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Looking to grow your video content? All businesses that are growing their brand and seeking to generate leads with an online presence need some sort of video content these days that will drive new customers and improve their bottom line. A technology that has come to the market is AI Video Creation, which can help businesses create videos in a way that has many advantages over normal videos. What is Synthesia? A web-based application called Synthesia allows users to make videos using AI avatars. It can produce videos 80% more quickly than normal and is being used by thousands of businesses. The entire video is created within the application, no equipment is needed. Transform your computer into a recording studio If you're thinking this Synthesia software is too complicated then you might be in for a surprise. The software is actually really easy to use and Synthesia includes many instructional videos. You can take a script that you want to use in a video, pick from a template that Synthesia provides, and have that video created in 10 minutes or less. Sure there are more advanced editing and other capabilities that the software allows that would take up more time but in the simplest way you can get videos created quickly that would normally take you hours to shoot and edit. Save time and money One of the biggest hurdles with creating a video is the time and money for equipment and human capital it takes to produce. It's less costly that years prior because of the video quality of cell phones but still, you need to record the content until you get it right. With AI video, the quality of the video is always the same and it is error free. There is no stumbling over your words or reshooting a segment because of some noise interruption. You simply have to choose from over 50 avatars that are all human-like, pick a voice out of many different accents and dialects, then add anything else like music or text onto the screen. If you don't like being on camera or buying expensive equipment needed to make quality videos then this is a great option for you until you do get to that point. I do think you need to create some personalized videos within your marketing plan so AI videos may only be a supplement for some. Most businesses are not getting enough video content out there which may be holding you back in building your brand. In addition, there are ways to use these videos for internal processes like sales training that eliminates repetitive training(more below on that). Features Synthesia is growing rapidly and adding features like new avatars, voices, and effects weekly and monthly. Templates make it easy to just fill in your specific copy, images, or other videos layered into the video. Has many traditional editing capabilities like transitions, music, video background, layered text, pausing between slides, Option to upgrade to use your own voice and face in the videos so that way you get to personalize the video. Over 60 languages 50+ avatars You can embed your Synthesia videos in 30+ apps, and update them anytime Use our PPT to video converter to transform plain PowerPoint files into engaging videos in just 5 minutes. More than 5M free stock images and videos. Use Cases Onboarding videos that funders could use to have loan brokers watch before they sign a partnership agreement. Welcome videos to business owners once their deal closes or simply subscribe to your site. Instructional training course for new hires or any other topic covered repeatedly. Cost The cost is $30 per month for 10 credits where each credit equals 1 minute. This is very reasonable considering all of the things you get. Ten minutes can go a long way. There is also a corporate plan that you need to contact them to discuss. SAMPLE VIDEO - Click play Conclusion Synthesia is the best AI video platform out there. They are still a startup so there were some challenges before but those have been ironed out and outdone by continuing to add really great features that any amateur can use. The UI/UX is intuitive and there are tips for use when first starting out or when any updates are made. Implementing Synthesia into a business process is a great addition to any business.

For a company to be put on our Direct Funders List, they must meet some minimum criteria if we are not familiar with them or they claim to be a direct funder that transitioned from a broker. We ask for proof of being Direct, which mainly consists of a copy of their contract and ISO agreement. Recently we have received contracts from companies seeking to be added that included Power of Attorney sections in their agreement. This came as a huge surprise as I haven’t seen one in years although admittingly haven’t checked everyone’s Future Receivables agreement. Power of Attorney(POA) had long gone by the wayside for many reasons but that led to the rise of Confessions of Judgements(COJ) being implemented into contracts. Now COJs have now been almost entirely eliminated in most MCA(merchant cash advance) contracts. It would seem that one reason we could be seeing the POA is that since COJs have been outlawed in several states Funders are trying any other way to get more security in their agreements. It also could be the attorney group putting these contracts together aren’t too familiar with the issues that arise once merchants recognize that a POA is required. Often deals are lost and brokers are certainly never happy with that. They will go elsewhere next time to get their deals funded. While these are just a few contracts, just be aware of this possible resurgence of the POA inserted in agreements so that you can advise your clients appropriately. (Are you using POAs? Have you seen them in many MCA contracts recently? Comment below) Clawbacks This recent contract we reviewed also included a personal guarantee as well as a 60 day Clawback period, which is for brokers to repay their commission earned on a deal that defaulted within that time period. Sixty days is an extreme length compared to the average of thirty days across the industry in my experience. Brokers aren't very eager to agree to this. Some Funders have even eliminated clawbacks altogether, but don’t think those companies aren’t doing something to compensate for that additional risk. Either they will ask for additional Stips, charge higher fees, increase the buy rate, or reduce the maximum commission on deals just to name a few things. This happens with other aspects of underwriting also, but holding brokers accountable for defaulted deals soon after the deal is funded has always been a practice that helps funders track which ISOs and brokers they will continue doing business with. Of course, if they can’t prove the ISO affected the deal going bad then there isn’t further legal action. However, a high Loss Ratio from the same ISO is not a coincidence and thus those ISOs are typically cut off from that funding company sooner or later. There are always exceptions to this, with some super high-risk funders almost more concerned with how much money they can get the merchant on the hook for because they don’t care if the merchant defaults. As long as they can collect a certain amount before a default happens they can pursue the rest in court or sell it to an outside collections agency. PSF Brokers who charge Professional Service Fees aren’t inherently doing anything wrong unless it's prohibited in the ISO agreement for the Funder with whom they are funding deals. The problem beyond that is how much is the PSF and whether it's excessive enough that it could impact the merchant's ability to pay back the merchant cash advance. This doesn't include the fees that a Funder might charge when closing, including underwriting fees, monthly maintenance fees, or other fees which sometimes are excessive as well. One ISO agreement we reviewed recently had a 5% maximum PSF allowed for the ISO to charge. Anything above that, if caught, would have their partnership terminated and risk their commission being clawed back or never paid in the first place. Many ISOs admittingly will charge up to a 10% PSF if they can get away with it regardless of the impact on the merchant. That’s on top of the average 10% commission they would get per deal! If you are doing the math that is in fact a possible 20% of the total funded amount on one deal. Meaning on a $100k deal, the ISO would get $20K! ISOs feel it's their right to charge for their service so if they must hide it from the funder somehow, they will do so, even though it jeopardizes the funder's capital deployed and certainly the relationship. ISOs admit that if they think the merchant is going to default anyway, (they can’t predict this any more than any funder can), then why not get as much money as possible. If they can double up on what they are already getting on commission, it's worth it for them. This is a very short-sighted approach that can lead to more defaults and doesn’t validate any person's assumption that inevitably a specific merchant will default. There are only odds of default, not exact predictions of future default. If there were then the funder wouldn’t fund the deal. In the long term, this leaves money on the table from renewals and keeping the client in their ecosystem for other financial products. Again, this doesn't excuse any excessive fees Funders are out there charging. We have seen underwriting fees as high as 8%, with another point or two for some other fees. So if you combined that with a 10% PSF for example, then the merchant will net 20% less than the total contracted advance amount. Using this example, $100K at a 1.35 Factor Rate, a merchant would net $80k, paying back a total of $135K. Paying back $55k in fees when receiving $80k is a large amount that is not sustainable long term. With most profits coming from renewals for funders, this is not an ideal path to prolonged success. All of this leads to ultimately a poor merchant experience across the board. Merchants experience higher fees and factor rates, untrustworthy salespersons, fewer good funding options, and risk losing their business even if in good faith they executed an agreement. It is also why there are funders reducing their reliance on deals from ISOs or totally eliminating broker referral partners.

Is QuickBooks worth it? QuickBooks is the most widely used accounting software for small businesses. The software application is vital to small businesses in managing all financial aspects of the business. Depending on your company’s size, you can choose QuickBooks online or opt for the desktop version, but whichever you pick, QuickBooks makes it easy for your business to keep its finances in order. The software is used in multiple areas of any business, such as: Payroll Invoice management Bookkeeping Expense tracking Finance reporting Tax management Bank reconciliation Features If you are new to QuickBooks, you might be wondering what features the application offers you. This is not something you should be concerned about since the application has easy-to-use features that guarantee increased productivity. Although the cloud-based QuickBooks Online is accessible from anywhere, and the desktop version is locally installed and cannot be accessed remotely, both variations boast a lot of similarities in terms of functionality and other capabilities. Easy To Import Files If moving to QuickBooks from other accounting applications, the transfer should be easy into your new account. You will not lose anything as long as follow the syncing process which will save you time and money. Clear Dashboard You will find an easy platform to use with QuickBooks. The user interface makes the dashboard clear which gives you an overview of your accounts. It shows items like your cash flow, invoice, sales, and any other relevant data. Easy To Link With The Bank Quickbooks easily allows you to link your bank account to download and sort your transactions. Quickbooks also allows you to add a bank account without connecting to the built-in QuickBooks Online using the Chart of Accounts page. Customize Invoice The QuickBooks application also has an option to customize your invoice. With this option, you can enter mobile receipts and bills quickly. It is also possible to invite and give permission to a bookkeeper or an accountant for your QuickBooks Online. Smartphone Application Easy to track your miles and other features with the app on your mobile device. Manage Payment The other feature that you will enjoy when you use the QuickBooks app is that it can help you manage your 1099 contract payments. Pros Has Robust Feature Set It is vital to keep a keen eye on your finances and cash flow as a small business. It is not easy to do this if you do not have the proper software that allows you to set it up properly. But with QuickBooks, you can manage your business finances, income, and expense with ease due to the robust features this platform offers. Proper Record-Keeping The other feature that you will get from QuickBooks is that it will be easy to keep comprehensive data and records. You can make everything as straightforward and as detailed as you want. The more detailed the information, the more valuable the records will be. Be sure to start out using the data as you intend for the long run. Manage Inventory Managing your inventory from Quickbooks makes everyone's job easier. Among the features are tracking the cost of goods and setting up low inventory alerts. Easy Resources QuickBooks is full of resources that are simple to use. Cons Not inexpensive As much as QuickBooks is beneficial for businesses, it's not cheap. A simple plan is $25 per month including only one account user. Learning Curve It might take a beginner some time to learn how to use it. Pricing The price depends on the services you need or the features you want to manage your business. Here is a look at the various QuickBooks Plans and their prices(2022): QuickBooks Online Simple Start price is $25 per month QuickBooks Online Essentials price is $50 per month QuickBooks Online Plus price is $80 per month QuickBooks Online Advance price is &180 per month Keep an eye on promotions that will save you on the pans. If you need a freelancer or contractor to help you manage your books, the pricing plan starts from $15 per month. Conclusion If operating a small business, hiring an accountant may prove to be unnecessary in the early going, especially if you aren't earning high enough revenues yet. One way to help you manage accounting tasks efficiently is to use Quickbooks Online. Although there are many accounting software options to pick from, Quickbooks offers you the most reliability, features beyond what most even need, and unrivaled ease of use. There may be some ramp-up time for beginners but it enables you to keep track of your finances 24/7. The application is competitive in pricing compared to other market leaders out there. So if you have not tried QuickBooks Online yet, give it a spin to test if it's the best fit for your company.

Glenn Giro, Vice President, SBA Lending Officer with Huntington National Bank, joins us today to discuss how popular SBA loans have become and more. Here's our discussion overview: Huntington National Bank and the area he covers What got him started in the finance industry Where are things now with SBA loans More detail on a typical SBA loan and what's needed Thoughts on what's in store within the next year for business lending overall Working with brokers and what do you look for in a partnership What is a memorable deal, good or bad, from your career? You can reach Glenn Giro directly at glenn.giro@huntington.com Huntington National Bank - huntington.com

In this video I speak with Steffen Giles-Osborn, CEO of Credit Square, to discuss his experiences with our Loan Broker training program, his business plans, and the economy.

Shawn Smith, CEO of Dedicated Financial GBC, discusses his start in his business, the economy, business ownership, the impact of giving on company culture, advice to new entrepreneurs, and more. Timeline How did you get started in your business/industry? 1:35 Where did your entrepreneurial mindset come from? 3:40 More about Dedicated Financial GBC 8:30 Are the rate increases and concerns of recession affecting your business? How is it affecting your clients? 10:55 How has the active role of helping others impacted your company culture? 20:24 What advice would you give to the business owner just starting out? 26:55 What is your BHAG(Big Hairy Audacious Goal)? 35:30 Find Shawn Smith on LinkedIn or visit www.dedicatedgbc.com/

Lending Valley President Chad Otar Interview. We discuss his process from broker to funder, syndication, new laws, fraud, and underwriting. Timeline Intro How Lending Valley came about 8:15 Broker to syndication to capital raise 9:55 How long does funding process take 18:21 Effects of new laws, inflation, PPP fraud 20:00 Underwriting technology changes 23:40 How do you choose brokers to work with 29:04 Underwriting criteria 33:16

In this interview with Ken Peng, Director of Business Development at Elevate Funding, we cover: Elevate’s niche in the MCA space and what sets Elevate apart. 2:20 Talk about fees, stips, etc... 7:00 Still funding in California, Virginia? 9:32 Trends/areas of growth seen in 2022. 11:40 Any changes coming down the pipeline for Elevate? 13:00 Anything else you want to let brokers know? 15:22 You can reach Ken Peng by email: Ken@elevatefunding.com Website- elevatefunding.com Elevate Funding is a verified funder on our Funders List.

James Jones is a partner at Entre Funding. In this video interview we discuss: What was he doing before alternative business finance What he thought of when he found our site Why did he decide to take the broker training course What are his thoughts on the course How are things going for him now You can reach James at: 909-310-5458 james@entrefunding.com entrefunding.com

Matthew Washington is the Founder & CEO MoneyWell GRP, a direct funding company based out of Miami. Matthew and Shane discuss: What has made him go down this path How he transitioned into having his own funding company Where does Matthew see things going in the next year His other ventures outside the business Football season is here, outlook Matthew Washington can be reached at: mw@moneywellgrp.com moneywellgrp.com MoneyWell GRP company page on Funder Intel

Diego Vetencourt is the Head of Marketing at Uplyft Capital. Topics we discuss: Overview of how he got into the industry. What Uplyft Capital is doing to grow their business What technology/automation have they implemented and how does it affect their Underwriting Outlook for the next year Diego can be reached at diegov@uplyftcapital.com Uplyftcapital.com Uplyft Capital can be found on our Funders List also.

In this conversation with Steve, we discuss: How he got into the industry Underwriting Tech stack What adjustments were made after covid How does he choose brokers to work with Outlook for the rest of the year Steve O'Connor, Chief Revenue Officer at Wellen Capital 224.374.1519 soconnor@wellen.com Wellen is a verified direct funder on our Funders List.