The CARES Act that was signed last week contains a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for business owners and independent contractors that opens tomorrow. And the money will disappear fast.
Here are some facts:
- UPDATE: You should apply online, with the bank your BUSINESS ACCOUNTS are with.
- They’ll pay you 2.5 months’ worth of your entire payroll
- You (probably) don’t have to pay it back if you spend it properly on payroll
- It’s even open to self-employed and independent contractors!
- The application only takes about 10 minutes, you just need to read all the rules
- Apply through your local bank
- For US Employees only
- Applications open tomorrow
- There’s limited money, so you really want to apply ASAP (before it’s all claimed)
If any of this might interest you, here are some links to guide you along:
- Start Here: The US Chamber of Commerce’s helpful visual guide: https://www.uschamber.com/sbloans
- US Treasury’s Official Info Sheet: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP%20Borrower%20Information%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
- What the application will look like: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Paycheck-Protection-Program-Application-3-30-2020-v3.pdf
- A Helpful Q&A which answered some questions we had: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianthompson1/2020/04/01/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-cares-business-loans/#6cf0730f5767
- SBA Site: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
This is a worrying time, but we do have options, resources, and opportunities! Take care and Be Safe!!
We are Business Brokers. We help business owners sell their business when it is time to “cash-out”. Need help? Have questions? Would you like a confidential business valuation? Contact us anytime at 1-800-Biz-Broker.
ADDITIONAL COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES
- Grants.
- Loans.
- Other financial assistance.
- Marketing and promotion assistance.
- Tools.
- Preventative health guidelines.
- Federal, state and local coronavirus info.
- Coronavirus tips and insights for your industry.
- COVID-19 news coverage.
Related: Government assistance resources for businesses impacted by COVID-19
Grants
Facebook. Learn how to apply for part of Facebook’s $100 million grant program for small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
James Beard Foundation started a Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund to provide micro-grants to independent food and beverage small businesses in need.
Amazon. For Seattle’s South Lake Union and Regrade neighborhoods, a $5 million relief fund to provide cash grants to small businesses in the area that need assistance.
Fundera. Information and advice for business grants and a list of 107 verified startup and small business grants. (Not COVID-19 specific.)
Loans
Kiva. Apply with expanded eligibility, maximum loan size increased to $15,000, and a grace period up to six months.
Mainvest. See if you’re eligible to receive a 0% interest loan of $2,000.
WaFD Bank. Apply for a 5-year business line of credit with 90-days interest free of up to $30,000.
US Bank. Learn about the programs US Bank is offering their customers.
Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation. Currently at the fundraising stage, the foundation will offer zero interest loans to help restaurants reopen.
Other financial assistance
GoFundMe. GoFundMe is hosting fundraisers for small businesses. Customers can start and donate now to any business. Business owners can claim their business and apply for a matching grant from the Small Business Relief Fund.
Ford. Learn how Ford is giving customers who buy new vehicles through Ford Credit the option to delay their first payment for 90 days, and providing payment options for existing Ford Credit customers who are having payment difficulty.
Bank of America. Learn about the programs Bank of America is offering to help their customers, including payment deferrals and refunds on fees.
Marketing and promotion assistance
Google. Google will distribute $340 million in ad credits worldwide. They can be used at any point until the end of 2020 across Google Ads platforms.
Yelp. Read about the $25 million in relief that Yelp has announced to support independent local restaurant and nightlife businesses, in the form of waived advertising fees, and free advertising, products and services.
Kabbage. Sign up and sell gift certificates for your business online. Revenue is deposited as early as a day after customers buy their gift certificate.
Tools
Facebook for Business. A new Business Resource Hub that details the resources Facebook provides to businesses.
Google. See all of the Google resources for businesses.
Microsoft. Office 365 customers can get Teams (video conferencing) for free.
Zoom. Connect with others through video conferencing. The free version of Zoom can host up to 100 participants for up to 40 minutes.
LogMeIn. Get a Remote Work Toolkit to make a “seamless transition to a remote workforce.”
Atlassian. Providing free access to all of their cloud working tools for small businesses (10 or fewer employees).
Cisco. Offering free video conferencing services for small businesses now working remotely.
Preventative health guidelines
Take to heart these big-picture preventative health tips from health organizations.
- Daily COVID-19 updates from the World Health Organization (WHO)
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Coronavirus resource site
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Coronavirus resource site
Federal, state and local coronavirus info
Bookmark federal, state and local government and business groups with information that might affect your business. These include:
- IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief: special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by COVID-19.
- House Small Business Committee
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) coronavirus resource page
- SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans: This program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million “to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.”
- National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) coronavirus resources
- National Small Business Association (NSBA)
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Combatting the Coronavirus — Resources & Guidelines for Business
- U.S. Department of Labor: Coronavirus Resources
- State and local small business associations. Search the SBA’s Local Assistance guide for business resources near you. SCORE is also sharing coronavirus resources on the organization’s homepage.
- State and local chambers of commerce. Find your local chamber of commerce.
- State and local health officials. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “The intensity of an outbreak may vary by location, and local health officials will be issuing guidance specific to their communities. Employers should learn about the plans in place in each community where they have a business.”
Coronavirus tips and insights for your industry
Gather industry-specific resources that can help your kind of business navigate through the coronavirus crisis. Here are some starters:
- List of trade associations.
- National Association for Homecare & Hospice: Coronavirus Resources for Home Care & Hospice
- National Association of Realtors® Coronavirus guide
- National Council of Nonprofits: The Nonprofit Community Confronts the Coronavirus
- National Electrical Contractors Association: Coronavirus Resource Center
- National Restaurant Association’s Coronavirus Information and Resources page
- National Retail Federation: Coronavirus Resources for Retailers
- Society of Professional Journalists: Coronavirus (COVID-19) announcements, information and resources
- The Global Association for the Attractions Industry: IAAPA Member Resources for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- World Tourism Organization: Tourism and Coronavirus Disease