WithFundedpowered by Big Think Capital

WithFunded › Academy

WithFunded Academy

Practical lessons for funding and growing your small business

Short, plain-English lessons with calculators built in. Learn how to pick the right financing, get approved, sell more, and keep cash in the bank.

16 lessons · 9 calculators · 4 tracks · Free, no sign-up

Track 1 · 5 lessons

Choose the right financing

Match the product to the job, read the real cost of an offer, and size the amount your cash flow can carry.

  1. Lesson 1

    How to choose the right financing for your business

    Four questions that match what you need to the product built for it.

    6 min readCalculator
  2. Lesson 2

    APR vs. factor rate: how to compare the real cost of financing

    Why a 1.25 factor rate is not 25% interest, and how to convert one to the other.

    4 min readCalculator
  3. Lesson 3

    How to read a financing offer: eight things to check before you sign

    The eight terms that decide what an offer really costs and what you are putting on the line.

    3 min read
  4. Lesson 4

    How much can your business afford to borrow?

    The coverage ratio lenders use, and how to run it on your own numbers first.

    4 min readCalculator
  5. Lesson 5

    When does it make sense to borrow to grow?

    Compare what the money costs with what it earns, then stress-test the plan.

    4 min readCalculator

Track 2 · 3 lessons

Get approval-ready

Know what lenders check, gather the paperwork once, and build the credit that lowers what you pay.

  1. Lesson 6

    What lenders look at before they approve you

    The six factors behind every approval decision, and what to do when one is weak.

    3 min read
  2. Lesson 7

    Business loan document checklist

    What to gather before you apply, grouped by product. Tick items off as you go.

    2 min read
  3. Lesson 8

    How to build business credit

    Seven steps to a credit file that belongs to the business and lowers what you pay.

    3 min read

Track 3 · 5 lessons

Sell more

Pricing, customers, and follow-up: the levers that grow revenue, with the math to choose between them.

  1. Lesson 9

    Pricing for profit: margin vs. markup

    The two numbers owners mix up most, and what a discount really costs.

    3 min readCalculator
  2. Lesson 10

    The three levers of revenue growth

    Customers, average sale, and frequency: improve each a little and they compound.

    3 min readCalculator
  3. Lesson 11

    What a new customer costs, and what one is worth

    CAC, lifetime value, and payback: how to know if your marketing is working.

    4 min readCalculator
  4. Lesson 12

    How to get more local customers: your Google profile, reviews, and referrals

    A free profile, a review habit, and a referral ask: a low-cost plan for local growth.

    3 min read
  5. Lesson 13

    Follow up faster: turn more leads and quotes into sales

    Many lost sales are leads you already paid for. A simple system to stop the leak.

    3 min read

Track 4 · 3 lessons

Manage your cash flow

See a shortfall weeks ahead, know your break-even point, and shorten the wait to get paid.

  1. Lesson 14

    How to build a 13-week cash flow forecast

    See a shortfall weeks before it arrives, and decide what to do about it calmly.

    3 min read
  2. Lesson 15

    How to find your break-even point

    The number of sales that covers your costs, and how a loan payment moves it.

    3 min readCalculator
  3. Lesson 16

    How to get paid faster

    Shorten the wait between the work and the cash, and price the shortcuts.

    3 min readCalculator

See what your business qualifies for

Answer a few questions and get matched to your best-fit option. Zero upfront fees. Checking won't impact your credit.

Get matched → or open the payment calculator

What our clients say

Real reviews from business owners funded through Big Think Capital.

ExcellentBased on 3,304 reviews on Trustpilot
Terry Gossman, Oct 29, 2026Landon and Austin were greatLandon and Austin were great. Knowledgable and explained everything in a way that made it all really easy to understand. I avoid these call like the plague but these two were a joy to work with. Stephen Buckley, Oct 1, 2026Highly recommendedHighly recommended! I worked with Corey, and he was awesome. He found an option after I received multiple rejections that no other company had presented to me. It was within my budget and my timeline. I'm so thankful! Brian K. Robinson, Oct 14, 2026BTC has become my go to for working…BTC has become my go to for working capital. Recently, my company was in a bind and needed funds. The BTC team, headed by Drew, took a problem solving approach and helped to overcome an initial denial, resulting in a better facility than the one I was turned down for. Thanks BTC! Thanks Drew!

Showing 5-star reviews of Big Think Capital, our funding partner. TrustScore 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot as of November 10, 2026. Read all reviews

Looking for the numbers behind the lessons? See the 2026 SMB Financing Cost Report and the guides to each funding option: lines of credit, term loans, SBA loans, equipment financing, working capital, invoice factoring, and commercial real estate.

Educational content. WithFunded Academy lessons are general information for small-business owners. They are not financial, legal, or tax advice, and they are not an offer or a commitment to lend. Figures are representative examples and WithFunded calculations, not quotes. WithFunded and Big Think Capital are a financing marketplace; we are not the direct lender and do not guarantee funding, approval, rates, or terms. Actual rates, fees, payments, and terms are set by the funding lender and depend on your business, credit, and the product. Where required by state law, the lender provides cost-of-financing disclosures before any agreement is signed.