Debt Financing 101: How Borrowing Can Power (or Strain) Your Business

Debt financing allows businesses to raise capital by borrowing money that must be repaid over time with interest, using tools like loans, bonds, or lines of credit. It offers benefits such as tax-deductible interest and full ownership retention, but also presents risks like cash flow strain and potential default. Choosing between debt and equity financing depends on factors like cash flow, creditworthiness, and growth goals, and businesses must weigh the trade-offs to make informed financial decisions.  Read more about the pros and cons of debt financing in this PNC post.

Perception vs. Reality: Recent Survey Suggests Small Business Owners Need Stronger Financial Planning

A new TD Bank survey reveals a significant gap between small business owners’ confidence in their financial preparedness and their actual readiness. While 94% of owners believe they’re prepared for the next 12–18 months, many would struggle after just two quarters of revenue shortfalls. The study highlights that although New York-based businesses are slightly more resilient than the national average, most still face challenges like inflation, customer growth, and the rapid evolution of AI tools. Many are turning to digital budgeting tools, loans, and financial advisors, yet underutilize expert guidance. Small business owners are encouraged to seek out trusted financial support to better navigate uncertainty and position their businesses for long-term success.

Closing the Digital Divide for Women Entrepreneurs: A $5 Trillion Opportunity

Women entrepreneurs in low- and middle-income countries are vital to economic growth but according to this report from World Economic Forum, they face major barriers due to digital exclusion and discriminatory legal frameworks.

While most own smartphones, many lack affordable, reliable internet and face online harassment, limiting their ability to grow businesses through digital tools. Regulatory obstacles and gender bias also prevent women from accessing credit and formalizing businesses.

Closing these gaps through policy reform, infrastructure investment, digital literacy training, and online safety measures could unlock up to $5 trillion in global GDP. Bridging the digital divide is not only a moral imperative—it’s an economic necessity.

Rethinking Financial Health for Women Entrepreneurs in Low-Income Countries

A new report from CARE’s Strive Women program reveals that women entrepreneurs in emerging markets face far more than just funding challenges. Based on insights from nearly 2,500 women in Pakistan, Peru, and Vietnam, the report shows that digital access, crisis savings, support networks, and caregiving responsibilities all significantly impact business success. While most women are confident in their ability to grow a business, many are held back by limited financial tools, lack of digital training, and the weight of unpaid household labor. True financial health, the report argues, means designing systems that reflect women’s real lives—offering flexible funding, digital upskilling, peer support, and solutions that ease the burden of care. To read more, see this link.

Women Business Owners More Concerned About Economic Uncertainty

A new CNBC|SurveyMonkey survey shows that women small business owners are feeling more anxious than men about the economy. They’re more likely to worry about inflation, rising costs, and the possibility of a recession—and nearly 70% say they’re stressed about their business finances. While women are starting businesses at record rates, these concerns reflect the real challenges they’re facing and highlight how differently economic conditions can impact people depending on their experiences. Click this link to read more.

Motherhood Meets Entrepreneurship: Creative Strategies That Work

Now that Mother’s Day has passed, we’re spotlighting insights from women entrepreneurs who are balancing the full-time demands of both business and motherhood. In this HerStory feature, they share the real-life “hacks” that help them juggle investor meetings, school runs, and toddler tantrums—often all in the same day. From time-blocking during school hours to using sensory kits to keep kids engaged during work calls, these mothers rely on structure, early mornings, and strong support systems. They also emphasize the importance of self-care and mental clarity. Their message to other moms thinking about launching a business: you don’t need a perfect plan—just the confidence to begin and the grace to ask for help.

Cyber Threats to Small Business

Nearly half of small and medium-sized businesses globally have experienced a cyberattack, according to a forthcoming Mastercard survey of over 5,000 business owners. The most common forms of attack include hacking, malware, and phishing. These breaches not only lead to financial losses and reduced productivity but also lasting reputational damage—80% of affected businesses reported needing to rebuild trust with clients and partners. Alarmingly, nearly one in five businesses that suffered an attack ended up closing or filing for bankruptcy.

While 86% of small businesses have conducted cybersecurity risk assessments and created prevention plans, only 23% feel very confident in those plans or in their ability to detect threats. A major challenge is educating employees, who often serve as both the first line of defense and a potential vulnerability; 73% of owners report difficulty getting staff to take cybersecurity seriously.

The article published by Mastercard underscores the urgent need for better tools, training, and support to help small businesses strengthen their cyber defenses and avoid devastating consequences.

Celebrating Growth at the Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell: A Fireside Chat from Celebration Ezra 2025

This video features a fireside chat about the Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell, held during Celebration Ezra 2025 — a two-day entrepreneurship conference hosted each spring to unite students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members.

The conversation between Program Director Kirsten Barker and Faculty Director Deborah Streeter explored the Institute’s remarkable growth, from an initial goal of educating 5,000 students to enrolling over 100,000 participants. They also shared video clips of student stories, highlighting how the program has helped entrepreneurs expand their networks and grow their businesses.

Understanding Small Business Lines of Credit

A small business line of credit is a flexible financing option that allows businesses to borrow, repay, and reborrow funds as needed, only paying interest on the amount currently drawn. It helps manage cash flow, cover unexpected expenses, and navigate seasonal fluctuations. Credit lines can be secured (backed by collateral) or unsecured, with eligibility based on factors like credit score and financial history. Unlike term loans, they provide revolving access to funds, offering more control but also requiring disciplined use to avoid accumulating debt. It’s ideal for businesses needing short-term, on-demand access to capital rather than a lump sum loan. To learn more, check out this helpful link published by PNC Bank.

Monetizing Your Podcast

This week’s episode of the Side Hustle Pro podcast delivered a hands-on lesson in business growth for content creators. In this April 16th episode titled “Why Your Podcast Isn’t Making Money (and How to Fix It),” host Nicaila Matthews Okome shared strategies to turn a creative side hustle into a revenue-generating business​. She outlined effective marketing tactics to consistently reach your audience, how to think outside the box with non-traditional sponsorships (e.g. events or retreats, not just ads), and ways to create offerings that listeners will pay for (such as courses or premium content)​.