Small Business Essentials

Developing a Business Plan Learn about the components of a business plan and how to create one that communicates your business’ financial future and health. 5 min

Small Business Banking Services Learn about the services financial institutions provide to support small businesses. 5 min

Small Business Financial Statements Learn about the three most important financial statements: balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and cash flow reports. 5 min

How Businesses Use Credit Learn about the different types of credit that can support your business operations. 4 min

How Businesses Obtain Credit Learn what’s needed to obtain credit, so that you’re better prepared when you’re ready to apply. 4 min

Financial Wellbeing for Entrepreneurs Learn more about the financial basics of entrepreneurship. 10 min

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Growing Your Small Business Take your business to the next level with these growth tips. 5 Topics

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Family Financial Planning Bring the family together to talk about a financial plan. 7 Topics

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Money Mule Scams: How Criminals Convert Fraud into Profit What is a Money Mule? Money mules are individuals who unknowingly or knowingly assist criminals in laundering money, often by transferring illegally sourced funds between accounts or across borders. The source of the money comes from fraudulent scams or other illegal activities like drug trafficking. Criminals use their mule’s identity and layer the illegal transactions in an attempt to hide the illegal funds from law enforcement. Once properly hidden, the criminals are able to access their funds and cash out on their illegal activity. Common Money Mule Scams There are a number of ways that criminals will try to hide their money from law enforcement. Money mules are a form of money laundering, where criminals attempt to make their illegally sourced funds seem legitimate. Here are a few common ways people can unknowingly fall victim to money mule scams. 1- Deceptive Job Offers Money mule scammers will act as employers offering high-paying, remote positions. Common job titles could be payment processor, financial coordinator, or international fund liaison. While these job opportunities seem legitimate, their primary function is to receive and transfer illegal funds. The criminal will wire a large sum of funds to the mule, then instruct them to keep a percentage and transfer the remainder of the money to a different account or purchase a certain amount of cryptocurrency. The criminal hides behind their mule’s identity and is able to more easily access their funds. 2 – Romance Scams This type of mule scam exploits a victim’s emotions and trust. Scammers will find their victims on social media sites, dating sites or other online chat channels. They will deceive their victims with made up personas often using stolen photos and fake details. Over time, the scammer will attempt to build an emotional connection by sending affectionate messages or personal stories. Once they feel they have earned the victim’s trust, they will fabricate a story requiring financial assistance. These are oftentimes medical emergencies or travel issues that need quick funding into an account. Once the scammer has convinced their victim to oblige, they will continue to exploit their trust to launder their illegal funds. 3 – Lottery, Prize, and Investment Scams If something seems too good to be true – it probably is. These scams typically start via an unsolicited message or phone call informing you that you’ve won a prize. They instruct their victims to take a number of steps before they can claim their prize, and that is where the danger lies. These steps could include gathering your personal details, wiring a “prize tax” or fraudulent fee, accepting a large sum of money, and/or transferring a portion of the winning funds to another account. Similarly, investment scammers typically promise their mule victims “return” for their illegal money transfers – sometimes in the form of cryptocurrency or percentages of the money they wire. What are the Consequences? Large overdraft balances are most often the first consequence to the money mule. Once the criminal has access to their mule’s account, they typically push a large lump sum out of the account. This amount oftentimes will exceed the typical balance in the mule’s account, leaving them with a substantial negative balance to dig out from. Acting as a money mule is illegal, whether the crime is knowing or unknowingly committed. The punishment for these crimes include imprisonment and federal charges. Additionally, your identity and personal information could be stolen from the criminals involved in the money mule scheme. Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): The IC3 is run by the FBI and accepts online internet crime complaints from the victim at www.ic3.gov How to Protect Yourself As with most methods of protecting yourself against fraud – remain cautious whenever someone requests your personal information or banking information. Only share those details with people or organizations that you trust. If you receive a job offer from an online business, do your due diligence to confirm they are a legitimate company. Additionally, a legitimate employer will not ask you to form a company or open a new bank account on their behalf. Always be cautious if anyone asks you to wire or transfer money on their behalf. Be weary if something seems too good to be true, like you’ve won an unsolicited prize or been chosen to participate in a giveaway. Scammers act on urgency. If someone is pressuring you to do something that you’re uncomfortable with, walk away. If you or someone you know is afraid they are involved in a money mule scheme, it’s not too late to stop. Stop communicating with the person giving the directions. Tell your financial institution and consider changing accounts. Report suspicious communications or activity to law enforcement. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the Nation’s central hub for reporting cyber crime and run by the FBI. Visit www.ic3.gov for resources and more information about how to file a report. Maintain receipts, contact information and communications (emails, text messages, voicemails) so that information can be passed to law enforcement, if needed. 5 min read

Why Good Business Credit is Essential for the Success of your Business 1. Better Financing Options When your business has strong credit, it becomes easier to secure loans, lines of credit, and other forms of financing. Not only will you have access to more options, but lenders are also likely to offer you more favorable terms, such as lower interest rates and higher credit limits. Lower interest rates can save your business a substantial amount of money over time, while better terms provide flexibility in managing cash flow, covering operational expenses, or investing in growth. Good business credit reduces the risks for lenders, meaning they are more willing to trust your business’s financial stability. This trust is rewarded through more affordable financing options, which can play a significant role in sustaining and expanding your operations. 2. Higher Credit Limits for Greater Financial Flexibility One of the advantages of good business credit is the ability to secure higher credit limits. For business owners, this is crucial in managing cash flow, especially during times when expenses fluctuate or sales are seasonal. A higher credit limit ensures that your business has the flexibility to cover operational expenses, such as payroll, inventory, or other costs, without having to worry about hitting a credit ceiling too early. Additionally, with a higher credit limit, businesses can take on larger projects, invest in new equipment, or pursue larger contracts without running into immediate cash flow issues. 3. Favorable Vendor and Supplier Terms Suppliers and vendors often evaluate a business’s creditworthiness before extending payment terms. A company with good business credit is more likely to be offered favorable terms, such as net 30 or net 60, which means you have 30 or 60 days to pay your invoice. These terms improve your company’s working capital by giving you the flexibility to pay for products and services after generating revenue from them. Being able to negotiate better terms with suppliers can also allow you to take advantage of bulk purchasing or discounts, further strengthening your profit margins. On the other hand, businesses with poor credit may face stricter payment terms, which can lead to cash flow problems down the road. 4. Lower Insurance Premiums Many business insurance providers look at your company’s credit score when determining premiums. A strong credit score can help reduce the cost of insurance, lowering one of your regular business expenses. Insurance companies view businesses with good credit as being less risky, which leads to lower premiums. For small businesses, every dollar saved is important. Lower insurance premiums mean more capital to reinvest into the business, whether that’s for new equipment, employee training, or marketing initiatives. 5. Business Growth and Expansion Opportunities Strong business credit doesn’t just help you manage daily operations—it also positions your company for growth. With easier access to capital, you can seize opportunities to expand operations, purchase new equipment, hire additional staff, or even launch new product lines. Whether you’re opening a second location or scaling your team, business credit is often the foundation of these major moves. Businesses that can quickly access financing without hurdles are better equipped to take advantage of growth opportunities when they arise. On the other hand, businesses with poor credit may struggle to find the capital they need, missing out on potential revenue and growth. 6. Building Reputation and Trust Having good business credit doesn’t just help with finances—it also signals to potential partners, investors, and customers that your business is financially stable and reliable. A company with strong credit is seen as a trustworthy partner in the marketplace, which can foster stronger relationships with clients and other businesses. Investors are also more likely to invest in a business with good credit, as it reflects sound financial management and lower risk. Similarly, customers often view financially stable businesses as more reliable, leading to increased trust and loyalty. 7. Separation of Personal and Business Finances Establishing and maintaining good business credit allows business owners to separate their personal and business finances. This separation is crucial because it helps protect personal assets in the event of any business-related financial issues. Without business credit, owners often rely on their personal credit to secure loans or credit for their businesses, which can blur the lines between personal and business liabilities. By keeping personal and business finances separate, you also reduce the chances of personal credit being affected by business downturns, which helps maintain financial health on both fronts. Next Steps When you’re ready to expand and grow your business, come talk to us at First Bank. We are dedicated to helping local businesses thrive. Whether you’re looking to improve your business credit or secure financing for expansion, our team is here to provide personalized support every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business succeed. 4 min read

3 Reasons to Use a Commercial Building Loan Calculator If you’re looking to build or to purchase a commercial building, it’s a great idea to start with a commercial building loan calculator. It can give you a sense of how much to borrow for the property you’re hoping to purchase, what your loan payments might look like each month, what amortization does to your loan, and whether the provider of the commercial building loan calculator might make a good financial partner. First, let’s start with what a commercial building loan is. Much like a mortgage loan is used to purchase or refinance a home, a commercial building loan is used for an office space or piece of property that will be used or owned by a business. Commercial building loans (aka commercial mortgages) are typically funded by a bank or another type of financial institution and often require collateral. The collateral for your commercial building loan is usually the commercial property or real estate that your business wants to buy, build, or refinance. As with most type of loans, the lending partner will take into account your creditworthiness and ask for documentation of your business (e.g. tax returns, bank statements, balance sheets, etc.). See what it takes to apply for a business loan. Commercial Building Loan Calculator Benefit One: Get a Sense of Payment Amounts By using a commercial building loan calculator, you can figure out how different interest rates impact your loan. Plus, you can adjust the term of the commercial building loan to see the amount the lender expects you to pay back each month and how long it might take you to pay off your loan. The “term” of a commercial building loan is the time limit (in years) within which the loan must be repaid. Commercial building loans are offered in a variety of terms lengths. Commercial Building Loan Calculator Benefit Two: What Does It Mean to Amortize A commercial building loan calculator can also give you an idea of what different amortization does to your commercial mortgage. This is because amortization determines how much principal and interest you pay back each month on your commercial building loan. Note that if the number of years you choose to amortize is longer than the term of 4 min read

Small Business Loan Rates in North Carolina For competitive small business loan rates* in North Carolina, stop by your local First Bank branch to compare loans with flexible terms and highly competitive rates. We make borrowing money for your business easy and provide the necessary financing for you to be successful in your venture. Small Business Loans at First Bank First Bank is dedicated to helping you navigate the small business loan process. A government-sponsored loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA) can help you grow your business when traditional bank financing may not be an option. We have an SBA team with expertise in different types of SBA lending programs. Some of our solutions for your small business include: Long repayment terms up to 25 years Lower monthly payments Competitive fixed or variable rate options 504 refinancing for large debts For more information on applying for a small business loan, contact a First Bank SBA team member. Additional Loan Options for Businesses In addition to small business loans, First Bank offers a variety of other loan options to help your business succeed. We offer: Business Credit Cards with Rewards—These credit cards offer low rates, no annual fees, and a rewards program with everyday purchases. Lines of Credit—This solution allows you to access cash for any business venture quickly and efficiently. You can repay and reuse your credit line as needed. Business Loans—Our business loans can help you expand your business, fund new equipment, and increase your revenue. Commercial Mortgages—Our specialists provide competitive pricing on a variety of commercial mortgage products and can help structure a loan specific to your needs. Visit First Bank Today To compare small business loan rates, visit your local North Carolina First Bank. With more than 100 locations in North Carolina, we are determined to help you choose the best option for your financial needs. ——— Sources: SBA: https://www.sba.gov/content/504-debt-refinancing-program *Loans subject to credit approval. 2 min read

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