In a short period of time, Temu has become a dominant player in global ecommerce. Nearly a quarter of consumers (24 percent) made their most recent cross-border purchase on the Chinese platform. This puts Temu on par with Amazon.
Continue readingStarting a business is thrilling. You have the idea, the passion, and the drive. But then reality hits—you need capital. And if your bank account is looking a little lean, you might be wondering if your dream is dead in the water. It isn’t. While banks often want to see a hefty down payment or years of revenue, the financial landscape is shifting. It is entirely possible to secure funding without a massive pile of cash or a perfect credit score. You just need to know where to look. Whether you’re exploring microloans, government-backed programs, or creative alternatives like crowdfunding, there are paths forward for every aspiring entrepreneur. This guide will walk you through exactly how to get a startup business loan with no money, uncover hidden funding gems, and help you decide if a loan is even the right move for you. Let’s get that business funded! How to sell online Tips from e-commerce experts for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Subscribe Please enter a valid email address I consent to receive Ecwid Newsletter. I can unsubscribe anytime. Understanding What Lenders Actually Want Before you start filling out applications, you need to get inside the head of a lender. When you ask for money without having money, you are essentially asking them to take a risk on you. Your job is to make that risk look as small as possible. Lenders typically focus on the “5 Cs” of credit, but for a startup with no revenue, three things matter most: Credit Score If you don’t have business revenue yet, your personal credit score is your golden ticket. It tells lenders how reliable you are with debt. Most traditional lenders look for a score of at least 680, but some online lenders and micro-lenders are more flexible. If your score is lower, don’t panic—learning how to get a business loan with bad credit is possible, and we will cover those options shortly. A Bulletproof Business Plan You can’t just walk into a bank with a napkin sketch. You need a roadmap. Lenders want to see exactly how you plan to make money. Your business plan should detail your market research, financial projections, and exactly how you’ll repay the loan. If you are seeking startup business loans with no revenue, your projections need to be grounded in reality, not fantasy. You need to show potential if you can’t show history. In one of our blog posts, we explain how to write a business plan and provide a detailed example to help you get started right away. Collateral (or lack thereof) This is the sticky part. “No money” usually means you don’t have cash for a down payment, but do you have assets? Collateral is something of value—like a car, real estate, or equipment—that lenders can seize if you default. If you don’t have collateral, you’ll need to look for “unsecured” loans, which often come with higher interest rates to offset the lender’s risk. How to Get a Startup Business Loan with No Money: Explore Your Options So, where do you actually go to get this money? Forget the big banks for a second; they are often the hardest nut to crack for a new startup. Instead, focus on these three accessible avenues that specifically cater to entrepreneurs asking how to get a startup business loan with no money. Microloans: Small Amounts, Big Impact Microloans are exactly what they sound like—smaller loans, typically under $50,000. They are designed specifically for startups and small businesses that might not qualify for traditional bank loans. The SBA Microloan Program is a fantastic place to start. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides funds to nonprofit intermediary lenders who then lend to you. Loan limit: Up to $50,000 (though the average is around $13,000). Terms: Maximum repayment term is 6 years. Interest rates: Generally between 8% and 13%. These lenders often care more about your character and your business plan than a perfect credit score. Plus, many provide free business training to help you succeed. If you’re not in the US, look for microloan programs in your country. These can be provided by government agencies, nonprofits, or even banks. SBA Loans: The Gold Standard If you need more than a microloan, look at the SBA 7(a) loan. This is the SBA’s primary program for providing financial assistance to small businesses. Here is the catch: The SBA doesn’t lend you money directly. They guarantee a portion of the loan for the bank, which reduces the bank’s risk. This makes banks more willing to lend to startups. Guarantee: For standard 7(a) loans, the SBA guarantees 85% of loans up to $150,000 and 75% of loans greater than $150,000. Personal guarantee: Be aware that for most SBA loans, anyone owning 20% or more of the business must provide an unlimited personal guarantee. This means you are personally liable if the business fails. Outside of the US, government agencies also offer similar programs to support small businesses. For example, in Canada, the Canadian Small Business Financing Program provides financing for businesses that are unable to secure traditional bank loans. In the UK, there is the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, which offers a government guarantee on loans provided by participating lenders. Online Lenders Online lenders are the speedboats compared to the cruise ships of traditional banks. They are fast, agile, and often have less stringent requirements. Many use technology to analyze alternative data points beyond just your credit score. Pros: Fast approval (sometimes within 24 hours) and higher approval rates for startups. Cons: Higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms. If you are researching how to get a business loan with bad credit or struggling to find startup business loans with no revenue, online lenders might be your best bet for a quick injection of cash. Just always remember to read the fine print on fees! Alternatives to Startup Business Loans with No Revenue Maybe the idea of debt makes you sweat. That is totally fair. Taking on a loan isn’t the only way to launch. In fact, some of the most successful businesses started without borrowing a dime from a bank. Crowdfunding Why ask one person for $10,000 when you can ask 1,000 people for $10? Platforms like Kiva allow you to crowdfund loans with 0% interest and no fees. The Kiva model: You can borrow up to $15,000. The catch? You have to get a small number of friends and family to lend to you first to prove your “social credit.” Reward-based crowdfunding: Platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo allow you to pre-sell your product. You get the money to manufacture it, and your backers get the product once it’s made. It’s revenue, not debt! To learn more about crowdfunding platforms and get some tips for running a successful campaign, check out our blog post below. How to Crowdfund Your Business or Startup & Bring It to LifeRead more Angel Investors Angel investors are individuals who invest their own money into startups in exchange for equity (ownership) in the company. They aren’t looking for monthly repayments; they are looking for a big return down the road when your company explodes in value. Best for: High-growth startups with the potential to scale quickly. The trade-off: You give up a slice of your company and often some control over decision-making. Grants Free money? Yes, please! Grants are funds given by government agencies, foundations, or corporations that you do not have to pay back. The reality: Competition is fierce. You will spend a lot of time writing proposals. Where to look: Check out Grants.gov for federal grants, or look for corporate grants from companies like FedEx or Visa, which often run small business grant contests. Check out the blog post below to learn how to find small business grants and how to apply for them. Small Business Grants: How to Find Them and Apply SuccessfullyRead more Tips for Preparing Your Loan…
Continue readingThree in ten German consumers shop via social media. Instagram is used the most: 15 percent of Germans buy directly on the platform or via redirects to online shops. Facebook follows with 14 percent and YouTube with 11 percent.
Continue readingPolish ecommerce company Allegro is selling its subsidiaries in Slovenia and Croatia, to German private equity firm Mutares. This means that Mimovrste, a well-known online retailer in Slovenia, will get a new owner. The sale is an effort to streamline Allegro Group’s financial results.
Continue readingOnline shopping in Portugal had a strong performance during the Christmas period of 2025. New data from SIBS Analytics shows that ecommerce purchases increased 19 percent in the number of transactions when compared to the same period in 2024. The total value of online purchases also increased around 14 percent.
Continue readingProduct discovery still mostly happens on marketplaces, with 37 percent of consumers starting their shopping journey there. Compared to last year, this is a decrease of 10 percent. Social platforms and AI assistants have increased their share in the last 12 months.
Continue readingWhat’s the secret sauce that makes customers stop, stare, and buy? It’s not just having a great product—it’s how you present it. Whether you’re running a cozy boutique or a bustling online store, the way you display your goods can make or break your sales numbers. This is the art and science of merchandising, and it’s one of the most powerful tools in a small business owner’s toolkit. So, what is merchandising exactly? At its core, it’s the strategic promotion and display of products to stimulate interest and entice customers to make a purchase. It’s about getting the right product, in the right place, at the right time, and at the right price. However, merchandising goes beyond just putting items on a shelf or a webpage. It’s about storytelling, psychology, and creating an experience that resonates with your shoppers. In this blog post, we’re going to dive deep into the world of product merchandising. We’ll cover everything from the basics of “what is merchandising in retail?” to the nitty-gritty of visual displays and digital storefronts. Whether you have a physical location, an ecommerce site, or both, mastering these strategies is key to driving sales and attracting loyal customers. How to sell online Tips from e-commerce experts for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Subscribe Please enter a valid email address I consent to receive Ecwid Newsletter. I can unsubscribe anytime. What Is Merchandising in Retail? You might hear the term thrown around often, but what is the merchandise strategy really about? In a retail context, merchandising is the overarching strategy used to sell inventory. It encompasses everything from product selection and pricing to the physical or digital layout of your store. General Merchandising Think of general merchandising as the big picture. It’s the master plan. It involves analyzing sales data, understanding customer behavior, and making informed decisions about what stock to carry. It’s about ensuring you have enough inventory to meet demand without overstocking. Successful general merchandising means you are constantly adapting to market trends and customer preferences. Seasonal Merchandising Timing is everything. Seasonal merchandising aligns your product offerings and displays with specific times of the year. Think about how stores transform in late October. Suddenly, everything is orange and black, candy is front and center, and costumes are everywhere. That’s seasonal merchandising in action. Seasonal merchandising taps into the excitement of holidays, weather changes, and cultural events to drive urgency and relevance. Media products also have merchandising cycles. For instance, the release of a new Disney movie is often accompanied by a wide range of products related to that film. All of these merchandising strategies are carefully timed and engineered to optimize product sales throughout the year. Merchandising is not just about one single product, but is a store-wide initiative to maximize all potential sales. Seasonal merchandising applies to online stores, too Retail Merchandising So, what is a retail merchandiser focusing on day-to-day? Retail merchandising specifically refers to the strategies used within a physical store to maximize sales. This involves floor plans, aisle width, shelf placement, and signage. It’s about guiding the customer through the store in a way that exposes them to the maximum amount of product. Have you ever noticed that milk and eggs are usually at the back of the grocery store? That’s a classic retail merchandising tactic to get you to walk past thousands of other items first! Ecommerce Merchandising The principles remain the same, but the execution changes online. It’s about optimizing website layout, site search, and product recommendations to replicate the helpfulness of an in-store associate. In ecommerce merchandising, the emphasis is placed on website layout and page displays, rather than physical displays. For an ecommerce store, in-demand seasonal items might be displayed on the website’s homepage. The homepage is comparable to the entrance to a physical store where one might usually see a prominent seasonal display. Ecommerce merchandising is also about making the website intuitive and easy to navigate. Users should be able to easily locate items that they are interested in. Some websites might use banner ads promoting certain items in their store. Or the website may use intuitive search results. Another common form of ecommerce merchandising is the use of linking opportunities between associated items. This is a form of virtual bundling. Suppose you run an ecommerce store that sells sports equipment. A customer who is browsing baseball gloves on your website might also be interested in baseball bats, cleats, or other baseball equipment. Providing linking opportunities to these items on relevant product pages is an essential part of ecommerce merchandising. Visual Merchandising This is where creativity meets commerce. What is visual merchandising? It’s the practice of optimizing the presentation of products and services to better highlight their features and benefits. Visual merchandising is the “wow” factor that grabs attention. It includes everything from lighting and color schemes to floor plans, product design, and digital design elements. Any visual component that makes it easier for customers to identify and purchase an item is visual merchandising. Another common strategy for visual merchandising is bundling. Bundling refers to the grouping of certain products together based on common or shared usages. For instance, a common bundle in spring might feature an array of gardening equipment. Types of Merchandising Merchandising isn’t a one-size-fits-all concept. Depending on your business model, you’ll likely focus on different types. Let’s break down the two major categories: Visual and Online. Visual Merchandising If you have a brick-and-mortar space, this is your bread and butter. Visual merchandising is crucial because it’s the silent salesperson on your floor. It’s the visual language of your brand. It communicates quality, style, and value without saying a word. Effective visual merchandising increases foot traffic and encourages impulse buys. Elements of visual merchandising: Store layout: The traffic flow and arrangement of fixtures. Window displays: Your first impression on the street. In-store displays: Mannequins, end-caps, and tables. Signage: Pricing, promotions, and directional signs. Here’s an example of visual merchandising: Imagine walking past a clothing store. The window display features a cozy winter scene with mannequins layered in the latest scarves and coats, surrounded by fake snow and warm lighting. You instantly feel the “vibe” and want to buy that coat. That is effective visual merchandising. Online Merchandising For the digital entrepreneurs, “what is to merchandise online” involves a different set of tools but the same goal: conversion. Online merchandising creates a seamless path to purchase. In a world where competitors are just a click away, a well-merchandised site keeps users engaged and reduces bounce rates. Elements of online merchandising: Website layout: Navigation menus and category structures. Product photography: High-res images and 360-degree views. Product descriptions: Persuasive copy and specs. Site search: Filters and predictive search bars. Here’s an example of online merchandising: You visit a shoe website. The homepage features a “Summer Essentials” collection. You click through and can easily filter by size and color. The product page has crisp photos showing the shoe from every angle, and a “Complete the Look” section suggests matching socks. That’s online merchandising at work. Website layout is an important element of online merchandising Key Elements of Effective Visual Merchandising If you want to master the “what is merchandising in retail industry” standards, you need to nail these physical elements. Store Layout and Design Your floor plan dictates how customers shop. A grid layout (like a grocery store) is efficient, while a loop layout guides customers on a specific path past curated merchandise. Create a logical flow: Ensure aisles are wide enough and the path is intuitive. Optimize space: Place high-margin or impulse items at eye level or near the checkout counter (the “cash wrap”). Window Displays Your window is your billboard. It needs to stop people in their tracks. Attract customers: Use bold colors, interesting props, and clear focal points. Tell a story: Don’t just clutter the window with product. Create a scene or a theme (e.g., “Back to School Cool” or “Summer Beach Party”). In-Store Displays Once they are inside, keep the momentum going….
Continue readingDigitec Galaxus has had a strong year, with sales across its platforms up by 17 percent. This growth is partly driven by the addition of half a million new shoppers, bringing the total customer base to around 5 million. The Swiss ecommerce giant also outperformed the market in EU countries.
Continue readingAs of January 1st, Bulgaria has joined the eurozone. The euro is now the official currency in the country. As currency conversions are now eliminated, international shops can now sell products in this country more easily. This offers new opportunities for the online retail trade.
Continue readingThe European Union has published new rules on alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The revised directive marks the definitive end of the central European ODR platform. The focus is shifting to national and sector-specific ADR bodies.
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