This year, National Small Business week is May 5th through the 11th. How will you celebrate? Here are five ideas for inspiration. By FINSYNC Entrepreneurs are the foundation of the American economy, and it’s time to celebrate them. According to the Small Business Administration’s 2018 Small Business Profile, small businesses account for 99.9% of U.S. firms, employing nearly half of the country’s workforce and generating 1.9 million new jobs annually. National Small Business Week has been recognizing the country’s small businesses since 1963. We know how busy you are, but why not take a well-deserved break from your hectic regular schedule to celebrate your achievements and those of your colleagues? Here are five ideas to get you started Attend an Event The SBA is hosting events throughout the week that you can attend either in person or virtually. Can’t make it to the #SmallBusinessWeek Hackathon or the National Small Business Week Awards ceremonies in D.C.? You can watch the latter live on the SBA’s Facebook page. In addition to streaming the awards ceremonies, you can also watch live workshops on the SBA’s Facebook page. On Sunday, May 5, tune in for the Next Wave in Digital Commerce Workshop at 4 p.m. EST. On May 6, you can get some helpful Social Media Tips for Your Small Business at 10:30 a.m. EST. It’s also a great time to check in with your local district SBA office to find out what events they’re hosting near you. Join the SBA Free Virtual Conference In addition to streaming awards ceremonies and workshops, the SBA and SCORE are hosting a two-day virtual conference. The free conference will take place on Tuesday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 8 between 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST. Designed to help small businesses succeed, the virtual conference will give you the opportunity to meet other business owners, chat with industry experts and participate in webinars on various topics. Beyond the invaluable advice and inspiration, there will also be giveaways, free resources and networking chat rooms. Live Webinar Topics Will Include: 

• The U.S. Economic Outlook and Its Impact on Small Businesses
• Making Sense of Online Marketing: A Simple Checklist for Success
• Mastering Control of Your Cash Flow
• Creating Effective Online Ads
• The Culture Imperative: Drive Growth with Customer Obsession
• SBA Funding Programs Explained
• How to Do Business with the Federal Government
• Disasters Happen: How to Prepare Your Business and Recover

Raise a Glass to Small Business Success You’ve no doubt heard the disheartening statistics about the percentage of small businesses that fail, but this is the week to celebrate those that succeed. Around 80% of small businesses survive their first year in business, 70% survive the second year and 50% of small businesses are still up and running after five years in business. Whether your business has been open for six months or six years, if your doors are still open there’s reason to celebrate your success. While you’re at it, go ahead and lift a glass to the winners of the 2019 Small Business Persons of the Year from each state. The national winner will be announced at the National Small Business Awards ceremony streaming live on May 6 at 12:45 p.m. EST. Know a small business owner who deserves recognition? Nominate your colleague for next year’s awards. Beyond the Small Business Person of the Year, there are 13 additional awards categories that are recognized each year. Get Social Why did you start your business? What do you love about your job? Your customers want to know! Share your story on social media to personalize your business and connect with your customers on a deeper level. It’s also an ideal opportunity to tap into the country’s thriving small business network for advice, support and good old-fashioned shoptalk. The SBA is hosting a Twitter chat on Friday, May 10 at noon EST (@SBAgov). Industry experts will discuss how to start and grow a business, with plenty of tips and resources thrown in. Join the conversation or follow along at #SmallBusinessWeek. Celebrate Your Customers National Small Business Week is a perfect time to shift the focus back on your customers with a heartfelt thank you. Why not take it a step further than a nod on social media? Consider rewarding loyal customers who make a purchase during Small Business Week with a discount, coupon or a free gift to show your appreciation. No matter how you choose to celebrate Small Business Week, take a moment to recognize how far you’ve come to get where you are today. Here at FINSYNC, we want you to know that we see you, we appreciate you and we’re rooting for your success every step of the way.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON BUSINESSWIRE HERE FINSYNC is Rapidly Closing the Gap Between Online Banking and Online Lending FINSYNC expects to have over 2,000 banks in its lending network within 24 months. ATLANTA, GA - February 28, 2019, FINSYNC, Inc., a cash flow management platform for small to midsize businesses, is adding new banks to its lending network at an accelerated rate. FINSYNC makes it easy for the businesses who use the platform for cash flow management or modeling to connect with banks, credit unions and lenders online for quicker access to capital. “Businesses who apply for financing through FINSYNC can now request their current bank be added to the FINSYNC Lending Network, in the event the bank is not already a listed member. Since introducing this new capability, a new bank has been added every day, and we see this number climbing quite sharply for many reasons,” says Tucker Mathis, CEO of FINSYNC, Inc. Why Banks are Flocking to FINSYNC’s Lending Network  

• According to a recent FDIC report, approximately 80% of banks currently do not offer their business customers the ability to apply for financing online in any form. Tucker adds, “An even greater percentage share with us that they don’t feel equipped to efficiently and effectively underwrite loans below $500,000.”
• FINSYNC solves some very specific problems that are resonating with business owners, including the ability to apply for financing with their bank online, and getting credit for where their business has been and where it’s going. When applying for financing through FINSYNC, the business syncs their bank account, which allows FINSYNC to help business owners understand their loan options based on actual cash flow and assumptions about the future.
• When businesses apply for financing from their bank through FINSYNC, the bank benefits from advanced analytics that include projected cash flow and tools that can help a business illustrate where it believes it is going.
• In addition to advanced analytics, member banks benefit from seeing alternative loan options that are available through a network of lenders. The member bank can present the best loan option to their business customer alone or in partnership with any other member lender that’s part of the network.

FINSYNC is the new way banks and online lenders can work together to help more businesses grow. Initial members of the lending network include industry leaders such as Fundation, Enova, OnDeck, Credibly, BFS Capital, IOU Financial, Wellen, and many others. Benefiting Both Banks and Their Customers Getting started is easy. FINSYNC uses established data connections to banks, so no IT investment or further integration is required. Offering FINSYNC creates immediate value by connecting the bank with their current customers in a way that’s value-add for both credit-related products, but also from the higher deposits that tend to accumulate at the bank that establishes the primary credit relationship. FINSYNC offers its financing solution at no cost to businesses in order to help them improve cash flow. Optionally, a business can continue using FINSYNC for cash flow management with the added benefit of never having to manually apply for a loan again. The business can track access to additional capital that is available from the lending network as the business grows. Loan applications will always default to the bank with whom the business reports they have the best relationship in an effort to help both parties grow with quicker access to lower-cost capital. “The relationship aspect of what we do is very important,” said Eddie Davis, VP of FINSYNC, Inc. “Our platform is aimed at helping banks and businesses grow together, not apart.” About FINSYNC, Inc. FINSYNC is cash flow management software that helps businesses grow with game-changing features. Businesses can get started with better payments or financing, or enable all features from a single platform to collect income, pay bills, process payroll, automate accounting, forecast cash flow, and access financing through FINSYNC’s Lending Network. Banks, credit unions and online lenders join the network to receive loan applications online and benefit from advanced analytics, automation and in-network participation. See FINSYNC’s Television Commercial FINSYNC’s LinkedIn FINSYNC’s Twitter FINSYNC’s Facebook Contact info: Karsyn Meurisse Marketing Programs Manager (800) 699-6484 [email protected]