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covid-19

Beyond the PPP: Other Funding and Support Options for Small Businesses

The Paycheck Protection Program has helped millions of small businesses to stay afloat through the pandemic, but for many the loans aren’t enough. Our data [https://helloskip.com/blog/half-of-small-businesses-are-in-survival-mode-heres-what-you-can-do-to-help/] shows that nearly half of

covid-19

Here's How To Lookup All PPP Loan Data and PPP Loan Recipients

Updated January 7: As we announced in summer 2020 [https://helloskip.com/blog/the-sba-just-released-new-data-on-ppp-recipients-and-amounts-heres-what-you-should-know/?ref=PPPSearchBlog] , the Small Business Administration (SBA) finally released PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan recipient data. As you may know, the

covid-19

The SBA Just Released New Data on PPP Recipients and Amounts. Here’s What You Should Know

Today, after weeks of legal challenges by media organizations seeking transparency, the SBA has released data on tens of thousands of businesses that received PPP loans. As we originally reported 2 weeks ago [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgiCyfVn3DA], the SBA finally committed to releasing this information to help

covid-19

Survey: Nearly Half of Small Businesses Are in Survival Mode. Here's What You Can Do About It.

In light of rapidly increasing COVID-19 caseloads across the country, some regions are pushing back reopening or even increasing restrictions to manage the massive spread of the virus. As part of our support for small businesses, we conducted a survey among small business Skip users. Thousands responded, and what

covid-19

PPP Deadline Extended, and Other Updates For Small Business Owners

Only hours before its deadline was set to expire, the Senate voted to extend the application period [https://www.forbes.com/sites/advisor/2020/07/01/senate-extends-ppp-five-more-weeks-indicates-more-help-to-come/#55dde7553db0] for the Paycheck Protection Program by five weeks, until August 8th.  With

covid-19

California Drivers' Tests Reopen in the New Normal

After months of closure, California is finally reopening road tests [https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/news-and-media/dmv-resumes-behind-the-wheel-drive-tests-with-new-protocols-on-friday/] for drivers' licenses. With thousands of cancelled appointments to get through, it is likely to be a long

covid-19

What A Second Stimulus Bill Could Actually Look Like

With coronavirus cases rising rapidly in the US [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html] and new hotspots arising, the pressure is on for lawmakers to develop a second stimulus proposal. Politicians on both sides of the aisle [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimwang/2020/06/

covid-19

Support Small Businesses with Skip’s New Business Listings

Small businesses are a major driver of the American economy and important tenets of their communities. Together, small businesses account [https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/tracking-us-small-and-medium-sized-business-sentiment-during-covid-19#] for 48% of the US economy and employ 60 million

covid-19

Trump Administration Temporarily Suspends Work Visas due to Coronavirus

Today, Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation [https://templatelab.com/presidential-proclamation/] halting visas for foreign workers into the United States in several categories, including some temporary workers who use H-2B visas, au pairs and camp counselors who enter the country on J visas, and highly skilled workers who

Do I Need a Permit to Reopen My Business?

As small businesses around the country begin to reopen following months of closure due to coronavirus, business owners are navigating a new world of safety precautions, rules and regulations. It can be confusing to know what’s allowed and what isn’t, especially as things are changing so quickly. You

covid-19

Shop Local, Stay Safe: How Small Business Owners are Committed to Stopping the Spread of COVID-19

As businesses around the country begin to open their doors again, they're working hard to keep everyone in their communities safe. Here at Skip we have been assisting hundreds of thousands of small businesses navigate the pandemic through loan tracking [https://helloskip.com/loan-tracking/?ref=SkipCovid], loan

covid-19

Has the Driving Test Changed Forever? Here are the Strange Things Some States are Now Doing To Help People Get Licenses During the Pandemic

A masked figure shouts instructions from six feet away as a car works its way around a closed course. Is this the new normal for getting a driver’s license in the US? There are over 227 million licensed drivers [https://www.statista.com/statistics/198029/total-number-of-us-

financial

Step-by-Step Guide to the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application

On June 16, 2020, the SBA issued their brand-new PPP Loan Forgiveness guidelines and form. This included a relaxing of the small business restrictions to rehire employees. Now, it it easier for small businesses to get full forgiveness even if they cannot rehire all of their employees. Watch the

covid-19

Tips For Extending your Health Insurance Benefits Even If Your Work Situation Has Changed

With millions out of work and the unemployment rate at nearly 15% as of May, [https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaharziv/2020/05/10/dont-be-fooled-by-official-unemployment-rate-of-147-the-real-figure-is-even-scarier/#c6f2ca155ddd] many people are losing not only their income, but their

dmv

Everything You Need to Know About The California DMV's Brand New Website

Long before the coronavirus, Californians couldn't always get what they needed from the DMV, with long wait times and few appointments. We founded Skip [https://helloskip.com/?ref=CADMVBlog] (formerly YoGov) to help people get their DMV questions answered — and have expanded to help people get their government-

financial

The SBA Has Started Accepting EIDL Loan Applications From All Businesses, Again

The 2 month wait is over! Today, the SBA announced [https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releases-media-advisories/sbas-economic-injury-disaster-loans-and-advance-program-reopened-all-eligible-small-businesses-and?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery] that it is reopening it's

financial

How to Recession (and Pandemic)-Proof Your Credit Cards

As we covered yesterday, the United States has officially been declared in a recession. [https://helloskip.com/blog/what-is-a-recession-and-what-does-it-mean-for-your-finances/] And of course, we've been dealing with the economic impacts of COVID-19 for months. As we navigate

What is a Recession, and What Does it Mean for Your Finances?

Although the US economy has been struggling for months due to the coronavirus, it was not until Monday of this week [https://www.nber.org/cycles/june2020.html] that the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)  officially declared that the United States is in a recession. So what does that

covid-19

Doctor's Orders: How to Stay As Safe As Possible as You Return to Work Amidst COVID-19

As regions around the country have begun to lift restrictions for more and more businesses and companies, Americans  who have been working from home or furloughed are returning en masse to their workspaces. But COVID-19 is far from over, with a second wave of cases wreaking havoc in 21

financial

The SBA Has Finally Published EIDL Loan Distribution Data

If you're one of the millions of small businesses or sole proprietors still waiting for word on your EIDL loan, here's some news straight from the SBA. While this data release from June 6th [https://context-cdn.washingtonpost.com/notes/prod/default/documents/6c8fa204-0c48-4253-

covid-19

Is a "Coronavirus Surcharge" the New Normal?

Businesses around the country are beginning to slowly reopen, from restaurants to barber shops, after months of closure. But the impacts of the virus are far from over — with 75% of companies reporting supply chain disruptions [https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/349229], not to mention  the price tag of sanitation,

covid-19

The Latest PPP Data: What States Have Received the Most PPP Funding and How Much Funding is Left?

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has released the latest data on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan distribution. There are a few important takeaways that are important for your business - including which states are getting the most funding and how much funding is left. Let's dive in. The PPP

financial

The Best Ways to Keep Your Finances in Great Shape, However You've Been Impacted by COVID-19

Whether you're working from home, working less hours, working more hours or not working at all, it is important for all of us to be proactive about our finances during difficult times (like a global pandemic). That's why we teamed  with Freya Kuka, successful finance blogger

financial

The Top Financial Mistakes People are Making During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Although cites and states around the country are slowly emerging from stay at home and shelter in place orders and allowing businesses to reopen, many are still facing tighter budgets right now than they have in years, especially young people and recent graduates, who are entering an incredibly difficult job

financial

4 Things To Know About the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act

The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act [https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/bill-announcement-98/]was passed today, in order to help the tens of thousands of small businesses that took PPP loans. Here are the 4 big changes in the PPP Flexibility Act that you need to know about.