Hello again! We're back with the third installment of The LEADERS Dispatch!

It's now April, dubbed "the cruellest month" by T.S. Eliot, but we think he was probably just having a bad day, because what's not to like about April? Spring is here, the weather's warming up, and it's a time of growing: trees are blossoming, plants are sprouting, and the natural world, as well as the economy, is regaining a sense of vitality.

To help your business blossom this April, we've decided to focus this month's newsletter on that ever pervasive topic: money. For some tips on getting in the green, take a look at our articles on earning money through affiliate programs and getting the cash your business needs with a business cash advance.

Affiliate Programs: Making Money As the World Turns

Some say love makes the world go around, others say money. Of course, both claims are disputable and not strictly scientific (if we were going that route, I might refer to Newton's first law of motion and the conservation of angular momentum as an explanation of the Earth's rotation, but we're not, so I won't).

The fact that people are always looking for new ways to earn a little extra dough, however, speaks volumes about the influence money has in our lives and on the decisions we make, even if it doesn't make the world go around all on its own.

Luckily, with the connectivity the internet affords, there are any number of innovative ways to make an extra buck. An increasingly popular approach to moneymaking is by signing up for an affiliate program, like the one LEADERS offers. Never heard of one? Read on.

What is an affiliate program and how does it work?

An affiliate program is a simple marketing agreement between an individual and a company-let's say Awesome Co.-in which the individual agrees to place a link and/or banners on his/her own website that points visitors to Awesome Co.'s site. These links or banners are encoded with a number unique to each affiliate. Thus, visitors that arrive at Awesome Co.'s website through an affiliate link are tagged with that affiliate's code. If that visitor signs up for something with Awesome Co., or makes a purchase (or whatever the affiliate agreement stipulates), the affiliate receives a commission from Awesome Co. under the terms of the agreement.

Programs differ from company to company; some programs exchange the advertising for redeemable points or various goods, while others pay in cash. It is important to research the business that is offering the program before signing up to verify that everything is legitimate and to ensure that you are not sending your site's visitors to a threatening website.

Assuming you are dealing with a legitimate company, an affiliate program can serve as a great way to bring in some additional money. What's more, the program requires almost no time on your part and offers significant potential (especially if your site/blog is already well-established and experiences good traffic flow). So if you're looking for an easy way to pull in some extra money, consider an affiliate program.

Aside from the initial posting of a link or banner on your website to drive traffic to the company's site, you need do little more than sit back and wait for the money to start coming in. And while you're sitting back, you can take satisfaction in the fact that you're helping to make the world go around.

Interested in LEADERS' affiliate program? We have one of the best in the merchant services industry, so check us out at http://www.leadersmerchantservices.com/affiliate-account-application.htm.

Business Cash Advances vs. Business Loans

Things that grow on trees: oranges, walnuts, pears, lemons, kumquats, leaves, avocados, plums, nectarines, apples, and fungi, to name a few.

Things that don't grow on trees: televisions, children, fish, zebras, bicycles, amplifiers, zombies, eyeballs, brain cells, quick wit, and a lot of other stuff, namely, money.

Until the day that it does start growing on trees (or bushes, or falling from the sky), money will always be a concern for business owners. In the current economic climate, it's even more of a worry. When money gets tight and you need options, it is nice to know what those options are. Let's take a look at two of those options: business loans and business cash advances.

Business Loans:

A loan is a debt incurred by a borrower from a lender. The initial amount of money borrowed, called the principal, is to be paid back at a later date. The cost of the loan is the interest, which accrues over the life of the loan (that is, the longer the debt goes unpaid, the more interest accrues, so it is best for the borrower to pay back the amount of the loan as quickly as possible). Most loans have fixed monthly payments which include interest and principal.

When contemplating ways of getting the additional funding for the often unexpected business needs that pop up, a loan may be the right choice for you and your business, but there's a lot to consider, including your credit, collateral, high interest rates, and repayment requirements.

If your business is struggling or relatively new, and you need a cash boost to get in gear, a loan could be difficult to obtain. What's more, if business is slow, making the fixed monthly payment will put added pressure on your business and finances. Lastly, there's a lot of paperwork and time involved trying to qualify for a loan, and as we all know, few businesses today are actually approved for a business loan.

Business Cash Advances:

A business cash advance is an advance on your future credit card sales, which means that you get the cash you need now, and then a percentage of your future sales is automatically applied to the amount of your cash advance and cash advance fee until the total has been repaid. This means that if business is slow, your repayment period is extended. Likewise, if business is booming, your repayment period is reduced. There is no fixed monthly repayment amount to bog your business down.

What are the advantages of a cash advance over a loan?

• Easy qualifying
• Fast Funding
• No set repayment amount
• No fixed monthly payment
• Tax deductibility (consult with your tax preparer)

Next time your business is strapped for cash, remember that in addition to loans, a business cash advance is always an option. For more information on business cash advances, check out LEADERS' Business Cash Advance Program here.

Testimonials

Just a note to tell you I am pleased with how things worked out with my two new merchant accounts. I am very impressed with you persistence and willingness to work with the competition to get my business. I feel you are sincere about being there for me when I need help after the sale was made. I plan on recommending your service to others who attend my seminars, and buy my books and coaching programs. Good luck and keep up the good work! Feel free to use me as a referral in the future. Be encouraged! - Dr. Benny, Miami, FL

The equipment for my new account arrived today and I must say that everything has been easy as pie working with you. The first thing that worked well for me was that you were very fast on getting the paper work to me and the contract and terms were  terrific I have attempted on at least 5 occasions over the years to change our credit card provider, and the experience and confusion was enough to turn me off and continue with my "old one" However, you made the entire process easy from signing up, to receiving the equipment. Thanks for all you help. - R.T., M.D., Chula Vista, CA