credit Crunch: Where is it Happening?" TIME, Sept. 30, 2008 www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1845818,00.html
"As Credit Lines Fade, Credit Cards Step In" New York Times, Sept. 10, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/business/smallbusiness/11sbiz.html?8dpc
"Survey: Small businesses remain optimistic" East Bay Business Times, Sept. 22. 2008 http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/09/22/daily15.html

Credit Reports:

Additional Cards:
Cards issued on an account not in the primary or secondary name. Additional cardholders are authorized to charge to the card and make payments. They can also check the balance and available credit on the account. Additional cardholders are not authorized to make changes to the account.

Annual Fee:
A fee charged once a year for maintaining an account and for any special services

Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 
The cost of your credit as expressed as an annual rate

Automatic Payment:
A free service which automatically makes credit card payments by transferring funds from your checking or savings account to your credit card account

Balance Transfer:
Allows you to use the available credit on one credit card and pay off another, ideally with a lower cost.

Credit Limit: 
The largest amount you can carry as the unpaid balance on your credit card. If you exceed this amount an Over Limit Charge may be imposed.

Credit Bureau:
A credit-reporting agency that checks credit information and keeps files on people who apply for and use credit. The Credit Bureau produces a Credit Report, which is a record of a consumer’s level of indebtedness and bill paying behavior. The agencies compile the report and release it to lenders and others as permitted by law.

Credit Line:
Also known as Credit Limit, this is the maximum amount you can carry as the balance on your credit card. If you exceed this amount, an Over-the-Credit-Limit-Fee may be imposed.

Credit Score:
Also known as a credit rating. Many lenders use this numeric calculation of your credit report to obtain a fast, objective measure of your credit risk, and consider your score when deciding whether or not to approve a loan.

Finance Charge:
Also known as interest, the finance charge is the fee for borrowing money. Finance charges may be imposed when you do not pay off your outstanding balance in full.

Fixed Interest Rate: 
The interest rate is unchanging and is not subject to automatic adjustment.

Float:
When a cardholder makes a purchase or obtains an advance, the transactions may not post for a few days. The charge amount is not added to the balance of the account until the transaction does post. The time between purchase and posting is referred to as the float.

Grace Period:
The period between the date of the credit card billing statement and the date payment in full must be received before interest begins to accrue on new purchases.

Interest:
Also known as a finance charge, interest is the fee for borrowing money. Interest is listed on your credit card statement as the Monthly Finance Charge.

Interest Rate:
The percent, per unit of time, that a bank or financial institution charges a customer for borrowing money. See Annual Percentage Rate.

Issuer:
An issuer (or issuing member) is a financial institution that issues credit cards such as Visa® or MasterCard®.

Overdraft Protection:
You can link your credit card to your checking account for optional Overdraft Protection. If you overdraw your checking account, money will be transferred from your credit card account to cover the overdraft or avoid a bounced check (up to the available credit on your credit card account). There is a cash advance transaction fee associated with the transfer.

Secured Credit Card:
A credit card that requires you to pledge collateral to receive credit.

Unsecured Credit Card:
A credit card that is not secured with collateral. A customer can qualify for unsecured credit based on their credit history and financial strength.

Variable Interest Rate:
The interest rate a borrower pays for the use of money, usually expressed as an index plus a spread. The interest fluctuates in tandem with a rate index.

* See Terms and Conditions on credit card issuer's web site for important information, benefits, and limitations of offers. Although SmallOfficeCredit.com takes reasonable efforts to display accurate information, we display all credit card and offer information without warranty

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Resources

Government pages about starting a business:

Small Business Loans:

Credit Reports: