Turn on the news or read the financial websites and you will notice an alarming trend. There is an epidemic of bank failures that are hitting the world. We have lost confidence in our banks to the point where a can buried in our backyard or a mattress is looking just as attractive as the average bank.

Because of this, many are noticing the prepaid Visa card. No longer is this only for those with damaged or no credit. Those who have lost confidence in their bank have embraced these cards as a safe haven for their money.

Nearly all of the major issuers offer these. Once you are approved, and you will be regardless of your history, you will receive a Visa in the mail. This card looks exactly the same as any other and can be used anywhere you see the logo displayed.

In order to use it, you have to fund it. The best way to do this is by direct deposit. By depositing all or a portion of your paycheck, in most cases, you avoid the maintenance fees that come with other methods of funding. You can make ATM deposits, and even mail a check but that often requires you to pay a fee. Stick with direct deposit and it is most likely going to be free.

You also get some added services. These may include free bill pay, free direct deposit, balance alerts sent to your e-mail box or cell phone, and if you have the misfortune of damaged credit, your positive payment activities will be reported to the credit agencies.

As you go to the web looking for the best on the market make sure to fully investigate. There is no absence of cards without an annual fee so in most cases, push aside those offers that have fees built in to them. If you find one that you like but it has an annual fee, call their customer service department as ask them to waive the fee for the first year. Often they will agree to this.

Are you a parent? It can also be used to teach your teenage child healthy spending habits or keep your college age son or daughter on a budget while away from home. Don’t let your child be the next student who graduates from college with mounting credit card debt.

While your money is 100% safe if held at a bank, many have lost confidence in the banking system and as a result, the prepaid Visa card has become a more attractive option.

Government grants are heavily underutilized, but are an invaluable resource for those hoping to obtain business funding”especially since the passing of the Recovery Act, which released Stimulus money. Grants vary by amount, ranging from a couple thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The critical mistake many business owners make is discounting grants that may be in smaller amounts, as insignificant. The fact is, your competitor could be a business that received $20,000 in grant money last year. While this is not a life-changing amount of money, which companys bottom line is immediately strengthened? Certainly not yours if you did not take the initiative to apply. Doing nothing gives your competitors an advantage. Who doesn’t like free money?

You have probably been bombarded by companies offering to find grants and apply for them for a “nominal” fee”but these services are simply unnecessary. The government actually wants to give away this money to help strengthen the economy, so information pertaining to these grants is available and free to the public.

The first thing you need to know about applying for government grant funding is that your odds are strengthened with numbers. Submitting several applications at once is the best way to ensure that funding from government grants is obtained. Apply to all that is applicable to your business”especially the obscure ones. These grants are commonly overlooked by all demographics, but are extremely underutilized by female business owners in particular. Nearly half of all monies designated for female entrepreneurs in 2008 went unclaimed.

The government wants to give you money!

There are 26 federal grant-making agencies, all of which offer a multitude of grants each year. Grants are categorized and rewarded by the following segments:

Agriculture Business and Commerce Consumer Protection Education Energy Food and Nutrition Housing Information and Statistics Law, Justice and Legal Services Science and Technology and other Research and Development Recovery Act Community Development Disaster Prevention and Relief Employment, Labor and Training Environment Health Humanities Arts Income Security and Social Services Natural Resources Regional Development Transportation

At first glance it may appear that the selection of available grants that your business may be eligible for is limited. The key is to look beyond the obvious. The fact is, a large number of grants are overlooked each year, and the money is not used. Looking for, and applying to the most obscure grants can often be your ticket to obtaining funding. Given that you have properly filled out the form, if you are the only person who applies for a grant, you win!

Remember, do not be discouraged if you only receive one grant from your first 10 applications. This is free money that you did very little to obtain, and it also means that it will be easier to obtain government funding in the future. Once you have your first grant, and have proven that you will use the money wisely to expand your business and stimulate the economy, you may actually be personally invited back to apply for other grants in the future. Obtaining grant money is a slippery slope, of sorts”once you get the ball rolling, nothing can stop you! Learn more about grant funding for your business

, including the best time to apply, various application methods, search techniques and the application process.

The idea of investing in commercial real estate can be daunting”even for the seasoned residential investor. The industry terminology, the differences in funding, and the overall culture of the commercial real estate world can be intimidating, to say the least. While these factors may make your entry into commercial investing a little frightening, dont let it shake your confidence. In fact, the commercial real estate sector is actually quite strong in many markets”and it is the perfect time for novice investors to join the game.

If you are planning to invest in a commercial property, leasing the space out can be extremely profitable. Depending on the type of tenants you plan to have, one type of lease may be more attractive than others. Read the following to gain a basic understanding of the various types of commercial leases.

Net lease: The tenant is responsible for paying the rent in addition to a portion of the maintenance fees, some operating expenses and insurance premiums.

Triple-net lease: This type of lease is most commonly used for tenants of a freestanding building. The tenant is responsible for paying all fees and operating expenses. If you are currently a tenant in this type of lease, it may be wise for you to consider purchasing the property, if the owner is willing to accept an offer.

Gross lease: Similar to a traditional apartment lease, with a gross lease, the tenant is responsible for paying a set rent at a predetermined rate established by the building owner. The landlord then uses the funds from the tenants rent to pay operating costs, insurance and taxes for the property.

Ground lease: Also known as a land lease, ground leases includes the grounds of the property as well as the property itself in the lease. Tenants with this type of lease option must remember that improvements made to the property usually revert back to the landlord at the time that the lease is terminated. This includes new buildings or structures constructed on the property during the lease period.

Shopping center leases: With this type of lease, the tenant is given the least control. While the tenant is responsible for paying an established rent rate that typically directly coincides with the square footage that is used, they also usually must pay a predetermined percentage of gross sales and a portion of the property taxes. The tenant usually must adhere to strict guidelines about signs and promotion, established traffic areas (especially for businesses with pick-up and delivery services), and the tenant may be moved to a new location within the shopping center at the discretion of the owner.

The common thread between all successful businesses is availability of adequate funding. Regardless of how innovative a product or service is, without the necessary funding, your dreams of business ownership will never come to fruition. The tricky part can be finding the funding you need to start your business or expand on an existing business. There are a wide variety of approaches to business funding, but all have certain advantages and disadvantages attached that must be considered. Read on for a brief tutorial about the various types of business funding, and learn which option is right for you.

Personal Funds Personal funds include funds from your savings account, or retirement fund(s) (401K or 403 B).

Advantages Low overhead Debt free Tax-deferred savings

Disadvantages High risk if business is not successful You may not have enough in personal savings to fund a business

Business owners also commonly acquire bank loans to finance business ventures. Unfortunately, in the current economy, this is sometimes easier said than done. It might also be in your best interest to keep your credit lines clear for other expenses associated with owning a business”expected and unexpected. If financing cannot be received through bank loans, many consider credit cards as a viable alternative. This option comes with high risk in the event that the business does not assume the expected level of success, as repayment of debt may become difficult.

Funding from friends and family is also considered a form of personal finance. When people lend money for the start of a business, or become a co-signer for a loan for commercial property, this could open up the opportunity for the individual to become a vested owner in your business”a positive or negative, depending your end goal. If the friend or family member becomes a vested owner, this would alleviate the need to repay the loan, but would also limit your overall control of the company.

For many, funding a business with any form of personal financing is not a viable option, as the risk is much too high. So what is the alternative? Read on:

Equity funding, also known as equity finance, equity loans, private equity, venture capital or private venture capital, is essentially an investment that combines a life insurance policy and mutual fund shares. With this option, the investor is shielded by the protection of the insurance policy (collateral), and also has added bonus of the growth potential of the mutual fund.

Equity funding is a viable option to obtain funding for your business expansion project, or funding your start-up; but it also takes work. How do you find interested investors? How do you construct an appealing funding proposal? How do you get investors to actually read the proposal? What are the typical terms of agreement for your particular business venture? Are there other funding options to use in addition, or in lieu of equity funding? Will the same angel investors work for equipment financing? What about merchant cash advances? Get the answers to all of these questions, and more.