A Small Business Loan from a Hedge Fund?

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August 07, 2008
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NEWS  THIS WEEK'S TOP STORY A Small Business Loan from a Hedge Fund? It's hard to get traditional loans these days. But as banks tighten their purse strings, hedge funds are offering asset-based loans to small companies

Inside: This Week in SmallBiz Major financial institutions have written down over $400 billion in bad investments over the past year and banks are scrambling to raise depleted coffers. As it becomes increasingly harder to land a traditional commercial bank loan, hedge funds and alternative lenders are targeting small companies with pricey, asset-based loans. We take a look. Also on tap: Check out a feature on the pros and cons of new services that provide IT infrastructure, software, and platforms with little up-front investment. Then weigh in on a discussion about the scramble for individuals and small companies to stay viable within the graphic design and photography industries. Finally, check out the latest posts on our staff blog. --Nick Leiber SEND FEEDBACK  |  E-MAIL A FRIEND  |  GET RSS  |  NEWSLETTERS

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BLOG The New Entrepreneur >> Now the voting results are in. Hats off to top vote-getter Neal Zimmerman, an architect who runs his firm out of his home in West Hartford, Conn. Runners up, in order, are Web site designer Richard Hamel and architect/business network founder Manu Kumar. Congrats to all again. I wish my home office was as cool as theirs. -- Nick Leiber Visit Our Other Blogs Auto Beat Bangalore Tigers Blogspotting Brand New Day Byte of the Apple Economics Unbound European Insight Fine On Media Games, Inc. GreenBiz Hot Property Investing Insights Management IQ New Technology in Asia NEXT: Innovation Tools & Trends NussbaumOnDesign Tech Beat Working Parents POST YOUR OWN COMMENTS ADVERTISEMENT Get Options Trading Ideas for Major Currencies Get currency options trading ideas with Trading Central's free FX Options Trade Alert. See opportunities as they arise, based on technical analysis.   FIND SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES Getting Started Want to get your business off the ground? Here are the steps you need to take before you take the plunge   Find More Small Business Resources to help you build and strengthen your business. Pick a category below: • More Small Business Resources • Design Resources • Financing • Human Resources & Benefits • Legal & Insurance • Marketing & Sales • Office Operations • Tech & Telecom SMART ANSWERS KAREN E. KLEIN >> Employer Contributions to IRAs Your employees should be grateful you provide a pension, but they like to see consistency and security in your payments SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO KAREN >   VIEWPOINT CARMINE GALLO >> Speaking Up with Donny Deutsch Here are the four strategies for communication confidence and success that Carmine Gallo discussed with Donny Deutsch on his CNBC show MORE CARMINE GALLO COLUMNS >>   Advertisement   What's Your Problem? We all have workplace problems. Share with us, and your fellow readers, the hurdles you've faced—and how you've tried to clear them   Today's Tip Operations & Technology Offices should replace fax machines with scan-to-email software that deliver PDF documents as attachments using a company's existing email system. In doing so, you will quickly... --Edward Schmid, President and CEO, eCopy READ MORE >   IN YOUR FACE: CORPORATE HEALTH-CARE Reader Glen Livesey Writes: "There is a lot to be said about an on-site doctor, but I fear that it will fall foul of greedy and unscrupulous employers who will use the system to their advantage." Tell Us: Would You Use Your Employer's Medical Clinic? >   BusinessWeek has teamed with J.D. Power and Associates to let you compare customer satisfaction and product quality ratings. Automobiles Cable/Satellite Providers Consumer Electronics Copiers Digital Cameras TVs Insurance Auto Insurance Collision Repair (Auto Insurance) Home Insurance Financial Services Full-Service Investing Mortage Service Online Trading Telephone/Wireless All-Distance Phone Providers Wireless Service Internet Service Providers   Advertisement   VIDEO VIEWS >> Coping With the Local Tax Crunch Municipal governments are getting slammed as foreclosures result in lower tax revenues for cities and towns. How might this affect your property taxes and government services?     SUBSCRIBE TO BUSINESSWEEK SmallBiz Print Table of Contents Get SmallBiz Free With Your Subscription To BusinessWeek Subscribe Now Customer Service SMALLBIZ FREE ONLINE COURSES Instructor-led classes on the latest topics for registered BusinessWeek users. Sign up now • The Wireless Mobile Office • Designing and Equipping Your Home Office • Setting Up a Wireless Home Network • Start-Up Basics for the First-Time Entrepreneur • Writing a High-Impact Business Plan • Raising Capital for Your Small Business