Small Business Round-up – Week of May 13th

This week’s small business news review found the SBA is reducing small business counseling, big banks are lending to small businesses again, Google is getting into the lending game, an entrepreneur turns a rude encounter into cash, and what it takes to turn your small biz into reality show gold.

• Big Banks are Lending
  Large lenders like Bank of America have been approving slightly more small business loans than in the past. “Big lending” is up 6% over last year from banks with over $10 billion in assets. Smaller banks are lending more aggressively as well – approving over 50% of small biz loan applications in April.
• Search Google For a Loan
  Lately Google has been investing an alternative lenders who finance small businesses not eligible for a loan from traditional banks. After leading a $17 million investment round for On Deck Capital last week, the search engine giant is putting up a significant portion of a $125 million round of funding for peer-to-peer lending site, Lending Partners.     
• Turning an Unpleasant Experience into Cash
  A Colorado woman , inspired by an encounter with a rude patron at a local eatery, began a campaign to encourage others to be nice to one another. Starting with a t-shirt she wore to a homeowners association meeting, Kris Wittenberg has built a “social experiment” slogan into a niche business.
• Is it still the SBA?
  If you’re looking for counseling from the Small Business Association and your company has less than 50 employees, look elsewhere. In an effort to stimulate economic growth, the SBA is pushing a new training program for entrepreneurs managing mid-size companies. But it’s cutting back on support for small businesses.
• Small Biz Reality Stars
  Think your business has what it takes to be the next “Pawn Stars” or “Duck Dynasty”? Small businesses are becoming targets for reality shows broadcast on networks from the History Channel to OWN. Find out what producers look for.